| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
It's like Roger says, the wealthy pay the lion's share of our country's tax burden, not only on a dollar basis, but on a percent income basis also. The wealthy pay out over 30% of their income in taxes. Where the middle class is screwed is by social security. If you don't break the threshold for that tax Yeah Roger, great point! But of course back in 1776 we had no great universal health care either, little to no education budget, no social security, no medicare, no welfare, no unemployment, no fair labor laws, no minimum wage, terrible roads, and a fairly pathetic military... get rid of all the entitlements and education and military/defense spending and taxes could go down BUNCH. The social security tax started out at a meager 0.5% when introduced by FDR and congress as part of the "New Deal" push for socialism that swept the nation back in the '40s. Now we are at what, 16%? And that'll need to increase to cover the looming population of baby boomer retirees. How the heck is it freedom to have the government forcing me to pay into a dismally performing retirement fund from which I am prevented collecting full benefits until I am 67 years old? Call it what it is, welfare, and tax it on the full extent of everyone's income. Any retiree with an income of over $100,000 or a net worth of over $2M has no need of social security. Unfortunately the government has everyone convinced that Americans cannot be trusted to plan intelligently for their own retirement and that in lieu of having such poor planners suffer the consequences of their own actions the rest of us get to support them. Freedom? NOT! Now look what you done. Got me all riled up agin.  | ||
| Bomber |
Grounder -- I think the author your refering to was swedish, but the point stands in either case | ||
| Jim_sb |
Amen, Blake. The last time I studied the Social Security Administration's web site I noted the following: 1. At their current payout rate they had enough cash on hand (and loans due to them from other Governmental branches) to pay their bills for about 13 months. 2. The SSA had NOTHING set aside for the MILLIONS of Americans that have worked their entire lives and collectively paid millions (billions?) into the system. Anyone remember ERISA? In laymen's terms ERISA says if your Employer takes money from your check for your retirement (or promises retirement benefits to you) the Employer must, in some fashion, fund that plan. Anything else is illegal. The Social Security System would be illegal under ERISA, except the Gov't is doing it to us, so it's "okay". Think of Social Security as the most disastrous "chain letter" in the history of this planet. You're at the end and you're paying a fortune so those at the beginning can get a lot of money for free. To fund the exorbitantly high payouts to current retirees (which in many cases is massively in excess of any contributions those retirees made to the system while they worked) the SSA spends EVERYTHING taken in from ALL current workers. EVERYTHING. When you hear the pundits speak about the looming bankruptcy of the System they mean when EVERYTHING taken from current workers will no longer be sufficient to pay for those already retired and "entitled" to benefits (under the law). What about ALL OF US who have worked and paid in vast sums our entire lives? Well, we're just going to be screwed. Believe it, because it's going to happen in some fashion. There isn't enough money left for anything else to happen. Unfortunately true reform, which would allow workers to direct some portion of their Social Security contributions into some form in Individual Retirement Account (only for the benefit of the contributing individual) has again been forgotten by our leadership. <sigh> I personally have paid in enough money to the SSA that, if just the contributions I have made personally (ignore the half paid by my Employers) were invested at average US T-Bond rates and presented to me at age 65 I would receive more than $1 million. Of course with the Employer contribution on my behalf it would be more than $2 million. *Instead* I will likely get pennies on the dollar. The Social Security System is the worst investment I have ever made, bar none. It is unfortunate that those in Congress and the media continue to mislead the American people on this most critical issue affecting everyone. Meanwhile, my Father, now 77 and retired in Florida, is happier than a hog in slop. He is getting far more out of the system annually than he ever put in. He is laughing all the way to the bank and enjoying his retirement. But the politicians know he'll vote, and they know the young Americans often don't. Care to guess who they are going to listen to? | ||
| Grndskpr |
