That 36% is about employees and employers paying into the social security system while they're still working. Trump is talking about stopping the taxes on outgoing social security payments to retirees.

 

Meanwhile, brandon, not willing to fade away quietly, continues to add to the debt.
Latest estimates are that he'll add $10 TRILLION to the debt before he's out of office.
A record he and the despicables can be proud of.
Anyway, brandon's latest giveway averages $75,000 per public service worker getting brandon's gift.​

Biden cancels $4.5 billion in public workers' student loans (msn.com)
Biden cancels $4.5 billion in public workers' student loans
Story by Reuters
• 1h

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday canceled another $4.5 billion in student debt for more than 60,000 borrowers, bringing the number of public service workers who have had their student loans for higher education forgiven to over 1 million.

The cancellation is Biden's latest effort to fulfill his 2020 campaign pledge to deliver debt relief to millions of Americans before he leaves office in January, even as his efforts hit road blocks in the courts.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, a fellow Democrat who is seeking the White House after Biden stepped aside and faces Republican Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 contest, said she would continue to address education costs if elected, including through relief for those who utilized federal student loans.

"While Republican elected officials do everything in their power to block millions of their own constituents from receiving this much needed economic relief, I will continue our work to lower costs, make higher education more affordable, and relieve the burden of student debt," Harris said in a statement.

Wednesday's action brings the Biden-Harris Administration's total approved student loan relief to $175 billion for nearly 5 million borrowers, the White House said in a statement.

It has called the current student loan system broken and maintains debt relief is needed to ensure that borrowers are not financially burdened by their decision to seek higher education.

Harris has centered her election campaign in part on her economic plans aimed at lowering living costs for middle- and lower-class Americans and boosting the economy overall, while Trump has focused on tariffs and tax cuts.

Republicans have described Biden's student loan forgiveness approach as an overreach of authority and an unfair benefit to college-educated borrowers while others receive no such relief.

Six Republican state attorneys general have challenged Biden's plan, saying it is up to Congress to act through legislation. Earlier this month, a U.S. judge appointed by former president Trump temporarily blocked Biden from "mass canceling" student loans until their lawsuit is resolved.

Biden had to revamp his approach after earlier plans were blocked by the courts. In August, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to revive Biden's latest plan, giving a boost to Republicans seeking to block it.

 

While the focus has been on the Federal debt and the overall high cost of government, we can't ignore the burden of state government. here's a list of the most expensive states for taxes. Surprise, California isn't number one.

20 US States Where You’ll Pay Most Taxes Over a Lifetime (msn.com)

20 US States Where You'll Pay Most Taxes Over a Lifetime
20. Pennsylvania
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,508,483
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $532,077
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 35.30%

Pennsylvania gathered around $55 billion in total taxes in 2023. The average citizen is estimated to earn around $1.50 million over a lifetime and has to pay around $532,077 in taxes, giving away over 35% of lifetime earnings in taxes. Pennsylvania ranks 20th among the US states where you'll pay most taxes over a lifetime.

19. Oregon
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,461,612
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $521,500
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 35.70%

Oregon ranks among the 20 US states where you'll pay most taxes over a lifetime. The average person in the state will earn around $1.46 million over a lifetime, while 35.70% of the earnings will go to state taxes. In 2023, Oregon collected more than $20.8 billion in taxes.

18. Minnesota
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,645,072
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $589,066
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 35.80%

Minnesota gathered more than $34.4 billion in taxes in 2023. Over a lifetime period, the average person in the state will have an estimated earnings of around $1.64 million and nearly $586,066 will be spent in taxes. Minnesota ranks 18th among the US states where you'll pay most taxes over a lifetime.

17. Iowa
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,443,717
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $524,580
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 36.30%

Iowa has one of the highest tax burdens in the US, almost around 13.22%. Iowa is estimated to gather around $524,580 in lifetime taxes from an individual or a household, which accounts for 36.30% of the total estimated earnings paid as taxes. Iowa is one of the US states where people will pay most taxes over a lifetime.

16. Washington
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,729,531
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $631,249
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 36.50%

Washington collected around $38 billion in total taxes in 2023. The average citizen is estimated to earn around $1.73 million over a lifetime and has to pay over $631,000 in taxes, giving away over 36.50% of lifetime earnings in taxes. Washington ranks among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime.

15. Texas
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,437,047
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $531,438
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 37%

Texas ranks 15th among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime. The average person in the state will earn around $1.44 million over a lifetime, while 37% of the earnings will go to state taxes. In 2023, Texas collected more than $86.7 billion in taxes.

14. Kansas
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,405,670
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $525,482
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 37.40%

Kansas ranks among the 20 US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime. The average person in the state will earn around $1.40 million over a lifetime, while 37.40% of the earnings will go to state taxes. In 2023, Kansas collected more than $13.13 billion in taxes.

13. Wisconsin
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,497,577
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $562,204
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 37.50%

Wisconsin gathered around $33.7 billion in total taxes in 2023. The average person in Wisconsin is estimated to earn around $1.49 million over a lifetime and has to pay over $560,000 in taxes, giving away over 37.50% of lifetime earnings in taxes. Wisconsin ranks among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime.

