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So, Kend, after we, the workers/consumers, pay our state and local taxes, our taxes on utilities (telephone, internet, etc.) our property and income tax for the schools our gas tax at the pump our sales tax punishment after we boost the economy and rich man's pockets (and numerous other taxes that don't come to mind)--well, there is a lot less of $33,500 for MY family. I don't give a damn about the wealthy vampires who are feeding on/sucking the life out of the very people who MAKE and BUY their products and MAKE THEM MONEY. They need to put their hoard BACK INTO the people and infrastructure and economy that supports their way of life.
You might try reading What Went Wrong by George Tyler. It's about how short-termism, based on usually "inflated" stock prices evaluated, CEO captialism (thanks to Ronnie "intellectual lightweight" Reagan) is far less superior and sustainable than FAMILY capitalism and how well the countries and their companies that embrace FAMILY captiaism are doing--hint--much better than the US--and their wealthy are STILL wealthy--just less selfish and greedy and entitled. Milton Freedman does not fare, deservedly, well.
well-paid employees = monied consumers = LONG-TERM business profits for the company not just the temporary CEO.
Kend:
If the wealthy actually pay 38% (and they don't pay that--after "write-offs, they pay around what Warren Buffet quotes as only 17%--most even less) of say $1 billion is only $380,000,000 with $620,000,000 left over for the poor wealthy robber baron to live on for a year.
My husband and I pay $16,500 (Federal) on $50,000 and have to live on $33,500. I'd say there is a BIG difference. Our measley, not measley to us, $16,500 is paying to keep this country running for those who only ROB America and HOARD the money, which MUST GO BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.
The spoiled wealthy DO NOT need to be defended--they need to be taken to the tax woodshed to receive their just desserts.
You are correct about Americans being scalped for perscription medicine--you deserve a hand for your real-life experience and report of the US vampire health system.
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Tax hikes won't hurt the economy, Kend, quite the contrary if tax policies encouraging off shoring are reversed. The 1% don't deserve one small part of what they get. They are parasites living high from our labor. 38% is not near a fair percentage of the profits to compensate those who work so hard to make them rich.
I'm sure this tax plan is detailed, moderate, and reasonable, and thus it will be seen as boring and tepid. Haven't we learned from the days of the "Reagan Revolution" that to get political movement towards the center one must take an overblown position way out on the fringes of one's ideology? It also helps if such plans are simplistic as well as bombastic (flat tax! star wars defense!). The details can go into the actual written legislation, but the message needs to be somewhat outrageous and brief (Soak the rich! Repeal the second amendment! Jail the banksters!). Since this stuff won't pass anyway, the Democrats might as well make a bold and hopefully memorable statement.
Sorry Thom, I'm siding with the cynics. All theater, no substance. Isn't it touching how generous these guys can be with the imaginary and unattainable!
There are, at least, two kinds of capitalism. There is a) productive capitalism and b) paper capitalism. The U.S. system has shipped the productive part abroad and now majors in piling paper (illusory) assets as high as possible before the pile collapses. Let's always clarify which type we're talking about rather than conflating the two meanings. The stock market is a lousy measure of how our nation is functioning!
Don't want to sound cynical, but this pattern of presenting progressive legislation by the Dems, when there isn't a snowballs chance in hell of passing, is getting a bit old and disingenuous.
I'm afraid you are right ccccccttttt - and it is sad
ChristopopehrCurrie, I agree whole heartedly. If EVER there has been a time when members of SCOTUS should be impeached it is not!!! Scalia's statements and the fact that he parties with lobbyists continually is reason enough that he should NEVER be allowed to hear another case before the court in his lifetime. Thomas is Scalia's lackey and has his nose so far up Scalia's ass that it will break off if Scalia makes a sharp turn. Roberts and Alito seem to waffle back and forth and cannot seem to make up their mind which side they are on and are definitely defending our Constitution. I have a lot of respect for Ruth Bader Ginsberg who would like to much to retire after 2 buts with cancer and other ailments but I am in full agreement with her statement to the effect that there is not a judge available right not whom whe would trust to sit on the court. For whomever has the job of doing so, IMPEACH these justices at once and then we can maybe get back to a court where we have some belief that they are going that for which they were chosen and that is to uphold our CONSTITUTION!! NOT being done by the SCROTUM 5!
