Mama Carol

The statement that many people can't claim mortgage interest is true. The lower interest rates are, the less interest you've paid. Combine that with higher and higher standard deductions, UNLESS you have a lot of other expenses which you can itemize (charitable contributions and property taxes being the main ones) you can't itemize. Let's say you have $5000 in mortgage interest and $1500 in property taxes and little of anything else, would you really want to itemize when you have a standard deduction of $11,900? We could even bump that up to $7500 in mortgage interest and $2500 in property

I'm gonna print out that picture and ask my doc for one. That looks like what I've been wanting to get because I get relief from the one I have but I can't wear it for any length of time.

The MRI and the EEG check different parts of the brain. One, the EEG, checks the electrical system (for lack of better term) and the MRI checks the structure of the brain. CT scans and MRIs also can view different things, though similar things.

I our chiropractor. He IS serious eye candy. And oh gosh I hope he doesn't embarrass easily when he reads this. Seems like the kids that we saw in the orthopaedic practice who had O/S were usually thinner kids. And yes, a LOT of soccer players. Considering that was the late 1970s and early 1980s and that soccer was not yet as popular here as it is now, that was odd to me. And yes, our chiropractor will definitely send you to an ortho (or any other doctor that is needed) when it is warranted. He isn't one who says he can treat any and everything with adjustments and that you

Aches and pains in almost every joint. Having to stand for 20-30 seconds before I can take a step. DRY skin (and other things). I never had a problem with dry skin or hair until a few years ago and now it's like I'm parched. And some days I remind myself of Sophia on "Golden Girls". In a LOT of ways.

First of all, the soda "ban" will do nothing to prevent people from drinking gallons of sugar sweetened sodas. NOTHING. It will just mean they have to buy extras. It does not apply to certain items, such as alcohol, artificially sweetened sodas and drinks or milk based drinks. Pretty sure that most milk based drinks contain as much, if not more, calories (not to mention fat and carbs) than do sugary drinks. Second of all, it may have been simplistic but it was pretty darn accurate if you ask me. Democrats seem to believe that you CAN'T take care of yourself and don't want you to (afte

Apparently the main risk factor is sports activity, particularly those that require running, jumping, kneeling and squatting.

So, the government saying one thing and doing another is a "competing interest"? Sorry but I would prefer that if my health and life are at stake that the government not have a competing interest.

IF the government really wanted to discourage some things they might stop subsidies of tobacco farming while running anti-smoking campaigns. These two projects seem to be at cross purposes. They might work to improve the school lunch program instead of running public service announcements about combating childhood obesity. They might want to reel in the FDA and a few other agencies that seem to be operating more for the money contributed by drug companies and less for the good of the people. Call me a cynic (and I'll agree with you) but it seems to be much more about the money and les

I hate to burst your bubble but many people who get this NON-welfare still get assistance, i.e., welfare. Case in point, my daughter's former neighbors. Filed fraudulent tax returns and raked in almost $40,000 among the four adults in the house for tax year 2011. PLUS, they get food stamps (at least two adults in the house got those). PLUS SSI. Plus Medicaid. Are they the norm? I sincerely hope not. I do know that many people who are truly low income earners get assistance in addition to having the non-welfare refunds each year.

How is what it was designed to "cure" any different than the situation we have now where there are STILL career welfare recipients?

They are regressive taxes. Isn't that what you said the fair tax was? How does that make them different animals?

Work and get a tax refund of $2500 while you file your taxes or not work and get food stamps, Medicaid, welfare to the tune of THOUSANDS of dollars a year? I doubt there is one person who has said "you know what, I think I'll get off my ass and get a job so I can get a tax refund next year".

As are the so-called "sin taxes". And payroll taxes.

Here's a good TRUSTWORTHY site with information on it. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00411

It's welfare that is approved by the general population. It's welfare that you don't have to go to DFCS to apply for. You probably don't want to hear what most tax prep people call it.

Yes, truly informed voters can see through the rhetoric and the lies and the half truths and the media push. That is why they are a politicians nightmare. The politicians can't blow smoke up the butt of an informed voter. You might read between the lines but you're reading your thoughts into it. I don't see poor as a particular color. You might but I don't. Maybe because I've been there.

When unemployment is high, the constant income stream for the government is low. OK, one more time. With the fair tax, if a person buys $250 worth of items they pay X amount of tax. Doesn't matter if they earn $25,000 or $2million. They pay the SAME tax on the SAME item regardless of income. The item doesn't change price just because your income is higher, does it? Plus with the lower incomes, they receive "prebate/rebate" checks to help cover the necessities. Higher earners wouldn't get those so in effect THEY would be paying more in tax.

Actually it is a condition where the kneecap does not track properly. I know this because I have an adult version of it. It's also called patello-femoral syndrome. In kids, it generally gets better with treatment in a few weeks or so. That, of course, depends on how active the kid remains, the treatment and how compliant they are with doctor's orders.

Yes, everyone will pay tax under the Fair Tax. Everyone HAS to buy things. No deductions or credits on that. Yep, in droves. You're really being derogatory toward a whole group of people. I said nothing about them being black (or Hispanic or even purple). BTW, a politician's worst nightmare is an informed voter who votes on the issues and not on the rhetoric or on what is in it for them.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

I think I you. You just put into words my years of frustration doing tax returns--watching people get refunds of money they didn't pay in.

You're missing a huge part of this discussion. People HAVE to buy things. Period. They have to buy clothes, shoes, groceries, prescriptions, auto parts, school supplies, etc. They HAVE to buy these things. Granted when consumer confidence is low some items languish on the shelves--like high ticket items. But the consistent income stream is there with everyday item purchases. No, the poor pay the same PERCENTAGE of tax as everyone else. Perhaps not the same percentage of their INCOME as others but the same percentage of tax. This is more fair than the current system whereby the lowe

I'm all out of positives for the day but you earned one! Great post.

Yes. Votes are more important to the majority of politicians than a solvent country. What happens in a non-election year? Cutbacks to programs, threats to cutbacks in programs, more red tape. You know, pretty much the same thing that happens in election years but without the publicity about what the "other side" is doing or proposing.