12. Nebraska
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,441,423
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $546,354
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 37.90%

Nebraska has one of the highest tax burdens in the US, almost around 13.47%. Nebraska is estimated to gather around $546,354 in lifetime taxes from an individual or a household, which accounts for 37.90% of the total estimated earnings paid as taxes. Nebraska is one of the US states where people will pay most taxes over a lifetime.

11. Mississippi
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,212,292
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $481,017
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 39.70%

Mississippi is estimated to collect 39.70% of the estimated earnings of an individual as taxes over a lifetime. Mississippi's total tax count was almost $10.32 billion in 2023. The average person in Mississippi is estimated to have lifetime earnings of more than $1.2 million.

10. Maine
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,420,847
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $581,750
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 40.90%

Maine gathered around $6.43 billion in total taxes in 2023. The average citizen is estimated to earn around $1.42 million over a lifetime and has to pay around $581,750 in taxes, giving away over 40% of lifetime earnings in taxes. Maine ranks 10th among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime.

9. California
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,589,377
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $659,224
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 41.50%

California has one of the highest tax burdens in the US, which is more than 22%. In 2023, California gathered the highest amount in total taxes, accounting for nearly $220 billion. The average citizen is estimated to earn around $1.58 million over a lifetime and has to pay around $659,224 in taxes, giving away over 41% of lifetime earnings in taxes.

8. Illinois
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,580,130
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $665,286
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 42.10%

Illinois gathered more than $62.98 billion in taxes in 2023. Over a lifetime period, the average person in the state will have an estimated earnings of around $1.58 million and nearly $665,000 will be spent in taxes. Illinois ranks eighth among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime.

7. Rhode Island
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,600,495
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $684,828
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 42.80%

Rhode Island ranks among the 20 US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime. The average person in the state will earn around $1.60 million over a lifetime, while 42.80% of the earnings will go to state taxes. In 2023, Rhode Island collected more than $4.73 billion in taxes.

6. New Hampshire
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,674,402
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $722,610
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 43.20%

New Hampshire is estimated to collect 43.20% of the estimated earnings of an individual as taxes over a lifetime. New Hampshire's total tax count was almost $3.54 billion in 2023. The average person in New Hampshire is estimated to have lifetime earnings of more than $1.67 million.

5. Massachusetts
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,857,438
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $816,700
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 44%

Massachusetts has one of the highest tax burdens in the US, over 16%. Massachusetts is estimated to gather around $816,700 in lifetime taxes from an individual or a household, which accounts for 44% of the total estimated earnings paid as taxes. Massachusetts is one of the US states where people will pay most taxes over a lifetime.

4. New York
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,658,872
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $748,199
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 45.10%

New York has one of the highest taxes in the US and the total tax burden is around 16.30%. In 2023, New York gathered the second-highest amount in total taxes, accounting for nearly $125 billion. The average citizen is estimated to earn around $1.65 million over a lifetime and has to pay around $748,000 in taxes, giving away over 45% of lifetime earnings in taxes.

3. Vermont
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,442,094
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $651,434
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 45.20%

Vermont ranks third among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime. The average person in the state will earn around $1.44 million over a lifetime, while 45.20% of the earnings will go to state taxes. In 2023, Vermont collected more than $4.49 billion in taxes.

2. Connecticut
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,731,261
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $855,307
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 49.40%

Connecticut has a tax burden of nearly 15% and more than 49% of the estimated lifetime earnings are to be paid in taxes. An average person in the state is expected to earn around $1.73 million over a lifetime. Connecticut ranks second among the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime.

1. New Jersey
Estimated Lifetime Earnings: $1,818,191
Estimated Lifetime Taxes: $987,117
% of Earnings Paid as Taxes: 54.30%

New Jersey has the second highest tax burden rate in the US, which is just under 20%. New Jersey is estimated to gather over 52% of the estimated earnings of an individual or a household in taxes. New Jersey ranks first on our list of the US states where you'll pay the most taxes over a lifetime.

 

And finally ..........

The debt is now at $ 36 TRILLION and growing by more than $2 TRILLION a year.

Most people cannot begin to grasp those numbers so let's see can we bring it home.

Mr. "Fed" earns about $50,000 a year. (Current govt. Revenue is $5TRILLION)
His mortgage is $3,300 a month (medicare/social security costs just under $3 TRILLION).
His current expense is $70,000. (Fed budget is now $7 TRILLION).
His debt(credit card and auto loans) is $350,000. (Current debt is $35 TRILLION). Interest paid on his debt is now $10,000.

Understand now??

 

Most people can think of this or that spending program that they would like to cut or eliminate. There are no big ticket items that a majority of the voters want to cut or eliminate. The largest and most expensive programs are the most popular.

 

On this issue I sort of agree with the Republicans. In countries with free college education, it is restricted to those who pass rigorous entrance exams, and who performed well previously. I have read on several occasions, so I suspect that it is true, that most colleges and universities accept anyone with a high school degree and tuition money. Someone who goes to one of those schools and majors in the liberal arts or social sciences has wasted time and money learning what is worthless to employers. This time should have been spent learning a skilled trade.

Charles Murray has said that most Americans spend too much time in school, learning what they cannot master and do not assimilate.