REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

BofA chief: We have a 'right to make a profit'

POSTED BY: NIKI2
UPDATED: Sunday, October 23, 2011 09:57
SHORT URL:
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 4:04 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


"So BofA, with a 4.1% profit in 2010 is EXTREMELY high? Remembering that they still have to pay income tax on that profit and distribute dividends to shareholders? What about the 18 of the top 100 Fortune 500 companies that posted LOSSES in 2010? Are they more righteous?"

Don't forget - they get write-offs, write-downs, depreciations, cost-subtraction - all those niggley little things you and I can't do. They can take an income, and make it look like a loss. It would be like us paying income taxes on what was left AFTER we paid our bills, depreciated our homes, and paid ourselves for running our homes ... and they also get to offshore, too.

On top of that, the government made up their losses for them, with tax money, unlike JQPublic, who had to eat whatever losses he (or she) had.

Pretty sweet deal. If you're a corporation.


While Wall St. is going through the roof, Main St. is paying all the bills

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 6:19 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


I'm still waiting for someone to show me where in the Constitution it says that corporations have a "right to make a profit".

I've looked, and remain unable to find it.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 2:11 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
Don't forget - they get write-offs, write-downs, depreciations, cost-subtraction - all those niggley little things you and I can't do.



Really?

Quote:


All told, federal taxpayers last year received $1.08 trillion in credits, deductions and other perks while paying $1.09 trillion in income taxes, according to government estimates.

Only about 8 percent of those benefits went to corporations. (The write-off for corporate jets equals about .03 percent of the total.) The bulk went to private households, primarily upper-middle-class families that Obama has vowed to protect from new taxes.

“The big money is in the middle-class subsidies,” said Syracuse University economist Leonard Burman, former director of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. “You’re not going to balance the budget by eliminating ethanol credits. You have to go after things that really matter to a lot of people.”


http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/ever-increasing-tax-bre
aks-for-us-families-eclipse-benefits-for-special-interests/2011/09/15/gIQAgdjcaK_story.html


Quote:

On top of that, the government made up their losses for them, with tax money, unlike JQPublic, who had to eat whatever losses he (or she) had.

Not quite. The government loaned them money, which they repaid. Sort'a like ole JQ, who borrows to get the roof fixed.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 2:20 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
I'm still waiting for someone to show me where in the Constitution it says that corporations have a "right to make a profit".




Why? Did anyone claim they have a Constitutional right to make a profit?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 4:22 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


"The government loaned them money, which they repaid. Sort'a like ole JQ, who borrows to get the roof fixed."

Hello,

I wonder if I could get a loan on the same terms from the Federal government. I suspect not.

If I could, I suspect I'd be out of a job.

--Anthony


_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner


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Thursday, October 13, 2011 6:18 AM

STORYMARK


There ya go again, expecting a wingnut to recognize facts.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 10:42 AM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


Quote:

Originally posted by Hero:

Ah, yes...everyone remembers the shelves of state-run Soviet stores overflowing with bread. Socialism at work.




There are a lot of countries with regulation and their stores are perfectly stocked and no one goes hungry. We have some bank regulation here, and although it may not have been adequate, it did save us from the sub prime market and the resulting catastrophe.

some countries have high regulations and a perfectly sound capitalist system, such as Singapore.


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Thursday, October 13, 2011 10:58 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


[Conservative]Nonsense, there is no other free, good capitalist country on the face of the earth....

This map proves it!



[/Conservative]



I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 11:29 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
"The government loaned them money, which they repaid. Sort'a like ole JQ, who borrows to get the roof fixed."

Hello,

I wonder if I could get a loan on the same terms from the Federal government. I suspect not.



Depends on what it'd be for.

You can get low-interest loans from FEMA if you meet the requirements in a recognized disaster area, sort'a like the government recognized the disaster in the banking industry.

You can also get low interest loans, or just straight grants, from the Small Business Administration.

Or you could try here.
http://www.govloans.gov/

Also don't forget the various refundable tax credits folks can get, depending on income and family status, and the tax rebates that pop up from time to time.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 1:14 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
I'm still waiting for someone to show me where in the Constitution it says that corporations have a "right to make a profit".




Why? Did anyone claim they have a Constitutional right to make a profit?

