Robert Orben – Back Payments

Meaning of Robert Orben Money Quote: saying Americans owe back taxes, owe back rent, owe back auto payments. Robert Orben said:
 
 

 

“More than ever before, Americans are suffering from back problems: back taxes, back rent, back auto payments” — Robert Orben

This humorous quote by Robert Orben cleverly plays on the double meaning of the word “back” to make a witty observation about financial struggles.

Here’s the best interpretation:

1. **Literal meaning**: At first glance, it seems like Orben is talking about physical back problems, which are indeed common health issues.
2. **Wordplay**: The punchline comes when he reveals he’s actually referring to various financial obligations that are “back” or overdue:
   – Back taxes: Unpaid taxes from previous years
   – Back rent: Overdue rent payments
   – Back auto payments: Late car loan or lease payments
3. **Social commentary**: Through this wordplay, Orben is humorously highlighting the widespread financial difficulties many Americans face, suggesting that these monetary “back problems” are as common and troublesome as physical back pain.

The humor lies in the unexpected twist from physical to financial issues, while also making a subtle point about economic challenges in American society. It’s a clever way of using language to both amuse and provoke thought about a serious topic.

Assata Shakur: Tax-Free Profits

Meaning Assata Shakur Corporations tax-free profits politicians cut food stamps salaries City bankruptcy, dollars spent spend millions arms close day care centers fire stations. Assata Shakur said:
 

 

“While big corporations make huge, tax-free profits, taxes for the everyday working person skyrocket. While politicians take free trips around the world, those same politicians cut back food stamps for the poor. While politicians increase their salaries, millions of people are being laid off. This city is on the brink of bankruptcy, and yet hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on this trial. I do not understand a government so willing to spend millions of dollars on arms, to explore outer space, even the planet Jupiter, and at the same time close down day care centers and fire stations” — Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur was criticizing the priorities of the U.S. government in this quote. She points out that while large corporations and politicians benefit financially, everyday working people face increasing taxes and cuts to social services.

At the same time, the government spends vast sums on military weapons, space exploration, and other projects seen as less essential than programs that directly help citizens, like day care centers and fire stations.

The overall interpretation is that the government favors powerful corporate and political interests over the needs of ordinary citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable. Shakur saw this as unjust and “did not understand” the logic of a system with such skewed priorities.

Randy Thurman: Penny After Taxes

Meaning of Randy Thurman Money Quote: saying one cent used to be worth twice as much before it is taxed. Randy Thurman said:

 

 

“A penny saved is worth two pennies earned . . . after taxes” — Randy Thurman

This quote from Randy Thurman suggests that saving money is more valuable than earning money after taxes are taken out. It implies that a penny that is saved retains its full value of one penny, while earning two pennies through work or other means results in less than two pennies actually being kept once taxes are paid.

The quote highlights how putting money away in savings can be more worthwhile financially than earning additional money that will be partially lost to taxation. Saving a single penny of income keeps the full penny’s worth, while earning more may not translate to keeping more after accounting for taxes owed on those earnings.

John Wayne: Indirect Inflation Tax

Meaning of John Wayne Money Quote: saying Government doesn’t have inherited money, it must collect that cash from the citizenry, either by taxes or inflation. John Wayne said:
 

 

“Government has no wealth, and when a politician promises to give you something for nothing, he must first confiscate that wealth from you — either by direct taxes, or by the cruelly indirect tax of inflation” — John Wayne

John Wayne is warning about the false promises of politicians who claim they can provide benefits without cost to citizens. The quote suggests that whenever a politician vows to give something for free, they are actually taking wealth from the people in order to pay for it, either through direct taxation or by devaluing the currency through inflation.

Wayne implies that government has no resources of its own, so any programs or handouts must be funded by confiscating wealth from taxpayers. Overall, the message is a skeptical view of politicians making things seem like “something for nothing,” when in reality citizens end up footing the bill through taxes or inflation that diminishes their purchasing power.

