http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs&feature=related

Mf

Is this real? That is a little scary to do at this time in history unilaterally isnt it? Never seen this before so if it is not real I do not want to jump to any conclusions.

I dont care if it is or not. What a tool.

Good for him. I hope he wins so dumb crackers piss and moan for 8 years while we regain some respect in the eyes of the world.

Are you calling me a dumb cracker?

Not that I particularly care, just wonder where I stand in the world of politics.

I wouldn't call anyone I haven't met a "dumb cracker."

But if you spew constant veiled racism in your posts, griping about others living off the government teat while you do so yourself, and then run off crying to the Fishing BBS "next door" so you'll fit in better, and be better received by a less erudite group of sub-humanoids...well...if the shirt fits...

Good thing then, cause I dont quite squeeze in with that crowd. If you can consider a government servant one living off the teat then I guess that would be me. Serving 7 years going on 8 I have never really considered myself one to live off the government teat. Earning my paycheck, I would say that I do more than most getting money from said source. But, knowing from past posts, that you are not one to judge too soon, I would say that you would not consider such as a suckler. So I guess we are good then.

That last post was being more fececious than anything. Just my nature I guess.


Politics seem to always unveil the nastier side of folks. Disagreements between views have never raised anything but crude comments back and forth. In the end they just create rifts and enemies. Definitely not the intention. Unfortuntely, not always avoidable.

"Discussing" politics and religion always brings out the best in people and helps bring about understanding and mutual respect.

This is pretty damn true. Although the latter is only true for a very very small group of people. I watched a couple of old boys that had been friends for 26 years absolve a friendship in one sitting because of the last Bush election.

One of Obama's mentors, and... it wasn't that long ago that Uncle Jesse wanted to cut off a little something, something.



Proof that 2 people can have their differences of opinion, and still come together for the sake of "change" for America.

Mf

There seems to be a fair amount of hysteria on the part of many Republicans and conservatives about Obama. I think that's one of the better reasons for voting for him. After 8 years of Bushco, I'm so offended that I may never vote for a Republican even if the party rolled out a worthy candidate (local elections excluded cuz some of the Rs are far and away the best candidates).

I think that the most important piece of evidence that the Repub voters know that they're really gonna take it in the ass this cycle is that they don't even bother trying to defend McSame...they know that his "maverick" status is about as solid as smoke in the breeze, and that there is no way in hell we are going to re-elect Bush for a third term in the form of an old man with questionable ethics suffering from PTSD.

To that end, they keep talking about how bad both candidates are, how there are no choices this time, and about voting for Ron Paul...

When you hear progressives speak, they talk about Obama.

When you hear Obama speak, you hear about what Obama wants to do.

When you hear conservatives speak, they are either talking about Obama or telling you about how bad both the candidates are.

When you hear McSame speak, you hear more about Obama.

That phenomena speaks louder than anything else.

I agree with Steve that there are some local Reps that I'll vote for (already voted for a few by way of my absentee primary ballot sent in last week), but on a federal level I wouldn't vote for one of 'em even if they were running against Genghis Khan...who by any measure is a moderate compared to the knuckleheads running the Republican party.

Fish on...

Todd

Exactly.

Politically, I'm not altogether on the same page as Barack Obama, but if he makes racist fundamentalist wackjobs get sand in their vaginas, I'm all for it. It's usually a barometer for something that benefits the world as a whole when Luddite Taliban-types are opposed to something.
It's for that reason alone that I support gay marriage. If it' wasn't for that, i'd find the idea completely absurd.
However, I did vote for Republican Sam Reed in the primary. He's a nice guy (his locker's next to mine at the gym), and doesn't bow to his party's pressure, even when it meant that sleazeball Rossi didn't get elected and the Top 2 Primary being passed, which is rare for any politician of any stripe.

Yeah, I like Reed and McKenna. On the flip side, I was surprised that Sohn is running for Treasurer. He's the brightest economist around anywhere - should probably be the fed reserve chairman. I figured anyone as smart as him wouldn't be able to tolerate the BS of gov't office.

Are you one of those hate america appologists? During the Reagan years, he was booed by the Europeans over the missles and his stand on the Soviets. And who benefited the most when the wall came down? Europe. Reagan told Europe to reject, letting the Russians control a pipeline and later on, they let the Russians become the defacto supplier on oil and NG. Now, Russia is in control of the energy and they are throwing a fit, over a competing pipeline. Again Reagan was right.

