Americans

This is surprising to me. My guess would have been 20%. Larry Bible's estimate was right on.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

What does this tell you about how many people can actually afford private health insurance?

Says in the article, almost 30 million people will now be receiving health benefits, and a huge percentage of people already are.

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The % here in Australia is much higher than 50 !! We have a country that is running on mining exports. Without them we would be in a far worse position than you guys !!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

It says 49% of Americans live in a household where someone is receiving federal aid. It doesn't say 49% receive Federal aid.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

We in the US are on that path. There comes a point where there are too many people IN the wagon and too few people to PULL the wagon.

Our electorate is such now that the ones in the wagon, who vote for those who offer the hand outs, outnumber the folks pulling the wagon. About the only way it can go now, is elected officials that are happy to continue and even grow the handouts. We're pretty much doomed to what you describe. The only thing that will stop it will be serious famine or war.

I don't know if the serious part will come in my lifetime or not, but it will most definitely come at one point or another.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

The social engineers were paid to build this situation to be exactly what it is - getting worse. Big money profits from it and will perpetuate it as long as the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Aid programs were never meant to help anyone who needed help.

I'm hearing that wagon thing recently, is that Rush?

That is the socialist plan! Make the people dependent upon the government. It worked for Hitler.

I heard the wagon thing first from Phil Gramm probably 15 years ago.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

The situation in American today is a lot like what Ayn Rand described in Atlas Shrugged.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I would also say 50% seems about right. I see it everyday.

That means that if a person rents, there is probably an 80% chance they have some sort of aid.

Right now less than 60% of living spaces in the US are lived in by the respective owner. Putting the US at a near 50/50 ratio if the trend continues. In todays market, home owners are becoming renters after foreclosures. And since those with the cash can buy, they buy these cheap foreclosures and turn them into rentals. Something I deal with every day also. Great way to get rich if you can buy!

edit: By the way, it AMAZES me how many people collect social security and are under the age of 30. Based on what comes across my desk, I would have to say about 25 to 30% of renters in my area.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

Oh no, now you've done it! You will be stalked by a TonkaTrucky.

if you deduct your mortgage interest, isn't that a form of subsidy as well?

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Well, if deducting mortgage interest is a subsidy then how about when you don't have a mortgage or enough other deductions to file a Schedule A and take the standard deduction as well. Is THAT a subsidy?

The only thing I have for the Schedule A these days is charitable contributions and only some years do they amount to enough to make the Schedule A worthwhile.

I think that such deductions are more of a discount than a subsidy. When you are one of the lower income people that are refunded MORE than you put in during the year, then I consider THAT a subsidy, as opposed to a lower rate.

You bring up a very interesting question though.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I see these figures pop up from time to time and 50% seems great for a shock value number but it is right on when you consider those mortgage subsidies, Medicare, social security, student loans, etc. The brush is simply much wider than I think many suspect.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Last year I prepared the taxes for a couple with 3 kids. Mom made about $38, Dad was an 'artist' who stayed home. Due to the earned income credit, they got everything they had paid in PLUS some extra cash. So on the summary page of their taxes, it says....

Your tax rate = -7%

Amazing.

The father commented to me...."Man, it really pays to be poor in this country." He's right.

On the flip side, if you are a rich business owner, you can deduct so many things (also losses from prior years) that your tax rate could be negative as well.

The middle class (regular folks with jobs) are the ones getting shafted because their options are limited as far as their tax exposure.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

How exactly did it "work for Hitler"? Or are you just making things up again? Most of us who actually understand history know that what worked for Hitler was the Reichstag Fire, which led to the passing of the Enabling Act, but I doubt you have much of a clue.