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Michael Moore to release latest movie on Internet for free

5 September 2008 14:58 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 119 comments

The popular documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has announced that he will be exclusively releasing his latest documentary on the Web for free instead of releasing it traditionally via theaters.

The movie, set for release on September 23rd, is entitled "Slacker Uprising" and document's a 62 city tour of what Moore calls "key swing states during the 2004 U.S. presidential election" where he was trying to convince non-voters to register and get out there and vote.

"This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans," Moore said in the announcement. "The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November."

The movie had a tiny budget of just over $2 million USD and was entirely funded by himself and the movie executives Bob and Harvey Weinstein who hold all international rights for release.

Moore's last movie, "Sicko", made $24.5 million USD in the theaters and followed up the blockbuster "Fahrenheit 9/11" which made $119 million domestic.

The download will become available at BlipTV on the release date.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Online video

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defgod (Newbie) 16 September 2008 2:54
The most insulting part of all of this is the fact that some of you believe that I'm a lazy bum and I'm living off the backs of the wealthy. Well you are wrong! I'm a very hard worker. And I've worked my ass off for everything I have. I just happen to believe that the system we have today is so screwed up that I won't be a part of it. And that is why I don't have lots of money to throw around on extravagant things like several houses (that cost in the hundreds of thousands or millions) or several (new) cars. Hell I have enough trouble with one car. Let alone multiple ones. I think varnull said it best. *Originally posted by varnull:* one person.. one vote one person.. one tax so how about.. one person.. one job.. one paycheck.. all the same from the road sweeper to the top exec of a multinational.. because at the end of the day they all do a job and deserve payed for it! Why is one person considered more valuable than another? why should the top 2% take 85% of the money? That disgusts me, and should disgust any other fair minded person. Here are also a couple of quotes from another forum. Now I don't quite agree with everything that is said but i do agree the message as a whole. *Quote:* We must fight these uppercrusted, greedy pigs that have wrought havoc upon the hardworking middle and lowering working class! Vote Obama to save our country! We need a Robin Hood to steal from the rich to defend to poor! Support Public education and end privitization! We are seeing the dark side of Capitalism unfolding. This is want happens when the rich exploit the poor! It is the reason why America is so despised around the world. See the movie "Wall-E" as it is a true reflection of our country. We have become fat, lazy idiots controlled by Conservative and Religious Propaganda! Fight against Conservative Evangelicals pushing for the union of Church and State again! Fight against Bush and his Republican Cronies that have placed our once great nation at a stones throw away from becoming a dictatorship. Watch "StarWars" to see how fradulent wars have lead us to the cusp of the destruction of our cherised Democratic Republic. Live within your means.Only buy it if you can pay cash (except home but no McMansions!)Buy a sensible car, say a Camry not some chrome bedecked, spinner wheeled SUV.Live moderatly, stop at one beer, don't smoke.Enjoy life, don't cheat on your wife. (Divorce eats up money.) [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 16 September 2008 3:33
defgod, I went to school, and college (post graduate). No one paid my way except for my self. I worked hard for what I achieved. I put off many things and endured a poor students life to get ahead. So if you say for all we do, we need to be paid the same , so be it, but I need to add the proviso that all the people that did not postpone their lives and started working after high school, need to spend at least 8 years living as a pauper (in order to equalize the years I spent earning my doctorate). Then your model will be more equal.Also being doctors are on call 24 hours at times (and need to make such calls), I suggest, ditch diggers, garbage collectors, electricians,plumbers, and the rest need to do the same, all without extra compensation, except for the pat on the back and thank you. Being called out in the middle of the night, for an emergency, is no fun. BTW, I drive a 4 cyl Camry If it wasnt for bad luck, Id have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 16 September 2008 15:01
