Silver Spoon Versus Life

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"Rambling, I definitely don’t see how I made your point... a Progressive tax is not socialism"

If you can’t see that taxing a person based on his “ability ... Read More 

"Rambling, I definitely don’t see how I made your point... a Progressive tax is not socialism"

If you can’t see that taxing a person based on his “ability to pay” (MEANS), in order to sustain a welfare state, (NEEDS), is not perfectly aligned with the principles of socialism, then you simply don’t know what socialism is. You either don’t know, or don’t want to admit it. Perhaps you don’t care, and that is what frightens me.

Do you not understand that socialism encompasses the goal of wealth redistribution as one of it’s primary principles?

" the national debt as percentage of GDP usually goes above 40% in times of crisis (like this one). "

Times of crisis? What the heck do you think the crisis is? The crisis IS the debt. The bad economy is only a symptom of the crises and is the direct result of the federal government doing things it should not be doing, i.e. forcing banks to make bad loans under the Community Reinvestment Act. There would not be a crisis if the politicians would simply stop creating insurmountable debt doing things that are wasteful, unnecessary, and very much contrary to the original intent of the Constitution, and trying to micro-manage the economy based on failed Keynesian (socialist) theories. OK, you don’t want to call it socialism. How about we just call it stupid and wrong?

“The real issue with Obama and socialism is the cost and number of needs he trying to make “rights” like health insurance, etc. “……. “a progressive tax has nothing to do with needs”

Those two statements are totally contradictory. What do you think pays for all those “needs”?

“So, they don’t get that extra trip to Europe or they don’t get that third vacation home. “

I can’t believe you actually said that. So, you believe there is a limit to how much wealth a person should be allowed to accumulate? And you believe that is fair, moral and just? You have a rather distorted and frightening view of fairness.

You believe that according to some arbitrary, politically expedient calculation, if you have been deemed to have legally and honestly earned too much money, the government should take it from you and “spread it around” on anything it deems necessary? If you believe that, I pray you don’t vote.

Providing for the less privileged by taking from those deemed to have “made enough”, may seem well intentioned or practical, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions as was our current $16 trillion debt.

 

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I have at some time or another been for each of the candidates with the exception of Ron Paul (his foreign policy is void of reason and responsibility). I wish Herman Caine ... Read More 

I have at some time or another been for each of the candidates with the exception of Ron Paul (his foreign policy is void of reason and responsibility). I wish Herman Caine had stayed in the race.

As it stands I think Romney stands the best chance to win a presidential election. It seems that negitve public perception of both Santorum and Gingrich is too strong for either to be elected.

Personally, I kinda like Santorum but some of his views are indeed even to "right" for me. I can't for the life of me figure out why birth control, abortion etc are governmental issues. Why is the government involved in such things. These are issues between individuals and their God.

 

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Be Careful: Another reason not to read your blogs. "I cited the wrong case" why should we believe your posts as facts. In the future, how about fact checking ... Read More 

Be Careful: Another reason not to read your blogs. "I cited the wrong case" why should we believe your posts as facts. In the future, how about fact checking your facts?

 

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It is OK Tracy. I think that we all have things to vent, the country is so unsettled now. It is so difficult to find friends anymore who are really friends, and then we ... Read More 

It is OK Tracy. I think that we all have things to vent, the country is so unsettled now. It is so difficult to find friends anymore who are really friends, and then we lose them because we have different political beliefs. It would be so nice if we could all just agree to disagree and only want what is best for this Great Nation. I try very hard to base my opinion on facts. Guess I had too many years working for the Feds.....LOL

 

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Thanks Mr Berger. When I was researching, I cited the wrong case. To err is human... I am glad someone fact checked me:) I don't think it changed my overall argument ... Read More 

Thanks Mr Berger. When I was researching, I cited the wrong case. To err is human... I am glad someone fact checked me:) I don't think it changed my overall argument or position, but getting the facts right is paramount.

 

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Dear Chopin I actually took what you said the wrong way. I see that he made his money honestly by writing books and selling them. I thought you were suggesting something ... Read More 

Dear Chopin I actually took what you said the wrong way. I see that he made his money honestly by writing books and selling them. I thought you were suggesting something sinister.

