Congratulations Mr President

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Nice story. I don't believe one word.

And you shouldn't. It's a sarcastic cry for attention because he's upset. Enjoy it for what it is.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Basically what you were saying is that you were a low earner all long. It's cool, Gary, really. Nothing to get unhinged about, certainly not over the election results.

Yes. Sort of. I have been only working part time since 2008. But that was plenty for our family, actually it is very middle income. My new pay will be about $2800 per month plus $3000 or so in combined benefits and savings. That's $5800+ per month x 12 = $69,600 That is NOT low wage but similar to what I made working 25 hours per week. BEFORE tax and BEFORE paying more than $1000 for medical expenses. It is well above national average and Vermont average. Only now I can work maybe 8-10 hours per week. While on unemployment I will be able to make $585 per week combined UI and income without affecting my UI or benefits.

I am not quitting work. I am quitting paying taxes. I am quitting to work AS much for the same thing. I am going to idle back, take it easy and let everyone else pay for my stuff. That is what Obama and the Dems want and I am tired of fighting them. It seems like a good deal. When the time comes that Alla finishes nursing school we will have to re-evaluate everything, but that is OK. We will cross that bridge then. I actually like being self employed, I only took the "job" working for my biggest client to help with the Affidavit of Support for Alla and the boys. That's all in the past now, who needs it?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Only you would basically post your W2 form on VJ to prove a point, although now it makes sense why you couldn't afford a cleaner

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

And everyone said the Democrats would meltdown with a Romney win. I don't think we could have provided anything this hilarious.

well he didn't that's why some neighborhoods are still intact in california, michigan, and other states.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

And you shouldn't. It's a sarcastic cry for attention because he's upset. Enjoy it for what it is.

The biggest vehicle would be the self employed 401k I think. You can get a pretty large deduction from that.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And you shouldn't. It's a sarcastic cry for attention because he's upset. Enjoy it for what it is.

It is OK if you do ot believe me. Probably better. No one does it. It doesn't exist.

Edited November 10, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Only you would basically post your W2 form on VJ to prove a point, although now it makes sense why you couldn't afford a cleaner

I can probably afford a cleaner after this. See. you will be helping to give a cleaner another client! Be happy, Trompe.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Sounds like you never paid much in taxes to begin with. So much complaining about nothing!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Sounds like you never paid much in taxes to begin with. So much complaining about nothing!

Compared to others I did not. I never claimed I did. You are correct as usual on these issues. The tax savings are but a component of the total but exist nonetheless and they count. The bottom line is I am going to take the cue and stop being a "maker" and start being a "taker". Even if I was not a "big maker" I was a maker. Money was being confiscated from my pay to pay for other people's stuff and I am not going to pay for it anymore. I don't have to. I am going to let Barack Obama take money from YOUR paycheck and give to me and MY family. I am going to use the system you voted for, you supported, you said we needed. I'm sold. I am still researching everything and worling with an advocate at an organization that both Alla and I volunteered for. They will guide me, as they do others, how to get the most benefits for my family and avoid disqualifying myself. They do this. Did you know that? They get grant money from the government to employ advocates...financial consultants actually, to maximize benefits from the government. I never had a financial consultant when I was paying in! No kidding, these are attorneys and MBA's!

It is possible for me to replicate my net income by working a lot less and making up the difference with savings and benefits, so why not? WHY NOT? Why should I work 20 hours to make $1000 only to hand it over to the insurance company and work another 4 hours just to pay for my meds every month? YOU will pay for them for free! I will pay $147 per month for 3 of us and Sergey will get his medical through the school for $50 per month. He can pay it from his stipend, he is 21 and has a job as an assistant professor, so let him pay that. That's a whole week for me I do not have to work, JUST for the medical benefit! And JUST for me, not counting if Alla or Pasha have medical expenses. You see? I was a fool! Starting in January YOU are going to pay higher taxes from YOUR pay to cover my VHAP. They are eliminating the reduction in SS and medicare/medicaid deductions so you will pay 13% more, I will pay nothing and SAVE more than $1000 per month. I work another 8-10 hours to pay my home heating bill. See how it works? Calculate it against how many hours you work to pay those expenses and you will see what I mean.

I am not going to be a big taker, but I am still checking into other benefits. I am not going to apply for section 8, I do not qualify for WIC and I am not going to apply for Reach-up (SSI) I would not qualify anyway. I will get free medical care (big expense for me) food stamps and a number of other benefits, home heating for one (BIG expense in Vermont!)

Edited November 10, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Holy sh*t.

[sly_wolf 199]

Holy sh*t.

Prozac?

[scotinmass 588]

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. Much appreciated. +1

Thank you for your contribution. You will be pleased to know you will be saving me more than $1000 per month in medical expenses alone...but you wanted free medical care and now I am going to get it!

I already get completely free health care. My (Japanese owned) company pays our monthly premium and our full out of pocket deductible and we even get our co-pay refunded. You don't have to scrounge off other tax payers. Just find a decent employer.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Gary,

first, congratulations.

