How the Twinkie Made the Super-rich Even Richer

Lafayette said:

Because of your pathetic blindness to the facts, you've been looking in the wrong place.

Here they are:
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More than 43 million men, women and children find themselves since 1965 below the Poverty Threshold, which is an average salary of $24K per year for a family of four.

That's the population of the states of California and Idaho combined.

You haven't even been looking for them. So why should you care ... ?

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I don't care, and here is why.

I used to be one of those poor people when I first got out of the Navy.
Rolling nickels for gas money and living on two tacos for .99 cents and Jack-In-The-Box, God bless them.

Now I am happy, own acreage, a nice house, and have $$$ in the bank through MY OWN EFFORTS.
I was not disabled then, but all that work I did made it get worse and worse, but I had mouths to feed, so I kept working long past after I should not have.

Now I am a busted, broken pain in the ass, internet addicted goofball, but....
I am also living in the comfort I created for myself.

My secret....MARRY THE RIGHT WOMAN.

RetiredNSmilin said:

I don't care, and here is why.

I used to be one of those poor people when I first got out of the Navy.
Rolling nickels for gas money and living on two tacos for .99 cents and Jack-In-The-Box, God bless them.

Now I am happy, own acreage, a nice house, and have $$$ in the bank through MY OWN EFFORTS.
I was not disabled then, but all that work I did made it get worse and worse, but I had mouths to feed, so I kept working long past after I should not have.

Now I am a busted, broken pain in the ass, internet addicted goofball, but....
I am also living in the comfort I created for myself.

My secret....MARRY THE RIGHT WOMAN.

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Then do your best to keep up with her.

Hawkeye10 said:

Then do your best to keep up with her.

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I gave up on that.

She does all the painting, lawn moving, deco buying, and will not let me do any of it when I try.
I am the house husband and she is the "outside guy".
She says the best thing she loves about me is I do all the cooking, and give her endless massages.
She also likes the fact I pay 100% of the bills, so what she makes working at home Medical Coding, is 100% ALL HERS.

Just tonight I made her a Lemon cake from scratch. It is cooling as I type this, so I can put the icing on.
Before I got to bed, I am going to make some homemade Teriyaki sauce.
I just learned she has never had any Teriyaki steak ever before in her life.
I intend to remedy that situation in a couple of days.

She told me when we were dating, she liked me because I was not a "real man" like her EX.
Who was crazy, abusive, drank all night, or went to the bar till it closed down, then can home drunk and accused her of having affairs all the time she was alone in the house. he kept saying this is how "real men" behave, so she better get used to it.
She took that crap for 20 years until she reached her limit when he threatened the kids.

RetiredNSmilin said:

I used to be one of those poor people when I first got out of the Navy.
Rolling nickels for gas money and living on two tacos for .99 cents and Jack-In-The-Box, God bless them.

Now I am happy, own acreage, a nice house, and have $$$ in the bank through MY OWN EFFORTS.

Now I am a busted, broken pain in the ass, internet addicted goofball, but....
I am also living in the comfort I created for myself.

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Fortunately, for the rest of us, life is not just about you, you, you.

There is the larger part of the population, also working and consuming thus allowing you to work.

That part is all about us, us, us ...

(Famous French quote from the Three Musketeers (Alexandre DUMAS) - "One for all, and All for one!")

Lafayette said:

You've understood nothing. Because you do not want to understand.

Specifically what I want is:
This: A Living Wage

and

*This: Making the Wealthy, Wall Street, and Large Corporations Pay their Fair Share

You are blind to any modification I might suggest. We've seen that in multiple exchanges. So why do you even ask?

Moving right along ...

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My my...touchy touchy.

So, basically, you want what Bernie Sanders wanted. Why don't you just say so?

I agree with him that capital gains taxes should be taxed at the same rate as income tax and I agree in limiting deductions (though I want to eliminate ALL deductions except for charitable contributions and capital losses).

But I disagree - to varying extents - with almost everything else he is saying. It comes across as petty and simply him trying to punish the rich for being rich...not to help America in any substantial way.