France elected a president who is considered conservative and a person who supports the US unlike the former left wing leaders. That is a defacto approval of conservative values and methods. Regardless of the country, the pendulum swings both ways. Obama is running against Bush, Obama is not going to change anything from the current and customary liberal approach to govt and the rest of the world. He specifically stated that he has a lot of people talking to him and helping him determine or develop his views. If you want the exact language, go back and listen to the interview at the church about what three people would be important advisors to him.
His wife, mother and grandmother? Gee, he left out AMY CARTER. He was not even suppose to include his wife.
When he falls apart, Nancy Pelosi and others will run the country and prop him up as the great puppet. He is an empty suite and i dont think he will win.

Any man, who votes against the rights of an aborted baby to recieive medical attention, is not a man who should run a family, let alone a country. Irie, people like you, did not want the colonies to declare their independence from England. You would rather surrender to our enemies, so they would like us. Pussy.

Oh shoot, sorry Irie, I just realized you were stiring the pot again.

Actually, Conservatives, by definition didn't want to revolt against the throne. Most of them had to flee back to England because their home were burned by drunken mobs. The Revolutionaries were known as "Liberal Terrorists." I should know because my ancestor Jacob Hare of Pennsylvania, had his ears cut off by Revolutionaries for being a patriotic crown subject.

And as war as Reagan being "right"...now that the COLD war's over...There's REAL wars popping up all over and governnments toppling, aren't there? The worlds been destabilized by US, and now we aren't even the #1 factory producer thanks to Conservative moving jobs over seas in order to make a bigger buck and fu*k hard working Americans out of the family wage jobs that they had to form Unions and take up arms to fight for 100 years ago. I guess you just assume that "another day, another dollar" is just a saying and that the weekend is and always has been. Unions dont hire illegals, Businessmen do. Liberals dont close American factories to reopen them in the 3rd world, Businessmen do. What party does business support? The Republican Party.
Oh wait Im just saying that because Im a baby-killing Pinko.
Turn off the TV, Jerk-off. It s making you sound like an A$$hole.

ohhhhhh man, this is gettin good. Remember what I was saying earlier about the politics? I rest my case.

My favorite thing to do when arguing politics is give a Republican* four inches of rope and watch them still be able to wrap it around their own necks...no point is ever made so well as having one make it for you.

Fish on...

Todd

*I say "Republican" rather than "Conservative" because, for one, they aren't anything at all the same anymore, and conservatives are ideologues who, like progressives, are fiercely loyal to their ideals. Republicans don't have any ideals anymore, and vote for purely partisan politics as their ideology.

There was 2 choices, close factories or move them to allow for cheap products the american public demands. Who employees most everyone... Businessmen thats who do. There is a reason most businessmen aren't whiny liberals. If you want a socialist state move to fukin cuba you pinko commie bastard!

Fixed that for you.

Damn commie nazi's. They are the worse than Ninjas.

You are correct, the nazis were socialists.

I cant testify to the meaning of the word conservative or liberal more than 200 years ago. I suspect it has changed over the years. Much like the definition of a life, marriage, man or woman. Im sure it was a progressive that came up with the term transgender.

I really like your analysis of the Reagan years. It sounds like you wanted us to join the bear club and wait for Stalin or Putin or someone to herd us off to the ditch. Most people would rather have the freedom that comes with your own democracy. Not much freedom in Communist China or Cuba or Russia. Weve actually had states break off form each other to form new states. Long before Reagan. Much of the nation belonged to other countries. Or would you rather have Russia still owning Alaska. Its not the TV its the channel.

I have a union card and todays unions dont represent members like they use to. Theyve sold out for their own dollar, got involved with the mob and their elections are more nasty than a presidential race. They played a role in getting better working conditions, but most federal and state laws cover most people. The unions are behind every minimum wage fight, because union wages use MW as the baseline. But, older members work all the overtime and new members make less and are put on casual status for six month or more. All the icing goes to the senior members. Ive also been on the receiving end of the teamsters in a non union shop who didnt want to join. We were treated by pickets at every stop and made to go around back to cost the company time and money. Thats not a brotherhood. Thats a mob style dues eating machine, that wont actually fight for the workers jobs. They cant even prove their worth to a bunch of truck drivers. I went to walmart for eye glasses and they told me the union wont reimburse me. So much for freedom.