We need more information on ties among the Kochs, the American Petroleum Institute and Transcanada Corporation.
Roland
No, Thom, it is WAY past time. We need to dress the mall with gibbets holding lobbyists, after all, lobbyist is just another name for traitor.
Roland
Although this has nothing to do with the topic. I ran out of a prescription eye drop well I was down in Arizona. I went to a Safeway the same pharmacy as I do in Canada and the same prescription before my insurance plan was $125.00 US compared to $22.00 CAN (26.37 US) that I pay here. This is the same store and the exact same manufacture of the prescription. I have heard this before but WOW that is a huge difference. I have a private health care plan so my cost in Canada is $4.04 CAN and I can recover those costs but I feel for you down there.
The Dems talk big but they know if they implement the tax hikes like some of you are suggesting it would crush your economy. Your corporations are already the highest taxed in the world. The top 1% are paying 38 % of the taxes already. After 2 million half of what you inherit is confiscated. That's why they talk big after the election. The intention is good but reality gets in the way.
But short of a overthrow of the government or a viable 3rd candidate &party, this is the system we are stuck with.
I wish my 2 Senators would have told the left to take the omnibus funding bill & shove it. Eliz. Warren did. So did Bernie and Sherrod Brown.
Yeah, we might have to wait "a couple of years". You mean "a couple of more years", like the 35-40 we've been waiting since there's been a Democratic Party to differ with the Republicans.
It's the "bait and switch" cycle every election. This is the "bait" part, then, afterward, if they get elected, it'll be time for "switch".
You think Obama didn't mean it when said he was about "change"? You saw him change, didn't you?
People vote with dollar bills not ballots anymore. This means nothing at all.
Internet is not just a library, it is our roads, bridges and mobility of communication and intellect, our communication and intellectual infrastructure. Other, previous communication and intellectual infrastructure that were designated "common carrier", telephones, telegraph, TV, radio, are now to varying degrees obsolete and internet has replaced them.
So, don't fund infrastructure then complain that government isn't able to maintain infrastructure.
Obama's taking the bait, starving government is all about forcing it to privatize because it doesn't have the funds to function. It's the planned theft of infrastructure from the people and into the pockets of rich assholes, owners of big business.
They are against "big government" but they move their factories to the police state of China? Clearly they are not against big government, only against democratic government.
Yeah, this took a lot of political courage. With absolutely no chance of passing through the house or the Senate, the timing of this bill was perfect. Democrats can use this as a political talking point, while not upsetting corporate master with the peace of mind of knowing that this bill is DOA.
A tasty plate of farce biscuits covered in placation gravy for the American media to eat up and regurgitate to the American public. .
Very serious and eye catchinhg article. Global warming is something very serious and thoughtful issue. Due to irregular climate change we face so many continuous natural disasters which effects the country's economy and citizens. Truly, all the hazardous wastes that affects our environment in one or the other way should be banned to get a clean and healthy pollution free environment. As a citizen everybody should think about this topic. Thanks for such a nice and informative post.!!
Health & Wellness Coach
I just make sure I always vote for the other gut since if they get elected twice they retire at full pay forever with full medical. Also they dont even work 40 hours a week!
Why is that even a paid position? It should be an honor in itself to serve.
Congress is exactly like two drunks at the bar argueing about the bill on the Titanic.
Democrats too little to late. Words are cheap.
Great idea in the right direction but with the Republicants in power we might have to wait a couple of years
Why wasn't this proposed in 2009, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14?
Now that it's safe for the dems to pretend to whisper a progressive scheme or two look forward to lots of pedantry which will, of course, go nowhere. Thom talks a good game too, and I like him, I guess. I'd rather hear the crickets, though.
Yep! You pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. Are we supposed to think that these weren't good ideas for the last decade? Are we supposed to think that these Democrats have suddenly found Jesus? Let's face reality people--this is just another dog and pony show designed to steal votes away from third party candidates in the next election. If recent history should teach us anything it is that if reelected with a landslide majority, these Democrats will quickly fall in line with their corporate masters just like they did 6 years ago when Obama was elected. Don't forget, they had 6 months control of both houses and did nothing to reform a broken tax system. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.