Comments on: linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/ wealth, work and life success Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:02:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: CDHPs and HSAs? The ABCs of health insurance – Business … http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29171 CDHPs and HSAs? The ABCs of health insurance – Business … Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:35:38 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29171 [...] Medicine is Machine-Oriented 3 Times to Consider Declining Your Employer’s Health Coverage linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition linklings, 720K pints of Guinness [...] [...] Medicine is Machine-Oriented 3 Times to Consider Declining Your Employer’s Health Coverage linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition linklings, 720K pints of Guinness [...]

]]> By: Steve http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29856 Steve Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:11:22 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29856 @Curmudgeon: That was more or less my point on the taxes - since we're already in a system where you have to accept some unfairness in how it's spent, then it almost follows that it's unfair in the way it's collected. <br><br>And the people who don't pay income taxes certainly end up paying in other ways - sales tax, payroll taxes, etc. It would be an interesting experiment to have a one time "everybody pitch in $1000 this year to build a new airport outside New York" assessment and see if that motivated people to complain. You're probably right that it would. @Curmudgeon: That was more or less my point on the taxes – since we're already in a system where you have to accept some unfairness in how it's spent, then it almost follows that it's unfair in the way it's collected.

And the people who don't pay income taxes certainly end up paying in other ways – sales tax, payroll taxes, etc. It would be an interesting experiment to have a one time “everybody pitch in $1000 this year to build a new airport outside New York” assessment and see if that motivated people to complain. You're probably right that it would.

]]> By: Steve @ bripblap http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29169 Steve @ bripblap Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:11:22 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29169 @Curmudgeon: That was more or less my point on the taxes - since we're already in a system where you have to accept some unfairness in how it's spent, then it almost follows that it's unfair in the way it's collected. <br><br>And the people who don't pay income taxes certainly end up paying in other ways - sales tax, payroll taxes, etc. It would be an interesting experiment to have a one time "everybody pitch in $1000 this year to build a new airport outside New York" assessment and see if that motivated people to complain. You're probably right that it would. @Curmudgeon: That was more or less my point on the taxes – since we're already in a system where you have to accept some unfairness in how it's spent, then it almost follows that it's unfair in the way it's collected.

And the people who don't pay income taxes certainly end up paying in other ways – sales tax, payroll taxes, etc. It would be an interesting experiment to have a one time “everybody pitch in $1000 this year to build a new airport outside New York” assessment and see if that motivated people to complain. You're probably right that it would.

]]> By: Mike Piper http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29168 Mike Piper Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:48:36 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29168 Thanks for including my article and for pointing out MyDollarPlan's series on self-employed retirement plans. Hadn't caught that one, but it's excellent. :) Thanks for including my article and for pointing out MyDollarPlan's series on self-employed retirement plans. Hadn't caught that one, but it's excellent. :)

]]> By: Posts about Finances as of October 11, 2009 | Learned Capital http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29162 Posts about Finances as of October 11, 2009 | Learned Capital Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:08:53 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29162 [...] tax breaks, or any additional pension payments. Next make a list of all your fixed expenses, i.e. linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition – bripblap.com 10/11/2009 As the title of the post implies, apparently I read a lot of stuff [...] [...] tax breaks, or any additional pension payments. Next make a list of all your fixed expenses, i.e. linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition – bripblap.com 10/11/2009 As the title of the post implies, apparently I read a lot of stuff [...]

]]> By: linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition | Gadget Look http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29161 linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition | Gadget Look Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:13:53 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29161 [...] The EntRead more at http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/ [...] [...] The EntRead more at http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/ [...]

]]> By: » linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition » Free Software http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29160 » linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition » Free Software Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:13:23 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29160 [...] news by brip blap « $500 PokerNews Cash Freeroll at Everest Poker at Everest Poker Want to learn [...] [...] news by brip blap « $500 PokerNews Cash Freeroll at Everest Poker at Everest Poker Want to learn [...]