Where the middle class is screwed is by social security Only if you pay into it, i dont I was with you until: and a fairly pathetic military... Pathetic enuff to destroy the strongest(as far as land holdings) military/economic power that ever was or will be, the saying goes "the sun never sets on the English empire" But you point is understood until I am 67 years old? Collecting at 67, is not your only option, if you take partial at 62, your better off especially if you need it, i however have planned not to need it, as should most of my age group Unfortunately the government has everyone convinced that Americans cannot be trusted to plan intelligently for their own retirement and that in lieu of having such poor planners suffer the consequences of their own actions the rest of us get to support them I wrote and erased something after this 3 times, all 3 times i didnt feel it expressed what i wanted to say, but here is my best effort: Blake, be thankfull you have to ability to save for the future, not everyone is so luck, and I feel that there are times when people need a hand, your writings make it sound as if people who are not so luck need to be put down, and i find it hard to belive you really feel this way, but as always i could be wrong ROger | ||
| Blake |
A responsible critic should always suggest an alternative to the thing he/she criticizes...  If neither friends nor family nor community are willing to help, and if you cannot find a job or work to support yourself, then okay, the government will provide the basics (food, clothing, shelter, a meager spending allowance); bring back the poor house. | ||
| Davegess |
What I like about all the nonsense about who is or is not gettin' screwed by the government is that the vast majority of us are living a life that is the envy of almost everyone else in the world. We have tons of stuff and bright prospects for the future. We have more freedom than anywhere (have you heard that England is gonna have a national identity card system that will require you to have an ID card with you at all time.) I don't want to say we can't do thing better, for 200 years we have been figuring out better ways to do things. These sort of arguments have lead us to these better ways. | ||
| Grndskpr |
A responsible critic should always suggest an alternative to the thing he/she criticizes I really dont see any thing that was ment to criticize, how ever i will offer my solution, and its simple really, Education. Once your educated a realize how bad it sucks to be poor, you longer want to be that way, IE some times people dont know any better Education dose not how ever always mean school, it can be vocational, apprentice, or any other form of training, and for those that decide they would like to train, give them a reason, like a tax break, and for those that allow the trainers to work for them a tax break Heres how it goes in MY industry: I go to churches, shelters, way stations what ever, and look for people willing to work but lacking the skills, i train them, but i have to support my family and pay a fair wage, so i ask companies to help me by allowing me to do there lawn service at a fair price, but there may be a few mistakes involved, they get a tax break for allowing me to use the facility to train people, i pay lower taxes for training people, i will find them good paying jobs in the industry, within 9 months or so, yea i know its not fool proof, and may not even work, but it has potential, and some times thats all you need. plust this model might work in many industries, like i said its not fool proof, but its the best i have right now your turn\ Roger | ||
| Hootowl |
That video made me sick. Ignorant assholes every one of them. If anyone wonders why it's getting so damn expensive to insure a motorcycle...there's your answer. | ||
| Easyflier |
Granted, the shots speeding through traffic were pretty stupid but I think it's good that potential squids see what happens when stunting goes wrong. The majority were being done on closed courses or deserted stretches of road. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I kind of enjoy those vids. I guess I've done my share of making us look bad too. | ||
| Jim_witt |
What'a guess what this is?   -JW:>  | ||
| Dano_12s |
Garbage Cam????? Could'nt pass that up! | ||
| Jim_witt |
But what'z it for? | ||
| Mbsween |
Looks like one of those bomb squad robots. Man and people says tube frame Buells look home made | ||
| Jim_sb |
A responsible critic should always suggest an alternative to the thing he/she criticizes... Hi Blake, I'll have a go at it..... Possible solutions to the Social Security Nightmare range from total annihilation to "weaning" the recipients off the teat. 1. Abolish Social Security. It stops, everyone keeps their money going forward and does with it what they will. Americans are responsible to provide for their own retirement instead of the current Socialist mantra. (Remember, Social Security was only supposed to be a supplement, now Seniors say "how can we live on it?". They were NEVER supposed to live on it). Current recipients, if necessary, can apply for Welfare if they qualify. After all, that's what it is. 2. Half & Half. Continue with the current Social Security system but allow Employees to deposit the half they pay into their own 401(k) or IRA account. Which can only be used for investing and can ONLY be drawn down upon retirement. No loans, no excuses, no whining, no cheating. If you die young, TFB, the money goes to your heirs. The half paid by your employer goes to the Government which they can continue to give away to everyone but you. The idea is to force Americans to provide for themselves so they won't end up becoming burdens on society. 