The Rich are Robbing the Poor Blind

[Renae]

i don't have enough calories left for today. it's a serious question, though. in the olden golden days that we long to return to, tax rates were much higher.

They also had Jim Crow laws, segregation and other things. No one is calling for that, but you're strawmanning hard. Seriously. STOP it, I think too highly of you to let you keep going down such a foolish road.

 

[Helix]

They also had Jim Crow laws, segregation and other things. No one is calling for that, but you're strawmanning hard. Seriously. STOP it, I think too highly of you to let you keep going down such a foolish road.

if you're not a Trump supporter, then i apologize.

 

[Renae]

if you're not a Trump supporter, then i apologize.

I have never been one. I admit there are things he's done/pushed that I like, but I WROTE IN TED CRUZ ffs, I gave to Cruz's campaign and I call out Trump for being a jerk a lot. I wish he'd just shut the **** up in public most of the time.

 

[Helix]

I have never been one. I admit there are things he's done/pushed that I like, but I WROTE IN TED CRUZ ffs, I gave to Cruz's campaign and I call out Trump for being a jerk a lot. I wish he'd just shut the **** up in public most of the time.

well, fair enough, then. i apologize. my question is mostly directed at those who want to return America to some point at which they feel it was "great." then i want to question them about some specifics.

 

[Renae]

well, fair enough, then. i apologize. my question is mostly directed at those who want to return America to some point at which they feel it was "great." then i want to question them about some specifics.

Fair enough. We might VEHEMENTLY disagree on a lot of things, UHC... but that doesn't mean I don't' respect your opinion or dislike you Helix.

 

[Helix]

Fair enough. We might VEHEMENTLY disagree on a lot of things, UHC... but that doesn't mean I don't' respect your opinion or dislike you Helix.

same to you, and i hope that you are doing well.

 

[Renae]

same to you, and i hope that you are doing well.

Got my big "Transgender in the Workplace" meeting done today, lots of attendees, was totally fun.

 

[Neomalthusian]

well, fair enough, then. i apologize. my question is mostly directed at those who want to return America to some point at which they feel it was "great." then i want to question them about some specifics.

Do you want to direct questions at all people who want to "return to" a time when they think America was great, or do you want to single out the people that went along with Trump's slogan?

Because if it's all people who want to "return America to" this prior period of prosperity, that apparently includes mainly liberals. They seem to think that high tax rates and union membership are absolutely causal of economic prosperity, by pointing to one particular period of time.

 

[Helix]

Do you want to direct questions at all people who want to "return to" a time when they think America was great, or do you want to single out the people that went along with Trump's slogan?

Because if it's all people who want to "return America to" this prior period of prosperity, that apparently includes mainly liberals. They seem to think that high tax rates and union membership are absolutely causal of economic prosperity, by pointing to one particular period of time.

i'd just like some specifics on the whole MAGA thing from Trump voters. if you are one, which era?

 

[Neomalthusian]

i'd just like some specifics on the whole MAGA thing from Trump voters. if you are one, which era?

I'm not one, but given Trump's position on trade, and how starkly it differs from the stances of establishment leaders of both parties, and the fact that it very successfully wooed a nearly unprecedented proportion of union household votes for a Republican presidential candidate, it's apparent to me that the slogan is part of an appeal to critics of free trade agreements, that it's referencing the era prior to free trade and globalization. He's the most protectionist and anti-establishment President in our lifetimes, or at least that seems to be the intent of his positions on trade and international relations.

Maybe others are thinking of the post-WW2 economic boom, who knows.

 

[enderpotato00]

...by stealing their future.



It's really disgusting to see what this country has become.

Ryan says Republicans to target welfare, Medicare, Medicaid spending in 2018



So, while senators and their betters live to 90 and beyond, the plebes will all begin dropping dead by 60 again. That's one way to control costs. I guess.

Of course, demanding that the rich begin to pay their fair share is out of the question. They insist that getting richer is their right. And, none of the Republican politicians have the stones to deny them that...nor are they motivated to do so.

oH mY gOd ThE oPpReSsIoN.

 

[Helix]

I'm not one, but given Trump's position on trade, and how starkly it differs from the stances of establishment leaders of both parties, and the fact that it very successfully wooed a nearly unprecedented proportion of union household votes for a Republican presidential candidate, it's apparent to me that the slogan is part of an appeal to critics of free trade agreements, that it's referencing the era prior to free trade and globalization. He's the most protectionist and anti-establishment President in our lifetimes, or at least that seems to be the intent of his positions on trade and international relations.

