A week later Romney is still a douchebag

[dirk digler]

My guess Mittens he won because he didn't insult half the country and didn't come across as a prick to normal middle class people.

Mitt: Obama won because of 'gifts'

http://www.politico.com/news/stories...#ixzz2CIgh0NOo

Mitt Romney told donors Wednesday he blamed last week’s loss to President Barack Obama in part to “gifts” the Obama administration gave to key voter blocs, including African Americans, Hispanics and young women, according to media reports.

“The president’s campaign focused on giving targeted groups a big gift — so he made a big effort on small things. Those small things, by the way, add up to trillions of dollars,” Romney said on a conference call with donors, the Los Angeles Times first reported.

The “gifts,” according to Romney, included forgiving college loan interest, free contraceptive coverage and the part of Obamacare that allows people 26 and younger to be covered under their parents’ health care plans.

“You can imagine for somebody making $25,000 or $30,000 or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free healthcare, particularly if you don’t have it, getting free healthcare worth, what, $10,000 per family, in perpetuity. I mean, this is huge,” Romney said, the New York Times reported.

“Likewise with Hispanic voters, free healthcare was a big plus,” Romney added. “But in addition with regards to Hispanic voters, the amnesty for children of illegals, the so-called Dream Act kids, was a huge plus for that voting group.”

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by patteeu

The employer portion is tax deductible to the employer (like wages) but not taxable to the employee (unlike wages). The employee contribution comes from pretax dollars (so you don't pay income taxes on it).

That just happens automatically? How much is that benefit add up to per week? Year?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

That just happens automatically? How much is that benefit add up to per week? Year?

Yes, it's been a part of the tax code for decades.

If your annual premium is $5000 and the tax rate is 20% ( just to make the math easy), it would be $1000 per year.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Yes, it's been a part of the tax code for decades.

If your annual premium is $5000 and the tax rate is 20% ( just to make the math easy), it would be $1000 per year.

This is absolutely correct. Your health insurance is deducted pre-tax. So you're not paying taxes on that money, therefore it is subsidized.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Never thought that'd happen, did ya Pat?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Yes, it's been a part of the tax code for decades.

If your annual premium is $5000 and the tax rate is 20% ( just to make the math easy), it would be $1000 per year.

Okay, to the original question, I'd give this up to help the deficit.

What are you going to give up?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Okay, to the original question, I'd give this up to help the deficit.

What are you going to give up?

I've already listed several things that would impact me. Most of the policies I advocate here would hit me in the pocketbook because I'm more interested in shrinking government and realigning our priorities to become more globally competitive than I am in protecting my special pieces of the pie.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I've already listed several things that would impact me. Most of the policies I advocate here would hit me in the pocketbook because I'm more interested in shrinking government and realigning our priorities to become more globally competitive than I am in protecting my special pieces of the pie.

Did you say those things when we were having a discussion? If so, sorry but can you provide me what those several things are are?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Did you say those things when we were having a discussion? If so, sorry but can you provide me what those several things are are?

Yeah, some of the things I mentioned in post 133 would impact me. Just to make it easy on you though, things like child credits, health insurance tax breaks, entitlement reform that reduces benefits, replacing the income tax with a flat tax on consumption, and reducing or eliminating the home mortgage deduction are all things I'd support that would either impact me today or in future years. I think everything should be on the table and our priorities should be national defense and aligning our economy for growth and competitiveness in a global market. Transfer payments to supplement the standards of living of the poor and the middle class should take a back seat to those two goals.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Yeah, some of the things I mentioned in post 133 would impact me. Just to make it easy on you though, things like child credits, health insurance tax breaks, entitlement reform that reduces benefits, replacing the income tax with a flat tax on consumption, and reducing or eliminating the home mortgage deduction are all things I'd support that would either impact me today or in future years. I think everything should be on the table and our priorities should be national defense and aligning our economy for growth and competitiveness in a global market. Transfer payments to supplement the standards of living of the poor and the middle class should take a back seat to those two goals.

I could get behind most of those ideas. Going to start a new thread about this.