# NYTimes obtains partial 1995 Trump tax records **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 2, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444 "2016-10-02T01:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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:** [October 3, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/221 "2016-10-03T19:36:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So when the arseholes from the alt-right and the Republican party go on and on about “those people” not paying taxes, I’m sure you chip right in to remind them that poor people pay sales tax, property tax (through their rents) and other taxes… right? You do that, right? Let’s see. I’m in favor of getting rid of the minimum wage and increasing the social safety net. I’m very aware that the poor pay taxes. And I don’t ever frequent right wing forums. I grew up very poor and unlike many on this board with their middle class privilege I know what it’s like to go without food and electricity. I despise left wing policy that is designed to sound compassionate while practically enslaving large percentages of the ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/222 "2016-10-03T19:43:38Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Let’s see. I’m in favor of getting rid of the minimum wage and increasing the social safety net. I’m very aware that the poor pay taxes. And I don’t ever frequent right wing forums. > > . I suggest you do check out right wing forums. You’ll discover that you are held in contempt by your fellow travellers. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/223 "2016-10-03T20:26:23Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Meanwhile in Shoe On The Other Foot World … I like to imagine what life might be like if the Republicans discovered that Bill and Hillary pissed away a billion dollars ten years ago and hadn’t been paying any taxes since. I’m sure they’d be patted on the back for shrewdly taking advantage of US tax laws, right? > > Fah-huck no. They would out right demand she drop out of the race. So I see this whole kerfuffle as completely fair game on the ol’ Trumpster. But they didn’t. We have something like 40 years of tax returns for the Clintons - that have been reviewed in great detail over the past 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/224 "2016-10-03T20:43:37Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Let’s see. I’m in favor of getting rid of the minimum wage and increasing the social safety net. Minimum wage _is_ one of the social safety nets, isn’t it? If we get rid of it, what kind of social safety net would support people who do not earn a living wage? Some kind of a Basic Income system? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/225 "2016-10-03T20:51:26Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Let’s see. I’m in favor of getting rid of the minimum wage and increasing the social safety net. I’m very aware that the poor pay taxes. And I don’t ever frequent right wing forums. > > I grew up very poor and unlike many on this board with their middle class privilege I know what it’s like to go without food and electricity. I despise left wing policy that is designed to sound compassionate while practically enslaving large percentages of the ignorant. Weird, innit, how deep that conspiracy goes? I mean, you’ve noticed how many other folks who grew up poor think that a higher minimum wage would be a good thing for the poor, right? Those dastardly villains! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/226 "2016-10-03T20:54:02Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > 2000, she said this: > > And in response to that he attacked her in the press and fought with her about paying her the alimony she was owed, so it makes sense that if she was going to go after him again for her to do it anonymously It is absolutely the M/O of Trump to go after anyone who has blown the whistle on him. Go after them viciously, and personally. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/227 "2016-10-03T21:06:11Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Minimum wage _is_ one of the social safety nets, isn’t it? If we get rid of it, what kind of social safety net would support people who do not earn a living wage? Some kind of a Basic Income system? No. it’s not. It’s a counterproductive wage floor that people and businesses get around by buying foreign manufacturing and services. In the case of agriculture by using in many cases illegal migrant labor. Yes basic income would be vastly superior for the nation. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/228 "2016-10-03T21:22:30Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I suggest you do check out right wing forums. You’ll discover that you are held in contempt by your fellow travellers. That’s a mark in anyone’s favor as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/229 "2016-10-03T21:25:09Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > That’s different. A minority of people on public assistance are gaming the system in order to receive benefits they shouldn’t receive. Don the Con is gaming the system in order to receive benefits he should not receive. You’re right! There _is_ a difference! Only… I’m not seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/230 "2016-10-03T21:25:49Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah, by about a billion dollars. You don’t see too many welfare queens with solid gold living rooms in their Park Ave penthouses. nitpick: Fifth Avenue ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/231 "2016-10-03T21:28:27Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > No. it’s not. It’s a counterproductive wage floor that people and businesses get around by buying foreign manufacturing and services. In the case of agriculture by using in many cases illegal migrant labor. > > Yes basic income would be vastly superior for the nation. I actually agree that a Basic Income is worth exploring however in today’s political climate, it seems unlikely to gain traction, especially on the right. Raising the minimum wage is a lot more likely to be able to get done. Having a better idea on paper that will never be implemented any time soon doesn’t mean much. After eight years of Hillary, a growing economy and a populace that is increasingly getting sick of what the Republicans are offering resulting in Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, and the more liberal young people who are not scared of bad words such as “socialism” being a more prominent part of the body politic, then it’s time will come. In the meantime, people gots to eat. