# Bullshit that needs to change **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 17, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728 "2008-04-17T14:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/1 "2008-04-17T14:35:50Z")
Why can’t we get anything done in this country? Here’s some bullshit that needs to change: -Income tax. Jumpin’ Jesus on a pogo stick, why the fuck is this shit so complicated? The math isn’t bad, but the rules sure are. If I make $40,000 a year, tax me 20% (or whatever, hopefully more like 10 or 15%) and leave me the fuck alone. If I make $100,000 a year, tax me 20%. If I make $10,000, tax me 20%. Doesn’t matter whether I’m self employed, am a farmer or a fisherman, had alimony payments or whatever, just tax me on what I earn and everyone will know exactly what to expect. See how simple that is? -Gas prices. Somebody needs to follow the fucking supply line and see what cocksuckers are milking the hell out of the prices. McCain’s idea of temporarily suspending the federal gas tax is a band aid on a gaping wound. -Speaking of gas, what’s up with this 9/10 of a cent bullshit?? You can’t pay them 9/10 of a cent, so why does every FUCKING station do it? To squeeze more profits out of you, that’s why. STOP IT! -Pennies. We don’t need them any more. Let’s get rid of them. -Power lines. Right now tree trimmers are out mauling the hell out of any tree near a power line, they do this every year. Why not just bury the lines and then we wouldn’t have power outages every windy day and you wouldn’t have to keep paying contracters to cut up the trees every year? I know they ain’t cheap. -Primaries, delegates, super delegates, the electoral college. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot??!? No good can come from all this incredibly complicated bullshit. Popular vote. That’s all we need. Why in the world would you bother even HAVING popular vote if the delegates and super delegates and uber delegates can vote however the fuck they want anyway? It’s a sad twisted system. I’m done for now. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/2 "2008-04-17T14:37:36Z")
You tell em’, dog ! ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/3 "2008-04-17T14:45:24Z")
Plus, a pony would sure be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/4 "2008-04-17T14:51:04Z")
Hey, Andy Rooney’s got a potty-mouth now! (not that I disagree with the sentiments) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/5 "2008-04-17T14:58:38Z")
Yes, yes, yes, no, no, no. You’re batting .500, which isn’t bad for random rants. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/6 "2008-04-17T15:00:28Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Yes, yes, yes, no, no, no. You’re batting .500, which isn’t bad for random rants. [/QUOTE] And baseball, what’s the appeal of baseball? A bunch of men on drugs wearing tight pants hit a ball with a stick and run around stepping on beanbags, and fans sit there for 9 innings watching it? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/7 "2008-04-17T15:04:39Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Why can’t we get anything done in this country? Here’s some bullshit that needs to change: -Income tax. Jumpin’ Jesus on a pogo stick, why the fuck is this shit so complicated? The math isn’t bad, but the rules sure are. If I make $40,000 a year, tax me 20% (or whatever, hopefully more like 10 or 15%) and leave me the fuck alone. If I make $100,000 a year, tax me 20%. If I make $10,000, tax me 20%. Doesn’t matter whether I’m self employed, am a farmer or a fisherman, had alimony payments or whatever, just tax me on what I earn and everyone will know exactly what to expect. See how simple that is? [/QUOTE] You’re asking for a uniform income tax rate, regardless of earnings? Doesn’t that mean the higher tax burden currently being carried by the top earners (I assume that’s how it’s currently set up in the USA) will have to be distributed across the folks currently earning less. That is, taxes go down for the rich, and up for everybody else. Are you sure that’s what you want? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/8 "2008-04-17T15:05:11Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] -Speaking of gas, what’s up with this 9/10 of a cent bullshit?? You can’t pay them 9/10 of a cent, so why does every FUCKING station do it? To squeeze more profits out of you, that’s why. STOP IT! [/quote] Well, surely they’re squeezing LESS profit out of you by charging, say, $3.279 than they would if it was just rounded to $3.28? And then you go right on to say… > [@](#): > > -Pennies. We don’t need them any more. Let’s get rid of them. So now your gas would have to be rounded up not just from $3.279 to $3.28 but all the way to $3.30! Anyway, I have no sympathy for Americans who complain about gas prices. We pay the equivalent of nearly $2.20 a LITRE. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/9 "2008-04-17T15:08:20Z")
