Monday, March 22, 2010
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the daisy rules
- Oopsie Daisy
- Everyone is welcome! The only real rules here are no spamming shit and no posting personal addresses, phone numbers or other similar info. I don't need that kind of stress. That's it, although it could change if someone gets creative or something. If you don't like what is said here, you can: 1) Say so; 2) Hold it in and stew on it; 3. Address it privately to the person who said it; 4) Snark about it to your friends; 5) Leave. Don't bother me with it, I don't care and I won't get involved. I might, however, talk about you behind your back or post your email/message to me on here. *grins* Them's the rules...all of them. Have fun!
do something good
See how Sope Serigne Fallou Group from Senegal and Nuevo Camino Group from Chile doing and check Kiva out for yourself!
186 comments:
Thanks Sandy!
You're welcome. Little guy is being a bit mouthy today. He misses C.
sandy - I just said hi to you on molly site
I saw you there! hehe
My sister says I am so weird for watching this Owl - she just asked what I was doing b/c I am watching the school thing with Carlos - and she just doesn't understand - says is he really talking about that damn owl. :(
There were some good shots of Max today. My kids love this. I have to give C an update every time she calls.
::shakes fist at all of you:::
Please give the MFing link to the owl site again. ::scowls::
Just say NO! Don't do it! You will need a 12 step program!
http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox
Okay, I'm getting totally annoyed with the person who keeps twittering the same thing over and over again on Molly's site. Grrrr.
I didn't do the Molly Twitter because I didn't want to know every time she took a poop.
I'm not on twitter either (I don't think so).
alright ladies - I'll see you in a bit.
Hi owl watchers!
Wow, y'all were quiet today!
Robin, that is *so shitty, what Kally's ex is doing. I totally get her not wanting him to just pop in all the time but to have a scheduled tome daily? And something that doesn't need to involve her or slow her morning down? Bull. Shit. The only exception I can make to that is if it causes the girls to be moody or difficult after he leaves, missing him or emotions running high. If that's happened, then I'd honestly side with her but she needs to step up as an adult and parent and explain that to him in a reasonable way. Don't just (seemingly) arbitrarily say no. I don't think there's anything wrong with him very calmly telling the girls he can't come by in the mornings anymore because their mom asked him not to but he will miss their morning visits and will begin again the moment it's okay.
I'm watching Tiger of TV talking as if he's coming back from chemo treatments... what a douche canoe!
I just hope Jesse James is man enough not to cry sex addict...
Margaret - I didn't even think of that.
Stupid, stupid men.
JJ is an idiot! What the hell?!
He's a moron. I saw part of the interview with Tiger. He looked stoned.
Mulie, how have you been?
Health care stuff...
"From what I have heard, yes this healthcare thing is going to screw the poor."
Possibly not the truly poor and lower middle class, certainly not as badly as others. They don't pay taxes and this is going to be coming from taxpayer funding (raised taxes) so the only way that could happen would be if the whole tax-class system were revamped to make taxpayers out of lower income people than we have now. The problem is, the numbers of actual federal taxpayers in this country aren't as high as people seem to believe. If you get the EITC, you aren't a taxpayer, for example. Nearly 50% of all tax filers not only are non-taxpayers because they receive refunds equaling all they pad in and, in many cases (EITC, for example) more than they paid in. They actually profit. And *that money comes from the higher income tax filers. What will probably end up happening, since so few people can carry the financial burden of so many, is that the working poor/middle class may see credits such as the EITC stopped and the tax base lowered to include more of them, something not easily afforded in these times. :-/
"AP - can you give links of some impartial sites?"
I'm not sure what you're wanting info on, Kristin. The best thing to do is to start googling your questions and then doublecheck the sources of any info you find that answers your question.
"I think they just signed our nation's bankruptcy papers. And it has me wondering what will happen to our employer sponsored insurance plan. I need to do some research on that."
Totally agree with this. And because of the controls this bill will put on health insurance companies (no caps, must cover pre-existing conditions, etc.), we're all going to see a rate hike in our health insurances plans as soon as possible. If rate hikes are controlled, they'll drop coverages and raise deductibles instead. We *will feel it, there is no question. If the government tries to totally regulate private health insurance companies, they'll simply close up shop, as has happened with all of the good, solvent companies carrying homeowners insurance in Florida.
Here's my question...everyone agrees that this bill was historical, has changed the course of history, etc. Why couldn't we, as individuals, vote on it?
AP, it's that damn owl. Its all consuming. I need a sponsor. Just let me know when another egg hatches.
I can't believe I've not even gone to check Molly today. I do enjoy checking her but I've not gotten addicted to it, thankfully. Is Ron still trying to tell everyone the truth about Heaven today?
AP - that is a spambot and they banned ron but he comes back as someone else. I got in on the chat and it is much better.
i actually chatted with someone in Galveston and someone right around the corner from where I live.
I gave the Daisies a shout out on the Molly chat!
I'm too lazy to register for the regular chat. I'll just suffer the bots.