*Originally posted by iluvendo:* defgod, I went to school, and college (post graduate). No one paid my way except for my self. I worked hard for what I achieved. I put off many things and endured a poor students life to get ahead. So if you say for all we do, we need to be paid the same , so be it, but I need to add the proviso that all the people that did not postpone their lives and started working after high school, need to spend at least 8 years living as a pauper (in order to equalize the years I spent earning my doctorate). Then your model will be more equal.Also being doctors are on call 24 hours at times (and need to make such calls), I suggest, ditch diggers, garbage collectors, electricians,plumbers, and the rest need to do the same, all without extra compensation, except for the pat on the back and thank you. Being called out in the middle of the night, for an emergency, is no fun. BTW, I drive a 4 cyl Camry What do you mean living like a pauper? Do you mean barely eating, barely having any housing, not having any medical coverage, and not having very many material things. Unfortunately for me and others like me. I didn't have that option. Because I'm a type 1 diabetic. I have to eat regularly. I have to have some kind of medical coverage. I have to have my insulin and testing supplies. I couldn't have lived the way you did. And my family would not have been able to take care of the things I couldn't. So I had to work right out of high school. As having diabetes limits some of the jobs that I can/allowed by law to do. It also creates problems with other kinds of jobs that don't have a schedule or a screwed up schedule. I've also had problems with jobs that don't follow a specific same amount of work every day. Especially the ones where one day their schedule requires me to work my ass off and the next day there is barely anything for me to do. I also couldn't join the military and use the G.I. bill for college. But others that can and have makes me mad. Is it right no it's not. Why not because others are allowed to do things I'm not. It's like saying I don't deserve the same things they do because the law doesn't allow it. The respect ex military get later in life. I can't get. Yes that pisses me off. I deserve no less than anyone else on this planet regardless of job position or pay scale. But those that make more money get things like better housing, better medical coverage, better transportation, and more chances for certain things because of place in society. That is not right. I also have to add that some people don't have the option to "postpone" their lives and go to college. Your comparison of a doctor to a ditch digger, electrician, and plumber is very inaccurate. My cousin is a lineman for AEP (American Electric Power). He has worked more than 24 hrs at a time. And he can be "on call" 24/7. When the power goes out in Columbus, Ohio he is one of the people that work to restore it. His last "shift" lasted 22 hrs restoring the power from the leftover effects of IKE that went through Ohio. He gets no pat on the back. Actually he continually gets honked and yelled at by drivers that don't like the road blocked to fix the power. That is why in a earlier post I said those that the backbone of this country is built on. The everyday workers that build and restore the things we rely on every day are as important as doctors and others. No one is deserving of anymore than anyone else regardless of the job they do. Because everyone that works in any industry is needed by so many other people. Everyone is also replaceable in any job from the President to a lowly factory worker. there is always someone else there to take their place. No one should get better medical coverage, better housing, and better transportation. As long as they are working. And I drive a 4x4 s10 blazer because I live out in the country and It's better in the winter for a easier drive to work. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 16 September 2008 15:08
1bonehead (Senior Member) 17 September 2008 17:53
defgod, you sound like a very young man that got shorchanged in life. Don't let the inequities bitter your life. Remember the quote : "I complained that I had no shoes, till I met a man who had no feet" If you want, you still have the opportunity to be a doctor if you want (scholarships and loans are available), you just have to work dang hard to get the diploma. Sure being the "backbone " of America is great, but is there no call greater than healing ? The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
ThePastor (Junior Member) 18 September 2008 20:01
I just read a quote that 2/3rds of all BILLIONAIRES are self-made. Read: They did it with hard work. You know, it's hard enough getting through life as it is I damn sure don't need to have to give even more of my money to others... Oh, another factoid. 40% of Americans don't even pay Income Tax. Go figure. BTW: I make $15 an hour. Hardly billionaire money. And I do it by using the telephone. No labor at all. Am I not a hard worker? I could do this job while on dialisys... and am hardly a pauper. I live in one of the mose expensive cities in the US and yet I still seem to get by. But I'll be damned if you can have any MORE of my money. Frankly, I'm sick of being the one doing the handouts instead of being the one getting the handouts. Vote Obama if you want to take money from the hard working "rich" folk and give it to the non-working "poor" or "illegal" folk. yeah, I can see that as an American principle. Not. [ + quote]
lawndog (Member) 22 September 2008 2:54
