The Political Satire/Meme Thread

[Famine]

It did happen in the past... Like 7 and a half months ago...

Learn to read.

Sweet Jesus man.

It happened in the past, but the target was living things, therefore "hanged" is the correct past tense. I literally explained that to you in my post.

In both English and American English, "hung" is the past tense of hanging something not alive (meat and pictures are hung) and "hanged" is the past tense of hanging something that is alive (people are hanged).

Also "well hung". You know what I mean.

Only if your penis no longer exists. This is what "past tense" means.

English really isn't your first language is it?

 

[ryzno]

What do you speak then?

Guess I speak redneck...

English really isn't your first language is it?

It actually is. I know Spanish too. But I'm whiter than a saltine.

Remember you're dealing with a high school drop out. 9th grade. Passed the GED with flying colours... Like what I did there. Y'all think I'm dumb...

 

[NotThePrez]

@ryzno , genuine question, are you drunk?

 

[McLaren]

Then why act like it's such a big threat? It was more like a bunch of dumb kids on dirt bikes during the middle of rush hour. Google it, kills the evening rush hour traffic when they wreck or randomly catch on fire under a bridge.

Because you have people forcing their way into the Capitol yelling, "Hang Mike Pence" after Trump tweets out that Mike failed to overturn the election (something he had no power to do, anyway) & some wack job went so far as to actually erect a gallows. Whether or not it would work is beside the point.


You didn't answer how Congress certifying the election is worthy of exercising 2A.

 

[TexRex]

It did happen in the past... Like 7 and a half months ago...
Also "well hung". You know what I mean

I'm hung. Nathan Hale was hanged.

 

[ryzno]

@ryzno , genuine question, are you drunk?

Maybe. I don't feel it yet. I still stand by what I said.

 

[Famine]

Remember you're dealing with a high school drop out. 9th grade.

That makes it all the more weird you'd be so arrogant about your own language use that you'd attempt to condescend to others about their reading abilities, when you wield words like a fish wields a chainsaw.

 

[ryzno]

You didn't answer how Congress certifying the election is worthy of exercising 2A.

Cause a damn good number of people didn't want it. I didn't want Trump but I definitely didn't want, "you know...that thing" in office.
He's screwed the economy more in less than one year than anything I've ever seen.
Where is the money for the $300 bonus for kids coming from? Where is the money for the $1200 universal income gonna come from?
Remember that's every ****ing month. On top of all the "money" the government gives away already, every damn month.
Actual working Americans... Or another Chinese loan...

Y'all just too blind too see it. America is ****ed. Period.

when you wield words like a fish wields a chainsaw.

I like what you did there.

 

[TexRex]

lol

 

[ScottPuss20]

So what, it's illegal to democratically elect a new government?

 

[McLaren]

Cause a damn good number of people didn't want it. I didn't want Trump but I definitely didn't want, "you know...that thing" in office.

Lol, then move? I think this place might be up your alley; they even banned the vaccine.

 

[ryzno]

Lol, then move? I think this place might be up your alley; they even banned the vaccine.

As a mercenary.

 

[Biggles]

Then why act like it's such a big threat? It was more like a bunch of dumb kids on dirt bikes during the middle of rush hour. Google it, kills the evening rush hour traffic when they wreck or randomly catch on fire under a bridge.

It did happen in the past... Like 7 and a half months ago...
Also "well hung". You know what I mean.


Guess I speak redneck...

Not wishing to pile on, but ... it's also not the right to "bare arms" (ie. naked arms) it's the right to "bear arms" (ie. carry arms).

You are trivializing what happened. Thousands of people using violent means to storm the US Capitol to try & interfere with the the due course of the democratic process is not a trivial matter. It's especially not trivial when it is encouraged by the sitting President to overthrow the results of an election that went against him. The fact that you - & apparently tens of millions of other Americans - are trying to minimize the significance of what happened, is a reason to continue to be concerned about it "7 and a half months" later.