I like things about Bernie Sanders. But his socialistic/anti-free enterprise crusade is nonsense. It has been tried again and again in history and has failed every time.


Btw, the fact that you cannot handle scrutiny speaks volumes about the lack of certainty you actually have for your 'plan'.

If you were SO sure it was correct, then why do you seemingly freak out when someone asks you a simple question?

Thou doth protest too much, me thinks.

RetiredNSmilin said:

Being filthy rich is not a bad thing.

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I beg to differ in opinion.

But "that's what makes for horse races"* ...

*Originally from Mark Twain.

GROSSLY UNFAIR CORPORATE PAY-OUTS

Hawkeye10 said:

Lack of profits got us here.

You forgot that part didn't you?

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Of course, not. But what YOU are forgetting is that "profits are not the sole reason for a corporate existence".

It's nice to make profits, but given exaggerated upper-salaries, who is really 'n truly "profiting"?

See the CEO-to-median-pay data CEO Pay: How Much Do CEOs Make Compared to Their Employees?:
*The difference between the highest ("CVS") and lowest ("Servicenow") pay-scale ratio is 71.2. (Why that magnitude of difference?)
*What does the head of CVS do that the head of Servicenow does not do to earn his salary? (And is it merited?)
*Excerpt:

The average CEO-to-worker pay ratio for the 168 companies included in this report stands at about about 70-to-1, with some CEOs making more than 300 times the median salary of their employees – just in cash (base pay, bonuses, profit sharing, etc.). Many CEOs receive substantial stock/option grants and perks as part of their compensation, which can more than quadruple their total annual pay. But similar data for employees by company is not readily available, so we looked solely at cash compensation for both CEOs and workers to calculate ratios for this report.

Larry Merlo, the CEO of CVS Health Corp, made roughly 434 times the salary of the median CVS employee in 2015, the largest ratio between CEO and employee pay at any company on this list.

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MY POINT?

We have created a system of corporate pay-outs that is grossly unfair. Why? Because the actual "result" of the company depends upon far, far more than just the good-management of the Top-Dog. It depends upon all members contributing competently.

But the consequence in terms of individual revenue is not the least bit fair or impartial.

And, in the end, that total corporate-payout (with the exception of stock-options) comes out of operational expenses that we, the sheeple, consumers must pay when purchasing products/services.

So, why shouldn't the same reward-for-success be applied to all staff-workers, given that said reward is not the same at each level. (And the reward should also include stock-options, which do not come out of current-income as do comp-'n-ben.)

Any cogent answers ... ?

Lafayette said:

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Any cogent answers ... ?

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My answer is that Corporations have been all about profits since the raiders of the 1980's proved this fact, and that when ever I start talking about stuff like healthy pitchers in MLBB getting maybe $20,000 a pitch(Aroldis Chapman ) I get told by almost everyone that people should make as much as they can get, and if the pitcher got a contract that nets him $20,000 a pitch then good for him.

I call it a miss allocation of assets, and I also agree with you I think that corporate governance is a disaster.

DA60 said:

My my...touchy touchy.

So, basically, you want what Bernie Sanders wanted. Why don't you just say so?

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Why should I?

I have been "saying it" a lot longer than Bernie. He borrowed most of his ideas (rightly) from Europe, because they bedrock social-justice rules.

Moreover, Bernie is the only Senate member of the CPC (Congressional Progressive Caucus). Which, I'll bet, you don't even recognize. So, for your edification, excerpt from the Progressive Promise:

The Congressional Progressive Caucus believes in government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Our fairness plan is rooted in our core principles. It also embodies national priorities that are consistent with the values, needs, and hopes of all our people, not just the powerful and the privileged. We pledge our unwavering commitment to these legislative priorities and we will not rest until they become law.

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And that promise above, I assure you, is a very l-o-n-g row to hoe in the supposedly Greatest Nation on Earth.

As Obama tried to advance and both Bernie and Hillary have just failed to do as well.

Besides, the Troglodyte Right will tear-up ObamaCare and leave you with the biggest healthcare cost rip-off in the history of mankind. Don't believe that?

