Trump didn't pay income tax for 10 of 15 years before 2016 election: NYT

[Hoodat]

Who did Trump out-debate?

Hillary.

[skeeter]

Covid.  Unemployment.  Health Care.  Criticize Trump's record on just about everything.  I don't think Biden will be at a loss for topics.

Unemployment is Covid. Health care is Covid. Trumps record on healthcare sans Covid (even on Covid) and just about everything else is pretty good.

I don't Biden will be at a loss for topics either. Theres the hair on his legs to discuss, Cornpop, good times as a freshman at Delaware State...

[RedHead]

Hillary.

Most people thought Clinton won.  But regardless, that was also four years ago.

[RedHead]

Unemployment is Covid. Health care is Covid. Trumps record on healthcare sans Covid (even on Covid) and just about everything else is pretty good.

I don't Biden will be at a loss for topics ei

Most people currently unemployed don't have Covid.  Health Care is Obamacare, which covers about 20 million people, and coverage for existing conditions, which impacts even more, and Trump is trying to do away with both.  And let's not forget Social Security and Medicare, which Trump as advocated defunding by eliminating the payroll tax.  Oh there will be plenty to talk about.

[Hoodat]

Most people thought Clinton won.  But regardless, that was also four years ago.

So are we only counting debates that happened this year?  In that case, you nailed Trump.  He hasn't debated anyone this year.  I knew you would figure out the best place to plant the goal posts.

Of course with Biden, he has participated in several debates this year.  And he came out looking like a tired old lying fool in each one.

But we'll see.  I don't have high expectations for either candidate.  Trump should hold his own.  The press will vilify him.  And as long as Biden doesn't have a Captain Queeg meltdown, he will be celebrated as the winner and commended as giving the best debate performance since Joe Welch.

[Hoodat]

And let's not forget Social Security and Medicare, which Trump as advocated defunding by eliminating the payroll tax.

The payroll tax doesn't fund Social Security.  The payroll tax gets dumped into the general fund just like all other taxes.  Social Security and Medicare are funded primarily by printing up fresh new money.

[RedHead]

The payroll tax doesn't fund Social Security.  The payroll tax gets dumped into the general fund just like all other taxes.  Social Security and Medicare are funded primarily by printing up fresh new money.

The payroll tax is identified as the funding for Social Security, but let's say for the sake of argument you're right.  Before COVID, with the best economy that his country has had literally for decades, we were projected to run a $1 trillion deficit.  Eliminate FICA and Medicare taxes and the deficit would be around $2.5 trillion.  By any definition you're defunding Social Security and Medicare.  Unless you have a handy $1.4 trillion in cuts from other areas you could come up with to offset the loss in revenue?  Or, as you claim, printing tons and tons of additional freshly printed money?

[Absalom]

You're here day in and day out pimping for Joe Biden ... and YOU'RE passing judgment on the President's conservatism?  You are the laugh gift that keeps on giving --- bless your heart

---------------------------------
As noise is the relentless cry for attention, your admiration for Trump is predicable.
If you were as clever as you think you are, you would have grasped by now that
I have nothing but contempt for both buffoon Trump and clown Biden; neither
w/honor nor integrity; cornerstones of Character.
We are in our morass of decay because of our addiction to politics which has replaced
principles and become the singular and neurotic obsession of our self-labeled leaders.
Perhaps, yet unlikely, you will awaken by Nov 4; as the curtain falls.

[LMAO]

Unfortunately, and a very big unfortunately, the one topic that we have not heard at all and probably won’t hear at all this year is our unsustainable debt.

[skeeter]

Most people currently unemployed don't have Covid.  Health Care is Obamacare, which covers about 20 million people, and coverage for existing conditions, which impacts even more, and Trump is trying to do away with both.  And let's not forget Social Security and Medicare, which Trump as advocated defunding by eliminating the payroll tax.  Oh there will be plenty to talk about.

If what you are saying is Biden will attempt to throw bullsh*t during the debate then you and I agree.

But bullsh*t, after all, is still bullsh*t. Anyone can do that.

[Hoodat]

The payroll tax is identified as the funding for Social Security

Social security expenditures come from the general fund.  Call it what you will.  But that's where the money comes from.

Before COVID, with the best economy that his country has had literally for decades, we were projected to run a $1 trillion deficit.

A deficit that was covered not by borrowing existing money, but by issuing new money.

Eliminate FICA and Medicare taxes and the deficit would be around $2.5 trillion.  By any definition you're defunding Social Security and Medicare.

No, by the actual definition, you're experiencing a deficiency in the general fund - a deficiency that will ultimately be made up by printing more money.

It is purely dishonest rhetoric to target a specific program funded by the general fund as being defunded because of a revenue shortfall.  Each month, the Treasury issues SS checks (30% of which going to people below retirement age) by drawing against the Treasury.  And every month, the Fed issues new money to cover those and every other expense.

[DCPatriot]

Unemployment is Covid. Health care is Covid. Trumps record on healthcare sans Covid (even on Covid) and just about everything else is pretty good.

I don't Biden will be at a loss for topics either. Theres the hair on his legs to discuss, Cornpop, good times as a freshman at Delaware State...

[DCPatriot]

If what you are saying is Biden will attempt to throw bullsh*t during the debate then you and I agree.

But bullsh*t, after all, is still bullsh*t. Anyone can do that.

I'd challenge him to recite the Pledge of Allegiance right there on stage.   

[RedHead]

Unfortunately, and a very big unfortunately, the one topic that we have not heard at all and probably won’t hear at all this year is our unsustainable debt.