ok I got tired of trying to read all the posts, somebody may have said this allready but........ Simplistic terms I make $100 I lose $1 to the gov. Somebody else makes $1000 they lose $10 to the gov. This is equality and is fair. Correct by the masses. Now where the "problem" with this senario is and equality within the system lies not with the actual tax itself.......... It's with the tax breaks........ I give $100 to charity guess what I get that back come tax season...HA HA I own a company that is run out of my home.....guess what I get a morgage break because my house is now a nesicsity for my company.....tax break I have several trucks all I gotta do is put my company logo on the side of my truck........tax break Invest into roth IRA's............tax break I'm in sales, all things needed dinners tools, pens, paper, client outtings....................tax breaks I need to be up on current events so, cable, internet, and newspapers......tax breaks I gotta look good so laundry services, and daily grooming supplies...........tax breaks Now some of you will call me a liar, or won't believe this. Look into it. And I mean really look. The true difference between the wealthy and the non-wealthy tax numbers is rather simple. The wealthy actually pay alot of money to find loop holes in the system and use them. They use ver expensive CPAs to prepare their taxes. The masses use people like H and R Block to prepare them. Or the 1040ez form. Most CPAs work on a precentage so it is to anybodies advantage to use one, and it's to their advantage to get as much back as possible. Am I wrong..........maybe. But do me a favor, this year instead of using HnR Block to prepare your taxes, or use that 1040ez form. Try a CPA. In fact call one today and setup an appointment to discuss next years tax return and how you can save money and get more on your return. You'll be amazed, and glad you did. Just my thoughts, LD edit starts below All forms of government have problems. And all polical parties have issues. There is no wrong and there is no right. People get in an uproar every 4 years and I hear vote for him if you want this. BLA BLA BLA Don't let this forum or any other form of media dictate who you vote for. We are very fortunite to be able to vote. Do your own research and find the canditate you agree with the most. Or the one you disagree with the least. It's basically a pick of the lesser evil. Nobody is going to agree with you 100% PLEASE VOTE FOR: WHOEVER YOU PLEASE [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 22 September 2008 3:03*
ZoSoIV (AfterDawn Addict) 22 September 2008 4:15
*Quote:* But do me a favor, this year instead of using HnR Block to prepare your taxes, or use that 1040ez form. Try a CPA. In fact call one today and setup an appointment to discuss next years tax return and how you can save money and get more on your return. You'll be amazed, and glad you did. If i used a CPA I would get back the same amount which is pretty much nothing unless i/he lyed plus i would have to pay him at least 150.00 dollars of more so it wouldn't work out. BTW the so called rich pay about 70% in taxes. basically the goverment can't fix your or my problems or anyones you have to do it yourself don't depend on the goverment for ANYTHING. think of it this way I've been working about 37 years what if i had all the SS money that i payed into the system and invested it myself though the years i would be wayyyy better off. chances are i will never see any of it by the time i retire because the goverment pissed away my money and everyones. Antec 1200 Full-Tower Case/Thermaltake 750-Watt PS/ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA 775 Intel X48 Mobo/Seagate Barracuda 250GB 32MB Cache Sata HDD(primary)/Seagate Barracude 160GB Sata(slave)/NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2,1 GB of GDDR3 Memory /CORSAIR DOMINATOR PC8500 5-5-5-15 at 1066MHz (2x2GB) DDR2/Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache,OC(ed)to 3.4GHz on air/ Zalman 9700/3-Plextor PX-810SA Sata Drives/Samsung 2493HM 24" LCD Monitior 1920x1200 resolution,5ms respone time [ + quote]
ThePastor (Junior Member) 23 September 2008 18:42
I liked your post, lots of good stuff in there... :D But this just rang wrong. *Quote:* I make $100 I lose $1 to the gov. Somebody else makes $1000 they lose $10 to the gov. In the US it isn't like this at all. It's more like: I make $100 and I lose $1 to the Gov. somebody else makes $1000 they lose $40 to the gov. We have a progressive tax system. Those who make more do not pay the same percentage. They pay a higher percentage. And there is an entire class of people who actually get back MORE than they paid in. This is a form of Welfare that is called a "tax refund". [ + quote]
varnull (Inactive) 23 September 2008 18:53
^^^ far more prophetic that you could know. Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. I want a refund.. I want a light. [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 26 September 2008 23:10
