The bottom is happy. I'm happy. You should be too.
Taxes on the poor is symbolic. The tax is on the AGI. No taxes on Medicare.
This is an endless debate. Our three states each have a different taxing system. The states all have a funding problem and a public employee pension problem. -Which reminds me to give my local representative an email...
What is with you and those bidets, lp? You must be spending a lot of time on them. Hey, in Oregon you don't have sales tax on tissue paper, so not such a bargain, ay?
I suppose it is, how you want your tax system to be, and I'm sure everyone has an idea of what would be best for their specific situation. In Oregon, I'd suppose the people who like it best are those who have high assets (that aren't taxed), with relatively low income, getting decent benefits and paying no sales tax. If I was low income/low asset, I would feel that it was very regressive, especially if my income was too high to get all the freebies, but low enough that I needed every cent I had. I'm fine with everyone paying some tax, but that seems extremely regressive. I would also hate it if I had a very high income, thinking I'm not getting any more benefits than any other person, but carrying a large load in addition to the huge federal load. I'm okay with a high sales tax on non-food items. Yes, it hits everyone, but someone who's making a million is buying far more than someone who makes 10K.
Washington works fine for me. I like choice, and I don't pay huge taxes if I don't buy expensive items. If I do, it's my choice. Our property tax is a little on the high side, but you can choose to live in a 100K condo, or a 100 million dollar house, and anything inbetween. No income tax. I suppose you could choose how much you are going to make, but it doesn't seem right to have to adjust your income based upon state income tax. Oregon's rates are just way too high for most people, I think.
I don't know what the complaint is BD? A small tax on the poor is correct and lets everyone know that poverty costs everyone. At this level of income, these people are probably getting SNAP (OregonTrail), and some welfare payments. So what is the difference between an income tax on the poor and 9% sales tax on nonfood items and a high vehicle registration fee.
The three western states we live in all have different tax structures: CA-Sale, Income, Property. OR-Income and Property. WA-Sales and Property. And we all know that each have their budget and employment woes.
Kinda boiled down to the type of lifestyle we'd like to have.
(Hint: If you get a bidet, you don't have to pay sales taxes on TP or use your taxed income to buy the TP)
-- Edited by longprime on Friday 2nd of August 2013 09:19:12 PM
"Our belief that everyone should pay their fair share.
The Wealthy tax at 9.9% was only instituted a few years ago to compensate the huge loss in middle income jobs."
Most certainly so. They should definitely tax those ultra wealthy who make $125,001 or above at 9.9%
And absolutely those wealthy individuals who make more than $7,951 should pay the 9% tax on that massive income.
I'm sure that taxing those grossly overpaid people, especially those in the 8K range will definitely compensate for the huge loss in middle income jobs.
The loss of jobs was probably caused by the super rich who make over 10K anyways, so Oregon should definitely hit em where it hurts. No doubt employers from all over the country are now flocking to Oregon, dying for their employees to pay their "fair share". I'll bet there aren't even enough workers for available jobs now.
Yeah, not a fantastic job market in eastern Washington, unless you're in the fruit growing business. I don't know about Portland. I enjoy going down there, it is beautiful (though we sent our crazies down there, but they just congregate in downtown areas). It would be a nice place to live, and I would think you could get a fairly priced house in the suburbs. That said, their income tax is repressive:
5 percent on the first $3,100 of taxable income.
7 percent on taxable income between $3,101 and $7,950.
9 percent on taxable income of $7,951 and $125,000.
9.9 percent on taxable income of $125,001 and above.
Really, 9 % on income over $7,951? I guess you're considered rich at that level. Then again, if the wages are decent and the job is good, maybe worth it. No sales tax, which is a plus. Now if you can live in Vancouver, Washington, that is a deal. Zero income tax, decently priced properties, can shop in Oregon. Of course if you worked in Oregon, I guess you'd have to pay the income tax. Any jobs in Vancouver?
You might pm dmd77, she (?) is a mid size employer in the Portland area. Or better yet, start a thread...though it might start to get nasty!
Perhaps the next time I see you, I can bring you a two dollar vintage Rolex to add to your collection.
We were going to put one in a geocache....for those who don't know, it's like a treasure hunt for everyone, with a map, sometimes there is a box to put treasures in. You take one out, and leave another one there. You all probably have 100 geocaches within ten miles of your homes. Usually people will put little garbagy items in the treasure box, cracker jack prizes, a pen. It would have been hilarious (though mean) to put one of those watches in one. OMG.....a Rolex!
Oh no, not the Omega, I agree with the analysis of the poor choice!
Who am I kidding, I'm sure it's a very fine watch. I know nothing about any of them. Though I do have four Rolex's just sitting in drawers around here, never used. Not all mine, just one, the rest is for the family. Funny, when they were brought them home, the kids kind of looked at them bemusedly, and went back to their computer games, never interested in wearing them at all.
Then again, it may have been because they were $2 Rolex's from China, but actually, they didn't know at the time. Unfortunately most of them stopped working before they even made it to the US. They still look pretty good, but if isn't digital, it isn't worthwhile.
Oh dear, the watch thread seems to be winding down. :)
I must say I am not happy with the Omega choice. Just not very attractive, Imo. I would have gone with the Tag, but I think someone mentioned early on that brand was a tad déclassé--I knew then it would not make the final cut.