You not only married a beautiful and well education woman, but the fact that even your wife voted for Obama or against Romney, whatever it is, proves that she is indeed a person of insight and compassion.

Secondly, you are in a wonderful position for 2 reasons:

1) you live in Vermont, a state that has single payer health care. That's a dream come true.

2) you are financially well off, so you have choices in life.

Let's start with number 1, shall we?

While many of us, even liberals, will agree with you that there are people who will take advantage of the system, the main reason for implementing Romneycare is to make sure that no American has to die in his own vomit when getting sick and the health insurance industry tells him to #### off, the hospital tells him to #### off, and he has nothing left but dying, often after a life of hard work and service for his country. To prevent this from continuing in the "greatest nation on Earth," We The People are willing to accept that a few people will abuse the system. We'll try to crack down on this, but the world is not perfect. But the same way you won't bomb a whole country into the ground because there are a handful of terrorists down there, somewhere, we owe it to our fellow citizens to make sure they don't have to die in vain because a few bad apples will take advantage of this. Again, you in Vermont have a wonderful health care system already. If you were in Alaska and got sick, they would kick you to the curb and drive with their 4WD over you to make sure you are really dead.

In regard to number 2, you'll have to realize that only a few people have the financial means you have. Yes, there are some lazy bums out there. Yes, there are people who like food stamps and watch Jerry Springer reruns all day, but there are also hard working folks who lost their jobs due to the recession and they deserve a helping hand from We The People. Some call it government programs; I like to call it public programs. One of my best friends, a self-made multi-millionaire, had an accident in one of his warehouses when a 700lbs crate fell down and hit him in the neck. He initially was a C3 but now he can at least move his arms again, although he doesn't have regained control over his fingers. The whole episode has cost the insurance company $5M where he maxed out, and he's finally home, but needs 24/7 care as he can't even wipe his buttocks. For this he has to pay, and to pay for a long time, so he is financially wiped out, with a wife and a young boy. Gary, that can happy to you, to Alla, to one of your children. You can get ####### cancer, have a car accident, a stroke, and will be forced to move into a cardbox because of it. I don't think that's something we have to accept.

If all the wealth this country has can't get us affordable health care, a minimum of retirement money, and the confidence that if disaster strikes we don't have to choose between living in the woods or jumping in front of a bus, then what good does it do us to live in the Land of the Brave and Free?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Prozac?

You would pay for it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Gary,

first, congratulations.

You not only married a beautiful and well education woman, but the fact that even your wife voted for Obama or against Romney, whatever it is, proves that she is indeed a person of insight and compassion.

Secondly, you are in a wonderful position for 2 reasons:

1) you live in Vermont, a state that has single payer health care. That's a dream come true.

2) you are financially well off, so you have choices in life.

Let's start with number 1, shall we?

While many of us, even liberals, will agree with you that there are people who will take advantage of the system, the main reason for implementing Romneycare is to make sure that no American has to die in his own vomit when getting sick and the health insurance industry tells him to #### off, the hospital tells him to #### off, and he has nothing left but dying, often after a life of hard work and service for his country. To prevent this from continuing in the "greatest nation on Earth," We The People are willing to accept that a few people will abuse the system. We'll try to crack down on this, but the world is not perfect. But the same way you won't bomb a whole country into the ground because there are a handful of terrorists down there, somewhere, we owe it to our fellow citizens to make sure they don't have to die in vain because a few bad apples will take advantage of this. Again, you in Vermont have a wonderful health care system already. If you were in Alaska and got sick, they would kick you to the curb and drive with their 4WD over you to make sure you are really dead.

In regard to number 2, you'll have to realize that only a few people have the financial means you have. Yes, there are some lazy bums out there. Yes, there are people who like food stamps and watch Jerry Springer reruns all day, but there are also hard working folks who lost their jobs due to the recession and they deserve a helping hand from We The People. Some call it government programs; I like to call it public programs. One of my best friends, a self-made multi-millionaire, had an accident in one of his warehouses when a 700lbs crate fell down and hit him in the neck. He initially was a C3 but now he can at least move his arms again, although he doesn't have regained control over his fingers. The whole episode has cost the insurance company $5M where he maxed out, and he's finally home, but needs 24/7 care as he can't even wipe his buttocks. For this he has to pay, and to pay for a long time, so he is financially wiped out, with a wife and a young boy. Gary, that can happy to you, to Alla, to one of your children. You can get ####### cancer, have a car accident, a stroke, and will be forced to move into a cardbox because of it. I don't think that's something we have to accept.

If all the wealth this country has can't get us affordable health care, a minimum of retirement money, and the confidence that if disaster strikes we don't have to choose between living in the woods or jumping in front of a bus, then what good does it do us to live in the Land of the Brave and Free?

I agree Brother! And Alla showed me the light by voting for Obama. Thank you.

And Alla IS very beautiful and well educated. Thank you.

Edited November 10, 2012 by Gary and Alla