[tuccillo]

Because the money is at risk and you should be rewarded for taking the risk. If it was up to me, capital gains would be taxed at 0% for all capital gains instead of the first $80K or so. Try to stay on point, I know it is difficult for you.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

And WHY is "the capital gains rate typically lower"? Because the RICH lawyer-Congress-people voted to RETAIN their own richness at the expense of the middle-class and stability for the US as a country. That is WHY the US had a strong middle-class in the 40s through about 1975, but then the RICH politicians started nibbling away at the middle-class. Industrial factories move away from the Northeast to the South in order to AVOID unions, then moved to Mexico, then moved to Vietnam, and eventually China.
.......So, HUMOROUSLY, to avoid those TERRIBLE THINGS called UNIONS, we made our potential enemy, China, VERY RICH. Way to go Washington geniuses.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'm not talking about workers---they do deserve respect. I'm talking about those who choose not to work and instead live off the government teat (ie: the rest of us). This does not include the disabled who cannot work. However, I would never define alcoholism or drug addiction as a "disability"----I could certainly find something for them to do. It does , however, specifically refer to able bodied individuals who could work, but instead choose to run scams, or deal drugs, or have 6 children by 6 different fathers then lay all day on the couch watching Oprah. Believe me, I can find work for them---they won't like it, but I'd find it.

We all realize that TODAY in the US our most productive workforce........the aged 25 to 45 has been DECIMATED AND ARE LITERALLY DEAD because of the Fentanyl scourge and curse! many of these DEAD are white-collar CAPTAINS of industry. No wonder the unemployment figure is low. Someone needed to move upward to fill those positions vacated by the DEAD Fentanyl users. These people will NEVER get a chance to retire!
........And to retire to a place like The Village when they could, hopefully, afford a nice house and active life.
........Part of the reason for these Fentanyl deaths is the pressure on college graduates to succeed in the economy. Some try to medicate (with a deadly drug) the pressure away. That pressure is because there is NO natural middle class anymore in the US. Due to UNIONS being destroyed and colleges being too expensive for average people. These Fentanyl deaths are almost like the situation in ancient ROME when the Romans became increasingly decadent.
.......As to what is affordable, like a Village retirement life - a lot depends on the whole US economic society having a strong middle class that can make it through that age 25 to 45 period without resorting to KILLER DRUGS. A stronger middle class makes a stronger Village retirement enterprise, which contributes to a stronger America!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

It is TRUE that NO system is perfect. So, there will be abusers of ANY system. Welfare, started in the 30s was a COMPASSIONATE method of SPREADING America's GREAT WEALTH around to all citizens. In general, success in life has MANY more variables than MERELY hard work. Yard maintenance people today work HARD, but they are NEVER likely to be economically successful. There are many other factors, not just hard work that determines economic success. Who are your parents? How is your HEALTH? What DNA have your parents given to you? What is your IQ. Motivation - some people have high motivation, others lower. Were you ABLE to afford college? We mentioned today that other than sports stars, only rich children of rich parents can afford most colleges. Do you have a teenage criminal violation? Then maybe you can't EVEN get into the military. How hard would that be to come back from..........less than 1% can probably ever do that?
......If you are successful and rich today, then you probably enjoyed MANY advantages. It is NOT just hard work that determines a person's wealth status!

And therein lies the heart of the argument-----WHY should we "spread around the wealth"??? WHY should it be taken away from those that earned it and given to those who didn't??? News flash---this is America, not the old communist Soviet Union.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

We all realize that TODAY in the US our most productive workforce........the aged 25 to 45 has been DECIMATED AND ARE LITERALLY DEAD because of the Fentanyl scourge and curse! many of these DEAD are white-collar CAPTAINS of industry. No wonder the unemployment figure is low. Someone needed to move upward to fill those positions vacated by the DEAD Fentanyl users. These people will NEVER get a chance to retire!
........And to retire to a place like The Village when they could, hopefully, afford a nice house and active life.
........Part of the reason for these Fentanyl deaths is the pressure on college graduates to succeed in the economy. Some try to medicate (with a deadly drug) the pressure away. That pressure is because there is NO natural middle class anymore in the US. Due to UNIONS being destroyed and colleges being too expensive for average people. These Fentanyl deaths are almost like the situation in ancient ROME when the Romans became increasingly decadent.
.......As to what is affordable, like a Village retirement life - a lot depends on the whole US economic society having a strong middle class that can make it through that age 25 to 45 period without resorting to KILLER DRUGS. A stronger middle class makes a stronger Village retirement enterprise, which contributes to a stronger America!

