More things we didn't have 100 years ago...

air pollution
water pollution
aids epidemic
welfare
terrorism
majority of children in public schools
drug trafficing
frivalous lawsuits
the internet
telemarketing
gas guzzling trucks
massive prison systems/with cable tv and weight rooms
global politics
and my personal favorite....interest on the national debt

 

I hate to break it to you, but we did have air and water pollution 100 years ago. It all started with the industrial revolution. Many cities had air that was really nasty because of all of the coal fired stoves and furnaces. I worked at a power plant that was a superfund site because the harbor was polluted by leather tanners (and others) who used to dump their untreated waste into the harbor. This happened before the turn of the 20th century.

And terrorism certainly isn't anything new, going back to the days of the Romans and Ghengis Khan. It's just that their methods and tools have become more sophisticated.

 

We pay about 42 percent of our money in taxes, It doesnt matter if the republicans or the democrats are in charge. They all have their hand in our pockets.
Get up and vote everyone. Let them know how you feel. One vate does make a difference

 

You got that right areoroot. If people don't vote then they shouldn't sqawk when the government stomps on them. I say lets kill all the lawyers.

 

An awful lot of our elected officials are lawyers. Watch what you say.

 

I was merely quoting the great bard, William Shakespeare. He said it first.

http://www.killalllawyers.com/default.html

 

Your right...let me rephrase it....we didn't care about water or air pollution a hundred years ago....and if you were a terrorist a hundred years ago...they'd probably have just hung ya in the courtyard.

 

Which, of course, is why the laws are so incomprehensable.

 

OK. I'll finally chime in on this one. Kinda been watching seeing how the topic is right down my alley. I think the democratic hopeful Dean might be on to something when on the Bill Mahr said our President is accomplishing the task of shifting the tax burden from the rich to the workin class. All the tax reductions that are being passed are for things like capital gains....I forget some of the others. Just as in my state. Our lovely and very popular Govenor Bill Richardson just passed a reduction in state income taxes over a five year period. Now here's the kicker. As you read the bill and put it on paper my taxes actually go up in the first two years only to fall back to the same level in the fifth year. Where's MY reduction? Well its an overall reduction. mostly goes for individuals who make over 100k a year. And I know Minnesota is mostly in bad shape but I kinda like Jessie Ventura's idea of a tax on what you purchase. If you have a lot of discretionary income and spend it you pay more tax. Just an idea! Taxes are a necessary evil in order for our government to provide essentail services. And everybodys attitude toward layers might change if you just think of the lawyers out trying to help their clients pay less tax. And when its for a business like a sales tax thats good for us as consumers. And w/ the Interstate tax commission I think is its name finally implementing an internet sales tax, it only seems to get worse for us. As diligent as some of us are at posting we should also take the time to drop our area representatives an e-mail or letter about real issues that concern us. But if u think we have something to complain about now. Our state has a tax commission meeting right now to totally overhaul our state's sales taxes. As mostly every other state is doing. I just can't wait!

 

Good one!!!

But, seriously, on a comment made earlier, "OF course the have money, OUR money" - think again, it's their money. They printed it, they distribute it, they value it. We just borrow it..

 

Why can't we have a flat rate tax? Thats all you pay. You pay no other taxes. Is that too simple?
zanny

 

Yes, that's much too simple for any lawyer.

 

Annotated Lawyer Dictionary of America definition for Simple:

not applicable (refer to incomprehensible; inefficaciously; Laymens terms)