"Keep the Shiny side up"



Per the opening line of the article:

Quote:

Bank of America's CEO defended his bank's new $5 fee on debit cards on Wednesday, saying that customers and shareholders understand the bank has a "right to make a profit."



There seems to be an intrinsic belief in the "right" to profit, but I haven't seen where that right is supposed to be enshrined or enumerated. Given that in the U.S., our rights come to us via our Constitution, it seems logical that if someone claims they have a "right" to something, they should be able to cite the constitutional basis for saying they have such a "right".

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 4:52 PM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
There seems to be an intrinsic belief in the "right" to profit, but I haven't seen where that right is supposed to be enshrined or enumerated. Given that in the U.S., our rights come to us via our Constitution, it seems logical that if someone claims they have a "right" to something, they should be able to cite the constitutional basis for saying they have such a "right".



Folks also seem to have an intrinsic belief in:

The right to a job.
The right to education.
The right to health care.
The right to abortion.
The right to contraception.
The right to privacy.
The right to same-sex marriage.
The right to sexual preference.
The right to travel.
The right to read.
The right to be safe.
The right to a decent standard of living.
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

etc., etc., etc.

None of these are directly enumerated in the Constitution.

So you want us to do away with them all, along with the 'right to a profit'?



"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 5:40 PM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:

Folks also seem to have an intrinsic belief in:

The right to a job.
The right to education.
The right to health care.
The right to abortion.
The right to contraception.
The right to privacy.
The right to same-sex marriage.
The right to sexual preference.
The right to travel.
The right to read.
The right to be safe.
The right to a decent standard of living.
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

etc., etc., etc.

None of these are directly enumerated in the Constitution.

So you want us to do away with them all, along with the 'right to a profit'?



"Keep the Shiny side up"



And they don't universally happen. They are not universally agreed. So you can't do away with a right if it doesn't exist.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 5:44 PM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
[Conservative]Nonsense, there is no other free, good capitalist country on the face of the earth....

This map proves it!



[/Conservative]



I doubt some even consider that much of the world exists.

I've seen it all since I've started posting on boards. Same discussion on public health, regulation, any form of gun control which according to some leads down the slippery slope to some kind of Stalinist tyranny. never mind that lots of places - well actually every western country other than the US - has a public health system, lots of places have banking regulation, gun control, etc etc and GUESS WHAT they are not STALINIST RUSSIA. Who would have thought that any other system might work?

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 6:02 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
There seems to be an intrinsic belief in the "right" to profit, but I haven't seen where that right is supposed to be enshrined or enumerated. Given that in the U.S., our rights come to us via our Constitution, it seems logical that if someone claims they have a "right" to something, they should be able to cite the constitutional basis for saying they have such a "right".



Folks also seem to have an intrinsic belief in:

The right to a job.
The right to education.
The right to health care.
The right to abortion.
The right to contraception.
The right to privacy.
The right to same-sex marriage.
The right to sexual preference.
The right to travel.
The right to read.
The right to be safe.
The right to a decent standard of living.
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

etc., etc., etc.

None of these are directly enumerated in the Constitution.

So you want us to do away with them all, along with the 'right to a profit'?



"Keep the Shiny side up"



Conservatives folks don't believe in any of those "rights". Just look at

Everything they say.
Everything they do.
Everything they support.

etc., etc., etc.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Thursday, October 13, 2011 8:44 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


1kiki -"Don't forget - they get write-offs, write-downs, depreciations, cost-subtraction - all those niggley little things you and I can't do. They can take an income, and make it look like a loss."

Geezer - "Really?"

Yes, really.


business deductions

compensation of officers
salaries and wages
repairs and maintenance
bad debts
rents
taxes and licenses
interest (on debt)
charitable contributions
depreciation
depletion
advertising
pension, profit-sharing, etc., plans
employee benefit programs
domestic production activities deduction
other deductions

Compare this to the deductions of JQPublic, where you can get the standard deduction, or the itemized one with limited deductions for the taxpayer. Do I get to pay myself for running my corporation - my 'profit making' activity which is my work - and then subtract it from my taxable income? Deduct repairs and maintenance for the housing of my profit-making corporation, which is myself? Salaries and wages of those I might hire? How about advertising? Interest on debt? Depreciation? I could go on, but I think reasonable people (not necessarily you) understand at this point that personal income and corporate income aren't counted the same way for tax purposes, and that corporations get to subtract a lot out of their income to arrive at the 'taxable' portion. And that people, by comparison, get to subtract very little.

