Why the Rich Pay More in Taxes

[Chizzang]

Chizzy, you communist, you are so full of shit...and you stole part of your blather from George Carlin.

Sure there are many unhappy middle class people...and some unhappy wealthy people...but for every unhappy rich and middle class person, there are many more unhappy poor people. Everything being equal, I'll take a solid roof over my head, a good neighborhood full of educated and gainfully employed intersting people, good clothing, and some good food over being poor.

BTW, it takes money to travel...at least if you plan on doing it for a living. Sure, you can do it on a limited budget when you are young, but quitting your job on a regular basis is not a good way to ensure that your end years are lived well. And quitting your job regularly usually means you don’t have kids…unless you’re a gypsy.

In the end, you'll end up 60 years old and renting some capitalist’s house somewhere by yourself...the woman who loved you for your wanderlust having departed for someone with some ambition and stability.

Of course
You completely miss the point
First of all I am not sure what I "ripped off" from George Carlin but if he agrees with me the great

The point is
Consumerism vs. Renaissance ideologies
The Bohemian vs. the Corporation

We've completely bought into consumerism as a lifestyle
So much so
That it is now common for people to owe more money than they are worth and yet never stop buying crap
Consumerism as a cultural endeavor is not typically a satisfying life time experience

[kalm]

Chizzy, you communist, you are so full of ****...and you stole part of your blather from George Carlin.

Sure there are many unhappy middle class people...and some unhappy wealthy people...but for every unhappy rich and middle class person, there are many more unhappy poor people. Everything being equal, I'll take a solid roof over my head, a good neighborhood full of educated and gainfully employed intersting people, good clothing, and some good food over being poor.

BTW, it takes money to travel...at least if you plan on doing it for a living. Sure, you can do it on a limited budget when you are young, but quitting your job on a regular basis is not a good way to ensure that your end years are lived well. And quitting your job regularly usually means you don’t have kids…unless you’re a gypsy.

In the end, you'll end up 60 years old and renting some capitalist’s house somewhere by yourself...the woman who loved you for your wanderlust having departed for someone with some ambition and stability.

Of course
You completely miss the point
First of all I am not sure what I "ripped off" from George Carlin but if he agrees with me the great

The point is
Consumerism vs. Renaissance ideologies
The Bohemian vs. the Corporation

We've completely bought into consumerism as a lifestyle
So much so
That it is now common for people to owe more money than they are worth and yet never stop buying crap
Consumerism as a cultural endeavor is not typically a satisfying life time experience

Bu, bu, but, buying crap you can't afford is what drives the economy!

[YoUDeeMan]

Bu, bu, but, buying American made crap you can't afford is what drives the economy!

Fixed it for you.

[YoUDeeMan]

Of course
You completely miss the point
First of all I am not sure what I "ripped off" from George Carlin but if he agrees with me the great

The point is
Consumerism vs. Renaissance ideologies
The Bohemian vs. the Corporation

We've completely bought into consumerism as a lifestyle
So much so
That it is now common for people to owe more money than they are worth and yet never stop buying crap
Consumerism as a cultural endeavor is not typically a satisfying life time experience

You were kidding with the little ditty about missing the point, weren't you?

You, a Harvard grad who posted a pic from his flight in Alaska, are sitting on a computer in what...a hut ...typing rubbish that people should live a non-consumer lifestyle?

Too funny!

[kalm]

Bu, bu, but, buying American made crap you can't afford is what drives the economy!

Fixed it for you.

You can afford it and the gov. doesn't have to go into debt if it's manufactured here.

[travelinman67]

...Sure there are many unhappy middle class people...and some unhappy wealthy people...but for every unhappy rich and middle class person, there are many more unhappy poor people. Everything being equal, I'll take a solid roof over my head, a good neighborhood full of educated and gainfully employed intersting people, good clothing, and some good food over being poor. Because everyone knows, poor people are always uneducated, unemployed, and live in shacks.

FIFY

Spoken like a true limousine liberal.

[Chizzang]

Of course
You completely miss the point
First of all I am not sure what I "ripped off" from George Carlin but if he agrees with me the great

The point is
Consumerism vs. Renaissance ideologies
The Bohemian vs. the Corporation

We've completely bought into consumerism as a lifestyle
So much so
That it is now common for people to owe more money than they are worth and yet never stop buying crap
Consumerism as a cultural endeavor is not typically a satisfying life time experience

You were kidding with the little ditty about missing the point, weren't you?

