Again, you continue to change the subject because you cannot make an argument against what I stated...

The US Corporate tax rate WAS one of, if not THE highest in the world...

That is why so many companies went overseas...

(I guess I had to answer that for you...)

And do you know WHY certain companies can often pay no taxes?

It amazes me how you could take what I posted and infer that I actually "look down on the poorest 20% as do nothing low-life."

Project much?

And Jeffery Epstein has ZERO to do with the conversation at hand... He was a pedophile and a sex trafficker...

And the people who "benefit the most"? Benefit in what way?

Jeffery Epstein, Bill Gates, Donald You-Know-Who are just examples of how it is the richest who benefit the most from our government. They have bought their way into an environment custom made to allow them to operate unchecked unless they really cross the line, and then get caught. Does not happen much. They should at least toss some spare change into the tax coffers.
I did not mean to imply that you, personally, look up or down at anything or anyone. I do think the middle class in general look down on the poorest more than they look down on the richest.

Nice backpedal...

There is a store up north where everything, down to the bolt, has to be made In America

It is only one of the reasons, not the reason. But, yes, at some point it is advantageous.

Please, why do some companies often pay no taxes (I know, but I am interested in your take on it. I hope you won't imply they all don't for the same reason...)

And the US Corporate tax rate went from 1% in 1910 to 52% in 1968. A period of massive growth in the US economy. There is little evidence that high tax rates are a disincentive to investment in America. But, I agree also that at 52% there was a lot of motivation to move the "profit" centers offshore.

WW1 and WW2 had something to do with the "massive" growth.

So tell me, what are some of the other reasons?

Because they deduct their expenses, such is investment in machinery, R&D, etc, which may total more than their profit.

The only real change in the tax laws was that corporations could deduct those expenses when the money was spent, rather than have to do it over time...

In my case, If I bought an new piece of equipment, I had to delay the tax deductions for years...

Now, some companies are given temporary tax by the local municipalities, in order to entice them to come to their town. They know that the tax revenues now and in the future will more than make up for the initial breaks...

Well, most of them knew that... One NY Congress critter, for example, complained so much about a short term tax break for Amazon, when they wanted to build a huge corporate site in their district, providing thousands of jobs, millions in tax revenue, that they simply went elsewhere. They are now building in my neck of the woods, in Northern VA, where office rental and real estate revenues are skyrocketing, adding to the tax coffers with waaay more money than they would have gotten if Amazon never came...

But Bezos has a big boat, so...

And The Viet Nam "conflict"...

And don't forget about the massive wave of LEGAL immigration, bringing in innovators and entrepreneurs...

Yes, war is usually good for business. That's why "they" cook up a phony reason to have one every few years.

I didn't say the higher tax rate caused the growth, I am saying we became the worlds largest economy despite it. It did not prevent or discourage people from finding ways to make even more money.

Sadly, we have "been at war" for 220 of the past 240 year. America LOVES war, dispite our vocal disclaimers.

You are correct, IMO. I should have added to my comment - not only do "they" come up with phony reasons to start a war, but "we" keep falling for the same BS over and over. We all get to act all patriotic while someone else fights and dies. I was somewhat surprised to find that only about 1% of Americans actually participate in the military. Maybe we need the draft again, but no deferments (none!) and kids are drafted in order of their parents adjusted gross income - high to low.

I am a fan of a SciFi author named Heinlein. He wrote a novel called Starship Troopers. In it, he proposed that there should be two levels of citizenship - "citizen" and "resident". Citizens have all rights and can vote. Residents get to live as second class citizens, can't vote, etc. In order to become a citizen you had to serve a tour in the military. In addition, carrying hand guns was mandatory - for citizens, and anyone could challenge anyone to a duel, refusing to accept the challenge would result in the loss of your citizenship status. (Of course accepting the duel usually resulted in one of the two losing it - LOL).

Anyway. It was interesting to read how he felt those laws would affect society. I dis agree with him, but he did propose it would lead to a much more polite society, since insulting someone could lead to a duel.

"Starship Troopers"


"Bugs! Bugs! We've Got Bugs!" LOL

Yup, another closet Heinlein fan! Hoorah!

Sure. Anerica prints money. Lots of it!!

And they found a way to make money despite the recent (post Y2K) tax increases...

They moved offshore, and moved jobs with them...

Don't forget Denise Richards in one of her first major motion picture roles...:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

The majority of jobs lost, I think about 85%, have been lost to automation. And that is just the tip of the iceberg we are heading for. The only suggestion I have seen to deal with the massive loss of jobs we are heading for is to implement an “automation tax” and use it to fund UBI for those that are displaced by automation.

