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ml242 wrote

How is Trump going to fix economic inequality again? More casinos and lowering the taxes on the wealthy?

Trump has not offered any serious solutions.  That's not the point.  Trump points out anything that makes old white people angry. He has no ideas, only targets. Right wingers eat that up and they don't care that he has no solutions.

As far as taxes, Trump is the only Republican that criticized the carried interest loophole (which puts him left of Chuck Schumer), or supported progressive taxation.  It's Andrew Cuomo who wants casinos and low taxes on the wealthy.

To me, the economy seems like it's on an unsustainable path to a banana republic, with a few rich people and everyone else begging for scraps. It's unbelievable to me that after 20 years of essentially ZERO income growth for the middle class, the only thing the GOP can come up with is low taxes on rich people.  The best thing about Trump is that he is proving that there is concern about that even among the rightest right wing.  

MM

ml242 wrote

How is Trump going to fix economic inequality again? More casinos and lowering the taxes on the wealthy?

Trump wants to establish a very progressive tax code,

From the Political Insider

He calls it the “1-5-10-15” income tax plan–this will likely form the basis of his presidential campaign. Tax proposals consist of the following:

* Those making up to $30,000 will pay 1 percent.

* Income from $30,000 to $100,000 results in a flat 5 percent.

* $100,000 to $1 million income will be taxed at 10 percent.

* On $1 million or above will be taxed 15 percent.


Read more: http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/donald-trump-unveils-his-bold-income-tax-proposal-this-is-a-big-deal/#ixzz3mInCyXhR

He also wants to hit the Hedge fund managers hard and remove their tax loop holes. So what is wrong with that?

Milo Maltbie wrote

To me, the economy seems like it's on an unsustainable path to a banana republic, with a few rich people and everyone else begging for scraps.

Is that true ? Class envy ? The middle class lives pretty well now.

With oil aplenty and cheap, money at a very, very low cost, you would think things would be outright booming. Perhaps competition from developing economies ?

ml242 wrote

How is Trump going to fix economic inequality again? More casinos and lowering the taxes on the wealthy?

WHOA ! Uncle Sam is not holding you back.You're free to go out and earn your own wealth.  What's wrong with that ? What are YOU doing about it ? What are you doing to fix " economic inequality " between nations ? How about you give half of your money to a poor African family ? Not happening ?

The Congressional Budget Office recently came out with a report on the country's economic future. One thing it said was the social safety net in this country provides little incentive for people to work. Their words, not mine.

Me, I'm a po' boy but I don't complain about rich folks being wealthy or coveting other's money. Also, I give 10% of my income to charity. That's money I could surely use, but it's also money the charities can use.

If you want more money, go out and earn it. Spend less.

Snowballs wrote

If you want more money, go out and earn it. Spend less.

Spend less is wise but "go out and earn it" only works if there is an opportunity.

Where's the lack of opportunity PT ? Generally speaking, most of us have the same options unless biologically hindered. Zuckerberg was just a college student a few years ago. Now he's a billionaire. We've all seen news stories how an Asian family came here with little, saved, worked hard and built successful businesses. They do better in college than most, too.

Work two jobs, work overtime, skip new cars, trips etc. Build, build build your income/savings. It's hard and most of us are not willing to truly put in the sacrifices it takes to become successful at earning big money. Any body (snicker) I know who has more-money-than-most work their butt off. Usually they work constantly. We all have that opportunity.

Yes, I can tell you the same stories. But I can also tell you stories of the working poor in small mid western towns, of people working two jobs with no luxuries in life that are one paycheck away from being homeless. How could this be you ask. Take the story of one mother who I have helped financially, she is a single mother in a rural farm community working in a low paying non-union factory 20 miles from her home when the factory is running - she has suffered many layoffs, has no benefits. Her other job is in a nursing home on nights and weekends which is close to her home. Her only luxury if you can call it that is a flip phone which she needs because she travels the rural back roads to her job and if she breaks down or has an accident it is her only line of communications. Her car is very old, early 80s I think. There was as time she called me crying because she could not afford dish soap to clean her dishes and she was washing them in bleach. I sent her a care box. How did this happen, Doctor bills. Her son had a debilitating spine disorder and she has had orthopedic problems that she must have taken care of. She does own her home - closer to a shack that she has to pay taxes on, heat and otherwise keep patched together. She could not afford to send her son to college - I am not sure where he ended up. She is almost 60 now with no hope in sight. Not a drug addict or alcoholic, just not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Why hasn't she gotten her way out of this? My last investment in this case was to pay for her tuition to attend a trade school which she did and she past the courses. However, she did not have the self confidence to take the license exam and there it sat. That was the last major investment I put into this case. However it showed me that not only is the bottom 20% in bad shape, not only have they given up on the country, they have given up on themselves.

