Ben Affleck throwing out funny anti-Bush tax cut remarks
 

I just saw a clip of Ben Affleck saying that he saved $1.5 million because of the Bush tax cuts, and he wonders if anyone thinks that that is right.

How in the FUCK is someone making, say, $15,000 a year going to save $1.5 million in an across the board tax cut? Are we supposed to take Ben's money and just give the poor guy a huge check, and not have him pay any taxes?

There is no such thing as tax cuts that will save the poor people millions of dollars because the bottom 50% of wage earners aren't writing checks worth anything - they pay less than 4% of the taxes that the government takes in.

Yes - the top half of income earners in the country pay over 96% of the taxes.

This page explains it well. Yes it's on extremely right winger Rush Limbaugh's web site, but I would be interested to see if anyone can read that and explain to me how what Ben Affleck said makes any sense, when low wage earners have no ability to have huge tax cuts, because they don't pay shit to begin with.

Ummm they dont pay shit compared to the rich people yeah. But they pay shit when you consider someone making $15k a year really needs that money for food and rent.

Yes and I'm sure that the $15K a year guy appreciated the across the board tax cut more than Ben did. So what's the problem?

he is going to get big troubles ! :D

That $15k a year person cant do anything but try to keep his lights on and food in his stomach, regardless.

The bush tax plan helps the rich only!

Right, no matter what you do, he's going to be poor...you can cut his taxes like Bush did and help him out some, but the guy needs to work harder. We can't just redistribute income.

Are you just listening to the propoganda or have you actually looked at the tax tables and seen that they were across the board cuts for poor people too? Oh wait, the second one isn't possible or you wouldn't have said that. Get back to me after you take a look at the facts.

Dude, are you seriously getting worked up over something that J Lo's ex boyfriend said?

Haha...well, he was just saying something that the Bush haters always say. Fine, let's forget about him. I'd really like to see someone explain how we can put a lot of money back into the economy through a tax cut if we only lower tax for the bottom 50% of the income earners. Screwing with less than 4% of the overall taxes isn't going to do anything.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

When is it society's concern to subsidize the weak?

The world is slowly but surely turning into a welfare state.

Governments will not realize the folly of their ways until the people who pay the taxes - leave.

You already see competition between nations in Europe for 'quality' citizens. It will eventually turn this way world wide.

As for Ben Afflack. He is another successful person with a guilt complex over his wealth. I have seen this all too many times, that people start seeing their bank accounts exploding and they think they have done something wrong. It is success, deal with it, it is nothing be guilty about.

-dd

But he is a sox fan, so he gets a free pass in my book ;)

Bush is a hahahaha

I'd like to hear the justification for a tax cut in the first place with record debt (after inheriting a surplus) *and* during war time (which was given almost a 82 billion check with no accountability for how it's spent?).

I dont think that works out to a net cut..

Affleck should give me some of his cash so he doesnt feel so bad. I have no health insurance and no good way to pay for it.
Yo Ben, help a guy out :)

I would like to hear your justification for the continuation of subsidizing program after program that is in complete violation of the founding father's idiology.

Fuck it, run this country into massive debt, the only way things change is when everything falls apart.

As for health insurance, I don't have it either. Nor would I want my government to provide it to me. I take responsibility for everything I do and do not need government (Mommie) providing for me, what should be my own responsibility.

Stop the handouts and accept personal responsibility.

-dd

My wife and I saw no noticable tax breaks in 2003, we have no children. Most people didnt see shit, its like oh Fox says I got a tax break so I got one. Even Warren Buffet said his admin asst pays more in taxes then he does.

Agreed

DH

Oh I accept personal responsibility, you betcha :)
Thats why I have no debt, I live within my means, I dont waste my money on useless things unless I feel I deserve it..

So what was your point again?

I had said that I'd like to hear a justification for a tax-cut in war time. Whats the official word on that? To stimulate the economy I think.. and the justification that it's ok that the rich get the lions share (of cash, not percentage) is because they are the ones likely to invest in small-business.

I'm not sure if thats what you meant or not with your, um.. argument...

When a hospital bills you $300 for "muscous collection" and you later learn that it means fucking TISSUES then come talk to me about private healthcare.

It is comments like these that people take as fact. Please review his exact quote and repost it.