That was very sweet of your dad, samurai, that means more than anything.
You know, funny thing about that thread. It didn't get nasty because of the OP or the subject matter. It got nasty because people kept trying to answer for the OP in a rude way, when people who hadn't reviewed every last post would make some common sense comments. When the OP answered the questions directly, or said that something was incorrect or that wasn't what she meant, it was resolved. The problem was the nastiness that anyone who wasn't sycophantic was confronted with. I think if I was the OP, I'd be insulted that people kept putting words in my mouth like I was some helpless little woman, as she can surely take care of herself.
My husband wears a timex ironman with a Velcro strap--just tosses it and gets a new one if he smashes it or something I have two seikos I switch between. Excellent and understated personal style.
My Dad gave me an Bulova Accutron while I was in HS. Wore it thru college. Nice watch. Anyway, when I was dating W, she commented one day that everytime that I was with her, and especially in the embrace, she heard-felt a buzzing-She was either in love or she had tendonitius. I laughed and told her it was the watch. She was quite relieve to discover that it wasn't Love nor her hearing.
A few years ago, my dad made a replica of my mom's engagement ring and gave me and my sisters a copy. It was ridiculously expensive, yet by standards of that thread a cheap gift.
It is one of my treasured items and I wear it daily except when traveling. Probably looks like just another off the rack ring, but it has some deep meaning to us. She lived that ring and wore costume jewelry or trinkets. This was timeless then, yet still so pricey for my dad when he bought it for her. The story of how she got it was charming, too. So every time I glance at it, I think of her.
I think what I struggle with is buying an expensive gift like a watch and calling it an investment.
Will it improve with age? Does it increase in value? Few things, do.
I could care less how people want to spend their money....just think she's making an idiot of herself. (Not that I have any kind of problem with that. ).
Why does this remind me of those girls who are always talking about how beautiful they are, preening and looking in the mirror, looking down upon all those other girls. And when someone gives them a sideways look, they say, "OMG, you're just so jealous of my beauty! Everyone just can't stand it because I'm so beautiful!" Uh, no....it's because you're a bitch. Nobody cares how "beautiful you are." I have no idea if that makes any sense whatsoever, but that thread just reminds me of that.
Just something about living here in the PNW. Nobody cares about who is wealthy, what they're wearing, what jewelry they have. And there is plenty of money up here with all the techies, but being showy and conceited about it is a turnoff, no matter your income level. There are plenty of fine cars and people wearing nice jewelry around here, with multi million dollar properties. That old guy standing on the corner looking like a homeless guy....just might be a billionaire. I guess we just don't have any class out here, and are unable to dress well, without understated and excellent personal style.
Maybe it's a regional thing, but when we lived in Memphis, it was not unusual to see a Botoxed lady walk in and ask people if they'd seen her Daddy. Or talk about old money being more respected than new money. Around here if someone talked like that, we'd laugh hysterically, and perhaps declare a Monty Python line like, "I fart in your general direction!" Not so they could hear, though, we are---always polite.
Yep, pretty much a serious barforama. I personally don't care a whit about how people spend their money, even if they want to flush it down the toilet. I also am not offended by people starting a thread on any subject, though I am always annoyed when people start a thread pretending it's to solicit opinions (and really aren't interested in them), when it's obviously purely for bragging. Maybe so in this case, maybe not, who knows, but it seems that more time is spent attacking people than talking about watches. Certainly there is enough bragging going on in the cc forum to last many lifetimes, anyways. I do think that people should be careful how they say things, there is a way to come across that is not condescending and insufferable.
What really irritates me, though, besides obviously tone deaf comments that of course will elicit scorn from some in the crowd, is the mock outrage. Trying to pretend that anyone was making an issue of how they spend their money, oh, they're so jealous! And fawning over PGs generous act towards her daughters, and trying to protect her from such grievously offensive comments against her. What tripe. She is one of the most abrasive, outspoken posters on cc, who will say anything---whether offensive or not. And I give her credit for that, she can give it, and she can take it, she is no cowering fool who needs protection.
Of course, what irritates me more, is those who take a comment on a thread, or a disagreement, and turn it into a personal attack. It seems that one could stand listening to a differing opinion, without feigning insult, and getting personal.
On the other hand, I think poetgrl 's daughters could take on the lp's woods challenge. I don't think they are wimpy, delicate flowers, those girls can take care of themselves. Though I think I have first dibs.
So many funny threads. I was actually quite enjoying the brilliant bohemian threads. She is mid-20's, wants to experience the full intellectual life of the mind and has spent a couple of years taking only English and Philosophy classes, getting a 2.3 GPA...but getting 10 separate teacher admissions essays/recommendations to tell colleges how brilliant she is.
"Someone with excellent and understated personal style could surely wear an elegant watch for everyday, even in a casual environment. It's people who don't know to dress well who think that these things "stand out."
A person with good taste would not start a thread about how she intends to spend $10,000 or more on watches for her kids for their 21st birthdays on a website that has kids and parents reading wondering how they can even afford tuition for their kids.
A person with "excellent and understated personal style" doesn't flaunt her wealth by starting a thread like this on any website.
Barf time.
-- Edited by hope on Sunday 28th of July 2013 11:42:40 AM