You are completely wrong about business and republicans. Business donates to both parties. Warren Buffets stock is over 100,000 dollars per share and it doesnt pay dividends. He will leave his family nothing. He donate billions to the gates foundation to avoid death taxes. His income is take as capital gains at the lower rate than his secretary and so he says tax him more. Right...... Democrats want to raise taxes on dividends and that means everyone who wants to retire. So tell me, if two men have the same rights, how come one is paying the other thru a govt pimp? Would you give up your A grade and part of your term paper to help out the lazy drug tweaker in the class? Not me. But the lazy drug tweaker will vote for the democrat to take the money i earned to give it to him.

I even know a democrat that never offered his employees health care and when things got tough, he paid everyone under the table. I lost about 2 dollars an hour after declaring the income. No way was I going to look over my shoulder for seven years. One fall, they all fall.

If american business hires illegal aliens, its because they told congress to open the gate and let them in. The same democrat employer also hired illegal aliens. Its not the democrats who want the border closed. If you had actually run a business, like I have, you would begin to see the cost of labor and govt (Gary lock calls is the partner) I call it the brother inlaw that never moves out. Its not just the united states that has a shifting of labor force. Not many japanese cars are made in Japan anymore. Unions are not entitled to anything. They bargain. If they are not competitive, dont expect employers to just keep taking punches in the face. Ever complain to John Kerry about where Heinz catsup is made? Business move out, when its no longer competitive to remain in the states. Some jobs, such as steelhead jigs are mostly made overseas, because they cant find enough people here to do the work. But thats your fault because you wont pay 10.00 per jig. That would require a union member not on sick leave, at lunch, or out campaigning and driving homeless people to the voting booth.

Since american business cant support enough union members, they just took over the state and federal govt. Its much easier to steal your dues and support the union candidate. Imagine that teamster dues went to elect Reagan.

Ronald Reagan speaks from the grave!

Count down to Sept/Oct debates....Mr. above my pay grade....classic stuff.

Mf

"Democrats want to raise taxes on dividends and that means everyone who wants to retire."

Mr. Uber rich who owns 5 million shares of XYZ which pays a dollar dividend per share per year and has no other income pays...drum roll please...15% tax. You think that's fair?

Warren Buffet also has said if the top corporations paid taxes at the current corporate rate then no US citizen would have to pay any tax.

Offshoring is not just about cheap labor. It also includes lax environmental laws and sheltering $$ from US taxes. In other words we lose jobs, the tax revenue and the infusion into social security. Bottom line it's greed.

Mr. Uber Rich already paid tax on the income it took to buy those 5 million shares. and at a higher rate most likely.

I look at people's tax returns every day. I know what the affluent pay.

So your argument is he should receive $5 mil free and clear until the end of time? The rich get even richer. Good one.

"Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway." Warren Buffett.

"Tax breaks for corporations -- and their investors, particularly large ones -- were a major part of the administration's 2002 and 2003 initiatives," Buffett said. "If class warfare is being waged in America, my class is clearly winning."

Dont mention that dogfish. That just does not fit into the "those dirty rich get all the breaks" politics. The ubber libs dont like to tell people that those that pay 35% of their income(soon to be 42% or higher under OB's plan) already paid the taxes on the money they invested. Then you pay fees to invest it, fees to manage it, taxes to take it out, penalties if it is to soon, then higher taxes if you profit.
Funny that if you make a profit the govern wants a share on investment but if you loss money they dont share that burden with you. If you lost your a$$ last year for 50K it is your own tough luck but if you made 10k this year......we want our 15%. Why dont they pay 15% of the loss if you take 15% of the profit. And worse yet, if you lost money huge money last year but changed to better invest this year.....why get taxed on it....you are still in the RED, just a little less.
Those in the Lib party....the people looking for a govern handout, the mafia, I mean union, and those silver spoons who inherited fortunes, never worked a day in their lives and feel guilty about it, need to realize they are not entitled to all I worked hard for. They need to realize the money I EARN is not theirs to take and 35% is plenty for the fed considering we pay tax on all our purchases as well. This isnt a country of fee rides and no I do not want to give part of my "A" grade paper I stayed up all night working on to the frat boy that smoked a little to much and decided to midnight tacobell run was more important to him. If he gets an "F" that is unfortunate but he might learn something about work for next time. Taking half of my grade so we each get a "C" teaches him nothing and shows me that next time I might as well take the toke adn enjoy myself rather than working so hard. As a matter of fact that sound pretty good after reading many of these comments.

