Posted on 12/10/2017 8:43:34 AM PST by rey
EDITOR: George Will’s Thursday column (“GOP tax wager is worth the gamble”) proves that a smart guy can’t justify the tax reform bill even if he discounts persuasive evidence and cites the promises of Donald Trump.
Money is hard to understand, and being ridiculously rich obviously doesn’t improve understanding.
If someone makes $100 million in one year and the government takes 90 percent in taxes, they still have enough to live well for at least one lifetime — and probably enough for many successive generations. But they are frightened about losing the other $90 million even though some of their compatriots are homeless.
The trouble is, as Jesse Unruh said, that “money is the mother’s milk of politics.” In a democracy that is almost like saying money is the same as votes. The Citizens United decision has magnified this effect to the point that the outrageously rich are a serious problem for the rest of the community.
STEPHEN HAWKES
Healdsburg
It is interesting that these socialists/communists believe the fruits of labor and property belong to the people except in regards to taxation. They also seem unable to grasp this idea of legal plunder. It is also interesting that they think taxation has no negative effects on the economy. Were that true, why not make it 100%?
You will get more of whatever you subsidize. The reverse is also true.
Notice that the left only complains about corporate millionaires, never athletes or rock stars. One might conclude they have a political motive.
“they still have enough”
Fascists and Communists believe they get to define “enough”.
They believe the government has some inherent “right” to steal and redistribute YOUR money.
The fact is they use it to enrich themselves and buy votes.
“If someone makes $100 million in one year and the government takes 90 percent in taxes, they still have enough to live well for at least one lifetime — and probably enough for many successive generations.”
So what? Screw you! Get busy and earn your own $100 million, ya Putz! This. Is. America. If you can’t do it here, you can’t do it anywhere.
(Well, unless you’re a Dictator in some Turd World Hellhole, or are a Clinton with a ‘charitable’ slush fund!)
He says that money is hard to understand. It is if you’re a liberal.
OK - start with Soros, Gates, Buffett, all the sports athletes and Hollywood types, politicians. Take 90% of their money and report back on how that went.
“What’s interesting is if this guy owns a house in Healdsburg, CA he is a millionaire, at least in property. Which puts him in his despised 1%.”
Exactly!!!
If he calls himself a “Christian” to boot, then he should be told: “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [Luke 18:22]
The real question is just which kind of hypocrite is he.
In Republican hands, that $90M would be used to invest in other people’s great ideas and thereby make them rich as well. At the same time giving the public more great products.
“only complains about corporate millionaires”
Never realizing there is no such thing as corporate taxes; end users pay all.
“He says that money is hard to understand.”
I do agree with him that money is hard to understand. But it’s not because of the money itself, it’s the ability to manipulate the theory of what it means.
In the early 90’s, the market was low, the price of things were low, and the expectations of how far money could go was budgetable in the household. But with the growth of a market so fast without anything but inflation causing the triggering of it, the price of everything went up. And more wages were required, and the see saw started And when it got too high for people to afford, they printed more money and told the sheep it was the way to go. Unfortunately, all money is nothing more than a representation of worth, in the world’s overall case gold. And if you print a second $1 bill it is now worth 50 cents. I’m sure you see where that is going. So you’re making less, and spending more. But hey!! You’re making more....right.
And that’s just one piece of what the illusion of money becomes based upon manipulation. There’s a lot more. But that is one of the major reasons I say people don’t understand money. They have no idea what it is except to spend something they didn’t earn.
rwood
If someone makes $100 million in one year and the government takes 90 percent in taxes, they still have enough to live well for at least one lifetime — and probably enough for many successive generations. But they are frightened about losing the other $90 million even though some of their compatriots are homeless.
This writer was educated by Disney Comic books - the ones where Scrooge McDuck would have a vault full of money he would sit and play with.
Someone should explain basic capitalism to this ignorant socialist.
The 90 million (in his example) is not sitting idle in some bank. It is invested in many things and provides jobs for many Americans.
If that 90 million went to the government they would waste 110 million spending it. Ending up deeper in debt.
