Republican/Conservative Corner

Pomeranian <3

I wonder if everyone really made a big fuss about the economy and fiscal responsibility if something would happen???

Is this to say you want the government to be more fiscally responsible when you say you are not doing it on your own?  Your spending habits have given you debt, period.  You live in an area of MA where public transportation is readily available so you could consider that instead of your car payments and car insurance (MA is notorious for high insurance premiums, so you'd save a bundle).  Alternatively, you could keep your car and move to, say, Plaistow NH only 40 miles from where you are now, where there is no sales tax, no income tax - and there are plenty of tech industries in central/southern NH for an HR Rep.  You have options to live your conservative political ideals if you wanted and if that was a priority.  You're no longer in school, so you're not tied to the necessity of being close to UMass.  Just giving an alternative perspective.  Sorry if it's OT - I got a little lost w/the talk that you cannot afford to own a house and how that tied into conservatism when it's clear the spending isn't conservative.

 you know sometimes the only alternative is getting a second job. i am contemplating that
 decision right now. it isnt that i want to, but....

 my dad worked side jobs and was in the army reserve to earn extra money. lots of other people i know work more than one job (college degree and all). it sucks, but if you want to get ahead sometimes you just gotta do it.
 

cyclefiend2000

 you know sometimes the only alternative is getting a second job. i am contemplating that
 decision right now. it isnt that i want to, but....

 my dad worked side jobs and was in the army reserve to earn extra money. lots of other people i know work more than one job (college degree and all). it sucks, but if you want to get ahead sometimes you just gotta do it.
 

Yep very sad but true. I did waitressing most of my life and was thinking about doing it again on the weekends. Problem is, I know that industry and they want you full time whenever they want. I want my second job to be... my SECOND job (not my LIFE) so waitressing is deff out of the picture...

I think they need to raise what they pay us period. I want to take someone in politics, stick them on an $8/hr income, no friends, no family, no extra support, and see if they'd survive in MA [our states supplies extreme high amounts of welfare for a reason, haha]

Salaries & Hourly wages need to compensate for the location. There is ZERO public transportation around me and a 650sqft 1bd apt cost $1000 a month... ummmm that's retarded!!! that means lets say... someone works at McDonalds in Marlboro for $8/hr how could they afford a car payment, rent, utilities, gas, and food??? HOW...

I'm deff not in that situation but there are people who are... HOW do they do it?!

Why can't the government realize the economy is crashing because no one has money to SPEND! Give us more money!

Heard an update on the news about their technologies on Mars... okay hello what about EARTH! Can you give me more money so I can spend money on food & clothes? lol

Pomeranian <3

I think they need to raise what they pay us period. I want to take someone in politics, stick them on an $8/hr income, no friends, no family, no extra support, and see if they'd survive in MA ! Give us more money!

If you want the minimum wage increased, you're voting for the wrong party. Just sayin'.

Cassidys Mom

If you want the minimum wage increased, you're voting for the wrong party. Just sayin'.

I can see why some people would think that.

But my theory is stop over taxing the companies and the "rich" per say and they will have more money to spend on hiring people and giving bigger salaries. That's a republican point of view which is why I figured I must be republican.

Tax break to the big shots (CEO Ownership baed companies) puts money back into the company which puts money back into our hands.

But yes there are many different ways to look at HOW to get wages & salaries higher. There is no one right way... and if there is a "better" way okay cool as long as something is done... :o)

jjsmom06

Hmmmm…. If you think it costs a lot where you live Pom.. try living in Southern California.

lol ZERO argument there! My BF wants to move to San Diego and I told him he was CRAZY!!! CA has certain issues way worse than us for sure hahaha so0o0o0o expensive in CA...

"I for one live well below my means and save about 30% of of my income each year.  It is set up in such a way that I never see the money so I'm not tempted to spend it.  Heck if I can can do it most other people can save something."

This is the single most effective way to save cold hard cash! 

Pomeranian <3

jjsmom06

Hmmmm…. If you think it costs a lot where you live Pom.. try living in Southern California.

lol ZERO argument there! My BF wants to move to San Diego and I told him he was CRAZY!!! CA has certain issues way worse than us for sure hahaha so0o0o0o expensive in CA...

Pomeranian <3

But my theory is stop over taxing the companies and the "rich" per say and they will have more money to spend on hiring people and giving bigger salaries. That's a republican point of view which is why I figured I must be republican.

From an outsider's POV, and this may just be my experience here and not applicable to the US at all....giving people/companies who already have a lot of money...more money by decreasing their taxes...isn't necessarily going to translate into those companies passing the money down to employees through bigger monthly paychecks.

Those companies run by generous people, or those wealthy individuals who are generous....will provide as much as they can regardless of taxes.  Those not inclined to do so will simply do a happy dance at the extra wad of cash in their pockets.  