I didn't say that. Capital gains tax is fine by me, but it should be lower than the standard tax rate. I was just alluding to what is essentially double taxation. They paid the tax to earn the money, then pay tax on the interest or dividends that money earns. There needs to be an incentive to invest and take risk. (Opportunity cost argument, for you other economists out there) That is how new industries are born and technology improves.

C-Corps pay tax on net income, in addition to other taxes like B&O, etc. Then, as that net income is shared with the owners, shareholders or owners of closely held businesses, the owners get to pay tax on that income again.

S-Corps, Sole Propreitorships & LLC's shift profits to their owners and pay income taxes their, avoiding double taxation to a certain extent.

I am in favor of a flat tax, plain and simple. Evens out the playing field right away, and gets rid of a huge waste of funds at the IRS.

I''m neither right nor left. I make fun of everybody, and over the top liberals are easy pickings, just like over the top conservatives.

"I stayed up all night working on to the frat boy that smoked a little to much and decided to midnight tacobell run was more important to him. If he gets an "F" that is unfortunate but he might learn something about work for next time. "

Hell, in this country with the right family connections he can be elected president. Why should he study?

Not just that Chuck......but if your great grandpappy was an oil tycoon or railroad baron, or maybe owned hotels, then the next umpteen generations of that family can be worthless pieces of sh!t who do nothing but spend all their f'n money that their great grandpappy would be horrified to hear he supplied to them.

----------------

If you want taxes controlled, then the spending has to be controlled. Remember that the next time you're ballwashing your candidate and defending the obscene amounts of money they spend, and lose and waste.

How many people pay their entire tax burden to cover 40 billion dollars "lost" in Iraq? And nobody's head has rolled. Yet the Republican ballwashers still defend Bush.

How many people pay their entire tax burden to cover the 124 billion Savings & Loan scandal? Yet Democrat ballwashers were defending Cranston, Glenn and DeConcini.........and Republican ballwashers still defend McCain. How?

Until we hold responsible those who squander our money, nothing will change, and the Republic will crumble just like all that came before us. Don't think it can happen? Neither did the Romans.

Yeah, we shouldn't reward hard work or intelligence as a society, instead we should look forward to paying for Shaquanda's illigetimate kids, drug rehab, and countless other worthless social programs.

Pensions are great, but they are also what is leading to the collapse of many american companies as there work force gets older..

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/opinion/10lowenstein.html?pagewanted=print

So instead of expecting people to take care of themselves, (novel f'in thought huh) we get to burden everyone with corporate and social welfare!

Pensions are leading to the collapse of many American companies? Or poor management of pensions is leading . . .

Pensions are part of employees compensation, as in deferred compensation. If pensions are collapsing companies, then those companies really couldn't afford, and shouldn't have been hiring labor with the promise of the deferred comp.

Dividends are different from interest in that they still own the shares which can grow in value as well. The same argument can be made for rental income or just about anything you wish.

Why should I pay tax out of my paycheck? Wasn't it already taxed somewhere somehow?

Corps pay taxes on net income, unfortunately there are so many deductions and write downs, what remains to be taxed is a nit.

I too am in favor of a flat tax but with zero deductions for anybody or any entity. No more depreciation, no more R&D deduction. No more deducting children or yachts or second homes. No more corp subsidies. No more off shore money laundering. True capitalism without corp welfare on the backs of the taxpayer.

Docspud, I think you are thinking of capital gains and yes it does suck if you made $20K selling a stock only to lose $20K on another in the same year you are taxed as if you saw a $17K profit because of the $3K limit on losses. I pay a butt load of taxes mainly because I don't qualify for any deductions like most of America. Rarely has a tax cut ever benefited me.

There is a nice bar graph in the latest edition of Mother Jones magazine showing that during BushCo the only income bracket that has not dropped in real dollar value due to tax schedules, inflation, etcetera, are those making $168k/year and up.

Hmmm, no wonder my paycheck hasn't benefitted from Bushco's policies then. And to think I live with the delusion that I earn a decent living.

"Yeah, we shouldn't reward hard work or intelligence as a society, instead we should look forward to paying for Shaquanda's illigetimate kids, drug rehab, and countless other worthless social programs."

So Paris Hilton worked damn hard for what she was born into?

