nobody wants to touch it

I nominate this for smoker of the century LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Mouth appears to be partially open and photo is slightly blurry or not focused well DQ 
Where you able to filet it with a butter knife?

I nominate my 2009 smallmouth pic as the worst in AOTY history. Lol

Here’s my question: Why are the horrors of Nazism so well-known and widely condemned but not those of socialism and communism? What goes untaught – and possibly is covered up – is that socialist and communist ideas have produced the greatest evil in mankind’s history. You say, “Williams, what in the world are you talking about? Socialists, communists and their fellow travelers, such as the Wall Street occupiers supported by our president, care about the little guy in his struggle for a fair shake! They’re trying to promote social justice.” Let’s look at some of the history of socialism and communism

Doomsday scenarios like ones you describe are highly unlikely/pretty much impossible to ever occur here due to our checks and balances. That's why Obama didn't accomplish much and hopefully why Trump won't be able to much either. The worst Bernie would have probably done is increase taxes for the rich and make health care and college more affordable for everyone.

Ya that's a good idea let's keep adding more taxes on the ones That create thousands of jobs to the point were they just move the company off shore
That's just the best

Arright.. you guys get your safe space back  I thought it would be cool to talk politics here because the subject line is a trigger warning, but I digress.

Ken, I enjoy talking policy with you since you seem to be one of the few vocal participants who enjoys hammering out the details. I'd be happy to continue our conversation via PMs. 

Ya that's a good idea let's keep adding more taxes on the ones That create thousands of jobs to the point were they just move the company off shore
That's just the best

Most millionaires and billionaires pay a lower % tax rate than middle class Americans. Do they pay more in dollars? Sure, but percentage is what counts. When lower and middle class Americans pay 30% and Trump is paying zero to 15%, there's something wrong. I don't care how many jobs he's created.

Do they pay more in dollars? Sure, but percentage is what counts.

Why?  Why does percentage count?

Should we also make single filers earning less than $37,650 pay more than their required 15%?  Single filers earning more than $415,050 are in the 39.6% tax bracket.  Let's go ahead and move everyone up to that bracket, ok?

-Allen

Do they pay more in dollars? Sure, but percentage is what counts.

Why?  Why does percentage count?

Should we also make single filers earning less than $37,650 pay more than their required 15%?  Single filers earning more than $415,050 are in the 39.6% tax bracket.  Let's go ahead and move everyone up to that bracket, ok?

-Allen

Percentage is more important because it's proportional. And no, those earning less should pay lower tax rates because the poorer one is, the more critical every dollar is to surviving month to month. The richer one is, the more able they are to pay taxes back into the system that allowed them to succeed in the first place.

39% sounds reasonable for the higher tax brackets. Maybe even a little higher for multi-million dollar incomes? For Trump to pay zero federal tax - as he's admitted to and even bragged about - is insane.

Do they pay more in dollars? Sure, but percentage is what counts.

Why?  Why does percentage count?

Should we also make single filers earning less than $37,650 pay more than their required 15%?  Single filers earning more than $415,050 are in the 39.6% tax bracket.  Let's go ahead and move everyone up to that bracket, ok?

-Allen

Percentage is more important because it's proportional. And no, those earning less should pay lower tax rates because the poorer one is, the more critical every dollar is to surviving month to month. The richer one is, the more able they are to pay taxes back into the system that allowed them to succeed in the first place.

39% sounds reasonable for the higher tax brackets. Maybe even a little higher for multi-million dollar incomes? For Trump to pay zero federal tax - as he's admitted to and even bragged about - is insane.

If you're going to play the "let's make things equal on percentage" card, then apply it to all.  But if you're just proposing a socialistic solution, then don't hide behind the percentage counts argument.  You want the rich to pay more, that the less fortunate to pay less.

So is your problem with Trump, or with the "rich" in general?  What effective tax rate do you believe most millionaires and billionaires pay?

Most millionaires and billionaires pay a lower % tax rate than middle class Americans.

-Allen

Been probably said before but Trump is only playing by the rules politicians before him put in place.  It would be dumb to pay more than what the tax law says you should pay whether a billionaire, millionaire or some Joe Schmoe. 

Been probably said before but Trump is only playing by the rules politicians before him put in place.  It would be dumb to pay more than what the tax law says you should pay whether a billionaire, millionaire or some Joe Schmoe.

That's assuming he's playing by the rules. He's been anything but transparent so I would doubt he plays by the rules. But I agree, a system that allows billionaires to pay 15% on capital gains income is need of some change.

Been probably said before but Trump is only playing by the rules politicians before him put in place.  It would be dumb to pay more than what the tax law says you should pay whether a billionaire, millionaire or some Joe Schmoe.

That's assuming he's playing by the rules. He's been anything but transparent so I would doubt he plays by the rules. But I agree, a system that allows billionaires to pay 15% on capital gains income is need of some change.

The same systems allows the rest of us to pay 15% on those same long term capital gains.  I believe it is even lowered to 0% for the lowest 2 tax brackets.

Just come out and say it man, you want the rich to pay more than their fair share.

-Allen

If you're going to play the "let's make things equal on percentage" card, then apply it to all.  But if you're just proposing a socialistic solution, then don't hide behind the percentage counts argument.  You want the rich to pay more, that the less fortunate to pay less.

So is your problem with Trump, or with the "rich" in general?  What effective tax rate do you believe most millionaires and billionaires pay?

-Allen
[/quote]

I never said everyone should pay an equal percentage. I said the rich should pay a higher percentage, not a higher dollar amount. 39.6% sounds like a good place to start, but because of the capital gains loophole most millionaires and billionaires pay only 20% as much of their income is in capital gains. It was only 15% prior to Obama.

I never said everyone should pay an equal percentage. I said the rich should pay a higher percentage, not a higher dollar amount. 39.6% sounds like a good place to start, but because of the capital gains loophole most millionaires and billionaires pay only 20% as much of their income is in capital gains. It was only 15% prior to Obama.

Then it's not a matter of percentage.  You just want the rich to pay more.

-Allen

Just come out and say it man, you want the rich to pay more than their fair share.

-Allen

If everyone paid the same tax bracket, that would be fair, but they don't. The mega-rich often pay lower tax rates than the very poorest taxpayers. You think Trump is the only one who pays low/no taxes? And do you think thats fair? I'm not saying it's illegal, but the policies that allow this should change.

And on percentage vs dollar amount, someone who pays 25% on $60K is coughing up $15K. That's a LOT! Not saying it isn't fair, but it's a big chunk of money. Meanwhile, someone makes a million bucks on a stock sale and they pay 20%, so $200K. Is that a lot? Yes. But he's putting less back into the system per dollar earned than the guy who made $60K. How is that fair?