*Originally posted by ThePastor:* I liked your post, lots of good stuff in there... :D But this just rang wrong. *Quote:* I make $100 I lose $1 to the gov. Somebody else makes $1000 they lose $10 to the gov. In the US it isn't like this at all. It's more like: I make $100 and I lose $1 to the Gov. somebody else makes $1000 they lose $40 to the gov. We have a progressive tax system. Those who make more do not pay the same percentage. They pay a higher percentage. And there is an entire class of people who actually get back MORE than they paid in. This is a form of Welfare that is called a "tax refund". The problem with I make $100 and I lose $1 to the Gov. somebody else makes $1000 they lose $40 to the gov. When you subtract $1 from $100 you get $99. When you subtract $40 from $1000 you get $960. There is an $861 difference. That to me is too large of a difference. Why? You might ask. Where does that extra money go? Extravagance! That's where. Like paying for a very large house or a high rent apartment in an upscale neighborhood. Also paying for a very nice/new car. Now I have no problem with people making more money. I never have. But the problem that I do have is the large difference in the amount of money made. Also the fact that that amount is getting larger. If things keep going the same there will be no middle class. There are a few people on here that think I might be lazy. But that Is wrong. No I haven't gone to college. I'm also in my thirties. I would love to go to college but the way to that is so much bs it isn't even funny. There are those people that have done it that way. I applaud those people for doing things exactly the way they're told. I highly doubt I could even get a student loan in this economy right now. I don't have a problem with college graduates. But I do have a problem with the disparities in salaries of college graduates and those that don't have a degree is wrong. We have a very large problem with our education system. There are so many other countries on this planet with better education systems. I also believe that someone makes $1000 they should lose $100 or more to the gov. Because those that make more money have a higher probability of having a CPA find more tax brakes. I don't believe they deserve any more or better than anyone else. I also can't stand the fact that some people get back more than they put in. The last time I got back what I put in was when I was a teenager working a summer job. Since then I struggle to get back half of what I put in. [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 29 September 2008 21:00
*Originally posted by defgod:* *Quote:* I don't have a problem with college graduates. But I do have a problem with the disparities in salaries of college graduates and those that don't have a degree is wrong So you do not believe in being rewarded for hard work ? So slackers are equally rewarded just as much as a hard worker ? I think you have your values standing on its head The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 29 September 2008 23:26
*Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Originally posted by defgod:* *Quote:* I don't have a problem with college graduates. But I do have a problem with the disparities in salaries of college graduates and those that don't have a degree is wrong So you do not believe in being rewarded for hard work ? So slackers are equally rewarded just as much as a hard worker ? I think you have your values standing on its head The problem with your statement is. It seems as if you think I believe that slackers should get the same as hard workers. That is wrong. It also looks like you believe that those that go to college are the only hard workers. Why would you think that? There are so many so called "uneducated" people that work very hard and long hours. Just because someone hasn't went to college doesn't mean that person doesn't work very hard at what they do. Just because someone is "educated" doesn't mean they deserve more than someone that is not. The problem is not with the people it's with our economic system as a whole. Look at the crisis we have now. It lies with those at the top of those companies making extraordinary amounts of money. Making very bad decisions and no accountability. Yet we as taxpayers are expected to for lack of better words "take the rap" for these fools. [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 29 September 2008 23:30
*Quote:* *Just because someone is "educated" doesn't mean they deserve more than someone that is not.* Are you saying an educated person is not worth more tahan an uneducated person ? The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 30 September 2008 21:21
*Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Quote:* *Just because someone is "educated" doesn't mean they deserve more than someone that is not.* Are you saying an educated person is not worth more than an uneducated person ? To a point yes. Just because someone has a degree. Doesn't mean that they are any more intelligent or have a higher IQ for that matter. But there are people working up to 80 hrs a week from the time they left high school till retirement. Does that make anyone any more or less deserving than anyone else. The people that work a job while others are in college don't deserve any less. Even though someone is working their ass off in college. Someone else is working their ass off 40 or more hours a week. Some 7 days a week at crazy hours. [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 30 September 2008 21:46
