Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

You cannot shame the shameless.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Bark louder, little dog.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

Republicans do not trust women.

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194Comments

  2. 2.

    WaterGirl

    BJ hive mind, i have a question.

    Let’s say you owe $4,500 in taxes.  You have 2 options.

    Door #1

    Pay the $4,500 in taxes.

    Door #2

    Borrow $7,500 from your line of credit to put in an IRA – incurring $50 in interest, and pay only $2,000 in taxes, thus saving $2,500 (minus the $50 in interest.)

    Which would you do?

  3. 3.

    bbleh

    Ok, how about, Grand Plans for Spring?

    Like, if I can get estate matters wound up, I’m movin’ back to the coast.  Civilization, what a concept!

    Any other Grand Plans out there?

    (Anything but Cannon or Gaza, please.  Just for right now.  I’m asking here.)

  14. 14.

    lowtechcyclist

    “Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury.” – Judge Learned Hand, 1934

    So I’ll take Door #2 for $2500, Alex WaterGirl. ;-)

    ETA: OK, I see that it involves moving money into an IRA.  So it really depends on whether you’re OK with reducing the amount of credit available to you now.

  16. 16.

    Jeffro

    I’m excited to see Donnie’s plan.  I hear it’s coming in two weeks or so.  =)

    trumpov Has No Idea What To Do About Abortion

    The presumptive GOP presidential nominee has responded to this development with all the political certainty of a college freshman running for class president. And his hemming and hawing — even after effectively locking up the Republican nomination — speaks volumes about how much this sudden liability of an issue looms over the GOP’s 2024 hopes.

    “We’ll be making a statement next week on abortion,” Trump said.  Translation: I really don’t want to talk about this, and I need to figure out my position.

    Nickel bet that if he says anything, he’ll go with the 15- or 16-week position (pretending that it’s totes awesome, “everyone agrees with this”) and push hard on the “leave it to the states” BS, hoping against hope that it goes away.

  18. 18.

    japa21

    @WaterGirl: There are a lot of ways to reduce tax payments, many of them legal.  At the same time, taxes are the dues we pay to live in a civilized society, or so some claim.  In other words, I don’t have a clue.  Do what will help you sleep the best at night.

  19. 19.

    Jeffro

    also, the Biden/Harris 2024 social media team just posted a horrendous picture of trumpov, noting that 120k GOP voters in Wisconsin picked someone OTHER than him despite there being no one else in the race for nearly two months now.

    The caption?  “Biggest loser”

    FIRE FOR EFFECT!!!1!

  20. 20.

    lowtechcyclist

    @bbleh:

     uhhh, so you’re not saving the $2500; you’re just deferring it?  at a cost of $50?  help me out here …

    I think what’s happening is that you’re moving the $7500 of income that would otherwise be taxed at $2500 now into the IRA, where it will be taxed at whatever tax rate you’re paying (most likely lower) when you take it out of the IRA when you’re retired.

    But that’s just a WAG given that I don’t know the particulars.

  21. 21.

    WaterGirl

    @Jeffro: If he’s trying to split the baby – which cannot be split – why doesn’t he create a lottery for pregnant women.

    Every other pregnant woman gets to make their own life choices.

    And the other-other pregnant woman gets to be the incubator for all these babies the conservatives want to see born.

  22. 22.

    bbleh

    @WaterGirl: ohh, and contributing to the IRA reduces your AGI and thus your tax bill, so you really DO save $2500?

    Then you can run the numbers, but I’d guess Door #2.  The costs are the interest on your line of credit (perhaps offset slightly by any interest you’d receive on your IRA) plus the $50 fee, but the tax savings of $2500 likely would be far greater.  And now you have $7500 socked away.

  23. 23.

    Mom Says I*m Handsome

    I think I coined a new insult for the culture wars: “chrino”, a Christian in name only.

    I haven’t looked around to see if someone has already come up with it, because I’m pretty pleased with the fact that I came up with it for myself, by myself.

  25. 25.

    WaterGirl

    @Gin & Tonic: That’s what I was told one year when that happened to me.  Just passing that not-so-useful advice along.

    There’s also the:  “you’re watering unevenly” option.

    Then when you say, “no, I water the same amount every time”, they come back with “then you’re watering too much.”

    Bastards.

  27. 27.

    JaySinWA

    @lowtechcyclist: It’s pretty much pay me now or pay me later. I that IRA money is going to be taxed eventually.

    Yeah I know you might be able to give it away tax free when you turn 70.5. Unlike Justice, Tax deferred is not Tax denied.