It's an absolute travesty of justice that Corps are able to renege on their pension obligations. It should be a class action lawsuit to sell off it's assets if necessary in order to reimburse those effected. Try reneging on the CEO's stock options and see how fast a lawsuit is filed. Or, even corps who don't renege are pulling promised retirement healthcare sending those retirees to the taxpayer to foot their bills.

Depreciation needs to stay as a deductible item. Sure, nobody ever writes a check for it, but is an incentive to invest in newer equipment and technology. It is akin to replacement reserves. It allows companies to invest in their companies to make them stronger. Some companies actually set this aside. Not all, but maybe 20% of the companies I deal with do in some form or another.

These same companies also pay sales tax on the new equipment, as long as it isn't manufacturing equipment (very broad generalization), and then they pay personal property tax on the equipment at a local level as well.

I feel similar about amortization.

"instead we should look forward to paying for Shaquanda's illigetimate kids, drug rehab, and countless other worthless social programs."

So, based on your post, you are ok with corporate welfare, tax subsidies for sports teams, farm subsidies and that sort of thing. How do you feel about the money unaccounted for in Irag? The 'welfare' going to line pockets of the corps that have that money is way more than anything going to support welfare kids. Also, it may amaze you but not all people on welfare are people of color such as your veiled 'Shaquanda' comment would suggest.

Your "Tool" tag line certainly is correct.

Of all the types of welfare out there that the U.S. taxpayers are emptying their wallets for, Shanequa's kids and rehab probably comprises less than 10%...the rest goes to lining the pockets of big corporations.

For some reason the anti-welfare RWWJ's don't seem to mind that so much...after all, those big corporations are really just looking out for the consumer...right?

Fish on...

Todd

Depreciation is a corp subsidy. Why am I footing the bill to give XYZ Corp "incentives" to do anything?

I also paid a sales tax on my car/house and fees/property tax. Shouldn't I be allowed to depreciate?

Especially when it comes to taxes Corporations are treated as a living breathing US citizen when it is to it's benefit and as an non-human entity when it's also to it's benefit.

Depreciation is bullshiat. It does no good anyway. You buy 100k worth of equipment and then you get to depreciate it over 20years. Great! I save 5 grand that I dont have to pay tax on. That saves me roughly 2K a year. When you expenses run into teh hundreds of thousands.....2k doesnt help the bottom line. I think a flat tax that was say 25% rather than 40% of income would likely help out a lot more. And yes those making less should have to pay their share as well. If they make 20K they pay 25%. 5K it is. No deductions no loopholes. If the other guy makes 400K they pay 25%. 100k it is. No deductions no loopholes. You make more you pay more...fine. But the one making 400k shoulld not pay 45%. Not 180k and the other guy pays nothing. That is B.S.
And much more than 10% of that pie goes to social programs. The lining of the corp pockets is a huge problem and should stop as well. But that problem is no bigger than the social leaches that eat off the system. I know they are easy to get to the poling place because they dont work but even the Dems should want to reform the system and quit playing to it to win elections. Just like the wackos on hte far right should stop playing to the fear crowd.

So when my client just bought a $66,000 US made flat bed trailer to haul finished wood products because the depreciation on his old trailer has gone to zero, that does nothing to stimulate the economy, provide jobs, and keep the economic engine of the US going? He wouldn't have purchased that equipment had there not been an incentive to do so. This is one guy with annual revenues of $190,000. That isn't net income, that is gross dollars accounted for for miles driven. He invested 35% of his gross revenues in new equipment.

Add in all of the other equipment purchased annually because of this, then deduct that from overall production. You will see unemployment go up big time.

Take away amortization and you will see the value of any going concern, also known as blue sky or good will, drop. This means a lot to the owner of a mom&pop business, folks who make a living wage, but certainly are not rich.

Yes, some items that are deductible are BS. Some are not.

In a perfect world a true flat tax would exist, but as long as there are politicians on both sides of the aisle, there will always be ass hattery.

Spoken like a true wordsmith.

It's not the taxpayers job to stimulate (prop up) the economy. Taxes are to run the government, the nations infrastructure, support the military, etc. Not give Joe Blow a break on doing business. If he didn't buy the new trailer he would buy one eventually or go out of business, raise prices, etc. If he went out of business and there's a real need for that business then someone else would step in to replace him. If not then maybe the only thing holding that line of work up were us taxpayers. Same with trailer manufacturers....maybe less trailers would be made because there really isn't a need for so many new ones unless subsidies are involved.