Stanford has and excellent series on the coming changes and potential impacts and they are streaming it all on YouTube. Leaders in economics, ethics, AI, business etc having discussions and debates. I think you might enjoy it.

Stanford HAI - YouTube

Can you please cite the source to that 85% claim? Thanks in advance...

Americans enjoy living like or emulating the wealthy. Cheap products allow us to enjoy the luxuries of the wealthy lifestyle without the price of long hard work and investing. We live well. American products often cost more because thanks to unions, federal labor laws and restrictions, the cost to produce is expensive. So, the cost is handed down to the consumer.
I will continue to use whichever product that allows me to live the most luxurious life possible, and choose American made only when I can afford it. I make no apologies. Loyalty to the origin of products only goes so far. Americans are the product of their own greed. My greed says that I will purchase my big screen TV that is made in Asia rather than do without the entertainment. My products from overseas may be inferior, but they are adequate to the extent that if/when they go bad I can throw them away and afford to replace them without taking out a loan. The U.S.A label will always be my first look when shopping, but reality may cause me to shop for the less expensive item.

You know, it is really annoying when someone calls me out on a made up number. The 85% is a number "tossed about", but I don't know if it is actually calculated anywhere.

Also, there is significant debate over the trade vs technology aspects of what is driving the job loss. Many will state the technology (automation) is minor and others will say major. Here is a paper from Dartmouth that I recalled reading a while back that analyses the debate. There is definitely a connection, and the connection is sensitive to the specific industry. As always nothing is really simple. Manufacturing has been hit hard by automation, farming is just now being impacted.

https://faculty.tuck.dartmouth.edu/i...f_2018_JEP.pdf

I'm a big sci-fi fan myself. Currently reading/re-reading the many books by Alastair Reynolds. Lots of long complicated reads which I enjoy.

"I will continue to use whichever product that allows me to live the most luxurious life possible, and choose American made only when I can afford it. I make no apologies."


Perfectly exemplifying my earlier post, wherein I stated that - "we've done it to ourselves." Given that this post perfectly sums up the issue of the OP's original question/comment, this thread might as well be closed (and no, I'm not advocating that it be done) as it has pretty much run its course and the issue has been addressed, answered - and explained.

I thought Herbert's book 'Dune' was long, complicated and tough enough to read as it was - then I watched the movie. LOL

Yup, good stuff.

Dune was in a class of it's own. Excellent.

Not that simple. Very abridged story. My dad was on the Battan death march. He was one of 20 something in his battalion to survive WWII. There are 400-600 in a battalion. He passed of cancer with a piece of a shell to close to his spinal cord to be removed and was in pain most of his life. I could not buy a Japanese car. It was July 4th. Irony, all the japanese companies were running July 4th specials and the American car companies were closed. I ended up buying a Chevy. What is more American than a Chevy. It does qualify as being made in the USA. Reality 40% of it is foreign made.

Rare earth metals. Original post complete with graphs and all. Tessler being electric uses rare earth magnets. The US just reopened a mine in Calif. They are not all that rare. The mining and refining are dirty. We ship American ore to China and buy back refined rare earth metals. Made in the United States.

Apple made a whole big announcement that they were moving some production to the US. Unlike in the past,much manufacturing is done by robots. Higher American labor costs simply do not effect robots.

A simple solution would be to not toss out "made up numbers"... Easy Peasy!

That is true BUT, a large part of what we export are raw materials. The US is one of the few countries that can export food. Reality, the US is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of military hardware.

We were for a brief time a net energy exporter. To the best of my ability I deal with what is, not what should be.

I don't think that "nothing is more important" but it beats the hell out of being powerless and unprepared.

Right away I know a lot.

Made in America has to do with how much value of the product is made in America that includes assembly n

Some companies pay no taxes simply due to the tax code. They are high Capital intensive and low profit margins. General electric is one of them, they have to continually build factories to make jet engines etc. Ask any accountant what depreciation is

55 items made in America
 

Some are Reese's peanut butter cups, lodge iron pots n pans
Most RV's
Corning glass ( some made in Mexico)
Footballs
Most carpeting, lots of underwear like fruit of the loom. Virtually all Frozen foods, virtually all upholstered furniture. Airplanes, computer games and software are made in America

55 of the most popular products made in America - MediaFeed

I think the point is that, in some cases, the tax code needs to be changed.

Tax code does need to be changed, too often lobbyists write the code to favor the manufacturers who pay them and the large corporation who benefits from this has previously purchased a good number of legislators.

all this crap in these posts sure sound political to me.. hey moderator give them all 1 point..