Not sure about you, but I am taxed at the higest rate in this country and get bled on every payroll check I cut to employees in the forms of matching social security tax (another govt handout program).

Everytime I hear poor mother fucker's say, "The rich should pay their fair share". I oil up my guns (another thing they want to take from me), because fair share should be fair share.

Until you have been bled dry to the tune of about 50% of your gross income, don't tell me how it should be.. . I know how it -is-.

-dd

Lol yeah half the people making $15k a year already work more than 40 hours a week.

i'm not in the top bracket.. but I noticed a nice savings.. that I rolled directly into my retirement... so that I do NOT have to rely on social security .. taht will most likely not be there when i'm old anyway ;)

and by rolling that money into a retirement investment.. it put money into the economy by buying into companies...


NOW... If Ben Affleck is so worreid about his $1.5mill surplus.. I would be more impressed if he took it .. and then distributed it to a philanthropy.. or even set up his own... then he would not have to worry how the govt.. spends those funds.. he could make his own direct impact on helping those "lower" income people who do not pay shit in taxes... instead.. he will pump that money into some casino.. supporting NO one else but his gambling habit... :2 cents:

Your not talking to me lol I pay a shit load of taxes but I dont mind paying taxes because I believe in America. This country has given me tools and a place where I can prosper. So I gladly write those big checks to the government. To me the first 20k shouldnt be taxed at all.

Well cool davidd, you're making nice bucks and keeping employees paid and being nailed on taxes already so naturally you dont want more. I dont either.

When I had to bury my mother last year though, I can tell you that it's hurtful that even with all the private insurance a grown woman can have, they still wanted to take her car. If it was worth more money, they would have gotten it too. Thats medicare for you.

Her headstone *still* isnt paid for man, and neither are the hospital bills.

Not everyone who manages their money real tight like myself and my brothers have enough to live well. That $300 check I got for that one time tax thing? Gone before it even arrived.

It's a myth that EVERYONE who needs some help are slobs or scammers or "just want a hand out".

You are so right, there is the working poor . People working harder than we could ever imagine just to survive. Not everyone has been been blessed with the gifts we all take for granted.

So by this logic, this country has only been great since WWII, when taxes started growing expodentially. Before WWII, we were a shit hole is what you saying?

This is the mindset difference that I will never be able to get my head around between liberal democrats and true conservatives. Why is it that you feel government knows best? Can they manage your affairs better than you?

-dd

I find myself strangely aroused by this.....

Ahem, what were we talking about?


Here is that quote that was brought up:

"The taxes I pay to the federal
government, including the payroll tax that is paid for me by my
employer, Berkshire Hathaway, are roughly the same proportion of my
income -- about 30 percent -- as that paid by the receptionist in our
office. My case is not atypical -- my earnings, like those of many rich
people, are a mix of capital gains and ordinary income -- nor is it
affected by tax shelters (I've never used any). As it works out, I pay a
somewhat higher rate for my combination of salary, investment and
capital gain income than our receptionist does. But she pays a far
higher portion of her income in payroll taxes than I do."

I never said everyone who needs help are slobs or scammers.

On the flip side it is not the Federal Government's role to get into social welfare. That is a state's rights issue., and role, as envision by the architects of this county (not social welfare, but an issue each state could deal with).

I can go for hours on the role of STATE government and Federal Government. That would truly introduce choice into this country. Right now, I have no choice, but to leave. Which I basically did and I am completing as I type this.

I would consider moving back to the US, if shit changes, but at this point I am done with it.

-dd

Tony404 - Please update your propaganda machine with the correct information.

This is, I believe, where the battle has been lost for most people. They have come to believe that there is a external "expert" that knows how one should live their life. I think that every generation since the industrial revolution has been more reliant on this expert. And it has hit an exponential curve since the advent of television.

why would anyone want the government to spend your money vs.. allowing you to decide how to spend your money?

whether you use that money to buy yourself a new TV.. or you use it to buy coats and food for the poor or homeless.. at least YOU get to control the spending of those dollars.. not some jackass in Washington... or some ill funded govt ran welfare program...