"Take away amortization and you will see the value of any going concern, also known as blue sky or good will, drop."
No the current value is artificially inflated thanks to the taxpayer.

You ever study economics? I wouldn't want to live in your world when you become king and institute all of your changes. Collapse would occur in short order.

The answer lies somewhere in the middle, not the fringe.

*************************************************************************************************************************************
Foreign countries have tax rates also. Its not free. Gary Loomis set up his camp in Russia and they wanted PAYOLLA BABY! Thats greed. ya, govt regulation can cripple business. People like competition. If Govt doesnt have to compete, business will not survive and you have a complete waste land. Hey come to MICHIGAN FOR BUSINESS. We lose jobs when WE arent competitive with the rest of the world. You charge a tariff and the other country charges you a tariff. Are you greedy if the rate of inflation is 4% and you were offered a new position with a competitor and you tell your boss, it will cost him another 200 dollars a week to keep you? You know why your social security payments keep going up? Because your parents and grandparents or your neighbor is telling the politicians to give them a cost of living increase. So, the govt no longer counts gasoline and food and a couple other items when figuring the rate of inflation.

You can be unhappy or just realize, this country offers opportunity, not results. Only communism offers results.
Either way, you go to work.

and Ford and GM should have known better.

And if you worked for pacific northwest bell, you pension was stolen. Pension were considered part of the company assets for a long time. Are they now? Pensions are not generally offered anymore to my knowledge.

Buildings are most certainly depreciable. The tax affect comes at the time of sale when the the gain or loss on the sale is calculated.

Sales price less "basis" (original purchase price less accumulated depreciation) equals net gain or loss on the sale of the building.

The land portion is not depreciable.

Big Daddy is correct on buildings. Land is not depreciable.

I would argue that depreciation is an incentive to upgrade equipment. You have a choice as a business owner where depreciation and taxes are concerned.

Banker math 101. (time to put down the bong folks, this is a story problem)

Let's say I am about to make $80,000 in net income without depreciation after all other deductions, it is December 20. If I am an S-corp, that $80,000 flows to my personal tax return, and since I already paid myself $80,000, my income is $160,000 that year (say my wife's income is offset by all deductions including self employment tax, etc.). I can choose to pay a total tax of $33,544, (actually pretty close to this) or....

I can upgrade to equipment that is newer, gets more work per gallon of fuel, is more efficient, or whatever. Depending on what type of equipment it is, I can write off 100% of the purchase price of that equipment through section 179, or I can write it off over 5 years or more, depending on the accounting rules for that type of asset.

In the case of section 179 depreciation, let's say I buy a truck for $80,000. I sell my old one for $20,000 that was fully depreciated. I get to deduct $80,000 from my net income, but add back the $20,000 gain on sale, for a net reduction in income of $60,000 and a tax savings of approximately $15,856. The old truck could have lasted another 3 years, but maintenance costs would have been $15,000 over 3 years vs. zero on the new truck because of the warranty. I also get better fuel economy with the new truck, saving me another $5,000 per year. Gross savings over existing expenses for the next three years are $15,866+15,000+15,000 = $45,866 in three years. My net output was $60,000 (80-20=60) after buying the new truck and selling the old truck. This results in a net expense over 3 years of $14,134 for trading up to a newer stronger faster more efficient truck, or, I could have paid Uncle Sam $15,866 more in taxes today and had a worn out truck that might last me a few more years, and paid higher fuel costs and more in repairs. I'm buying a truck in the next few days.

This is an oversimplification, but there are business owners I bank who pencil this stuff out, exactly this way, to figure out when and if they upgrade equipment.

Sorry, I write story problems at work all day long.

Buildings usually depreciate over a longer time period, such as 27.5 years, or something like that, based on IRS tax treatment. Check your depreciation schedule. Using straight line depreciation, a building with an acquisition cost of $275,000 would throw off $10,000/year in depreciation.

There is a difference between value appreciation and depreciation and IRS tax treatment of the useful life of an asset (depreciation), which is what you were describing.

How you figure equipment expense isan example of instituting replacement reserves as a way to budget for equipment expenses. That is great! Many business owners fail to budget or plan for this expense and spend it.

Depreciation may not be an incentive to upgrade equipment in a service business. It ceratinly is in an equipment intensive industry like trucking, logging, and construction.

Last I checked interest on boats, RV's, etc are most certainly deductable if you can "prove" you lived aboard for two weeks out of the year.