But, again from an outsider's POV...I am enjoying reading the conversation. :) 

Benedict very good point. Some people won't circulate it back into the business they will write themselves a giant check!

I don't think the world is all too evil though. Many people get bonuses when the business does well. I know my own CEO would never pocket the money for himself and do such a thing to us; and I also know my father who owns his company would never do that to his employees.

BUT none the less you are right and there are those that would. I think I'm living in a dream world... :o(

Pomeranian <3

Cassidys Mom

If you want the minimum wage increased, you're voting for the wrong party. Just sayin'.

I can see why some people would think that.

But my theory is stop over taxing the companies and the "rich" per say and they will have more money to spend on hiring people and giving bigger salaries. That's a republican point of view which is why I figured I must be republican.

Tax break to the big shots (CEO Ownership baed companies) puts money back into the company which puts money back into our hands.

But it doesn't. It puts money into the hands of a few very wealthy, powerful people,who head those giant corporations, which doesn't necessarily help the people working there at all. Think of it this way - would you rather your company gave a dollar an hour raise to every person working there, or another 20 million dollars a year to the CEO? In fact, companies are often freezing salaries and cutting benefits while tossing more and more money at those guys at the top.

Bush's tax cuts overwhelmingly benefitted the wealthiest Americans, how exactly did that help you? Yes, tax cuts can stimulate the economy, but in order for that to happen, the money has to be spent. Who is more likely to spend that money, you or someone like Bill Gates? The 'trickle down' theory would be a great idea if it actually worked, but isn't it better to give tax breaks to people who really need the money (you), then to give it to people earning millions of dollars a year and hope it 'trickles down' to you? That's what the Democrats want to do - roll back the tax cuts on the wealthy, and cut taxes for the middle class.

 pomeranian i think you should check this book out...

http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com/nickelanddimed.htm

it is about the very same thing you are talking about. this woman conducted a, somewhat flawed, social experiment trying to get by on low paying jobs. 

fwiw: the minimum wage in our state is whatever the fed demands ($5 & something).

Why can't the government realize the economy is crashing because no one has money to SPEND! Give us more money!

i think the current economic downturn has more to do with the initial bursting of the tech/.com bubble and the few years preceding the terrorists attacks of 2001. that is when the cost of living really seemed to be on a major upswing.

But my theory is stop over taxing the companies and the "rich" per say and they will have more money to spend on hiring people and giving bigger salaries. That's a republican point of view which is why I figured I must be republican.

Tax break to the big shots (CEO Ownership baed companies) puts money back into the company which puts money back into our hands.

enron anyone? *cough*ken lay is a crook*cough*

all i'm saying is that falicy doesnt really hold water for me. in this state, huge economic insentives were given to a few major corporations so that they would locate facilities here. it doesnt always turn into jobs for the local population or increased wages.

one company (international auto maker) has been here since 1992. since inception, they have been taxed at a rate of 4%. that  is less than our state sales tax. while they have brought in low wage and temp jobs to our area, most of the engineering and management jobs have been filled by people from outside this state.
 

Cassidys Mom

Bush's tax cuts overwhelmingly benefitted the wealthiest Americans, how exactly did that help you? Yes, tax cuts can stimulate the economy, but in order for that to happen, the money has to be spent. Who is more likely to spend that money, you or someone like Bill Gates? The 'trickle down' theory would be a great idea if it actually worked, but isn't it better to give tax breaks to people who really need the money (you), then to give it to people earning millions of dollars a year and hope it 'trickles down' to you? That's what the Democrats want to do - roll back the tax cuts on the wealthy, and cut taxes for the middle class.

Very true and this is where I am torn...

My father was part of that "Bush Tax Cut" all though small still was money and I remember he did buy stuff with it in spirit of "economy stimulation"

Now being in the "middle class" personally I do feel a little more Democratic at times BUT from "personal experience" and living with the wealthy I understand the pain THEY then feel. Those who make over $100,000 get killed in taxes. $200,000 or more omg tax crazyness... And I think to myself I don't want other people in my family to suffer? They work EXTREMELY hard to be as "wealthy" as they are. The problem is, in this state (MA) and places like CA $100,000 isn't "wealthy" anymore. Like I said my combined family income is $76,000 and I'm completely broke?

What if one day I reach the so-called "rich/wealth" mark? Then I'll be kicking myself in the BUTT for taxing the wealthy lol

I'm torn! :o( I just want the best for BOTH worlds... and I'm realizing I don't think that is possible unless the "trickling effect" ACTUALLY worked. But you are right it hasn't in the past.

cyclefiend one of my good friends told me to buy that book! lol Maybe I will now... that's the second suggestion... :o)

I deff agree that my view & theory totally didn't work in the past... if the world was full of nice people it COULD work though? lol so sad/frustraiting :o(