"you don't have to choose"

Yes, let autocratic forms of government choose for you.

Do Obama or Biden give 10% ?

Quote:

---

Patriotism, taxes, and charity

From 1998 to 2006, Joe and his wife had adjusted gross incomes ranging from $210,432 to $321,379. The most they gave to charity in any one year was $380. He played Daddy Warbucks in 2007, however, donating a whopping $995. That was also the year he announced he was running for president.

Coincidentally, a similar pattern emerges in Barack and Michelle Obama's generosity. From 2000 through 2004, less than one percent of their income went for charitable giving. By 2005, about the time Barack figured out the Nation was intensely yearning for change and hope and "present" votes, charities received more than four percent of the Obamas' income. Reverend Jeremiah Wright's church was given $5,000 in 2005 by the Obamas, who increased it to $22,500 the next year. Someone in the Family Obama must have liked what they were hearing from Wright's pulpit.

---

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/curren...ml#post1349400

Do you get to choose which individuals get your donations to the collection box? Or do you trust an "autocratic" parson to decide?

I don't know how much Obama and McCain each give away to churches or good causes. But I'm not sure how that's relevant to whether taxes are a bad thing or not. I don't know any church that builds freeways anyway. :)

Good for you for giving 10%! I think everyone above a certain income level should do that. I don't think people who only make $10,000 a year should have to though. But then I believe that taxes and tithing are patriotic.

Inthebox,
After you asked about the generosity of the candidates, I was curious and this is what I came up with from various sources, hopefully reliable. The numbers on Obama and Biden are from a conservative blogger/accountant. The info on McCain and Palin came from Wikipedia.

Candidate Donations Income Taxes Paid
Biden (2007) 0.31% to charity ($995) 319,853 (adjusted) $66,273
Palin (2007) 1.5% to charity ($3325) 166,080 (adjusted) $24,738
Obama (2006) 6.1 to charity ($60,307) 983,826 (adjusted) $277,481
McCain* (2007) 26% to charity ($105,467) 258,800 (taxable) $84,460

*McCain's numbers do not include his wife's personal income OR business income.
Mrs. McCain along with her children and John McCain's son Andrew own 68% of the stock in a beer distributor whose annual revenues in 2000 were more than $220 million.

Besides his charitable giving, Obama also paid WAY more in taxes than any of the others. To me, that's a form of tithing, even if a lot of it goes to pay for bombs and bonuses for wall street executives. So I'd say Obama is the most generous, Palin a distant second.

To me, the two who look the worst are Biden and McCain. They could both afford to give more than they do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purplewings

This is a wonderful explanation. I posted it on my 360 blog but the Obamamites don't want to hear what actually is happening. They live in lalaland.

---

Ironically I've found that much of the information you believe is true is factually incorrect. The wealthy affluent people in this country can afford what the middle and lower class is not able. Here shortly the drugstore cowboy is heading back to his ranch in Crawford, Texas to BBQ for his fat cat oil friends.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by asking

Do you get to choose which individuals get your donations to the collection box? or do you trust an "autocratic" parson to decide?

I don't know how much Obama and McCain each give away to churches or good causes. But I'm not sure how that's relevant to whether taxes are a bad thing or not. I don't know any church that builds freeways anyway. :)

Good for you for giving 10%! I think everyone above a certain income level should do that. I don't think people who only make $10,000 a year should have to though. But then I believe that taxes and tithing are patriotic.

---

At the church I attend, tithing or whatever donations I give ARE NOT MANDATORY; besides, I know the money is going to the church and its daily functions, or missions, or for school lunches etc..

That is the difference - I can give of my own CHOICE, not because the IRS is taking it away.

I can give to the Salvation Army or God's Pantry or the local pregnancy care center or the Red Cross - that is my choice. It does not effect you or make you HAVE TO donate too. I'm not making it law that the IRS takes a greater percentage of your income the more you make - look at the AGI tax income brackets.

Btw... what do you think of the IRS's own data on percent taxes from the top 1-25%


Where is the IRS data that Obama paid more in taxes than McCain or Palin or Biden? No link?

