REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Ah yes, the rich really DO get richer....

POSTED BY: AURAPTOR
UPDATED: Sunday, August 7, 2011 22:13
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Thursday, August 4, 2011 11:55 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Pelosi's wealth grows by 62 percent

By Kevin Bogardus - 06/15/11 12:46 PM ET

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) saw her net worth rise 62 percent last year, cementing her status as one of the wealthiest members of Congress.

Pelosi was worth at least $35.2 million in the 2010 calendar year, according to a financial disclosure report released Wednesday. She reported a minimum of $43.4 million in assets and about $8.2 milion in liabilities.

For 2009, Pelosi reported a minimum net worth of $21.7 million.



And the poor ?


Posted: 4:11 PM Aug 4, 2011

More people using food stamps than ever

Food stamps are feeding more people than ever. More than 45 million Americans now receive the aid, up 12 percent since last year.

Reporter: Sara Shookman





The Summer of Recovery - Part Deux , rolls on !!



Oh, and btw... Dow nose dives - 512, to end a miserable week after Obama's Debt Ceiling crisis "averted".






" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 12:25 PM

DREAMTROVE


No argument here.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 1:08 PM

MINCINGBEAST


Let them eat cake. Let them eat pre-digested cake.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 1:22 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Yup, just what was predicted to happen, happened.

Cut taxes for the rich, they get richer.

Tea-baggers hold the country hostage, economy goes in the shitter.

The tea-baggers are the ones who claimed this wouldn't happen. They're wrong about everything, as usual.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 1:46 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Yup, just what was predicted to happen, happened.

Obama and the Democrats hold the country hostage, economy goes in the shitter.

Biden and the Dems are the ones who claimed this wouldn't happen. They're wrong about everything, as usual.



fixed it for ya.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 2:09 PM

DREAMTROVE


Quote:

Cut taxes for the rich, No, the high wage earners lose money at a slower ratel.


Fixed that for ya.


That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 2:14 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Quote:

Cut taxes for the rich, No, the high wage earners lose money at a slower ratel.


Fixed that for ya.


That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.



No, you just made it a bunch of gibberish. Are you trying to emulate Rappy?

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 2:16 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Yup, just what was predicted to happen, happened.

Racist tea-bagging scum hold the country hostage, economy goes in the shitter.

Rappy and his tea-bagging buddies are the ones who claimed this wouldn't happen. They're wrong about everything, as usual.



fixed it for ya.



Fixed it back for ya.

I'm just curious, why do you feel the need to follow up my post, in almost every thread, regardless of forum, and comment on what I have said, regardless of what the subject may be ?

Do you have a crush on me ? I'm just asking, because it seems a bit queer. ( in the odd sense, and maybe the homosexual way too. )




"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 2:33 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!








The facts are the Reagan and then Bush tax cut have caused the wealth gap to grow. If anyone tell you different they are lying or an idiot.



I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 2:45 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Yup, just what was predicted to happen, happened.

Racist, freedom hating scum hold the country hostage, economy goes in the shitter.

Kwickie and his commie loving butt buddies are the ones who claimed this wouldn't happen. They're wrong about everything, as usual.








Fixed it back for ya.

And there's no need to lie and try to change this post again. Democrats have the Executive branch, the Senate, and split the Judiciary. The GOP has 1/2 of the Legislative, and the TEA party patriots only make up a small fraction of the GOP's majority in the House.

Under no scenario do the TEA party patriots hold the country 'hostage'. That's exactly the hate filled partisan rhetoric your dear and fluffy leader said for you to NOT engage in, yet here you are, doing exactly that. Just as your fellow Dems have been doing, since Gabby Giffords was shot, along with all those others, in AZ.

Pathetic.




" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 3:07 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


...and 1/2 the legislation when the GOP is scared of the TEA party is enough. If you knew anything you would know that it only takes one Senator to hold up some procedures.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 4:44 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Racist, freedom hating tea-party scum hold the country hostage, economy goes in the shitter, they celebrate.

Rappy and his pedophile butt buddies are the ones who claimed this wouldn't happen. They're wrong about everything, as usual.




Fixed it back for ya.



Quote:

Democrats have the Executive branch, the Senate, and split the Judiciary. The GOP has 1/2 of the Legislative, and the TEA party patriots only make up a small fraction of the GOP's majority in the House.