    And how sure are you that you can repay the $7500 quickly enough to limit the expense to $50?

  28. 28.

    Another Scott

    @WaterGirl: But aren’t taxes usually due for things that happened the previous year (usually ending 12/31)?  Aren’t IRA deductions also for the previous year (usually ending 12/31)?

    Sounds weird to me, but a professional tax cruncher is yet another thing that I’m not.

    Ask sab and Brachiator!  ;-)

    Good luck!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  30. 30.

    Jay

    @WaterGirl:

    How is the interest rate on borrowing $7500, only $50?

    Even with an exceptional rate, that would be $50 a month, $600 a year.

    And you still have to pay the full $7500 back to your Line of Credit, how long will that take?

    And how much will $2500 moved to your IRA save you in taxes?

    Plan B only makes sense if you are dying soon.

  32. 32.

    Jeffro

    @WaterGirl: he’s a moron but he’s cunning and knows that Dobbs is helping Dems to the tune of about 10 points at the ballot box.

    So…I look forward to his plan!  Coming in about two weeks, I hear. ;)

  33. 33.

    bbleh

    @Gin & Tonic: @WaterGirl: another possibility is fungus in the soil.  The answer to that usually is “relocate your garden” — thanks, will do that NEXT year — but another possibility is solar soil warmers: little sticks covered with solar cells that turn the energy into heat and heat up the soil, which is enough to kill many fungi.  They’re not very expensive, and if you don’t have a lot of space to move your garden around, it might do the trick.

  35. 35.

    Jeffro

    @WaterGirl: Thank you!

    It’s even better when tweeted out by the Dark Brandon account, with his laser eyes and additional “Biggest loser” caption.

    I have no idea how Susie Wiles is keeping trumpov sedated enough not to respond, but I hope the addled orange moron strokes out from the strain.

  36. 36.

    WaterGirl

    @Jay:  Answers below.

    How is the interest rate on borrowing $7500, only $50?  (borrowing for a short time, paid back with income from clients)

    Even with an exceptional rate, that would be $50 a month, $600 a year. (same as above)

    And you still have to pay the full $7500 back to your Line of Credit, how long will that take? (small number of months)

    And how much will $2500 moved to your IRA save you in taxes? ($1,500 saves $680, $5k saves $1,400, $75.k saves $2,500)

    Plan B only makes sense if you are dying soon.  (hope not!)

  38. 38.

    WaterGirl

    @bbleh:

    ohh, and contributing to the IRA reduces your AGI and thus your tax bill, so you really DO save $2500?

    Yes!

    plus the $50 fee,

    The $50 fee is not a fee – it’s the interest on the $7,500 for the small number of months before i can pay it all back.

    I literally save $2,500 minus $50 in taxes.  And in a few months, I have a new $7,500 in savings.

  39. 39.

    bbleh

    (Sigh.)  When I said please no Cannon or Gaza, I ALMOST added “taxes.”  Mired in taxes here too, and it just feels like piling on.

    What’s on Netflix?

    @WaterGirl: then seems like a no-brainer.  And I withdraw my comment about the tax guy.

  42. 42.

    WaterGirl

    @Jeffro: I know a number of people don’t want to click on twitter, but I figured an even bigger number would not want to see his big ugly face here, so I went with the tiny version, clickable.

  43. 43.

    Dangerman

    @WaterGirl: I literally save $2,500 minus $50 in taxes.

    Well, if I understand correctly, you just defer the taxes. Which is good as you will likely be in a lower tax bracket at retirement. Unless you hit the Powerball, in which case, please remember us well.

    Money now, taxes later is always a good thing.

  44. 44.

    Jay

    @Gin & Tonic:

    @WaterGirl:

    @bbleh:

    Vermiculm wilt, (fungus), if that is the cause, (it’s endemic here) can be moderated by covering the tomato plants to protect from rain, (greenhouse or clear tarp) and bottom watering. Copper additives in the soil also help. Usually black spots start to form on the leaves.

    If it is wilt, do not compost, do not send cuttings to the city compost, bag and trash it. That’s how wilt got endemic here, it’s in the soil everywhere.

    The other culprit is a lack of nitrogen.

  47. 47.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    I’m rereading Lois Mc Master Bujold’s Cryoburn and it’s making me think about some of the IVF arguments. The book is set on a planet where massive numbers of people are cryopreserved when they get old or have an incurable medical condition, hoping a cure will arrive in the future. The culture recognizes them as alive. Their proxy votes are held by the corporations who have custody of their bodies. That political aspect to “alive” seems crazy to us but no more than some of the claims about IVF do to me.

