Way off topic, but would you consider opening another thread with something resembling specifics of what you’re talking about? I’ve seen this approach taken by people who equate their own opinions to Jesus’s commandments, and by people who wouldn’t know hyperbole if it bit them on the nose. I’ve also seen it used as a valid point against people who have a vague, nebulous idea of what Jesus stood for.
I’d welcome a chance to respond, but first I’d like to know what the heck it is that I’m answering.
Well, it’s passed both houses, and from my read of the legislation, it is not a “prebate”, it is a flat-out giveaway.
I also know I will receive absolutely $0 back. Despite paying more than $40k (actually, it might be more than $50k…fuck…I’m still not sure) in Federal taxes alone this last year.
That sounds fair. :dubious: Oh well, I’d better not rant about it, or there will be the usual pile-on.
Yep, they’re going to raise taxes to pay for all the deficits the Dine ‘n’ Dash Republicans left behind. Someday maybe you will grow up and take responsibility for paying your bills as you incur them, instead of leaving the check on the table for your kids to pick up.
This is exactly what the administration is doing. Lower income people are more likely to spend it; although, I don’t think they will get much. It’s a stupid idea. Bush can keep my money and invest it in my kid’s school, maybe a grant for science education enrichment.
I’d actually be supportive of FICA to infinity if Social Security and Disability benefits were exempt from Federal and State taxes regardless of any other supplemental income - you know, for the people who did the right thing and put in those 60-hour weeks for decades, and didn’t blow their money on shiny things, to save for retirement. Typically, when I suggest that to folks advocating FICA to infinity they suddenly come up with all sorts of “reasons”, which if you reduce them long enough on a low heat essentially boil down to “fuck you yuppie scum, for making more money than me.” But maybe someday there’ll be hope.
Well, if you’re saying that everyone who works hard, for long hours is equally deserving of comfortable retirement, regardless of how well paid they were, I tend to agree. I just don’t think that’s quite what you’re saying.
You have already been told that people who don’t pay income taxes do still pay taxes, you for some reason just don’t want to believe that. When I was younger and much poorer I was paying rent, which meant that i was paying someone else’s property taxes and mortgage without being able to build any equity. I was paying more in rent than a mortgage payment for the same property would be. There are fees for nearly everything, either acknowledged up front or hidden. Gasoline taxes figure into prices for everything we buy. FICA and Medicare taxes are taken out of every dollar earned, up to the cap.
I might also add that the very states that swing Republican are the ones that get $2.00 back from the federal government for every $1.00 they pay in, while the states with larger populations that tend to vote Democratic get less than $1.00 back
Social Security would be in a lot better shape by now if it weren’t being used as a slush fund, to disguise actual budget deficits. The program does pay more to those who paid more into it, so it isn’t a complete transfer, but it is supposed to be a safety net sort of thing, and those of us with any sense don’t expect it to be our sole source of income in retirement. It is part of the price we pay for living in a fairly civilized society.
Those of us who are either paying down debt or putting the rebate in the bank will still be helping a little bit, because that money doesn’t just sit in the bank, you know. Banks have to keep some cash in reserve, but the more they have the more they can lend. That’s a good thing IMHO as I’d say a sudden tightening of credit that was previously too loose has as much to do with the current situation as anything else except the war, which is still the elephant in the room.
I know this thread has gone off onto other tangents, but I’m reluctant to open (yet) another thread on this same topic, so I’ll just ask my question here:
I understand that this is a “rebate” against one’s presumed refund of monies withheld in 2008 (which would be received in 2009). Qualification is based on 2007 income, right? And you have to file a 2007 form 1040 (or 1040a) return to get it, correct?
And I read that if the refund that you are owed in 2009 is less than the $600, $1200, or in our case $1800 (married, 2 kids, moderate income) they’re giving us now, they’ll just forgive the difference.
I know the typical household refund is around $2200 or so.
Well, what’s to prevent people from filing new W4 forms with their employers right now and adjusting their withholding for 2008 (reducing the excess that is currently being withheld) so that they’ll get back more like $100 in 2009? And they won’t owe the difference.
It’s called taxation. Every government does it, is some form or other, regardless of system or ideology. Nearly everybody, whether they like paying or not, whether they like the existing tax system or not, accepts that a government has the legitimate authority to levy taxes. Are you saying you’re right and the whole world is wrong?