And, this list BTW is off the standard US corporate tax form, with no creative accounting included.

"Not quite. The government loaned them money, which they repaid."

Ahem. Only part of TARP has been repaid. Select other loans and government investment in private business has been partially repaid. At the moment, the official record is teetering at about 50%. But at less than $1 trillion, TARP is chump change.

Remember Bear Stearns? Lehman Brothers? Merrill Lynch? AIG? Waaaay back - before TARP, in the latter half of 2007 Bush allowed Bernacke and Paulson to hand out literally uncounted billions - perhaps trillions - of dollars to try and prevent a banking freefall - at least until Bush was out of office. No one knows how much was handed out, or to whom. One estimate I read at the time in the NYTimes was upwards of $11 trillion.

While Wall St. is going through the roof, Main St. is paying all the bills.

Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in taxpayer funded bailouts, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes?

Yeah, me neither....

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Friday, October 14, 2011 1:12 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Magonsdaughter:
Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
[Conservative]Nonsense, there is no other free, good capitalist country on the face of the earth....

This map proves it!



[/Conservative]



I doubt some even consider that much of the world exists.

I've seen it all since I've started posting on boards. Same discussion on public health, regulation, any form of gun control which according to some leads down the slippery slope to some kind of Stalinist tyranny. never mind that lots of places - well actually every western country other than the US - has a public health system, lots of places have banking regulation, gun control, etc etc and GUESS WHAT they are not STALINIST RUSSIA. Who would have thought that any other system might work?




Heck, that map finally has Africa added in - I s'pose that's some kind of progress...

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:02 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
Compare this to the deductions of JQPublic, where you can get the standard deduction, or the itemized one with limited deductions for the taxpayer.



Yet again.

Quote:

All told, federal taxpayers last year received $1.08 trillion in credits, deductions and other perks while paying $1.09 trillion in income taxes, according to government estimates.

Only about 8 percent of those benefits went to corporations. (The write-off for corporate jets equals about .03 percent of the total.) The bulk went to private households, primarily upper-middle-class families that Obama has vowed to protect from new taxes.

“The big money is in the middle-class subsidies,” said Syracuse University economist Leonard Burman, former director of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. “You’re not going to balance the budget by eliminating ethanol credits. You have to go after things that really matter to a lot of people.”



http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/ever-increasing-tax-bre
aks-for-us-families-eclipse-benefits-for-special-interests/2011/09/15/gIQAgdjcaK_story.html


Quote:

Do I get to pay myself for running my corporation - my 'profit making' activity which is my work - and then subtract it from my taxable income?
If you ARE a corporation, then yes. About 1.4 million of the corporations that filed tax returns last year claimed to have no assets. I'd guess they're mostly writers, artists, consultants, etc. Also, if you're self-employed, even if not incorporated, you can deduct such expenses.

Quote:

Ahem. Only part of TARP has been repaid.

BofA (subject of the thread) has paid all their's back.



"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:14 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Well, if corporations are people, then people should be corporations, and we should all be taxed on the same schedule.

As a real person, I'm taxed on my gross receipts. I get to take a few deductions... my mortgage, saving for the future, charitable contributions and any whopping medical expenses that exceed 7% of my adjusted gross income.

But I don't get to deduct my ordinary expenses... rent, utilities, food, gas, clothes, cleaning supplies... like a corporation would. I also don't get to depreciate my car and house and any other major fixed assets.

Geezer, you keeping saying that people are taxed "like corporations" IF they are corporations or self-employed. But why make the distinction? Why not just break that barrier down and have ALL economic entities taxed the same... either on gross revenues or net earnings... at equivalent rates? (Notice I did not say FLAT rates.)

Why do we put corporation up on a pedestal, so they get "special treatment"? What is the logic behind that? You have never addressed that question, only accepted it as a given truth.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:15 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Conservatives folks don't believe in any of those "rights". Just look at

Everything they say.
Everything they do.
Everything they support.

etc., etc., etc.



Okay. That has maybe a little less to do with the topic than any other non sequitur you've ever tossed out when you had nothing to back up your point (and that covers a lot of ground).

But back to profits.