Do you find it odd that his percent of income giving to charity [ of which rev Wright's church was the major beneficiary ] only went up AFTER he decided to run for president?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by inthebox

That is the difference - I can give of my own CHOICE, not because the IRS is taking it away.

---

You don't pay taxes by April 15th?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by asking

I think it means he's serious about running for president. He's not doing anything wrong in spending campaign funds in the course of campaigning. In this country, that's how it's done. If you want campaign finance reform, you should tell your elected officials that you want that and work towards it. McCain is using his budget differently.

(And I don't think Obama wants to give your stocks to someone else. That's just silly, like saying he wants to take your house, or give your dog or cat away. He's a politician, not a criminal. Unless your annual income after deductions is over $200,000, why would you worry? And if it is that high after all your deductions, why would you worry? :))

---

Now you're being silly. I never thought he wanted my property... he just wants the money that I've saved through my own efforts so he can pass it on to someone who hasn't done that. I've worked all my life and invested pretty much all my savings in some form of stock. When Obama says he will raise taxes on Capital Gains, he is surely counting me in. I already pay taxes on that and the money remains there... now you think I should pay more for them to hold my money for me?

Inheritance taxes which were removed a few years ago will resume. Why should the government take money intended for people's family after they die? Why?

There are many more taxes than just income taxes. You should take a look at the actual chart and you'll probably find yourself fitting in there too.

I think since I pay the taxes I owe, whatever I choose to do with the rest of my money should be my choice. This was once a free country. I don't need an even bigger government to decide for me. They have enough control of the citizens as it is.

FactCheck.org: Would Obama tax my profits if I sell my home? Would he tax my IRA? Would he tax my water?


"No. A new e-mail being circulated about Obama's tax proposals is almost entirely false. Alert readers may already have noted that this chain e-mail does not provide links to any of Obama's actual proposals or cite any sources for the claims it makes. That is because they are made up.This widely distributed message is so full of misinformation that we find it impossible to believe that it is the result of simple ignorance or carelessness on the part of the writer. Almost nothing it says about Obama's tax proposals is true. We conclude that this deception is deliberate.


Our own sources for the following are Obama's own Web site and other statements, interviews with Obama's policy advisers, and a comprehensive analysis of both the McCain and Obama tax plans produced by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, plus additional sources to which we have provided links.


Home Sales: The claim that Obama would impose a 28 percent tax on the profit from "all home sales" is false. Both Obama and McCain would continue to exempt the first $250,000 of gain from the sale of a primary residence ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) which results in zero tax on all but a very few home sales.

Capital Gains Rate: It's untrue that Obama is proposing a 28 percent capital gains tax rate. He said in an interview on CNBC that he favors raising the top rate on capital gains from its present 15 percent to 20 percent or more, but no higher than 28 percent. And as for a 28 percent rate, he added, "my guess would be it would be significantly lower than that." Furthermore, he has said only couples making $250,000 or more (or, his policy advisers tell us, singles making more than $200,000) would pay the higher capital gains rate. That means the large majority of persons who pay capital gains taxes would see no increase at all.


Tax on Dividends: Another false claim is that Obama proposes to raise the tax rate on dividends to 39.6 percent. Dividends currently are taxed at a top rate of 15 percent, and Obama would raise that to the same rate as he would tax capital gains, somewhere between 20 percent and 28 percent but likely "significantly" lower than 28 percent. This higher tax also would fall only on couples making $250,000 or more or singles making more than $200,000.


Taxing IRAs and 529s: Contrary to the claim in this e-mail, raising tax rates on capital gains or dividends would not result in higher taxes on any investments held in Individual Retirement Accounts or in popular, tax-deferred "college funds" under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. The whole point of such tax-deferred plans is that dividends and capital gains are allowed to accumulate and compound tax-free, and neither Obama nor McCain proposes to change that. And as previously mentioned, any capital gains or dividend income from stocks, bonds or mutual funds owned outside of tax-deferred accounts would continue to be taxed at current rates except for couples making over $250,000, or singles making more than $200,000."[/QUOTE]

Doesn't it bother you that you invested your life savings in the stock market and your life savings lost so much of its value--something like 40% if you are index funds? That's a much bigger loss than a minor increase in the capital gains tax. I'm puzzled by your priorities.