OK you say - they deserve it, if those refugees can do it so can a hard working American, the others are just lazy bums and deserve what they get. They have come from a different culture, sure they come here with nothing, but they also have no responsibilities, no obligations. Many have communities in this country that care about them, pull them up and support them. They start work in an underground economy where they pay no taxes. We don't do this for our own, we just look down at them and say, "Save some money, get a job".

I am all for eliminating hand outs and giveaways, but we need to provide opportunities at various levels that will give people hope.

You call yourself poor - I call BS. Do you own a pair of skis, can you buy a lift ticket. If you answer yes to either or heaven forbid both, you don't have a fucking clue. The fact that you own a computer and have an internet connection and can even think about recreation tells me you aren't even close to poor - your just a poser.

PeeTex wrote

 My last investment in this case was to pay for her tuition to attend a trade school which she did and she past the courses. However, she did not have the self confidence to take the license exam and there it sat.

HA! That's just as I stated D-Bag,,, she has/had opportunity. U 2 dumb too sea !
 

PeeTex wrote

they have given up on themselves. .

 
Her choice and her responsibility you D-bag.

PeeTex wrote

OK you say - they deserve it,

I never said that D-bag. Mo' evidence u  a dum dum.

 

PeeTex wrote

if those refugees can do it but they also have no responsibilities, no obligations.

Refugees ? Who mentioned them ? I didn't. How the hell would you know the immigrants I spoke of don't have any responsibilities/obligations ?  You don't you dumb ass.
 

PeeTex wrote

if those refugees can do it but they also have no responsibilities, no obligations.

HEY LOOK ! By your own admission they HAVE opportunity like I said and you were just arguing against. U 1 dumb fuck ! ( yes I'm laughing at you)

PeeTex wrote

You call yourself poor - I call BS. Do you own a pair of skis, can you buy a lift ticket. If you answer yes to either or heaven forbid both, you don't have a fucking clue.

All things are relative. Take your case, few are as stupid as you. Just keep spouting assumptions to falsely accuse people and you will beat " any bodies "  stupidity once again AND you'll fully retain your asshole status. Hey look!...There's an opportunity for you ! You can be yourself D-bag! I doubt you'll miss it.

PeeTex wrote

Yes, I can tell you the same stories.

Then why are you bitchin at me  D-bag ? You just admitted what I said ! What an absolute dum dum.

I'll clue you in,,, you're the one who
 

PeeTex wrote

don't have a fucking clue. .

Ah, you have that itchy, burning problem, huh ? Don't blame me bitch. It's not my fault you have that " not so fresh feeling ".
 

PeeTex wrote

The fact that you own a computer and have an internet connection and can even think about recreation tells me you aren't even close to poor - your just a poser.

The fact that you make false assumptions and then false accusations towards me personally when I was discussing an issue in general tells me you are mentally weak, stupid and a douche bag pussy. Go get your teen spirit. You smell.

Assume and it makes you an ass PT. No doubt you're used to it BUT you best get some Prep H too. First remove the egg from your face then apply liberally. You'll need a lot.

Is that the best you can come up with - not an intelligent word there. Oh well - another one calibrated.

Ha ! You got spanked.   It was so easy. " Any bodies " could have done it

Obviously your azz is too sore to have any rebuttal. Doesn't matter, like you it would have sucked anyway.

Calibrated ? Yep, I won, you're a zero.

Hmmm somehow I feel just fine. Never resorted to calling someone a D-bag, Azz hole - just stated facts. Sure seems like I called you out and you didn't like it one bit and went ballistic. Calibrated indeed.

Oh boo hoo hoo you got called names...whine. You now claim you never resorted to calling me names ? You said I was a poser you dum dum

Called me out ? Laughable. I very successfully refuted your abusive rant. You claim you just stated facts ? HA! You made false accusations against me using obviously false assumptions, said  I had no f-n clue while you attacked me personally for discussing an issue in general.

Besides, you even agreed with what I had posted prior to your abusive rant. That being, people have opportunities. Then you went ballistic against me first. So don't cry because you got your comeuppance.

Here's a clue,,,, don't throw some shit at those who don't deserve it. If you had more intelligence  you would not lose so bad. But you don't so you do.

PeeTex wrote

Yes, I can tell you the same stories.

you don't have a fucking clue. - your just a poser.

See. It's right there dum dum. You're agreeing with what I wrote prior to your abusive rant and then you're calling me names.

