I was just ready to post what I wrote below & the thread got locked! I hate to do all this writing for no reason so I C&P'd it to post here. It is nothing offensive
I like this thread. I'm learning something, & I like to see others opinions. So nice to see that intelligent ppl can disagree & discuss an issue without name-calling & fighting!
Insurance:
Mike's health ins. just went up about $150 a month (to over $500.00)- & that's just for him! Never been in a hospital. Ins Co. says it's because he takes bld. pressure meds - that isn't covered!, so he got diff ins. I just heard on Nat'l news that H. ins. went up so much that ppl can't afford it. AND, the ins. Co's are making big profits, so why the big increase they asked? No answers yet.
Home Owners: I saw a show (60 minutes?) about houses along a coast that keep getting destroyed by hurricanes/storms, & the govrnment helps pay for damage. These are rich ppl that pay a lot for insurance, but so do ppl nearby that don't live on the shores or have damage done, but pay as much for ins (as SBL stated) to help cover those homes. Plus, govmnt helps them w/ $ for damage.
Taxes:
Harvey, you said "and I don't think people that don't pay income taxes should get "refunds"."
Please tell me how to get this money! LOL I get "earned income credit" but you only get it if you have EARNED income & it depends how much you make...the less you earn, the less you get & you have to make less than a certain amount per year -- like poverty level. I get that & SOME refunds of the taxes I paid all year - property tax & income tax.
If I can't show EARNED income, I get nothing.
Banks:
I'm a good example of banks cheating. I know my banker -he's now the big cheese there. I brought Mike to him for lower interest mortgage & Mike moved all his $ there into money market. 2 yrs ago, I applied for equiline. Banker Bob did interview & asked how much I make a yr. He knew I was not working except for helping Mike out on few jobs. I couldn't answer, so Bob said "$30,000?" & I said yeah, sounds good. So, I got $100,000 line of credit. So, for just over 2 yrs, been living off that while I remodeled my basment. I did pretty good that I only borrowed just over $20,000 in over 2 yrs - lived on it & bought materials. Of course, Mike helped out alot -labor & materials. I only have to pay interest monthly. But, they never shoulda gave me that line of credit as I didn't really have a job! My house is paid for so that helps a lot & now I get $700.00 a month for renting bsment apt.
As long as I'm spilling my guts out here LOL, I will say that I bought this house for $12,900 - when my son was 5. My Dad helped w/ down payment & I waitressed & worked in factories. The neighborhood is really cleaned up now & it's now Conservation District - not quite historic, but there are guidelines. With the remodeling I've done over the years, new sunroom addition, basement apt. etc, I've been told this house is worth well over $200,000 maybe 250.
Sorry if I derailed your thread Harvey.
Now, if only I could get the over $45,000 from my son's Dad for back child support!!!!!!