"You ever study economics? " Most certainly. One of my degrees is in Finance. MBA level Econ was required. A long time ago though. Anyone remember using calculus to calcuate the rate of an increase at decreasing rate or visa versa. The flaw with Econ, as it's tought, is it assumes perfect capitalism which doesn't exist. Supplies are manipulated as well as demands. Much of which is via subsidies, aka tax breaks.

"Foreign countries have tax rates also"

If you want a good example just look at Kellogg Brown Root and thank Dick Cheney while you are at it.

In no way do I believe that things will change but in a perfect world paying anything less than the tax rate would mean you received a subsidy which cost all other tax payers.

Stlhead is describing the bed, bread & head rule. (sleeping arrangements, permanent cooking facilities, and a bathroom) Works for boats, RV's, etc. Essentially counts as a second home. Interest is deductible (check with your accountant)

Consumers also get tax breaks for upgrading to energy efficient windows, and buying one of those nifty hybrids cars. While not depreciation, it is an incentive to invest.

The Government uses incentives to achieve goals, such as having healthy industry, which provides jobs, and hopefully creates a happy populace. (In a perfect world)

Just as economics is based on a perfect world, so is politics. Glad to know we both have some education on theoretical economics and experience with the real world as well. Unfortunately, I live here, not there.

Wait, where's the part about the train leaving Chicago at 2PM central and the train from L.A. leaving at 10AM pacific?

Here's your real doom and gloom story, which gets back to potential presidential platforms:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/21/buffett.box.office.ap/index.html

My favorite Obammy moment is, when asked about drilling and oil prices, he stated that all americans have to do is inflate their tires properly and tune up their cars..problem solved what a Dork!

And yes Irie I saw that on Foxs news

"Pensions are great, but they are also what is leading to the collapse of many american companies as there work force gets older.."

Pensions were unable to fulfill their obligations to the pensioners because they were under funded. Period. Due to a change in the accounting methods used and that corporations were allowed to "borrow" against the assets in their employees' pension funds. This happened while Clinton was president and we had a republican congress.
Who benefited? The corporations of course. Please disprove anything I said and show your work.

"My favorite Obammy moment is, when asked about drilling and oil prices, he stated that all americans have to do is inflate their tires properly and tune up their cars..problem solved what a Dork!"

It is true that it would save everyone more than the McSame gas tax holiday and it costs nothing.

The real thing wrong with McSame is he is too damn old. He'll be 72 in a few days. He'll need dipers soon.

My pension and retirement account is money negociated in leu of wages in my pocket--- same with my health insurance. To have a company take it would be theft in my book.

Exactly Jerry. When someone's pension fund goes missing, the head of whoever was in charge at the time should roll. The more of this kinda' crap goes on in this country and I think we should borrow the guillotine from the French Revolution. There truly is a lack of brutal capital punishment in this country, not to mention the huge financial rewards of being a big time white collar crook. There should be blood in the streets. I just get all warm and fuzzy feeling about justice served.

guillotine is far to "humane" - I'm for drawn and quartered in the public square with live TV coverage. Make sure everyone knows what happens when you break the law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYn5hxeFt10

totally off topic now, but oh well...

I bet Mccain is healthier than Obama, who smokes 2 packs of cancer sticks a day...just looking at him you can tell he is unhealthy...Obama won't even make it to 70 at this rate.

Feel free to buy some goats, or sheep. Here is a basic idea of what applies. As always, check with your accountant. Click below

Section 179 info

I wonder if I could depreciate the dozens of rods and reels I destroy every year? Probably doesn't matter, since I already write off the entire purchase price, and don't pay any property taxes on them...

Fish on...

Todd

One helps the economy, one hurts the economy. I work for a corporation as do most so if the subsidies help me to ensure my job and bonuses, I enjoy cheap groceries (as does shaquanda, Debbie, martina, and cho (is that better =) ). Iraq sucks, but if it brings stability to that country than hopefully it will show some value.

As for being scum that doesn't care about kids.. Yes I am because without any incentive to not have them, then I will get to pay for them in some part for there whole lives. Starting out with welfare, then social programs, then in the prison system in many cases. My children will have to deal with dumbed down public schools to make little Johnny feel better about himself. My insurance rates will go up when they steal my car stereo and break into my house and when they hit my car with no inusrance.

You are correct, but you can surmise that most of the time a well bred dog from hunting stock will out hunt a mix breed.