Random thoughts thread

[OrbitalEllipses]

My handle on American tax law is poor because I've only actually been employed for the past half year and I'm covered under my parents' medical.

Originally Posted by Dimman

taxes

Accidentally navigated away from page after doing a WHOLE bunch of tax calcs based on a single $37K/year income. %#&@!!!!! It came out to around $12K in Federal income tax, state & income tax, plus 6.2% Social security and 1.45% Medicare. Around 32% of the income. Realistically it would actually be lower due to pre-tax deductions from income (health insurance, 401K, etc.) and other standard deductions. For instance, this year I calculated my total taxes ALMOST to the dollar...but forgot that a standard tax deduction applies to me because my parents aren't claiming me as a dependent this year. That resulted in a sizable tax return for me. Claiming me as a dependent gets them a tax break, but they'd rather not claim me this year since it would be detrimental to me.

I'd post up the medical insurance figures provided by my job, but they're actually pretty terrible (very costly).

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Now post up some American figures. Hopefully it won't shatter my illusion if what is acceptable and make me cry...

US spends $8k+ per capita on healthcare. That's over twice what places like Sweden, France, and the UK spend to provide universal care. Source: Last summer's OECD report.

In the past ten years:

Employer health plans have doubled in cost.
Wages have risen thirty-three percent.
Inflation has risen thirty percent.

^Them's the facts.

In Europe it is normal to think of healthcare is a basic right. Sadly the US has not come to realize this yet. But hopefully it is changing and people will have better access in the coming years. I think healthcare is a human right and profit margins should not play in to determining what care a person gets. Rich or poor I think people are entitled to an equal level of care. Period.

^Them's my opinions.

[kanundrum]

View My Video

Tinted the TBL looks awesome now no light loss output along with FnA Auto F1 style blink and LED Reverse Lights

[ichitaka05]

Fucking wifi! Cuz of you, I missed my Ron for mahjong!!!!!

[Khánh]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

^Along those lines, my cousin who lives in Toronto keeps urging me to take the LSATs, move up there, and go to a good Canadian law school from which you can get a specific type of JD that allows you to practice law in all American states (standard Canadian JD applies only to 4 states and DC).

Canada is not a bad deal. Taxes high as shit though.

not only taxes are high,,, liquors are freaking expensive!!! haha i went to visit Vancouver in nov.. went to a liquor store because no markets sell liquor, a bottle of Remy martin was like $113 compare to here in cali $30-33.. luckily the drinks at the bar is about the same price as here so i just got drunk in the bars hahah

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Khánh

not only taxes are high,,, liquors are freaking expensive!!!

That's it. Never moving to Canada.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Khánh

not only taxes are high,,, liquors are freaking expensive!!! haha i went to visit Vancouver in nov.. went to a liquor store because no markets sell liquor, a bottle of Remy martin was like $113 compare to here in cali $30-33.. luckily the drinks at the bar is about the same price as here so i just got drunk in the bars hahah

Yup.

It's the 'hidden' taxes. If you drink and smoke a lot in Canada, the government loves you.

@OrbitalEllipses

I'm surprised as fuck at the income tax, but mine didn't include CPP (Social security equivalent). Doubt it will add up enough to cover the 12% difference, though. But like I said, 12% on pretty much everything you buy that isn't groceries or kids' clothes. Add 12% to your BRZ, ouch.

Gas is full of hidden tax, too. $1.28/L, which is approaching $5/gal for regular.

And it's my understanding that you can buy Canadian liquor like Crown Royal for less in the US than in Canada. How retardedly un-patriotic is that?

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

US spends $8k+ per capita on healthcare. That's over twice what places like Sweden, France, and the UK spend to provide universal care. Source: Last summer's OECD report.

In the past ten years:

Employer health plans have doubled in cost.
Wages have risen thirty-three percent.
Inflation has risen thirty percent.

^Them's the facts.

In Europe it is normal to think of healthcare is a basic right. Sadly the US has not come to realize this yet. But hopefully it is changing and people will have better access in the coming years. I think healthcare is a human right and profit margins should not play in to determining what care a person gets. Rich or poor I think people are entitled to an equal level of care. Period.

^Them's my opinions.

US healthcare is so bad that it can force a man to resort to systematic criminal activity to afford the medical care he needs. Breaking Bad is a slap in the face to the healthcare system and for that it is full of win.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Dimman

I'm surprised as fuck at the income tax, but mine didn't include CPP (Social security equivalent). Doubt it will add up enough to cover the 12% difference, though. But like I said, 12% on pretty much everything you buy that isn't groceries or kids' clothes. Add 12% to your BRZ, ouch.

State sales tax! Ours is 6%, but I believe if you add max local taxes (depends on the county within the state) in some other states the sales tax can get into the teens.

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

US healthcare is so bad that it can force a man to resort to systematic criminal activity to afford the medical care he needs.

Or just single action criminal activity.

Prisoners get three square meals a day and a nurse/doctor on-site to provide healthcare. That's more than can be said for a lot of working class citizens.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

Or just single action criminal activity.

Prisoners get three square meals a day and a nurse/doctor on-site to provide healthcare. That's more than can be said for a lot of working class citizens.

I'm not likely to get shiv in the back every day living in the free world...

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

State sales tax! Ours is 6%, but I believe if you add max local taxes (depends on the county within the state) in some other states the sales tax can get into the teens.

Fuck taxes.

I'm looking at a hypothetical computer build, right now to distract myself from that evilness.

Also if @Want.FR-S could chime in.

What is Windows 7 Pro (or whatever the 64bit one is) RAM limit? If I'm looking at motherboards that can support say 512GB, I heard Win 7 can only handle 32GB, but not sure if this is the 'normal' or Pro or whatever version. So this would be where a dual boot setup with Linux would be needed?

[Asterisked Accolade]

[This thread right now.]

[OrbitalEllipses]

^You could always leave?