3. Opt Out Plan. Allow employees to get 100% of their (and their employers contribution) for Social Security going forward *if* they agree to opt out of Social Security for all time. See who makes what choices. One time election, no changing, you're either in or out and it's permanent. A part of this plan would be mandatory reduction in CURRENT benefits so that the plan comes into balance (so that those contributing funds have a realistic chance of getting money back from the system). Personally, it doesn't change my life much either way. I'm already hopelessly screwed on this deal. I've put in too much for too long - there's not enough time to start over - and there won't be anything when I get there. I gave up contacting my worthless elected reps a long time ago after continual non-responsiveness. And I've been saving *hard* to provide for myself since the money *taken* from me won't be there and since my employer's have never contributed a dime for me (the money they sent to the SSA I won't see anyway). That's it. I wish I were wrong. But the system is broken, and it's financially broke now, they're just hiding it with their 'chain letter' / 'ponzi scheme' operation of things. If a private company tried to do this with employee pension $$ they'd prolly end up in jail. Over and out. | ||
| Aesquire |
Finally! A day nice enough to ride, & not have to work. Yea! I went to warm up the M2 for it's spring oil change, 40+ deg. F outside. For some odd reason it took over 150 miles. I rationalized I needed to burn up the stabilized gas. Darn! it feels good to ride. The weather channel changed it's mind & it might not snow tonight. I found the video inspirational. I am inspired not to do Stoppies in traffic. ( I don't anyway, but now I'm not doing dumbnuts things with a purpose!) | ||
| Aesquire |
Withholding is the novacaine of the tax system. Makes it not seem to hurt. Abolish withholding, you get mass default on taxes & a tax revolt. | ||
| Bigj |
I think today is the last day to register for the BRAG "No Win'n" tour May 3-5. Looks like some "old school" Buellers will be there. They may not be riding Buells, but they'll be there.  | ||
| Josh_ |
JW looks like a high-speed camera in a trash can, to be tripped remotely. Say, for folks running a red light or speeding. However, in it's current location pehaps they're looking for pedestrian problems? | ||
| Jim_witt |
Josh, you guessed it, The little round hole beneath and to the right of the camera window is the laser interferometer aperture. The little blue light ..... that means $150 photo was just snapped of your car or motorcycle speeding past the stealth radar trap. They enacted a law in Canada making it a $500 minimum not to stop for pedestrians or $1200 to cross the intersection while pedestrians are still in it. -JW:> | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Jim, Show me which Province that law exists? I have not heard of such a one yet. Maybe in Ontario or British Columbia but those places are screwed up anyway!!!! | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
Hmmmmmm... Jim, do you think maybe we should ask Rocket 'bout this?  ------------------------------------------------- Speed camera blown up A £40,000 speed camera was destroyed after it was blasted with a home-made bomb. Five cameras on the same stretch of the A37 between Bath and Wells in Somerset have been damaged or sabotaged in the past nine months. Since last May, 12 of the 50 cameras put in place by Avon and Somerset Safety Camera Partnership have been targeted by vandals. The latest attack took place in the early hours of Sunday morning. The camera in the village of Emborough, near Shepton Mallet has already been replaced. One of the other cameras on the road was demolished using an angle grinder and three others were burned using tyres filled with petrol. 'Safety at risk' The partnership says, across its area covering Bristol, Somerset and Gloucestershire, 12 of its cameras have been destroyed since May. David Gollicker, partnership spokesman, said: "This incident is quite different to the other attacks with regard to the amount of vandalism involved. "It is down to a group of motorists who are actively targeting these fixed cameras," he said. Mr Gollicker added that destroying the cameras could create more of a hazard. "They are a minority group and they must be aware that what they are doing is putting people's safety at risk." Avon and Somerset Police added the camera was blown up with easily obtainable homemade items.  On a more humorous note:  | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