Agreed.  The only time either party cares about the debt is when the other party is in the White House.

[DCPatriot]

Agreed.  The only time either party cares about the debt is when the other party is in the White House.

Please show us a link where Democrats in Washington have shown concern for the debt...during President Trump's administration.   

[RedHead]

If what you are saying is Biden will attempt to throw bullsh*t during the debate then you and I agree.

But bullsh*t, after all, is still bullsh*t. Anyone can do that.

And I'm sure there will be plenty thrown from both sides. 

[RedHead]

Social security expenditures come from the general fund.  Call it what you will.  But that's where the money comes from.

It's called FICA and Medicare taxes.  They are specifically targeted to fund Social Security and Medicare.  We can debate whether the money comes from the general fund or a lockbox or whatever, if you eliminate payroll taxes then it's easy for your opponent to make the claim you're defunding Social Security and Medicare and hard for you to explain otherwise.  Trump set him up for the claims and you can bet the Democrats will make the most of it.

A deficit that was covered not by borrowing existing money, but by issuing new money.

Covered by borrowing new money.

No, by the actual definition, you're experiencing a deficiency in the general fund - a deficiency that will ultimately be made up by printing more money.

By issuing new debt.

It is purely dishonest rhetoric to target a specific program funded by the general fund as being defunded because of a revenue shortfall.

Dishonest?  Maybe.  But effective.  And the Democrats will use it to their benefit.

[RedHead]

Please show us a link where Democrats in Washington have shown concern for the debt...during President Trump's administration.   

Pre-Covid.  The Democrats have complained from the beginning that Trump's tax cuts were adding to the deficit. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/25/us-deficit-hit-billion-marking-nearly-percent-increase-during-trump-era/

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-01-23/blame-1-trillion-federal-deficit-on-trump-tax-cuts-and-spending

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/11/07/trump-tax-cuts-hiked-deficit-republicans-want-more-editorials-debates/4168022002/

[Hoodat]

Pre-Covid.  The Democrats have complained from the beginning that Trump's tax cuts were adding to the deficit.

Again, Democrats lie.  Revenues went up after the tax cuts were implemented.  The only thing adding to the deficit is deficit spending (which Democrats are 100% in favor of).

[RedHead]

Again, Democrats lie.  Revenues went up after the tax cuts were implemented.

We had a growing economy.  The unknown is what would tax revenues had been without the tax cuts?

The only thing adding to the deficit is deficit spending (which Democrats are 100% in favor of).

And which the Republicans are in favor of.  And Trump is in favor of.

[Hoodat]

We had a growing economy.  The unknown is what would tax revenues had been without the tax cuts?

That unknown has zero connection to the question at hand, which is that tax cuts led to deficits.  The fact here is that revenues increased after the tax cuts.  So no, they did not contribute to the deficit.

The deficit is the result of spending more money than you have.  In other words, it is a spending issue.  And lower tax rates did not increase spending.

And which the Republicans are in favor of.  And Trump is in favor of.

Absolutely positively agree.  But then you don't see Republicans lying about how tax cuts caused the deficit to go up.

[RedHead]

That unknown has zero connection to the question at hand, which is that tax cuts led to deficits.  The fact here is that revenues increased after the tax cuts.  So no, they did not contribute to the deficit.

A simplistic viewpoint.  If your revenue us up 3% following the tax cuts and your spending grows by 5% then you can say the tax cut did not contribute to the deficit if you want.  But if revenue would have grown at 5% or 8% or 10% without the tax cuts and your spending increased 5% then you could say that the tax cuts contributed to the deficit.

The deficit is the result of spending more money than you have.  In other words, it is a spending issue.  And lower tax rates did not increase spending.

Agreed.  But it could well have contributed to less available revenue to cover the spending.

Absolutely positively agree.  But then you don't see Republicans lying about how tax cuts caused the deficit to go up.

Not sure it's that big of a lie.

[Absalom]

I wouldn't attempt to refute any of your points @Absalom
My contention is about NOW, what now? 
We are all political slaves to this corrupt 2 party system and it has failed us miserably for decades. If not Trump, what choice do we have?   

--------------------
To your good credit, you grasp our destructive malaise.
My instinct is that the D's will capture the WH & Senate on Nov 3, fueling
a raging impulse from the left, to transform the nation into their mindset.
As w/all unhinged revolutionaries, they will overreach, provoking a severe
backlash that will cost them electoral power by 2022.
Also, I expect the useless GOP to disappear (no tears).
During this turmoil, I am cautiously optimistic that leadership will emerge
to steer our nation/state away from volatility and toward stability. 

 

[Wingnut]

--------------------
To your good credit, you grasp our destructive malaise.
My instinct is that the D's will capture the WH & Senate on Nov 3, fueling
a raging impulse from the left, to transform the nation into their mindset.
As w/all unhinged revolutionaries, they will overreach, provoking a severe
backlash that will cost them electoral power by 2022.
Also, I expect the useless GOP to disappear (no tears).
During this turmoil, I am cautiously optimistic that leadership will emerge
to steer our nation/state away from volatility and toward stability.

Whoa.  Man that is some serious histrionics right there.  I thought I was reading Victoris33 reply for a moment but she types on a platform that allows full use of the reply box when you hit "post".  But hey, nice post A.

[mystery-ak]

Joel Pollak
@joelpollak
·
29m
.@marklevinshow
 makes a good point re: Trump and taxes: Trump paid millions in the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in seven recent years.