Why Doesn't This Make You Angry?

To a previous poster below....you may "think" that the road crew is working harder than the CEO of a huge public corporation but do you know what goes into getting/keeping a job like that? Do you know how many employees and shareholders he is responsible for?

We have choices what we can do with our lives: apply at McDonalds, working the road crew, be a stay at home parent or if we want go to school and work our way up to something else we can. Of course not everyone requires the degree but you know what I mean. We. Have. Choices!

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I really get tired of people whining about this. I agree that everyone should play their fair taxes. I do. My husband and I own a small business, and we pay dearly for our taxes. We do not cheat. BUT WE HAD A CHOICE to open up this business, and pay what we owe. I agree with Christine W, we all have choices. You have a choice to go to school, or go get a job, which will more than likely not be the best job for a family, when you reach adulthood. That was your choice. If you want more, CHANGE IT. As far as big companies having to have healthcare as a benefit, I don't agree that they should be made to do that. They are not in business to provide anything for their employees, other than a paycheck. The rest is just that, A BENEFIT. Benefits are something they give out of the goodness of their heart, if I can say it that way. Walmart included.

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Because the issue is extremely complicated. When I read the article it made sense for the most part that they didn't pay the taxes. They paid foreign taxes and they lost money which then means there is nothing on which to pay taxes.

Even as a private citizen I don't have to pay taxes on money earned out of the country. I pay taxes in the country in which I earned the money. Same for state taxes. I earned money in AZ. I don't pay taxes in OR.

It's much more complicated than that. I suspect we need to change some laws. I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on how to do that.

I also suggest that the large corporations do provide jobs and contribute to our economy in that way.

This is just too complicated for me to get angry over it. Anger solves nothing and wastes the energy I need to do something about the things I do have control over. I can educate myself about candidates and vote for those who know more about it than I do. No anger needed.

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It burns my toast. I am sick of hearing that we are punishing thier hard work. The road crew outside my office works much much harder and they do it sun up to sundown, 100 heat and blowing snow and ice. They have no retirement, no healthcare, no golden parachute. That's hard work. Sitting at a desk deciding which division to close and layoff and which resort to hold the company retreat, not so much hard work.

My boss is one of those guys that rails against welfare queens taking his hard earned money and not paying thier share.
I heard him bragging about how he was taking advantage of some screwy tax loophole that allows him to signifigantly cut his taxes (by more than $10,000 a yr) and I asked if he thought it was right. He said "no, but that's the way the system is set up, so why not take advatnage of it." I asked, then why is it wrong for a poor single mom to take advantage of the help available? That's the way the system is set up, right? She takes advantage of that system for a luxurious $300 a month in food stamps. Not exactly equal to the 10,000 he makes off with every year. He got flustered and turned red and got mad.

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So in the case of my company, which is about 7K employees, all those tax loopholes benefit ME as the employee. Meaning, the more money we save on tax breaks and the like, the more is cascaded down to me as the coworker.
I haven't seen a raise in my insurance rates in 5 yrs, despite the 2009 downturn. That's because my company has been able to absorb that additional cost on behalf of the coworkers. It's a benefit for us.

Now while the huge bonuses that some get are ridiculous, I'm able to recognize some of the benefits to the existing tax system.

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It doesn't make me angry at all. I am grateful that these companies provide jobs in our country instead of going overseas where it is cheaper. I live in CA and it is darn expensive to buy or even lease a plot of land. There are so many codes and regulations..it is ridiculous. I don't mind tax breaks to entice these companies to come here and stay here. We are having a problem with companies packing up and heading to Nevada and Texas where it is cheaper.

It makes me sick to drive past the vacant SOLYNDRA building knowing that our tax dollars were pumped into that failing business. That is what makes me pissed!!! Give tax breaks...not my hard earned tax dollars!! My husband recently interviewed a person from that company...poor guy lost his job and he had no control over it. Yet, the business execs. knew the company was failing and still got paid huge salaries and took bonuses. That is maddening.

I am grateful that the "big evil company" that employs my husband has not raised our health insurance..did a hiring freeze and cut back on travel expense/entertaining expenses instead of firing a buttload of people to ride this recession wave. The company gets lots of tax breaks...which helps them offset expenses to then employ so many people...and keep them employed.