You, a Harvard grad who posted a pic from his flight in Alaska, are sitting on a computer in what...a hut ...typing rubbish that people should live a non-consumer lifestyle?

Too funny!

No I'm not kidding
I live in 600 sq. feet - far smaller than the garage of the Average American home
I ride my bike just about everywhere I go
I don't really own anything of great consumer value
My truck has "roll up windows" nothing in it is "automatic" (Ursus can confirm this)
I know too many people that have so much stuff they can't even fit it all in their garage and their house is 2500 sq. feet... just their clothes would fill up my entire living space

[OL FU]

Warren Buffett:

"If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper middle class should even probably be cut further," Buffett said. "But I think that people at the high end -- people like myself -- should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we've ever had it.…The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you.” Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., added, “But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.”

11/21/2010


http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/warren-b ... d=12199889" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have heard Buffet say many times he is in favor of higher income taxes rates on higher wage earners. Has he ever said that he is in favor of 39.5% rate on capital gains which of course is where his income is derived? Just curious.

[Chizzang]

Warren Buffett:

"If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper middle class should even probably be cut further," Buffett said. "But I think that people at the high end -- people like myself -- should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we've ever had it.…The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you.” Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., added, “But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.”

11/21/2010


http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/warren-b ... d=12199889" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have heard Buffet say many times he is in favor of higher income taxes rates on higher wage earners. Has he ever said that he is in favor of 39.5% rate on capital gains which of course is where his income is derived? Just curious.

That's the thing about taxes...
they're always okay for somebody else to pay

I'm perfectly fine with raising everybody taxes (except mine)

[blueballs]

Warren Buffett:

"If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper middle class should even probably be cut further," Buffett said. "But I think that people at the high end -- people like myself -- should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we've ever had it.…The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you.” Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., added, “But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.”

11/21/2010


http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/warren-b ... d=12199889" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have heard Buffet say many times he is in favor of higher income taxes rates on higher wage earners. Has he ever said that he is in favor of 39.5% rate on capital gains which of course is where his income is derived? Just curious.

He can also feel free to stroke a check to the US Treasury for the amount he feels he is undertaxed...

[OL FU]

I have never put much credence in the super wealthy like Buffet and Gates and others saying we should raise taxes. I mean once you got 30 billion or so who gives a rat's ass. On the other hand if we really want to tax the wealthy, income tax is not the way to do it. An asset tax would work just fine. Let's say any amount over 1B dollars now belongs to the government. Betcha ol' Warren and Bill could give you about 29 billions reasons why that wouldn't be a good thing.

[OL FU]

You were kidding with the little ditty about missing the point, weren't you?

You, a Harvard grad who posted a pic from his flight in Alaska, are sitting on a computer in what...a hut ...typing rubbish that people should live a non-consumer lifestyle?

Too funny!

No I'm not kidding
I live in 600 sq. feet - far smaller than the garage of the Average American home
I ride my bike just about everywhere I go
I don't really own anything of great consumer value
My truck has "roll up windows" nothing in it is "automatic" (Ursus can confirm this)
I know too many people that have so much stuff they can't even fit it all in their garage and their house is 2500 sq. feet... just their clothes would fill up my entire living space

Room for you, your honey, your bike and your iron

[kalm]

...Sure there are many unhappy middle class people...and some unhappy wealthy people...but for every unhappy rich and middle class person, there are many more unhappy poor people. Everything being equal, I'll take a solid roof over my head, a good neighborhood full of educated and gainfully employed intersting people, good clothing, and some good food over being poor. Because everyone knows, poor people are always uneducated, unemployed, and live in shacks.

FIFY

Spoken like a true limousine liberal.

The rich and the poor have never had it this good.

[Chizzang]

There seems to be some confusion...
between having a computer and a small living space vs. a house jam packed full of crap and a life sentence of debts all the while thinking you need more stuff

Update:
Having very few things but nice things vs. unending piles of stuff (there is a difference)
I don't have a coffee maker or a TV
contrary to popular myth I also do not have an iron

I have a few guitars a drawing table and a computer
a sofa and a very small table with two chairs and a bed with one dresser... that constitutes 100% of the items in my 600 sq feet living space (other than piles of books and my bike)

I decide very carefully before I add something to my life like boats and second cars and more crap piled on more crap, I live in a space where nothing can be added without something being removed...

in other words rampant consumerism vs. cautious acceptance of few items being added to ones small living space


It's my stuffy contribution to liberal elitism

[YoUDeeMan]

