Posted on 12/01/2010 1:48:10 PM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
Tea Party Nation President Judson Phillips recently hosted a radio program where he declared that Americans who do not own property have less of a stake in the community and suggested, in the past, it made sense to deprive such citizens of the right to vote. The tone-deaf statement is not significant because it represents the view of the Tea Party at large (it doesnt), but is important because it evidences a serious problem for the movement: without a formal hierarchy, various leaders associated with the Tea Party can quickly damage the larger brand with their absurd comments.
The Tea Party Nation is one of the most prominent organizations in the Tea Party movement, having sponsored the National Tea Party Convention last February that was criticized for its $550 attendance fee and where Sarah Palin was paid $100,000 to speak. Thus the influence Phillips has is legitimate, yet like other prominent Tea Party members before him who ended up in hot water for indefensible statements, Phillips offensively opines on an issue with which no rational person is concerned.
(Excerpt) Read more at mediaite.com ...
No one has ever or ever can say anything that will hurt my feelings, because i don’t give a shit what anyone says or thinks of me!!!
Which is worse, blackmail or straight suffrage. Women (and men) have gained independence from one another, but at what price to humanity?
Walter Williams sometime has his head up his ASS. Liberal Bill Gates and Warren Buffett and others would set the agenda....
something moved you to fulminate so
“but at what price to humanity?”
The descent into Socialism which will lead very shortly to communism.
You’re an idiot... As if those who rent don’t pay taxes, or pay any bills?
And, only white males allowed to vote? What century are you living in?
Betty Lou rejected his advances in 7th grade.
LLS
“What century are you living in?”
Currently this one and it stinks to high heaven!
One problem: what would constitute the "government dole"?
I'm not really serious about any of this. I'm just trying to point out the potential ambiguities.
Methinks, he doth protest too much!
I agree it's a tough sell. How about only net positive taxpayers (excluding paid in pensions, like SSN) vote? In other words, stakeholders get to vote on the disposition of their tax dollars, not parasites? Ahhhh... that's crazy too, and will never fly.
You betcha.
If we don't do this, or something like it, we're finished.
You set back the conservative movement by at least 50 years. SRS.
Oh geeesh- this is all we need.
I disagree with this idea. Vehemently.
This is not the 19th or 18th century.
Renters pay property taxes through their rent.
They pay income taxes.
They pay excise taxes.
They pay school taxes.
They pay inheritance taxes.
They pay capital gains taxes.
The have a vested interest in making sure that the government is run correctly. The institution of direct taxes has made everyone a stakeholder.
There are no arguments for land owners only suffrage that make any sense and this clown’s statements do not reflect any TEA partiers sentiments other than his own.
This is a bad idea and one that should not have seen it’s introduction on national TV and he should be removed from the presidency of the TEA party nation for this political gaffe.
I haven't read William's full proposal about this, but I suspect that he wasn't serious.
The problem that you point out is exactly what's wrong. But at the same time, it would make it abundantly clear who is actually paying the income taxes.
You wouldn't believe how many people still believe that the "rich" pay no taxes, even though the percentage of the total tax burden paid by the top 1% has almost doubled over the past 30 years.
Let’s market this right:
1) 1 vote for citizens
2) 10 votes for taxPAYERS
3) 100 votes for landowners
4) 1000 votes for military
That’s fair!
For the record, I’m a taxPAYER.
Let’s market this right:
1) 1 vote for citizens
2) 10 votes for taxPAYERS
3) 100 votes for landowners
4) 1000 votes for military (including spouses, maybe 1st generation descendants)
That’s fair! We’re not DENYING people the right to vote, we’re just saying some citizens are bigger stakeholders than others.
For the record, I’m a taxPAYER.
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