|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:55 am Post subject: Why aren't Dems paying their taxes? |
 |
|
For a group of people who have a general philosophical disposition towards more government (more taxes) these people are sure having difficulties.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28994296/
Drudge is calling this a circus.. I am starting to agree. This is 4 tax dodgers thus far.
Last edited by mises on Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:29 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:34 am Post subject: Re: Why aren't Dems paying their taxes? |
|
|
| mises wrote: |
For a group of people who have a general philosophical disposition towards more government (more taxes) these people are sure having difficulties.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28994296/
Drudge is calling this a circus.. I am starting to agree. This is 4 tax dodgers thus far. |
Democrats are Socialists of various stripes - from foolish Fabians to Fascists. What they have in common is that socialists and other so-called "do-gooders" who wish to spend government money to further their goals are the greediest, most selfish people in the world.
A truly good and generous person who is not selfish will attempt to help the poor, or promote his pet cause with his own money. He may encourage or solicit others to help, voluntarily, but he will not use force to steal money from others just to satisfy his own desires. He would never use tax money, stolen money. He would never seek to enrich himself in the process, in fact he would generously donate his own time and money and likely end up poorer but happier. (George Bailey, for example.)
The Democrats are an amalgamation of people who want to steal other people's money to achieve their goals. They have no desire to spend their own. In fact, the leading Democratic office holders use their positions as public do-gooders to enrich themselves at the expense of the people they pretend to be helping.
So, these phoney do-gooders cry crocodile tears, pretend to help whatever group will get them the most power, steal money from the powerless, enrich themselves, and don't give a damn whether they actually help anyone.
Since it's all about greed, why would anyone be surprised that they cheat as much as possible on their taxes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Blow to the Obama administration. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tax chislers are so....mundane. I miss the good old days of gay Republican sex scandals.
I can understand a computer repairman and his elementary school teacher wife trying every tax dodge they can find, but for someone who is angling for a high government position where they know for a fact their every financial decision since the 3rd grade will be looked at....just foolish. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Obama: "I made a mistake".
How refreshing. |
I like that too. From that point, my thought process goes two ways:
1) WTF is going on with these clowns not paying taxes nor owning up to it before their nominations are made public. Are they trying to be "sneaky"?
2) I like that Obama admits he made a mistake. Luckily, the vetting process caught this garbage before these yak asses were given a more powerful position. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No, no, no, this is all wrong.
Drudge, as usual, is misleading. We have a few individuals with minor tax liens, two with $1,000 or under.
As for Daschle, yes his tax obligations were much larger. But Daschle's main problem was his dealings with private health care and how that would look given his proposed position at Health and Human Services. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Kuros wrote: |
| As for Daschle, yes his tax obligations were much larger. But Daschle's main problem was his dealings with private health care and how that would look given his proposed position at Health and Human Services. |
Glad they got rid of them.
Actually, there are MANY people who actually seem to believe that Obama wants to provide universal healthcare. I haven't read ANYTHING to this whatsoever, the only thing I saw was coverage of kids, and that is about it. This just confirms to all of the many Republicans and anti-universal healthcare people that Obama had no intention whatsoever of changing their preferred system.
Daschle lobbying with all the industries that create the problem, is part of the problem. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Another Obama nominee has tax problems
When it rains in D.C. these days, it pours Obama administration nominees with tax issues. Thursday brought the news that Labor Secretary-nominee Hilda Solis' husband, Sam Sayyad, had, on Wednesday, paid $6,400 to settle tax liens on his business, some of them dating back 16 years.
The news was broken by USA Today, which asked Solis and Sayyad about the liens on Tuesday; the couple says they were unaware of them before that. A White House spokesman told the paper that Sayyad believes he had paid the taxes, and plans to appeal. |
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/02/05/solis/index.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| mises wrote: |
| Quote: |
Another Obama nominee has tax problems
When it rains in D.C. these days, it pours Obama administration nominees with tax issues. Thursday brought the news that Labor Secretary-nominee Hilda Solis' husband, Sam Sayyad, had, on Wednesday, paid $6,400 to settle tax liens on his business, some of them dating back 16 years.
