davjohns

Perhaps it would help if we didn't engage in wars we could not afford? I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

If the universe is infinite, there should be infinite life in it. The level of technological sophistication should run the spectrum. We have no way of knowing where we are on the spectrum. We could be topped out or sucking hind tit. If you could prove to me today that sentient life was on the moon, I'm not sure it would have much effect on me. I call my parents about once per week; my best friend about once per month; haven't spoken to my brother since I left the States four months ago. Unless this ET posts on a website I frequent, we'll probably never have any contact...no matter how ubiquitous or scarce they are. Think back to the last time you had contact with some of the people you have been close to. Then, tell me you are going to go ape trying to contact someone you don't know just because they grew up on another planet. This is my basic complaint about the space program. Yes, it is neat. But we have better things to do with the money at the moment. When we can be good custodians of this planet, then we can look at visiting others. Maybe other life forms don't visit us because their social services departments haven't gotten around to trying to help us out of our situation, yet. When they do get here, they may take the kids away from us when they see how we are raising them. Eh...just random thoughts. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Just for clarification, Soldiers in combat zones aren't taxed. It's not a deduction. Not arguing the legitimacy. Just clarifying. But still...that's kind of cold... I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

I have read enough articles to feel there isn't an absolute truth that will reveal itself to a researcher. It is also difficult to find an unbiased account (if such an account exists). If anybody can recommend what they would consider to be an unbiased book, I'd be interested in reading it. It is clear Israel tends to kick ass. Part of that is because Palestinians tend to bring "knives to a gunfight". Agreed. I can usually tell the historian's personal bias by the way things are written, so I know how much salt to take their 'facts' with. Recommend the same to everyone. I long ago discovered that history is not an absolute. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

I would recommend that, over the long run, doing away with that particular deduction would bring down housing costs by reducing demand. Let's face it, the government gives up income with that deduction. They are indirectly subsidizing the mortgage industry. Do we really need to subsidize that? For what? So people can own a house? Let's be honest...if you own the house, you don't have a mortgage and get no deduction. If you have a mortgage, the bank has more ultimate right to the property than you do. Who really owns it? I would prefer that deduction go away in the long run. I enjoy it now, but think we would be better off without it as a whole. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Let me see if this makes it more palatable for you... When I went to look up 'living wage' I found that the online calculator I came to estimated it based on where you live. That makes some sense. It costs more to live in some areas than others. I would guess that pay there tends to be higher to compensate. Whether it does or not, the initial exemption I was talking about would just be an estimate of what it costs to live there. After that, the 'disposable income' would be taxed. Probably still some issues there. If you live in the Hamptons, you are likely to have a higher cost of living, so there might need to be a range to operate within. Like Wendy points out, some people are fairly trapped by their circumstances and would find it quite difficult to move. For instance, a person who is divorced and did not get physical custody of their child would be geographically locked due to no real 'fault' of their own. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Thanks. Didn't change my series of goose eggs, but I wanted to make sure I had the order of disappointment straight. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Roger. Lots of it revolves around racism. None of the Arab countries want the Palestinians. The greater part of them live in refugee camps in surrounding countries and have for generations. Those countries don't want them and will not let them become citizens. Nobody likes to talk about that. Those countries are mostly Arab, so they would prefer to hold the refugees hostage to exacerbate the situation and pretend Israel is always the bad guy. Not that Israel is pristine, but nobody wanted that land until the Jews made it a worthwhile place to live. Of course, I lean toward the Israeli position, so I encourage you to do your own research. But you'll find the Israelis have ordinarily been responding to attacks when they are painted as the bad guys. The whole Jerusalem issue comes from the Six Days war. Israel was attacked. Jordan joined in. Jordan lost their part of Jerusalem. Spoils of war in my opinion. Moral of the story: Don't screw with Israel. They tend to kick ass. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

I can always count on you to be reasonable. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Somebody remind me what order the numbers are in. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