How was everyone's dinner? We had smoked sausages on buns with sauerkraut, salad and I thawed a little red velvet cake with cream cheese filling I'd made from leftover cupcake batter. Easy and good.
AP - I just found out that the state of Washington is probably going to sue the federal government over the healtcare bill. Apparently it is unconstitutional for the feds to force people to purchase something. I can only hope that it gets repealed for unconstitutionality.
I'm relatively certain that my hubbys employer will quit offering insurance due to this bill. It will really stink for us.
And I'm very concerned because to date we aren't in the tax bracket that is going to be footing the bill, we will probably be there next year, and I'm all for helping out those less fortunate, but it's not like they are asking millionaires to pick up the tab, it's the upper middle class.
So LM is enjoying the owl too and yesterday (last night) when Molly was scratching her beak on the floor of her box he got all excited. He said "da egg is cratching" meaning the egg is cracking. So cute.
AP I fall into every category that you mentioned as far as non-tax payers. What I dont get is why is it that our country doesnt just do things the right way with taxes?
Maybe I am ignorant or something IDK but why cant we do a flat 15% tax rate on every single person who works in this country? Now taking info from Wiki.com I figure that based upon working age and median two family incomes the govt could have an average of $2,099,102,512,800. Then if they cut some of those damn retirement accounts and maybe just maybe start taxing those who are serving politicians perhaps there would be money for everything?
Oh and we had rotisserie chicken, SO threw some veggies in a pan and made some rice. So that was our dinner - after fried oreos and other crap we ate - he decided healthy was best.
Lindsay, Florida's Attorney General, Bill McCollum, was the first to announce we're suing and I understand 9 other states (so far) have stepped in with us. I've never particularly liked the man (waaay too Republican for my taste) but I'm cheering him on for this. They say that even if it is appealed, it will take years and in the meantime, we're going to start paying for this mess soon. And yes, many employers will be dropping health coverage now for their employees...they won't be able to afford (or won't want to afford) the increases to their portion of the premiums.
Question for y'all, since I smell me playing with numbers tonight *eyes SW's empty chair*. n running figures in the past, the one figure I have never been able to find ANYWHERE is what the average cost of medical care would be per person in the US, if we all had to pay out of pocket for it. I'm talking every single thing requiring a doctor visit at some point in time, including prescriptions, but not including OTC products. I've always felt $20,000 per person annually is a safe, low-ball estimate of an average. Would y'all agree or disagree with that?
VA says that it will sue too... a historical vote means that there was a whole lot of behind the deals made - the whole thing makes me sick.
"Maybe I am ignorant or something IDK but why cant we do a flat 15% tax rate on every single person who works in this country?"
Shannon, in theory, I agree. I do think many would struggle at 15%, though, and I admit I have trouble with everyone not paying a share, regardless of income. I've always felt a federal tax collected as a sales tax on everything would be more fair to everyone across the board...naturally, the wealthier will still pay more because they, on the whole, spend more. If they don't like it, they can always choose to be more frugal. On the flip side, done as a sales tax the rate could be low enough that even the very poor could contribute to the system they use too, and at a dollar figure in keeping with their income and outlays. How would you feel about that?
Despite hair in curlers and trying to iron scrubs - gotta jump in a bit.
AP - Considering I work at a hospital that has the busiest ER on the west coast, and many of those ER visits are due to clinics being closed, or people not having insurance, I would think that ratchets up your 20K annual estimate. Also, any procedures, operations, traumas, major illnesses and end of life extraordinary measures will skyrocket that figure. Let us know what you find out because it is an estimate that should be in public view.
Have a great night everyone!
"VA says that it will sue too... a historical vote means that there was a whole lot of behind the deals made - the whole thing makes me sick."
Margaret, many aren't even all that behind-the-scenes, which astounds me. Our Congresswoman, Suzanne Kosmos, is a Democrat who was resoundingly against this bill up until two days before it passed. She had a conversation with Obama, during which he agreed to reconsider keeping the Shuttle program active and adding additional funding for NASA (she represents the Space Center). After their meeting, she decided to vote for the bill but swears it had nothing to do with their talk of the Space Center and funding poured into our area. The fact is, if you eliminate everyone who got special promises and earmarks for their districts from the voting results, the bill would have been defeated. There's something very, very wrong with that.
"AP - Considering I work at a hospital that has the busiest ER on the west coast, and many of those ER visits are due to clinics being closed, or people not having insurance, I would think that ratchets up your 20K annual estimate."
Kaytie, I think it's far higher, too. But I purposely want to lowball it to the extreme, to really show how incredible the necessary dollar figure will be annually. I've tried for a few years now to find an accurate number and have had no luck, which I find odd.
Have a good night and don't forget to take the curlers out!
Why would anyone want to stay in medicine if reimbursement rates are less than what medicare/medicaid is now. The bigger hospitals or hospital systems will be able to suck up lower reimbursement rates but small community hospitals will not be able to.
See for me that would even work AP. I just honestly hate that there are unfair shares of taxes being paid. Even as someone who receives the EITC I hate it. Why should you or anyone else have to owe more taxes at the end of they year yet I pay next to nothing and get THOUSANDS of dollars back in return?