  48. 48.

    bbleh

    @WaterGirl: eh, whatever, and now problem solved.  back to tomatoes.

    @Jay: yes in any case, do not compost, and dig up at least a few inches of soil and dump it somewhere else before replanting

    And good point re nitrogen.  Instead of calibrating watering, maybe add some fertilizer.

  49. 49.

    smith

    @bbleh: OK, how about this topic: Biden has opened more than 100 campaign offices across the country, and TFG has opened (?) zip (?) This is unlikely get any better for the GQP, what with the RNC money all being shovelled to his lawyers and state parties going bankrupt all over the map. What are they going to do for a ground game?

  50. 50.

    Delk

    I caught the brown line at Kimball this morning around 10. For you non-Chicagoans that is the end of the line. There is usually 2 or 3 trains waiting and an arrow directs you to which train will be leaving the station next. So, I walk past 15 empty cars. It is not busy at that time. Anyway, I walk past 15 empty cars and sit down.
    A minute later, a woman gets on the car and sits directly behind me and is having a very loud phone conversation. 15 fucking empty cars and she has to sit directly behind me. Argh.

  54. 54.

    sab

    @Another Scott: You can make a 2023 contribution to your IRA anytime before April 15, 2024,  provided that you have already set up an IRA. If you need to start an IRA, I believe it is already too late.

  57. 57.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @WaterGirl:

    Water? No, I think it’s light. Too much sunlight, or insufficient sunlight, one.

    Of course it could be the soil. It might be too acidic. Or too alkaline. Who even knows??

  58. 58.

    lowtechcyclist

    @bbleh:

     And now you have $7500 socked away.

    But you’ve increased your present indebtedness by $7500 as well.  If that’s not a problem for you, then Door #2 by all means.  But if that uses up most of your line of credit, and that’s going to put you in a situation where a bank isn’t going to loan you any more money should you need it to deal with a sudden crisis, then maybe bite the bullet with Door #1.

  61. 61.

    bbleh

    @smith: gee, with a larcenous con-man openly rigging the system to shovel money into his own pockets, and a bunch of wanna-bes at the state level busily tearing apart their own organizations, it’s a mystery how that could happen to them!

    I wish them the worst of luck!  May their knives chip and shatter!

  62. 62.

    Jay

    @WaterGirl:

    Okay, it’s less confusing now.

    You are borrowing $7500 from your line of credit to “top up” your IRA for the 2023 Tax year.

    That will reduce your declared income for 2023 for a tax savings of $2500.

    We can do the same thing here with our RRSP’s, but, interest rates will quickly eat the tax savings.

    It’s better to “top up” your IRA from income during the year, than to borrow money at the end of the year.

  63. 63.

    WaterGirl

    @Delk:

    Let’s be charitable and think that she felt more comfortable sitting in a car with that nice man who looks safe than sitting in a car alone where anything could happen.

  64. 64.

    frosty

    @WaterGirl: If you don’t need the money and you want to boost your retirement fund, Door 2 seems reasonable. But what would I do? I’d call my financial advisors, that’s what I’m paying them for LOL.

    (They told me to send all my money to B-J GOTV, but I’m holding back for now)

    @WaterGirl: So the tax guy is your financial advisor. Got it. I’d take his/her advice.

  66. 66.

    Gin & Tonic

    The seedlings are still indoors. I live in New England. They’re in fresh sterile mix, in fresh containers, under lights.

  68. 68.

    bbleh

    @lowtechcyclist: true dat.  but subsequent comments suggest she’s got sufficient cash-flow to pay it back in the short term, and this is just a way to take advantage of the tax laws intended to encourage retirement savings (of which I approve entirely btw).

  70. 70.

    Betty Cracker

    @bbleh: I’ve watched one episode of “The Tourist,” and it’s interesting so far. I’ll give anything with Jamie Dornan in it a shot…

  71. 71.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @WaterGirl:

    O. M. G.

    He looks like he just emerged from the crypt. That photo is seriously terrifying and disgusting. I plan to share it far and wide.

  74. 74.

    lowtechcyclist

    @WaterGirl:

    One small thing, I don’t play the lottery.

    It’s a tax on people who don’t understand probability.  And don’t understand that the house comes out ahead.

  75. 75.

    WaterGirl

    @Jay:

    It’s better to “top up” your IRA from income during the year, than to borrow money at the end of the year.

    Totally agree!  But my time machine is on the fritz!  And I didn’t expect to owe nearly $5k.