Both the States and the United States recognize the rights of for-profit corporations to exist. The States by requiring them to incorporate and register, and the U.S. by, among other things, requiring them to file and pay taxes.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:26 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Have you read what the Founding Fathers thought of corporations, and how they treated them? Of course you have, because I posted it. So, let's change the law. It has no more basis that... say, court reporter scribbling a heading on a case in 1886.
Quote:

Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad.

... In its published opinion, however, the court ducked the personhood issue, deciding the case on other grounds.

Then the court reporter, J.C. Bancroft Davis, stepped in. Although the title makes him sound like a mere clerk, the court reporter is an important official who digests dense rulings and summarizes key findings in published "headnotes." (Davis had already had a long career in public service, and at one point was president of the board of directors for the Newburgh & New York Railroad Company.) In a letter, Davis asked Waite whether he could include the latter's courtroom comment--which would ordinarily never see print--in the headnotes. Waite gave an ambivalent response that Davis took as a yes. Eureka, instant landmark ruling.



I would use that "equal protection" clause the opposite way, and look for it on behalf of natural persons v artificial ones.

Although IMHO, we should eliminate corporations altogether as a legal entity. Fundamentally change the authorities and responsibilities, as it were.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:30 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
Geezer, you keeping saying that people are taxed "like corporations" IF they are corporations or self-employed. But why make the distinction?



For one thing, because corporations and the self-employed assume risk that the wage earner doesn't. They invest capital in hope of a return, and sometimes they lose it all.

They also have to invest heavily in equipment, supplies, raw materials, labor, etc. which the wage-earning individual doesn't.

Then again, based on actions like the TARP bailouts, small business loans and grants, etc., the government apparently thinks having profitable businesses is good for the country as a whole. Consider that the employees of corporations pay tax, spend money, buy durable goods and homes, etc., which they wouldn't be able to do if the corporations themselves were taxed to death.

ETA: you still seem to be under the misapprehension that I support corporate personhood. I don't.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:32 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Quote:

the government apparently thinks having profitable businesses is good for the country as a whole.
Of course it does. What do you think pays for politicians' campaigns?

We could do all of that without corporations, and we would be better off for it.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:37 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
We could do all of that without corporations, and we would be better off for it.



How is that?

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:39 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
Well, if corporations are people, then people should be corporations, and we should all be taxed on the same schedule.



So you're a supporter of Herman Cain and his 9-9-9 tax plan?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-plan-to-remodel-the-t
ax-system/2011/10/13/gIQAD5VXiL_graphic.html?hpid=z1

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:39 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


NICK: Can I get back to this later? I have to get to work. But there are dozens of ways to raise capital. (Oh, parenthetically, I would gt rid of the stock market as well.)

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:40 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


GEEZER: No, because Cain wants a FLAT tax. I thought I made myself very very clear? Or, are you strawmanning (again) by mis-stating what I said?

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:44 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
GEEZER: No, because Cain wants a FLAT tax.



Yep. 9% on corporations GROSS income minus investments, purchases, and dividends paid.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 6:35 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
NICK: Can I get back to this later? I have to get to work. But there are dozens of ways to raise capital. (Oh, parenthetically, I would gt rid of the stock market as well.)



Sure not a problem!

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 6:35 AM

HERO


Penumbra. That's how the Supreme Court explains implied Constitutional Rights.

The Right to Profit is a right that exists in the penumbra of several others ranging from the 1st thru the 14th. For example, the right to assemble, the right to not be a slave (which gives you s property interest in your own labor), the right to property, Due Process and so on.

I have the right to make so something, sell it for what I want, and reap the rewards. Is a corporation all that different? It's an assembly, which is protected, but an assembly of persons joining their property to do together that which they can do as one, which is make something and sell it for what they can get.

Actually the Right to Profit is better termed the Right to Risk and Reward,, since profit is only one of the possible outcomes of any business.


H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.
"I agree with Hero." Niki2, 2011.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 6:38 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by Hero:
Penumbra. That's how the Supreme Court explains implied Constitutional Rights.

The Right to Profit is a right that exists in the penumbra of several others ranging from the 1st thru the 14th. For example, the right to assemble, the right to not be a slave (which gives you s property interest in your own labor), the right to property, Due Process and so on.