I also feel that corporations and small businesses should be set at a flat tax rate. That way it gives small businesses a chance to become established and set and as they become more successful the tax stays the same so they know what their percentage will be year to year.
I dont think that there should be so many deductions and such either. I dont think that they should be considered and perhaps with a flat tax rate or what you proposed then there would be no need for those things.
Today's politicians are dirty. They compromise themselves to get into office and to stay in office.
One thing I wonder about the health care bill is what about people like me who go forever without seeing a doctor? I know that a lot of people out there have heath issues and such that require frequent hospitalizations and doctors visits but what about those that dont?
Now with the medicare dollars? Is that just the elderly or is that anyone on state sponsored medical?
It just stinks because I know we have a choice come November to get rid of these guys (and gals), but on other social issues, I do not fall in line with Republicans. And Independents rarely have a chance, you know? So how do I send a message?
It astounds me, though, that most of the people I know were against this bill and yet it still passed.
And I get what Margaret is saying, too, about the smaller community hospitals not being able to absorb the costs. I'm pretty sure my local hospital (which is also funded publicly through our hospital district levies) would go out of business, and we'd have to drive at least 25 miles to get to one north of us or south of us.
Shannon - I heard this from a local radio guy, but if you don't go to the hospital normally, and you would choose not to be insured because you don't want to pay for it, you could go to prison. It would be breaking the law for you not to buy health insurance.
Yes they do Margaret. Now I dont remember if I am getting this info right or not as it was from over 20 years ago. When I was in HS and lived in Maine one of the senators or congressmen, I believe Olympia Snow, was a major proponent for term limits.....up until it was her time.
I think that it could really be important to set term limits because they hold on to those positions like they are air and water. But then again if you can make 6 figures per year tax free I think you would too LOL.
We need to seriously CUT the salaries that ALL elected officials make. There is no reason at all that they should be making so much money tax free and then receive a huge retirement. I know a lot of people feel that they deserve to make so much but seriously they dont have to pay for a damn thing while in office...we pay for it all.
AP - thank you for the "take out curlers" reminder!
I couldn't agree more Shannon. Even if we didn't but their salaries, but started taxing them, that would make a huge difference.
It's like this bill shines a light on how badly this country needs tax reform in general.
Lindsay this country needs so much reform it isnt even funny.
It's up to 37 states that are suing the government.
I know you'll be fined for not buying health insurance but I don't think you'll go to prison if you pay the fine.
Medicare dollars are for the elderly, Medicaid is for the poor. This plan slashes the Medicare budget, health care for our elderly who have paid in all these years, by half a trillion dollars. Nice, huh?
And Margaret, the small community hospitals will have to rely on additional government funding in addition to this plan to stay afloat. More taxpayer dollars paid out.
Washington is one giant douche canoe race!
Actually, thinking on it, so will large hospitals..it ought not be any different. Yes, they're larger but they also see more patients and often more patients with less private health insurance. Hmmm.
I heard that they will be hiring 16,000 IRS agents to monitor companies and individuals to make sure they do have health insurance.
INSANE!
From what I heard - it would suck for people like me - right now i can't afford health insurance and my company is a small company and wouldn't be able to afford it - so I would have to purchase my own - or be "fined" for the fact I don't have it. yeah, that makes sense - I already can't afford health insurance - and if I don't purchase it - penalize me even more by making me pay - yeah, that makes a whole hell of a lot of sense.
Lindsay I also agree with you that it feels that the people of this country dont have a choice when it comes to elections. Such a small portion of Americans even know that there are parties other then R and D. They dont even know that they probably fit more into another political category then they vote for.
Hell I didnt even know that I was more a Libertarian until AP posted her little thingy that you go through and actually see where your beliefs and decisions put you.
People in this country are lackadaisical about politics and figure that by them doing nothing means they are doing something....WRONG WRONG WRONG.
I am just saying it is time for a bit of a revolution and another Boston Tea Party to tell our "leaders", who are actually supposed to be our servants, that we mean business and have had enough of their shit!!!!
Kistin I agree. I dont have health insurance. I have never had a job that offered health insurance that actually followed through with it, there are always loop holes.
Will they FORCE insurance companies to lower their costs? They should. Seriously if that many millions of Americans were paying for insurance it means that the ins companies are getting more money.
"I am just saying it is time for a bit of a revolution"
I'm with you, Shannon, and I suspect that's *exactly what we're about to see happen. Not necessarily with muskets and tattered flags, but I've got a dollar that says we're going to see a new form of sit-in - "I'm not buying health insurance and I'm not paying the goddamn fine. Jail me."
Yep. I mean maybe the thoughts behind having health care available for everyone is a good idea and well intentioned but GODDAMMIT insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies are some of the biggest money makers there are. How in the hell can filling their pockets fuller if they are doing nothing to help out those that pay them be ok?
Now I am sorry but after some of the shit that Bush pulled while in office I am ready for some serious change!!! Our government is growing too big for its britches and doing NOTHING for the people of this country anymore. I would love to have health insurance but not with a threat hanging over my head with it.
