Posted on 03/07/2020 7:55:13 AM PST by Kaslin
Remember back in the Clinton administration, when they put some sort of “wealth tax” on yachts? It might have punished the wealthy sort who could afford yachts, but it put the poor yacht-builders out of work. So much for the precious proletariat!
Now take socialists. They do the same thing, but they just use other people's money. Both are wrong for the same reason.
No one objects when my house is taxed to pay for K-12 education.
Why not tax common stock at the same rate to pay for college education?
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Every penny I have I have earned. Every piece of real property I own I bought and paid for.
Sanders does not have the right to try and tell me what I may have and what I can not have.
I lived within the rules and worked hard all my life to obtain financial independence and to gift this security to my children. That is what I lived for.
I have the right to chose what is worth dying for as well.
No one financed my journey through life. Every one out there had the exact same opportunities and the same playing field that I had. I am not white and I was born poor. I prospered because of a good plan, getting a good education, and 40+ years of hard work.
“Is it really true that political self interest is nobler somehow than economic self interest? ....I think you’re taking a lot of things for granted. Just tell me where in the world you find these angels that are going to organize society for us? “
Milton Friedman to Phil Donahue
Wealth isn’t a pre-existing entity of which there is a finite amount - like water, or land on Earth.
An effective antidote for the Marxist plague is a cranial injection at high velocity. The rate of recidivism is remarkably low.
This explains why Bernie Sanders didn’t work till age 40 and that was a gov job....all makes sense now, he’s such a good little comie.
Socialism is the naive conceit that the government can increase the supply of everything by fiat. It would better be called, “governmentism.”American conservatism would better by called “societyism, and it is the conceit skepticism is appropriate toward both society and government. And that neither cynicism nor naiveté are appropriate to either society or government.
Re: “Many rich people get that way because they are corrupt.”
I strongly disagree.
In a free market economy, with instant access to price and quality information, and with enforceable contracts, corruption is rare.
Bottom Line - what consumer or vendor would voluntarily conduct business with someone who is corrupt?
Re: “Here’s the deal with wealth and the wealthy...when people accumulate very large sums of money...they do it intentionally to exert power unto others...They actually believe they are doing the world a favor.”
Does this include Donald Trump?
Believe me. I think most get rich honestly. But I am in the banking business. I see it happening. Fixing bids. Unfair competitive practices. Paying off politicians. Cutting out competition. Tax evasion. How do you think all those Senators and Congressmen get filthy rich?
Don’t get me wrong, I very much believe in the free market system. But it is not a “free” market if someone cheats. Quite a few very large business find ways to influence lawmakers to give themselves advantage. Congress has been screwing over small business people for years to the advantage of big business. Banking regulation generally favors large banks over community banks. When I entered the banking industry in 1980, there were over 14,000 banks; now there are around 7,000. That is generally NOT good for the consumer.
Trump isn't in the same league as Gates, Bezos and Buffet. According to Forbes, Trump is worth $3.5 billion, of which $310 million is liquid. Much of his wealth is tied up in real estate, which could be used for collateral for loans, but is not very accessible. Bezos on the other had is worth $126 billion and is much more liquid. He can and did buy the Washington Compost, to control the news. Did he do it with cash? I don't know, but he certainly could sell stock faster than Trump can sell real estate and have the cash to do so.
So, Trump's wealth allows him to do some things, but not as much as much more wealthy people. Does Trump exert power unto others? Yes. Trump sincerely wants to Make America Great Again. He used his wealth, and fame, to get into office. His style is different than some. If you ask any progressive/socialist, they are going to tell you Trump uses his wealth to exert power. He bought his presidency, which is power. As leader of the free world, he has lots of power.
Power can be a good thing or a bad thing. It exists all around us, down into our everyday relationships. Whether it is good or bad depends on how it is used.
Trump understands power. He understands money. He also knows where he stands among the wealthy. He's not the least bit delusional about his limitations.
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