Baa Baa sheep . What propaganda thats how I feel I dont care if anyone thinks like me or not. You talk about liberals when your conservative president has been spending like a drunken sailor on a day pass. You seem like a smart fella , he is spending all this money who gonna have to pay for this. Your type are funny go get them Iraq , protect us but wait you want me to pay more in taxes to pay for this? Thats not fair. its too funny. lol

Because most people given to themsleves wouldnt do shit for no one. lol A example IMPA is fighting something that will directly hit your pocket and most havent chipped in shit . You expect these people to buy coats and food for the homeless lol.

He is not my president.

Any president that spends as much as he does should not be on the Republican ticket. He should change party affiliations, as most of the current flock should. I am thinking, the Tax And Spend Whore Party.

You make vast assumptions about my support for this and that. If you read my posts you will clearly see I am against any and all needless government spending. This includes social welfare, wars, etc.

I am a Federalist by the way. My president was Jefferson.

The Bush Tax Cuts starved the State and Local governments of needed funding, so they had to raise taxes locally to support things like school (public to university level), among other things.

So while a certain few people get to keep an extra $100 from the Government, the States have to jack up the price by thousands on things like tuition.

But if Bush puts something in your front pocket, you don't notice what he's taking out of the back pocket.

Ahhh, so you are saying that personal choice should be eliminated. Is this the root of your case? That because you feel no one will do good for others they should be forced to.

Now that is fucked up.

Cut my taxes down to 10% and watch what I do for others. Aside from providing employment, spending CASH at local businesses, etc. etc.

This is a free market economy, deal with it.

-dd

BULLSHIT.

The fiscally responsible states thrived and did not raise taxes.

The sess pool states that spend at the rate of the federal govt got hurt! These being New York, Massachusetts, and California.

The responsible states had SURPLUSES!!!

Fine, then replace the term "he should work harder" that I said with "he should work smarter"

Happy now?

You wouldnt give a nickle lol You have personal choice but if you dont help others you wind up with revolution. Too many poor people with nothing to lose.We almost had one here during the depression.

Now you are just making shit up , my state is having all kinds of problems is going to lay off workers, cut programs and they arent on your list. STOP WATCHING FOX!

Okay so now out of fear, I should be bled to death.

I do not live in fear of anything or anyone. If the poor want to rise up, I have no issues with laying them out.

Ask the last dude who tried to rob my house. He's dead.

-dd

Tony as I have said in numerous other threads with you. I do not watch TV. Have not watched TV in over 2, maybe 3 years. It is a desctructive force. In fact I challenged you to stop watching it in another thread. Let me know how you feel after 30 days of not being bombarded with bullshit. Positivity my friend, that is all that is needed.

The surplus comment is not bullshit. Look at the great state of Florida. No income tax and fiscally responsible, running surpluses - again.

-dd

There's no income tax in Florida????

edit: Oh, you must mean state income tax. I was thinking none at all. Still federal I assume

Simple fact: Tax cuts don't benefit people in a low income position very much. Concessions in other areas are often far more effective.

Anyone who knows anything about economics knows that lower taxes across the board are good for everyone in the long term.

Anyone who knows anything about Ben knows Matt Damon put him up to it. :winkwink:

Yes, no state income tax, some of the lowest property tax rates, no excise tax, no vehicle inspection rackets, etc .etc. There is a consumption tax (sales tax) and the lotto.

Basically all the ways other states rape their customers (citizens) Florida does not.

I have live in many other states, the only other state that was fractionally closer in the freedom quotient was New Hampshire. Which eventually was slutted out to an extent, because of the Massachusetts influence on its southern border.

The point of my rants is that eventually governments will have to wake up to the fact that they need to take care of their customers or their customers will leave. This is a free market economy but the customers of this country are treated like they are replaceable. If you do not treat me as a good customer, I will take my business elsewhere.

-dd

As witnessed in Russia, Ireland, and many other countries that have recently started to compete for quality citizens and businesses. This is not a fluke and will continue, until all countries are competing for more customers (citizens).

-dd

Interesting "coincidence" that the $197 billion in tax cuts between 2002 and 2004 for the top 1% of US income earners almost exactly equals the $200 billion shortfall that the states are now planning to cover via local taxes and cuts in services.

http://faireconomy.org/Taxes/HTMLRep..._Tax_Cuts.html

The irony of seeing so many people on a board like this defending the massive switch of taxation, is that most are the very people who will feel the effects worse. Those who comment about the inability of the poor to pay more are right (except of course they feel any cuts most). The real victims are the middle class: and that, like it or not people, is you.