  76. 76.

    sab

    @WaterGirl: Can you fund it for 2023 tax savings? That used to be not okay but I may be out of date on that.

    ETA In any case I am a big fan of funding your IRA in any case because you will probably be thankful in later years that you did. My IRA really saved me over the last decade before Social Security kicked in.

  77. 77.

    JaySinWA

    @Dangerman: When I was in college my accounting student roommate claimed that the deferral probably wouldn’t payoff, expecting lifetime income to rise as you get older and the payout would be at a higher tax rate than just taking the hit as you earned it. I didn’t think that was right, but now that my wife and I are either at or approaching RMA age, with SS and investment income, it’s not clear that I will win the bet I made by IRA and 401K investing.
    I know some people will be better off using a Roth IRA now days. I thought about converting  a while back, and it could have made sense, but working out the math and convincing my wife it worked would have been exhausting

    ETA of course when I was in college the max tax bracket was still 90% IIRC. So a lot of tax law changed over time.

  88. 88.

    lowtechcyclist

    @bbleh:

    true dat.  but subsequent comments suggest

    Yeah, this happens when you don’t have threaded comments.  On the whole, I think it’s better the way it is, but there are times like this conversation when I kinda wish we did.

  91. 91.

    Jay

    @WaterGirl:

    If it’s a baby plant, it could be sun burn or cold shock. Artificial light grown plants don’t like sudden exposure to the sun or weather changes.

    Seedlings are supposed to be “hardened off”, through gradual exposure to sunlight and weather, a few hours at a time, longer and longer as spring comes in.

  92. 92.

    Bill Arnold

    @Gin & Tonic:

    The seedlings are still indoors. I live in New England. They’re in fresh sterile mix, in fresh containers, under lights.

    I’ve not seen this in seedlings under lights. In larger tomatoes in pots, it can be a magnesium deficiency. (Epsom salt from the drugstore, like 2 tbsp per gallon of water.) Or nitrogen. But start mixes should have both. Worth trying some miracle grow or equivalent plus some epsom salt, though.

  93. 93.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @The Thin Black Duke: Just came in to mention that. I’m in the middle of a Meidas Touch video discussing it.

    Edit: Sounds like they screwed up the procedure, including not providing “financials”. Could still be resubmitted.​

    Edit 2: The bonding company has to provide proof that they’re good for it. If they are in fact. This might still get interesting.​

  103. 103.

    Jackie

    @WaterGirl: TIFG actually made some money last month; I’m sure the RNC is thrilled… Oh, wait!

    “The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee announced raising a combined $65.6 million in March and entered April with $93.1 million in cash on hand, the groups said on Wednesday,” CNN reports.

    “The announced totals represent an improved financial position for Trump and the RNC compared to last month, when Trump and his main fundraising committees announced a cash on hand total of about $41.9 million, while the RNC held about $11.3 million more.”

    In contrast:

    The Biden campaign posted its best grassroots fundraising month to date in March, breaking its own record for small-dollar donations for a fifth consecutive month.

    The campaign exclusively told The Hill that it also saw its active email list double in size from the end of 2023 to the end of March in a sign of enthusiasm and growth among supporters.

    Campaign officials did not disclose how much money the campaign brought in from grassroots donors, which includes those who make small-dollar contributions and don’t attend campaign fundraisers, but it is expected to be well into the millions.

    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4572957-biden-campaign-posts-best-grassroots-fundraising-month-to-date-in-march/

  106. 106.

    Jay

    @Gin & Tonic:

    In that case, either not the right light, not enough light, a need for repotting in proper soil or lack of nitrogen. Starter soil is pretty much just peat and vermiculite, enough moisture to get the seed started from it’s reserves and loose enough to allow quick root growth. It’s for starting seeds, not growing plants.

  108. 108.

    Old School

    @WaterGirl: One thing I haven’t seen addressed is making sure you’ll be good with having $7,500 less for this year’s living expenses.

  109. 109.

    bbleh

    @WaterGirl: what?!?  but I was told technology can fix anything!  I read it on Facebook!  this is why we no longer need all that messy distressing political stuff!

  110. 110.

    MisterForkbeard

    @The Thin Black Duke: Sure, but returned for correction.

    Sounds like they fucked up the submission and they’ll need to redo it. Not surprising, given Trump’s ‘expertise’

  111. 111.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @WaterGirl: You have to take into account a number of factors, e.g., how close you (think you) are to retirement, how close you (think you) are to taking Social Security, and how close you are to age 72, when you start having to take a specified percentage of your before-tax savings accounts (IRA. 401k etc.)​ out of the tax shelter, when it will be taxed at the going after-tax rate, not the lower rates for “qualified dividends” or capital gains, regardless of whether the $$$ you made in the before-tax account came from one of those dodges maneuvers.