Wait a minute - are you saying that a party has to have control of at least one house of Congress in order to really make anything happen?

Can you explain to us all again how it was that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd engineered the economic collapse back when their parties were out of power and they chaired no committees? Because you just claimed that that kind of thing can't happen, that a small faction (or even two individuals) can't have that kind of impact.

So are you lying now, or were you lying then?

Wait, I know: you were lying both times. ;)


Quote:

...since Gabby Giffords was shot, along with all those others, in AZ.


By a registered Republican, after being all but told to do so by your dear and fluffy lord Sarah Palin.

Tea-bagging idiots like you held the country hostage, the Dems foolishly negotiated with terrorists (the tea-baggers), and the tea-bagging terrorists shot the hostage anyway.

After getting what they wanted, they decided to go ahead and try to kill the country anyway, because that's how much the right hates America.



"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 5:32 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

By a registered Republican, after being all but told to do so by your dear and fluffy lord Sarah Palin.



Beyond childishly wrong, on both accounts.

Quote:

Posted at 5:28 PM ET, 01/10/2011
Jared Lee Loughner was a registered independent, didn't vote in 2010 election
By Chris Cillizza
Suspected Tucson gunman Jared Lee Loughner registered as an independent voter in Arizona in the fall of 2006, according to the Pima County Registrar of Voters.

Loughner registered to vote on Sept. 29, 2006, identifying himself as an independent. Records show he voted in the 2006 and 2008 elections but is current listed as "inactive" on the state's voter roles -- meaning that he did not vote in November.



http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/jared-lee-loughner-was-a
-regis.html



God damn, Kwickie. You're an idiot.



" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 5:34 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
...and 1/2 the legislation when the GOP is scared of the TEA party is enough. If you knew anything you would know that it only takes one Senator to hold up some procedures.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.



'some' procedures. Which has nothing to do w/ the TEA party members in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.



Gorram imbecile.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 7:36 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


Well the original article was good/seemed pretty on target to me, but all the nonsense that came after makes little sense. Oh well.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Thursday, August 4, 2011 10:58 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
...and 1/2 the legislation when the GOP is scared of the TEA party is enough. If you knew anything you would know that it only takes one Senator to hold up some procedures.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.



'some' procedures. Which has nothing to do w/ the TEA party members in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.



Yes, because there are not TEA party senators...oh, wait there is!

Now why don't you address the main cause of the increase wealth gap, right wing tax policies.



I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 1:38 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:

Now why don't you address the main cause of the increase wealth gap, right wing tax policies.



Which tax policies are those ? Are you saying that the purpose of taxing the wealthy is to keep them in check, deny them the ability to make money and prosper ?

And here I thought the idea was to fund the basic functions of govt.

Americans are over taxed as it is. That D.C. finds more and more ways to spend our money, waste our money, isn't in the least bit any proof that our govt isn't being funded properly. It's being over funded, and needs to be reigned in. Not by a little, by a LOT.

"MAYBE", if that happens, then those in govt can stop w/ the mindless, ineffective pork spending, and get back to basics, get back to the proper functions of govt, and end this non stop spending spree.



" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, August 5, 2011 1:52 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

By a registered Republican, after being all but told to do so by your dear and fluffy lord Sarah Palin.



Beyond childishly wrong, on both accounts.

Quote:

Posted at 5:28 PM ET, 01/10/2011
Jared Lee Loughner was a registered independent, didn't vote in 2010 election
By Chris Cillizza
Suspected Tucson gunman Jared Lee Loughner registered as an independent voter in Arizona in the fall of 2006, according to the Pima County Registrar of Voters.

Loughner registered to vote on Sept. 29, 2006, identifying himself as an independent. Records show he voted in the 2006 and 2008 elections but is current listed as "inactive" on the state's voter roles -- meaning that he did not vote in November.



http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/jared-lee-loughner-was-a
-regis.html



God damn, Kwickie. You're an idiot.



" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "




There are published reports that he was a registered Republican. If it's in the news, it must be true, right? That's been your position on the Biden/ "terrorists" thing, after all. Hey, it was reported, so it's true!

I get that you don't like it when I play by your RappyRules™, but I do it to point out how ridiculous and idiotic your "logic" is.




"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Friday, August 5, 2011 2:34 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



And yet w/ the AZ shooter, I posted published reports which show very much to the contrary of your 'claims'.


