Comments on: How honest are conservatives and liberals? http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:23:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mommy http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307511 mommy Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:14:24 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307511 We have rental properties, so always have a tax guy do our annual bidding. For several years we used a high-powered tax attorney who came highly recommended. The year after we did a re-fi, we were zinged by the IRS for something that was deducted erroneously. When I asked our guy about it, he said he always deducts it and if you get away with it, good and if not, just pay it. The next year we switched to another accountant who was recommended by someone at church and is also an LCMSer. We have rental properties, so always have a tax guy do our annual bidding. For several years we used a high-powered tax attorney who came highly recommended. The year after we did a re-fi, we were zinged by the IRS for something that was deducted erroneously. When I asked our guy about it, he said he always deducts it and if you get away with it, good and if not, just pay it. The next year we switched to another accountant who was recommended by someone at church and is also an LCMSer.

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]]> By: Joel Mark http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307509 Joel Mark Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:10:36 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307509 All polls and surveys aside, the fact remains that truth is not just a relative and subjective notions to use or mis-use conveniently as an instrument to get our way or avoid inconvenience. Truth will find you out in the end. Even freedom itself owes its existence to truth. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8 something). All polls and surveys aside, the fact remains that truth is not just a relative and subjective notions to use or mis-use conveniently as an instrument to get our way or avoid inconvenience. Truth will find you out in the end.

Even freedom itself owes its existence to truth. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8 something).

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]]> By: klasko http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307501 klasko Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:46:20 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307501 Lumps - You are a broken record with a siongle theme. It's getting old and you contribute nothing positive to the discussion. Lumps – You are a broken record with a siongle theme. It’s getting old and you contribute nothing positive to the discussion.

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]]> By: kBells http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307499 kBells Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:40:15 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307499 From the article.: "The quick answer might be that liberals are simply being more honest about their dishonesty. However attractive this explanation might be for some, there is simply no basis for accepting this explanation. Validation studies, which attempt to figure out who misreports on academic surveys and why, has found no evidence that conservatives are less honest. Indeed, validation research indicates that Democrats tend to be less forthcoming than other groups." From the article.:
“The quick answer might be that liberals are simply being more honest about their dishonesty.

However attractive this explanation might be for some, there is simply no basis for accepting this explanation. Validation studies, which attempt to figure out who misreports on academic surveys and why, has found no evidence that conservatives are less honest. Indeed, validation research indicates that Democrats tend to be less forthcoming than other groups.”

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]]> By: GodLumps http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307488 GodLumps Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:30:47 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307488 "Most of my work involves interacting with… well, to put it rudely, dirtbags of all races and credos. You know who I mean. People for whom ‘law’ is nothing more than an obstacle to breach in order to get to their desired objective." Gorg- so you work with the Bush Administration? “Most of my work involves interacting with… well, to put it rudely, dirtbags of all races and credos. You know who I mean. People for whom ‘law’ is nothing more than an obstacle to breach in order to get to their desired objective.”

Gorg- so you work with the Bush Administration?

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]]> By: Intellectual Gorgon http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307487 Intellectual Gorgon Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:14:28 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307487 Since anecdotal examples seem to be flying here, I'll toss out an observation... Most of my work involves interacting with... well, to put it rudely, dirtbags of all races and credos. You know who I mean. People for whom 'law' is nothing more than an obstacle to breach in order to get to their desired objective. That's everything from money from a bank's dysfunctional ATM to skipping child support payments for their baby mama. And the remarkable thing is that, yes, they are indeed very forthcoming about their 'badniss,' as one well-tatted dude put it to me. The trick is, they aren't being forthcoming because they value honesty. A quick scan of their morals show that they don't give a bottle of Beam for any kind of morality. The reason is that they <i>do not feel guilt.</i> Hey, if you don't think it was wrong, then you have no shame in admitting to it. For an example, I refer you to my personal nominee for <b>Biggest Criminal Scumbucket of the Year Award.</b> http://www.wpbf.com/news/15194935/detail.html So I think that maybe we aren't looking deep enough into this. I doubt that conservatives and liberals necessarily have a huge divide between them when it comes to cheating on taxes. But I think that there <i>is</i> a huge divide between them when deciding whether or not cheating on one's taxes is <i>wrong</i>. Since anecdotal examples seem to be flying here, I’ll toss out an observation…