There seems to be some confusion...
between having a computer and a small living space vs. a house jam packed full of crap and a life sentence of debts all the while thinking you need more stuff

Update:
Having very few things but nice things vs. unending piles of stuff (there is a difference)
I don't have a coffee maker or a TV
contrary to popular myth I also do not have an iron

I have a few guitars a drawing table and a computer
a sofa and a very small table with two chairs and a bed with one dresser... that constitutes 100% of the items in my 600 sq feet living space (other than piles of books and my bike)

I decide very carefully before I add something to my life like boats and second cars and more crap piled on more crap, I live in a space where nothing can be added without something being removed...

in other words rampant consumerism vs. cautious acceptance of few items being added to ones small living space


It's my stuffy contribution to liberal elitism

How do you keep your beer cold? What does your girlfriend's house look like? How many homes does your family own? Hers?

[YoUDeeMan]

Fixed it for you.

You can afford it and the gov. doesn't have to go into debt if it's manufactured here.

Really? Then why do the American companies go out of business if they can produce goods and sell them at the same price as the Chinese?

[Chizzang]

There seems to be some confusion...
between having a computer and a small living space vs. a house jam packed full of crap and a life sentence of debts all the while thinking you need more stuff

Update:
Having very few things but nice things vs. unending piles of stuff (there is a difference)
I don't have a coffee maker or a TV
contrary to popular myth I also do not have an iron

I have a few guitars a drawing table and a computer
a sofa and a very small table with two chairs and a bed with one dresser... that constitutes 100% of the items in my 600 sq feet living space (other than piles of books and my bike)

I decide very carefully before I add something to my life like boats and second cars and more crap piled on more crap, I live in a space where nothing can be added without something being removed...

in other words rampant consumerism vs. cautious acceptance of few items being added to ones small living space


It's my stuffy contribution to liberal elitism

How do you keep your beer cold? What does your girlfriend's house look like? How many homes does your family own? Hers?

1)Yes there is a sink and running water as well as a refrigerator...
2)She's got about a thousand square foot apartment and claims she'll never buy a house...
3)I'm not sure how my family plays into the whole: Me - not buying into rampant consumerism

But I assure you my parents are rabid consumers and completely buy into the "American Dream" being a race to buy more sh!t and acquire more crap... as well as my brother although he's starting to question the sanity of it these days which has been interesting to watch him go through that

However: My sister and I chose a different path

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I rarely agree with Cleets on many things. It provides for great discussions when we're together. I do agree with him on this one though and can tell you that he does practice what he speaks. He has a nice truck that he bought new off the lot and there are "no frills" to it. He may splurge on good food, a trip & so forth, but he doesn't seem to see having the "newest gadget" as a necessity to measure your worth like a lot of people that I know with a lot less money that he has seem to find pleasure in.

[kalm]

You can afford it and the gov. doesn't have to go into debt if it's manufactured here.

Really? Then why do the American companies go out of business if they can produce goods and sell them at the same price as the Chinese?

Wouldn't happen if China paid it's workers better and provided our standard of living.

[YoUDeeMan]

1)Yes there is a sink and running water as well as a refrigerator...
2)She's got about a thousand square foot apartment and claims she'll never buy a house...
3)I'm not sure how my family plays into the whole: Me - not buying into rampant consumerism

But I assure you my parents are rabid consumers and completely buy into the "American Dream" being a race to buy more sh!t and acquire more crap... as well as my brother although he's starting to question the sanity of it these days which has been interesting to watch him go through that

However: My sister and I chose a different path

1) Where do you go to the bathroom?
2) Then together you two have a 1,900 foot dwelling, 2 cars, a couple of beds, more tables, more chairs, two refrigerators (shame on you), 2 computers, etc. In other words, almost the same as other couples...and you don't have kids.
3) Do you vacation or use any of your parents; houses (or her parents' houses)? Are you planning on tossing away ALL of your inheritance? If not, then you have the luxury of living a Bohenmian lifestyle knowing that there is a safety net from those who chose to work hard and collect valuables.

Not hard at all to choose a care free lifestyle when one has other means waiting in the wings.

[YoUDeeMan]

Really? Then why do the American companies go out of business if they can produce goods and sell them at the same price as the Chinese?

Wouldn't happen if China paid it's workers better and provided our standard of living.

Let;s see...you don't want our government or businesses to control our standard of living but you want someone to control the Chinese people's standard of living so that America can have a higher standard of living?

