Taxes

#1
Carl Pickens

Carl Pickens

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#1
Now that the election is over let's talk about how everyone is going to be impacted with regard to the taxes they'll pay.

How many kids do you guys have? I have 4 so effective 1/1/13 my taxes are going up $2,000.....guaranteed. The child tax credit is being cut in half from $1,000 to $500....you can apply the math to your own situation and this is just one of the increases.

Here's a summary of the average increases and how each demographic will be impacted:

Families $4,138
Baby Boomers $4,223
Low Income workers $1,207
Millenials $1,099
Retirees $857
 
#2
#2
For me. If I was the republicans. I would let everything expire. If the democrats believe the Clinton years were that great. Then lets let the tax cuts expire. And no more raising he debt ceiling. If they want to raise it a trillion dollars. Then cut a trillion dollars in expenses that year.
 
#3
#3
They're going to have to make some serious cuts anyway if they truly intend to bring down the deficit.....but they about shjt themselves over Big Bird and public television....if they cant give that up then wtf are they willing to cut?
 
#4
#4
Carl Pickens said:
They're going to have to make some serious cuts anyway if they truly intend to bring down the deficit.....but they about shjt themselves over Big Bird and public television....if they cant give that up then wtf are they willing to cut?
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Probably willing to cut the tax breaks extended to churches...
 
#5
#5
etmccreary said:
Probably willing to cut the tax breaks extended to churches...
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So no non-profits anywhere. I think an idea also is this. When people pay with food stamps. They should at least have to pay the taxes on the groceries. That is a lot of taxes lost each year in states
 
#6
#6
Oh I think there will be a last minute extension of all the Bush rates. Dems cannot afford to WIN and boom taxes go up, they really want the house in 2 years. Rs are not going to compromise on increases, so status quo.
 
#7
#7
RollinVol said:
So no non-profits anywhere. I think an idea also is this. When people pay with food stamps. They should at least have to pay the taxes on the groceries. That is a lot of taxes lost each year in states
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And to make families feel better for losing some of their child tax breaks, they will decide to double the taxes on all married couples without kids...unless they are a gay couple, because that would be bigotry. [/SARCASM]
 
#9
#9
hog88 said:
Oh I think there will be a last minute extension of all the Bush rates. Dems cannot afford to WIN and boom taxes go up, they really want the house in 2 years. Rs are not going to compromise on increases, so status quo.
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even if they renew the cuts, the taxes I referred to above are associated with the implementation of Obamacare.
 
#11
#11
etmccreary said:
For those mega-churches raking it in by the millions, sure. But for a small congregation barely able to compensate their minister and keep the lights on, it would shut many of them down.
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I agree. Some of the monstrosities here are ridiculous.
 
#12
#12
Churches getting the tax breaks don't bother me as most aren't being run as a for profit enterprise....the church I attend does a lot of things to help those that need it....they typically build two or three houses each year....as of last Sunday they have given away 21 cars.....
 
#14
#14
etmccreary said:
For those mega-churches raking it in by the millions, sure. But for a small congregation barely able to compensate their minister and keep the lights on, it would shut many of them down.
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then that minister can figure out another way to make money during the other 6 days
 
#15
#15
utvolpj said:
then that minister can figure out another way to make money during the other 6 days
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Ministers in decent sized churches work more than most think.....it's not a one day a week job by any means.....little church...not so much....and most ministers in these do have other jobs
 
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#18
#18
rjd970 said:
Do tell, what are they doing for 40 hours a week?
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Nothing that would make a non-religious person sweat, of course, but most spend their week doing home visits, hospital visits, counseling church members, couples counseling, running bible study groups and so forth. Many hold periodic services, some as often as several times daily, others just Wednesdays, during the week. Then there are the charitable events held at the church or in the community. Not to forget the crisis counseling that happens when bad things happen(fires, floods, etc). Generally Saturdays are spent preparing for Sunday services as well as participating in the different events that happen at the church on the weekend. This is a normal week, of course there are times when it gets busier, such as Easter Week and Christmas.

Again, most aren't out digging ditches and it can be a pretty genteel life, but still the days are full. To say they only work one day a week is inaccurate.

In my experience, this type of schedule would be seen across the religious spectrum, not just Christian ministers. Rabbis, Buddhist, Hindu and Wiccan Priests/Priestess and even secular life coaches, anyone who performs group as well as individual ministrations would do similar activities throughout the week.

Leaders of smaller congregations would probably not have as many tasks during the week, nor would they have the financial support that would free their time to do those things, so most would work outside of the church.
 
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#19
#19
YorkVol said:
Again, most aren't out digging ditches and it can be a pretty genteel life, but still the days are full. To say they only work one day a week is inaccurate.
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actually it sounds completely accurate. For the rest of the week they are basically a volunteer acting on behalf of a church
 
#20
#20
Carl Pickens said:
Ministers in decent sized churches work more than most think.....it's not a one day a week job by any means.....little church...not so much....and most ministers in these do have other jobs
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Agree.

One thing that small- medium churches do that is wrong is instead of paying the minister a salary, they will take up a
"love offering" and hand it over in cash. It is the minister choice to pay taxes or not on that money. I do not agree with that practice.
 
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#21
#21
utvolpj said:
actually it sounds completely accurate. For the rest of the week they are basically a volunteer acting on behalf of a church
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Well, no, because if you don't do these things, they'll find another minister. Most assume that ministers own their churches sort of like a small business. That is true in some cases, but for the most part the congregation, or church board, hires the ministers and holds them to a job description that includes all of those things. God help the minister who doesn't visit the hospital when one of the more influential members is sick or injured!
 
#22
#22
YorkVol said:
Well, no, because if you don't do these things, they'll find another minister. Most assume that ministers own their churches sort of like a small business. That is true in some cases, but for the most part the congregation, or church board, hires the ministers and holds them to a job description that includes all of those things. God help the minister who doesn't visit the hospital when one of the more influential members is sick or injured!
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so if they value that service so much shouldn't they pay for it? The original argument is that a tax would kill the small churches. If they can't afford to pay their minister a livable wage and pay taxes then maybe they aren't a viable entity.
 
#24
#24
utvolpj said:
so if they value that service so much shouldn't they pay for it? The original argument is that a tax would kill the small churches. If they can't afford to pay their minister a livable wage and pay taxes then maybe they aren't a viable entity.
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That is a fair argument, however, what happens when one particular church denomination pays so much in taxes they actually influence legislation? I'd rather leave it as is, flaws included, than risk having a mega-church wield any more influence over the government. We'd be back to the Holy Roman Empire...
 
#25
#25
YorkVol said:
That is a fair argument, however, what happens when one particular church denomination pays so much in taxes they actually influence legislation? I'd rather leave it as is, flaws included, than risk having a mega-church wield any more influence over the government. We'd be back to the Holy Roman Empire...
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So taxing donations to churches is the answer? It is factual that libs give less to charity, yet want to spend other peoples money on social programs so I guess this makes sense.

edit: dont know why I quoted you..
 
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