Chef Verc TV Reality Show Support Thread

[TBreazy]

There's a difference between cutting someone a check for not working, and feeding a little poor kid a meal that he otherwise might not get. The kid isn't the one sitting on his ass.

No there's not.

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

There's a difference between cutting someone a check for not working, and feeding a little poor kid a meal that he otherwise might not get. The kid isn't the one sitting on his ass.

Slightly off-topic, but along the same lines...Do you believe that welfare recipients should be drug tested?

Edit...perhaps not the right time to interject this point. I didn't mean to hijack Dbakes discussion.

 

[005]

It can be hijacked. I just really found that article and suggestion interesting.

Just don't want it to turn ugly but I like all these topics.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Maybe I should read the article.

People take all tax deductibles available to them. And TONS of people give money to all sorts of random things for no other purpose than the tax deduction.

Again, the article talks about school fundraising on a scale that dwarfs anything I've ever seen; it's possible that at that level people in the area, even those without kids in school, really are motivated primarily by the deduction. But my experience after several years in the school-fundraising cauldron myself is that A) people give exclusively to their own kids' schools; B) almost nobody who's not a parent donates anything, regardless of efforts to canvass the community in general; and C) the arm-twisting is so personal and specific ("Hi Mr Jones! Would you like to make a donation for our new computer lab!") that I just think tax deductions are irrelevant, behaviorally speaking. People are going to donate to their own kids' schools regardless.

Again, behavior's probably different at the level the article talks about. I'm talking about ordinary public schools in middle- and upper-middle class neighborhoods.

 

[TBreazy]

Again, the article talks about school fundraising on a scale that dwarfs anything I've ever seen; it's possible that at that level people in the area, even those without kids in school, really are motivated primarily by the deduction. But my experience after several years in the school-fundraising cauldron myself is that A) people give exclusively to their own kids' schools; B) almost nobody who's not a parent donates anything, regardless of efforts to canvass the community in general; and C) the arm-twisting is so personal and specific ("Hi Mr Jones! Would you like to make a donation for our new computer lab!") that I just think tax deductions are irrelevant, behaviorally speaking. People are going to donate to their own kids' schools regardless.

Again, behavior's probably different at the level the article talks about. I'm talking about ordinary public schools in middle- and upper-middle class neighborhoods.

As someone who participates in tax planning and has a hand in preparing tax returns for people in all different levels of "success" in life, I can assure you "WHERE CAN I GIVE MONEY TO SOMETHING BESIDES THE GOVERNMENT??" comes up every time. Almost every family tax return has a charitable contribution deduction to a school.

 

[Vercingetorix]

As someone who participates in tax planning and has a hand in preparing tax returns for people in all different levels of "success" in life, I can assure you "WHERE CAN I GIVE MONEY TO SOMETHING BESIDES THE GOVERNMENT??" comes up every time. Almost every family tax return has a charitable contribution deduction to a school.

I'm not saying that people don't take every deduction possible. I myself deduct what we give to my kids' school. But what I am saying is that I would still give that money whether I could deduct it or not, and I think most parents who give to schools are the same way. I mean, you give money and it directly benefits your own children. Being able to deduct it is a bonus, but it doesn't factor into why you do it. Maybe I'm dead wrong, but if they eliminated the deduction, I'd be stunned if it affected our school's fundraising too much.

 

[005]

Do you see more of the really really wealthy meticulously planning their donations/contributions, though? That's what I took from the article... that it may help incentivize donations from more upper class folks that have the biggest divide.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Slightly off-topic, but along the same lines...Do you believe that welfare recipients should be drug tested?

Edit...perhaps not the right time to interject this point. I didn't mean to hijack Dbakes discussion.

In theory I would have no problem with some sort of drug testing program for able-bodied, working-age people who apply for welfare.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Do you see more of the really really wealthy meticulously planning their donations/contributions, though? That's what I took from the article... that it may help incentivize donations from more upper class folks that have the biggest divide.

Well, again, if you're a parent, you're giving to the school your kid goes to regardless, and if you're really really wealthy, it's going to be a large donation. If you're not a parent, then you're probably not donating to the local school anyway, because you have the entire universe of possible charitable contributions open to you, and there's probably something you care more about than your neighbors' annoying kids.

Maybe the amount that the parents give will vary depending on the size of the deduction available, but since a donation effectively feels like a donation to your own flesh and blood, I don't think it would be much of a factor.

But yes, if you want to attract donations from the really really wealthy to poor public schools, then there's no doubt that a double deduction would do it.

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

In theory I would have no problem with some sort of drug testing program for able-bodied, working-age people who apply for welfare.

My last boss told me he was against it because by withholding benefits from drug using mothers, we would be basically be taking food out of the mouths of their children.

I don't hold the same view.

 

[005]

As far as working in the criminal justice field, GWN, have you always been with the marshals? or with other aspects as well?

 

[TBreazy]

My last boss told me he was against it because by withholding benefits from drug using mothers, we would be basically be taking food out of the mouths of their children.

I don't hold the same view.

Instead of taking the food out of their mouth, take the child out if their arms.

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

As far as working in the criminal justice field, GWN, have you always been with the marshals? or with other aspects as well?

I got my degree from Tennessee Tech, and was an enlisted cop in the Air Force for 4 years before getting on with the Marshals in '03.

 

[TBreazy]

Well, again, if you're a parent, you're giving to the school your kid goes to regardless, and if you're really really wealthy, it's going to be a large donation. If you're not a parent, then you're probably not donating to the local school anyway, because you have the entire universe of possible charitable contributions open to you, and there's probably something you care more about than your neighbors' annoying kids.

Maybe the amount that the parents give will vary depending on the size of the deduction available, but since a donation effectively feels like a donation to your own flesh and blood, I don't think it would be much of a factor.

But yes, if you want to attract donations from the really really wealthy to poor public schools, then there's no doubt that a double deduction would do it.

I agree with this.

I would need to know more about the suggested double deduction before having an opinion on how much of an influence it could possibly have.

 

[TBreazy]

I got my degree from Tennessee Tech, and was an enlisted cop in the Air Force for 4 years before getting on with the Marshals in '03.

Good ol cookeville..

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Instead of taking the food out of their mouth, take the child out if their arms.

Preach

Do you know how many mothers I've encountered on the streets that have like 6-8 kids just so they can get more benefits? Unbelievable.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Instead of taking the food out of their mouth, take the child out if their arms.

Where are they going to go? A new chain of state-owned orphanages?

The whole thing gets incredibly messy when kids are involved.

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Good ol cookeville..

I'm honestly surprised I never went to jail. What a ball. Me and all my buddies lived there year round, though...most everyone else left on the weekends and for the summers.

 

[005]

Is GWN one day going to be on the lookout for GWN for some haunted night long ago? I like it.

I don't have good perspective on military or military police, unfortunately. Something I intend to learn more about.

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Is GWN one day going to be on the lookout for GWN for some haunted night long ago? I like it.

I don't have good perspective on military or military police, unfortunately. Something I intend to learn more about.

I still miss the military. I had a great experience. I was a conventional cop for the first couple years, and then I got on with a specialized security team and travelled to over 40 countries in 2 years doing aircraft security. Amazing, amazing experience and I wouldn't be where I am today without it.