Man, you're stupid. No wonder you lost.

Oh yeah saying that " your just a poser " is wrong in several ways.  It's " you're " as in you are, not " your " as in your stupidity is showing once again PT.

In my post, I very correctly told you that you would not miss the opportunity to be " your " D-bag self and you didn't !   

So recalibrating...... I WON AGAIN !  WOO HOO!

" You're " still a D-bag zero.

Milo Maltbie wrote

ml242 wrote

How is Trump going to fix economic inequality again? More casinos and lowering the taxes on the wealthy?

Trump has not offered any serious solutions.  That's not the point.  Trump points out anything that makes old white people angry. He has no ideas, only targets. . .

As far as taxes, Trump is the only Republican that criticized the carried interest loophole (which puts him left of Chuck Schumer), or supported progressive taxation.  It's Andrew Cuomo who wants casinos and low taxes on the wealthy.

To me, the economy seems like it's on an unsustainable path to a banana republic, with a few rich people and everyone else begging for scraps. It's unbelievable to me that after 20 years of essentially ZERO income growth for the middle class, the only thing the GOP can come up with is low taxes on rich people.  The best thing about Trump is that he is proving that there is concern about that even among the rightest right wing.  

MM

This is all correct to me. And yes, I guess we could all "work harder", as snowballs wants us to do, but the problem is that we've set up a system of "Lottery capitalism", where there are a couple of stories of lottery winners (Zuckerberg, Jobs, NBA Players) that are supposed to represent what makes America great, but you're really talking about 1 or 2 guys that got lucky (or were more ruthless in business dealings or whatever).


What happens to the other people who don't make it? Like, I'm sure the creators of Friendster or MySpace are doing fine, but they aren't billionaires. And only a select few of those kids trying for an NBA career are going to make it. What happens to the other ones? We just tell them to work harder and more hours at shitty jobs so that Zuckerberg can relax more?

The problem of inequality isn't that there are no examples of rags to riches stories, it's that a vast majority of people are getting left behind in this economy.

I also agree with Peetex in the fact that "left behind" in the U.S.A. is better than a lot of places, and we should be thankful for what we do have.

mattchuck2 wrote

... I guess we could all "work harder", as snowballs wants us to do, but the problem is that we've set up a system of "Lottery capitalism"...

I also agree with Peetex in the fact that "left behind" in the U.S.A. is better than a lot of places, and we should be thankful for what we do have.

I guess that depends on the places you are comparing.  Europe and Japan seem to have way better airports, transportation and parks than the US, and even in Greece there are very few homeless people, probably because they put them in mental hospitals.  That all requires more public spending than Americans would tolerate.  Northern Europeans pay more taxes, but they work less, vacation more and have a higher standard of living and more economic security than  Americans.

The right personal choice is always to work harder when you don't have enough money, but your political decision can be different.  I'm voting for the party that supports wage earners. I like the idea of requiring employers to pay more overtime, and to offer more vacation and maternity time. If employees work fewer hours, employers will have to hire more people and pay better wages.  Make it easier to hire people by putting more of the employers' overhead, like health insurance and pensions, on the government. And don't say you can't do it because "the market."  The government intervenes in all kinds of markets all the time to take risks off businesses, or to "stabilize" prices, which really only means higher prices.  It's only when the government does something to increase wages that the GOPs get all libertarian.

MM
 

^ Oh, I agree that many western democracies do it better. I was just comparing the lives of people in U.S. to the lives of most poor people around the world, people who aren't lucky enough to live in Denmark or France or wherever.

And as far as myself, Yes. Live like a libertarian and vote like a liberal has always served me well.

looks like both Bernie and Trump are both seeing Dogbert the barber to prevent them from being elected for the good of the world

This second one in the series looks darn close to Bernie's lack of a hair style.  I've asked Scotty a few times why his followers don't just buy the dude a comb.  Not getting elected with that hair.

Coach, glad to know you feel that the election should be about haircuts.... are you sure you're not a Hill fan then? ;)

Anyways, economic inequality. When wages have barely increased for the middle class in 30 years and then you read about the people living in abject poverty at the same time as stuff like this, there is a problem:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/12/ceo-pay-report_n_5484622.html

snowballs, it's not that i'm envious of the douches at the top, it's that I feel like the system is heavily skewed for those people while everyone else gets screwed because of the lottery-myth that "you could be the next" high end big time multi-millionaire.

At the same time, the money in the pot gets spent completely inappropriately. It's a multifaceted problem.

And Bernie rules.

also, if that carson said that populist nonsense about vaccines that's typical repub bs and he's unfit to run for public office.