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I'm sorry you haven't been able to figure out the analogy.
Let's review...
The Harvard Economist analyzed the CBO's data and found that the middle class no longer contributes and that they are now net-receivers of government spending. Everyone who takes from the government without contributing their fair share is the water filling the boat in the analogy. The water-swamped boat (represents the U.S. in the analogy) will sink.
Is there something about a boat filling with water and consequently sinking that you don't understand?
Explain the title of the thread, complete with your reasons on why, expectations and its implications. Stop making excuses.
Top 20% of wage earners made 51% of income in 2009 but paid 67% of income taxes
Bottom 40% of wage earners made 14.9% income, but paid 4.1% income taxes
Are you talking about individual taxes or some kind of collective taxes? It figures though that you were another of those missing from the bandwagon.
And, again, this isn't an explanation. It is merely a deflection. To repeat:
Explain the title of the thread, complete with your reasons on why, expectations and its implications.
Well of course they paid the most taxes... they own all the wealth (duh... you have heard about "the 1%" and all that, right)?! The problem is that as a percentage of income, the wealthy aren’t paying their fair share...
In what ways do the wealthy derive greater utility from the government? Are their roads smoother? Is their water hotter? Does the fire department respond faster?
Just curious because partisan arguments intrigue me...
I'm not going to presume that I have a greater ability to analyze the CBO data linked in the OP than does the Chairman of the Economics Department at Harvard University.
In what ways do the wealthy derive greater utility from the government? Are their roads smoother? Is their water hotter? Does the fire department respond faster?
Just curious because partisan arguments intrigue me...
Considering that the government provides: The bulk of money for health and safety programs; A mostly-regulated and stable financial system in which to operate; A legal framework that protects their property; Welfare programs that keep the poorest of the poor from resorting to pitchforks and torches; The bulk of R&D funding through our university systems; Transportation safety for the transport of goods; And a military that reaches around the world to protect the financial interest of American investors and multinationals.
I'd say that the truly wealthy do derive a greater utility from the government.
Considering that the government provides: The bulk of money for health and safety programs; A mostly-regulated and stable financial system in which to operate; A legal framework that protects their property; The bulk of R&D funding through our university systems; Transportation safety for the transport of goods; And a military that reaches around the world to protect the financial interest of American investors and multinationals.
I'd say that the truly wealthy do derive a greater utility from the government.
Those listed things benefit everyone. The wealthy do not derive a greater benefit from any of that. On the contrary, those who pay little to no federal income tax for all of that derive the greatest return on their contribution if they even contribute at all.
Quote:
Welfare programs that keep the poorest of the poor from resorting to pitchforks and torches
How about they resort to self-improvement, initiative, motivation, and jobs?
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