Increasing taxes, both personal & property, is a way of taking away from the citizens & giving to the government. When a property owner defaults on property taxes, the property is seized by the county (government). Instead of increasing taxes on its citizens, the government should first examine where it can cut costs, that is not about to happen. If Obama gets his way (like he stated when he was campaigning) there will be a host of small businesses being closed down by the government as they will be unable to meet their tax increased tax burden.

Inheritance tax always confused me. The money has already been taxed, why then is it taxed again? If I die & leave my money to my daughter, why should it be taxed again, she is a member of my family. It seems to me that it is double taxed. Obama plans on raising the death tax to up to 50% on some estates. Why should the government get 50% of anyones estate? That is just plain ole wrong. I doubt you will agree with me BigJ, as anything that doesn't directly affect you, you don't concern yourself with or consider a big deal. You need to teach yourself how to look at the bigger picture.

I was also being funny. You were not making sense or I was not understanding. I still would like you to explain how that quote has anything to do with unsubstantiated fact.

Yes, ST, you are correct about Justin.

And.... a sense of humor goes really far. And just in case if you ever want to take Mr. Tiger for a walk, just e-mail me. He's just a big pet and a beautiful creature.

No MaryAnn....I don't need the tiger. I never get angry with BigJ....really I don't get angry with anyone. He has come such a long way since he first started posting on here. He is an intelligent and passionate young man....admirable but sometime a bit misguided.

I was not around when they were playing but certainly heard my parents and grandparents talk about them....Laurel and Hardy....they used to be on T.V. a long time ago....some of their silent films.

Sorry, I didn't know that anyone even remembered those things anymore. You guys are tooooo much!  (You want to borrow my tiger picture, SouthTexas? ;-})

From the Koran:
3.152]...you slew them by His [Allah's] permission [during a Jihad battle]...[3.153] Pickthall: ...the messenger, in your rear, was calling you (to fight)...that which ye missed [war spoils]...[3.154]...They say: Had we any hand in the affair, we would not have been slain here [in a Jihad battle]. Say: Had you remained in your houses, those for whom slaughter was ordained [in a Jihad battle] would certainly have gone forth to the places where they would be slain...[3.155] (As for) those of you who turned back on the day when the two armies met...[3.156] O you who believe! be not like those who disbelieve and say of their brethren when they travel in the earth or engage in fighting: Had they been with us, they would not have died and they would not have been slain...[3.157]...if you are slain in the way of Allah...mercy is better than what they amass [what those who stay home from Jihad receive – no booty on earth and no perks in heaven]. [3.158] …if indeed you die or you are slain, certainly to Allah shall you be gathered together.

I understand the insult MaryAnn....he is saying I am old and uninformed and watch only silent films....I just don't understand his intent.

May I interject... perhaps it's silent movies that's meant?

That was a totally uncalled for insult....non-talkies...what are you talking about?

Of course I know who Flip Wilson was....what does that have to do with anything.

That is factual Big J......There is indeed a group of radical Islamics who have declared a Holy Jihad against all infidels....that's us.  You know the guys who flew into the World Trade Center....have you forgotten.....the guy with the bomb in his shoe..
It is also a fact that when a Muslim declares Jihad other Muslims must support that.
Are you actually saying that is not true?
That is the reason that those Muslims who do not support the radicals are treated as enemies by the radicals.  That is the reason that the good Muslims are fearful.

Please point out to me....I must be stupid I guess....just what part of that quote from my previous post has anything to do with your tirade about unsubstantiated fact?  And what's the deal about the devil making you do what?????  Are smoking funny cigarettes again Big J?

BigJ...
As a friend drop the "No stating of unsubstantiated information as fact" bandwagon that you are on. It makes you look foolish.

First of all you can find "subtantiated information"....on just about any wacko idea you might decided to comment on.

Substantiation depends on interpretation.....there's not much black and white but there is a whole lot of grey and that is pretty much what is discussed on here....the grey.

BigJ.....Now you have really gone off the deep end. The inheritance tax is aimed at the rich? Are you crazy? The people hurt the most by the inheritance task are the Mom and Pop businesses, the small ranch and small farm owners....family farms.
When Pop and Mom die the kids have to sell everything to pay the taxes....many times the kids have been working and living off business or farm income.
The inheritance tax destroys small family businesses...the rich guys wouldn't know the difference anyway or would adjust assets before their death to get around the bulk of the tax.
One of these days "Average Joe Big J" might want to start a business....has a family and his sons or daughter  work in the family business with him....it is a good thing....until you die and your kids are left having to sell everything you worked for to pay taxes.
The inheritance tax is without a doubt the most unfair tax there is...people work hard to pass something on to their children and it is destroyed by the inheritance task.