I have the right to make so something, sell it for what I want, and reap the rewards. Is a corporation all that different? It's an assembly, which is protected, but an assembly of persons joining their property to do together that which they can do as one, which is make something and sell it for what they can get.

Actually the Right to Profit is better termed the Right to Risk and Reward,, since profit is only one of the possible outcomes of any business.


H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.
"I agree with Hero." Niki2, 2011.



The problem is that, as stated in this thread, the Supreme Court has ruled agaist that line of thinking a few times.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 8:12 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
Well, if corporations are people, then people should be corporations, and we should all be taxed on the same schedule.



So you're a supporter of Herman Cain and his 9-9-9 tax plan?



Ah, the wonderful video-game tax plan.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 8:53 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Ah, the wonderful video-game tax plan.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"



So you saw that story also.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 9:38 AM

STORYMARK


I have, but I first heard the Sim City connection a couple weeks ago when a kid brought up the Sim City connection in class. I made the mistake of assuming he was wrong at the time. Then lo and behold....

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Friday, October 14, 2011 10:41 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
GEEZER: No, because Cain wants a FLAT tax.



That alone is reason enough to vote FOR Cain.




" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, October 14, 2011 10:47 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
GEEZER: No, because Cain wants a FLAT tax.



That alone is reason enough to vote FOR Cain.



...or for those that understand that flat tax would shift more of the tax burden onto the middle class not to vote for him.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 11:17 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
GEEZER: No, because Cain wants a FLAT tax.



That alone is reason enough to vote FOR Cain.



...or for those that understand that flat tax would shift more of the tax burden onto the middle class not to vote for him.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.



Cain's 999 plan is actually a precursor to the FAIR Tax, which is preferable, but I'd take a flat tax over the current tax code, any day.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, October 14, 2011 11:21 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Cain's 999 plan is actually a precursor to the FAIR Tax, which is preferable, but I'd take a flat tax over the current tax code, any day.



Good for you. How do you not understand that any of those plans, Cain's Sim City Plan, Flat tax or the FAIR Tax shift more of the tax burden onto the middle class?

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 11:43 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


I think you should be more concerned with how the $ is SPENT by the Federal govt, than where the burden lies.

And as for Herman's idea, I'll take the word from this guy, long before anything YOU have to say on the matter...

Quote:

House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan said in an interview with The Daily Caller that he “loves” the idea of having “specific and credible” plans, like presidential candidate Herman Cain’s signature “9-9-9″ proposal, in the national debate about tax policy.

Ryan told The Daily Caller in an exclusive interview that Cain’s plan is a good starting point for debate, and shows the GOP presidential campaign season has entered into a more advanced stage where ideas — not just personalities — have come to the forefront.

“We need more bold ideas like this because it is specific and credible,” Ryan said. “I’m more of a flat-tax kind of a guy.”

The budget chairman went on to say that ideas like Cain’s plan could help shape the debate over tax reform moving into 2013.



Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/13/paul-ryan-loves-herman-cains-9-9-9-t
ax-plan/#ixzz1anZMQVGa





" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, October 14, 2011 12:42 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
Well, if corporations are people, then people should be corporations, and we should all be taxed on the same schedule.



So you're a supporter of Herman Cain and his 9-9-9 tax plan?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-plan-to-remodel-the-t
ax-system/2011/10/13/gIQAD5VXiL_graphic.html?hpid=z1

"Keep the Shiny side up"




"
Okay. That has maybe a little less to do with the topic than any other non sequitur you've ever tossed out when you had nothing to back up your point (and that covers a lot of ground)."




Cain has been quite unable to explain his own tax plan. His explanation has basically boiled down to "Elect me, and then I'll explain how this works." Well, when he's not trying to explain how it would work by saying "I have no idea", that is.



"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Friday, October 14, 2011 12:44 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Cain's 999 plan is actually a precursor to the FAIR Tax, which is preferable, but I'd take a flat tax over the current tax code, any day.



Good for you. How do you not understand that any of those plans, Cain's Sim City Plan, Flat tax or the FAIR Tax shift more of the tax burden onto the middle class?

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.




He DOES understand that, Nick. That's what he's arguing for.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Friday, October 14, 2011 1:54 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
I think you should be more concerned with how the $ is SPENT by the Federal govt, than where the burden lies.



....and that is putting the cart before the horse, and you wonder why you never get anywhere.

