Running Bear's February 2022 Coffee Shop

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Boris said:
The problem may be that the spending is not directed into areas that would benefit Americans, create jobs and wealth in America, instead of worrying about our so called Allies. We financed the transportation infrastructure in Europe and Japan after we blew it up in WW2, then permitted these countries to dump their manufactured goods on us below cost, while we garrisoned troops to protect them from the Big Bad Bear. Meanwhile, we allowed our own transportation infrastructure to deteriorate, and manufacturing to evaporate because it was "free enterprise"

Why do we have shortages today? A. We don't make anything, everything is produced off shore...
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Amen. The former president was on to something when he wanted NATO to pay its own way and tried to move manufacturing back to the US.

And while I am not a great believe in higher taxes on the rich and I think the corporate income tax rate should be 0% (as corporations/businesses do not pay taxes -- their customers do through higher prices), I think that all products imported into the US with a US company name on them should have a 50% tariff applied -- ie, Mattel makes toys in China and imports them and sells them under the Mattel name -- 50% duty. If Wang Chung Red Dragon Ltd & Co. makes toys and imports them into the US and sells them under their own name, they should pay some nominal duty. Imports should compete on their merits with US goods. US goods made in China are not US goods. Any US company manufacturing overseas has moved jobs. Companies that want to participate in the economy need to fully participate by giving as well as receiving, not just taking.

"free enterprise" doesn't truly exist. Most countries protect their markets. US companies don't have carte blanche to import INTO China and sell in that market. You can't have truly "free enterprise" unless every one is playing by the same rules worldwide. The US cannot open its economy without all other countries reciprocating. (And I am not sure even then that a true open market like that would be a good idea).

Most of the spending the US in the US goes into transfers of wealth and social programs, hands down. And that is what makes us weak. When people get it for free, they have no desire to work for things. They become dependent. As the welfare state has grown in the US, we have had more and more economic problems and less and less wealth in the middle class. Lower marginal tax rates are not the problem -- the nanny state is.

The spending that goes to "Allies" is microscopic compared to that. I am not defending the spending on "Allies" and think that we need to be much more careful and stingy with that, but even completely eliminating that wouldn't change much US budget wise.
 
Espeefan said:
Look at net worth. People like Bezos and Musk gained tremendous wealth. You worried they won't be able to afford that third yacht? Not me. In WW2 and in the 50's & 60's we had a top tax rate of 91% and we still had plenty of wealthy people. Under the tax cut and jobs act my accountant says I paid a couple of percent less in taxes. Did I notice it in my paycheck. Nope. The flaw in your argument here is you're only looking at federal income tax. You have to look at the total tax burden. if you look at it all, all groups pay taxes. the difference is where the money goes. Wealthy do pay the most federal. Lower incomes pay more into everything else, and a larger share of their income overall.
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I'd like to see stats about "larger share of their income overall". While state/local taxes do take up a larger proportion of income of the poor/middle class compared to the rich, the numbers are not that different and the federal rates dwarf it all.

Rich people still pay sales tax when they buy their yachts and sports cars. They still pay property tax. Most states have progressive income taxes at the state level, though not as progressive as the federal income tax.

Bezos and Musk gained wealth through starting successful businesses and cashing out stock (or holding stock and borrowing against it). They did not gain wealth at the expense the middle class. I personally don't like Bezos and am not a Musk fanboy (though have more respect for him than for Bezos). Most rich people are *ssh*les. But they didn't become rich, for the most part by taking from the middle class (Uncle Sam does that). They either inherited their money, or they worked hard and started successful businesses. And then they put that money to work in investments (only fools keep all their money tied up in their own company stock). And those investments fuel new companies and company expansions that provide jobs, pay taxes, and increase the wealth of the country. High marginal tax rates don't do that.
 


50% tariff/tax on my trains?! Somebody heat up the tar, I'll get the feathers! 😉😁

We can't forget we also established the national healthcare systems in Germany and Japan. Their companies don't shoulder all of that burden, ours do.

If we can somehow take out greed and corruption, fixing the rest will be easy.

The only thing I know of that "trickles down" is very stinky!

I live in Baltimore City, property tax, I don't like to think about that and forget about the water bill! Combined I pay almost $6000 for the privilege of living on a 50'x100' lot with a modest single house. On the bright side, I have a driveway, central heating/AC, finished basement and attic and I can buy almost anything I want in a five mile radius.
As a contractor/consultant living in the northeast corridor I have always had more work then I can do. Regardless of what was going on in DC. When I started in business in 1995 I charged $75/hour for my time. Now I make over $100/hour. Amazon is the exception, my minimum of them is $50/hour, but for me it's getting paid to do my physical therapy I could otherwise have to pay for. I do occasionally make over $100/hour as a contractor for Amazon.
If I were the same man I was in 1995, I would charge a lot more! I squirreled away enough to give my kids a good education, a financial leg up and a safety net for us all. I never needed any government support. God and Baltimore have been good to me.

As lady who raised me told me, count your blessings, not your troubles.

Those of us getting paid with a W2 are behind them 8 ball. The system is tilted toward businesses.