"Will they FORCE insurance companies to lower their costs? They should"
NOOOOOOOOOOOO, they should not. Oh, lord, that made my blood pressure skyrocket, Shannon! Government needs to stay the hell out of private business, period. If they don't, private business gets vengeful, as they should. That aside, people too quickly confuse health insurance companies with health care providers and they are not. They sell a service at the highest price the market will allow, just like car dealers, grocery stores and phone companies. Nothing more or less. Threats and regulation get you nowhere. If you want health insurance companies to lower rates, reward them for doing so in the form of tax breaks that make it financially worth their while to do so. Nothing else will work.
I'm reading a good book right now a friend wrote - it's called something like the search for middle ground - it's a simple book about his life in politics/public service and what true bipartisanship is all about. We've lost sight of the truth in this country. DC is run by private interest groups and it's a feeding frenzy over dollars. There are very few people left who do the right thing.
Margaret, are you comfortable giving the name f the book? I'd be interested in that.
I guess if anything good can come out of this, it's the realization that we *aren't powerless and just have to stand by while the politicians make the changes that line their pockets. *We have got to take our government back!
Watch, now I'll have the FBI watching me. I kind of sound like I'm ready to form a militia :p
My husband is contracted with the government and works in buildings like the one that was blown up in OK. We have to purchase our health insurance. We cannot afford to go to the doctor other than a regular office visi with the $30.00 copay. Our deductible is $2,500.00 in order to keep the premium low.
Brian needs an echocardiogram for a heart murmur. Because it is a faint murmur, we have elected not to have the test done.
Caitlyn's autism is currently NOT COVERED.
I have untreated high blood pressure and a mass on my right breast. I cannot have another mammogram because it is not covered by insurance if the doctor writes "abnormal". We just got done paying for my last mammogram from 2 years ago just recently. Between the blood work, 2 mammograms 3 ultrasounds and a surgeon, our total out of pocket was $2,400. We had to pay it all.
What is my point, I don't know. Can something good come out of this bill, maybe? Will we all pay for it in the long run, absolutely? Will I think long and hard about who I will vote for again, you betcha!
My thing with the tax breaks and such AP is that it doesnt matter if a company pays no tax they will still charge the same thing for the same service and simply have bigger and better profits. They are all about the Benjamins and the bonuses for the top execs they dont care about helping people.
Before Josh got laid off from his job the boss was offering health insurance. It would have cost over $600 a month to add me to his insurance. I might see a doctor twice a year if I have to. I havent been in the hospital outside of child birth since I was years old. Yet it would have cost us that much money every month.
Totally OT but I feel weird - on occasion when I move - I get that feeling like when you are startled - like if you weren't paying attention and you look and a baseball is about to hit you or a kid is going to pounce on you.
It's weird. Hmmm....
Sandy - I feel so bad about that for you, and I guess that's why everyone was pushing so hard to pass it. They wanted change that they could feel and they wanted it right now. Heck, I wanted change, too. For years, Travis had to work a second job loading trucks in the morning at UPS before heading to his architecture job so we could have benefits for free through the Teamsters.
The only thing worse than not having insurance is having crappy insurance that doesn't cover anything, but you still have to pay for. I'm not confident that this reform did anything to help people out.
It's In Search of Middle Ground - Memoirs of a Washington Insider. His name is Warren Cikins.
K - is it like a panic attack? Does your heart race?
M - I forgot to ask, how's your FIL?
Nope - not a panic attack - heart is fine - head is just weird.
Maybe your sinuses? I am going to go look at a neti pot this week. My sinuses have me all weirded out.
Sorry to post and run earlier.
I am glad they finally got SOMEthing passed! I would not have voted for what was passed, but I am glad to see a start. I believe access to affordable health care is a civil right, but at the same time, we pay over $1200 a month for our portion of our health insurance. That does not include co-pays $35, $1000 family deductible, RX, or ER visits. That lowered my husband's pay almost 20k last year, which had our family of 4 living on less than 30k.
Oh, and that's 30k before taxes and 401k.
Sandy, I feel for you! We pay a lot for our healthcare coverage and then I pay a lot out of pocket for all I need with my crap heart. With my workers comp claim pending I had to pay 100% of the mri, epidurals and physicians fees until the hearing or whenever this thing is settled. I know it's tough for a lot of people out there, I just don't think this blanket fix is the answer. My dad's family is from England, they have socialized medicine and from what I saw it was crap. It's good respite care but not a whole lot of money going into research and technology.
FIL had a procedure today to drain the fluid from his lungs - his heart just isn't pumping right.
C is still with us - today when the clouds were rolling and the thunder was raging I swear I thought she was going to make her move :)
Poor Taiya :(
Kristin - I had some really weird thing going on with my head/eyes two years ago. Turned out I needed reading glasses! Maybe you're watching too much owlcam :)
Oh no Taiya that is horrible.....
Totally off topic I just got my final grades
I PASSED EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!
Taiya - sad. Yuck. And pregnant to boot. I'm so sorry :(
M - that would have been the perfect time for C to make her grand exit. That woman is a fighter! And I'm so sorry about your FIL. Are you guys thinking of going to see him?
