leh-nerd skin-erd

“Crash and burn”? Take it easy, Iceman. 🙄

I see. How does that make you feel?

Ah, I see the genesis of your confusion. Thank you.

Rare earth mineral deal joy.

Your contention is the only thing taxed in our country besides federal income is a minivan? Strong play.

I think you're saying your Canadian problems are all due to Trump, and it's a gigantic conspiracy of top secret donations that brought you to this point. I'm saying Canadian problems that deal with Canadians, Canadian provinces, Canadian truck drivers and Canadian government regulations are more likely just Canadian problems.

Tax impacts the household budget and represents a significant out-of-pocket for American families. For example, a family purchases a new minivan, and the cost is $35,000. Round numbers... if the tax on said purchase was 8%, the tax payment would be $2,800. If the tax was 5%, the tax payment would be $1,750. If the tax was 1%, the tax payment would be $350. In this example, $2,800 represents a higher out of pocket than $1,750, which represents a higher out of pocket than $350. I am not intentionally trying to mislead you, but the math is the math. I used the font feature to draw your attention to important words.

You are very welcome!

So, the truckers in Canada were simple, happy dullards until the "maga right" sent them $25 in donations? As it relates to 1/6, the people who acted criminally were to blame regardless of whether some guy from Calgary sent some of those funny looking nickels their way. You're pointing the finger of blame in the wrong direction.

When the commentary shifts to the tax burden of the 47%, we can discuss that (and how folks like Andy typically want the people above them to pay more, always). For now, I'm extraordinarily comfortable in stating that things like sales tax are real, and impact the money available to the typical American family in a substantial way.

Federal income tax is only one form of taxation, Gato gordo.

Melania's J. Peterman Makinaw Flogger (The casual elegance of this muckaruck belies the serious nature of the woman who wears it) carries a completely different version of the phrase you made famous here.

With respect to taxes, yes, of course. It always seems to me that lefties like Andy take issue with businesses and individuals up a notch on the income scale, are perfectly willing to suggest they carry more of the burden, and whistle past the tax issue like it's a sacred cow. In this case, his concern is the $3000-5000 per year that people may be forced to pay due to the Trump tariff. Meanwhile, the hole in the back of the income/savings bucket is massive and they seem completely unfazed by that. Disclaimer--paying tax is important and necessary in civil society, and I have no problem with it conceptually. However, a little tweaking now and again, a bit of fiscal responsibility and maybe the odd year where spending is reduced wouldn't suck: https://www.self.inc/info/life-of-tax/ The average American will pay $524,625 in taxes throughout their lifetime — that’s a third (34.7%) of all estimated lifetime earnings ($1,494,986) spent on taxes.

Maybe an XXL t shirt but still, the print would be very, very small. This will, however fit, and it’s a Frankish orig: No one cares.

I landed my wife with only a rudimentary understanding of vibrational physics. Had I been completely proficient, I could have ruled the world.

@Niagara Bill, perhaps cooler heads shall prevail and everyone will win. I’m still not certain why you feel provincial angst is Trump’s fault, or how your truckers having an issue with your govt started in thus side of the border, but maybe Carney can work it out with him.

Or, a bit of discipline at the state/federal govt level might reduce the burden on the tax payer.

How many thousands are you thinking? 2,000? 3,000? 12,000? And are you concerned generally about mandated expenses, or just the Trump tariff version? Because…I’m thinking a reduction on govt mandated tax would go along way to softening the blow. Income, sales, excise, etc…

I’m not looking to be argumentative, but the truckers were protesting their treatment by your government. The decisions made, and the question of a heavy-handed government prone to overreach is a Canada problem As for MAGA contributing to the cause, I’m not certain if that’s true or not, but it’s irrelevant. You mentioned your version of freedom v our version of freedom a couple posts up…I would think we would both agree that supporting causes that are important to you is a fundamental right in both our countries. Finally with respect to Alberta, oil/gas/minerals/lumber, if enough citizens in that province feel the government is working against them, it becomes a problem. It sounds to me that you’re concerned about Alberta because of oil/gas/minerals/lumber and maybe less concerned with regulations and overreach. That puts you at odds with them, not Trump or MAGA.

It’s incredible to me that the window between life and death was 15 seconds. Rationally, we know that many tragedies result from people doing/failing to do something in a very short period of time, but when you consider a collision between an airplane and helicopter it seems almost incomprehensible. Thanks for the continued feedback on this horrible tragedy.

“Alright….Thank you….ok.” from the interviewer at the end is hysterical.

Trump has been in office for 100 days. Your contention is one of your provinces looking to secede after a little over three months is a Trump issue? That doesn’t sound right.

You suggested “…provinces leaving…” as it relates to Trump. What did you mean by that?

With respect to Carney, he sounds like the pudgy little brother of the tough guy down the street, everyone calls him Stinky. He doesn't like being called Stinky, he wants to play with the big kids, he wants respect...but he's got to earn that. That is completely independent of whatever Trump says or does. He didn't suggest he was taking on Trump, he suggested he was taking on all Americans. To a certain extent, you present as if you have a little bit of an inferiority complex. What does Trump's rhetoric have to do with "provinces leaving"? With 'bowing'? If Canadians feel they are being treated unfairly, seek other means of redress. Hold the line. Find other trade partners. You've taken the important first step and elected a guy to lead you forward. All of this truly comes from the heart, without malice. I have great fondness for Canada and Canadians generally. You want things the way they were. The current admin feels it needs to change. If they can get together and work it out--which seems the most sensible thing to do, we all move on.

On this, we can agree.