Most of my work involves interacting with… well, to put it rudely, dirtbags of all races and credos. You know who I mean. People for whom ‘law’ is nothing more than an obstacle to breach in order to get to their desired objective. That’s everything from money from a bank’s dysfunctional ATM to skipping child support payments for their baby mama. And the remarkable thing is that, yes, they are indeed very forthcoming about their ‘badniss,’ as one well-tatted dude put it to me.

The trick is, they aren’t being forthcoming because they value honesty. A quick scan of their morals show that they don’t give a bottle of Beam for any kind of morality. The reason is that they do not feel guilt. Hey, if you don’t think it was wrong, then you have no shame in admitting to it. For an example, I refer you to my personal nominee for Biggest Criminal Scumbucket of the Year Award. http://www.wpbf.com/news/15194935/detail.html

So I think that maybe we aren’t looking deep enough into this. I doubt that conservatives and liberals necessarily have a huge divide between them when it comes to cheating on taxes. But I think that there is a huge divide between them when deciding whether or not cheating on one’s taxes is wrong.

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]]> By: Xion http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307468 Xion Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:21:54 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307468 I would rephrase the question, "How many have <b>deliberately</b> cheated on their taxes?" I am positive that no one in America has ever filled out their taxes accurately. By 'accurately' I mean paid exactly the right tax, getting every last deductible that you deserve correct. It is not humanly possible, even if you use the 1040EZ. Line up the top ten tax accountants on planet earth. Have them do your taxes and I can guarantee no two will come up with the same answer. So if it is not humanly possible to calculate the proper tax and the error is in your favor, then you are technically a criminal. Cheater? No. Criminal? Yes. <i>What candidate is for fixing the tax system? Chirp, chirp, chirp</i> I would rephrase the question, “How many have deliberately cheated on their taxes?”

I am positive that no one in America has ever filled out their taxes accurately. By ‘accurately’ I mean paid exactly the right tax, getting every last deductible that you deserve correct. It is not humanly possible, even if you use the 1040EZ.

Line up the top ten tax accountants on planet earth. Have them do your taxes and I can guarantee no two will come up with the same answer.

So if it is not humanly possible to calculate the proper tax and the error is in your favor, then you are technically a criminal. Cheater? No. Criminal? Yes.

What candidate is for fixing the tax system? Chirp, chirp, chirp

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]]> By: Sawgunner http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307459 Sawgunner Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:37:40 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307459 Senators Vitter and Craig were ea caught with their pants down. These are hardcore rightwingers who have fought to stay in office. Elliot Spitzer was an uberLiberal, but he confronted his corruption and made the honorable choice to resign. Senators Vitter and Craig were ea caught with their pants down. These are hardcore rightwingers who have fought to stay in office. Elliot Spitzer was an uberLiberal, but he confronted his corruption and made the honorable choice to resign.

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]]> By: KayVee http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307453 KayVee Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:16:19 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307453 Kbells, How would you know if those who answer are telling the truth? According to some who posted before your question, conservatives are likely to lie about what they would or would not do, while liberals would cheat, but tell the truth about it in an anonymous poll. And if a person would either lie or cheat about paying taxes, why would they tell the truth about their political position in an anonymous poll? Kbells, How would you know if those who answer are telling the truth? According to some who posted before your question, conservatives are likely to lie about what they would or would not do, while liberals would cheat, but tell the truth about it in an anonymous poll. And if a person would either lie or cheat about paying taxes, why would they tell the truth about their political position in an anonymous poll?

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]]> By: SteveG http://online.worldmag.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/comment-page-1/#comment-307452 SteveG Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:15:30 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/06/02/how-honest-are-conservatives-and-liberals/#comment-307452 <i>How many of you have ever cheated on your taxes?</i> I have not. How many of you have ever cheated on your taxes?

I have not.

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