Run your own business and see how hard it is to keep afloat amid all the laws, codes, regulations,worker's comp. etc.

Good luck and best wishes!

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I guess it depends on what you consider to be "fair share."

I personally have gotten back more than I've paid in on multiple occasions. How is that me paying my fair share?

I can't hire anyone, nor can I provide infrastructure, nor can I potentially expand my hiring base. These big businesses can. And the more we allow the government to take from them, all the while lining OUR pockets with other taxpayer's money (because that's what a tax refund is...other people's money!), the less they are able to employ and expand.

If you want people to have jobs, you can't hate the corporations who have the ability to hire them because they have money.

If you want corporations to pay a specific wage, you can't complain when small businesses lay off people...because those big corporations are the only ones who have the liquidity to be able to absorb those major wage changes.

And if you want to talk about fair shares, perhaps instead of attacking the companies who can provide jobs, we should talk about the people who are getting money redistributed to them that doesn't belong to them...taxpayer monies...and aren't contributing ANYTHING.

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I actually don't see anyone publicly saying keep the loopholes, quite the opposite. Privately every politician knows they we lose campaign donations if they close the loopholes now.

Until people realize that these things happen due to regulation and laws nothing is going to change. Stop crying we need more regulation because every new regulation comes at a benefit to some groups and the expense of others. Same thing with tax laws.

All tax rates need to be lowered, even those for the "rich" but at the same time every deduction needs to be removed. Only then will the system be fair.

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Are they scamming the people? Are they corrupt? Are they hurting anyone? Are they stealing? Are they avoiding taxes illegally? If they are, then wouldn't the IRS look into them? Is raising taxes on them going to help us, help them, or help our country? I don't think it's as simple as some people think it is. I'm not angry. I don't even understand all this tax stuff. I'm busy taking care of my family and pray that the Lord will give our leaders the wisdom that they desparately need. I don't think making them pay more is going to change my life or make me a better person or make our country that much better. I don't know. I'm too busy to put too much thought into this. I'm sure you'll get a lot of great insight though. Good luck!

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Sorry, K., I don't think I can answer this one for you, because the fact that corporations don't pay federal taxes makes me freaking furious.

7 moms found this helpful

It make ME crazy mad....

But let's not think about it till after Thanksgiving. :)

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I agree with you 200% K..

I think the people that just turn a blind eye to the BIG PICTURE are deluded.
They think they're just fine. fact is--most people in this country are less than 6 months away from the street.
Maybe to acknowledge that is just too hard?

And then they are obtuse enough to say "write a letter to your congressman"! It's WAY past that. Like my letter gets the attention of a paid squad of lobbyists!

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You don't change anything by simply arguing or pointing things out and complaining about them or "occupying" parks in cities. You accommodate change by doing what the corporations do and lobby. Contact your Congressmen and Congresswomen. Contact your State Representatives. Contact your Governor. Contact your Senators. When issues come up, vote.

Aside from that, I agree with a lot of what's been posted. Suddenly "corporation" is a dirty word and it's "their" fault that the country is in the state it's in? How corporations pay their taxes isn't necessarily what needs to change. Our social systems need to change. Our approach to education needs to change. Our medical care needs to change. We need to become a nation that cares about each other rather than being a nation full of individuals who are all out for themselves. That needs to change.

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I just listened to a well respected economist say if we don't lower corporate tax rates, we'll lose companies here. Companies need to be incentivized to have their headquarters here in the US or they will go somewhere else that is cheaper to operate. California taxes or taxed the heck out of their companies. Guess what - a lot up and left for Nevada. It's not as simple as you're making it out to be. And sometimes all this sounds like jealousy over the CEO's etc making so much money. If it's so easy and they're therefore SO overpaid, why not become one yourself? Lots and lots of them didn't have family connections and still did it. I think complaining and anger often are just a cover for jealousy.

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I think that businesses large or small need to pay what they owe but I also believe in appropriate incentives so that they big and small can continue to grow our economy and provide jobs.

The company I work for is threatening to move out of state because of tax credits. I don't want to lose my job because well someone doesn't think they pay their fair share. I don't know if they are or aren't but it means my security on the line.

