NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (SuperSteve @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 07:26 PM) Well thought out. Only thing I'd add is I'd like to see clawback options on bankers bonuses. I'm never comfortable with that sort of thing myself, but I see your point.

With is trade value pretty low right now, I'd only trade Beckham if I was blown away by the offer. So I doubt this happens.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 03:49 PM) Where do you get the 5k? I thought it was 20% of total costs? Edit: nm. You're talking about the FSA. I gotta do the math to see if it's better to take the child care tax credit. We're going to end up spending 19,500 on daycare a year. F'n ridiculous. Anyone want to be a nanny? Yeah, I know your pain. We have a three year old in there now in Pre-school, and are due with our second in June, so for about 2 years we will have double that. Its college tuition-level money, for a good place.

Also, Balta hit upon one of the main benefits of limiting the number of deductions and/or credits that Congress can enact. It puts a lot more sunlight on those few, and prevents the multitude of smaller ones that Congresspeople stick in there to satisfy lobbyists.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 01:37 PM) I'd support the vast majority of this. Though I'm not sure why something like deducting interest on college loans is taken out. That's a good thing. That's providing an incentive for people just like deductions for businesses who hire new employees. And I'd remove the cap. $2500 bucks isn't enough. You reminded me of the day care expense, which i'll be utilizing next year. Only 20% is deductible? Ludicrous. Up that to 50% or more. Interest on student loans could very well fall into education-related expenses. And the child care deduction also only covers up to $5000 a year. Not sure about other cities, but in Chicago, $5000 (which is a little over $400 a month) doesn't begin to touch the cost of typical day care centers.

Here is the NSS tax plan... First, reduce the number of income tax brackets to four, and lower all the rates except the top bracket (you will see why later)... On singles... 0-36k: 5% 36k-90k: 15% 90k-200k: 25% 200k+: 35% Married similar relatively. Throw out the ENTIRE current book for personal deductions and credits, and replace it with a 5-item rule. Congress can have enacted, at any given time, only 5 deductions or credits. If they want to add one, they need to remove one. This not only greatly simplifies the tax code, it also allows the overall rates to drop, while maintaining the SAME LEVEL OF OVERALL PERSONAL INCOME TAX REVENUE (my numbers above are guesstimates, but they should be tuned to that goal). Furthermore, by using this 5-item rule, it prevents the tax code from going right back to where it is now - a convoluted mess. But still allows Congress to make a few tweaks based on current needs. The five I might pick currently, for example, could be: --Deduction for any education or day-care related spending, with no cap --Deduction for mortgage interest on one home only --Deduction for all charitable contributions, no cap, but only at the equivalent effective rate of that bracket of income to the individual --Child credit per child, similar to how it is now --All property, state and local taxes deductible, much as it is now Short term capital gains should follow the income tax brackets, much as they do now. Long term capital gains should be 10% on the first 100k of distributions or realized P&L in a given year, and 20% on all above that level. Business taxes, like personal taxes, scrap ALL current deductions and credits, and again allow for a 5-item rule. Use the total amount of current tax revenue from businesses as your target for total, adjust for the 5 items, and make a flat corporate income tax rate lower as a result. This should decrease the tax burden for most corporations on their income, while preventing a situation like the one GE has. My current 5 items might look like this: --A deduction for each new employee hired and retained in the US for the full year (using a full head count invoice) --Deduction for all charitable contributions --Deduction for any spending directly on facilities or services related to family treatment in the workplace beyond legal requirements: child care, maternity/paternity leave granted, etc. (the etc would need to be clarified of course) --Special credits for employing energy-use-reducing facilities or items, where the credit is a % rate of total spent on the items (alt energy, building retrofitting, HVAC equipment above ratings levels, etc.) --Something else A slight expansion on the definition of income is also needed - things like carried interest and other short term tricks that look like long term gains but aren't, need to be captured under short term gains. Finally, keep the currently lowered soc security tax rate, but remove the cap entirely, with all funds going to shore up Soc Sec fund. This plan keeps the tax revenues neutral, except for shoring of Soc Sec, increased revenue from a stablized top bracket rate coupled with removing some deductions and credits, and the extra income from income definition recapture, which can be used to further reduce the deficit. The spending side then needs to be further addressed to balance the budget, but that is another matter.

Long Term Cap Gains are ZERO if you are in the 15% or lower income bracket, 15% if above. Short Term follow the income rates. Estate tax has a $5M exemption, and above that has a sliding scale up to 35%. Corp Taxes are highly convoluted by credits and deductions, and I won't even list all the credits and deductions for them or individuals.