Taiya, What happened with Kellie at SIF's?
Woo Hoo Shannon! Good work girl!
I've got too much owlcam going on. I'm waiting patiently for another egg to hatch. I swear I'm going to see it this time.
Good on you, Shannon! Remind me again what your going for.
No trips to see FIL planned - I'm following hubs lead on this one :)
Way to go Shannon!
I'm headed to be daisies.
Nighty night M :) Sleep tight!
that would be bed daisies :)
Oh Taiya - I am so sorry!
Margaret - sorry about your FIL and for your friend. I hope she isn't in too much pain.
Buzz is painful to watch on DWTS's.
Still catching up - and it does kinda feel a bit like vertigo - i had that years ago and it sucked!
I guess I should be heading on to make dinner.
Loved the intelligent convo - wish SW had been here to hear her take. Hopefully the birthday bagel breakfast party didn't do her in :)
oh...and lol about owlcam - I haven't watched a whole lot tonight.
CONGRATS Shannon - I am so proud of you. I know that sounds weird but I am, and I know that I wanted to hear that when I was muddling through.
Mulie I am currently working on my ASOT but not this fall but the next I will become an Oregon State Beaver where I will be getting my BA in Liberal Arts minoring in Business and Entrepreneurship.
Night Margaret!
K - I just had that at Christmas time. Try taking a sudafed or advil cold. It really helped me a lot. It was kind of dizzying when I had it and it was weird when I would move my head from side to side.
Kristin I will take all the encouragement I can get :)
Shannon - what? OSU????? Okay, my grandfather was an alum, so I should be able to get over it, but I come from a long line of Ducks :)
How long before DWTS has Buzz Aldrin doing the moon walk?
Alright - now I really must go start my frittata. Nobody will understand if we don't eat until 9:00 so I can chat with my friends and watch the owl do nothing.
Hey Sarah - if you are lurking - hoping you and potato are doing well :)
I miss a bunch of Daisy's/SIPsters - so if you are lurking - HI and hope all is well!
Trudy, RF, Amy, Cupcake, Ann, Bec, JJ, HiT, Dawn, Lee, EL, EM, CPT, et al ...
Oh, and my sinuses are fine - no drainage or stuffiness. hmmm....
Lindsay I freaking live in Eugene!!! LOL I feel awful about being such a traitor but dammit the UofO isnt offering any programs exclusively online at this point and seriously I do NOT want to be in classes with a bunch of kids young enough to be my kids. Never mind the fact that with my ADHD I do not do well with lecture.
I think I will sign off for the evening. Night, all!
night mulie!
CK - if you are on - how was the hubby's interview.
I think I am going to bed in a few too, I just got really freakin' tired.
Damn you people and your sleep!! It isnt even seven here yet LOL
it is almost 9:00 here. LM was up around 3:00 and then up around 5:30.
Why does that boy get up so much at night? Is he making you feel like you have a little little one again?
I don't know Shannon - and i would love to have another little one but I want to do it right the next time.
Well i am exhausted - and he is still awake - :(
uggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh.
Hi Daisy's just checking in - Patti came home and we had leftovers for dinner instead of the indian food, and then just left again to go back to megan's to help her paint another coat - cause riley spent the night with his uncle. they both asked me to come and I said no - i'm tired, a little headache and sore throat and i cleaned all day yesterday and all day today - and I babysat 5 days in a row and had both boys yesterday and i'm TIRED!! but now I feel guilty that they are over there painting and I'm sitting in the recliner, on the computer!!
Got only one page to catch up - yay! be right back!
Karen - you have every right to decline!
Goodnight ladies - I'm going to climb into bed and hope LM stays in bed.
*see ya tomorrow.
Taiya: I'm sorry to hear, how yucky. Was anyone else in your family affected?
Shannon: Congratulations!
Health Care: I dunno, I'm just a foreign observer here and I haven't been following it as closely as I should have maybe. I have to say that I feel that I am heavily taxed, in my income tax bracket, I lose almost 30% right off the bat just in in federal and provincial taxes (teacher's pay, remember, my husband loses more than 30%). I think I am buying a lot with it though, in my opinion, and I'm not sure how the new healthcare system will look for you but everyone should have access to good quality healthcare. I never have to worry if I have to take my kids in to the doctor or to have tests or whatever, once a year, or once a day. Am I being too simple with this line of thinking? I mean other countries manage to pull it off and still keep their heads above water, and this includes countries which are much much poorer than the U.S. I haven't crunched numbers, I wouldn't know where to even start. But just my (simplistic?) $0.02.
Night Kristin....hoping LM has good sound sleep all night long :)
FT one of the things here really that people I think tend to forget is that on average American's pay approximately 25% in taxes. My uncle calculated one day that between state and federal and FICA they work for free until April or May just to pay their taxes and then have their health care above and beyond that.
Shannon I'm also proud of you for passing all your classes -that is excellent news!!!
Kristin you said He said "da egg is cratching"
That is the cutest thing EVER! I love 3 year olds!!
