Eat the Rich

[Guest]

Excellent video on what would happen if we confiscated all the wealth and how long it would last:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661pi6K-8WQ&feature=related

[Guest]

One of his introductory comments is very appropriate:

"...evidence is usually fatal to the liberal world..."

but I would also add in all the other uninformed naysayers.

Let's see how long this one stays on topic!

btk

[Guest]

"Eat the Rich" is just another provocative, extreme slogan. The media creates these trite 'bumper stickers' with the idea that the larger the sweeping generalization, the better. Here are some of the bumper sticker answers I got recently when I asked why it was inappropriate to raise any new deficit-reducing revenue through added taxes.

"I earned it, I spend it" This sounds good, but ignores the fact that it is impossible to run any government without taxation. It also ignores the fact that a stable government allows citizens to pursue gainful employment and enforces laws which protects them from others who would rather steal than work. Everyone must pay something, even the poor, like the sales tax on the shirt they bought at the thrift store.

"Taxed Enough Already" This sounds good too, an apt slogan for every generation, country, era, etc. But the facts are that Americans pay the lowest taxes overall than in the last half century. Forget blame for costly wars, trade deficits or entitlements designed to make Americans' lives better, we absolutely must restore fiscal responsibility and it cannot be done if we cut every single discretionary dollar of spending.

"Symbolic Taxes Do Nothing" (I'm taking the liberty to turn one poster's message into another slogan.) I suggested that a justifiable tax increase would be to raise the capital gains rate, like St. Ronald supported in the 80's. Clearly that step alone would not make a big dent in the deficit, but I only used it as an example of at least one proposal which might break the logjam. The logjam must be broken. The beginning of a serious revision of the tax code in Congress would do that. And as an added bonus, the constant reminders by those pesky "occupiers" which some of you are becoming so uncomfortable with, would disappear!

"Democrats Wage Class Warfare". Again, an extreme and provocative way to change the subject from an intelligent discussion of dealing with the deficit. And it adds a nice negative slam at the same time.

There are a bunch of other single words which have been given negative connotation by some posters here. 'Liberals', 'socialists', 'communists', 'nazis', 'ny times', etc,etc. are used to brush off further discussion of the issues.

Please don't brush me off with a bumper sticker like "evidence is usually fatal to the liberal world". I'd like to present more evidence of why I think some new revenue from the wealthiest Americans is a justifiable component of deficit reduction. I refer to the new report that in the last 28 years, middle class Americans have realized a 40% increase in their incomes. At the same time the wealtiest have seen their incomes increase by 275%.

OK, I can't resist at least one sweeping generalization: I believe that if the above situation is allowed to continue unchecked, it will eventually be the major contributing factor to the destruction of our nation. This is what our grandchildren will inherit.

[Guest]

After a rant like that I hope you at least took a deep breath and actually watch the video. The video, remember the video? Did you view it?

[Guest]

I watched the video and understood what he said. After one year there is no more money to pay anything after we take all the money from the free market all the "rich" you know, those that make over $250k a year, all the 401Ks and stop paying all the retirement funds. Makes sense to me, barter system here we come.

Now is the time to limit government back to the size as stated in the Constitution, do away with all the cabinets that are unconstitutional, Education, Health & Welfare, etc. Stop the tax payer pension funds for our elected criminals and get government out of private business. Those that fail, fail and those that make it, make it. That is the only way to dug ourselves out of this mess. No more "to big to fail" anythings.

[Guest]

Would NEVER open a ********** link. Just more spam. Whittle is just another *********............ blabbering the same old talking points Faux News spews out very night.

BORING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a bit of news for you.... YOUTUBE is NOT a source of news.

[Guest]

coralway, do you know what a ********* is? Google that term, then you might want to stop using it. Its TEA Party member.

Here is a bit of news for you.......********* is a deragatory term

[Guest]

Would NEVER open a ********** link. Just more spam. Whittle is just another *********............ blabbering the same old talking points Faux News spews out very night.

BORING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a bit of news for you.... YOUTUBE is NOT a source of news.


Now here's a prime example of so many who call themselves "liberal", while being the most stereotyping and closed-minded to be found.

[Guest]

If the shoe fits.......

didn't Insanity Hannity refer to you ********** as a bunch of Timothy McVeee wannabees?

[Guest]

yes "*********" denotes from whence you come, whether you intended that or not.
You are missing the point. You go after the messenger....then you go after the message delivery device....but some how or another completely missed the matter of the subject and the intent of the thread.

So forget your hangups....forget your need to badger....forget your need to belittle...go back and view the video and listen to what is being said. The message is designed to correct the misconception way too many people have about how much money is pooled where ever their minds think it is. The math is pretty simple....it merely deflates the aging and worn out argument about the rich and what ever the current talking points mandate to some.

I like the bumper sticker "evidence is usually fatal to the liberal world" and please note I do broaden the scope beyond "liberal".

Reminder: the subject of the thread is the content of the VIDEO!!

btk

[Guest]

coralway, do you know what a ********* is? Google that term, then you might want to stop using it. Its TEA Party member.

