So last night I was have a semi-heated discussion with my sister-in-law. We are two very different people, and just try to tolerate each other to keep the peace.
Last night I learned she was considering filing bankruptcy...for the THIRD TIME.
I was talking to her about her buying habits and such and she comes out with this:

"What do you got to complain about? You make ten times what I do! You have no idea what it's like to not have money, so who are you to judge what I buy or do not buy? I have never had anything like you and Maria do, you go on about taxex..taxes..taxes...shit..doesn't seem to be hurting you any".

Now had this been the first time I have heard something to this effect, directed to me or anyone else for that matter - I could dismiss it, but frankly I am sick and tired of hearing people say these things.

Yes, I make a very solid living, but I earn it. And since when does earning money remove your right to speak out?

No...I will not apologize for what I have...and I will not stop bitching about over half my friggin money going to the most wasteful entity on earth - the U.S. government.

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The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity; where everything is made simple, and in that simplification the truth is lost.

Good for you!!! Anyone that has to file bankruptcy three times obviously has a spending problem. Champagne taste on a beer budget...

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

why do you hate america?

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

with any luck, the changes in bankruptcy law will prevent a third go round.

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Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

Really...I refer to Emperor Obama..."I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody. "

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The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity; where everything is made simple, and in that simplification the truth is lost.

Is my check in the mail? Cuz baby needs new shoes.

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Great Quotes from Great Americans:

"With regard to the words 'general welfare', I have always regarded them as qualified by the details of the powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphisis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."James Madison, Father of the Constitution

Fuckin' A...

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For those who have fought to defend it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know...



If it wasn't for double standards, liberals would have no standards at all...

What wealth is being spread? It sure as heck ain't coming my way. And I wouldn't go calling General Assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, or Medical "wealth." You don't think those Hummers in the projects came from government money do you?

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"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson

Have you tried to help her manage her money?

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"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson

Repeatedly.

Items in point:

A) G.E. announced (yet again) they are closing the factory where she worked. She wanted to buy a new car...her thinking was "better get it now while I can get the loan".
B) Her 23 yo son is worthless. Worked at Wal-mart for a little over a week and was fired for not showing up...in that week she co-signed a loan so he could get a car.

I could go on and on...(of course there is another point here as a testament why we are in so much trouble now - a person who has had 2 bankruptcies..layed off - and still successfully co-signed a loan)

My wife tried to talk her into letting her manage her money by "Jill" giving her paychecks and bills to my wife - no go.

Did I mention she smokes a pack a day and drinks at least a case a beer a week?

There is no helping a person with this mentality.

At any rate - this isn't about her.
This is about me being sick and tired of people looking at successful people as if they owe everybody some of their money...and they don't have a right to complain about it....afterall Obama was elected on this principle.

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The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity; where everything is made simple, and in that simplification the truth is lost.

Interesting construction with at least two fallacies incorporated, to wit:

1) Your sister's bankruptcy is entirely separate from your own position re taxes, neither one having anything to do with the other. Thus, it's perfectly logical, possible, and appropriate to condemn both of those equally. She lacks fiscal responsibility, assuming the facts are as you've described, while you seem to lack civic and social responsibility. Neither of those invalidates your criticism of each other, both of which IMO are appropriate.

2) Nobody is trying to remove your right to speak out. OTOH, you seem to express a desire to remove other people's right to speak out in criticism of you.

If your tax burden is really as high as you have said it is, then you are making enough money that I don't feel sorry for you in the least. Obviously, you can afford it. It's the people who spent an extended time on unemployment, and are taxed the following year for that quite likely without any way to painlessly pay this debt to the government, whose tax burden is excessive, even though it's much lower in actual dollars than yours.

To be perfectly blunt, you and your sister both sound like whiny crybabies. She certainly needs to get her spendthrift ways under control, and you need to recognize that your wealth gives you more responsibility towards the community than someone has who has less, and quit complaining about your taxes. Because she's right, they haven't done you any harm.

Case in point...no need to address this..the post speaks for itself.

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The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity; where everything is made simple, and in that simplification the truth is lost.

No fuckin' doubt. I've had to stop reading them because it's getting harder and harder to clean the puke off my keyboard.

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I was now getting..., one dollar and fifty cents per day.... I earned it...; it was rightfully my own; yet, upon each returning Saturday night, I was compelled to deliver every cent of that money to Master Hugh. And why? Not because he earned it..., nor because he possessed the slightest shadow of a right to it; but solely because he had the power to compel me to give it up. - Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass

you know I always suspected you were worthless Iam.... I KNEW you hated America, spurning your social and civic responsibility like that...now go call and ask her if she wants to live with Gracchus, I am sure he'll be willing to help out.

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

ha ! and you too cato, did you throw that puke away or give it to someone less fortunate?

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."