14 Apr 08
1 edit
My wife and I recently moved to Pittsburgh. We were house shopping, and found a house we loved. Trouble is, it was in Allegheny county, where bus drivers with 20 years on the job make $110,000, public employees are provided with lavish pensions, and the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum consumes vast amounts of government services.
So the property taxes for this house were calculated to be $16,700 a year. Doing the math, that's $1391.67 a month, or about 45% of the monthly principal and interest. For government services I will not consume (kids will go to Catholic school), and for pensions to government workers who are now being rewarded for doing nothing harder or more-forward looking than sitting on their fat, lazy backsides for 20 years.
Couldn't stomach it. Looked at another house, about three miles away but in neighboring Butler county, literally a stone's throw from the county line. The taxes on this house: $5500.
A quiz for all you Demos who want to do all sorts of wonderful things with other peoples' money: My wife and I liked both houses equally. Which one do you think we bought.
SPOILER ALERT: We bought the one whose taxes were $11,200 lower. The Democrat government in Allegheny county, because they can't satisfy themselves with $5500, will now get zero of my dollars.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672oh well. they probable grieve this great loss, not only the money but of course the fact that they won't be having you living in their county.
My wife and I recently moved to Pittsburgh. We were house shopping, and found a house we loved. Trouble is, it was in Allegheny county, where bus drivers with 20 years on the job make $110,000, public employees are provided with lavish pensions, and the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum consumes vast amounts of government services.
So the pr ...[text shortened]... county, because they can't satisfy themselves with $5500, will now get zero of my dollars.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672If I was a visitor from out of town and didn't know which county was which, would I notice any difference in they way things looked in the place?
Allegheny county, where bus drivers with 20 years on the job make $110,000............ but in neighboring Butler county, literally a stone's throw from the county line.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672well, I hate to point out the obvious to you, but there must be plnty of people living there, and paying those taxes, if the taxes were too high, pople wouldn't pay them, and the local govt. would crumble. Maybe if you spent more time working, and less time bitching about what others have, you could afford to live in that house.
My wife and I recently moved to Pittsburgh. We were house shopping, and found a house we loved. Trouble is, it was in Allegheny county, where bus drivers with 20 years on the job make $110,000, public employees are provided with lavish pensions, and the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum consumes vast amounts of government services.
So the pr ...[text shortened]... county, because they can't satisfy themselves with $5500, will now get zero of my dollars.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by duecerLOL! I assure you, I spend plenty of time working. Would you like to compare 1040's? And there are plenty of people living in Allegheny county. Many of them require constant government looking-after because their parents didn't instill them with the life skills necessary to survive and succeed in the world.
well, I hate to point out the obvious to you, but there must be plnty of people living there, and paying those taxes, if the taxes were too high, pople wouldn't pay them, and the local govt. would crumble. Maybe if you spent more time working, and less time bitching about what others have, you could afford to live in that house.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672And yet, they can afford the property taxes that you can't. Interesting.
LOL! I assure you, I spend plenty of time working. Would you like to compare 1040's? And there are plenty of people living in Allegheny county. Many of them require constant government looking-after because their parents didn't instill them with the life skills necessary to survive and succeed in the world.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672That's what I don't understand about Pennsylvania. I love the central and western parts of the state (don't have any love for Philly). The people there are hard working and sensible (just like Texans). Yet, because so many welfare bums, trial lawyers and special interest groups reside in Philly, the whole state gets hi-jacked (and as you found out, mugged) by the Democrats every year they have state elections. An aside: Doesn't Pittsburgh have some of the highest property taxes in the nation (which is really peculiar since the population only numbers some 550,000)? Do you think it all has to do with the compensation/retirement benefits of state/city/county employee unions?
My wife and I recently moved to Pittsburgh. We were house shopping, and found a house we loved. Trouble is, it was in Allegheny county, where bus drivers with 20 years on the job make $110,000, public employees are provided with lavish pensions, and the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum consumes vast amounts of government services.
So the pr ...[text shortened]... county, because they can't satisfy themselves with $5500, will now get zero of my dollars.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterHey watch yourself - I'm from Philly! And yes, you're right. Allegheny County has property taxes half again as high as Camden County NJ, which is where I moved from and where I didn't think I could possibly find higher taxes. Bus drivers - bus drivers, not salesmen, innovators, small business owners, researchers - make $100K+ a year. What incentive then does someone have to go to college and better themselves if they can drive a bus eight hours a day, take no risks, make no business decisions, and still make a six-figure salary?