Besides Mother Jones and possibly The Daily Kos, what " sources " do you have to back up your claim?






" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, August 5, 2011 2:37 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:

Now why don't you address the main cause of the increase wealth gap, right wing tax policies.



Which tax policies are those ? Are you saying that the purpose of taxing the wealthy is to keep them in check, deny them the ability to make money and prosper ?

And here I thought the idea was to fund the basic functions of govt.

Americans are over taxed as it is. That D.C. finds more and more ways to spend our money, waste our money, isn't in the least bit any proof that our govt isn't being funded properly. It's being over funded, and needs to be reigned in. Not by a little, by a LOT.

"MAYBE", if that happens, then those in govt can stop w/ the mindless, ineffective pork spending, and get back to basics, get back to the proper functions of govt, and end this non stop spending spree.



Federal tax rates are the lowest they have been since the 30s.



Hey, notice that the great depression came after a period of low top tax rate.

The graphs I posted before show how a lower top tax rate leads to an increase wealth gap. I do love you hypocrisy, starting a thread about a Dem making money and the wealth gap increasing and then asking "Are you saying that the purpose of taxing the wealthy is to keep them in check, deny them the ability to make money and prosper?"

The answer is yes. It is to keep them in check. Having a few people control a majority of the money is not good for the country. The Rich, and super rich do not drive the economy. The middle and lower incomes do.

The facts prove that the increasing wealth gap is the result right wing tax polices.

Oh, and the biggest items on the US budget are defense and Medicare/Medicaid. Pork projects are damn near insignificant compared to these. Here learn something!

http://www.wallstats.com/deathandtaxes/

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 2:40 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

And yet w/ the AZ shooter, I posted published reports which show very much to the contrary of your 'claims'.


Besides Mother Jones and possibly The Daily Kos, what " sources " do you have to back up your claim?



Try reading what he said again, here is a hint he is mocking you!

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 2:53 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



He ( and you ) think he's mocking me, but he's just trying to cover up the fact that he's wrong, and can't back up his claims.

I proved my point, but instead of staying on topic, and honestly dealing w/ the facts, kwickie resorts to his natural juvenile state, and thinks he's being clever.

He ain't.

And nice graphs, btw. Of course, they're totally misleading, but what the hell do you care ? Fun to look at, at least, huh ?

The fact is, regardless of the tax RATE, ( which no one ever payed the full rate, mind you - ever ) the revenue raised by the federal govt remains a constant 18% of GDP.

So, when we want more $ going to the fed govt, we grow the economy , and not the tax rate.

Get it ? Probably not. All YOU'RE interested in is sticking it those evil rich folks, huh? It's only schadenfreude, after all.

We're not taxed too low, we're just spending far , far too much.




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Friday, August 5, 2011 3:10 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:And nice graphs, btw. Of course, they're totally misleading, but what the hell do you care ? Fun to look at, at least, huh ?

The fact is, regardless of the tax RATE, ( which no one ever payed the full rate, mind you - ever ) the revenue raised by the federal govt remains a constant 18% of GDP.

So, when we want more $ going to the fed govt, we grow the economy , and not the tax



If you had brain one you would understand that it matters where that 18% comes from. Not one part of the conversation has been about more money to the federal government, it is about the widening wealth gap and the cause of it, which is a low top tax rate. You haven't even tried to argue against that because you can't.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 3:40 AM

DREAMTROVE


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:

Hey, notice that the great depression came after a period of low top tax rate.



Not to gratuitously snark, but this is an unfortunate line, as it betrays an incredibly shallow outlook on economics, on just so many levels.

There was no real so called "stimulus" spending, only military, and nominal govt. Spending, so fed income tax could be nothing but injurious to the US economy, the problems get far worse.

Nick, I suggest starting over at the beginning, and studying things like cash flow and the credit economy. Also check out F A Hayek who goes into this in great detail, and has a lot of astute observations about the matter.


As to the tax rates, two things come to mind: one, that the chart omits entitlement tax, property tax and state income tax, as well as alternative minimum tax and various taxation and mandates included in the price of everything, but second, I assume you are not suggesting that a marginal federal tax rate is of over 90% is a good idea, or that the new deal and wwii were models of a successful society. At least, I hope that's not what you're suggesting.