*Originally posted by defgod:* *Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Quote:* *Just because someone is "educated" doesn't mean they deserve more than someone that is not.* Are you saying an educated person is not worth more than an uneducated person ? To a point yes. Just because someone has a degree. Doesn't mean that they are any more intelligent or have a higher IQ for that matter. But there are people working up to 80 hrs a week from the time they left high school till retirement. Does that make anyone any more or less deserving than anyone else. The people that work a job while others are in college don't deserve any less. Even though someone is working their ass off in college. Someone else is working their ass off 40 or more hours a week. Some 7 days a week at crazy hours. God help you. The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 1 October 2008 4:53
*Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Originally posted by defgod:* *Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Quote:* *Just because someone is "educated" doesn't mean they deserve more than someone that is not.* Are you saying an educated person is not worth more than an uneducated person ? To a point yes. Just because someone has a degree. Doesn't mean that they are any more intelligent or have a higher IQ for that matter. But there are people working up to 80 hrs a week from the time they left high school till retirement. Does that make anyone any more or less deserving than anyone else. The people that work a job while others are in college don't deserve any less. Even though someone is working their ass off in college. Someone else is working their ass off 40 or more hours a week. Some 7 days a week at crazy hours. God help you. What do I need help for? [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 1 October 2008 4:58
*Originally posted by defgod:* *Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Originally posted by defgod:* *Originally posted by 1bonehead:* *Quote:* *Just because someone is "educated" doesn't mean they deserve more than someone that is not.* Are you saying an educated person is not worth more than an uneducated person ? To a point yes. Just because someone has a degree. Doesn't mean that they are any more intelligent or have a higher IQ for that matter. But there are people working up to 80 hrs a week from the time they left high school till retirement. Does that make anyone any more or less deserving than anyone else. The people that work a job while others are in college don't deserve any less. Even though someone is working their ass off in college. Someone else is working their ass off 40 or more hours a week. Some 7 days a week at crazy hours. God help you. What do I need help for? Only the unwise (and proud) refuse the help of the Almighty The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
ThePastor (Junior Member) 1 October 2008 13:17
*Quote:* To a point yes. Just because someone has a degree. Doesn't mean that they are any more intelligent or have a higher IQ for that matter. But there are people working up to 80 hrs a week from the time they left high school till retirement. Does that make anyone any more or less deserving than anyone else. The people that work a job while others are in college don't deserve any less. Even though someone is working their ass off in college. Someone else is working their ass off 40 or more hours a week. Some 7 days a week at crazy hours. Boy, I would just LOVE to live in your world filled with ditch diggers and Drive-Through Cashiers who can't even count out correct change without a computer with pictures on the keyboard. "Does that make anyone any more or less deserving than anyone else." Deserving? What do you know about "deserving"? Since when does life give a crap about what you or I "deserve"? You know, I play by all the rules, never drive wrecklessly on the road and am always considerate of others. I deserve to have my own freaking lane on the freeway! Deserving? LOL In this world you only "deserve" what you can WORK HARD FOR AND TAKE FOR YOUR OWN!!! Otherwise, you don't deserve minimum wage. Next, you'll be saying that everyone "deserves" to "own" a house and maybe Fannie Mae should start giving home loans to any and everyone reguardless of their ability to pay. Yeah, that will work out well for you! LOL Welcome to reality. [ + quote]
ZoSoIV (AfterDawn Addict) 1 October 2008 14:42
defgod, how about the soldiers that died in Iraq for your freedom to type this. did they deserve that! get over yourself it isn't about what you deserve or don't deserve, life doesn't work that way and if you think it does you are in for a big disappointment Antec 1200 Full-Tower Case/Thermaltake 750-Watt PS/ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA 775 Intel X48 Mobo/Seagate Barracuda 250GB 32MB Cache Sata HDD(primary)/Seagate Barracude 160GB Sata(slave)/NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2,1 GB of GDDR3 Memory /CORSAIR DOMINATOR PC8500 5-5-5-15 at 1066MHz (2x2GB) DDR2/Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache,OC(ed)to 3.4GHz on air/ Zalman 9700/3-Plextor PX-810SA Sata Drives/Samsung 2493HM 24" LCD Monitior 1920x1200 resolution,5ms respone time [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 7 December 2008 23:17
