Md Passes largest tax hike in history.

[bcp]

Probably, since I'm independent minded as heck, but I'll leave that to my shrink.



Spend? SPEND? Did I mention I'm full of Scottish genes?

are you scottish, or do you date one?

 

[vegmom]

Get over it. When you work for a boss and take a paycheck from him, he's going to treat you as a subordinate. When you take a check from the taxpayers, they will treat you the same way.

If you're on the up and up, you shouldn't care what strangers think. Instead, you should work to not be dependent on their money.

Their money? I've worked without interruption since I was 14. The thousands of dollars worth of taxes I had been paying before I became a single mom didn't qualify? What about the thousands in taxes I've paid since?

I don't care what some stranger thinks, but when you have been on your feet for 12 hours, functioning on a few hours sleep, with an 8 am class and a baby that will be up at 3 for a bottle that little eye roll will get on your last nerve.

 

[vegmom]

are you scottish, or do you date one?

Aye, I'm about 2/3 between both sides of the gene pool.

That means I'm a pale skinflint who can hold her liquor .

 

[bcp]

Their money? I've worked without interruption since I was 14. The thousands of dollars worth of taxes I had been paying before I became a single mom didn't qualify? What about the thousands in taxes I've paid since?

I don't care what some stranger thinks, but when you have been on your feet for 12 hours, functioning on a few hours sleep, with an 8 am class and a baby that will be up at 3 for a bottle that little eye roll will get on your last nerve.

That eye roll most likely comes from someone like me.
I dont have a problem at all in any way seeing tax dollars help people through a rough time. That is what the system is designed to do.
the problem is that the majority of people using the system are lifelong users that feel it is their right to collect from others.

I have no issue with people that use it to get through, or for those that need it seriously due to a disability.

 

[awpitt]

...the problem is that the majority of people using the system are lifelong users that feel it is their right to collect from others.
...

Actually, the "lifelong users" we always hear about are a very small percentage. I read a study in the mid 90s about the welfare rolls in MD. This was before all the welfare reform. At that time, less than 17% of people on welfare were on it longer than 18 months. Again, this was before the welfare reform so I'm guessing the percentage is smaller now.

 

[vegmom]

That eye roll most likely comes from someone like me.
I dont have a problem at all in any way seeing tax dollars help people through a rough time. That is what the system is designed to do.
the problem is that the majority of people using the system are lifelong users that feel it is their right to collect from others.

I have no issue with people that use it to get through, or for those that need it seriously due to a disability.

I'm no fan of the lazy butts since I've had to deal with the stereotypes they helped foment.

The way I saw it at the time, I paid my taxes in to the same system as everyone else before I hit hard times. I saw my situation as temporary and any assistance I used as a "band aid" to get me thru in the mean time. And really that's all it is- a band aid. I can't understand how some folks can live their entire lives that way.

 

[Pete]

Actually, the "lifelong users" we always hear about are a very small percentage. I read a study in the mid 90s about the welfare rolls in MD. This was before all the welfare reform. At that time, less than 17% of people on welfare were on it longer than 18 months. Again, this was before the welfare reform so I'm guessing the percentage is smaller now.

I don't believe it at all. When I was growing up in GA I knew and saw liflong dole riders. Right now I have a former step daughter in Maine who has worked maybe 10 days her entire life. Got knocked up at 18 and hopped on the dole and has not gotten off in 5 years and now she has 2 kids. Lives in HUD housing, WIC, TANIF, ISDA food stamps since becoming an adult and has no plans at all of ever getting off the dole because all her "friends" have it mastered. Stay on, go to the mandatory vocational training, jump through a few hoops and get renewed for another 2 years.

She was going to move to DE to be closer to her mother until she found out the welfare benefits in DE are half of what they are in Maine so she stayed in Maine.

 

[Dymphna]

Actually, the "lifelong users" we always hear about are a very small percentage. I read a study in the mid 90s about the welfare rolls in MD. This was before all the welfare reform. At that time, less than 17% of people on welfare were on it longer than 18 months. Again, this was before the welfare reform so I'm guessing the percentage is smaller now.

That's when I was working for social services...those numbers were flawed. People would go on and off, and if they were off for more than a month, they were being counted in that study and new recipients. Before welfare reform in the early 90's the system did tend to encourage life-long recipients. I don't know that I could say the "majority," but the way the system worked back then, people had a hard time becoming self-sufficient.

I understand from talking to some old co-workers that the reforms did get a lot of people off the welfare rolls and the newer rules do prevent a lot of people from just sitting back and collecting.

 

[awpitt]

I don't believe it at all. When I was growing up in GA I knew and saw liflong dole riders. Right now I have a former step daughter in Maine who has worked maybe 10 days her entire life. Got knocked up at 18 and hopped on the dole and has not gotten off in 5 years and now she has 2 kids. Lives in HUD housing, WIC, TANIF, ISDA food stamps since becoming an adult and has no plans at all of ever getting off the dole because all her "friends" have it mastered. Stay on, go to the mandatory vocational training, jump through a few hoops and get renewed for another 2 years.

She was going to move to DE to be closer to her mother until she found out the welfare benefits in DE are half of what they are in Maine so she stayed in Maine.

I can't speek for other states. I was talking about Maryland. I think each of us can site that extreme case that we know of, first hand but a majority? No.

