# Help me do the Republican thing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 30, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172 "2017-11-30T18:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/1 "2017-11-30T18:50:58Z")
Let’s assume this piece of shit GOP tax plan passes. Although Mr. Middon and I are solidly middle class, I think our taxes might actually go down as a result of this bill. If so, what should I do with the extra money? I have 3 ideas: 1. Donate it, to such organizations as the ACLU, SPLC, and PPFA. We already give to these. PPFA is the most important to me, but I don’t want whatever extra money I give them to give GOP assholes more reason for cutting off their funding with the idea that they don’t need the cash to fund the clinics that give essential healthcare to millions of women. My other thought here would be to donate to Democratic campaigns to help get the SOBs out of office, and this is very likely what I’d do if I decide to go with this option. Unfortunately though I think that political contributions don’t count as charitable so doing this won’t lower my taxes in later years. OTOH this probably won’t be a problem because I think even with our charitable contributions, we’d still take the standard deduction. 2. Spend the money. Since we are recently retired, the extra cash would come in handy. But this would stimulate the economy and if the GOP produces some jury-rigged data and starts chortling about how trickle down actually works, I want to know I didn’t somehow contribute to this. 3. Do the GOP thing and do something with the money that helps me and no one else in the USA. That’s the option I want help with. What can I do with, say, an extra $1000 that will help me and do fuckall for the US economy. Should I take a foreign trip, being careful to fly with a carrier that’s not US-owned? Should I invest it overseas? If so, how do I go about doing this? We recently bought a few shares of Canopy Growth Corp stock, because y’know back in the day we were hippies and how could we not buy stock in a company whose ticker symbol is WEED? They are a Canadian company, traded on the Toronto exchange. If I buy more of their stock, will this help the Canadian economy? I have no problems doing that, just as the 1% apparently has no problem in sticking their money in offshore banks. Of course I know that that my $1000 isn’t going to really do anything measurable, but I want the comfort of knowing that I didn’t do anything that helps these assholes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/2 "2017-11-30T18:53:38Z")
Save it. Your taxes are going back up in a few years. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/3 "2017-11-30T18:54:27Z")
Its called Trickle Down economics for a reason. If you don’t spend it, preferably on American made products in American Owned stores you’re clearly not doing your part. So get out there and spend that windfall. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/4 "2017-11-30T19:00:06Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Let’s assume this piece of shit GOP tax plan passes. Although Mr. Middon and I are solidly middle class, I think our taxes might actually go down as a result of this bill. > > If so, what should I do with the extra money? > > I have 3 ideas: > > 1. Donate it, to such organizations as the ACLU, SPLC, and PPFA. We already give to these. PPFA is the most important to me, but I don’t want whatever extra money I give them to give GOP assholes more reason for cutting off their funding with the idea that they don’t need the cash to fund the clinics that give essential healthcare to millions of women. My other thought here would be to donate to Democratic campaigns to help get the SOBs out of office, and this is very likely what I’d do if I decide to go with this option. Unfortunately though I think that political contributions don’t count as charitable so doing this won’t lower my taxes in later years. OTOH this probably won’t be a problem because I think even with our charitable contributions, we’d still take the standard deduction. > > 2. Spend the money. Since we are recently retired, the extra cash would come in handy. But this would stimulate the economy and if the GOP produces some jury-rigged data and starts chortling about how trickle down actually works, I want to know I didn’t somehow contribute to this. > > 3. Do the GOP thing and do something with the money that helps me and no one else in the USA. > > That’s the option I want help with. What can I do with, say, an extra $1000 that will help me and do fuckall for the US economy. Should I take a foreign trip, being careful to fly with a carrier that’s not US-owned? Should I invest it overseas? If so, how do I go about doing this? > > We recently bought a few shares of Canopy Growth Corp stock, because y’know back in the day we were hippies and how could we not buy stock in a company whose ticker symbol is WEED? They are a Canadian company, traded on the Toronto exchange. If I buy more of their stock, will this help the Canadian economy? I have no problems doing that, just as the 1% apparently has no problem in sticking their money in offshore banks. > > Of course I know that that my $1000 isn’t going to really do anything measurable, but I want the comfort of knowing that I didn’t do anything that helps these assholes. Make donations to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence’s name. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/5 "2017-11-30T19:05:05Z")
Presuming that: 1.) the effect of the tax cut will be manifested as an increase in your take-home pay; and, 2.) that you get your paychecks bi-weekly, You’ll hardly even notice the extra $40. If the “tax cut” is occurring in a two-income family, it will be closer to $20 per paycheck, and even less noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/6 "2017-11-30T19:47:25Z")
I’ve heard Cabo is really nice this time of year! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/7 "2017-11-30T20:09:54Z")
I’d hold on to it. Your health care costs may be increasing while your tax decrease is only temporary. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/8 "2017-11-30T20:16:12Z")