See here:


For a lower overall life-span (of 3 years), the per capita cost of American Health Care is more than twice as expensive as that of National Health Services in Europe ...

Lafayette said:

Why should I?

I have been "saying it" a lot longer than Bernie. He borrowed most of his ideas (rightly) from Europe, because they bedrock social-justice rules.

Moreover, Bernie is the only Senate member of the CPC (Congressional Progressive Caucus). Which, I'll bet, you don't even recognize. So, for your edification, excerpt from the Progressive Promise:


And that promise above, I assure you, is a very l-o-n-g row to hoe in the supposedly Greatest Nation on Earth.

As Obama tried to advance and both Bernie and Hillary have just failed to do as well.

Besides, the Troglodyte Right will tear-up ObamaCare and leave you with the biggest healthcare cost rip-off in the history of mankind. Don't believe that?

See here:
View attachment 67211096

For a lower overall life-span (of 3 years), the per capita cost of American Health Care is more than twice as expensive as that of National Health Services in Europe ...

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Ummm...I am not a conservative or a Libertarian or a liberal or anything else. Nor do I think America's healthcare system was right before Obamacare. It was a mess. But Obamacare is a bloated whale.

I grew up in Canada AND America...I see the good and the bad in both.

But socialism is not the answer. Not as long as human beings have so much lust for power and wealth.
The funny thing about Sanders is he freely admits that government is EXTREMELY corrupt. Yet his (and your) solution is to give FAR more power to that EXTREMELY corrupt institution. It makes no sense.


The answer - to me - is the government should protect those who cannot protect themselves, always (outside of war) balance their budget, have low taxes for all, have a small peacetime armed forces (but large reserves) and generally let the economy run itself (outside of fraud and health and safety rules).

No doubt you disagree with much/most of that.

DA60 said:

But socialism is not the answer.

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No doubt I get tired of correcting you on your misunderstanding of what socialism is and is not. (It is NOT Social Democracy.)

You refuse to understand, especially bizarre since you come from Canada which has a far better health-system than the US.

Because it is based upon the "Rabidly Socialist!":3oops: European-version and it is as damn-sight better than that of the US (from here):

Lafayette said:

How the Twinkie Made the Super-rich Even Richer

Excerpt:

Because money begets money, the above is just to show how e-a-z-y it is to make a megabuck on Wall Street and why upper-income taxation MUST BE CONFISCATORY ABOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

And yet, we have just put the fate of the nation into the hands of one of their kind ...

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At least you admit the goal of the left is, CONFISCATORY TAXATION.

Hawkeye10 said:

I call it a miss allocation of assets, and I also agree with you I think that corporate governance is a disaster.

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Well, when a nation decides to make of a sport a business, eventually the above happens.

It's just another business, and, of course people are marveled by the incomes being made. Like show business, they are beyond any rhyme-or-reason.

In fact, we'd get as much football or baseball or soccer or megabuck-movies with which to amuse ourselves were incomes confiscatory above a certain level. (Say 5 megabucks.)

The sportsmen and women, the actors/actresses, would all earn less ... and of course as well the Investment Bankers since there would be fewer funds available to distract them with the perpetual dilemma, "How can we maximize your profit-making!" (I thought, frankly, that Bernie Madoff had the best answer to that question! ;^)

Who should care for more once they've got 10, 20, 30 megabuck in a bank? Curiously, suddenly at some point these people stop crowing about the hallucinatory incomes they have out of fear. (Yes, they become "walking/talking targets".)

One can live very, very, very well on much less money. Which is why that "excess" should be taxed, and in the US particularly, spent on means to exit 43 million of its fellow citizens from the Poverty Threshold, where they have been incarcerated since 1965. And only because the percentage came down from a higher level in that year:
View attachment 67211099

"But they don't deserve it!" I see that feedback (from you plural) a lot on this forum. Neither did they deserve to fall into the Poverty Trap. That they did is more accidental than purposeful.

Accidents happen ...

countryboy said:

At least you admit the goal of the left is, CONFISCATORY TAXATION.

