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Post by Swimmy on Jan 28, 2008 21:42:25 GMT -5
Townsend plans lawsuit over Indian sales taxThis was not what I had in mind when I suggested both sides reach a compromise. But then again, why should we compromise when we can just steamroll over everyone and risk massive fallout at taxpayer expense all over pride, arrogance, and ignorance.
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Post by frankcor on Jan 29, 2008 7:06:30 GMT -5
Based on my experience with Dave Townsend, pride, arrogance, and ignorance just about sums it up.
Townsend said: "“The only option left to me is to go to court and ask the court to direct the commissioner and the governor to do it,”
No, Dave. How about working within the legislature to force the state to finally settle the land-claim issue instead of running around with your arms in the air spouting anti-Oneida sentiments and fueling unrest and hatred? Sheesh.
What a goof.
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Post by countrygal on Jan 29, 2008 8:12:48 GMT -5
Yes he is. More than anyone will probably ever know.
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 29, 2008 8:50:49 GMT -5
You would think that with many of his constituents employed there, he'd be working harder at striking a compromise. I hear the OIN offered to pay a discounted tax to the state in an attempt to meet them halfway and the state turned it down. ?! Pardon my French, it just frustrates me how our politicians can be so out of touch with reality and yet the general populace re-elects them every time.
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Post by frankcor on Jan 29, 2008 9:50:17 GMT -5
In my private universe, we randomly select a politician once and month, take him out and shoot him. We then put his head on a stake outside the capitol as a warning to all the others.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 29, 2008 11:11:05 GMT -5
Townsend has proven his lack of intelligence many times over this issue. Some agreement to make "payments in leiu of taxes" would be agreeable to the OIN, and the county and state would be getting what they want under a different title.
What is it that they don't understand about sovereign nation. As long as the nation is a sovereign tribe they are not going to pay "taxes". They would agree to pay anything else under any different name, but they will never agree to pay "taxes". It is stupid to expect them to.
If Townsend and others had taken a diplomatic attitude to begin with, we would be getting OIN money into county and state coffers already.
How long does it take for the area to know that Ray Halbritter is MUCH, MUCH, more intelligent than our area politicians OR the governor.
Why can't people see that the OIN is not a detriment to the local economy, the OIN "IS" the local economy, along with the prisons.
They are doing something right. They have taken farm land and made it into a Utopia in a few short years. While they make progress, we jealously slog along with morons for leaders and make NO progress.
I still maintain that Ray Halbritter should be governor. Maybe NY would get over itself and make some progress if we had an intelligent and business savvy person in charge.
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 29, 2008 11:15:13 GMT -5
Nicely put, clipper
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 29, 2008 11:59:02 GMT -5
I might add the irony to this situation is in New Hartford. If the county needs sales tax from the OIN to level the playing field, then why is the county granting a PILOT to three businesses just to keep them located in New Hartford.
Perhaps it is just because I'm a mere law student and lack the intellect possessed by these wiser and holier politicians. But if it's unfair for the OIN to not pay taxes and it costs the county millions, wouldn't it stand to reason that they would need to hold on to all tax revenues they do collect? If so, then why grant these PILOT exemptions? Conversely, if it's acceptable to grant these payments in lieu of taxes for local business JUST TO KEEP THEM AT STATUS QUO, then why is such an agreement unacceptable when the OIN is involved?
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Post by frankcor on Jan 29, 2008 12:45:52 GMT -5
Why not give a tax break to existing businesses too, like JK Lumber who are struggling to compete.
My question for Dave Townsend and his ilk: why have Empire Zones? Why not have an Empire State, instead?
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Post by countrygal on Jan 29, 2008 13:11:49 GMT -5
I don't know if I'd want Halbritter as governor. He may be a shrewd businessman, but I hear he's quite the dictator also.
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 29, 2008 13:34:00 GMT -5
He's got to be better than the current dictators we have currently in office.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Jan 29, 2008 20:44:05 GMT -5
I think the OIN is a good argument for the elimination of corporate income taxes. I maintain that corporate income taxes serve 3 functions.
1. Concealing from the general populace how much they actually pay in taxes. 2. Acting as a wealth transfer agent from efficient companies to less efficient ones. (Since they are actually corporate profit taxes not income taxes.) 3. Making US corporations less competitive than those in lower tax nations.
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 29, 2008 20:54:16 GMT -5
On the disgrace forums, NYGunman made an interesting point how the corporations technically don't pay taxes, they pass them off in higher prices that consumers pay.
Sounds similar to what you're saying.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Jan 30, 2008 21:58:16 GMT -5
I didn't read that posting but I agree. If when you went to Best Buy to buy your $1000 TV you got an itemized bill that read Materials, Labor, Overhead & Delivery............ $650 Contribution to Federal Government............ $200 Contribution to State Government............ $100 Contribution to Local Governments................... $50 Plus Sales Tax....................................... $80
People might object to what they pay.
That doesn't even try to break down what portion of the $650 is compliance with DEC, OSHA, DOL, etc regulations
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Post by frankcor on Jan 30, 2008 23:03:26 GMT -5
I'd rather see you replace Contribution with Confiscation. It seems a little more honest that way.
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