# Can you make head or tail of this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Macro Economic Trends and Risks\ **Created:** [November 6, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999 "2024-11-06T20:05:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leap1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/leap1/32/72176_2.png) [@Leap1](https://discussion.fool.com/u/Leap1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/25 "2024-11-07T16:55:18Z")
Many Latino families were here long before there were Atlantic coast colonies. ---
**Author:** ![rainphakir](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/rainphakir/32/1497_2.png) [@rainphakir](https://discussion.fool.com/u/rainphakir)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/26 "2024-11-07T17:20:39Z")
> [@ges](#): > > And not as smart. I respectfully disagree. TeaParty manifested in TX in 1990s. And Gerrymandered total control of TX in 2003. Similar in other “conservative” states, gaining GUARANTEED electoral votes. As of a couple days ago, **after only 2 decades** of “openly visible” effort, “they” control all three branches of the FEDERAL govt. Calling them “stupid” merely propagates further misunderestimation. {_Sun Tzu_ _The Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and general Sun Tzu said, “Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated”. He also said, "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy_".} > **[Know your enemy](https://medium.com/@thomasbudiman/know-your-enemy-ad5c84c8045b#:~:text=Sun%20Tzu%2C%20a%20Chinese%20military%20general%2C%20strategist%2C%20and%20philosopher,you%20will%20never%20be%20defeated.%E2%80%9D)** > > Sun Tzu, a Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher, once said “Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you… JMO. 🤔 ralph LOLOL: {_He also said, "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy_}. Edited to add: {_We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars._ _Oscar Wilde_ } ---
**Author:** ![pauleckler](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/pauleckler/32/2906_2.png) [@pauleckler](https://discussion.fool.com/u/pauleckler)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/27 "2024-11-07T17:51:58Z")
Re: exempt income tax on Social Security And its been pointed out income tax collected on Social Security gets paid into the Social Security trust fund rather than into the general fund. Hence removing the tax reduces payments to Social Security. And while we are at it, businesses deduct their contribution to SS as a business expense. How about we make individual FICA payments exempt from income tax. Ie pre-tax. Or tax deductible. ---
**Author:** ![buynholdisdead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/buynholdisdead/32/12874_2.png) [@buynholdisdead](https://discussion.fool.com/u/buynholdisdead)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/29 "2024-11-07T18:10:52Z")
> [@pauleckler](#): > > And its been pointed out income tax collected on Social Security gets paid into the Social Security trust fund rather than into the general fund. Hence removing the tax reduces payments to Social Security. I didn’t know that Paul so people are getting taxed to pay themselves? That’s brilliant. I would love to be invested in a company that pays me a dividend and then taxes me on the dividend but then I receive the money back as a dividend. 🤓 ---
**Author:** ![pauleckler](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/pauleckler/32/2906_2.png) [@pauleckler](https://discussion.fool.com/u/pauleckler)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/30 "2024-11-07T18:17:11Z")
I found that SS payments income tax goes to the trust fund surprising too. But note too that they only tax 85% of SS payment and then only above minimum income. So in reality, this is a wealth tax. It is collected only from those in upper income brackets. Not from everyone. The proposal is to stop the wealth tax (paid by many middle class voters). ---
**Author:** ![MataroPete](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/mataropete/32/16060_2.png) [@MataroPete](https://discussion.fool.com/u/MataroPete)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/31 "2024-11-07T18:17:42Z")
> [@steve203](#): > > Wonder what Buchanan and Hannity think of USian “St Patrick’s Day” celebrations? St. Paddy’s day is only Irish-proud v. Ireland born. Both Buchanan and Hannity would likely be fine with this homegrown US holiday. Pete ---
**Author:** ![Leap1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/leap1/32/72176_2.png) [@Leap1](https://discussion.fool.com/u/Leap1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/32 "2024-11-07T18:19:44Z")
who’da thunk it? Hypocrisy I have experienced pushback even stating I am Irish on a few occasions from one or two Latinos. Like get that out of here. More hypocrisy in reverse yet the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![buynholdisdead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/buynholdisdead/32/12874_2.png) [@buynholdisdead](https://discussion.fool.com/u/buynholdisdead)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/33 "2024-11-07T18:24:18Z")
> [@Leap1](#): > > I have experienced pushback even stating I am Irish on a few occasions from one or two Latinos. Like get that out of here. More hypocrisy in reverse yet the same thing. So when do you become American? After ST. Patty’s day or is there some calculation for this? ---
**Author:** ![Leap1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/leap1/32/72176_2.png) [@Leap1](https://discussion.fool.com/u/Leap1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/34 "2024-11-07T18:26:02Z")
For my Irish cousin with the largest Irish pubs in America, who is also an American citizen now…St Paddy’s is the kick off of his business for the entire year thereafter. The rest of the restaurant business is on hold for a month longer in the winter doldrums. Asking DK it is St Paddy’s day when everyone becomes an Irishman. ---