    Tl;dr: It’s never as simple as it seems.​

  112. 112.

    Fair Economist

    @WaterGirl: First, the interest would have to be paid *every year*. And, in the end, when you pull the money out of the IRA, it’s considered taxable. You don’t avoid the taxes, just delay them.

    Second, $50 on $7500 borrowed is 0.67%. Is your credit line really that low? At present I’d expect something like 6%, which would be $450 per year.

  114. 114.

    Martin

    @WaterGirl:

    So, it depends. We have a fairly complicated tax situation so we’re at least familiar with this kind of thing. Generally we avoid tax schemes that don’t give some larger benefit. That is, if you can avoid tax by putting money into retirement, then do that. The tax system is full of these kinds of incentives, because it’s good for the economy if retirees aren’t poor.

    The ‘borrow’ is where things get tricky. Is it ‘borrow’ in the sense of ‘this will take me a year to pay off’ or is it ‘borrow’ in the sense of ‘I tied up this months paycheck and need to get to next payday?’ We put most purchases on credit cards which are technically ‘borrowing’ but we do so with the knowledge that we can fully pay it off before any interest accrues. It’s a convenience for us, but it’s also a free month(ish) interest on our cash saving that the credit card company offers us. That’s very different from asking the bank for a line of credit or taking out a HELOC. The latter we avoid because you’ve now opened yourself up to unforeseen situations intervening into your plan – you lose your job, some other expense crops up, and the debt you thought you could pay off for $50 you no longer can.

    We make decisions mainly around certainty (an outcome we can guarantee) and to build long term value (dumping a bunch of cash into a retirement account just before the deadline). We don’t take advantage of 1-time offers, introductory rates, stuff like that. They complicate your decision space usually in ways that usually don’t pay off in the long term. Some people do that stuff just fine – they juggle credit cards for airline miles and junk like that – our experience is that all of these scenarios exist because they know the median person will fuck it up and come out behind, and while the exceptional individual can use it to their advantage, and everyone believes they are the exceptional individual, you gotta know your own track record there. There are financial things my wife and I are exceptional at and a lot we aren’t.

    For most people settling the tax bill now is a better decision than starting up a new system that resolves it later. Not everyone, but most people. Only you can gauge whether you can ensure that cost is limited to $50 or not. But if it’s really a choice of putting money away for retirement or paying more in tax, put money away for retirement. If you forgot to put money away during the year and are now making up for that, there’s a lesson there in your own capability here – you forgot to do it. Be realistic about what else you might forget to do here.

  115. 115.

    topclimber

    As long as you aren’t using any money from BJ fundraisers for this, go with Door #2.

    If nothing else, you are forcing yourself to save $7500 toward your retirement.

  116. 116.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Jeffro:

    I’m excited to see Donnie’s plan. I hear it’s coming in two weeks or so. =)

    trumpov Has No Idea What To Do About Abortion

    Get a time machine, go back to 2015, and don’t run for President?

    Sow since 1973 – though most likely before. Reap your harvest, women-hating Rethuglicans! … Profit!

  117. 117.

    Jackie

    @The Thin Black Duke: I read about it; it appears to be much ado about nothing. Paperwork screwups. They’ll fix and resubmit it.

    Stupid mistakes for top notch attorneys to make. //

  120. 120.

    sab

    @JaySinWA: My feeling is that if you pay a high tax on IRA disbursements in retirement you can afford it so suck it up. If you don’t pay a high tax rate then you really need the cash flow so it will be a lifeline.

  121. 121.

    Old School

    @Old School: I guess it’s $5,000 less in current living expenses as you’d be spending $2,500 on taxes (or IRA contribution) in either scenario.

  122. 122.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Jeffro:

    also, the Biden/Harris 2024 social media team just posted a horrendous picture of trumpov 

    Redundant!

  124. 124.

    Martin

    @Dangerman:

    Well, if I understand correctly, you just defer the taxes. Which is good as you will likely be in a lower tax bracket at retirement. Unless you hit the Powerball, in which case, please remember us well.

    Money now, taxes later is always a good thing.

    Another way to look at this is that if you are so endowed in retirement that you are paying more in taxes, consider yourself fortunate, and pay them gladly knowing you planned things out properly.