Here is a bit of news for you.......********* is a deragatory term

He knows that. He purposely wants to tick you off. He want's to insult you. That's Coralway's way.

[Guest]

Would NEVER open a ********** link. Just more spam. Whittle is just another *********............ blabbering the same old talking points Faux News spews out very night.

BORING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a bit of news for you.... YOUTUBE is NOT a source of news.

This post of yours reveals a profound ignorance, and a self destructive hatred. You do know that? You're drowning in your own irrelevance with this view.

[Guest]

Richie,

Just as Coralway would never open a link to the teaparty, I told you in an earlier thread I would never open a link to the nazi party, communist party, or a white supremist party. I would never want the "cookie" to show up on my computer and even though erased, they still are on the hard drive.

I would hope reasonable people would get news from more than one station - be it a liberal and a conservative one. Neither are fair and balanced. That is up to each viewer - or reader of newspapers.

[Guest]

Richie,

Just as Coralway would never open a link to the teaparty, I told you in an earlier thread I would never open a link to the nazi party, communist party, or a white supremist party. I would never want the "cookie" to show up on my computer and even though erased, they still are on the hard drive.

I would hope reasonable people would get news from more than one station - be it a liberal and a conservative one. Neither are fair and balanced. That is up to each viewer - or reader of newspapers.

That's hardly the same thing, and you didn't insult everyone with your statement or reasons for your decision.

His statement is boiling with hatred. It's just so obvious, and pathetic.

[Guest]

What I came away with was how well this video describes the depth of the financial crisis facing the U.S.

Clearly, the problem cannot be solved by massive increases in taxation. But the video mentions nothing about the need to substantially reduce federal spending as well as the cost of entitlements. Those steps, combined with some amount of carefully planned changes in tax policy, are what will be needed to solve our fiscal crisis. Unless our elected representatives finally agree to design both elements into whatever plan they come up with, we will look like Greece and Italy in a few years. There's no question about it.

[Guest]

buggyone, how can you know your enemy if you don't know what they are up to or what their mission is. Never open a link to nazi, or any other hate group. I want to know what they are up to so I can create a defense and be ready, just in case.

VK, you are right. With out cutting entitlements and a raise in taxes, we will never get out of debt and in the end, chaos and the fall of the US.

[Guest]

Figmo,

Some of the entitlements cut might be Medicare benefits, Social Security benefits, and military retirement benefits. As a 20 year man, I cannot see how you would be in favor of cutting your own military retirement benefits and quite possibly the veteran benefits for recently discharged soldiers.

[Guest]

buggyone, since I am both a disabled vet, drawing VA compensation and a military retirement and combat related specialty compensation, along with SS, yes I can and could afford to take a cut. But I know other disabled vets who could not. So No on all those benefits. Besides the reason you can post here and say what you want is because of the vets. Find cuts on those that have given nothing towards the advancement of this country.

There are lots more entitlements that can be reduced, IE., welfare, aid to dependent children, WIC and a few others that have never earned an entitlements or benefits but are sucking at the handout teats of the Federal government and vote for those that keep the free money flowing. I believe in helping them get back on their feet, but not generation after generation and not raising their entitlement for each out of wedlock child. You can make one mistake, but not four or five and keep getting more money for each mistake.

So if you can read this, thank a teacher and if you are free to post and read this, thank a vet.

[Guest]

Figmo,

How would you feel about a means test for determining how much in military retirement, VA disability, combat related compensation, as well as Social Security benefits that a person could draw?

[Guest]

buggyone, how can you know your enemy if you don't know what they are up to or what their mission is. Never open a link to nazi, or any other hate group. I want to know what they are up to so I can create a defense and be ready, just in case.

VK, you are right. With out cutting entitlements and a raise in taxes, we will never get out of debt and in the end, chaos and the fall of the US.

This is why Hitler almost took over the world. No one wanted to admit what he was really up to.

[Guest]

buggyone, I did the means test, combat tours was mean enough of a test for me. If the government sends you someplace to get shot at, then they need to pay for that service. You want the same bennies, go where the action is. Then come back and tell me that you did not earn everything that you are getting.

[Guest]

"Eat the Rich" is just another provocative, extreme slogan. The media creates these trite 'bumper stickers' with the idea that the larger the sweeping generalization, the better. Here are some of the bumper sticker answers I got recently when I asked why it was inappropriate to raise any new deficit-reducing revenue through added taxes.

"I earned it, I spend it" This sounds good, but ignores the fact that it is impossible to run any government without taxation. It also ignores the fact that a stable government allows citizens to pursue gainful employment and enforces laws which protects them from others who would rather steal than work. Everyone must pay something, even the poor, like the sales tax on the shirt they bought at the thrift store.

"Taxed Enough Already" This sounds good too, an apt slogan for every generation, country, era, etc. But the facts are that Americans pay the lowest taxes overall than in the last half century. Forget blame for costly wars, trade deficits or entitlements designed to make Americans' lives better, we absolutely must restore fiscal responsibility and it cannot be done if we cut every single discretionary dollar of spending.