Well, here's the "humorous" article anyway:  SPEED CAMERAS TO BE ARMED Police chiefs have reacted cautiously to renewed calls for speed cameras to be armed. Following recent vandalism of cameras by organised groups of angry motorists calling themselves MAD - Motorists Against Detection - armed speed cameras are said to be back on the agenda. The proposed combination of CCTV and live ammunition has brought criticism from driving organisations, who have demanded a meeting with Home Office ministers. Last year East Anglia police piloted a scheme in which speed cameras around Cambridge were fitted with hi-powered flechettes. The TOW (towed on wire) devices were withdrawn after shooting only at the tires of police cars and on one occasion impaling a woman against a kiosk. Critics warn of a society governed by a race of robocops on poles. Jackie Moore, currently taking a year out, said "They'll be like guard towers, man. Total birth of a machine culture keeping us down. Like, we're already living in the days of the Terminator or the bible or something". Civil Rights UK boss Martin Mill echoed Moore's concerns. "It's like, totally George Orwell. Heavy duty." HellBuelly J http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hellbuellies/ "The real freedom of any HellBuelly can always be measured by the amount of responsibility which he must assume for his own welfare and security." --Robert WelchBuelly | ||
| Blake |
Roger, My critic comment was in reference to my own bellyaching. Looks like you hit the post button seconds before I did. You don't pay SS tax? How's that? If you are self employed, as am I, you gotta pay all 16% yourself. If you are not, I'd sure like to know how. Jim_SB, I hear ya, but actually, all the gov need do is raise (or do away with completely) the gross personal income cap to which SS tax is applied and/or simply raise the SS tax rate, again. They've been doing both for a long long time. I don't count on SS, but it will probably still be there when I turn 62. Too many people with guns in this country that don't take kindly to being conned. What will fix SS is if the government will start treating it just as you have said, like a pension plan, so that it earns a decent rate of return. But I agree, drop the SS entirely and roll it directly into the income tax burden along with defense, education, medicare, highways, and all the other big budget items. At least that way the rich folk can pay the lion's share of SS too. I'm sick of paying 16% of most everything I earn for a 2% rate of return towards my retirement. Enough of that crap. My M2 is faster than your Buell.  | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hmm... I've got a '96 S2 basically bone stock. I'm guessing *everyone's* V Twin Buell is faster than mine. Jim | ||
| Jim_witt |
Thought this was sort'a interesting. It directly mimics the company I retired from. A Chinese company and an American company decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race. On the big day the Chinese won by a mile. Afterward, the American team became very discouraged and morally depressed. The American management decided the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found. A Management Team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Chinese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and one person rowing. So American management hired a consulting company and paid them an incredible amount of money. They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing. To prevent losing to the Chinese again next year, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the Rowing Team Quality First Program, with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. Even new paddles and medical benefit incentives were promised for a winner. We must give the rower the empowerment and enrichments through this quality program. The next year the Chinese won by two miles. Humiliated the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the senior executives as bonuses. -JW:> | ||
| Dpohl |
Can anyone confirm a couple of questions I have. I currently have an 03 FLSTS and have never had a sport bike. I have had several other older bikes but no sport bike. I am interested in a Buell but I was told by someone that the Buell will be too small for me as I am 6'1" and if that is not true, what model would be best for my level of riding? I really like the looks of the Buell but my cousin is trying to convince me to get a Ducati Monster. Any input is appreciated. Thanks- Dave | ||
| Jim_witt |
That's absolutly false, our administrator here fits on it just fine!  -JW:> | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
The speed cameras are spreading in France now too, but they're already being shot at painted, Here's a link with some of the current solutions to the problem http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm The Drill & Foam, is another one I've heard about. Poke a hole in box with cordless drill & fill box with expanding insulating foam from aerosol cans, quick, quiet, discreet.  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Dave, I'm 6'4" tall and I love my 9R. For such a small framed bike, it's surprisingly accommodating. I wish they did make a larger XB though. If you switching over I'd recommend a XB9S... Better riding position for us big boys anyway. |