 

[UKMikey]

I'm hung.

So is this guy.

Cause a damn good number of people didn't want it.

More people did though.

 

[ryzno]

Not wishing to pile on, but ... it's also not the right to "bare arms" (ie. naked arms) it's the right to "bear arms" (ie. carry arms).

You are trivializing what happened. Thousands of people using violent means to storm the US Capitol to try & interfere with the the due course of the democratic process is not a trivial matter. It's especially not trivial when it is encouraged by the sitting President to overthrow the results of an election that went against him. The fact that you - & apparently tens of millions of other Americans - are trying to minimize the significance of what happened, is a reason to continue to be concerned about it "7 and a half months" later.

Yeah and my sons taxes if they still even work by then will be rediculous. Y'all answer some ****ing questions instead of piling on. Where's the money gonna come from?

We left England/Ireland/Hungry for more reasons than religion.
And yes I do have some British blood, if only the Irish side knew... /s

Hell if my Jewish Grandfather knew I was dating a German...

 

[McLaren]

My understanding is the tax plan has been to increase taxes on those over $400,000/year & maybe addressing stories like this. I believe I saw an article claiming Biden wanted to hire a ton of new IRS employees to crack down on tax loopholes.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos paid no income tax in 2007 and 2011. Tesla founder Elon Musk’s income tax bill was zero in 2018. And financier George Soros went three straight years without paying federal income tax, according to a report Tuesday from the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica.

Overall, the richest 25 Americans pay less in tax — an average of 15.8% of adjusted gross income — than many ordinary workers do, once you include taxes for Social Security and Medicare, ProPublica found. Its findings are likely to heighten a national debate over the vast and widening inequality between the very wealthiest Americans and everyone else.

Secret tax data confirms Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, other billionaires pay little or no income tax, ProPublica reports

The rich really are different from you and me: They’re better at dodging the tax collector. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos paid no income tax in 2007 and 2011. Tesla founder Elon Musk’s inco…

www.chicagotribune.com

 

[Lain]

He's screwed the economy more in less than one year than anything I've ever seen.

Has he?

Where is the money for the $300 bonus for kids coming from?

Tax the rich.

Where is the money for the $1200 universal income gonna come from?
Remember that's every ****ing month. On top of all the "money" the government gives away already, every damn month.
Actual working Americans... Or another Chinese loan...

Tax the rich. Also, I'm sure we could afford to reduce military spending a bit if we needed to. I strongly doubt universal income will actually happen though, so you've got nothing to worry about anyway... well except for the "America's screwed" part, you might be spot-on there. We'll see after Democrats fumble the football...

 

[ryzno]

Has he?

3.5 trill in less than a year? Y'all complained when Trump did less in his first year. Punish the ones who figured out how to be successful?

A 1/4 of my money goes to taxes. Again for those in the back 1099... If I made as much as Danoff claims and had to pay taxes I'd have a ****ing heart attack.

 

[UKMikey]

 

[Danoff]

3.5 trill in less than a year? Y'all complained when Trump did less in his first year. Punish the ones who figured out how to be successful?

A 1/4 of my money goes to taxes. Again for those in the back 1099... If I made as much as Danoff claims and had to pay taxes I'd have a ****ing heart attack.

I believe Donald campaigned on fiscal restraint, whereas Joe did not. Also, to figure out whether a deficit is wasteful you actually have to look at what it gets spent on. I doubt that 1/4 of your money goes to federal income taxes Ryzno. I doubt that very much. In 2020, 61% of US taxpayers paid zero federal income tax.

61% of Americans paid no federal income taxes in 2020, Tax Policy Center says

The Tax Policy Center said 107 million households, or 61% of taxpayers, owed no income taxes in 2020. That's up from 76 million, or 44% of taxpayers, in 2019.

www.cnbc.com

 

[McLaren]

View attachment 1075185

Reminds me of a current argument going around: If you don't trust the doctors who back the vaccine, why trust the doctors to save you from Covid in the hospital? Or something like that.