 

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Well we all know my guy is Mitt and Marco Rubio For VP. I think the bumper sticker could be MR Squared, or to the second power.

Thank you Mr. Berger for correcting the ... Read More 

Well we all know my guy is Mitt and Marco Rubio For VP. I think the bumper sticker could be MR Squared, or to the second power.

Thank you Mr. Berger for correcting the mis-quote of the Plessey VS Ferguson.

Gov Romney won the Debate last night, and Santorum fell in his face. Whew!

But according to The Annointed One, he will be there another 5 years, so I guess we might as well just give up! FAT CHANCE! True Americans will not let that happen. Those who love getting the unemployment checks instead of looking for a job will be happy that he is declaring
himself the King and Victory.

 

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Be Careful-Thank you for an intelligent post. I may not agree with your politics, but it is well reasoned. One small caveat: The Pleasey case dealt with racial segregation, ... Read More 

Be Careful-Thank you for an intelligent post. I may not agree with your politics, but it is well reasoned. One small caveat: The Pleasey case dealt with racial segregation, not taxes. The income tax was authorized by the 16th amendment and upheld in Brushaber v. Union Pacific in 1916.

 

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Rambling, I definitely don’t see how I made your point. May I clarify?

If the Republicans refuse to select a candidate worthy of consideration (See John McCain and Bob ... Read More 

Rambling, I definitely don’t see how I made your point. May I clarify?

If the Republicans refuse to select a candidate worthy of consideration (See John McCain and Bob Dole), what do you think the outcome would be? As for the $16 trillion in debt, this kind of debt has only recently happened and does not have 100 years of law as the Progressive Tax. In fact, the national debt as percentage of GDP usually goes above 40% in times of crisis (like this one). Please study the charts as they are available online. Your incessant rant about socialism does lose power when repeated over and over. Might I suggest instead of this constant Socialism mantra, you address each topic with well thought out research and logic as how come to your conclusions?

I do agree the issue is President Obama has almost doubled the national debt in 3 years. However, because the Republicans can’t pick a good candidate, maybe we should focus our energy on winning the Senate.
I never said a Progressive tax was good or right. However, the Federal Government has to raise money to operate. How much that is; is the rub. Why don’t we just have national lotteries or national sales tax? Or is no tax good to you? How would you fund the Federal government?

Further, a Progressive tax is not socialism. Even according to your own quote, “according to his means, to each according to his needs," a progressive tax has nothing to do with needs. The real issue with Obama and socialism is the cost and number of needs he trying to make “rights” like health insurance, etc.

Your statement, “we have strayed from the Constitution and simple fairness and morality,” appears to one man’s opinion devoid of logical argument or law. Please read the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case which it was determined progressive tax was constitutional.

Further, why is a progressive tax not fair or immoral? I would suggest most people (no study, my opinion) is someone who makes $250k/year can afford paying a greater percentage. So, they don’t get that extra trip to Europe or they don’t get that third vacation home.

With that said, I am against the income tax all together. I would rather see no income tax and a Progressive sales tax or luxury tax. By having a progressive sales tax, the individual can decide if the additional cost is worth the extra tax. Does building a $1M home really add that much more value to society than a $100k house? So, if you are rich and you want it, pay for it. You want to drive a new BMW versus a Kia Rio, pay for it.

As for social policies, some are so engrained that it is too late and not worth argument. Social Security is one of them. It even has the word “Social” in it. We are stuck with it, like it or not. Let’s focus on those things we can fix.

 

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Well, thanks for the history lesson on the US tax code and how far we have strayed from the Constitution and simple fairness and morality.

The argument that it must be ... Read More 

Well, thanks for the history lesson on the US tax code and how far we have strayed from the Constitution and simple fairness and morality.

The argument that it must be good or right because everyone goes along with it is just plain ridiculous. But then, most of the progressive argument is ridiculous and does not work and has been proven not to work.

I suppose, to use your argument, being $16 trillion is debt is good because the people continue to re-elect the politicians who keep spending and adding to the debt.

But, I thank you for making my argument. The progressive tax code is, in fact, socialist by its very nature. It is based on one's ability to pay, or, as Marx put it, "From each according to his means, to each according to his needs."