If you think you've got it bad....

[Grim 82]

Don't envy those that "make too much money" because, in the end, we live in the same country that gives us the freedom to succeed, and if you hustle it you can make it too.

He can EARN as much money as he wants, but why should he be rewarded for failure with OUR tax money? He should hustle like everybody else and then maybe he can make it.

I'm tempted to trash talk stock brokers, but it's not worth the energy - use that energy to inspire yourself

I respectfully disagree, and submit that it IS in fact worth the energy to try to identify and solve the problems that are ruining our country. One might even say that it's one's civic duty, and I'm pretty inspired by that.

I had the best year I've ever had, money wise, and I have no say when it comes to the 30k I GAVE away to the government.

I had a great year as well. You GAVE 30k to the government, like a gift? Or do you mean they TOOK it, and you let them keep it because you didn't want to go to jail. There's a big difference.

30k uncle Sammy took to support my country

That money didn't go to support the country. It went to bail out wall street, and now the guy in the article says he needs more of yours and my money or else he might only get steak and lobster 6 nights a week.

Help the helpless, not the hopeless - unfortunately, a whole bunch of our tax dollars go to losers that could be splitting wood rather than whining about people that make too much money.

Yeah if only our founding fathers would have spent less time whining about over taxation and government oppression, and chopped more firewood, buncha losers.

[bake74]

     It all boils down to the same story.  Those who don't have money complain about those who have money.  Those who have money complain about not having enough money.   

[Grim 82]

It's one of those deals where if everybody knew when enough was enough, everybody would have enough, if that makes any sense. The root of the problem is people living beyond their means, and if they are looking for sympathy from the average hard working American, they are barking up the wrong tree. The rest of us are content with what we have, but we all sure could use the extra cash in our accounts instead of bailing out the crooks who pi$$ed away our 401k's.

[79camper]

You missed my point Grim. It's funny how you could bring the founding fathers into it in that context - part of my point is that I too am fed up with over taxation. Income tax wasn't on the docket when the founding fathers were around, and I definitely do not support bail outs. But look at the big picture, welfare and unemployment are "bailouts" too, and we spend way more on that. The big financial bailouts have been largely paid back with interest, but we're paying way too many losers $12 an hour to sit on their butts for up to two years and we won't get that money back. I have sympathy for those who can't work and we should help them, but this system is being manipulated and I'm sick of it.

The gov didn't take my money. They told me what I "owed" and I gave it to them. I wrote "for sexual favors" in the memo line of my check just for shoots and giggles. Maybe I pay my taxes to stay out of prison, maybe I do it because I'm supposed to, but it doesn't matter. You think the wallstreeters are the problem, I think they're only a small part of it. Yeah they're out of control, butni don't hear anyone whining about professional athletes making millions and foreclosing on their mansions... Pick your battles. The one I'm focused on is getting a congress and a president that will submit a budget and trim some fat.

[79camper]

Ha! I just realized I spent ten minutes ranting to someone I probably agree with, and here I am saying, "pick your battles..." I'm not picking mine very carefully - I'm a hypocrite.

[Grim 82]

I think we probably do agree on alot of things. Having too much of our hard earned money taken from us and given away to others is bad enough, and when they give it away to those that have several times more income than the average person they are taking it from, it's the straw that breaks the camel's back. I like the idea of voting with my dollar, which is why I have nothing to do with Hollywood or professional sports, and why I don't shop at certain stores. I don't support welfare of any kind, but I don't get a vote in that, unless I want to go to jail. I want to see the regime change, but it will most likely be the same situation as many previous administrations. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.....