 

[Biggles]

3.5 trill in less than a year? Y'all complained when Trump did less in his first year. Punish the ones who figured out how to be successful?

A 1/4 of my money goes to taxes. Again for those in the back 1099... If I made as much as Danoff claims and had to pay taxes I'd have a ****ing heart attack.

If I were you ryzno, I would be more focused on making the $400,000 ... & less focused on how much tax you would pay if you did.

 

[UKMikey]

Reminds me of a current argument going around: If you don't trust the doctors who back the vaccine, why trust the doctors to save you from Covid in the hospital? Or something like that.

Because they're patriots dammit.

 

[ryzno]

I believe Donald campaigned on fiscal restraint, whereas Joe did not. Also, to figure out whether a deficit is wasteful you actually have to look at what it gets spent on. I doubt that 1/4 of your money goes to federal income taxes Ryzno. I doubt that very much. In 2020, 61% of US taxpayers paid zero federal income tax.

61% of Americans paid no federal income taxes in 2020, Tax Policy Center says

The Tax Policy Center said 107 million households, or 61% of taxpayers, owed no income taxes in 2020. That's up from 76 million, or 44% of taxpayers, in 2019.

www.cnbc.com

I have to pay on top of the fines for not paying my estimated taxes quarterly, do you not know what 1099 is?

If I were you ryzno, I would be more focused on making the $400,000 ... & less focused on how much tax you would pay if you did.

I'm doing pretty good where I'm at. Both cars are paid for, house paid for. Just a pesky thing called property and tag tax.

 

[Danoff]

I have to pay on top of the fines for not paying my estimated taxes quarterly, do you not know what 1099 is?

Yes. Do you know what a tax refund is?

If you're getting fined, that's just you not following the tax code. That's not a tax, that's a fine.

 

[ryzno]

Yes. Do you know what a tax refund is?

If you're getting fined, that's just you not following the tax code. That's not a tax, that's a fine.

I do, haven't seen one in almost 9 years. For not paying my estimated taxes every quarter.
Why can't you accept the FACT you me and everyone else who is 1099 pays tax. Between the state and Fed I paid around 7K.

 

[Danoff]

I do, haven't seen one in almost 9 years. For not paying my estimated taxes every quarter.
Why can't you accept the FACT you me and everyone else who is 1099 pays tax. Between the state and Fed I paid around 7K.

You should pay your estimated taxes every quarter and stop paying fines. Having 1099 income sources does not stop you from taking the standard deduction, qualifying for earned income (if you do), etc. So the tax code still applies to you, regardless of whether you get a W2 or a 1099 (I get both). I'm not sure what you think this big distinction is with getting most of your income through 1099, but I don't think it amounts to what you think it does.

It's possible that you did pay federal income tax. As far as I know you have no dependents and no mortgage. So you're not in line for the easiest tax breaks. I didn't do your taxes, don't know your deductions or your income. But you should subtract out state income tax, and makes sure that you're not including any social security, medicare, etc. and looking at total net taxes paid. Then you can divide that out of your total income and see your effective tax rate. Which I'm guessing is not high, if it's above zero.

 

[Famine]

My understanding is the tax plan has been to increase taxes on those over $400,000/year & maybe addressing stories like this. I believe I saw an article claiming Biden wanted to hire a ton of new IRS employees to crack down on tax loopholes.

Secret tax data confirms Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, other billionaires pay little or no income tax, ProPublica reports

The rich really are different from you and me: They’re better at dodging the tax collector. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos paid no income tax in 2007 and 2011. Tesla founder Elon Musk’s inco…

www.chicagotribune.com

I'm curious.

