Even those too lazy to vote feel it their birthright to blast our elected representatives from every direction.  We complain bitterly when we do not get all we want as if it were possible to have more services with lower taxes, broader health care coverage with no federal involvement, a cleaner environment without regulations, security from terrorists with no infringement on privacy, and cheaper consumer goods made locally by workers with higher wages.  In short, we crave all the benefits of change without the costs.  When we are disappointed, our response is to retreat into cynicism, then start thinking about whether there might be a quicker, easier, and less democratic way to satisfy our wants.

--Madeline Albright on page 116 of Fascism, A Warning.  This quote comes on the heels of a section about globalism and about the manipulation of public opinion using the internet.  The first part of this book was the best short history of Europe I have ever read--for once it made sense.  Excellent read: recommend.

The administration says the American people want tax cuts.

Well, duh.  The American people also want drive-through nickel beer night.  The American people want to lose weight by eating ice cream.  The American people love the Home Shopping Networkd because it's commercial-free.

--Will Durst (quoted in the Funny Times 4/16)

Looks like it is mostly true, the assertion that more handouts are given in republican-dominated states. This makes sense to me because in those states or areas where local social programs are limited or cut, the poor will seek out federal assistance. Big business on the other hand is likely to avoid paying taxes entirely. Churches remain tax exempt no matter how gigantic or lavish. There is a problem here.

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/35908018305

Now that they've officially declared bankruptcy, Detroit can start to turn around. The rest of US cities that haven't found a way to deal with shortfalls, well, they can see the writing on the wall in this article. The big banks are still getting paid. They own us.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/opinion/come-see-detroit-americas-future.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

I would have voted for Mitt if:
( hell froze overCollapse )

Surging above $1 trillion, U.S. student loan debt has surpassed credit card and auto-loan debt. This debt explosion jeopardizes the fragile recovery, increases the burden on taxpayers and possibly sets the stage for a new economic crisis.

SOURCE
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/04/nations_student_loan_debts_thr.html

The Democratic minority on the House Education Committee and Workforce Committee released new figures showing that more than seven million students will incur an additional $6.3 billion in repayment costs for the 2012-2013 school year if student loan interest rates double on July 1.

OK, so everybody's talking about it. I'm no tax expert, but I hear the liberals saying that it's "ludicrous" and worse. The assertion is that it shifts the tax burden from the rich to the poor and middle class. While this might be true if all you consider is the rate that we are SUPPOSED to pay, I have my doubts about its ultimate truth. The reason for my doubts: the more people make, the more they invest in ways of avoiding taxation. Loopholes. Shelters. Dodges of every kind. Since I'm planning on starting up a new business soon, I've been studying up on such things. There are lots of ways that business can take advantage of the tax structure to pay far less than the rate that is supposedly being paid. The upside of the flat tax idea: simplicity makes it much harder to hide all the places where you get away with not paying. Exemptions. Expense accounts. Fancy accounting. The appeal of simplicity is that perhaps, just maybe, the result might be the opposite of what the liberal media is spewing right now. The proof is yet to come on either side. Certainly the system we have now is messy.

Anybody out there have something more than talking points to spew about this?

Everyone is so upset about it. The lady next to me on an airplane said "It's not fair!" and I had to ask her what wasn't fair about gas costing $4/gallon. I didn't understand her answer. And I tried. It had to do with corrupt politicians, but corrupt how? What exactly are the politicians doing that makes the price of gas unfair? How exactly is it Obama's fault? Someone said he wanted the US price of gas to go up to European levels. Please inform me if you understand this. It seems to me that we as a nation have been paying off the gas companies in the form of subsidies and lax regulation. They claim the opposite, that the burden of regulation and taxation is destroying them. But then the numbers come through, how much money Exxon makes, or Chevron, Citgo or whoever. These companies are raking in billions, and getting tax breaks to boot. It's not clear exactly how those billions get distributed to humans who can spend them. Except for the CEO, who is not going hungry. Maybe the money America gives to gas companies is why gas prices are as low as they are. Maybe if we stop subsidizing oil, the prices will go up. To the real price. That would be the only way we could stop subsidizing them, is if we'd be willing to pay the cost directly instead of through our system of government. And the only way we'll get our gas for cheaper is if we get it ourselves with less waste, extravagance and middle men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama has this in mind with his plan to expedite drilling in Alaska and the Atlantic. And I'm certain he wouldn't mind depriving the big oil companies of some profit, but he's not allowed to say or act on that. I am, though, being nobody out here on the web.

In order:
1) EXXON Mobil: 2009 $19 billion in profits, paid no taxes and got a $156 million IRS rebate according to SEC
2) BANK of AMERICA: 2010 $4.4 billion in profits, nearly $1 trillion bailout, and $1.9 billion tax refund
3) GE: $26 billion in US profits past 5 years, $4.1 billion tax refund (friends work there)
4) CHEVRON: 2009 $10 billion profits, $19 million tax refund
5) BOEING: $30 billion Pentagon contract, $124 million tax refund in 2010 (plant in my hometown)
6) VALERO Energy: 2010 $68 billion in sales, $157 million tax refund, and $134 million tax break from the oil and gas manufacturing tax deduction (25th largest co in US)
7) GOLDMAN SACHS: 2008 profit $2.3 billion, $800 billion bailout, paid 1.1% of its income in taxes
8) CITIGROUP: 2010 over $4 billion in profits, $2.5 trillion bailout, paid no federal income taxes (worst credit cards I ever had, except maybe for AmEx)
9) CONOCOPHILIPS: 2007-09 made $16 billion in profits, received $451 million in tax breaks (oil & gas deduct) (#5 oil co in US)
10) CARNIVAL Cruise Lines: 2005-10 made $11 billion in profits, fed income tax rate 1.1%

Sanders suggests:
--closing corporate tax loopholes
--eliminating tax breaks for oil and gas companies
--introduced legislation to impose a 5.4% surtax on millionaires-->$50 billion a year
--spending cuts must be paired with new revenue

SOURCE
compiled by Senator Bernie Sanders
http://carloz.newsvine.com/_news/2011/03/27/6355442-tax-time-not-for-giant-corporations-the-top-ten-tax-avoiders-who-refuse-to-pay-up-and-share-the-sacrifice
Hat tip: BuzzFlash.com