The news was broken by USA Today, which asked Solis and Sayyad about the liens on Tuesday; the couple says they were unaware of them before that. A White House spokesman told the paper that Sayyad believes he had paid the taxes, and plans to appeal. |
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/02/05/solis/index.html |
If one of these people tells me they didnt understand they had to file these taxes, I would understand that to be a credible statement. Especially in the case of business taxes, where the busines is not a corporation but a flow-through entity (such as an LLC, standard partnership, or an S corp).
The Tax Code is an absolute nightmare. This is nit-picking in the extreme. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02172009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/rahms_rent_is_just_the_tip_of_ethics_ice_155536.htm
http://market-ticker.denninger.net/archives/807-Does-Anyone-In-Obamas-Administration-Pay-Taxes.html
| Quote: |
Now Rahm Emanuel is accused?
"NEWS broke last week that Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, lived rent- free for years in the home of Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) - and failed to disclose the gift, as congressional ethics rules mandate. But this is only the tip of Emanuel's previously undisclosed ethics problems.
.....
Emanuel never declared the substantial gift of free rent on any of his financial-disclosure forms. He and De Lauro claim that it was just allowable "hospitality" between colleagues. Hospitality - for five years?
Some experts suggest that it was also taxable income: Over five years, the free rent could easily add up to more than $100,000.
Of course it is taxable income. Anyone can give anyone up to $10,000 a year tax-free, but "gifts in kind" are still required to be reported and are taxable. If it is really $100,000 worth it exceeds the giftable amount and is subject to tax, just as certainly as it is if you get a chauffeured car and driver (aka Daschle)
What's worse though is this:
Nor is this all that seems to have been missed in the Obama team's vetting process. Consider: Emanuel served on the Freddie Mac board of directors during the time that the government-backed lender lied about its earnings, a leading contributor to the current economic meltdown.
The Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Agency later singled out the Freddie Mac board as contributing to the fraud in 2000 and 2001 for "failing in its duty to follow up on matters brought to its attention." In other words, board members ignored the red flags waving in their faces.
The SEC later fined Freddie $50 million for its deliberate fraud in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Meanwhile, Emanuel was paid more than $260,000 for his Freddie "service." Plus, after he resigned from the board to run for Congress in 2002, the troubled agency's PAC gave his campaign $25,000 - its largest single gift to a House candidate.
Oh that's nice.
We've now got a chief of staff who served on the board of Freddie Mac while they were flim-flamming their books? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kuros wrote: |
| mises wrote: |
| Quote: |
Another Obama nominee has tax problems
When it rains in D.C. these days, it pours Obama administration nominees with tax issues. Thursday brought the news that Labor Secretary-nominee Hilda Solis' husband, Sam Sayyad, had, on Wednesday, paid $6,400 to settle tax liens on his business, some of them dating back 16 years.
The news was broken by USA Today, which asked Solis and Sayyad about the liens on Tuesday; the couple says they were unaware of them before that. A White House spokesman told the paper that Sayyad believes he had paid the taxes, and plans to appeal. |
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/02/05/solis/index.html |
If one of these people tells me they didnt understand they had to file these taxes, I would understand that to be a credible statement. Especially in the case of business taxes, where the busines is not a corporation but a flow-through entity (such as an LLC, standard partnership, or an S corp).
The Tax Code is an absolute nightmare. This is nit-picking in the extreme. |
In 16 years they didn't understand they had to file these taxes even after there were tax liens on the business? These people are the people who are going to be running the U.S government. If they don't understand how to run a single business they certainly have NO business participating in the government.
I don't think it's nit-picking at all. The U.S is facing one of the biggest financial challenges in its history and it needs people who have demonstrated financial smarts. Not somebody who takes 16 years to find out (from a newspaper no less) that there are tax liens on their business. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I wasn't sure where else to post this.
| Quote: |
America must treat its Swiss friend with care
By Faith Whittlesey
Published: March 1 2009 19:20 | Last updated: March 1 2009 19:20
The Obama administration will face on Monday what many may regard as a first test for the new �partnership� it is seeking to promote in foreign policy. When Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, the Swiss federal councillor in charge of police and justice, meets Eric Holder, US attorney-general, the final item for discussion � according to her ministry�s press release � will be US demands for data on American holders of accounts at UBS, the Swiss bank.