I really feel kinda crappy and feeling so guilty for not helping them paint right now - I never ever cry - and I seriously feel just like crying.... What the heck? I hope I'm just getting sick - I'm not sure why I feel this way.... I'm just Tired - with a capital T!
and not sleepy either, just Tired!!
You're right Shannon - there is a day - in April I think - that is the day that after that is when you actually being to earn the money you get to keep and not pay out in taxes -
Yea - Tax Freedom Day
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/25/pf/taxes/tax_freedom/index.htm
I love google!
Oh my Buzz Aldron gets credit for doing DWTS but oy - he looks like an 80 year old trying to remember steps... But he's so likeable - he'll stay in for a while I bet... He is cracking me up!!!
Shannon: So an average salary currently paying 25% would pay how much more? I mean I certainly pay more than my fair share of taxes, more meaning so far I have taken out of the system far less than I will take out (barring unforseen, assuming my life goes on like today, right?). My property taxes are now over $4,000.00 per year and my house isn't huge. Being taxed and having taxes increased is not fun and I grumble with the rest. But I'm not planning on moving anywhere. I dunno, how much more will the average Joe pay?
We also have tax freedom day, last year it was on June 6.
"The institute calculates tax-freedom day by adding up all of the taxes Canadians would pay to various levels of government.
They include income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, profit taxes, health, social security and employment taxes, import duties, licence fees, taxes on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, natural resource fees, fuel taxes, hospital taxes and a host of other levies. "
You know what is crazy too? I live in Oregon, one of the only states left in the US that does not have a sales tax. We are running out of money for schools. Running out of money for law enforcement. Running out of money for other safety personnel (like ambulances, fire and paramedics). We are running low on money to fund these basic things that we need. We have like 9 Fridays set out on predetermined dates where ALL state offices are closed due to budget cuts. There are other things as well but in order to get to the point I have to stop there LOL.
Well what we do have is property taxes. Now mind you property taxes are only paid by home OWNERS not renters. Every single ballot there is something on there in regards to changing funding and potentially raising property taxes. Schools have been voted no for. Police and emergency have been voted no for. Yet everything that increases jail/prison expense has been approved.
Prison population in this state is going up quickly because they have stiffened the penalties for things that used to be considered minor....yet there is no one to work in the prisons because not enough funding.
Does it not make sense to anyone that a sales tax would be more beneficial to this state then property taxes? Hell they have even said if we get a sales tax passed the property tax will be done away with. Yet here we stand a state with no money, with some of the highest unemployment in the nation, and we do nothing about it....makes no sense to me.
::trying to learn more about this::
Is this a good site? Maybe not impartial...
http://www.healthreform.gov/
Anyone here have a counter-site I could look at?
FT I dont know how much taxes would go up with the health care bill.
Shannon, I thought all states had sales tax. We pay (in Ontario, varies by province) 8% sales tax. Oh and then for kicks they added ANOTHER tax a few years ago, the GST (Goods and Services Tax) which was initially 7%. Only this wasn't a perfect plan because SOME things were GST exempt. So anyway they eventually lowered the GST to 6%, and now 5% but that's now working out so good for the government so now there is a *combined tax of 13% on every single freaking thing you buy or service you pay for, even if it was GST exempt before. But again I have to say that I think I receive excellent services for my taxes. I just hope that stop inventing new taxes. Oh and stop increasing property taxes every reassessment period, that would be nice too. I mean I'm not selling the damned house, so whether the government thinks it's worth more or not does not equal $ in my pocket.
::glad at least Shannon is still speaking with me, did I run everybody else off?:: :0)
No I think that was my doing FT LOL
Nope Oregon is one of the last states to not have a Sales Tax. I think there is only 1 maybe 2 others left that dont.
I'm reading and listening FT - to you and Shannon both - who I must say are much much more informed than I am! I'm a bad consumer!!
LOL Karen
So Karen I have to ask you and FT what kind of taxes do you have as far as things like cigarettes and alcohol do you have since you both have the sales tax stuff
FT, I think some people would be paying 30% or more in taxes. It all depends on your annual income.
Karen: I know a lot about my little world, but I confess not too much about the U.S. comings and goings, politically. I mean that's probably true of Americans re: how much Cdn politics they understand (or want to) but it's no excuse. I should know more. I follow your elections kinda closely, does that redeem me? Oh and you guys have WAY better scandals in your government, I think the most dramatic thing that ever happened here was when Jean Chretien (very former PM) hit a burglar over the head with an Inuit sculpture a few years ago. Good times.
Here in Illinois in the county that I live in, we pay the highest sales tax in the nation which is 10% Our state tax is around 3%. I live on the boarder of another county and they pay 6-8%. I do most of my shopping in the lower taxed county as do a lot of my friends.
Shannon - Oregon has a state income tax as well, right? My cousin gets really dinged because Washington doesn't have a state income tax but we have sales tax. She has to pay the Oregon state income tax because she works in Oregon, but then gets the sales tax because she lives in Washington. She also pays the Washington property taxes. We are heading towards a sales tax and an income tax in Washington, I'm afraid. Food is exempt from our sales tax, but now they just approved a "sin tax" on candy. Washington is a mess, too.