 

[awpitt]

That's when I was working for social services...those numbers were flawed. People would go on and off, and if they were off for more than a month, they were being counted in that study and new recipients. Before welfare reform in the early 90's the system did tend to encourage life-long recipients. I don't know that I could say the "majority," but the way the system worked back then, people had a hard time becoming self-sufficient.

I understand from talking to some old co-workers that the reforms did get a lot of people off the welfare rolls and the newer rules do prevent a lot of people from just sitting back and collecting.

Thanks for pointing that out. It's amazing how numbers can by played around with. Even with the flaws in the numbers back then nothing showed that a majority were lifers and even less so now days.

 

[vegmom]

I don't believe it at all. When I was growing up in GA I knew and saw liflong dole riders. Right now I have a former step daughter in Maine who has worked maybe 10 days her entire life. Got knocked up at 18 and hopped on the dole and has not gotten off in 5 years and now she has 2 kids. Lives in HUD housing, WIC, TANIF, ISDA food stamps since becoming an adult and has no plans at all of ever getting off the dole because all her "friends" have it mastered. Stay on, go to the mandatory vocational training, jump through a few hoops and get renewed for another 2 years.

She was going to move to DE to be closer to her mother until she found out the welfare benefits in DE are half of what they are in Maine so she stayed in Maine.

I don't understand how someone can want to be at the mercy of whatever government agency for their entire life. You can never save anything, you can never have anything that is really your own, ick...

Although I will say about WIC that I know alot of military families on that. I had to go to check pick-ups on base a couple times. The income ceilings are much higher.

 

[aps45819]

I've got family in VA. I buy smokes when I go visit.
Also get over 40 mpg

Md Passes largest tax... 11-14-2007 10:26 AM You really shouldn't do that. It is illegal and you are breaking the law

It's illegal to get over 40 mpg?
I think you're just jealous because you have to ride around in a box

 

[ladyhawk]

Maybe the governments think that there are enough recipients to keep voting them into office! We pay our taxes, pay more at the end of the year and watch people we know collect the benefits of us trying to do better for ourselves... Then when we finally think we are getting somewhere, the taxes go up! Will it ever end?

 

[Wenchy]

I don't understand how someone can want to be at the mercy of whatever government agency for their entire life. You can never save anything, you can never have anything that is really your own, ick...

The same can be said about the person who has paid off their mortgage and "owns" their home. The government still taxes you on your property (whatever amount they want to) and can even pay you "fair market value" if they decide they need your land.

Some of us work harder and pay more for that privilege.

 

[Pete]

I can't speek for other states. I was talking about Maryland. I think each of us can site that extreme case that we know of, first hand but a majority? No.

I think it is certainly the majority. Based on what I have seen it is not a helping hand it is a lifestyle.

 

[Plan B]

I don't believe it at all. When I was growing up in GA I knew and saw liflong dole riders. Right now I have a former step daughter in Maine who has worked maybe 10 days her entire life. Got knocked up at 18 and hopped on the dole and has not gotten off in 5 years and now she has 2 kids. Lives in HUD housing, WIC, TANIF, ISDA food stamps since becoming an adult and has no plans at all of ever getting off the dole because all her "friends" have it mastered. Stay on, go to the mandatory vocational training, jump through a few hoops and get renewed for another 2 years...

Your personal experience does not a factual trend make. Sorry for the daughter's condition, but you have had non-average experiences.
Taxing cigs to help the poor is a great idea. Next should be SUVs...

 

[Pete]

Your personal experience does not a factual trend make. Sorry for the daughter's condition, but you have had non-average experiences.
Taxing cigs to help the poor is a great idea. Next should be SUVs...

My experience is the ONLY factual information I have. Your side touts mythical studies, guesses and "I read once"'s but offers no proof and if you did I would have to wonder how many of the career welfare dwellers are forthright and say "Yea, I could get a job but that sucks. Why bother when the gubmint will direct deposit money on the first of the month for doing nothing?"

 

[Plan B]

My experience is the ONLY factual information I have. Your side touts mythical studies, guesses and "I read once"'s but offers no proof and if you did I would have to wonder how many of the career welfare dwellers are forthright and say "Yea, I could get a job but that sucks. Why bother when the gubmint will direct deposit money on the first of the month for doing nothing?"

Maybe, but your side beleives Swift Boat guff, and WMD disinformation!

 

[Pete]

Your personal experience does not a factual trend make. Sorry for the daughter's condition, but you have had non-average experiences.
Taxing cigs to help the poor is a great idea. Next should be SUVs...

As far as taxing ciggs all you are going to do is urge peole to stop smoking. What is the gubmint going to do when hoards of people stop smoking and the tobacco tax cash cow dries up? They are going to start taxing the sunshine you try to blow up everyone's skirt and you wont like that.


Taxing the living shiat out of a specific segment of society seems fair to you? How about we slap a tax of $2 a loaf on any type of baked bread. That way everyone can contribute to helping the poor because everyone likes bread.

I bet you don't smoke which is why you are so free slapping a tax on other people.

 

[Pete]

Maybe, but your side beleives Swift Boat guff, and WMD disinformation!

I also believe:

Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
Football is better than baseball.
We did actually land on the moon.
Ted Kennedy is a killer.
Bill Clinton besides being a liar wasn't all that bad.
Al Gore is an idiot of epic proportions.
That if "dumb ass" was an infectious disease the CDC would have quarantined you long ago.