From my experience as a consultant having looked at the profit and loss statements of hundreds of companies. I can tell you over 90% of those companies could easily double or triple their wages and not significantly impact their bottom line. Most of the companies who can't are run by morons who don't belong in business!
Greed is the only thing that I have seen more than stupidity.

May God have mercy on those greedy bastards.
 
Yikes! A lot of political stuff going on this thread, for an outfit that is non political. While I can appreciate comments and efforts. I, myself try to come here, to get away from politics and the divisive rhetoric, no matter how subliminal in nature. Sorry, just dont like it, my parents told me 50 years ago, "you best stay away from politics and religion". If you want to get along at all.
 
Now back to trains, 😁
I recently bought this Lionel 6-1585 75th anniversary set.
I paid more then I'd like to, $180, but it is factory sealed and I like it!
 

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gjslsffan said:
Yikes! A lot of political stuff going on this thread, for an outfit that is non political. While I can appreciate comments and efforts. I, myself try to come here, to get away from politics and the divisive rhetoric, no matter how subliminal in nature. Sorry, just dont like it, my parents told me 50 years ago, "you best stay away from politics and religion". If you want to get along at all.
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Don't worry Tom, these topics come up in " fits and spurts" out of respect to you and others I'm moving on.

I will say this, the members of this good forum are always respectful of each other, regardless of what side of the spectrum they may be on.

God Bless us Everyone!
 


Holy mackerel Andy! How could I almost forget I take my grandson to school today?!

I lose my most productive hours of my day, but I love taking my little man to school! 😁

Working everyday and being retired have at least one thing in common, you lose track of what day of the week it is!

Bonus, I have more time for my train buddies! 😁

Life is good, I'm all smiles this morning! 😁
 
gjslsffan said:
Factory sealed? Thats a great find. I have been told, the original boxes of some of this stuff, is worth more than the cars/locos.
Thats a great find for you.
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Thank you Tom, you are right, in some cases the box is what makes the difference. In this case a conservative estimate of the value is about $300-$350. I could ask for more, but I don't want to be one of those greedy bastards I was talking about.
 
I love watching the Olympics!

Yesterday I watched a 15 year old Russian lady figure skater dominate the other ladies. Watching her I was thinking "in all my years I never saw anything like this". I don't know one jump, spin or whatever from another, but I know athletic ability when I see it. No sooner than I think that the announcer said " she is the greatest skater he has ever seen".

Today I watched an American man turn in a great performance in figure skating to take the lead!

Twice in short track speed skating there were controversial penalties. In the first the American team was penalized for impeding the Chinese. In the second it was a Hungarian man penalized for impeding the Chinese. I don't see the controversy, in both instances you can see the arms impeding the Chinese. "Host country benefits from penalties" sounds like media spin/hype to me. How about "good calls officials". Just like The NFL, NBA and MLB many complain about the officials. Even though, much more often than not the officials are right!

As it often is in politics, it is in sports and everything it seems, "never let the truth stand in the way of a good story"
What I don't understand, why are people so eager to believe bull shit?!
 
Good morning all! Overcast and 15 degrees here in SE Illinois on the way to mostly sunny and 45. Glad we're going to get a bit of a warm up this week. I'm definitely ready for the snow and ice to melt away. I am definitely NOT a winter person.

Had a busy day yesterday with errands and appointments. Back to work today for one day and then off again tomorrow. Hope you all have a great day!
 
Well, howdy there internet people, and those who believe corporations are people 😜

It's Troy again

The mother unit had a full weekend, and we got to see her on the day she really needed a nap. So, it was a run out to Angels House of Pancakes to get her an omelet. This was after Sis #1 took her out on Friday to see the grandkids in their school play. Then on Sat, Sis #2 took her to Das Dutchman Essenhaus for a big meal.

No wonder she wanted a nap when we stopped by.

I'm slowly getting my Napoleonics ready for a battle... and these are the 28mm ones. I haven't touched the 14mm ones. Here's a file photo of some a friend painted for me. I traded some of Lord Wellington's foot for the labor.

Now, back to writing

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Morning all,

Thanks, Terry! I was just about to post about religion and politics... 🤣

Nice morning in Doo-Dah, where it's currently clear and 30° going for a high around 65°. About the only snow left is where it was either piled by the plows or drifted, like into the ditches. Supposed to be in the low 60's again tomorrow.

I did take some additional pictures of the "final" layout of my bridge project. I'll post those in my layout thread.

Louis: Nice score on the Lionel set.

Troy: Nice figurines.

Work calls already...BBL
 


One last question on this tax stuff. In NY we pay over $8,000 in school, town and county tax. My wife's friend who lives in Boynton Beach FL a very clean well keep area with a golf course pays $250.00 a year. Willie with his 15 acres pays $1,000. We have 1 acre and like I said, pay $8,000.00. How does that work? Someone explains that to me. Then we'll move on to another subject. If you venture into New York City your chances of not making it out alive are good. That's why I'm paying the $8,000.00 the great security we have in the state?
George
 
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