As for the estate tax, the first $2 million is exempt from the estate tax. And you can put your money in a trust to evade the estate tax entirely if you want--which most people with substantial assets do.

What exactly are you worried about, that your children will have only one house each instead of three? Seriously, I don't see what problem you have. Again, the government is not going to take your stocks away. Only Wall Street can do that.

You would have to be extraordinarily wealthy to be affected by Obama's proposed tax increases. Almost everyone on this list would see a tax decrease.

I'm so sick of his lies, and his associations, but mostly, I'm sickened by the number of people who actually believe him.

While it does appear that he may well be our next president, instead of cheering and jumping up and down, any true American should be praying for our future, what little there may be.

The only hope we have is that enough of you Obama lovers, will wake up in time to make the right choice on Tuesday, and save our once great Nation from certain doom.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by progunr

I'm so sick of his lies, and his associations, but mostly, I'm sickened by the number of people who actually believe him.

While it does appear that he may well be our next president, instead of cheering and jumping up and down, any true American should be praying for our future, what little there may be.

The only hope we have is that enough of you Obama lovers, will wake up in time to make the right choice on Tuesday, and save our once great Nation from certain doom.

---

Wow! You should keep these prejudice sermons of politico religiosity to yourself. You do have a very poor holier-than-thou attitude! Get over yourself. First off, I do pray daily, and secondly I'm a true American. FYI Atheists and Agnostics are also true Americans. After the past eight years of Republican leadership, if you're now getting sick, you've apparently just awoken from a deep coma. BTW I already early voted for Barack Obama, so I don't have to wait until Tuesday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BABRAM

First off, I do pray daily, and secondly I'm a true American. FYI Atheists and Agnostics are also true Americans.

---

Nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BABRAM

Wow! You should keep these prejudice sermons of politico religiosity to yourself. You do have a very poor holier-than-thou attitude! Get over yourself. First off, I do pray daily, and secondly I'm a true American. FYI Atheists and Agnostics are also true Americans. After the past eight years of Republican leadership, if you're now getting sick, you've apparently just awoken from a deep coma. BTW I already early voted for Barack Obama, so I don't have to wait until Tuesday.

---

I voted for Obama early too. I wonder what these blind sheep Republicans would consider a bad President. Can't they see that Dubya has led this nation to the brink of ruin?

They had 8 years to get it right, and they screwed it all up. Out with the bums, that's how Democracy works; so stop crying about Obama you had your 8 year chance and you screwed the pooch as they say.

Thomas Sowell : A Perfect Storm - Townhall.com

Quote:

---

Performance is where Barack Obama has nothing to show for his political career, either in Illinois or in Washington.

Policies that he proposes under the banner of "change" are almost all policies that have been tried repeatedly in other countries-- and failed repeatedly in other countries.

Politicians telling businesses how to operate? That's been tried in countries around the world, especially during the second half of the 20th century. It has failed so often and so badly that even socialist and communist governments were freeing up their markets by the end of the century.

The economies of China and India began their take-off into high rates of growth when they got rid of precisely the kinds of policies that Obama is advocating for the United States under the magic mantra of "change."

Putting restrictions on international trade in order to save jobs at home? That was tried here with the Hawley-Smoot tariff during the Great Depression.

Unemployment was 9 percent when that tariff was passed to save jobs, but unemployment went up instead of down, and reached 25 percent before the decade was over.

Higher taxes to "spread the well around," as Obama puts it? The idea of redistributing wealth has turned into the reality of redistributing poverty, in countries where wealth has fled and the production of new wealth has been stifled by a lack of incentives.

---

Liberals like to think they are smart enough to impose what they think as good on us all by methods they think will get us there.

I'm a Republican and disgusted about has been going on during the past eight years.

Go Obama!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I'm a Republican and disgusted about has been going on during the past eight years.

Go Obama!

