LeighaMason

I LOVE the flat tax, I got to get to work right now but I do want to continue with the top 1% discussion. Be back shortly... (You have something I agree with!!)

Texas doesn't have "state taxes", we pay "property taxes" based on the value of our property.

Thank you god for letting him be from Alabama instead of Texas again!

How Much Americans Actually Pay in Taxes By CATHERINE RAMPELL Not full article, see complete article hereHow Much Americans Actually Pay in Taxes - Economix Blog - NYTimes.com Fortunately, the Congressional Budget Office recently released updated data on effective average federal tax rates — that is, the percentage of their entire incomes that Americans hand over to the federal government in the form of personal income, social insurance, corporate income and excise taxes. As this is effective tax data, it also takes into account the fact that many Americans use deductions that make their taxes lower than statutory rates would imply. $140K= 4th quintile effective tax rate is 17.5% $248,400= 5th quantile effective tax rate is 25.8% (for ease of example I am going to round the second amount to $250K, I hope you don't mind) $140K X .175 = $24,500 taxes leaves after taxes $115,500 $250K X .258 = $64,500 taxes leaves after taxes $185,500 So he wants to leave $70K after tax dollars (per year) on the table just because he has to pay extra taxes? (By the way, 5.4% are corporate taxes that he wont have to pay if he is not self employed. The numbers I use above are worst case scenario.) http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/100xx/doc10068/effective_tax_rates_2006.pdf

My name is Leigha Bobbitt-Haeger, I live in Tyler, Tx I own a used car dealership, 7 rent houses, how about you?

Avg. firefighters salary $30k -$45K $45,000 before taxes, say $36k after $252K paid for house, 2 cars, living expenses for 7 years, a house, 2 undergrads and a masters?

Mathematically impossible.

So you don't see any benefit to Social Security or Medicare?

I wish illegal immigrants could buy health care, then they would be paying into a system they are using. Lets say you are going through an intersection, someone runs the light and hits you. Its an illegal immigrant. Now do you want him to have insurance or not? They are here, they have been here, they will be here no matter what you say or do. (By the way, most Republicans I know employ them in one way or another) They use our health care facilities, so why wouldn't we let the contribute to the fund to pay for them. That is why your argument is flawed you want to count the cost of immigrants on the system but you would have to also include their premiums which you have already admitted are higher than costs.

Just like people of my generation can not conceive of life before social security, 30 years from now our kids/ grandkids will be saying "You mean they use to just let people who couldn't afford health care die?" They wont be able to believe that there was ever an argument about this, and people from our generation won't ever admit they were against it.

Once again money spent on advertising, lobbying, entertainment, executive salaries, etc. are all deducted before the 3%. You can make any business look like it has a 3% profit margin if you spend enough on deductions.

Does your Dr your fills/unfills under floro? Maybe this would help with your anxiety about the port.

Hey Holli! How's those babies? Or I guess I should say new baby and toddler?

I need y'alls professional opinions. Is this a decent meal replacement shake? Its from Smoothie King, I use to consider these to be a milkshake in disguise but I am wondering.... Calories 268 Fat (g)9 Saturated fat (g)4 Calories from fat 81 Cholesterol (mg)3 Carbohydrates (g)7 Sugar (g)3 Protein (g)39 Sodium (mg)176 Fiber (g)1

BJean, Good luck with the sleeve, I recently told my husband that if anything ever happens to my band I will get the sleeve. I will not go back to having a full size stomach again.

Lets see the profit margin before the executive pay deduction. You can reduce any excessive profit margin by increasing executive pay across the board. Lets talk about % of premium spent on health care.

Hi Everybody, Well I am a little late posting today, I just got back from Dallas, I felt like I was a little too loose and so I called for an appt. for a fill. I was glad I did, we had steaks on Saturday and I ate a 4oz steak in 7 min. it was like I didn't even have the band, well maybe not, if I didn't have the band I would have had the whole 1 1/2 pound steak instead of only 4 oz. But still when I drank the barium it just went right through like the band wasn't there! So I got a .5 fill and we will see how that goes. Anne, I have to take my food with me when I am going somewhere. I have a little lunch box with a reusable freezer bag, it is a lifesaver. Bob- How was the Casino? I guess I should do some work now, its 2:30

The most socialist form of health care is right here in the United States. It's called the Veterans Administration. The buildings are owned by the government, so is the equipment, the people that work there are government employees. There is no co-pay because there is no insurance to file. You go there, they see you, they treat you. There is no over ordering of tests because the Doctor gets paid the same no matter what test he orders. Health care ran by the government, pure and simple. One of my favorite things to say is when someone says something negative about "socialist medicine", I usually ask "So what do you have against the VA?" They have no idea how to respond, because after 9/11 criticizing the military is off limits.

Thanks! By the way, go see what my Texas friend had on her facebook page today, I posted it on the health care thread. Is so Texas.

Today this was posted by one of my friends on facebook "Impeach Obama...All in favor say I..." 9 different people responded with versions of "I", "IIII!" or "I!!!!" 5 other people just pushed the "like" button. So they are ready to impeach when they haven't even read enough about parliamentary procedure to know they should be voting "aye" as in "yes' not "I" as in "me":ohmy:

We could be twins! Self pay at 195 pounds, 10/20/09, current 152. 40 years old. I cant wrap my mind around it. I know people who could have it done free and won't take for free what I paid $10k for! My older sister is at least 350 maybe 400 her insurance would pay, she is a nurse so she knows the benefits verses risks and she wont even consider it. I cant help you with this one....

Too good to be true, I am on pins and needles waiting for the final vote! By the way, universal health care has been shown to decrease abortion anyway. :laugh:

It snowing again! This is crazy! When it snowed in Feb. in 2004 we thought that was weird, now snow on March 21st! Plus the wind is gusting to 25 MPH. I am trying to convince myself to go to the grocery store, I usually try and go on Sunday morning before the church crowd gets there. But I hate to be cold, so I am stalling. Elfie, Congrats on the multiple roll down! Time to buy some more pants. Christie, Yea for new panties. I wish I could find a stash. Betsy, How was the party? I am so jealous, my husband is anti-social and only wants to be around our family so we never have company over. HB- My SIL lives in Centennial Co is that near you? I guess I am going shopping now, have a good day everyone.

Don't give up! Your just getting to the good part. I gained weight between the surgery and first fill. I promise that once you start getting restriction it will be easier. Plus your Dr office will help you with the insurance co. they are just being silly. I am going for my 4th fill Monday, today is my 5 month anniversary. I felt exactly like you do now, $10K for a failed diet but that is not what it was, my stall was temporary. You can do it, I promise.

I will be glad when everyone gets back, I miss reading their stories. Today is my 5 month anniversary, I have lost 43 pounds, and I have accepted the fact that my weight loss has slowed down and I have only been losing about a pound a week for the last 3 weeks. But even at that rate I should be at goal before my 1 year anniversary. It is raining again in East Texas today and they are saying snow again tomorrow. It has only snowed 3 times in the previous 20 years I have lived here and if it snows tomorrow that will be the third time this year. I am glad that I only have to work until 2 today and then I am going to just lay around for the rest of the weekend. I hope everyone is doing well.