By the way, here are the current income tax brackets and rates, for reference... SINGLE std Deduction: $5800 $0-$8500 @ 10% $8500-$34500 @ 15% $34500-$83600 @ 25% $83600-$174400 @ 28% $174400-$379150 @ 33% Over $379150 @ 35% MARRIED JOINT FILING std Deduction: $11600 $0-$17000 @ 10% $17000-$69000 @ 15% $69000-$139500 @ 25% $139500-$212300 @ 28% $212300-$379150 @ 33% Over $379150 @ 35%

How would you structure taxes? Make some specific tweaks, or start new? Lots of deductions/credits, few, or none? What rates for income? What about corp taxes? Div/Cap gains? With all the dissection of the tax plans from various GOP candidates for President, I would love to hear what each of you would do...

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:38 AM) $6 MILLION. Do you think he gets $6 million in benefit for his tax dollars? $6 million bucks he paid. That's a lot, no matter who you are. But everyone glosses over that because the percentage isn't high enough. but when it comes to the lower 45%, percentage doesn't seem to matter. The whole reason regressive vs progressive vs flat tax structure is even a discussion is the sliding scale of utility of each dollar. The first $10k someone makes is one heck of a lot more important to them that than the 10th $10k. It is the transition from absolute needs, to marginal needs, to reasonable wants, to luxury items. I am sure you must realize this. And let's stop with the talk that 45% of the country doesn't pay taxes, which is 100% false. Not only do they pay sales taxes (and at a much higher relative rate), along with property taxes and other non-payroll-based fees and taxes, they also pay the SS payroll tax (which is regressive), and Medicare, and often state income tax. That all said, I have no problem with the fact that Romney pays only about 15% in taxes. There are very good, valid reasons why the cap gains, dividend and interest taxes are set lower than the top line income taxes. I'd also be OK with him paying 20%, as part of a broader plan to get the deficit and debt under control. But not much more than that. One other bit of nonsense is that people are all up in arms about that he insists on paying only the minimum amount of taxes he can. EVERYONE should do that. Can we get past the hyperbole nonsense now?

From what they are saying now, he is likely to regain 100% of his mental abilities. But there is a good chance he won't ever be back to normal physically, probably losing some use of his left arm and/or leg. Jeez, this guy is only 52. And he's one of the few national or high level politicians in Illinois I actually respect. Hopefully he recovers as much as is possible.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 03:48 PM) ChiTribRogers Phil Rogers 1 #cws job likely goes to INF Osvaldo Martinez but SS Eduardo Escobar, OF Delwyn Young, 1B-OF Jim Gallagher & Jordan Danks cld figure. ChiTribRogers Phil Rogers Could #whitesox be in 2-Danks formation next year? Jordan set for ST battle for 2 or 3 spots on bench, w/only Flowers & Lillibridge set. its Phil Rogers, I'd take his guesses with a huge pile of salt. There is zero chance Gallagher sniffs the roster. Of the 2-3 open slots, I think they come down to this group: Martinez Kuhn Escobar Danks Lillibridge is competent at 2B and corner OF. Flowers at C, and if necessary 1B. They need a competent backup for 3B, SS, and maybe one more OF (since De Aza and Rios can both cover CF, and Bridge is already available, they may not carry another pure OF). Martinez and Escobar are middle IF's, not sure if either have played much 3B. Kuhn has played all infield positions and corner OF. Danks is purely OF. If its 2, then my money is on one of Martinez or Escobar, plus Kuhn. If its three, itsDanks, and then two of Martinez/Escobar/Kuhn.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 03:13 PM) True, maybe Martinez can play 3B. I hope they give him #13 just as a dig at Guillen. I hope Tyler Kuhn opens some eyes too. Kuhn is a guy who has an outside shot at the roster. And if they trade Thornton, then maybe one of those LHP's. Everyone else is either there for a look, or for filler.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 02:28 PM) not a great group of guys to have hope for... QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 02:38 PM) Wow, that is one serious list of baseball roadkill. QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 02:41 PM) its going to be a long season.. Have you guys not seen a Spring Training before? Or been familiarized with what these NRI's are used for?

