As if the proletariat would allow the Federal gas tax to be raised enough for us to spend that much more on the road infrastructure.

 

How about cutting or eliminating the federal Department of Education, or Housing and Urban Development, or the Federal Endowment for the Arts, or any of the other recently added unconstitutionally provided entities. How did schools receive funding before the federal Department of Ed? Locally, just like they do now.

There is plenty of money. It is often just wasted on non-infrastructural endeavors.

 

There is plenty of money, but the Fed is never going to give up the ability to strong arm the states into submitting to its will.

 

the rail infrastructure of this thread needs more federal funding.

 

I had my taxes done on Monday. I should be getting about $2400 back between state and federal. It is about average for me.

 

Looks like I'm paying in $1400 to Federal, even though I was claiming 0 for Fed/State, but "Married."

The wife owes something like $3500, apparently they didn't do a good job with the estimated taxes for last year.

My goal for next year will be to try to get a little closer to breaking even.

 

So I think my work already fucked me up for taxes this year. They calculate check to check what tax bracket I'm estimated to be in if I got that check amount the whole year it seems, I had 1200 in overtime this check so the rate I paid skyrocketed. I was trying to figure out why my gross increased by over 1200 but my net only increased by like 800 and it didnt quite add up, the gross less than doubled but the taxes withheld almost tripled. Welp there's like an extra 200 I'll be getting back next January.

 

400/1200 = 30%. Maybe you got bumped to the 28% or 33% bracket this pay period?

We owed this year. No more tuition deductions and being married makes Uncle Sam happy. Plan for 2014: contribute more to 401k and restart investment account to take advantage of lower cap gains taxes.

 

Oh yeah, thats definitely what happened.

 

So, two agencies that were created at around the same time as the Civil Rights Act, and an agency that originally was created in 1867?

Why are they unconstitutional? Is this another wonderful case of "Because I say they are unconstitutional"?

 

So 5% more on the income over that bracket made that much if a difference.

 

The constitution is deliberately vague in describing how congress may spend the proceeds from the taxes which Article I section 8 gives them the power to lay and collect. Basically, they can use it to "provide for the general Welfare of the United States."

Personally, I don't much care for the NEA. HUD has certainly never done anything for me, but I understand why it exists. And DoE? Well, they're certainly not doing the best possible job, but I find it hard to argue against compulsory education on the whole. As a rule, those nations which don't have any sort of centrally-regulated educational authority are the same ones which lack running water and where presidential succession is generally done by military coup.

 

Educational outcomes were arguably far better for both rich and poor before federal involvement in the process.

I guess I need to do my taxes before the federal rail system (which needs improvement) invades my posterior.

 

This is actually distinctly untrue. If I get a little bit of time today, I'll consider describing in depth why this is the case. (Please don't take my words out of context, I'm definitely not saying we have the best education system IN THE WORLD THAT HAS EVER EXISTED. But our education system has actually been pretty butt-terrible as a whole historically. The federal gov't being brought in actually somewhat improved certain aspects, although other aspects were degraded - but Joe's post succinctly sums it up as a whole.)

 

teetering on the brink of the politics section...

 

Hate to break it to you y8s, but the thread took that left to Albuquerque several posts ago.

 

Almost broke even this year. Owed 98 dollars. My wife's job is not taking out enough. We would owe more if it was not for my grad school deductions which should be gone next year.

Good God i'm so ---- about this I want to owe/receive $0