H’s & B ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/9 "2017-11-30T20:43:15Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Presuming that: > > 1.) the effect of the tax cut will be manifested as an increase in your take-home pay; and, > > 2.) that you get your paychecks bi-weekly, > > You’ll hardly even notice the extra $40. > > If the “tax cut” is occurring in a two-income family, it will be closer to $20 per paycheck, and even less noticeable. We’re retired. Which means we’ll see it quarterly in the form of lower estimated tax payments. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/10 "2017-11-30T20:44:18Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Make donations to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence’s name. I like it! ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/11 "2017-11-30T21:00:02Z")
Convert the $1,000 into paper money. For convenience, I recommend ten $100 bills. Walk down the street of an impoverished neighborhood with the money in your hand. Hold the money in front of the faces of passersby and tell them that they could have $1,000, too, if they would only stop being so lazy and pick themselves up by their bootstraps. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/12 "2017-11-30T21:15:02Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Let’s assume this piece of shit GOP tax plan passes. Although Mr. Middon and I are solidly middle class, I think our taxes might actually go down as a result of this bill. > > If so, what should I do with the extra money? > > I have 3 ideas: > > 1. Donate it, to such organizations as the ACLU, SPLC, and PPFA. We already give to these. PPFA is the most important to me, but I don’t want whatever extra money I give them to give GOP assholes more reason for cutting off their funding with the idea that they don’t need the cash to fund the clinics that give essential healthcare to millions of women. My other thought here would be to donate to Democratic campaigns to help get the SOBs out of office, and this is very likely what I’d do if I decide to go with this option. Unfortunately though I think that political contributions don’t count as charitable so doing this won’t lower my taxes in later years. OTOH this probably won’t be a problem because I think even with our charitable contributions, we’d still take the standard deduction. > > 2. Spend the money. Since we are recently retired, the extra cash would come in handy. But this would stimulate the economy and if the GOP produces some jury-rigged data and starts chortling about how trickle down actually works, I want to know I didn’t somehow contribute to this. > > 3. Do the GOP thing and do something with the money that helps me and no one else in the USA. > > That’s the option I want help with. What can I do with, say, an extra $1000 that will help me and do fuckall for the US economy. Should I take a foreign trip, being careful to fly with a carrier that’s not US-owned? Should I invest it overseas? If so, how do I go about doing this? > > We recently bought a few shares of Canopy Growth Corp stock, because y’know back in the day we were hippies and how could we not buy stock in a company whose ticker symbol is WEED? They are a Canadian company, traded on the Toronto exchange. If I buy more of their stock, will this help the Canadian economy? I have no problems doing that, just as the 1% apparently has no problem in sticking their money in offshore banks. > > Of course I know that that my $1000 isn’t going to really do anything measurable, but I want the comfort of knowing that I didn’t do anything that helps these assholes. If you like option 3 try a Vanguard international fund. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/13 "2017-11-30T21:40:39Z")
Spend it. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, send it to me and I’ll spend it for you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/14 "2017-11-30T22:07:20Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Make donations to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence’s name. Or donations to the National Audubon Society in Scott Pruitt’s name ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/15 "2017-11-30T22:21:19Z")
Set a few bucks aside for a Donald Trump pinata. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/16 "2017-11-30T22:26:34Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Its called Trickle Down economics for a reason. Yes, it means “They’re pissing on you”. Perhaps with the extra money you can buy an umbrella. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/17 "2017-11-30T22:40:35Z")
> [@Borborygmi](#): > > Convert the $1,000 into paper money. For convenience, I recommend ten $100 bills. > > Walk down the street of an impoverished neighborhood with the money in your hand. Hold the money in front of the faces of passersby and tell them that they could have $1,000, too, if they would only stop being so lazy and pick themselves up by their bootstraps. That’s what a REAL republican would do. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/18 "2017-11-30T22:59:38Z")
Just insist that it’s actually $2,500 or $5,000, or even $10,000. If anyone calls you on it, tell them that the $1,000 figure doesn’t take into account the value of your brand. That’s what a CERTAIN Republican would do. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/19 "2017-11-30T23:09:03Z")
[https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=life+of+brian+no+pleasing+some+people&view=detail&mid=FEB0505A6C00AF353309FEB0505A6C00AF353309&FORM=VIRE](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=life+of+brian+no+pleasing+some+people&view=detail&mid=FEB0505A6C00AF353309FEB0505A6C00AF353309&FORM=VIRE) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172/20 "2017-11-30T23:46:04Z")
You could do what I did with the GWB tax cut. I got a check for around $300 in the mail, the one they were crowing about “giving people their own money back”, or some such. I used it for something mundane, groceries maybe, I don’t know. But I did make a point of remembering that it was a pittance vs. the principle behind it, and not at all worth taking money away from things Republicans disliked. I would happily have had it go toward health care for other people since I was in good health at the time. So that $300 reminds me that GWB was not a good president, that his party does not stand for sensible ideas and to probably never vote for them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-do-the-republican-thing/803172.md?page=2)