It seems to me highly questionable that Jeff Bezos paid no tax in 2007 and 2011. I wouldn't be even slightly surprised if he paid no income tax, but then his wealth doesn't come from his income; I'm sure he could pay himself whatever salary he wanted, from billions to zero, and if it is indeed zero (or another low enough value) he'd pay no tax on that income.

Instead his wealth comes from the value of the stock he holds in the companies he owns, as the capital increases, along with any liquidity gained from dividends from elsewhere. Both are subject to capital gains tax, not income tax.

I've never understood why people go "Uhhhh Bezos made $400bn in the pandemic, pay your fair share instead of making space cocks". Sure, his stock might have risen an absurd amount, but unless he's dumb enough or badly advised enough to pay himself billions in salary, his income hasn't changed one bit - and you can't possibly be liable for income tax on $400bn of assets on April 5 when they could be -$400bn by April 7.


Are these two different sources of wealth linked together in the US Tax Code for some reason?

 

[Danoff]

I'm curious.

It seems to me highly questionable that Jeff Bezos paid no tax in 2007 and 2011. I wouldn't be even slightly surprised if he paid no income tax, but then his wealth doesn't come from his income; I'm sure he could pay himself whatever salary he wanted, from billions to zero, and if it is indeed zero (or another low enough value) he'd pay no tax on that income.

Instead his wealth comes from the value of the stock he holds in the companies he owns, as the capital increases, along with any liquidity gained from dividends from elsewhere. Both are subject to capital gains tax, not income tax.

I've never understood why people go "Uhhhh Bezos made $400bn in the pandemic, pay your fair share instead of making space cocks". Sure, his stock might have risen an absurd amount, but unless he's dumb enough or badly advised enough to pay himself billions in salary, his income hasn't changed one bit - and you can't possibly be liable for income tax on $400bn of assets on April 5 when they could be -$400bn by April 7.


Are these two different sources of wealth linked together in the US Tax Code for some reason?

You're absolutely right that the press reports wealthy people having "made" billions because their stock went up, and that the stock could later go down, and would necessarily go down if they tried to actually spend those billions. And that the US tax code does not tax unrealized capital gains.

There is a weird move that uber rich folks like bezos do in order to avoid getting taxed on unrealized gains, which is to borrow against the stock portfolio. They can basically take out a loan on that $400B and spend the loaned money. This is not a taxed transaction either (although certainly treatment of a stock portfolio loan could change). They can basically keep their holdings in stock until death, and borrow against it until then as well, paying the lender interest and avoiding taxes for their entire lives as long as their stock portfolio remained high enough. The tax gets settled on death though.

Basically as long as Amazon rides high, Bezos can put off capital gains taxes until death. He pays a third party lender some money to be able to accomplish that, so it's not zero cost to bezos, but it is a lack of gain for the federal government. I would not at all be surprised to see some change in the tax code that prevents this buy, borrow, die strategy. Maybe some kind of stock market property tax.

At the moment, the US does not have a tax for unrealized capital gains. But there is a lot of grumbling about that.

Edit:

There are a lot of options. The article I linked talks about two, wealth taxes and taxes on portfolio lending. But there are more, like requiring an incremental step-up in basis.

 

[Biggles]

That's why there seems to be a lot of discussion about a wealth tax - or a tax on assets - rather than income.

I'm doing pretty good where I'm at. Both cars are paid for, house paid for. Just a pesky thing called property and tag tax.

It's not about how well you think you're doing. It's about the reality that the more money you make, the more "disposable income" you have available. Taxes may take an increased bite out of your earnings as they go up (possibly, but not necessarily), but the amount of spending power you have for discretionary purchases increases far more than the additional tax due. Of course, this reaches weird proportions when you have the wealth of someone like Bezos, where - literally - he would be unable to spend the amount of money he has in a lifetime.

Anyone who owns their own business is inevitably motivated more by the desire to build a successful business than the simple goal of making money. I'm sure that's true of people like Bezos, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Richard Branson etc. It's a bit different from somebody who works to earn a wage or salary.