Why is everyone so excited?

[onemoretry]

As I said, please keep thinking like that.

To repeat, making a payment is NOT receiving a handout. So, yes, I will, indeed, keep thinking that way, as would most logical thinkers.

[advantage playe]

Yep! And in a few weeks, maybe a month at most when that money is blown, the outstretched palm will be looking for more. We are experiencing the dumbing down of our society at every level.

Talk about dumbing down !! The lefty democrats say mathematics is white racism ! part of there plan , keep there followers dumb so they keep getting there vote ! IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE ???

[billryan]

As I said, please keep thinking like that.

To repeat, making a payment is NOT receiving a handout. So, yes, I will, indeed, keep thinking that way, as would most logical thinkers.

So, when we gave loans to tens of thousands of businesses and then forgave the loans, that isn't a handout?

[Eduardo]

Debatable, but certainly not apples to apples with the original comment. A tax cut is not a handout, no matter how many times Democrats repeat the line.

[onemoretry]

So, when we gave loans to tens of thousands of businesses and then forgave the loans, that isn't a handout?

Maybe you should put on your reading glasses and go back and look at the original comment that started all this. There was nothing at all even closely relatable to forgiven business loans.

[billryan]

Much of it was tax cuts for the rich. Talk about hand outs.

This statement kind of jumped off the page at me. How is paying less tax, but, nevertheless, still paying tax, a handout?

This is the post, yes?
How is paying less tax a handout?


Hypothetical situation:
I have a five-year interest-only loan for $400 a month on a house. My tenant pays me $900 a month, $200 of which comes from a government subsidy of some type. I'm sure you agree she is getting a $200 a month handout.
At years end, the $4800 I paid in interest becomes a tax deduction, lowering my taxable income by $4800.
Who got the bigger handout?

[Bobbi]

The hypothetical tenant that received $2400 assistance for housing most likely received additional assistance for food, healthcare, childcare and other "necessities" probably totaling well over $4800.00. After 5 years, your interest only loan becomes due. After 5 years, the tenant is still collecting their hand outs.

[seemoreroyals]

Debatable, but certainly not apples to apples with the original comment. A tax cut is not a handout, no matter how many times Democrats repeat the line.

Wealthy people don't need handouts but what they do seek are ways to pay less money in taxes. If the government passes a piece of legislation that gives a poor or working class American a stimulus check for $2000 it cost taxpayers $2000 for what many of you deem a handout. That money is in most cases spent almost immediately to buy food, pay rent, get tattoo if so inclined, but in any event put back into the economy thereby both helping the poor to middle class person and stimulating the economy.

If the government passes a piece of legislation giving a tax break to a upper middle class or wealthy person in the amount of $2000 it cost taxpayers the same $2000 because that money never goes into the treasury to pay bills. Proponents of trickle down economics will tell you that these wealthy people who really don't need the tax break will use it to make investments thereby creating more jobs. Reagan, both Bushes, and trump as well while in power used supply side economics by giving tax breaks to the wealthy. The only people that benefited for the most part were the top half of one percent of taxpayers.

Wealthy people tend to hoard their money and spend it only when buying opportunities come along. Such as when the economy collapses and when bargains can be had. All of those jobs and economic stimulus promised seldom materialize. The country does go deeper into debt due to the fact that the wealthy are paying less in taxes.

I am not a democrat but in the end I see little difference in a $2000 stimulus check to the bottom portion of taxpayers compared to a $2000 tax break to the very top tier of taxpayers in terms of what they cost the treasury. It would be better if we did not spend the money at all but economic minds far superior to mine or anyone else on this forum tell us if we don't, the results for our country in the long run will be much, much worse.

[Eduardo]

I agree with all of that. I simply wouldn't call it a "handout" when you are keeping more of your own money, rather than receiving a check from the government. In one case, you earned the money first. In the other, you did nothing to earn it and received other's people money. It's that simple.

I'm not opposed to such handouts in many cases. I think any good society will help those most in need. I think the debate centers around which handouts are healthy for society and which create dependence rather than empowerment.

As for tax breaks and brackets, current policy is far too generous towards the wealthy. I would debate several of the Democrat proposals to better balance that (we should be careful when it comes to corporate taxes and capital gains), but simply restoring the top tax bracket to 39.6% would not go far enough. We have spent far too much for taxes not to go up rather significantly.

[onemoretry]

Hypothetical situation:
I have a five-year interest-only loan for $400 a month on a house. My tenant pays me $900 a month, $200 of which comes from a government subsidy of some type. I'm sure you agree she is getting a $200 a month handout.
At years end, the $4800 I paid in interest becomes a tax deduction, lowering my taxable income by $4800.
Who got the bigger handout?

Hmmm. If I am interpreting this correctly, you are suggesting that business owners who deduct their legitimate business costs before paying taxes on the balance are receiving a handout? From your previous posts, I gather that you have operated, and continue to operate businesses. Do you not deduct your cost of supplies, salaries, etc., before computing your tax bill? Are you admitting, then, that you live on government handouts?