And what’s the deal with airline food? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/10 "2008-04-17T15:08:58Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Well, surely they’re squeezing LESS profit out of you by charging, say, $3.279 than they would if it was just rounded to $3.28? And then you go right on to say… So now your gas would have to be rounded up not just from $3.279 to $3.28 but all the way to $3.30! Anyway, I have no sympathy for Americans who complain about gas prices. We pay the equivalent of nearly $2.20 a LITRE. [/QUOTE] Why are you getting screwed on gas? Sure crude is $113 a barrel, but those are US dollars. So it should be about, what?, 60 BPS a barrel. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/11 "2008-04-17T15:10:33Z")
Hey, you know, if they give me a company car instead of money, I’ll ‘earn’ less, and won’t be taxed on the car at all! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/12 "2008-04-17T15:10:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] You’re asking for a uniform income tax rate, regardless of earnings? Doesn’t that mean the higher tax burden currently being carried by the top earners (I assume that’s how it’s currently set up in the USA) will have to be distributed across the folks currently earning less. That is, taxes go down for the rich, and up for everybody else. Are you sure that’s what you want? [/QUOTE] Yes I am. From what I hear time and time again, many of the top earners find tax shelters and ways around paying their fair share anyway. They can afford to spend money to save on taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/13 "2008-04-17T15:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Anyway, I have no sympathy for Americans who complain about gas prices. We pay the equivalent of nearly $2.20 a LITRE. [/QUOTE] £1.19 (=$2.35) per litre (diesel) when I filled up this morning. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/14 "2008-04-17T15:12:42Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Yes I am. From what I hear time and time again, many of the top earners find tax shelters and ways around paying their fair share anyway. They can afford to spend money to save on taxes. [/QUOTE] Many, perhaps, but what about the others? You’re still proposing a tax increase for the majority of citizens. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/15 "2008-04-17T15:13:57Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Well, surely they’re squeezing LESS profit out of you by charging, say, $3.279 than they would if it was just rounded to $3.28? [/QUOTE] The point is, why charge in units of payment that don’t EXIST? They could just as well make it $3.27 and a big wet kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/16 "2008-04-17T15:18:58Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Why are you getting screwed on gas? Sure crude is $113 a barrel, but those are US dollars. So it should be about, what?, 60 BPS a barrel. [/QUOTE] Because the UK government imposes a huge tax\* on vehicle fuel. They claim it is to discourage people from driving and get them onto public transport; an argument which would hold more water were public transport less comprehensively shit. Currently 50.35 pence per litre, or almost exactly $1. And then 17.5% VAT is added to the total cost of the fuel _including tax_, so something like 70% of the pump price is actually tax. This is why I now commute by bicycle. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/17 "2008-04-17T15:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] The point is, why charge in units of payment that don’t EXIST? They could just as well make it $3.27 and a big wet kiss. [/QUOTE] Aren’t stocks priced in 1/8 of a dollar increments, too? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/18 "2008-04-17T15:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=Amp] And what’s the deal with airline food? [/QUOTE] You aren’t satisfied with three pretzels and 4 oz of Coke? Glutton! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/19 "2008-04-17T15:26:10Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Because the UK government imposes a huge tax\* on vehicle fuel. They claim it is to discourage people from driving and get them onto public transport; an argument which would hold more water were public transport less comprehensively shit. Currently 50.35 pence per litre, or almost exactly $1. And then 17.5% VAT is added to the total cost of the fuel _including tax_, so something like 70% of the pump price is actually tax. This is why I now commute by bicycle. [/QUOTE] Aw, now you let THE MAN win! I’m gonna drive my CO2 spewing 265 horsepower dinomobile until it’s against the law to do so. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728/20 "2008-04-17T15:48:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Many, perhaps, but what about the others? You’re still proposing a tax increase for the majority of citizens. [/QUOTE] Just to be sure we’re on the same page here, have you seen the US tax forms and instructions? They’re a mess. There’s a whole industry built around helping people file their taxes. In a local shopping center we have a grocery store, video rental, liquor store, and a tax preparation business. What is filing taxes like in the UK? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-that-needs-to-change/445728.md?page=2)