[Chizzang]

1)Yes there is a sink and running water as well as a refrigerator...
2)She's got about a thousand square foot apartment and claims she'll never buy a house...
3)I'm not sure how my family plays into the whole: Me - not buying into rampant consumerism

But I assure you my parents are rabid consumers and completely buy into the "American Dream" being a race to buy more sh!t and acquire more crap... as well as my brother although he's starting to question the sanity of it these days which has been interesting to watch him go through that

However: My sister and I chose a different path

1) Where do you go to the bathroom?
2) Then together you two have a 1,900 foot dwelling, 2 cars, a couple of beds, more tables, more chairs, two refrigerators (shame on you), 2 computers, etc. In other words, almost the same as other couples...and you don't have kids.
3) Do you vacation or use any of your parents; houses (or her parents' houses)? Are you planning on tossing away ALL of your inheritance? If not, then you have the luxury of living a Bohenmian lifestyle knowing that there is a safety net from those who chose to work hard and collect valuables.

Not hard at all to choose a care free lifestyle when one has other means waiting in the wings.

First
You'll need to work on your basic math skills
600 plus 1000 = 1600 (not 1900)

Second
It's not that I don't have "things'
Indeed if you considered my meager possessions in comparison to your average American I have very little - but - in comparison to your average human on earth I have an abundance (an over abundance)

It's all perspective

I see you are very attached to your ideology
But there is nothing that keeps any American from living with less "stuff" we all could do it if we chose - instead - we choose to be the worlds largest consumers... Kids and jobs and money have nothing to do with choosing to live with less crap and less debt... I live well within my means - most Americans live far beyond their means and look to buy more and own more and get more and have more

More - more - more

There is nothing keeping us from having less and deciding to live smaller... Nothing
I consider our rampant consumerism a kind of insanity
A neurotic compulsion that at it's core leads to unhappiness

[kalm]

Wouldn't happen if China paid it's workers better and provided our standard of living.

Let;s see...you don't want our government or businesses to control our standard of living but you want someone to control the Chinese people's standard of living so that America can have a higher standard of living?

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Good analysis as usual

[kalm]

1) Where do you go to the bathroom?
2) Then together you two have a 1,900 foot dwelling, 2 cars, a couple of beds, more tables, more chairs, two refrigerators (shame on you), 2 computers, etc. In other words, almost the same as other couples...and you don't have kids.
3) Do you vacation or use any of your parents; houses (or her parents' houses)? Are you planning on tossing away ALL of your inheritance? If not, then you have the luxury of living a Bohenmian lifestyle knowing that there is a safety net from those who chose to work hard and collect valuables.

Not hard at all to choose a care free lifestyle when one has other means waiting in the wings.

First
You'll need to work on your basic math skills
600 plus 1000 = 1600 (not 1900)

Second
It's not that I don't have "things'
Indeed if you considered my meager possessions in comparison to your average American I have very little - but - in comparison to your average human on earth I have an abundance (an over abundance)

It's all perspective

I see you are very attached to your ideology
But there is nothing that keeps any American from living with less "stuff" we all could do it if we chose - instead - we choose to be the worlds largest consumers... Kids and jobs and money have nothing to do with choosing to live with less crap and less debt... I live well within my means - most Americans live far beyond their means and look to buy more and own more and get more and have more

More - more - more

There is nothing keeping us from having less and deciding to live smaller... Nothing
I consider our rampant consumerism a kind of insanity
A neurotic compulsion that at it's core leads to unhappiness

Again, try having kids. You have no idea.

[Chizzang]

First
You'll need to work on your basic math skills
600 plus 1000 = 1600 (not 1900)

Second
It's not that I don't have "things'
Indeed if you considered my meager possessions in comparison to your average American I have very little - but - in comparison to your average human on earth I have an abundance (an over abundance)

It's all perspective

I see you are very attached to your ideology
But there is nothing that keeps any American from living with less "stuff" we all could do it if we chose - instead - we choose to be the worlds largest consumers... Kids and jobs and money have nothing to do with choosing to live with less crap and less debt... I live well within my means - most Americans live far beyond their means and look to buy more and own more and get more and have more

More - more - more

There is nothing keeping us from having less and deciding to live smaller... Nothing
I consider our rampant consumerism a kind of insanity
A neurotic compulsion that at it's core leads to unhappiness

Again, try having kids. You have no idea.

Sounds like you "chose poorly"
Good luck - we are raising a nation of little mass consumers who believe that piles of stuff is the norm