Thank You, America. - by Nicker
CCCToad on 7/11/2012 at 20:31
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For everyone who's bellyaching about tax rates, and "taxing the rich". Read this article and get back to us:
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http://reclaimdemocracy.org/real_tax_rates_plummet/)
Fact of the matter is that the actual "rich" (multi millionare executive and such) pay very little in the way of taxes and due to the loopholes involved, won't be very affected by increasing "taxes on the rich".
Unfortunately, the best way to make money in America these days is to be a parasite that feeds off political connections, legal loopholes, and subsidies.
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Tbh, I think it's more that it's just not policed properly, or even at all. I've seen/heard of so many people qualify for unemployment who quit their jobs or just do some minimum BS like fill out 2 online applications per week, etc. I've talked to countless people who, after I offer them a job, they decide they're going to lay back for a while and collect UC. We report some of them who do it blatantly, and nothing ever comes of it. I realize being in staffing/HR I've got a bit of a slanted view, but I'm just saying don't be fooled by some statistic that says there isn't a problem when there clearly is.
edit: really, it's silly to bitch about the amount of money wasted on welfare and other handout fraud. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the money wasted through corporate welfare, contracting fraud (and price fixing), etc.
faetal on 7/11/2012 at 20:32
Apparently personal anecdotes > statistics then.
Look at the change in Gini coefficient in the US since 1970. It has THE worst income inequality in the developed world and is far worse than a lot of developing nations.
CCCToad on 7/11/2012 at 20:42
Was that directed at me?
Purpose of that article was as a reference to some statistics that explain WHY that is the case.
Kolya on 7/11/2012 at 20:42
Blaydes, we have a lot more government here in Germany than you. We've had healthcare since 1892, we have mandatory old age insurance, we have a social market economy instead of the relatively pure capitalism you have. Our economy is doing pretty fine. Something about your concept isn't right.
Yes, people have to get off their arses and work. But your railing against "the government" as if it was an enemy, as if your country was your enemy, that is way out of proportions. The money you and me pay in taxes isn't for some welfare leaches. It is for ourselves, to create a country worth living in, by investing in infrastructure, culture, education. It comes back to us and to our children multiplied.
faetal on 7/11/2012 at 20:55
Toad, more at Brethren, re "I see a lot of opportunity" vs. how much the numbers show there actually is.
june gloom on 7/11/2012 at 21:00
blaydes99 on 7/11/2012 at 21:29
Quote Posted by DDL
I just..I don't even...do you actually stop to listen to yourself, ever? The whole point of these government programs you seem to hate is to help people GET smart enough to run their own lives. To support people who can't yet support themselves
until they can. This
vast demographic of lifetime welfare scroungers you hate paying for? It's
tiny. Welfare fraud is looooow. And those that the programs help? A larger demographic. And they then go on to get jobs (admittedly shitty low-end jobs for the most part, but hey: jobs) and contribute back to the system. Ultimately though: they're probably going to stay poor, because the US has such a
ridiculously high income inequality. What you don't seem to get is that you
need those people.
Someone has to serve burgers, and those jobs pay so woefully badly that no matter how hard they work, they're going to need government help to survive. Fucking over
everyone who needs government help because a tiny proportion abuse the system is so incredibly self-destructive I can't believe you buy into the idea.
You're tilting at windmills, and it's kinda depressing how small your worldview actually appears to be.
Ah see, there you go again, jumping to conclusions and assuming you understand who I am and what I believe in.
I'm an economist, and I have no problem letting nature take it's course. Sure, temporary benefits for those in hard times are great. Long-term benefits for those who are disabled, etc. are also fine.
What do you mean "help people get smart enough to run their own lives"? What kind of world do YOU live in. By the time I was done with high school, I was running my life just fine without any help. It's called being responsible and a law-abiding citizen. That's my whole problem with this "coddle the lazy" mentality. I know enough good people to have hope in our country still but I'm extremely dissatisfied with the current direction of our government.
Don't get your panties in a bunch because you can't grasp the concept of conservative government. I suppose you think things are just peachy all across the US but eventually it will be time to wake up and turn things around. Things have really changed over the last 5-10 years. So you think I'm wrong for expressing my dissatisfaction over this based on my personal experiences?
june gloom on 7/11/2012 at 21:33
We think you're wrong because you're spewing nonsense and more than a little bit of racism.
Phatose on 7/11/2012 at 21:36
So, you grew up in an inner city, where the schools were terrible then? And started out post high school basically tossed out onto the street, no parental help, no college education, no nothing? Is that correct?
blaydes99 on 7/11/2012 at 21:36
Quote Posted by Kolya
Blaydes, we have a lot more government here in Germany than you. We've had healthcare since 1892, we have mandatory old age insurance, we have a social market economy instead of the relatively pure capitalism you have. Our economy is doing pretty fine. Something about your concept isn't right.
Yes, people have to get off their arses and work. But your railing against "the government" as if it was an enemy, as if your country was your enemy, that is way out of proportions. The money you and me pay in taxes isn't for some welfare leaches. It is for ourselves, to create a country worth living in, by investing in infrastructure, culture, education. It comes back to us and to our children multiplied.
I've read that the German economy is being dragged down by the Eurpoe situation and is on the brink of a larger recession. Instead of jumping to conclusions, I prefer to hear what you have to say about it as you probably follow this much more closely than I do. You say it's "doing pretty fine" but a lot of this poor economic management can really nail a country in the long-term.