If some tax loopholes are being abused then yep it should be fixed and the companies pay accordingly. If we punish companies for being too profitable then jobs will be lossed or as we see now...jobs being outsourced to people overseas who can't speak english.

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It DOES make me mad! They need to pay more in taxes - fair is fair. I hate it how our country is all about making money. It's not a good value to have. Sure, it's important to have your business do well but give me a break, this is just extremely unfair. Those companies can provide jobs and still be in business even if they did not have such huge tax breaks. They are the ones who decide, well, gosh, I'm not making enough so I will move my company to China now. They don't have to decide this. They can manage their money in a way that they can keep their company here in the US. The problem is - look at how much the top people in those companies all make. No one needs to make that much. That is just silly. They should put a limit on top salaries - like 500K a year. No one needs to own 6 houses and 12 vehicles and boats and islands and whatever else these people put their money into. It makes me want to move to New Zealand (joke).

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Somehow these wealthy lobbyists have managed to have certain political officials (many of which signed Norquist's oath not to raise corporate taxes) brainwash poor people into believing it is more Christian to protect corporations than to help needy people through catch phrases like, "45% of people don't pay any taxes, why shouldn't THEY pay BEFORE the uber wealthy?"

I have worked 2 and three minimum wage jobs to survive and thanked my lucky stars during those years I didn't owe federal taxes (didnt' even have the $40 to pay the person filing) all through my 20's. Then I happily paid taxes when my income got a little bigger in my 30's (even when those taxes went to Bush and Cehney and Iraq and they gave all the rich people and Wall Streeters the big breaks that put us in the current bind).

Therefore it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to say in good conscience "People who make $20,000/year (like I used to before I even had kids) AND support kids should pay 35% federal income taxes on top of all their other taxes BEFORE any megamillionaires pay one red cent more in CAPITAL GAINS taxes (for which they pay only 15%-and often have their entire multi million dollar salary declared "capital gains" if it consists of corporate profits). That is CRAZY TALK and I don't know why the working poor buy into it.

But I just got back from visiting my mom who watches Faux News 24/7, and all I can say is...if you don't check and balance your sources...I guess eventually you believe the lies.

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None of it's fair. Life isn't fair. Our neighbors in our old neighborhood didn't bother looking for jobs after they were laid off and now are on welfare after a surprise pregnancy. It's not fair that jealous people make fun of SAHMs - even those that hated being SAHMs and then went back to work. Talking about it on a message board won't help anything unless you're providing a link for people to sign petitions on a law opposing this.

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All this talk, all this human intellect, its BUNK. There's not one of us that is smart enough to fix any of this apart from God. The problems we face today are stemming from mankind trying to meet their own needs without the Lord. From the beginning of time, only those that are able to follow his voice survive and thrive well enough to pass down a strong family heritage. Those of us that were not blessed with strong, Godly, anscestors came into this world with 2 strikes against us.

We can tweak the IRS codes, raise the taxes, ping pong the political powers between the two major political machines, and we can educate ourselves until we all get major, big, fat heads. But we still won't be able to fix it on our own. I'm just so glad that sometime in the next 60 years or so, I'll leave this temple (my body), and go to God's heavenly home. In the meantime, I'm in the world, but not part of it. These problems don't affect me too much, and shouldn't affect me at all.

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I understand why companies are offered so many cuts. If they are not offered benefits for building their company in a certain place they will do it somewhere else and that place will get the benefit of the income generated by that business.

Such as call centers...why do YOU think so many non "English as a first language" countries get out contracts? The companies can make millions of dollars more per year if they go to 3rd world countries where they are treated like God's and given so many rewards and benefits. I have worked for a company the took calls for the USA customers and the call centers in Malaysia, China, and Philippines had half the call time the centers in America did. They are quicker and smarter that most Americans and can solve their problems quicker. They give the company millions in tax breaks and incentives to come to their countries and hire their countrymen. Our country is doing it's best to compete and keep those jobs for Americans.

I think that they have so many options that the sweetest deal for their pockets is the one they'll take. So I get that it's a game and we can win and keep employed or lose and have millions more in the food bank lines and trying to get food stamps because there are not enough jobs to go around.

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