]]> By: linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29158 linklings, apparently-I-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week edition Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:02:52 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29158 [...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAs the title of the post implies, apparently I read a lot of stuff on the internet this week. I’ve found that ditching Google Reader in favor of the desktop software FeedDemon has made it easier to scan through articles and pick out stuff I actually want to read. I’ve installed that and Raven (for blog editing) on my USB key, making it a bit easier to capture and write up items for the blog. I am definitely not moving in the “cloud computing” direction – sometimes it helps to have desktop so [...] [...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAs the title of the post implies, apparently I read a lot of stuff on the internet this week. I’ve found that ditching Google Reader in favor of the desktop software FeedDemon has made it easier to scan through articles and pick out stuff I actually want to read. I’ve installed that and Raven (for blog editing) on my USB key, making it a bit easier to capture and write up items for the blog. I am definitely not moving in the “cloud computing” direction – sometimes it helps to have desktop so [...]

]]> By: Curmudgeon http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29165 Curmudgeon Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:01:32 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29165 I've had a SEP for about 18 years now, and my biggest problem is not my ignorance, it is that of the banking and financial community, and of the IRS. Every time I care to make a deposit into my SEP, I have to budget at least two hours to explain to the bank representative what a SEP is, why I have one, what I can contribute, and what they have to do. Then they call up the home office for procedures, only to talk to others who require the same explanations.<br><br>It gets worse. I've been to financial advisors who are clueless about the savings options open to the self-employed. I've had to explain to IRS auditors (thanks in large part to my SEP, I get audited almost every year) what the rules are for a SEP.<br><br>The fact of the matter is that our society and our rules do not recognize self-employment as a legitimate way of earning a living. I've actually had IRS representatives tell me that they always authorize an audit for anyone filing a schedule C. I've had a SEP for about 18 years now, and my biggest problem is not my ignorance, it is that of the banking and financial community, and of the IRS. Every time I care to make a deposit into my SEP, I have to budget at least two hours to explain to the bank representative what a SEP is, why I have one, what I can contribute, and what they have to do. Then they call up the home office for procedures, only to talk to others who require the same explanations.

It gets worse. I've been to financial advisors who are clueless about the savings options open to the self-employed. I've had to explain to IRS auditors (thanks in large part to my SEP, I get audited almost every year) what the rules are for a SEP.

The fact of the matter is that our society and our rules do not recognize self-employment as a legitimate way of earning a living. I've actually had IRS representatives tell me that they always authorize an audit for anyone filing a schedule C.

]]> By: Curmudgeon http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-29164 Curmudgeon Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:44:20 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2009/linklings-apparently-i-read-a-lot-on-the-internet-this-week-edition/#comment-29164 About income taxes, Steve. If we needed 100 percent agreement on everything our tax dollars were spent on, nothing would be spent (and that would be bad). A substantial part of my tax dollars are spent on things I would prefer they not, but at some level I have to trust the people (legislators, government bureaucrats, etc.) who are authorizing and spending them are not into wholesale theft. If you can't believe there is value in the system in general, you may as well find a deserted island to live on.<br><br>I do have more of an issue with the percent of people who don't pay income taxes. There are a lot of arguments both ways here, but I would like to think that people care more if they have "skin in the game." No matter what your income (to an arbitrary level that is probably a lot less than 47 percent), even if you're only paying $100, you may care more about what wars are being fought, and what highways being built.<br><br>And yes, I realize that this percentage doesn't include payroll taxes, which every legitimately working person pays, but they result in highly targeted benefits. About income taxes, Steve. If we needed 100 percent agreement on everything our tax dollars were spent on, nothing would be spent (and that would be bad). A substantial part of my tax dollars are spent on things I would prefer they not, but at some level I have to trust the people (legislators, government bureaucrats, etc.) who are authorizing and spending them are not into wholesale theft. If you can't believe there is value in the system in general, you may as well find a deserted island to live on.

I do have more of an issue with the percent of people who don't pay income taxes. There are a lot of arguments both ways here, but I would like to think that people care more if they have “skin in the game.” No matter what your income (to an arbitrary level that is probably a lot less than 47 percent), even if you're only paying $100, you may care more about what wars are being fought, and what highways being built.

And yes, I realize that this percentage doesn't include payroll taxes, which every legitimately working person pays, but they result in highly targeted benefits.

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