*Originally posted by ZoSoIV:* defgod, how about the soldiers that died in Iraq for your freedom to type this. did they deserve that! get over yourself it isn't about what you deserve or don't deserve, life doesn't work that way and if you think it does you are in for a big disappointment It's been a while but I thought I might revisit this. Just for some fun. No one died in Iraq for my freedom! Actually the last time anyone died for any ones freedom in this country was WW2. If anyone believes any different they need to be checked in to a psychiatric ward of a hospital! If anyone believes that anyone other than the heads of the largest corporations are the cause of the economic problems need serious help! These idiots make huge mistakes that affect all of our lives and they aren't being really held accountable. There are a lot more things I'd like to say. But I would just be wasting my breath on people that believe the way things are in the world today are just fine. [ + quote]
lamchops1 (Member) 7 December 2008 23:25
defgod, are you saying that foreign policy in Iraq does directly or indirectly affect our freedom ? USC Trojans Rule Forever !!! [ + quote]
ZoSoIV (AfterDawn Addict) 8 December 2008 2:18
lol a dumb-ass respones 2 plus months later, are you drinking? lol [ + quote]
varnull (Inactive) 8 December 2008 2:37
I think he's trying to say that people like Marin Luther King and Malcolm X were just killed.. Not that there was any possibility that with what they were saying and the fear that caused in certain sections of society that they didn't die in vain but actually gained freedoms and rights for large numbers of the population who until then had no voice. defgod.. are you old enough to vote?.. If you are, how did you vote on Prop8? or if your state didn't vote on it what are your feelings about the issue of constitutionally guaranteed rights for minorities?.. I would be interested to know... It would give me some perspective as to where you stand with relation to the other points you seem to be trying to make. (ain't that a stinker of a question?) Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. I would rather you hate me for who I am than love me for what I am not. Welcome to the other side of the looking glass Alice [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8 December 2008 2:41
defgod (Newbie) 8 December 2008 4:39
*Originally posted by varnull:* I think he's trying to say that people like Marin Luther King and Malcolm X were just killed.. Not that there was any possibility that with what they were saying and the fear that caused in certain sections of society that they didn't die in vain but actually gained freedoms and rights for large numbers of the population who until then had no voice. defgod.. are you old enough to vote?.. If you are, how did you vote on Prop8? or if your state didn't vote on it what are your feelings about the issue of constitutionally guaranteed rights for minorities?.. I would be interested to know... It would give me some perspective as to where you stand with relation to the other points you seem to be trying to make. (ain't that a stinker of a question?) Wow I didn't think of Dr. King and Malcolm X. They were murdered by (for lack of a better term) crazies. Yes their life's work was for certain freedoms but not in the sense I was speaking of. I was meaning the military/soldier sense. I'm 31 and have never voted. Because I've never seen anything I either care about or will directly affect anyone I know. And never seen a candidate for anything that shared any of my views. But Barack Obama has been the closest. Proposition 8 I don't live in that state. I do believe anyone should be allowed to marry anyone man/woman they choose. @ZoSoIV I wish I was drunk. Just bored. I found this page as a bookmark when I decided to clean the bookmarks out. I also see that you feel obliged to show your system specs on here. It must be nice to have the money to buy the newer hardware. I am still using 478 P4's and Athlon 64's hell I even have a 462 AthlonXP. Granted I could sell some of what I have now and buy a new system. But I'd rather have three systems just in case. @lamchops1 What goes on in Iraq (unless there is a all out world war started) has no bearing whatsoever freedoms I have. Yes some of it might be some of the reason for the high gas prices we had back a few months ago. But I believe that is more of an excuse than anything else. [ + quote]
bryston (Senior Member) 8 December 2008 4:47
*Originally posted by defgod:* *Originally posted by varnull:* I think he's trying to say that people like Marin Luther King and Malcolm X were just killed.. Not that there was any possibility that with what they were saying and the fear that caused in certain sections of society that they didn't die in vain but actually gained freedoms and rights for large numbers of the population who until then had no voice. defgod.. are you old enough to vote?.. If you are, how did you vote on Prop8? or if your state didn't vote on it what are your feelings about the issue of constitutionally guaranteed rights for minorities?.. I would be interested to know... It would give me some perspective as to where you stand with relation to the other points you seem to be trying to make. (ain't that a stinker of a question?) Wow I didn't think of Dr. King and Malcolm X. They were murdered by (for lack of a better term) crazies. Yes their life's work was for certain freedoms but not in the sense I was speaking of. I was meaning the military/soldier sense. I'm 31 and have never voted. Because I've never seen anything I either care about or will directly affect anyone I know. And never seen a candidate for anything that shared any of my views. But Barack Obama has been the