"Symbolic Taxes Do Nothing" (I'm taking the liberty to turn one poster's message into another slogan.) I suggested that a justifiable tax increase would be to raise the capital gains rate, like St. Ronald supported in the 80's. Clearly that step alone would not make a big dent in the deficit, but I only used it as an example of at least one proposal which might break the logjam. The logjam must be broken. The beginning of a serious revision of the tax code in Congress would do that. And as an added bonus, the constant reminders by those pesky "occupiers" which some of you are becoming so uncomfortable with, would disappear!

"Democrats Wage Class Warfare". Again, an extreme and provocative way to change the subject from an intelligent discussion of dealing with the deficit. And it adds a nice negative slam at the same time.

There are a bunch of other single words which have been given negative connotation by some posters here. 'Liberals', 'socialists', 'communists', 'nazis', 'ny times', etc,etc. are used to brush off further discussion of the issues.

Please don't brush me off with a bumper sticker like "evidence is usually fatal to the liberal world". I'd like to present more evidence of why I think some new revenue from the wealthiest Americans is a justifiable component of deficit reduction. I refer to the new report that in the last 28 years, middle class Americans have realized a 40% increase in their incomes. At the same time the wealtiest have seen their incomes increase by 275%.

OK, I can't resist at least one sweeping generalization: I believe that if the above situation is allowed to continue unchecked, it will eventually be the major contributing factor to the destruction of our nation. This is what our grandchildren will inherit.

ijuslivit: Please please be my guest and voluntarily up your constributions to the government. God knows how badly the members of the U S congress need a raise. These same members know how important it is to spend billions upon billions to preserve the north american cockaroach but studying their sexual habits. And those bridges to nowhere well we know someday we just might need them. We know the Departments of Education and Energy are vital to us. We can tell by how well are student are performing and how well we have advanced in our national energy policy since their inception

Gosh just think of how proud you will be of the great accomplishment made with your increased contribution. but thank God that the liberal members of Congress have the foresight to cut way back on defense spending. I mean we can just fold our defense resources into NATO as many of the liberal in Washington have suggested.

[Guest]

buggyone, and further more, SGLI, I believe was only 10Gs back then proved by Uncle Sam to your family if you bought the farm, plus a purple medal. So you can see how much our government really valued our lifes. It was really easy to get that purple medal, but most that it was issued to gave all. Some where lucky and only gave parts of their bodies to get one. So, let's cut defense, lets cut VA benefits, then when you have no Army you will shortly have no country, but all those on welfare can have a huge check.

On a side note, when I first went in, I got as a Private First Class, $108 dollars a month base pay. Then when I was in RVN I got 65 dollar for combat pay, 55 dollars jump pay and 12 dollars overseas pay. Guess you think I was way over paid for allowing Uncle Sam to send me someplace where I didn't want to go, do things that I didn't want to do, just to get shot at by people who I had never seen before and had no quarrel with. What a vacation for a senior trip.

[Guest]

Figmo,

The pay I got as an E-1 was about $78 but that increased rapidly to $120 after advanced training. The highest pay I received was about $265 per month and I was sending almost all of it home in what they called the Soldier Overseas Deposit. It paid 10 percent interest and that is how I paid for my 1969 Mustang when I returned home.

I also get a small VA disability check each month.

[Guest]

Please don't brush me off with a bumper sticker like "evidence is usually fatal to the liberal world". I'd like to present more evidence of why I think some new revenue from the wealthiest Americans is a justifiable component of deficit reduction. I refer to the new report that in the last 28 years, middle class Americans have realized a 40% increase in their incomes. At the same time the wealtiest have seen their incomes increase by 275%.

Well said. I see that you read the Financial Times also.

[Guest]

The link exposes how a law firm advises clients how to avoid hiring Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU

[Guest]

The fatal flaw in all these "eat the rich" arguments, is that the tax increases on the rich you and others are salivating for serves only to make you feel better and will never be a major factor in solving our country's financial deficits by raising the necessary revenue. I think you're looking for some sort of "payback" and little else. It's main effect is to cause the job creators to pull back even further, it can be argued.

This country needs to create an atmosphere for business growth, business expansion and engender an atmosphere for new entrepreneurship. This is not done by confiscating more capital from business, but by doing the opposite and cutting those corporate taxes, coupled with an easing of onerous regulations that are strangling business growth, particularly in the energy sector.

Releasing your anger and looking at the realities of the situation would go a long way to creating solutions to the fears you have for your future. Creating an economic boom is what will put your future prospects in a better light.

[Guest]

The link exposes how a law firm advises clients how to avoid hiring Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU

Assuming this is a real clip and not an acted depiction for a nefarious purpose; who are these people and who are their clients and what kind of jobs are they talking about?

If the website mentioned at the end of the video is searched for and opened it appears that it is a group representing American Programmers who purpose is to keep jobs in America. So maybe this clip you've found might be these people illustrating to their audience how "scammers" recruit foreign workers while bypassing higher wage demanding American citizens in a technically legal way.