ETA: the mechanism by which the rich get richer is federal spending, which can be easily demonstrated, and has been.


Rap, you're being tread on. I'm just gonna keep mentioning it, 'cause it takes a little stepping outside the box to recognize that your nation is under attack.

Start with mountaintop removal. Surely coal is an outmoted energy source, and the blue ridge mountains are a national treasure of southern heritage, and I don't swan you fancy being levelled by NY banks anymore than by Saudi ones, but at the moment, it appears you're under fire from both.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 3:50 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

And yet w/ the AZ shooter, I posted published reports which show very much to the contrary of your 'claims'.


Besides Mother Jones and possibly The Daily Kos, what " sources " do you have to back up your claim?




I have at least as many sources for my claims as you have for your continued allegation that Anthony Weiner claimed that Breitbart hacked his accounts.

You don't mean to say that you were just covering up and trying to distract because you couldn't admit you were wrong and you were caught lying, do you? By your claims here, that seems to be EXACTLY what you're admitting.

It's okay. I forgive you. And I accept your apology; just stop lying and don't do it again. ;)



"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Friday, August 5, 2011 4:40 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Not to gratuitously snark, but this is an unfortunate line, as it betrays an incredibly shallow outlook on economics, on just so many levels.



Some what shallow, but not as much as you think.

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
There was no real so called "stimulus" spending, only military, and nominal govt. Spending, so fed income tax could be nothing but injurious to the US economy, the problems get far worse.



Key word is "real". What do you concidare real stimulus spending? Even military spending can stimulate that economy. In fact all most all Federal spending helps stimulate that economy, just to different degrees.

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Nick, I suggest starting over at the beginning, and studying things like cash flow and the credit economy. Also check out F A Hayek who goes into this in great detail, and has a lot of astute observations about the matter.



I would suggest you look at Piero Sraffa, Gunnar Myrdal and John Hicks who all rip many of Hayek's argument apart.


Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
As to the tax rates, two things come to mind: one, that the chart omits entitlement tax, property tax and state income tax, as well as alternative minimum tax and various taxation and mandates included in the price of everything, but second, I assume you are not suggesting that a marginal federal tax rate is of over 90% is a good idea, or that the new deal and wwii were models of a successful society. At least, I hope that's not what you're suggesting.



Yes the charts omit those things, because we are talking about the top federal tax rates.

Depending on where that rate starts a 90% top rate maybe good. You would have to be talking about people earning millions apon millions of dollars. Did you ever wonder why CEO and other top corporate salaries have been growing so large?

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
ETA: the mechanism by which the rich get richer is federal spending, which can be easily demonstrated, and has been.



No, it is the overall tax structure, corporate structure and regulations that have allowed the rich to get richer. All spending, federal or private, ends up going through massive corporations, it almost always has.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 4:54 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Quote:

all the nonsense that came after makes little sense. Oh well.
Yup. It went off track on the second post, and never came back. Which is fine; we've had this argument (it isn't a "debate" if you're having it with Raptor!) so many times before it's pathetic. Everyone with at leat two brain cells to rub together knows that a wide gap between rich and poor isn't healthy for a country, and a WIDENING gap is even worse. I guess they're just having fun, which is okay with me. Just makes for a very boring thread. Like you said, "oh,well..."


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off



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Friday, August 5, 2011 11:36 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:

If you had brain one you would understand that it matters where that 18% comes from. Not one part of the conversation has been about more money to the federal government, it is about the widening wealth gap and the cause of it, which is a low top tax rate. You haven't even tried to argue against that because you can't.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.




Really? With the deficit in the trillions, you don't care about making up that widening gap between what govt takes in , and what it spends ?

Really? Huh.

The low top tax rate has not one damn thing to do w/ the imaginary wealth gap. And even if it did, which is utter nonsense, so what ? Taxes are supposed to be raised to fund the functions of the federal govt, and NOT ( as our idiot Community Organizer OF Chief believes ) to make things "fair ". You can't tax the top 1 % enough to bring them down to the lowest income earners. It's not feasible, not possible, and beyond moronic to even try.

Govt isn't big mommy / daddy. It's not suppose to be there to take more candy from Tommy to give to Billy, simply because Tommy has worked his ass off, and earned more, and and Billy has goofed off and now is whining because he doesn't have as much as everyone else.