MattOcker- Is he one more evil villain conquered by the invincible BigJ? More likely, Matt showed up for a dual to find his opponent unarmed.

This may not be the place to post this, but I will.

I just want the president to worry about America and the people as a whole. I do not feel he is very professional if he dances Hip-Hop at his Inauguration and plays with his Blackberry. In addition, he gets out of the limo, walks in the crowd, as if to say; "Look at me, I am indispensable". He is just taking his life for granted while doing this, it is dangerous. He should be making good decisions, not playing.

Before anyone attacks me, I do like Hip-Hop.

Matt, Just saw Jeanie at the H.S. reunion for class of 68. I agree that the new president's social designs may indeed be questionable. I know for sure that some in his cabinet have definite agendas. I am praying that when push comes to shove, he is all rhetoric, and can dodge the issues that could indeed take us from partial socialism to communism. We will know for sure when the veto starts showing up. Until then, I am praying every day for this nation. Matt, keep your right up in this group. They come out swinging. It won't take you long to learn the game and the rules. Good luck guy.

Matt,
You didn't get an answer but you may have silenced his special keyboard.

I thought that "collective stupidity" was what we had been living thru the last 8 years....

Guess I'll collect my stupidity and throw it out.

This  is only day one;so it might be 1459 days of nitpicking,groaning,and talking points until the next inauguration...lol
Call Barack Obama black,African-American,human being,bi-racial or whatever floats your boat but he is President Barack Obama 44th president of the United States.
Why? Because 69,456,897 “collective stupidly voters made it happen at the ballot box...lol

It was a bipartisan effort to get us involved in those wars. If guilty of anything Bush should have probably got out a little sooner. Especially if you wanted the evil forces to take the region back over sooner

no matter what anybody says Obama is our president now and I don't think our sacrifice is gonna be any worse than what we already have! There's been thousands of lives sacrificed already in the two wars that Bush got us into!
So you "whiners" need to get used to a different president now!

"sacrifice"
transitive verb
1 : to offer as a sacrifice
2 : to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy especially for an ideal, belief, or end
3 : to sell at a loss
4 : to advance (a base runner) by means of a sacrifice hit
5 : to kill (an animal) as part of a scientific experiment
intransitive verb
1 : to make or perform the rites of a sacrifice
2 : to make a sacrifice hit in baseball

Not shocked Matt! Glad, Matt, glad. Family lives near the Woodlands. Take care.

I'm waiting to find out what I'm going to be "sacrificing". That word, which doesn't have the best connotations, keeps popping out of Obamas mouth.

Hello BigJ

No, I do not see as it being cowardly but as a way to avoid an endless argument.

Matt sees the world differently; he thinks he is right and it disgusts him when people do not see it his way.

I grew up in this town, so I am accustomed to being wrong…lol

Matt
"The "collective stupidity" has allowed people like you to distort facts." is not a good starting point for a honest,intellectual,discussion."

It takes two to tango.

Have a good day.

Well Matt, as one of the 69,456,897 “collective stupidly voters”, I strong disagree with your premise base on your ideological beliefs..Little else.

You are entitled.

How did your guy do in the last election?

drinkssssss (plural) yet I'm not drunk enough to tackle that challenge.

You type well for one consuming adult beverage. Offer BigJ a drink.

Third! And Mike, Vodka goes a looonnnnnggggg way, thank God!

A simple question from a simple person....ever feel like you are picking on the slow kid in elementary school? Sorry, BigJ. My bad.

I second the bighorn motion because I don't know what a simiple question is.

So, BigJ, you draw fire on me, then call me out in some juvenile manner.

Yes, I knew what I was doing. Baiting your idiotic sense of self worth. Take some advise. Mature into an adult male before pretending to make some sense of the world. Until you do, your ramblings will carry the weight of my nomination.

Where is old Rags? Did he get bored like some of the rest of us? Hope he is doing well.

I vote for BigJ as the next McCarthy. His response are just as reactionary and wrong minded?

Do I have a second?

Who will be the next Joe McCarthy?
I hear you legion but I was mocked when I mentioned that 8 months ago....If they can't  sell oil at high prices ,then all they have left is nuke material and parts...Vodka only goes so far.

Well Mike,
The way things in the former USSR are going these days, the cold war just might be starting all over again.

Hi Matt, A big hello from David Keefer's mom. David and wife just had a baby girl. If you see the dudes, Scott, Shane or Todd let them know. I can still see you guys pretending there were great waves at Port A. We still vacation in Rockport once in a great while. My friends are still there and I am in the area often. Glad you made it Matt. Calm down son, it's just four years. All will work out. Just keep working hard. You guys were all taught a great work ethic. Again, glad you made it.

Pretty good comments except for Matt Ocker;he is still fighting the cold war.