---

I'm sorry but a true Republican is one because of ethics, values and policy. We don't change parties because one president has disappointed us. I dislike Bush too - but I remember what the party is about and I don't see McCain as Bush, as much as that image has benefited the Democrats this year.

Obama has promised the stars and will have no means to deliver. Go Bama!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purplewings

I'm sorry but a true Republican is one because of ethics, values and policy. We don't change parties because one president has disappointed us. I dislike Bush too - but I remember what the party is about and I don't see McCain as Bush, as much as that image has benefited the Democrats this year.

Obama has promised the stars and will have no means to deliver. Go Bama!

---

I have matured as a voter and have pledged to myself to vote for the person who has the best and most constructive platform and who offers the greatest hope for change. If that person is Republican, fine. If that person is a Democrat, fine. If that person is from some other party, fine. I will no longer vote for a Republican just because of party loyalty.

The Republican party is not the one I grew up with. It has become mean-spirited and authoritarian and caters to wealthy white guys. What "the party is about" now is not healthy and is not what this country needs.

I like McCain. I even like Palin. They would be fun guests at Thanksgiving dinner. But I don't want them to run my country. They bring divisiveness; Obama inspires unity. (I've heard it loud and clear as a campaign caller. Undecided voters in Indiana who want to help not only themselves but also their neighbors. Women in NC who long to connect with successful women elsewhere and meanwhile learn how to give a hand up to those more in need than they are--and meanwhile share family stories and recipes with me, their caller.)

The citizens of this country must stop being hyphenated Americans and must begin to pull together as simply Americans. The will is there; only a leader is needed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purplewings

I'm sorry but a true Republican is one because of ethics, values and policy. We don't change parties because one president has disappointed us. I dislike Bush too - but I remember what the party is about and I don't see McCain as Bush, as much as that image has benefited the Democrats this year.

Obama has promised the stars and will have no means to deliver. Go Bama!

---

One President has disappointed? The Republican's had control of the house and Senate for 6 years under Bush; it's not only Bush that screwed it up. How can you endorse a party that doesn't share your values. Republican after Republican has been caught in some sort of sexual or corruption scandal. Geez, even John McCain had an affair on his disfigured first wife and divorced her and then married Cindy McCain. His first wife remained faithful to him while he was a POW and then he comes back and dumps her for a younger, non disfigured woman. Those are Republican/Christian values? Are these the values you share; adultery, divorce, betrayal?

Do you know that he is an abusive husband to Cindy and once told her that her makeup made her look like a tramp and called her a c... nt? Is that another Republican value you share; to treat women like dirt?


The word in Washington for years is John McCain is one of the sleeziest politician's around, and he says his involvement in trying to stop legislation which would have brought regulation to the savings and loan industry which directly benefited his family friend who owed Lincoln Savings and Load and was convicted of fraud to the tune of 3.2 billion; was the worst mistake of his life. Well, he only admitted it because he was caught. Again, are these the values you share?

Also, did you see the RNC? I counted 5 people of color in the entire arena. Now if you are for a white people only party with the odd token colored person then you can state it directly that you are looking out for whitey and that's a value you like in the Republican party. Ask yourself, if the Republican party is so diverse and loves people of all races and cultures, then why do the local delegates only elect white people to represent them at the convention? Is that a value you share?

Do you share the Republican notion of every man and woman for themselves? If so, then you support that there should not be public schooling. Schools should compete and people should pay for them themselves. If that were the case you would have millions of kids going without an education reducing our global competitiveness. Hence a social program like education for all benefits industry and corporate America by preparing them to enter the workforce. Do you share the everyone only helps themselves Republican mantra or are you willing to help your fellow American's through a social program that strengthens our nation economically.

Don't be a pin-head kool-aid drinking Limbaugh loser.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TexasParent

Also, did you see the RNC? I counted 5 people of color in the entire arena.

---

The official count was 16.

Whoopi mentioned on "The View" that the cameramen kept showing the same black man from different angles, so it looked like there were lots of black men there.

I guess I am not a true American since I'll be voting for Obama, whatever that mean.