Seriously. The nation is well over 200 yrs old now. Time for you folks to get w/ the program and stop looking for hand outs.


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Friday, August 5, 2011 11:51 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Nick,
I'm on your side, and I agree with you, and trust you, know you would not put up fraudulent graphs, and they do agree with my observations and opinions from other sources, but would you mind listing sources for them?
Sometimes just knowing the source is enough to know whether they are the result of cooking the books, and it is sometimes nice to be able to track a graph clear back to its source for verification, even if it supports my opinion.
Thanx...

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Friday, August 5, 2011 11:59 AM

DREAMTROVE




Nick

That was actually more of a snark.

Quote:

Even military spending can stimulate that economy. In


This assumes that the military spending is done with greater efficiency than that money would have been spent by the taxpayers, ergo, the people, numerically weighted towards the wealthy. This is just patently obviously not so. Wealthy people and corporations are probably better safeguards of their own money than govt. Bureaucrats hired to spend it however they see fit.

Little local item I posted a while ago. There was a fire on one of four houses across the river. The firetruck could not cross because the bridge did not match the weight limit, so the govt. Came in and destroyed the bridge.

When the people of the town asked the govt. To replace the bridge, they said "we can't pay for that unless there are at least four houses on the other side and now there are only three."

The town said "fine, we'll pay for it." so, the govt. folks and their contractors came in, assessed the situation, and handed the town a contract for fifteen million. The town said "fuck off" and then we went down and built a bridge for 50,000. Damn nice bridge too.

Another little anecdote. A couple years ago there was a flood (posted here) and our floodwall (built in 1787) was weakened, but did not collapse. FEMA came in and spent three years and three million dollars tearing down the whole floodwall and building a new one. There has not since been a flood, yet the new wall collapsed on eighteen months later.

So, no, I have no faith in how the govt. Spends money.

Quote:

Yes the charts omit those things, because we are talking about the top federal tax rates


I meant they omit federal income taxes like FICA and AMT, which have been added and increased over the years. That adds about 23% to the top tax rate. That means that Obama's planned 50% top bracket is 73%. given that many people have mandatory funds, which often evaporate intentionally, and we will have obamacare, plus a state income tax of 0-10%, the top tax rate for some folks is going to top 90% without making the nominal rate more than 50%

And no, a 90% tax rate is never a good idea. The govt. Should never raise more money than it actually needs, and given the way it spends, we're better off if it doesn't spend anything,

Quote:

No, it is the overall tax structure, corporate structure and regulations that have allowed the rich to get richer. All spending, federal or private, ends up going through massive corporations, it almost always has.
this paragraph is at war with itself.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 2:51 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Really? With the deficit in the trillions, you don't care about making up that widening gap between what govt takes in , and what it spends ?

Really? Huh.



Read what I said again, slowly if you have to. I did not say I did not care, I said it was not part of this conversation.

Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:The low top tax rate has not one damn thing to do w/ the imaginary wealth gap. And even if it did, which is utter nonsense, so what ? Taxes are supposed to be raised to fund the functions of the federal govt, and NOT ( as our idiot Community Organizer OF Chief believes ) to make things "fair ". You can't tax the top 1 % enough to bring them down to the lowest income earners. It's not feasible, not possible, and beyond moronic to even try.


...and one of those function is to ensure the general welfare of the nation. Having a huge wealth gap is not in the nations interest. You can see that by how things are going right now.

Yes, the top tax rate has everything to do with that gap. You can see that in the data, ever since Reagan the gap has been expanding. Trickle down was bull, it was and is trickle up.

Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:Govt isn't big mommy / daddy. It's not suppose to be there to take more candy from Tommy to give to Billy, simply because Tommy has worked his ass off, and earned more, and and Billy has goofed off and now is whining because he doesn't have as much as everyone else.


Yes, because everyone in need is lazy. Could you sick you head any further up your own ass?

Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:Seriously. The nation is well over 200 yrs old now. Time for you folks to get w/ the program and stop looking for hand outs.


It is time for selfish unintelligent morons like you to realize that the success or failure of this country depends on everyone, not just a few.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 3:01 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Nick,
I'm on your side, and I agree with you, and trust you, know you would not put up fraudulent graphs, and they do agree with my observations and opinions from other sources, but would you mind listing sources for them?
Sometimes just knowing the source is enough to know whether they are the result of cooking the books, and it is sometimes nice to be able to track a graph clear back to its source for verification, even if it supports my opinion.
Thanx...