Birthday: May 26, 1907 – Death: June 11, 1979

Ronald Reagan: Higher Inflation Bill

Meaning of Ronald Reagan Money Quote: saying when any person or business spends more than they earn, it means bankruptcy. However, government does it and collects taxes to cover it. Inflation results.. Ronald Reagan said:
 

 

“When a business or an individual spends more than it makes, it goes bankrupt. When government does it, it sends you the bill. And when government does it for 40 years, the bill comes in two ways: higher taxes and inflation. Make no mistake about it, inflation is a tax and not by accident” — Ronald Reagan

In this quote, Ronald Reagan is drawing a comparison between how businesses and individuals operate financially versus how the government does. He states that when a business or person spends more than they earn, they go bankrupt. However, when the government does this by overspending for many years, it results in higher taxes and inflation rather than bankruptcy.

Reagan argues that inflation essentially functions as a hidden tax, since the rising prices that come with inflation reduce citizens’ purchasing power and standard of living over time. His point is that by continually overspending for decades without addressing the deficit, the government has to make up for it through tax increases on citizens or fueling inflation, both of which negatively impact the average taxpayer.

So in summary, the quote is criticizing long-term government overspending by asserting that unlike businesses or individuals, the government can avoid bankruptcy by instead passing on the costs to citizens through mechanisms like higher taxes and the inflation tax, which Reagan says is not accidental but rather a deliberate outcome of persistent fiscal irresponsibility.

Birthday: February 6, 1911 – Death: June 5, 2004

Heidi Klum: Do My Taxes, Receipts

Meaning of Heidi Klum Money Quote: saying collecting receipts is more complex when you spend more money. Heidi Klum said:
 

 

“I used to do my own taxes. You know how you buy that gigantic sheet at Staples, add up the restaurants, clothes, and taxis and glue your receipts into the book month by month? The more money I made, the more complicated things got” — Heidi Klum

In this quote, Heidi Klum is reflecting on how preparing her own taxes used to be a simpler process when she earned less money, but became more complicated as her income grew. The best interpretation is that as her financial situation expanded, so did the level of documentation and itemization needed to properly account for all her various expenses and deductions come tax time.

She’s describing the standard practice of organizing receipts by category and month into a binder or notebook to track spending patterns over the year. Klum seems to be acknowledging that higher earnings often correlate with increased tax burdens and more intricate tax filings that require greater diligence in receipt collection and accounting.

J. P. Morgan: Citizen Evade Taxes

J. P. Morgan Money Quote saying that those who are able, have a right to avoid taxation. J. P. Morgan said:
 

 

“Anybody has a right to evade taxes if he can get away with it. No citizen has a moral obligation to assist in maintaining his government” — J. P. Morgan

In this quote, J.P. Morgan appears to be suggesting that while citizens have a legal obligation to pay taxes, there is no inherent moral duty to do so. He asserts that if one can find legal loopholes to avoid paying taxes, they are within their rights to exploit them.

However, most modern interpretations would disagree with this viewpoint. A civilized society relies on all members contributing fairly to support functions from which everyone benefits, such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, and national defense.

While tax codes can certainly be improved or reformed, most would argue citizens do have a general moral obligation to pay their share to maintain a well-functioning government that serves all.

Birthday: April 17, 1837 – Death: March 31, 1913

Nick Hanauer: Trickle-Down Scam

Nick Hanauer Money Quote saying trickle down is a scam perpetrated by the rich and taking advantage of the everyman. Nick Hanauer said:
 

 

“Americans are right to be pissed. Trickle downers have screwed people over for decades by lowering taxes on the rich, deregulating banks and other powerful corporations, and by convincing people that lower wages are good for the economy. here’s the thing: trickle down is a scam that benefits rich guys like me while screwing everyone else. Don’t buy it” — Nick Hanauer

In this quote, Nick Hanauer is strongly criticizing “trickle down” economic policies that aim to stimulate the economy by giving tax cuts and other benefits primarily to wealthy individuals and large corporations.

Specifically, Hanauer argues that for decades such approaches have had negative impacts by lowering taxes on the rich, deregulating banks and companies, and promoting the idea that reducing wages is good overall.

He contends that trickle down theory is essentially a “scam” that mainly advantages people like himself who are already very wealthy, while disadvantaging average Americans.

Hanauer also acknowledges the justified anger (“Americans are right to be pissed”) that such policies have generated among the public.

Overall, the best interpretation is that Hanauer vehemently believes trickle down economics is a flawed concept that is falsely marketed as helping the broader economy but is actually just another way to further concentrate wealth and power among the richest members of society to the detriment of others. He warns the public not to accept its claims at face value.