Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Politics and Other Controversies
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:35 AM
 
Location: Steeler Nation
6,898 posts, read 4,742,592 times
Reputation: 1633

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim View Post
There's nothing wrong in principle with government taxing the rich to help the poor. There, I said it. And I'm really getting sick and tired of Republicans making "redistribution of wealth" the cornerstone of their opposition to Obama and the Democrats.

True, government taxes too much and spends too much, no question - but the problem is one of degree and not of kind. It's also a problem of the federal government usurping the role of churches, charities, and state/local governments much closer to the people in need. These distinctions are important. When you rail against "redistribution of wealth" as though it's something intrinsically evil, you just sound like selfish, greedy idiots.
I agree that the wealthy should pay more, but even if you took all of the wealthy peoples money, it would not make a dent in the national debt. You also have to remember, you cannot take so much, that there is little left for reinvestment and that my friend is what creates jobs.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:38 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,392,179 times
Reputation: 9074
Quote:
Originally Posted by InformedConsent View Post
They're slaves for at least 3 months of every year. If you feel so strongly about it, perhaps you could volunteer to be a slave for 6 months. Deal?

If I worked for only 3 months a year, I wouldn't pay taxes, and therefore wouldn't be a slave.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:43 AM
 
Location: Steeler Nation
6,898 posts, read 4,742,592 times
Reputation: 1633
Quote:
Originally Posted by Little-Acorn View Post
I keep hearing liberals and other socialists say they want to "redistribute" the wealth in this country. But that implies that the wealth was "distributed" by someone to us all in the first place, and maybe that someone did a bad job and the liberals think they can do it better.

But wealth was never "distributed" to any of us, except maybe by welfare clerks to various indigent persons. But the $100 that's in my wallet now, wasn't distributed to me by anyone.
Quote:
A guy with a car and I made an agreement: I'd tune up his car and fix a few things on it, and he'd pay me $100 to do it. I tuned it up, changed the oil, and replaced two squeaking belts that were badly worn.
He's happy, now it starts easier, gets better gas mileage, and doesn't make weird sounds as he drives. He'd much rather have a car that drives like this, than have the $100; and I'd much rather have the $100 and don't mind getting my hands dirty to do something I do well.

Nobody "distributed" anything to either one of us. He and I made a deal, both of us gave the other something of value, both of us are happy with the outcome.

But if Barack Obama had come along just then, he might have taken the guy's $100, and the guy couldn't have gotten me to fix his car. He'd still have a ****ty-running car that sometimes wouldn't start, I'd be $100 poorer... which means my son would be walking 3 miles to school instead of riding the bike I was about to fix up for him. Barack Obama wants me to think that a better use was made of that $100, than we would have made of it... but when we asked Barack Obama exactly what the money was used for, he couldn't answer the question.

People who talk about "redistributing" wealth, are lying. What they are doing, is taking something that was yours, that you earned, and telling you that (a) they know better how to use it than you do, and (b) this somehow makes it OK for them to take it from you, whether you like it or not.

These people aren't "redistributing" anything, because your money wasn't "distributed" to you in the first place. You EARNED it, and you got it because you DESERVED it, not because some uninvolved bureaucrat thought your having it would somehow be a good idea and so gave his blessing on you to receive it.

"Redistributing" is a politician's way of implying you did NOT earn your money, and so it's not really yours. And pretending that his deciding what to use your money for, is the natural order of things. Not the idea that since you earned it, YOU should decide what to use it for. He's trying to get you away from that idea.
You didn't do that, someone else did!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:43 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,392,179 times
Reputation: 9074
Quote:
Originally Posted by InformedConsent View Post
60% are reaping MUCH more in government benefits and services compared to the share they pay of all taxes local, state, and federal. Of course they want to stick it to "the rich." More freebies for them at someone else's expense. It isn't rocket science.

Not 60% because childless working-age adults are NOT reaping much more in government benefits and services compared to the share they pay of all taxes.

It is the elderly and children who are doing the reaping.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:48 AM
 
Location: Florida
23,165 posts, read 26,122,269 times
Reputation: 27898
Quote:
Originally Posted by freemkt View Post
How do you know that they are fully capable of earning millions of dollars? I was born with innate abilities but was raised in an environment of total parental fail (and handed off to nonrelatives who also had total fail) and traumatized at a very early age.

And a lot of people esp in my extended family think I am fully capable of earning lots and lots of money - there were great expectations placed on me - but I completely don't see it ever happening.
My kids are intelligent. Sometimes you appear to be.
When they got to be around 18 I told them that I would take responsibilty for anything I did 'wrong' that might be detrimental to their future/self-esteem. etc
I would NOT, however, take responsibilty for them using any of those things as an excuse forever since they had the ability to change.
How long have you been an adult now?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:48 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,392,179 times
Reputation: 9074
Quote:
Originally Posted by InformedConsent View Post
Yes. Those forced to pay a share of the federal income tax that is more than twice their share of the income are unfairly burdened. End that NOW. Tax equally.

What about state and local taxes? Would you reject a "nonhomestead tax" on other people's property even if it meant your taxes would have to go up $2,000?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:54 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,392,179 times
Reputation: 9074
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Rossi View Post
I'm all for that. Right now, almost half of tax filers are paying zero or less in taxes. Everyone needs to contribute, but *******s thank that they want to get a share of the winnings even though they didn't pony up any money to buy the lottery tickets, so to speak.

I earn minimum wage and I pay federal and state income taxes, who are all these people not paying taxes?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 04:56 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,392,179 times
Reputation: 9074
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Keegan View Post
I haven't read the 11 pages of responses yet. But I have to say this, thought I am sure many others have already;

Yes, there is absolutely something wrong "in principle" with government redistribution of wealth. It is not the place of government to decide who gets what from whom, or to ensure an equal outcome for all. Governments should do only what is necessary to ensure that that everyone has equal ACCESS and equal OPPORTUNITY, then get out of the way.

When you take from one person what he has earned, to give it to another who has not, all you do is make a slave out of the first and a beggar of the second.

So you're opposed to exclusionary zoning, NIMBY, unequal taxes on rental property, and tax breaks for homeowners?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 05:26 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,392,179 times
Reputation: 9074
Quote:
Originally Posted by InformedConsent View Post
Only because a very large percentage of my earned income is taken from me. If I didn't have to pay any federal income tax (51% pay no federal income tax whatsoever), or if EVERYONE had the same percentage of their income taken from them for federal income tax as I do, I wouldn't feel that way.

I earn minimum wage and I pay federal income tax. Who are all these nonpayers?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-22-2012, 06:08 AM
 
Location: Steeler Nation
6,898 posts, read 4,742,592 times
Reputation: 1633
Quote:
Originally Posted by ellemint View Post
---

That is what the most wealthy are doing -- they are not working to make their millions. They are earning money from capital gains and stock options of companies. Companies derive their value from the contribution of their workers. This last year saw record earnings for corporations. So, who will benefit? Not the workers but those who hold investments in those companies---i.e. the rich--- living off of someone else's work. Yes, it is repulsive.
Not sure what your point is, but the rich invest so the middle class can have a job, and yes I do believe in a living wage. How would you have it?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Politics and Other Controversies
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:57 AM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top