I used to work at an outlet mall and we most of our customers were Canadian because of the PST and GST. They said even with paying for the gas and driving down from Vancouver and paying our 8.7% sales tax, they still got a better deal. I couldn't believe that!
Aaack! Molly is eating and tearing some poor rodent to shreds. It's kind of greusome but so fascinating!
Ohio's state sales tax rate stands at 5.5%, which is below the national median of 6%
The state cigarette tax is I believe $2.25 a pack - I pay $5.25 for a pack here - in NY it was much much much higher - I think I was paying almost $7 a pack for semi generic Misty cigarettes!!
Sales tax is 6 1/2 percent which is also much less than it was in NY!
Yeah we have State income taxes....hell here it is the state that screws more people over then the federal LOL
Ugggh watching Kate Gosselin on DWTS - she doesn't even look like her any more.... sheesh!!
Karen here we pay nearly 6 bucks a pack. I was trying to find the current tax per pack but havent had much luck just yet LOL I was watchin an owl
Did you hear the dog bark Shannon? Scared the crap out of me. I had no idea my speakers were up so loud! Ha!
Patti's mom just told her the other day that they are going to start sin taxing soda (pop) not diet soda - just regular Pepsi Coke, etc. They say that its to deter childhood obesity...
Who says SODA and who calls it POP?
Soda tax is in NY!
LOL I did and I did jump
Last night I friggin forgot about my sound being turned on and was doing something else when daddy came home for a visit....scared the begebbers outta me
Crap, it ate my comment.
Okay. I haven't smoked since Jan 2003 (not that I'm counting or anything, LOL!) and I don't drink much so I had to look it up! The gov't has raised the cost of cigarettes dramatically to dissuade people from smoking, I remember paying like $3.25 or something and the bam it was near $10.
Anyway, here it is: the amount of taxes payable on cigarettes represents between 63% and 79% (2007 source). My same source states that in NY, it is around 38%. Why, I wonder? Ontario apparently has the lowest priced cigarettes or did in 2007. Many people with good connections buy reserve cigarettes, or cigarettes resold by people who live on reserves who are tax exempt. This is very very common actually.
I can't find a good source for the rate applied on alcohol. Will keep looking.
They call the taxes on alcohol and cigarettes sin taxes, LOL!
Best way to fight childhood obesity....kick the little bastards out of the house and if they want to go to the store make them walk!!!!! That is why people are so much "fatter" these days, they dont have to do as much as they used to.
I call it Coke! No matter what kind of soda it is. I know - that's weird!
And the whole sin tax thing just bugs the crap out of me. If I want to drink soda, drink alcohol, eat candy or smoke cigarettes, it's my choice! How do they think they can punish me for that???? Grrr.
Do you all remember the movie Demolition Man? It has Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes in it. Remember how everything deemed bad for you was outlawed...well I think we are headed that way.
I remember coming home from school and being told to go outside and play - and would come in for dinner, back outside til dark, and then to bed - and summer it was all day every day - and winter time, snow up to my butt - outside every day! Kids today have video games and all the other tech stuff to keep them on the couch - whether they drink soda or not - they are just sitting - its the couch potato generation!!!
Its thundering and lightening here - I love it!
And I call it Soda and Pop
Lindsay thats my problem, everything I like is Sin Taxed :( But... I pay it and continue with my sinning ways!! Didn't make me stop!
I call it pop unless it's that pink crap and then it's soda.
Exactly Karen it has not so much to do with what is going in their mouth and a lot more to do with the fact that their butts are permanent fixtures on the sofa.
And I am envious of your thunder and lightning
Karen - I'm not going to stop buying candy or coke for pete's sake. And I haven't given up my wine (and I keep paying the taxes as they raise them!)
Pam Anderson, how old is she??? She is hot!
And dancing really well!
Well, her face isn't much - but I'll take that body at her age for sure!! dang!
Okay, I'm off to watch Chuck. My favorite mindless entertainment show. Goodnight ladies :)
Karen she has the best body that money can buy...unfortunately where the face is concerned there is a thing called too much and then it all goes to shit LOL
Night Lindsay
Yea she is definately sexy - but that face is a plastic surgeon's kids college education or something.... probably the body too - but it looks pretty good!
What is the pink stuff FT? I used to call it pop but lived in NY and it turned into me calling it soda and now that I'm back here, its still soda - pop sounds funny!
Night Lindsay
well shit...no more owls for a while
Im not hater Karen if I had the money I would have that body too :)
OHHHHH me too Shannon - at least most of it - and a little bit of the face work too!
Karen, I think it's cream soda but the kids just call it soda. I think it's disgusting, I can't even think of a descriptive word to suggest what it tastes like.
Shannon: why, what happened to the owls?
It's all Coke to me. As in "I'm going to get some Coke...what kind do you want?"
"Dr. Pepper."
Is that a Southern thing AP?
AP: LOL!
The video went off air but it just came back up again
We also call soda/pop TASTIES in this household LOL
Tasties? never heard that one Shannon!!