Now you're way off topic---but----who went around and forced fentanyl down the throats of these addicts????

"decimated the middle class"?---As you know, I absolutely hate confusing you with the facts, but.....
According to the census bureau there are 88.89 million Americans age 25-45
According to the CDC, 54,750 Americans of all ages die from fentanyl OD each year

So, even if every death was age 25-45, which it isn't, that is 0.06% of that demographic----hardly what I would call "decimated"

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Look up "step basis at death".

That's funny.

SO, my original question: How was the base wealth generated & not taxed?? So how was the dead person's wealth generated without taxation???

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

We have a progressive tax system...

That is the definition of progressive.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

And therein lies the heart of the argument-----WHY should we "spread around the wealth"??? WHY should it be taken away from those that earned it and given to those who didn't??? News flash---this is America, not the old communist Soviet Union.

Why spread the wealth ? Maybe because we all weren't dealt the same hand.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Why spread the wealth ? Maybe because we all weren't dealt the same hand.

What a crock. I grew up in poverty. Parents couldn’t afford to send me to college so I joined the military. Went to night school on base to earn an associates degree. After the military I went to work for a company that offered tuition assistance and received my bachelor’s degree. Went on to own two very successful businesses which I sold for a nice profit. Retired at 57 and am living very comfortably.
Please explain to me what great hand I was dealt.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

What a crock. I grew up in poverty. Parents couldn’t afford to send me to college so I joined the military. Went to night school on base to earn an associates degree. After the military I went to work for a company that offered tuition assistance and received my bachelor’s degree. Went on to own two very successful businesses which I sold for a nice profit. Retired at 57 and am living very comfortably.
Please explain to me what great hand I was dealt.

Did you spend half your teenage years in an iron lung ? Did you have to work to support your parents ? Did you have to raise your siblings ? Did you have to flee your home with nothing but the clothes on your back ? Do you have scares from being abused ? The list goes on ! Yea tell me about that bad hand you were dealt. I say you were dealt a mediocre hand but played it well.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Why spread the wealth ? Maybe because we all weren't dealt the same hand.

no kidding. So what?????

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

That is the definition of progressive.

Unfortunately, you reposting it is the only way he'll see my posts.

He seems to have me on his ignore list...

Either that, or he's completely given up arguing the facts I throw at him, by answering with more nonsense... Which is doubtful, since it never stopped him in the past...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Why spread the wealth ? Maybe because we all weren't dealt the same hand.

Such is life. Sounds like you want equity of outcome, rather than equality of opportunity...

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

What a crock. I grew up in poverty. Parents couldn’t afford to send me to college so I joined the military. Went to night school on base to earn an associates degree. After the military I went to work for a company that offered tuition assistance and received my bachelor’s degree. Went on to own two very successful businesses which I sold for a nice profit. Retired at 57 and am living very comfortably.
Please explain to me what great hand I was dealt.

Are you white? did you have a good public school education growing up? Did you have two parents who loved you and were good role models? Did you have food on your table growing up? Did you have good health?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

And therein lies the heart of the argument-----WHY should we "spread around the wealth"??? WHY should it be taken away from those that earned it and given to those who didn't??? News flash---this is America, not the old communist Soviet Union.

If you don't "spread around the wealth" then practically by definition the wealth of a country ends up in the hands of FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE until ultimately you do have a fascist system like the Soviet Union or Russia today. Spreading the wealth around is actually the American way to freedom from the fascist dictators!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Now you're way off topic---but----who went around and forced fentanyl down the throats of these addicts????

"decimated the middle class"?---As you know, I absolutely hate confusing you with the facts, but.....
According to the census bureau there are 88.89 million Americans age 25-45
According to the CDC, 54,750 Americans of all ages die from fentanyl OD each year

So, even if every death was age 25-45, which it isn't, that is 0.06% of that demographic----hardly what I would call "decimated"

1st ever decrease in a demographic group in America. It is historic. There will be fewer white-collar retirees available to relocate to retirement areas like the Villages in the FUTURE.