This issue, a tiny coda to stories about troubled banks in the US, has been the lead story in Swiss news papers and on Swiss television for days � with no sign of cessation. Both UBS�s leadership and Finma, the Swiss bank and insurance regulator that sanctioned a release of some customer data to the US justice department, have been pilloried � from across the Swiss political spectrum � for compromising banking secrecy and sovereignty.
The most intense anger has, however, been directed at the US government, which � via the justice department and the Internal Revenue Service � rode roughshod over two bilateral agreements to which it is a signatory. That is, the US ignored formal, negotiated understandings with a long-time friend, a constitutional federal republic where rule of law is enshrined, and a nation that was prepared to work with US authorities to repatriate Guant�namo inmates, in line with its role as a high contracting party and depositary of the human rights convention.
It has been a harsh wake-up call for the Swiss who, like many Europeans, were swept up in the excitement of Barack Obama�s victory and hopeful that the new administration�s words about multilateral co-operation were more than campaign bromides.
he Swiss Confederation�s first experience with the new administration is of a superpower exerting raw Goliath power, ignoring its own diplomatic undertakings and taking advantage of Switzerland�s size and the stereotypical misunderstanding of Swiss bank secrecy laws. US authorities are seen in this instance as being once again arrogant and bullying. The apparent hope of UBS and Finma was that a settlement of a criminal complaint about abetting tax fraud would mollify US authorities. UBS agreed to a $780m (�615m, �546m) settlement and to supply information on approximately 250 customers suspected of tax fraud.
UBS and Swiss officials were stunned when the IRS, within days, filed a civil complaint that included a demand for information on 52,000 American UBS customers. A Swiss financial oversight court has ordered UBS not to fulfil this demand. Thus the bank is in the awkward position that its officers would have to violate Swiss banking law to fulfil the US demand.
Switzerland is a stable, responsible republic and a reliable partner in combating drug trafficking, terrorism and other threats. Although small in population, Switzerland plays a significant role in the financial world. Its investment in the US also provides approximately 500,000 jobs for Americans. As a result of this action, Swiss confidence in the US might well diminish, with new jobs going to other countries, possibly in eastern Europe or Asia.
Characteristically (and consistently), the Swiss honour their agreements. Switzerland negotiated a legal assistance treaty with the US that provides mechanisms for sharing information about bank accounts when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or tax fraud. Swiss officials are adroit in responding to inquiries that fall within the letter and spirit of this agreement. Fishing expeditions that appear to be driven by the exigencies of the financial crisis and rely on a public perception of Switzerland as a haven for dirty money will inflame Swiss opinion.
One of the largest Swiss political parties is agitating for retaliation that would include discontinuing Swiss representation of US interests in countries such as Cuba and Iran, where the US does not have embassies. Perhaps 1m jobs in Switzerland depend on the financial sector. Harsh unilateral US policy could lead to additional hardship among the Swiss during a worldwide crisis that is widely perceived as largely the US�s fault. This could result in more virulent anti-Americanism.
We must hope when the attorney-general and the minister sit down together, the Obama administration will have resolved to treat an old, reliable friend with the care and thoughtfulness it is showing to regimes that have not been as friendly and reliable.
The writer, US ambassador to Swit zerland 1981-83 and 1985-88, is chair-man emeritus of the American Swiss Foundation |
Financial Times: America must treat its Swiss friend with care
Well Democrats, whatever happened to repairing relations with "the rest of the world"? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I wasn't sure where else to post this.
| Quote: |
America must treat its Swiss friend with care
By Faith Whittlesey
Published: March 1 2009 19:20 | Last updated: March 1 2009 19:20
The Obama administration will face on Monday what many may regard as a first test for the new �partnership� it is seeking to promote in foreign policy. When Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, the Swiss federal councillor in charge of police and justice, meets Eric Holder, US attorney-general, the final item for discussion � according to her ministry�s press release � will be US demands for data on American holders of accounts at UBS, the Swiss bank.