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Your the one who masterbates himself with continual usage of the word "confiscatory".

You trying to impress someone ... ?

Lafayette said:

Your the one who masterbates himself with continual usage of the word "confiscatory".

You trying to impress someone ... ?

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Wow, libs just can't help themselves, except to other people's money, that is. :roll:

BTW, you might wanna take a remedial spelling course, because you suck at it. You're not helping your "smartest person in any room" meme. Just sayin'.

countryboy said:

Wow, libs just can't help themselves, except to other people's money, that is. :roll:

BTW, you might wanna take a remedial spelling course, because you suck at it. You're not helping your "smartest person in any room" meme. Just sayin'.

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Yeah, right, and shall I change shaving lotion for you whilst I am at a general revision of "Self"?

Moving right along - presumably without you ...

MaggieD said:

Know what I want to know? If our country is such a failure...if its sooo horrible to live here...if the deck is sooo stacked...where are the millions of Americans who live here...who are being beaten up by our capitalist system...who are breaking their backs to make the rich richer...who are living in abject poverty while the 1% laugh at their stupidity...where are these tens of millions standing in line to leave??



Oh, wait...

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To be fair, people in that situation likely can't afford to move to a new city, let alone a new country.

Lafayette said:

No doubt I get tired of correcting you on your misunderstanding of what socialism is and is not. (It is NOT Social Democracy.)

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lol...as I do you. If you would care to look at the actual definition of what Bernie Sanders is proposing it is in fact socialism.

You refuse to understand, especially bizarre since you come from Canada which has a far better health-system than the US.

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A)I never said I 'come from Canada'. I said I grew up partly there...try and keep up.
B) I guarantee you that you do not have a clue what the Canadian system is really like. Just some ignorant socialist who claims to know things that he doesn't.
But let's test that....name the SPECIFIC, three best and worst things about the Canadian system. If you are so 'expert'...this should be simple. And, simplistic answers like 'it's good for the poor' do NOT count.
Btw - I guarantee you will not even get half of them right.

Well, Mr. I-resent-the-rich...?

Lafayette said:

Yeah, right, and shall I change shaving lotion for you whilst I am at a general revision of "Self"?

Moving right along - presumably without you ...

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More nonsensical gobbledygook.

countryboy said:

More nonsensical gobbledygook.

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Actually...it's arrogant and condescending, nonsensical gobbledegook.

The staple of those left wingers who think they know it all.

DA60 said:

If you would care to look at the actual definition of what Bernie Sanders is proposing it is in fact socialism.?

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Beyond belief - moving right along ...

Lafayette said:

Beyond belief - moving right along ...

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So...you cannot answer my question...I KNEW IT.

Which proves your knowledge of the Canadian healthcare system is laughable.

Suggestion - don't claim knowledge of something you clearly know little/nothing about. You will look less foolish.


Bu bye

Lafayette said:

Fortunately, for the rest of us, life is not just about you, you, you.

There is the larger part of the population, also working and consuming thus allowing you to work.

That part is all about us, us, us ...

(Famous French quote from the Three Musketeers (Alexandre DUMAS) - "One for all, and All for one!")

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Nice theory, but where was US, US, US, when I was struggling to feed the kids, and get gas to go to work.

"US" were nowhere to be seen.

I do not recall getting a check in the mail from you during those times.

It is ME, ME, ME that improved my lot, and made things better for my family.

You bleeding hearts were MIA, and left me completely on my own.

OK, that was then and this is now.....how many checks did you write to the despondent today?
When should I tell them to expect them?

Lafayette said:

I beg to differ in opinion.

But "that's what makes for horse races"* ...

*Originally from Mark Twain.

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So if you win the lottery, you will give it all away to me?

Can I make a record of your word on that right now?

My attorney is standing by.

RetiredNSmilin said:

So if you win the lottery, you will give it all away to me?

Can I make a record of your word on that right now?

My attorney is standing by.

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Good one.

It's like rich people that claim tax rates for the rich are too low.
Hey pal...nothing stopping you from paying a higher tax rate - I am quite sure the government will take the extra tax revenue.