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/232 "2016-10-03T22:23:15Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > No. it’s not. It’s a counterproductive wage floor that people and businesses get around by buying foreign manufacturing and services. In the case of agriculture by using in many cases illegal migrant labor. > > Yes basic income would be vastly superior for the nation. If conservatives in the US come out for a basic income I would be (very pleasantly) gobsmacked. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/233 "2016-10-03T23:18:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If conservatives in the US come out for a basic income I would be (very pleasantly) gobsmacked. It’s unfortunate that we demonize the poor and unfortunate. Conservatism would do well to shed itself of some of its punitive instincts. Not just in economics but also with regards to the justice system. A lot of my right wing friends don’t understand Kaepernick’s anthem protest for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/234 "2016-10-03T23:23:32Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > And it’s doubtful any welfare queen has paid the total amount of taxes Trump has. I suspect that many of them are into double-digit percentages of income when you add it all up, and that Trump isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/235 "2016-10-03T23:26:18Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I suspect that many of them are into double-digit percentages of income when you add it all up, and that Trump isn’t. I believe octopus does not “do” percentages. Only gross dollar amounts are understandable. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/236 "2016-10-04T03:15:33Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > mental principle of matching income to expense is important? It benefits everyone, not just the rich. [Here is the first thing I googled.](http://www.brighthub.com/office/finance/articles/117731.aspx) coremelt also spoke to this as well. No, I’m asking why you would not pay taxes on income just because you had a loss previously. And you keep refusing to answer. Literally nothing in your link talks about taxes. And coremelt does not cover it at all. > [@](#): > > Tax policy affects everyone’s life. This isn’t about not knowing something more specific like the carried interest rule (though that’s been in the news quite a bit as well), but not knowing even the basics of how a business operates. Yes, most people don’t know how a business operates, and definitely most people don’t know tax accounting. Businesses hire people to do that. And most people do not run businesses. And, frankly, it seems like you guys don’t, either, since you keep avoiding the question. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/237 "2016-10-04T03:40:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > No, I’m asking why you would not pay taxes on income just because you had a loss previously. And you keep refusing to answer. Literally nothing in your link talks about taxes. And coremelt does not cover it at all. That’s how taxes work. Whether a billion dollar loss qualifies you as a competent businessman - that’s a different question. But, billion-dollar-loser Donald did exactly what I’d do. The only difference is I wouldn’t castigate welfare recipients for exploiting the system exactly as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/238 "2016-10-04T04:59:43Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > No, I’m asking why you would not pay taxes on income just because you had a loss previously. And you keep refusing to answer. Literally nothing in your link talks about taxes. And coremelt does not cover it at all. The reason you a business would not pay taxes on income because they had a previous loss is because that is what the tax code allows. Is that clear enough for you? Your questions are odd in that they display fundamental ignorance yet seem irritated that what is essentially the very basics of business finance is not being spoon fed. If you have other questions, perhaps you can number them out and we can treat this as an intro to business course. Businesses are allowed to carry forward losses. Individuals are allowed to carry forward capital losses. There are caveats and details of course, but those are general concepts. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/239 "2016-10-04T05:14:05Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I despise left wing policy that is designed to sound compassionate while practically enslaving large percentages of the ignorant. In contrast to right wing policy that is designed to _not_ sound compassionate while practically enslaving an even higher percentage of the _ignorant_? I don’t even like the terms you use while you despise an economic policy which is far more compassionate than the alternative. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444/240 "2016-10-04T05:59:07Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > In contrast to right wing policy that is designed to _not_ sound compassionate while practically enslaving an even higher percentage of the _ignorant_? > > I don’t even like the terms you use while you despise an economic policy which is far more compassionate than the alternative. How is building businesses and employing people to earn money slavery? To me that sounds like freedom to make decisions on behalf of one’s ownself and family by participating in a free marketplace. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-obtains-partial-1995-trump-tax-records/767444.md?page=13)