That's what I don't understand about Pennsylvania. I love the central and western parts of the state (don't have any love for Philly). The people there are hard working and sensible (just like Texans). Yet, because so many welfare bums, trial lawyers and special interest groups reside in Philly, the whole state gets hi-jacked (and as you found ou ...[text shortened]... ll has to do with the compensation/retirement benefits of state/city/county employee unions?
Democrats pursue a flawed, proven to fail economic and political system - socialism and totalianarianism. Hopefully these smacked asses like Hillary Clinton (I'm no Bush fan; Bush has proven himself to be a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat) and Nancy Pelosi - in fact, that entire generation that had no respect for their parents the 'greatest generation' who fought WWII - hopefully these women that refused to remove their body hair and burned their bras, these men that made recreational drug use a lifestyle, and now want hardworking young Americans to fund their retirement - hopefully they'll just go away, just fade away, and we can get back to the principles we were founded on: limited government, the preservation of liberty, and economic conservatism.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672Do you think anyone in Allegheny county will read this?
My wife and I recently moved to Pittsburgh. We were house shopping, and found a house we loved. Trouble is, it was in Allegheny county, where bus drivers with 20 years on the job make $110,000, public employees are provided with lavish pensions, and the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum consumes vast amounts of government services.
So the pr ...[text shortened]... county, because they can't satisfy themselves with $5500, will now get zero of my dollars.
Why not just send the letter to them instead? What good do you think posting this in a chess forum will do?
Please explain.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by uzlessIt's not just Allegheny County -- this is happening all across the United States as our politicians refuse to live within their means and promise the moon to get re-elected.
Do you think anyone in Allegheny county will read this?
Why not just send the letter to them instead? What good do you think posting this in a chess forum will do?
Please explain.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by der schwarze Ritterwell, the people in Allegheny County are still electing there officials, so they must be happy with what they're getting.
It's not just Allegheny County -- this is happening all across the United States as our politicians refuse to live within their means and promise the moon to get re-elected.
and Sasquatch, I'de love to match 1040's with you, but it will have to wait until our accountant is done with them, my wife and I both have very good paying jobs, and we each own small business' as well.
14 Apr 08
Originally posted by sasquatch672jeez, sasquatch, you're an optimist.
... Hopefully these smacked asses like Hillary Clinton (I'm no Bush fan; Bush has proven himself to be a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat) and Nancy Pelosi - in fact, that entire generation that had no respect for their parents the 'greatest generation' who fought WWII - hopefully these women that refused to remove their body hair and burned their bras, these ...[text shortened]... ere founded on: limited government, the preservation of liberty, and economic conservatism.
14 Apr 08
there's nothing in the Politics section of the Allegheny County wiki except for this table. i guess it's nuff said.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_County%2C_Pennsylvania#Politics
Presidential Election Results 1960-2004
Year Democrat pct, #; Republican pct, #
2004 57.15% 368,912 42.13% 271,925
2000 56.65% 329,963 40.41% 235,361
1996 52.82% 284,480 37.89% 204,067
1992 52.75% 324,004 29.80% 183,035
1988 59.51% 348,814 39.43% 231,137
1984 55.96% 372,576 42.76% 284,692
1980 47.87% 297,464 43.75% 271,850
1976 50.68% 328,343 46.79% 303,127
1972 42.26% 282,496 55.60% 371,737
1968 51.12% 364,906 37.09% 264,790
1964 66.03% 475,207 33.58% 241,707
1960 57.07% 428,455 42.76% 320,970
15 Apr 08
Originally posted by uzlessIt's coming to election time. And I think that people who are thinking about voting Democrat ought to know what they're buying.
Do you think anyone in Allegheny county will read this?
Why not just send the letter to them instead? What good do you think posting this in a chess forum will do?
Please explain.
15 Apr 08
Originally posted by duecerMine are ready. And selling five Hummels a year from your grandmother's collection on eBay doesn't amount to a small business. Why don't you go ahead and shoot me your email address? I'll send you a picture.
well, the people in Allegheny County are still electing there officials, so they must be happy with what they're getting.
and Sasquatch, I'de love to match 1040's with you, but it will have to wait until our accountant is done with them, my wife and I both have very good paying jobs, and we each own small business' as well.