International grief over JFK remembered

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

BBC ON THIS DAY | 22 | 1963: 'Stunned into silence' by JFK's death

I'm just barely old enough to have some memory of the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I thought this BBC collection of memories from people around the world was very interesting, giving me a bigger picture of how there was once, at least for some people in some places, a kind regard of the US. I was especially touched by a couple of African responders, children at the time, who spoke of how deeply grieved they were over the death of that the person they thought responsible for sending them both a daily bowl of grain at school and the Peace Corps members who were their teachers.

[sandrark]

They're off by a month. He was killed Nov. 22, 1963.

Sandi

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

That's what the article says, too. "This day" meant what ever day you plug into the search function.

It's interesting to put in your birthday or some such and see what was in the news in various years on that day and month.

[nick__45]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

BBC ON THIS DAY | 22 | 1963: 'Stunned into silence' by JFK's death

I'm just barely old enough to have some memory of the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I thought this BBC collection of memories from people around the world was very interesting, giving me a bigger picture of how there was once, at least for some people in some places, a kind regard of the US. I was especially touched by a couple of African responders, children at the time, who spoke of how deeply grieved they were over the death of that the person they thought responsible for sending them both a daily bowl of grain at school and the Peace Corps members who were their teachers.

Of course they were sad that sugar daddy isn't around for more hand-out.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Nick__45, you seem to live in the US and no doubt have benefited from its government spending far more than some African children who were truly grateful for a bowl of rice, a reading and math lesson each day. So who's your sugar daddy?

[nick__45]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

Nick__45, you seem to live in the US and no doubt have benefited from its government spending far more than some African children who were truly grateful for a bowl of rice, a reading and math lesson each day. So who's your sugar daddy?

Actually, I am Uncle Sam's sugar daddy. I get taxed at a 33% rate, then another 15-20 percent for other level such as state and county. Then I have property tax, gas tax, sale tax, commerce tax, restaurant tax (on top of food tax) at a 9.5% rate the last I check, and personal property tax on my cars, which are old. So that bowl of rice is actually mine. And no, the U.S. government doesn't have any money and doesn't make any money. It taxes the hell out of its working class to create its sugar daddy image around the world so the politicians can get free vacation and goes down in history as humanitarian gods.

It's bad enough I got to the support the poor here. And I wonder what those American handouts have done to change Africa beside breeding more lazy mouth to feed. People need to stop interfering with natural selection.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

International aid was understood to enhance national security. I think you were not yet even born at the end of the decade in which the food and teaching aid took place. Why be so reactionary about it?

(Incidentally, this claim of high taxation does not square with the income you report in other threads. For 2009 if you were married, filing jointly, to be in a 33% bracket you would have to be earning $208,850-372,950. If you were married filing separately, you would have had to earn $104,425-186,475. Yet you say you bring in $4050/month, which would be $48,600. MFJ, $48,600 puts you in the 15% tax bracket. What state and county takes as much as 20% of your income when you are making under $50,000? Are you prone to exaggeration?)

[nick__45]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

International aid was understood to enhance national security. I think you were not yet even born at the end of the decade in which the food and teaching aid took place. Why be so reactionary about it?

(Incidentally, this claim of high taxation does not square with the income you report in other threads. For 2009 if you were married, filing jointly, to be in a 33% bracket you would have to be earning $208,850-372,950. If you were married filing separately, you would have had to earn $104,425-186,475. Yet you say you bring in $4050/month, which would be $48,600. MFJ, $48,600 puts you in the 15% tax bracket. What state and county takes as much as 20% of your income when you are making under $50,000? Are you prone to exaggeration?)

4050 a month is take home dude and that's for my share. Pretax 401k contribution of 20%, Social Security 7%, Medicare, insurances auto-deducted, IRA, and other retirement vehicles are not counted as actual income because I don't see that money and can't touch it. I hope you don't use your pre-tax income when budgeting. I don't look at pre-taxed monthly income or auto-decduction for retirement and insurance as that isn't my money if it doesn't get to my bank and in my hands. My overall salary is ~$130k before overtime. But I am no money management or tax expert and only go by the real number which I get to keep, not some inflated number that goes to Uncle Sam's coffer to support imaginary world peace. And you may be aware that just because I pay for Social Security benefit and Medicare, it doesn't mean I'll get it when the time come. Africa will come up with a reason why it deserve that money more than me and other hard working Americans.

Take a look at Fairfax County of Virginia tax and you'll see my pain.

Are you benefiting from my hard work? You seem very happy with social, aka leech/parasite programs.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, if you pay federal taxes, I probably am benefiting from your hard work, just as you are benefiting from mine.

[nick__45]

It is only benefit if it is free. I use less service than I pay for and I prefer to pay on a use basis instead of paying base on my income. Higher earners don't necessary drive more or use more public service. It is actually the opposite.