  125. 125.

    sab

    @Martin: Kind of what I said at #120 but you said it so much more graciously. We were probably typing at the same time.

  126. 126.

    JaySinWA

    @sab: I wasn’t complaining, just commenting that tax deferral isn’t always the least expensive thing in the long run.

  128. 128.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    The book is set on a planet where massive numbers of people are cryopreserved when they get old or have an incurable medical condition, hoping a cure will arrive in the future. 

    Are the “just old” people ever thawed out?

  130. 130.

    Betty

    @Steeplejack: Have you seen Belfast? He received a lot of good reviews for that. I only know him from the Graham Norton Show. They showed clips of The Tourist. Looks interesting.

  131. 131.

    Gvg

    @bbleh: do a soil test. Get a moisture meter to see how efective your watering really is. Ask you local garden extension agent because lots of garden problems,are really local and change year to year. Examine stems and leaves for holes and other clues.

  132. 132.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Delk:

    A minute later, a woman gets on the car and sits directly behind me and is having a very loud phone conversation. 15 fucking empty cars and she has to sit directly behind me. Argh. 

    Oh that is the best!  No one should be able to hear you yakking on the phone from the other end of the block, train car, parking lot, etc.

    Hope you hopped into the next empty car.

  133. 133.

    Ishiyama

    All this discussion about finagling your finances to reduce your tax “burden” should be private; it’s not polite to discuss one’s wealth in front of strangers, who may not be so fortunate. Why not send your money to Chef Andre, instead.

  136. 136.

    sab

    @JaySinWA: I understand that. I am just saying also that we cannot count on making the money we planned to make in our fifties to make up for not saving earlier. If we do, yay! If not, thanks for the IRA.

    I fell into the elder care vortex. My parents planned sensibly for their retirement in their sixties but in their eighties they were no longer making sensible safe decisions and somebody had to step in. I was the kid in a position to do it and it really blew up my own career and my income.

    I had planned to be saving, but instead I was watching out for my Dad.  He turned 99 last year and nobody in the family has ever lived that long. He is wealthy and we can afford care for him, but somebody has to be around to drop everything to respond to tiny crises, and that is not good for job or career prospects.

  137. 137.

    randal sexton

    @WaterGirl: I sort of indirectly did door number 2 stuff a lot in my 30s and 40s.  That stuff in the Ira and 401k got some nice compounding growth and deferred taxation.  The difference between the interest payments and the rate of return on the investments figure in.  Also eventually when you withdraw from your Ira you may be in a lower tax bracket.  Target date funds or just spy make for nice investments

  138. 138.

    mrmoshpotato

    @WaterGirl:

    That’s okay, the RNC will open those offices with the RNC donations that are left after paying Trump’s bills.

    Oh, wait.

    What a grift! What a grift!

  139. 139.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    This is from Kos:

    Earlier today, according to multiple sources, the court “returned for correction” Trump’s bond filing due to multiple errors in the paperwork including failure to provide a current financial statement and power of attorney.

    Apparently Trump’s paperwork was missing things like a financial statement.

  140. 140.

    Jay

    @mrmoshpotato:

    Best one, the 5am 501 express bus to Langley. It’s an extended double decker.

    Probably an inebriated woman, yelling at the top of her voice, from the moment she boarded to the moment she stepped off, so, about an hour,

    at one of her “friends” for sleeping with her boyfriend. Everybody heard names, locations, dirty details, I even learned a new sex trick.

  141. 141.

    mrmoshpotato

    @lowtechcyclist:

    It’s a tax on people who don’t understand probability. And don’t understand that the house comes out ahead. 

    The people who win large amounts in Powerball probably disagree.

    (Yes.  You’re absolutely right about probability.)

  144. 144.

    JaySinWA

    @WaterGirl:

    CHRINO?  Agree!

    Now that i look at the original, that hr is kind of problematic to claiming acronym status.  But I stand by my all caps SHOUT it out. But I think the judges might accept CINO, or maybe ChrINO. But CHRINO rules, I think

    ETA too many buts.

  145. 145.

    sab

    @Betty: I really liked him in Belfast. I watched it for Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds and Catriona Balfe. I had thought of him as the creepy lover in 50 Shades of Grey ( which I never watched because aI think the whole concept was creepy)  and I was really pleasantly surprised.

  148. 148.

    sab

    @mrmoshpotato: Tax prep is actually quite of fun if it is not your money and you are not the partner who has to break the bad news.

    Puzzle solving while watching soap operas.

    Figure out what is actually going on, then plug the numbers into the correct holes.