I need to see that owl tonight too - is the next egg cracking yet?
There is rumor that a second egg began pipping today but I dont know....but hell I didnt see Max's egg with cracks till he fell out LOL
Yep we all need tasty beverages so we send someone to the store for tasties :)
Ohh I'm eating a granola bar and I see Molly grabbing some carcass of some type - and lifting it up right in front of the camera... I'm done now!
LOL cute Shannon! I am not at all a big soda drinker - my drink of choice if coffee - all day and all night - I'm horrible! Some days I have nothing but coffee... I know I should drink at least water sometimes, but coffee is made out of water, right? It doesn't make me jittery or not sleep - I just like it - and am totally addicted to it... If I don't have it - I get a headache! If I sleep in late, I have a headache when I wake up that goes away as I drink my first cup ... Its a horrible headache too! My dad was the same way - I used to make fun of him, having coffee before bed to prevent the morning headache but now I have to do the same thing!
FT, one big difference between us and Canada is that y'all started out when some Socialist leanings early and grew around them. I'll say here, too, that I really don't have any big problems with Socialism...just not *here. It cannot and will not work here for a variety of reasons. That said, the biggest one is that you can't go backwards and have it work, which is what we'd be having to do, as opposed to other nations with national health care plans. Also, y'all pay more in taxes but across the board, your pay rates are considerably higher than ours, from what I understand. Ours can't accommodate your tax rate, nor are situations in place to allow for employers to pay more. So, increasing taxes to that extent isn't an option. I suspect, too, that mentalities may be very different. Americans are very much of a "gimme" mindset. We tend to feel entitled and if it's "free", we'll grab at it. Give us a national health plan and you're going to have a shitload of people going for every sore throat and ache they have, if for no other reason than to try to get a doctor's note to get out of work. Claims for disability will shoot through the roof. Man, I need to just shut up before I bore everyone to death...I'm sorry.
"Is that a Southern thing AP?"
I suspect so, Karen.
I just noticed Lindsay says "Coke", too. Where are you from, Lindsay?
Feel better, Taiya.
By the way, Shannon? Florida has no state income tax and our sales tax is (I think) 6% (only on non-food items) but we can, as individual counties, vote to take on an increase to help pay for public works projects. We ran at 7% for a couple of years and built a huge new jail, paid in full by the increase. Frankly, it's hard to even notice the difference when buying things...I love sales tax as a means of paying for all types of things. It's a very fair and painless way of generating money.
I really think that in a lot of ways a sales tax is so much better. It is more fair that way so that people arent paying in thousands over the year and at tax time suddenly get stiffed owing a couple of more thousand.
I can't see eliminating a property tax in favor of another tax. Income tax was temporary here too (raise funds for the war, post 1917) and here we are. Beware they may just add a tax on you guys.
<--- thinks AP is really really smart.
Crap. I keep talking about it. I *am sorry, I can't seem to shut up. FT, that site you gave is the official government site and while not exactly inaccurate, it's "spun".
AP, yeah I figured it might be. Do you know of a counter-site (not radical, I'd like facts) that I can read to balance it?
<-- thinks AP may actually be a Canadian in disguise. Eh?
Ooooh, first clue that AP may be Canadian: she keeps *apologizing.
Does anyone here watch CornerGas?
FT never heard of it!
AP don't apologize I find it interesting!
Watching Molly - the talk is that the husband owl will be there soon - never saw that...
They said on the site that owls mate for life - I think thats cool!
Canadian series. One time in an episode entitled American Resolution, the main character Brent and his mother Emma were trying to make the father (Oscar) think he might be deported to the U.S. because he was acting too "American". They suggested he start apologizing a lot, saying "jackbum" not "jackass", not eating apple pie or watching baseball, and not being loud and aggressive. They had him all worked up, it was hilarious. Plays on stereotypes on both sides.
Oh, FT, I'm so *not smart. I'm just very cautious and somewhat cynical. I love this country fiercely but don't trust our government at all. Know your enemies and what they are up to, you know? And our property taxes are fairly high here. My old house is valued (by the county) at around $55.000. Yeah, not a lot. M<y property taxes? $1300 a year. Homeowners insurance on it, due to the state government trying to "regulate"? $1900 a year up from $850.
Lord. I do apologize a lot, I know. I'd say I'm sorry but I might become a lumberjack or something. :-D
I'll look for some more neutral sites in a bit. So far, I've found some of the best stuff on Ron Paul-affiliated sites but I'm even cautious of those.
Going for the night - see you tomorrow!
AP: that seems steep based on the value!
Goodnight, Karen. I hope you're less tired and feeling better tomorrow!
FT, it *is steep. Don't get me wrong, I don't live in the ghetto by any means, contrary to what that looks like dollar-wise. Four years ago, my house could have sold quickly at just under $200,000. Such is Florida now, and the result of a lot of state regulating.
Interesting chat tonight, AP, thanks for enlightening me! Goodnight to anyone still hanging around!
*** new post up and sending sweet dreams to all the Daisies, talky or lurky ***
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