Not a problem, here you go. Sorry they are not in order.

http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-inequality-in-america-2011-
11?comments_page=2&op=1


http://forthesakeofscience.com/2011/02/24/the-republican-caused-income
-gap
/
These are mainly from the Congressional Budget office.

http://sensen-no-sen.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
The chart data was compiled from the Institute of Policy Studies Program on Inequality and the Common Good.

If that is not all of them or you want some help finding the raw data let me know.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 3:29 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:
This assumes that the military spending is done with greater efficiency than that money would have been spent by the taxpayers, ergo, the people, numerically weighted towards the wealthy. This is just patently obviously not so. Wealthy people and corporations are probably better safeguards of their own money than govt. Bureaucrats hired to spend it however they see fit.



Just because it may not be as efficient does not mean it is not stimulating. Even if government spending is going right to a corporation that corporation still has to pay people to do the work.

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:Little local item I posted a while ago. There was a fire on one of four houses across the river. The firetruck could not cross because the bridge did not match the weight limit, so the govt. Came in and destroyed the bridge.

When the people of the town asked the govt. To replace the bridge, they said "we can't pay for that unless there are at least four houses on the other side and now there are only three."

The town said "fine, we'll pay for it." so, the govt. folks and their contractors came in, assessed the situation, and handed the town a contract for fifteen million. The town said "fuck off" and then we went down and built a bridge for 50,000. Damn nice bridge too.

Another little anecdote. A couple years ago there was a flood (posted here) and our floodwall (built in 1787) was weakened, but did not collapse. FEMA came in and spent three years and three million dollars tearing down the whole floodwall and building a new one. There has not since been a flood, yet the new wall collapsed on eighteen months later.

So, no, I have no faith in how the govt. Spends money.



You don't have to have faith. I'm not going to argue that the government spends it's money efficiently. That is part of the problem with overspending. Shifting more of the tax burden on the top earners is not about more income.


Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:I meant they omit federal income taxes like FICA and AMT, which have been added and increased over the years. That adds about 23% to the top tax rate. That means that Obama's planned 50% top bracket is 73%. given that many people have mandatory funds, which often evaporate intentionally, and we will have obamacare, plus a state income tax of 0-10%, the top tax rate for some folks is going to top 90% without making the nominal rate more than 50%


FICA is 6.2% up to $106,800 for employees. It is around 7.65% after the calculation for self employed. People only pay AMT if their it is greater then their regular tax. So it is not added.

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamtrove:And no, a 90% tax rate is never a good idea. The govt. Should never raise more money than it actually needs, and given the way it spends, we're better off if it doesn't spend anything,


A 90% top tax rate would not necessarily mean they would have more money then they needs.

....and how much it need is very much up for debate.

Quote:

this paragraph is at war with itself.


Not really, it means that you idea that government spending is feeding corporations more so then private spending would is not true.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 3:51 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


m5 -

The wealth envy issue really has you by the balls, doesn't it ? Sorry, but you have no case here. The general welfare is helped when unemployment is at 4.7 to 5.0 %. Not so much when it's over 9.0 %

Tax rate has zero to do w/ the wealth gap. Reagan's economic plans worked, and worked incredibly well for the country as a whole.

Making everyone dependent on the imperial federal govt is shoving your head up your own ass. Which might explain why you love it so much.

The success of this country depends on everyone's FREEDOM, not dependency and obedience to a corrupt and out of control govt.



" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, August 5, 2011 6:20 PM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
m5 -

The wealth envy issue really has you by the balls, doesn't it ? Sorry, but you have no case here. The general welfare is helped when unemployment is at 4.7 to 5.0 %. Not so much when it's over 9.0 %



If you understood economics you would understand that they are tied together. You would get that money in the hands of more people would drive the economy and create jobs.

Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:Tax rate has zero to do w/ the wealth gap. Reagan's economic plans worked, and worked incredibly well for the country as a whole.


Then prove it. Provide economic data that shows that something else created the wealth gap, or explains why the gap started to expand right after Reagan's policies took place. Put up or shut up!

Quote:

Making everyone dependent on the imperial federal govt is shoving your head up your own ass. Which might explain why you love it so much.


Safety nets are not making everyone dependent on the federal government. Try again!

