NotMAGA Loc: Upstate NY - in a very red county

Lol - ok, Arch. Couldn't do it in NY without some way to pay hundreds of thousands a year in property taxes, which are eternal here, it seems.

In NY no one actually owns their property outright, I guess. I've seen and covered too many county board meeting where one person or another appeared to try for a last minute reprieve before their property was sold at auction to pay three years of back taxes (happens once a year here).

NotMAGA Loc: Upstate NY - in a very red county

The worst one was a lady who had been caring for her sick husband at home and he had just died. She had been overwhelmed so their lawyer in the city had been managing their money and bills for them - one less thing, right?

Only it turns out he hadn't been paying the tax bills. Either she hadn't gotten them or he hadn't... Anyway, she was in tears because they were taking her home and making her move out. I was sure they would give her more time - but they didn't. 🥺

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

You didn't explain it, you just gave me a bible passage.

But I'll give you two and their application to what we're discussing... Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36.

Jesus said what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? It can just as easily be said that what good is it to feed someone's belly to temporarily feed their hunger but in the process have them forfeit their eternal soul because they don't know about salvation.

For example, if you see someone begging on the street, don't just give them some money and say as James put it in the passage you quoted, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed.” Instead, take them with you to a restaurant and break bread with them and tell them abut Jesus. What better way to take the time to get to know them first and share the gospel with them which as Jesus illustrated is the MOST important thing in the world?

archie bunker Loc: Texas

Keep deflecting. Everyone pays property taxes.

You can't discuss my point, so you deflect.

archie bunker Loc: Texas

OK. You're right, you win. I'll go pee off my porch now, and spout any needed expletives for a hopeless individual.

dtucker300 Loc: Vista, CA

There's your problem. You live in the Democrat's socialist taxed dream state of NY.

Have you never heard of the standard deduction? Not everyone pays taxes. Some people do sustain losses during a year and therefore don't have taxable income. You can't judge income based on wealth and you can't judge wealth on income. For example, if you win the lottery for a huge amount and take the lump sum you pay taxes on it in the year won. Then you live off of it the rest of your life, maybe, if you are smart enough to not spend it all immediately.

Here's the real problem Government spends too much. The Federal Reserve prints too much money. Inflation hurts everyone, especially fixed incomes. Inflation is just another form of tax. Social Security isn't keeping up with Bidenflation. CA just increased fast food workers' minimum wage to $20/hour. This will cause price increases and unemployment because bleeding-heart liberals are too stupid to understand the ramifications of their stupidiotic policies. And a person on a fixed income such as SSI just lost more spending power. You can't earn enough interest to make up for your losses due to Bidenflation. You've lost money the past couple of years unless you manage to invest in some very speculative high-yield instruments that are also risky.

If you bought Gold at $1000 an ounce and later sold it for over $2000 an ounce, you didn't earn any money. An ounce of gold is an ounce of gold. It sold for more because of inflation and the Federal Reserve's manipulation of the money supply. The government considers this a capital gain even though you have not gained anything, but the government went off the gold standard, so they consider this a taxable gain.

If you bought a house, made no improvements to it whatsoever, and later sold it for more money because inflation has increased the cost of homes, why should you have to pay taxes on the gain? You paid the taxes already on the money you used to buy it with. You didn't really gain anything. The house didn't change. In fact, it should be worth less because everything is older, worn, and been used more. You have also been paying property taxes on it all along.

I don't have to spell everything out for you, do I? You are smart enough to figure some of this out, aren't you? Our tax system is inherently unfair, to both rich and poor alike. Wealth is not static.

NotMAGA Loc: Upstate NY - in a very red county

I think we are saying the same thing in different ways.
You probably missed my explanation - it's up there. Happens sometimes when there are a lot of new posts at once.

NotMAGA Loc: Upstate NY - in a very red county

Ha! I loved that story about Franklin so much I googled it. Thanks for that. Must have missed all the stories about it when the bequest hit the 2 century mark.
For anyone else who might want to read more about it..

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/627475/200-year-old-gift-from-benjamin-franklin-to-boston-and-philadelphia

dtucker300 Loc: Vista, CA

son of witless

Life in a Blue State.

microphor Loc: Home is TN

That's not fair, Joe can't retain info so why should he read books, he can't get through the readings on his teleprompter, you're not being fair!

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

No we're not. You suggested and actually said that feeding the belly is more important than salvation.

NotMAGA Loc: Upstate NY - in a very red county

The 15 member County Board that listened to her and made the deision is all Republican..Tomato Red county remember? Much of upstate NY is like that. There was one Democrat on the board for a few years.

NotMAGA Loc: Upstate NY - in a very red county

My point - and St. James's - is that if you let someone die a slow death from starvation or exposure to the elements, you're never going to have a chance to save their souls.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

How can you say that you're not going to have a chance to save someone's soul if they're dying a SLOW death from starvation or exposure to the elements?