  149. 149.

    Martin

    @Ishiyama: I would argue that a lot of people are ‘unfortunate’ because we don’t have frank and open conversations where people can get financial advice. And that works both ways – a lot of well-intentioned people don’t understand the realities of the financial system that low-income people have access to, and would probably advocate for change if they realized just how much of a different financial world rich and poor people live in.

    I would also note that a lot of women (and probably minorities) had a lot of income stolen from them because discussing pay at work was also considered ‘impolite’.

    Keeping these matters ‘private’ has historically benefited the wealthy, not the less fortunate.

  152. 152.

    sab

    @Martin: My husband had no clue that when we were both single in our twenties I could not get health insurance or a credit card and he could easily get both.

  156. 156.

    Mousebumples

    https://x.com/DanRShafer/status/1775648531027570834?s=03

    Dan Shafer (@DanRShafer) posted at 5:16 PM on Wed, Apr 03, 2024:
    BIG news in Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district: @kristinforWI is running.
    https://t.co/oO3rtBs3Ia

    Lyerly is a strong candidate, and as an OB/GYN, she’ll be able to speak to issues on health care and reproductive rights.

    This is a Republican-leaning district where Mike Gallagher typically overperformed, but it’s a part of the state with a real independent streak.

    I would love to have an ob/gyn as my Rep! ❤️

  157. 157.

    Brachiator

    @WaterGirl:

    Which would you do?

    You already have $4500? Pay the taxes.

    I would be wary about borrowing money to put into an IRA.

    What is the interest rate on the line of credit?

    Are you going to owe again next year?

    I probably would not rely on this tax person for financial advice.

  158. 158.

    mrmoshpotato

    @sab:

    Tax prep is actually quite of fun if it is not your money and you are not the partner who has to break the bad news. 

    I’ll ask my dad to confirm this Friday night after one of his 15-hour days. :)

    Go Wolfpack and go Hawkeyes!

  159. 159.

    catclub

    @WaterGirl: at 5% interest for the LOC, $7500 implies $375/yr in interest costs.   Why did you put $50 for interest? very short term?

     

    also, at marginal tax rate of 20%,  a $7500 reduction in income via IRA deduction means  tax savings of $1500

    by my calculation.

  161. 161.

    WaterGirl

    @Ishiyama: I am not wealthy by any means.  But I did find a lot of helpful questions and advice here, things I hadn’t thought considered.  Which was the point of my asking

    I’m sorry if that offended you.

  163. 163.

    sab

    @mrmoshpotato: I had a heart attack a few years ago so I don’t do long hours anymore. On the other hand, our managing partner had a six week vacation in Hawaii last summer (which he had absolutely earned the year before.)

    ETA The thirty and forty year olds are doing those hours now. I did them too back in the day. But the actual work was fun.

  165. 165.

    Brachiator

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    The culture recognizes them as alive. Their proxy votes are held by the corporations who have custody of their bodies. That political aspect to “alive” seems crazy to us but no more than some of the claims about IVF do to me

    Intriguing ideas. I can see how it makes for a good novel.

    I don’t consider the idea crazy, and wonder how current law might recognize these individuals.

  167. 167.

    JaySinWA

    @WaterGirl: Back to the original question, I would chose door #1, because I don’t think unsecured borrowing to invest is generally a good idea. .

    A very different thing from a mortgage or car payment.

    That’s a personal thing. YMMV.

    OTOH you are talking about a small gamble. Your IRA investment could go down, or your expected income not come in. If you can afford the small risk, fine.

  170. 170.

    Melancholy Jaques

    @bbleh:

    I have used the phrase political christians (lower case intentional) and sometimes just say so-called christians.

  173. 173.

    Brachiator

    @sab:

    Where were you when I was giving outdated ( i.e. bad)  tax advice earlier in this thread?

    Eating lunch and watching TV at a local Chinese restaurant.

    They even had a story about the retirement crisis.” People intending to work after age 65, but not having a lot saved for retirement.

    As we get closer to the April 15 tax deadline, there seems to be more interest in tax and financial issues.

  176. 176.

    JaySinWA

    @catclub:

    I thought MacNaughton was the artist who painted trump as Jesus or Rambo.

    It’s a desert topping cheap whiskey and a floor wax schlock artist.

    OTOH the artist may have used whiskey goggles.

  177. 177.

    Jackie

    @Melancholy Jaques: My dad called them christian hypocrites – nothing they believe in or practice is in the bible.

    I see where TIFG is calling “all christians” to vote en masse on Nov 5. He seems to not realize there are a lot of Christian Democrats who vote!