closest. Proposition 8 I don't live in that state. I do believe anyone should be allowed to marry anyone man/woman they choose. @ZoSoIV I wish I was drunk. Just bored. I found this page as a bookmark when I decided to clean the bookmarks out. I also see that you feel obliged to show your system specs on here. It must be nice to have the money to buy the newer hardware. I am still using 478 P4's and Athlon 64's hell I even have a 462 AthlonXP. Granted I could sell some of what I have now and buy a new system. But I'd rather have three systems just in case. @lamchops1 What goes on in Iraq (unless there is a all out world war started) has no bearing whatsoever freedoms I have. Yes some of it might be some of the reason for the high gas prices we had back a few months ago. But I believe that is more of an excuse than anything else. Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect ? Life is Grand ! [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 14 December 2008 12:05
This is a report on a study I found today. It rightfully explains why the well-to-do should be taxed more. It also explains some of the reason for the ever enlarging gap between the middle class and the "rich". A new study based on unpublished Internal Revenue Service data shows the rich are different when it comes to paying taxes: They hide more of their income. The previously unreported study estimates that taxpayers whose true income was between $500,000 and $1 million a year understated their adjusted gross incomes by 21% overall in 2001, compared to an 8% underreporting rate for those earning $50,000 to $100,000 and even lower rates for those earning less. (The "net misreporting rate" as the IRS calls it, includes both underreported income and inflated deductions.) In all, because of their higher noncompliance rates, those with true incomes of $200,000 or more received 25% of all income, but accounted for 40% of net underreported income and 42% of underreported tax in 2001, the new analysis finds. The study was written by Joel Slemrod, an economics professor and director of the Office of Tax Policy Research at the University of Michigan's business school and IRS economist Andrew Johns. It has not been officially endorsed or even released by the IRS and seems sure to add fuel to the election season debate over whether those earning $250,000 or more should pay higher tax rates, as Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, has proposed. The Slemrod/Johns analysis uses unpublished data from special research audits the IRS conducted on a sample of 45,000 individual returns filed for 2001. It was the IRS' first such research effort since 1988, and it led the agency to estimate the 2001 gross "tax gap" at $345 billion. The main reason for the income-related cheating disparity: Higher income folks receive more of their income from sources that are easier to hide, including self-employment earnings; income from rents, partnerships and S corporations; and capital gains. "The distribution of noncompliance lines up pretty closely with who gets income that's hard (for the IRS) to keep track of,'' Slemrod says. Still, he notes, the distribution of income by source doesn't explain all the increased noncompliance at higher income levels. In its 2001 tax gap study, the IRS estimated that individuals underreported business income by 43% overall. Sole proprietors, who report self-employment income on schedule C of their tax returns, underreported their income a stunning 57%. By contrast, the IRS found, 99% of all wages were reported by individual tax filers. The obvious explanation is that workers have no choice--their employers report their earnings to the IRS and withhold taxes on them. Meanwhile, net capital gains for 2001 were underreported by 12%, the IRS estimated. The IRS receives reports from brokers of taxpayers' gross sales of stocks and bonds, but not of their initial costs or profits--therefore it has no way to easily check their reported capital gains. (Last month, as part of the $700 billion bailout bill, Congress mandated that brokers report the basis of any stocks bought in 2011 or later.) The new study seems to show that the really rich are more tax compliant than the merely well-off, although not nearly as compliant as middle- and working-class wage slaves. Those earning $2 million plus had an 11% underreporting rate. But Slemrod told Forbes that he was "less comfortable" with that finding, noting that the very rich may have made use of techniques that IRS research audits didn't detect. "I just don't know whether these audits were able to track down really sophisticated noncompliance or Swiss bank accounts. They may underestimate it (noncompliance) at the top,'' he says. Indeed, in the past several years, the IRS has collected billions in back taxes from wealthy taxpayers who used dicey tax shelters to manufacture huge phony losses in the late 1990s, 2000 and 2001. But the IRS didn't get a handle on the nature or extent of these shelters until years later and relied on tax shelter promoters' customer lists and special self-disclosure programs, not audits, to find most of the taxpayers involved. Currently, the government is suing UBS for the names of 18,000 wealthy Americans it believes may have had unreported Swiss bank accounts. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 December 2008 15:10