**Author:** ![steve203](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/steve203/32/3302_2.png) [@steve203](https://discussion.fool.com/u/steve203)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/35 "2024-11-07T18:41:05Z")
> [@Leap1](#): > > Asking DK it is St Paddy’s day when everyone becomes an Irishman. That is how I was “educated” in the early 60s. Everyone in class was given a paper shamrock to wear, with their name written on it, with an O’ added at the beginning. Michigan Ave, in Detroit, passes through a neighborhood known as “Cork Town”, as it was a heavily Irish neighborhood at one time. The annual St Patrick’s parade is along Michigan, in Cork Town, with people wearing green and waving Irish flags, the same way people wave Mexican flags on Cinco de Mayo, that gives Hannity an apoplectic fit. ![detroit4-scaled](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/original/3X/c/7/c7fab9bf4310a8dd763fc1e0f970e5995897a109.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Hawkwin](https://g.foolcdn.com/misc-assets/discourse-member-avatar_120px_green600.png) [@Hawkwin](https://discussion.fool.com/u/Hawkwin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/36 "2024-11-07T18:46:22Z")
> [@DrBob2](#): > > By the 1920s, a majority of Italians voted Republican. Ha!, the 1920s Republicans are today’s Dem party. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MarkR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/markr/32/2011_2.png) [@MarkR](https://discussion.fool.com/u/MarkR)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/37 "2024-11-07T18:54:47Z")
> [@pauleckler](#): > > So in reality, this is a wealth tax. It is collected only from those in upper income brackets. Not from everyone. I suppose it all depends on how you define “wealthy”. [Social security becomes taxable (50% of it) at $25,000 [single] income. And above $44,000 income, 85% of your social security becomes taxable.](https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/social-security-is-taxable-how-to-minimize-taxes#:~:text=Generally%2C%20for%20combined%20incomes%20between,up%20to%2085%25%20is%20taxable.) Is a $44,000 income considered “wealthy” thus making it a “wealth tax”? ---
**Author:** ![pauleckler](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/pauleckler/32/2906_2.png) [@pauleckler](https://discussion.fool.com/u/pauleckler)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/38 "2024-11-07T18:59:47Z")
Median household income is $75k. That is usually the midline between upper and lower middle class. Often between blue collar and college educated professionals. Where is the poverty line these days. Maybe $45k depending on family size. We are taxing the middle class, not the poor. As usual Congress decides. ---
**Author:** ![albaby1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/albaby1/32/12772_2.png) [@albaby1](https://discussion.fool.com/u/albaby1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/42 "2024-11-07T19:59:34Z")
> [@Leap1](#): > > The Democrats did not turn out to vote. Some 15 million fewer Democrats voted than in 2020. Votes aren’t done being counted. The actual turnout won’t be known for quite some time. It’s certainly possible that turnout will be lower this time than last, but until the states finish their canvassing we won’t have the totals. Since the areas that are still reporting are largely the big west coast states that are disproportionately Democratic, the turnout totals will almost certainly increase from where they are today, two days after polls closed. ---
**Author:** ![MarkR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/markr/32/2011_2.png) [@MarkR](https://discussion.fool.com/u/MarkR)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/43 "2024-11-07T22:00:58Z")
How is it that large states like TX, NY, FL, IL, GA, etc can count almost the entire vote overnight (NY Times reports those as \>95% or basically complete) while other large states like CA, WA, CO, AZ, etc are all **still** below 80% counted? ---
**Author:** ![buynholdisdead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/buynholdisdead/32/12874_2.png) [@buynholdisdead](https://discussion.fool.com/u/buynholdisdead)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/44 "2024-11-07T22:16:34Z")
States rights. They all have the right to legislate their own laws on how ballot counts will be done. You would have to go through each state and see how they have it set up. ---
**Author:** ![albaby1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/albaby1/32/12772_2.png) [@albaby1](https://discussion.fool.com/u/albaby1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/45 "2024-11-07T22:59:56Z")
> [@MarkR](#): > > How is it that large states like TX, NY, FL, IL, GA, etc can count almost the entire vote overnight (NY Times reports those as \>95% or basically complete) while other large states like CA, WA, CO, AZ, etc are all **still** below 80% counted? They have different rules. In some states, if you mail your ballot before election day, it still counts even if it is received by the elections department some number of days **after** election day. So they don’t even **have** all the ballots on election day. Some states also permit pre-canvassing of early/mail-in balloting, and others don’t. So in Florida, all of the early voting and absentee ballots were already tabulated ahead of time. So within seconds after the polls closed, all of those votes were reported instantly. Others won’t even start opening the envelopes until the polls close, so they don’t report until much later. ---
**Author:** ![iampops5](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/iampops5/32/1543_2.png) [@iampops5](https://discussion.fool.com/u/iampops5)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/46 "2024-11-08T00:20:13Z")
Roughly 60% of the voters without a college degree voted for him, and 60% of the voters with a college degree voted for her. Since roughly 60% of the electorate do not have a college degree, his campaign strategy was actually a good one. Lower incomes, less education, hard hit by inflation, anger at competition for jobs from immigrants, comprising 60% of the electorate. Tell them what they want to hear because nobody else is. ---
**Author:** ![steve203](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/steve203/32/3302_2.png) [@steve203](https://discussion.fool.com/u/steve203)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/47 "2024-11-08T02:05:24Z")
> [@iampops5](#): > > Lower incomes, less education, hard hit by inflation, anger at competition for jobs from immigrants, comprising 60% of the electorate. So, the “envy” cohort. Steve ---
**Author:** ![Leap1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/leap1/32/72176_2.png) [@Leap1](https://discussion.fool.com/u/Leap1)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999/48 "2024-11-08T02:42:41Z")
Al The fat lady is singing [Previous page](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999.md?page=1) [Next page](https://discussion.fool.com/t/can-you-make-head-or-tail-of-this/109999.md?page=3)