(I sold my soul, joined the OWS site and posted the comments below in reply to the article. They are not directed at you, GunPkrBkr. Kelly4c, I agree that instead of reflexively banning ideas from FR we should instead muster a defense of our own. And stand ready to carry them to the enemy camp and to those there still subject to sway. I partially agreed with the author too, at least in principle if not on policy. )
As the most right wing person you never met, let me take this opportunity to agree with you on two points.
It IS wrong to tax some citizens at different rates than other citizens.
it IS wrong to allow politicians to pick the winners and losers in society.
Wrong economically. Wrong Constitutionally. And, most importantly, wrong morally.
Your indignation in this regard is valid and shared.
The ONLY truly fair system of taxation is one that is objective. A flat rate. Zero exemptions, deductions or credits. Preferably on consumption so that all those wannabe hippies squatting on Wall Street can keep eating free food, keep sleeping in the park and then put their SEIU paychecks into savings tax-free.
Our nation and its founding framework were objectively defined. But Obama stirs you pawns of revolt promising to be the superhero of subjectivity. The Chosen One who has the strength to break away the concrete blindfold for centuries covering the eyes of Justice.
That blindfold represents objective fairness. Think about it. Bring it up at the drum circle.
Progressive rates are the very definition of a corruption to objective fairness. Once they are employed, then our friend ‘fairness’ becomes entirely subjective. A nebulous determination born of the whims of slim majorities past and present. All at the expense of freedom for a minority. It is the politics of division which the Democrats have employed for years and Obama, the Great Divider, has faithfully and fervently pursued.
This should be something that Left and Right could agree upon. Both of us claim to hate the IRS. Let’s fire (most of) them and go with REAL objective fairness. Yes, I realize the Left will still want to redistribute wealth and to continue building dependency on government into our daily lives. And to the extent that they can muster a majority in Congress they will still be able to do so on the spending side. But the revenue side could be made entirely objective and thus immensely more simplified and less costly and burdensome to individuals and to businesses.
Another thing Left and Right should be able to agree on is that divisions of power are the best remedy for central corruption. There is a VERY good reason the Founders set us up in a federal system with extremely little power originally in the hands of the central government. Because the higher the level of government at which decisions are made, the less likely it is that the increasingly large number of people affected will all agree.
When you see vicious battles and reversals of laws with every change of Congress, then that is a sign that decisions should be pushed down to the state or lower levels. That is where the so-called 99% have a MUCH greater chance of personally affecting legislative outcomes. You would be hard pressed to get a meeting with your US Senator or even your Congressman. But your state rep would probably come wash your car if you gave him/her a call.
Anyway, before Captain Irony bursts onto the forum, you might consider fine tuning the argument in which you claim the wallet “matters most” as compared to human life, the Constitution and God. Maybe it’s just me, but whining about the money grubbing rich and about misguided priorities after such a statement introduces a confusing element of self hate that might sully your otherwise relatively pure message of class envy.
And a parting tip: Generally we right wingers put all three of your casually dismissed pillars of American tradition far above monetary gain. If you are honestly attempting an appeal to our sensibilities, it’s probably best not to wipe your feet on them first.
Your CHOICE FOR REAL CHANGE is right in front of you tonight. I’m not sure you get the Bloomberg channel there in the park, but if so you had on parade - at tonight’s Republican debate - several ideas EXTREMELY different from those of the current regime. And from the last Republican administration.
Repenting Recommitting Republican
Dude, I’m not in a “park”, I don’t have class envy, and I am not on any political side, although I veer towards voting for Republican candidates because they tend to be more moral and fair and level headed. Conservative so to speak:) however you are preaching to the choir. Just because a person doesn’t believe it’s right that the super rich pay less taxes than the poorer, if that’s indeed the case, and just because a person does not believe in the government taking money from the middle class hard working folks in order to bail-out huge companies with billions of bucks does not make them any less American, it makes them absolutely fair minded and on the right side of a capitalist society.
And I was raised going to church since I was a wee babe, am a born again Christian since 13 and absolutely do NOT put wealth before God. God is numero uno, family, health, and well-being come after. I have never been wealthy and have never been anxious for it. This is my lot in life and I’m perfectly happy for my friends and neighbors who’ve been blessed with more materially. See this is the problem with not only this forum but just about every single one is that people make snap assumptions about others and run with it when it might be very far from the truth. That’s bearing false witness against your neighbor.
ps If I took your post the wrong way or it wasn’t intended to be a direct hit then I apologize:)