This issue, a tiny coda to stories about troubled banks in the US, has been the lead story in Swiss news papers and on Swiss television for days � with no sign of cessation. Both UBS�s leadership and Finma, the Swiss bank and insurance regulator that sanctioned a release of some customer data to the US justice department, have been pilloried � from across the Swiss political spectrum � for compromising banking secrecy and sovereignty.
The most intense anger has, however, been directed at the US government, which � via the justice department and the Internal Revenue Service � rode roughshod over two bilateral agreements to which it is a signatory. That is, the US ignored formal, negotiated understandings with a long-time friend, a constitutional federal republic where rule of law is enshrined, and a nation that was prepared to work with US authorities to repatriate Guant�namo inmates, in line with its role as a high contracting party and depositary of the human rights convention.
It has been a harsh wake-up call for the Swiss who, like many Europeans, were swept up in the excitement of Barack Obama�s victory and hopeful that the new administration�s words about multilateral co-operation were more than campaign bromides.
he Swiss Confederation�s first experience with the new administration is of a superpower exerting raw Goliath power, ignoring its own diplomatic undertakings and taking advantage of Switzerland�s size and the stereotypical misunderstanding of Swiss bank secrecy laws. US authorities are seen in this instance as being once again arrogant and bullying. The apparent hope of UBS and Finma was that a settlement of a criminal complaint about abetting tax fraud would mollify US authorities. UBS agreed to a $780m (�615m, �546m) settlement and to supply information on approximately 250 customers suspected of tax fraud.
UBS and Swiss officials were stunned when the IRS, within days, filed a civil complaint that included a demand for information on 52,000 American UBS customers. A Swiss financial oversight court has ordered UBS not to fulfil this demand. Thus the bank is in the awkward position that its officers would have to violate Swiss banking law to fulfil the US demand.
Switzerland is a stable, responsible republic and a reliable partner in combating drug trafficking, terrorism and other threats. Although small in population, Switzerland plays a significant role in the financial world. Its investment in the US also provides approximately 500,000 jobs for Americans. As a result of this action, Swiss confidence in the US might well diminish, with new jobs going to other countries, possibly in eastern Europe or Asia.
Characteristically (and consistently), the Swiss honour their agreements. Switzerland negotiated a legal assistance treaty with the US that provides mechanisms for sharing information about bank accounts when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or tax fraud. Swiss officials are adroit in responding to inquiries that fall within the letter and spirit of this agreement. Fishing expeditions that appear to be driven by the exigencies of the financial crisis and rely on a public perception of Switzerland as a haven for dirty money will inflame Swiss opinion.
One of the largest Swiss political parties is agitating for retaliation that would include discontinuing Swiss representation of US interests in countries such as Cuba and Iran, where the US does not have embassies. Perhaps 1m jobs in Switzerland depend on the financial sector. Harsh unilateral US policy could lead to additional hardship among the Swiss during a worldwide crisis that is widely perceived as largely the US�s fault. This could result in more virulent anti-Americanism.
We must hope when the attorney-general and the minister sit down together, the Obama administration will have resolved to treat an old, reliable friend with the care and thoughtfulness it is showing to regimes that have not been as friendly and reliable.
The writer, US ambassador to Swit zerland 1981-83 and 1985-88, is chair-man emeritus of the American Swiss Foundation |
Financial Times: America must treat its Swiss friend with care
Well Democrats, whatever happened to repairing relations with "the rest of the world"? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BS.Dos.
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Democrats are Socialists of various stripes - from foolish Fabians to Fascists. What they have in common is that socialists and other so-called "do-gooders" who wish to spend government money to further their goals are the greediest, most selfish people in the world.
|
So, am I right in thinking that with Republicanism federal taxes are scrapped?
I read somewhere that for every dollar NYC sends to Washington in taxes, they get 0.80 cents back in return, meaning New York is basically subsidising the poorer states, which in my book is paramount to socialism. Does this all change under a Republican manifesto?
Seems to me that if the US, or the right half of it at least, wants to detach itself from overtures of socialism, then maybe a Confederation is the only way to go. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