Plus Ryan would love it, it cuts taxes for the rich.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 1:59 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
I think you should be more concerned with how the $ is SPENT by the Federal govt, than where the burden lies.



....and that is putting the cart before the horse, and you wonder why you never get anywhere.

Plus Ryan would love it, it cuts taxes for the rich.




You couldn't have it more backwards. We give more than enough $ to fund the PROPER functions of govt for it to run, and run in the black. And yet, there is so much unbelievable waste and pork , passed off as ' business as usual in D.C. ', it's flat out criminal. Newt Gingrich hit the nail on the head when he raised the issue of Bernanke, Frank and Dodd. And that's just the very tip of the corruption iceberg.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, October 14, 2011 2:21 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

You couldn't have it more backwards. We give more than enough $ to fund the PROPER functions of govt for it to run, and run in the black. And yet, there is so much unbelievable waste and pork , passed off as ' business as usual in D.C. ', it's flat out criminal. Newt Gingrich hit the nail on the head when he raised the issue of Bernanke, Frank and Dodd. And that's just the very tip of the corruption iceberg.



Well we have to cut that spending before we cut taxes so it is not backwards. and those tax cuts should not be for the people that have the most.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, October 14, 2011 3:16 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:

Well we have to cut that spending before we cut taxes so it is not backwards. and those tax cuts should not be for the people that have the most.



And thus we have the class warfare game.

Those who "have" the most are paying the most. Already. More so than they're making.

It's not an issue of cutting taxes more, but cutting spending. Keep the tax rates as is, and cutting spending, will go a long way to help the economy recover.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, October 14, 2011 10:00 PM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


So in other words 'screw the poor'. I thought that was already happening.

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Saturday, October 15, 2011 1:14 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:

Well we have to cut that spending before we cut taxes so it is not backwards. and those tax cuts should not be for the people that have the most.



And thus we have the class warfare game.

Those who "have" the most are paying the most. Already. More so than they're making.



They're paying MORE than they're making? Really? Show me which people are paying more than 100% of their income in income taxes.

Quote:


It's not an issue of cutting taxes more, but cutting spending. Keep the tax rates as is, and cutting spending, will go a long way to help the economy recover.



Keeping spending as it is, and increasing tax rates on the top 2% would have the same result.




"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Saturday, October 15, 2011 2:21 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Cain has been quite unable to explain his own tax plan.



Seems reasonably clear in the Washington Post article I cited. Not to say that it'd be a good idea, but it's pretty easy to understand the basics.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-plan-to-remodel-the-t
ax-system/2011/10/13/gIQAD5VXiL_graphic.html?hpid=z1




"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, October 15, 2011 2:43 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Cain's plan raises taxes on the middle class by 18% , while cutting taxes on the top tier 17%.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Saturday, October 15, 2011 2:50 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Cain's plan raises taxes on the middle class by 18% , while cutting taxes on the top tier 17%.




So it is clear enough for you to understand.

Didn't say it was a good plan, just understandable.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, October 15, 2011 2:52 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Quote:

They're paying MORE than they're making? Really? Show me which people are paying more than 100% of their income in income taxes.


As a %, the 'rich' are paying a larger part of the tax burden

Quote:


The Numbers Are In, Again – The Rich Pay More Than Their “Fair Share”

* Latest IRS Data Shows that Wealthier Americans’ Portion of Taxes Actually Exceeds Their Portion of Income

In their never-ending campaign to increase taxes, those on the left endlessly allege that wealthier Americans don’t pay their “fair share” in taxes.

There’s only one problem: the exact opposite is true.

When one compares the portion of taxes paid by Americans of various income brackets to their corresponding portion of the nation’s income earned, wealthier Americans actually pay more than their fair share.

And once again, the latest Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) numbers prove that. This month, the IRS’s income statistics division released its latest data comparing the amount of income earned by various segments of the income ladder against the amount of taxes paid by those same segments.

And what do they reveal?

According to the statistics, the richest 1% of American taxpayers (those earning above $389,000) earned 22% of the nation’s reported income. But their share of the nation’s income taxes was 40%. In other words, the wealthiest 1% of Americans’ income tax payments are almost twice as much as their “fair share".

http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/The-Numb
ers-Are-In-Again-The-Rich-Pay-More-Than-Their-Fair-Share.htm





* article from July, 2008.





" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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