Quote:

The success of this country depends on everyone's FREEDOM, not dependency and obedience to a corrupt and out of control govt.


Strawman, so easily blown down.

Taxing people does not take away freedom. Nor do social safety nets or government spending.



" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "


I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Friday, August 5, 2011 6:45 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Here's a better flag for the tea-baggers, Nick:


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Saturday, August 6, 2011 3:11 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Good to see who here hates America, and has no respect or understanding of this country's history.


Death to tyranny !


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Saturday, August 6, 2011 3:13 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Good to see who here hates America, and has no respect or understanding of this country's history - the tea-bag fascists!


Death to the tea party !






Fixed

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Saturday, August 6, 2011 7:20 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


DT:
Quote:

Wealthy people and corporations are probably better safeguards of their own money than govt. Bureaucrats hired to spend it however they see fit.
Question: Would either of those things have happened AT ALL (like bridges and dikes) if it were left to wealthy people and corporations? That's where I think you go wrong. Wealthy people and corporations wouldn't even TRY to improve infrastructure, most of the time. No argument that the government does it badly a lot of the time, but it also does it well sometimes...perhaps too expensively or not well enough, but it nonetheless TRIES, which the wealthy wouldn't even do. We have problems; they need fixing; but widening the gap between rich and poor ain't the answer.

I'm gonna say it again and again, 'cuz I have as much right to "point out" stuff as DT said he had about me.
Quote:

imaginary wealth gap
Raptor lies blatantly again. Why does anyone ever respond to him, given they must know he's just going to spout lies, divert the conversation to himself, and trigger people with outrageous statements? I mean REALLY:
Quote:

Tax rate has zero to do w/ the wealth gap. Reagan's economic plans worked, and worked incredibly well for the country as a whole
???

I'm also going to point out how his use of the same words over and over again is pretty telling: Childish, juvenile, comical, silly, stupid, "like a 7 yr old", immature, juvenile, mommy/daddy; do you see it? You may think it has no effect, but subconsciously, it might well goad you into defending yourself. Then there's cowards, cute, fail, win, victory, and distraction, diversion, strawman; that's all it is to him, whether he can "win" over you or not...or at least convince you YOU haven't won.

That's all just off the top of my head. Don'tcha get it?

And, hee, hee, hee...
I LIKES it! How about


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off



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Sunday, August 7, 2011 7:21 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by m52nickerson:
Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Nick,
I'm on your side, and I agree with you, and trust you, know you would not put up fraudulent graphs, and they do agree with my observations and opinions from other sources, but would you mind listing sources for them?
Sometimes just knowing the source is enough to know whether they are the result of cooking the books, and it is sometimes nice to be able to track a graph clear back to its source for verification, even if it supports my opinion.
Thanx...



Not a problem, here you go. Sorry they are not in order.

http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-inequality-in-america-2011-
11?comments_page=2&op=1


http://forthesakeofscience.com/2011/02/24/the-republican-caused-income
-gap
/
These are mainly from the Congressional Budget office.

http://sensen-no-sen.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
The chart data was compiled from the Institute of Policy Studies Program on Inequality and the Common Good.

If that is not all of them or you want some help finding the raw data let me know.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.



Thank you. Appreciate this very much.

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Sunday, August 7, 2011 10:13 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Quote:

but instead of staying on topic, and honestly dealing w/ the facts
Wow. I have seen rappy bail from threads that he started because he couldn't answer one question! Jimminy crimminy, the pot sure does call the kettle black! In fact, I'll bet rappy bails from this thread when I ask him...
Quote:

The general welfare is helped when unemployment is at 4.7 to 5.0 %. Not so much when it's over 9.0 %
So, I wonder where those jobs ARE? I mean, Bush deregulated and lowered the top tax rate a decade ago. The Bush tax cuts are still in place. Banks and the wealthy are sitting on oodles of cash and still ... NO JOBS!

What do "they" want now? Another bedtime story? Another glass of milk? Someone to look under the bed for them and check for monsters? Where ARE those intrepid risk-takers, anyway?

They take all the credit for employment, but none of the blame for UNemployment, even when they get everything handed to them on a platter. What a bunch of candy-asses!

Really, who the frak needs them? We could run things better ourselves.

And and DT? You're turning into someone not worth even talking to. Once upon a time you had interesting things to say. What happened?

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