Compliments of Washington D.C.

[Lothar]

What does the average citizen of the U.S. get from Uncle Sam today:

Confiscatory tax policy.

Your stolen money given to someone else if your successful

Someone elses stolen money given to you if you're not.

More people streaming across the borders every day to collect your stolen money

Politicians on both sides of the aisle spending your stolen money to keep themselves in office where they collect a salary paid for by your stolen money.

They collect money from the states for roads and infrastructure. The only problem is, for every dollar they take, they only return a fraction to the states to actually build stuff.

A justice system that doesn't even punish child molesters and murderers, much less other violent criminals, putting these criminals back on your streets.

Endless federal bureacracy and regulations to keep you from getting too independent. Is government your servant, or vice versa?

Law after law after law to curtail your personal freedom a little more each day. Of course what would you have been able to afford to do with all that freedom anyway. They just stole more than half your money.

Both political parties have had decades in control of Congress to right the ship and they have both proven that they flat our suck.

When will the madness end?

Some of my recent comments have been interpreted solely in light of the upcoming election. I really don't care about this years election except for some local races and a bond referendum.

Regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats control congress, the result will be the same. Next year you will get all of the things I listed above and it will only get worse.

When will We The People take back control of this country and make Washington accountable to us?

[HardDrive]

When you refer to 'The People', and you talking about the NASCAR watching fat hicks that make up the majority in this country? If the answer is yes, then the answer to your question is 'never'. They never had control to begin with, and the tiny set of rights that were granted them by their fore fathers.......well they have given those away with nary a wimper.

Do yourself a favor. Stop giving a *****. Scope out some property in Australia. Have a margarita, and watch the train head for the crossing with no brakes. Friend, there is nothing you or I am going to be able to do about it, so you might as well get a window seat and sturdy parachute.

PS Melbourne is really lovely.

[sammyg2]

Yep, I agree with HD (i can't believe i said that) Get a one-way ticket to somewhere else and you won't have to worry about it any more

[Dantilla]

Lots of messed up things here, but on the whole, a wonderful place to live. Yes, quite a bit of tax money is spent in ways I disagree with, but I'm still able to go earn a nice living, buy and sell property as I see fit, and goof off with Porsches and airplanes.

I don't think our political attracts the best and brightest. I think drafting people from the business world for a two-year stint would be more beneficial the the country. But that's not going to happen. I can either cry about it, or roll up my sleeves and make the best life possible for my family.

Sorry for all the enthusiasm. A bit out of place here at PPOT.

[Drdogface]

Boy, I couldn't agree more and it's depressing as hell to actually read all that. Wouldn't blame any of you for heading out. I'm too old and rooted to take on such an involved thing as a move that far. My friends and I do what we can. Occasionally we win one here and there.

[red-beard]

I'm glad I live in a different country than y'all!

[Aerkuld]

Lothar - if that's how you want to look at it then that's OK by me. I agree in some respects, but have you ever lived anywhere else?

My opinion?...
I moved here 7 years ago from the UK and have no desire to go back there. Now and again I find something I miss too much and go back over to visit family and maybe the odd pub, but a week and a half later I can't wait to get back over here.

Face it, you all have a terrific country here. If you don't believe me you need to get out more!

[Moneyguy1]

tabs has the answer.

tabs?

[Superman]

Lother, there is more going on here than you apparently see. Road, bridges, schools, etc. And if you're uncomfortable paying for your part of this setup, then let me be the next to invite you to move to Australia. Take Pat with you.

[gaijindabe]

I like to divvy them up.

Local - school taxes are WAY out of line and driving Ma and Pa off the farm. Time the teachers got 401Ks and independant pension system.

State - too many madates - forced on the local layer and cost us too much. The most corrupt and money wasting layer of government. Ditto on pensions.

Federal - too may damn rules. Fly in yesterday. I can't use my phone until I clear customs. Yeah right. Airphone 30 minutes before is o.k., but my cell phone on the ground is not. Give me a fu*king break. 20MM illegals and immigration wants to stop me calling my driver?

[on-ramp]

of course if you're up in the 1%, the wealthy bracket, everything is going well. no complaints

[red-beard]

I fly in all the time. It is only in the Immigration and Customs halls they don't want a million people on the phone. As soon as the wheels touch the ground, you can use your phone. Use the time from wheels down until the door opens to make the call.

Now, I have on, occasion, used text messages in the Immigration hall, and no one has made an issue of it.

OTOH, going through immigration in Houston is way different than say Newark. Houston is setup far far better. The line system and the number of Immigration officers is far above that of Newark. I couldn't tell you about JFK, since I haven't gone through there in several years.

[gaijindabe]

Apparently the rules have changed. No phones at all until you clear customs.

In the immigration and customs halls - it has always been no picture taking, no phones. It is a very controlled environment - and they want to keep it that way. For good reason.

But when rules are made that run counter to common sence (and people's need and ability to easily communicate) they are bound to be broken.

[red-beard]

I landed in Houston on last Wednesday (Nov 1, 2006) from Paris. Used Cell phone until the door opened. Unless they've changed the rules in the past 2 or 3 days...

[Dantilla]

Originally posted by on-ramp
of course if you're up in the 1%, the wealthy bracket, everything is going well. no complaints

By global standards, just about all Americans are in the top 1%.

[Lothar]

Originally posted by on-ramp
of course if you're up in the 1%, the wealthy bracket, everything is going well. no complaints

On-Ramp - Don't be so sure about that. That top 1% pays almost ALL of the federal and state income tax in this country. The result may be that you or someone else may not have a job, as those taxes zap job creation that is driven by private investment by the same top 1%.

Aerkuld - I would like to widen the difference between where you are and where you came from. Unfortunately, difference is getting smaller as the U.S. becomes more socialist. Look at how eminent domain has been perverted to allow private proerty to be confiscated and given to another private entity for commercial gain.

Superman - I know you are a big government type from your posts. I don't want a free ride. I just don't want the Fed skimming.

From another thread:

Real free men do for and provide for themselves and their families.

If there were no government built roads, the normal travels of people would beat a path. If there were no government schools, I would teach my children myself. If there were no municipal water supply, I would dig a well. I can't think of a single service that I get from a government that couldn't be provided for through private enterprise, partnerships and individual efforts, better and more cost effectively.

Even health care would be less expensive if there were no government, because competition might see the light of day in that market in the absence of government interference.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Superman
Lother, there is more going on here than you apparently see. Road, bridges, schools, etc. And if you're uncomfortable paying for your part of this setup, then let me be the next to invite you to move to Australia. Take Pat with you.

Yes, spoken like the representative of the ruling elite. The problem is that there is no means with which to "take that fair share" without government violence.

In fact, taking it at all is immoral and unethical since it's just plain armed robbery by people with government ID cards.

When will you adopt non-violence, morals, and ethics into your life?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Taxes are the lowest that they have been in decades. They are still a lot, but with the Democrats now in power, I think that they are going to rise again for *everybody*.

-Wayne

I must disagree, Wayne. As long as government revenues are increasing, taxes aren't lower. Personal income tax rates may have been altered, but it's coming from somewhere, and as you know, when taxes are paid, it's everyone in the country paying unless they're exempt.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by on-ramp
of course if you're up in the 1%, the wealthy bracket, everything is going well. no complaints

If you are not, in this country (excluding the very young or handicapped), it is likely your fault.

[Moneyguy1]

"We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes."

Leona Helmsley

net worth: 2.2 Billion