# Whoopie! I got my tax cut! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565 "2005-01-07T15:12:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/21 "2005-01-07T16:24:52Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > It isn’t like they take the tax revenue and hold a big bonfire (although I know some people seem to think that). [libertarian (the ideology, not the poster formerly known by the same name)] If only they’d burn it! Instead, they spend the money they STEAL on welfare programs so that the poor baby-machines don’t have to get jobs, and they spend it on tyrannical goverment agencies like the FCC and OSHA, instead of letting the market sort out who can use what bandwidth and letting workers figure out for themselves what endangers their lives and what doesn’t!!! [/libertarian] ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/22 "2005-01-07T16:25:01Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > You know, it isn’t exactly “taken” from the economy when you pay taxes with it. The Fed spends it. On different things than Joe Consumer, but they do spend it. It isn’t like they take the tax revenue and hold a big bonfire (although I know some people seem to think that). My (admittedly remedial) understanding of economics was that if you get $3.56 extra, you’re going to spend it. Whoever you spend it with either spends it or uses it on payroll for their employees who can also spend it. So while it may not sound like much, the fact that it’s being used several times made that little amount worth it. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong (like I had to tell anyone here that). ---
**Author:** ![cj\_finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@cj\_finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cj_finn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/23 "2005-01-07T20:18:23Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong (like I had to tell anyone here that). Sure it gets spent, but considering that we are currently running a deficit, that money is effectively borrowed. Its not ours at all. Its like running up a credit card with no intention of paying for it. I’m sure that the Chinese will be very forgiving when the US claims bankruptcy. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/24 "2005-01-07T20:29:29Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > My (admittedly remedial) understanding of economics was that if you get $3.56 extra, you’re going to spend it. Whoever you spend it with either spends it or uses it on payroll for their employees who can also spend it. So while it may not sound like much, the fact that it’s being used several times made that little amount worth it. > > Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong (like I had to tell anyone here that). Your here, but the government does the same thing. It spends the money, and the people they spent it with then use it on payroll or spend it, etc., etc., etc. As was said, the government doesn’t hoard the money or burn it. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/25 "2005-01-07T20:33:30Z")
_sigh_ You’re correct here. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/26 "2005-01-07T20:40:01Z")
> [@cj finn](#): > > Sure it gets spent, but considering that we are currently running a deficit, that money is effectively borrowed. Its not ours at all. Its like running up a credit card with no intention of paying for it. I’m sure that the Chinese will be very forgiving when the US claims bankruptcy. > > CJ What do you mean no intention of paying it? We don’t default on our debt obligations. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/27 "2005-01-07T23:13:24Z")
I’m using my $3.22 a week extra from the tax cut to pay for the extra $7.49 a week I have to pay for gas (so the gas company stockholders can get richer), and the extra $23.19 a week I have to pay for health insurance (so the health insurance stockholders can get richer), and the extra $8.19 a week I pay to the state (because the feds have cut spending to the state), and … ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/28 "2005-01-07T23:23:32Z")
I beleive there is a way that you can donate your apx $180/yr to the US tres. > [@Icarus](#): > > I’m using my $3.22 a week extra from the tax cut to pay for the extra $7.49 a week I have to pay for gas (so the gas company stockholders can get richer),… I don’t understand why an increase in the price of raw materials (oil) helps the refiners. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/29 "2005-01-07T23:26:49Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I don’t understand why an increase in the price of raw materials (oil) helps the refiners. It does when the price of oil drops and the stations never adjust their prices accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/30 "2005-01-07T23:42:17Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I beleive there is a way that you can donate your apx $180/yr to the US tres. Let’s put this idiocy to rest right now. If you are in a group that has committed to buying something - in fact has already bought it - and everyone decides to pay half and let the interest accrue, and you realize this costs everyone more in the long run, are you going to let someone convince you with the argument, “well, you can pay more if you like”? It’s crap. I’m not paying more for my part of dinner if it doesn’t get me off the hook later. And it won’t. ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/31 "2005-01-07T23:57:23Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > It’s better than nothing. Would you rather pay an extra $3.56 in taxes? We already are. With interest. Or didn’t you know the tax cuts came out of deficit? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/32 "2005-01-08T03:02:39Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > My (admittedly remedial) understanding of economics was that if you get $3.56 extra, you’re going to spend it. Whoever you spend it with either spends it or uses it on payroll for their employees who can also spend it. So while it may not sound like much, the fact that it’s being used several times made that little amount worth it. > > Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong (like I had to tell anyone here that). As was said, you are right. But consumers may not spend it. Lib may (gasp) not buy those Dixie cups and instead save it. And if the Fed had it, they’d spend it for sure (as was said, since we are deep in deficit mode, we’ll spend it anyway, but that is a different debate over my own pretty little economic head). Say they give it to local governments to rebuild schools. The money goes out to builders and suppliers of building materials. The builders pay their employees who go buy Dixie cups. The argument can be made (not, obviously, by Lib, but it can be made) that the Fed having this money is actually economically more efficient, since they can target it toward the greatest good. Lib’s Dixie cups are made in China and he buys them from a low margin supplier like Sam’s Club so it adds little to the economy. And he may buy them at a place which doesn’t need the economic boost of his $3.57. While the Fed can say “we need an economic boost in Little Rock - let’s fund a road.” When you don’t live in Little Rock this is called a pork barrel project - but when you live in Little Rock this is called job creation. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/33 "2005-01-08T03:06:21Z")
> [@laigle](#): > > We already are. With interest. Or didn’t you know the tax cuts came out of deficit? Don’t throw facts at a Bushista. You will just confuse them. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/34 "2005-01-08T04:54:28Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I’m using my $3.22 a week extra from the tax cut to pay for the extra $7.49 a week I have to pay for gas (so the gas company stockholders can get richer), and the extra $23.19 a week I have to pay for health insurance (so the health insurance stockholders can get richer), and the extra $8.19 a week I pay to the state (because the feds have cut spending to the state), and … Well, you’re obviously a dumbass. If you only had some sense, you’d stop spending that $300 a month you spend on food and buy stock on Health Insurance Stock, Gas Company Stock, and State…uh…State Taxes. Then **YOU’D** be getting rich. But instead you just whine like your typical librul. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/35 "2005-01-08T05:17:48Z")
Instead of a tax cut, why don’t we keep taxes the same, and print up $40,000,000,000 in New Money, then distribute it among the people? Then Americans have more money, the economy gets a boost, and we don’t need to have a crazy deficit. That’s the kind of common sense thinking we need more of in DC. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/36 "2005-01-08T05:27:46Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Even better, you get paid $3.56 to stick it 6 inches into someone’s body. Figure the condom costs fifty cents if you buy in bulk. Assuming you want to be professional and spend 20 minutes with each lady, that’s 3 an hour, or an hourly wage of $10.68 minus $1.50 in condoms. $9.18 an hour. Of course my penis is only 4 inches long, so I didn’t make nearly that during my tenure as a gigolo. Still, it’s good money, and I don’t see why anybody making that much deserves a tax break. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/37 "2005-01-08T05:33:01Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Figure the condom costs fifty cents if you buy in bulk. Assuming you want to be professional and spend 20 minutes with each lady, that’s 3 an hour, or an hourly wage of $10.68 minus $1.50 in condoms. $9.18 an hour. Do you have _any_ idea what the health insurance premiums are for sex industry workers these days? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/38 "2005-01-08T11:06:43Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > To those of you that are lamenting the fact that you’re getting money back and that you don’t want it, keep in mind that you can donate it to the IRS. Nobody said you had to get a refund. Refund? _Refund_? _ **RE-FUCKING-FUND?** _ The whole amount was **TAKEN** from me without my consent. The $3.56 is not a refund. It is a restitution. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/39 "2005-01-08T11:10:57Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > …so the health insurance stockholders can get richer… The majority of stockholders these days are ordinary folks with retirement accounts and small private investments. You want rich, look on Capitol Hill. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565/40 "2005-01-08T11:11:28Z")
OK, I see you’re more interested in semantics than reality. Did you vote? Did the body that your representative is a member of vote for or against taxation? Are you obligated to abide by it? You are not being taxed without representation. That you don’t like paying them any more than I do does not change that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoopie-i-got-my-tax-cut/283565.md?page=3)