I find it interesting that I threw out an idea to try to move toward a concensus and nobody mentioned it. I'm pretty well convinced the point of this forum is argument. Not debate. The full-on, pointless type of argument Monty Python satirized in one of their skits. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

The novelty of the concept has worn off, but it is still well done. I was really happy with how well the new guy copied Tommy Lee Jones' mannerisms. That alone was worth watching. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

The history is now muddled by everyone placing spin on it and such. From what I have found, much of the land was purchased from absentee landholders. The Palestinian nomads who inhabited the region claimed the cultural norm was that whoever was on the land, owned it. The first Zionists allowed the nomads to work the land for a period after taking ownership as a compromise. But there were racial problems from the beginning that continued to grow. Today, many Palestinians claim the original purchases were fraudulent, but I'm not aware of any actual evidence to that effect. So, there has been a dispute from the beginning. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

I'm going to drop back in. Andy hasn't had time to define 'equivalent burden' for me. I wish he had. Meanwhile, is there any room for agreement? What if there were a per capita exclusion, after which a flat tax applied? The basics of life would be covered by the exclusion. I could go for it being variable depending on geography. Some places cost more to live than others. Although, I tend to think that if you can't live someplace, you should try to move. I would also balk at having an exclusion that took into account such voluntary issues as marital status, children and the like. I would prefer government stay out of the family. So, what if the first $30,000USD or so was tax exempt, and everything over that amount was...17% or so? Play with the numbers any way you want. It's just a concept. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Sigh... // The cloud cover here is really cramping the jumping / I don't drink much / I don't have a woman. ( At least, I think that's the proper order. Can't recall.) I think I need to make some changes... I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Billions of tons of ice discovered . . . When you find billions of tons of Margarita mix and Jose Cuervo, let me know. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot was one of the great instrumentals of all time. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

It's been a while, but I think the signature was only to verify you didn't have a local criminal record that would preclude ownership. Not sure. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Depends. They will shake hands in many situations. In some situations, letting someone take control of your dominant hand is a bad thing. Also, don't try to talk to a cop when he is in the middle of a traffic stop that you are not involved in. That's just stupid, but I've had it happen. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Web site: http://www.barrett.net/ Oh look, they have a convenient "dealers" list to find their rifles for sale, they sell the ammo, they have training videos, and even in-person long-range training classes. $12k is nothing for a terrorist. Then all you need to do is go sit off the end of an airport runway somewhere and bag your game! Oh, I hope those noise-complaint nuts in Colorado aren't reading this... THANKS!!! That was one website I wasn't familiar with. I've wanted one of these for year. I think I found one to replace my old single shot .50BMG. I know where my tax return is going now. Ummm...are you now complaining because the manufacturer offers training so people will handle their weapons safely? Not sure on that one. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Got a cite for #2? I think you are mistaken. He didn't sign on to a "Friend of the Court" brief, and supported banning both pistols and CCW permits. http://davekopel.org/2A/Mags/when-obama-wrestles-with-heller.htm And there is no license required to own full auto. There are a bunch of hoops to jump through, signatures to get and taxes to pay. Correct. There is no license. As I wrote above, you have to fill out a form in duplicate originals. You get one back. It also includes duel fingerprint cards and passport photos to attach, but it really isn't too bad. It's about the same as the form you filled out to own the weapon. And, as much as I disapprove of the existance of the organization, the people at BATF were polite and helpful. I don't want anyone dissuaded if they want an automatic weapon or silencer. Join the fun. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Good gravy, no. The Air Force has way too expensive toys. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

When I was a cop, I wouldn't give homeless guys money, but I would take them to eat. Some of them made good company. I knew lots of good cops. Not all of them, though. And I can almost always defend the ones who taze or shoot. The people who want the cops to take verbal abuse, physical assaults, and not defend themselves are often the ones who can't even have a civil discussion with someone on the internet. I find that interesting. But in the end, cops chose a noble profession. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Wish I had reason to share your faith in politicians and government. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

Heheheh. Just joking around. I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.