Progressives and their crap ideology that amounts to government’s got dibs.
That it’s wealth redistribution to let people keep what’s theirs.
Doesn't matter if he uses it to create more jobs, business, or to wipe his ass, it is his earnings to do with as he pleases.
THAT is what makes this country and civilization different from every other civilization on the planet to date.
Socialists cannot stand it, because "it is not fair."
There is opportunity in our nation each and every day of the year.
On grants, free money, low income citizens can get a four year college education totally free if and this it the catch, IF THEY are willing to do the work.
Armed with that BA and BS they are on their own way to earning money, and all of this is free if they will just do the work...
So, those who complain can really KMA. I started out with nothing but used a successful military career, my GI Bill, grants, and a lot of hard work to obtain my education and to launch myself in life.
NO silver spoon, no money from mom and dad, just me working my butt off.
Because I accomplished what is there for all of us to do the socialists and communists in this nation believe that they have a right to most of my hard earned income as well as a big part of the post tax assets I accumulate in life.
I'll support a 15% flat tax on everyone, I'm all for total equality. I'll even pay a small national usage tax on luxury items, but after that taking my money and assets is pure theft by those who won't and don't work. They and their socialist friends can KMA.
Nope. You go and earn yours and I'll earn mine and what we accumulate we get to keep and pass on to our children.
And by the way, just for good measure, do not bring children into this world that you can not afford to pay for and then assume the posture that you are entitled that other hard working people must pay for them.
Screw that. First I did not have children I could not afford to raise and second, I paid to raise my kids by working my butt off; You can pay for your own children.
Since Clinton herself said she and her husband left the White House “dead broke,” what they've made since then provides a good idea of their net worth today. Wealth-X estimates Hillary Clinton's net worth to be at least $18 million, and her federal financial disclosure filing in 2015 showed that she had between $11.3 million and $52.7 million in the bank.”
Source: http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a12831454/hillary-clinton-net-worth/
I just knew I should've grown up to be a humble, God-fearing humanitarian and "public servant" so I could make fat stacks....
The guy doesn’t understand that stealing others’ money is criminal but it’s not the worst part of his f.cked up mind. The worst and most ominous part is that he believes government knows how to better spend 90 millions of stolen $ than the guy who earned that 90 millions $. This is evidence that decades of leftist brainwashing has been successful.
Which is beside the point. The point is that the entire 100 million belongs to the man who EARNED it, not the government.
— and probably enough for many successive generations.
It is entirely his right to pass along his wealth to his heirs.
But they are frightened about losing the other $90 million even though some of their compatriots are homeless.
First, they are not frightened about losing the other 90 million. They are frightened that a government that can take 90 percent of their earnings can just as easily take ALL of it. Second, the poor "homeless" people are not their compatriots. THE rich man is not homeless. He has made decisions that resulted in him making 100 million dollars. The others have made decisions that have resulted in their being homeless. The only thing they have in common is that they're all human beings. The rich man owes the homeless man nothing.
Here’s what is hard for him to understand about my money: IT’S NOT YOURS.
The average American makes about $3000 per month, which puts us in the top 1% worldwide where the average monthly income is about $100.
Why does the author feel it is okay for him to live so extravagantly when there are so many people suffering?
The reality is that people who have power, wealth, and influence tend to use it to protect and grow their own wealth and to further their own causes and beliefs.
Our system, though flawed, at least gives the opportunity for individuals to accumulate wealth through hard work and innovation.
This is why most of the world dreams of living in a place like America.
Instead of importing the poverty of the world, we need to export conservative ideas that will continue to grow the wealth of the world.
When liberal ideas are embraced, they bring injustice and poverty.
Just take a look at Venezuela. They have about 10% of the population and land mass as the USA. They have tons of natural resources. Yet their GDP is about less than 2% of ours. And the people are starving to death.
Socialism and Communism have never worked anywhere. And even if the theory could potentially work, you would have to find nothing but altruistic people to run it. These philosophies ignore the reality of human nature.
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