ACC with 5 teams? No way. Big 10 won't get 8 either, but we've already discussed that. And Big East won't get 8 either. B12 and MWC will get more than they show there, if I had to guess right now.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 01:07 PM) I have a perfect record of never trading a car in. They have all either been totaled or the engine blew up and wasn't worth it to fix. We got a new vehicle a year ago finally because our 1997 blew the head. Interesting. I've never totalled a car. Only drove one into the ground, and that was my first one: 1986 Subaru GL-10. 175k miles, 10 years old, two teenagers learned to drive on it, 5 accidents (most minor), before it finally gave up the ghost. Camshaft shattered into a million pieces which then went flying around the engine block. Lots of black smoke. Mechanic told me I'd need a new block. Told me that would cost $2000 (keep in mind I was in college at the time). When asked how much the car was worth, with the new block, he said, probably a little less than $2000.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 01:14 PM) This thread has a tendency (myself included) to assume that everyone knows what team everyone is referring to. It makes it very hard to follow sometimes. Yeah, I noticed that too, though my last post I was quoting a post that specifically said "Iowa State". Plus most regulars in here know that Heads and I are the only Iowa State fans around.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jan 21, 2012 -> 06:08 PM) Iowa State is now tied for third in the Big 12 so I'm enjoying it. If someone told me prior to the season the team would, at this point, be 14-5/4-2 and tied (below) for 3rd in the B12, I'd have been very happy. Somehow, I don't feel that happy. Losses to Drake and UNI were just terrible, and they looked horrible vs OSU. This team really is inconsistent, have major trouble rebounding, and still don't have a true PG. That all said, I think Hoiberg finally has his formula for who he plays where and when. And it seems to be something they can grow with. 6-6 the rest of the way gets 20 wins prior to the conference tournament. I hope their recruiting is focusing on true PG's and C's.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 11:52 AM) Gotcha. I have a 2008 Mazda 3 and it feels like I just got it, so it seemed a little odd to me Well of course, everyone is different about cars. I know some people who feel the need to get a new (or different used) car every year or two, to get the latest and greatest. Financially that makes little sense, but everyone has places they like to spend their extra money. If it is on newer cars, hey, go for it. For me, I usually go 5-6 years, but I also keep my eyes open for opportunities. Some people like to go 10 or even more. All personal preference.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 10:22 AM) Just curious: why did you get rid of a car that was only 4 years old? 1. Expanding family, and the FEH was getting a bit tight, especially for road trips to family, etc. 2. Used cars are getting stupid money on trade-in right now, especially hybrids, so the timing was good 3. New cars and financing are both relatively cheap right now 4. The FEH was also just past its warranty, and needed new tires soon as well, so that also contributed to the decision point thing I typically try to keep new cars a little longer than that, more like 5-6 years, but this just made a lot of sense.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 10:19 AM) Paul isn't running as a 3rd party. He's had the chance before and never done it. There is no reason for him to do so now. Timing is everything. At this point in his career, he may be fully willing to give up the leverage in Congress, especially since he has lost most of it anyway. He may see this as the right time for his big shot. Plus the wave of libertarianism is running strong right now. All signs say that, if he was ever going to, this is the cycle to do it. But he probably doesn't want to screw over his son.

Just bought a new car myself. Traded in the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid for a 2012 Honda Pilot Touring. Loving it so far. Superior in most every way to the previous car, except on gas mileage (the FEH was great for that). About financing, Honda was running 1.9% when I bought the car, so sometimes the dealership can do better than outside financing. Always check both. And I highly, highly recommend, especially if buying a new car, you check out the site truecar.com. Gives you the ammo to know exactly what prices everyone is paying, where and when and on what trim levels. Got a price that was very close to the bottom of the range, so I am happy.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 09:34 AM) Jon Huntsman is not a moderate. I don't know why the media kept that narrative going. I really don't see Paul running 3rd party. He's been a loyal ® for decades now. Hunstman is around the spot where Reagan was on the scale, in my view. So he'd have been a center-right President. He's moderate when compared to the rest of the field he was in. Paul is, I think, nearing a point where he no longer gives one s*** about party label. I think the only thing that might make him hesitate to run 3rd party is his son.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 22, 2012 -> 01:59 PM) Very, very few Democrats would vote for Huntsman. A whole lot of his policies are to the right of Mittens, he just occasionally calls out Republicans for being nuts the week before embracing that policy. And a "Centrist challenge to Obama" for democratic votes would just get laughed off...you can't challenge the center from the right and expect it to be "a Centrist challenge" or whatever. He'd stay with his If Huntsman ran as a 3rd party candidate, you are correct, he would get only a small number of Dems. But he also wouldn't ever do it, and would get very small numbers of ANYONE to vote for him anyway. If on the other hand he won the GOP nomination, or wouldn't get many democrats, but he'd have probably gotten a large share of the independents and swing voters. Doesn't matter either way. The only guy who might run as 3rd party is Paul.

Cubs and Red Cubs have apparently given up trying to agree on compensation for Theo, and Selig is (again) saying he will figure it out himself.