  179. 179.

    Jay

    @Ironcity:

    no need, my patio garden, 22 floors up, is doing fine, other than the Bloodgrass, which seems to have lost vigor, but it is 6 years old, which is a long life time for a bunchgrass.

  180. 180.

    Brachiator

    @Martin:

     I would argue that a lot of people are ‘unfortunate’ because we don’t have frank and open conversations where people can get financial advice.

    Many lower income people don’t have good financial alternatives even if they get good advice.

    Quick example. Middle class people can get loans, borrow from friends and family, dip into retirement savings, even pawn their property for cash. I’ve heard that a pawn shop near Beverly Hills used to do big business.

    Much less access to money, and loans at much higher interest rates for lower income people.

    I’ve seen lower income people trade dependents to other relatives so that they can maximize tax credits. Their kids are the closest thing they have for assets.

  182. 182.

    Hoppie

    @japa21: Remember when the Reagan Admin tax “reform” was known as the “Tax accountants’ and lawyers’ relief Law”?

  183. 183.

    Another Scott

    @Jeffro: Joe Biden is on the case!

    Joe Biden
    @JoeBiden
    Apr 2

    You already made your statement, Donald.

    [image]

    The internet doesn’t forget. Neither do old guys like Joe Biden!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  184. 184.

    Martin

    @Brachiator: I did say this:

    And that works both ways – a lot of well-intentioned people don’t understand the realities of the financial system that low-income people have access to, and would probably advocate for change if they realized just how much of a different financial world rich and poor people live in.

    Low income people often lack basic banking access. If they don’t have regular enough income for direct deposit, a lot of banks won’t even let them open a checking account. If you are paid via a payroll card, it may cost you money to convert that to cash via ATM. But a lot of voters have never experienced this and if we don’t talk about this sort of stuff, they can’t help advocate for change.

    I’m fortunate in the sense that I went from being poor to being wealthy, and it’s night and day. There are so many benefits extended to people with money. We can mark specific moments when we went from having to pay an annual fee for a credit card, to not having to. To having bank fees waived. To being offered cash (thousands of dollars) just to move our money from one institution to another. We were talking to our contact with the outfit that holds our investments and my wife made a joke about wanting an iPad, and they just sent her one gratis. Look at how hard it is for Trump to not come out on top financially, no matter how badly he fucks up.

    There is this line in the US economy below which you almost cannot help but sink and above which you almost cannot help but rise. There is no reverting to the mean – just the opposite. It’s an economy designed to create class conflict. And it’s hard to see if you’ve never crossed it.

  185. 185.

    Brachiator

    @Hoppie:

    Remember when the Reagan Admin tax “reform” was known as the “Tax accountants’ and lawyers’ relief Law”?

    I once had to patiently explain to some clients that tax reform, tax reduction and tax simplification, all being promised by Republicans, were not the same thing.

  186. 186.

    Subsole

    @smith:

    They need less ground game, historically. We’re the ones who sit at home in a snit, or tune out the instant the country isn’t on fire. Their voters always come home, and they always show up.

    Not saying it’s hopeless, but make no mistake. We are in a dogfight.

  189. 189.

    wjca

    @smith: What are they going to do for a ground game?

    What any team without a ground game does: try a Hail Mary pass.

  191. 191.

    Brachiator

    @Martin:

    Low income people often lack basic banking access. If they don’t have regular enough income for direct deposit, a lot of banks won’t even let them open a checking account.

    True, but again, this gets complicated. And it’s ironic that many middle income people are finding that bank branches are closing and available services are diminishing. They are being treated like poor people and they don’t like it.

    If you are paid via a payroll card, it may cost you money to convert that to cash via ATM. But a lot of voters have never experienced this and if we don’t talk about this sort of stuff, they can’t help advocate for change.

    A lot of middle income people got unemployment benefits and federal and state bonus payments on no fee ATM cards, same as lower income people. And lower income people get similar benefits, food stamps and tax refunds on ATM cards. This reduces the sting of not having bank accounts.

    However, in California EBT cards don’t have a security chip, and there is heavy theft of funds by Romanian criminals.

    There is this line in the US economy below which you almost cannot help but sink and above which you almost cannot help but rise. There is no reverting to the mean – just the opposite. It’s an economy designed to create class conflict. And it’s hard to see if you’ve never crossed it.

    The Biden administration did a lot to address some of this, and there are many good ideas to address many related issues. But as usual there’s Republican opposition. And lower income people don’t have enough good advocates.

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