Maybe others are thinking of the post-WW2 economic boom, who knows.

back in the great days, union membership and tax brackets for the wealthy were a bit higher. i also wonder how they feel about automation. that's where a significant portion of the tax cuts are going where i work.

 

[ttwtt78640]

That used to be true. It's much less so now. A lot less companies offer insurance these days. Walmart ring any bells?? They put only a prized few employees on full time and pay benefits.

That is true yet because of the "safety ney" pleanty of folks still accept such jobs.

 

[Neomalthusian]

back in the great days, union membership and tax brackets for the wealthy were a bit higher. i also wonder how they feel about automation. that's where a significant portion of the tax cuts are going where i work.

No one disputes the U.S. experienced its greatest period of economic prosperity between 1948 and 1973. The causes were not "tax rates and strong unions." The causes of economic booms and busts are never as simple as that. Renowned economists and historians (who aren't partisan hacks) understand the causes as complex, multi-systemic, global. If "tax rates and strong unions" caused the economic boom, then what happened in 1973? Did we slash taxes dramatically and outlaw unions or something? No. There was a global oil crisis and the U.S. experienced dramatic inflation, instability and recession. That put an end to that period of prosperity. The attempt to relegate the end of that "golden era" to the inauguration of Ronald Reagan or whatever is pure partisan hackery.

 

[Helix]

No one disputes the U.S. experienced its greatest period of economic prosperity between 1948 and 1973. The causes were not "tax rates and strong unions." The causes of economic booms and busts are never as simple as that. Renowned economists and historians (who aren't partisan hacks) understand the causes as complex, multi-systemic, global. If "tax rates and strong unions" caused the economic boom, then what happened in 1973? Did we slash taxes dramatically and outlaw unions or something? No. There was a global oil crisis and the U.S. experienced dramatic inflation, instability and recession. That put an end to that period of prosperity. The attempt to relegate the end of that "golden era" to the inauguration of Ronald Reagan or whatever is pure partisan hackery.

we did have an oil crisis, yes. should have learned from it back then, but the same folks also hate alternative energy. it's not a coincidence.

Ronald Reagan seemed to mean well. however, we also should have learned that wave after wave of trickle down is not a panacea. anyway, i'm sure that you don't support a return to the glory days of higher taxes and union membership. be careful to stick to that position, or at least avoid me if you don't.

 

[Neomalthusian]

we did have an oil crisis, yes. should have learned from it back then, but the same folks also hate alternative energy. it's not a coincidence.

You're introducing a partisan swipe about alternative energy in the context of the 1970s oil crisis? That's a bit odd.

Ronald Reagan seemed to mean well. however, we also should have learned that wave after wave of trickle down is not a panacea. anyway, i'm sure that you don't support a return to the glory days of higher taxes and union membership. be careful to stick to that position, or at least avoid me if you don't.

I seek to understand "the glory days" in the grand scheme of history, rather than through the partisan lens of "it's cuz taxes on the rich were high and unions were strong," which has basically become the entire Democratic Party platform. This whole notion of "returning to the glory days" is more or less a simpleton's fantasy. Those days are not coming back, regardless of whether I would "support" them coming back or not. The world is a wildly different place today than it was during post-WW2. Tax rates and unions didn't cause those economic conditions.

The people who want us to "return to the glory days" have a false belief in their heads that tax policy or unions created the economic conditions. That everything stems from just that. Hence they lean all their weight on those two things as something "we should do," as if doing it would re-create those conditions. It's a simpleton's fantasy.

 

[Helix]

You're introducing a partisan swipe about alternative energy in the context of the 1970s oil crisis? That's a bit odd.

i'm pointing out that there's a significant group of people who grouse about alternative energy, and they are largely the same group that have fallen for the MAGA BS.

I seek to understand "the glory days" in the grand scheme of history, rather than through the partisan lens of "it's cuz taxes on the rich were high and unions were strong," which has basically become the entire Democratic Party platform. This whole notion of "returning to the glory days" is more or less a simpleton's fantasy. Those days are not coming back, regardless of whether I would "support" them coming back or not. The world is a wildly different place today than it was during post-WW2. Tax rates and unions didn't cause those economic conditions.

The people who want us to "return to the glory days" have a false belief in their heads that tax policy or unions created the economic conditions. That everything stems from just that. Hence they lean all their weight on those two things as something "we should do," as if doing it would re-create those conditions. It's a simpleton's fantasy.

ah, well, let me clear that up for you. i have no desire to return to 1955. i do not, however, support the opposite extreme.

 

[calamity]

i'm pointing out that there's a significant group of people who grouse about alternative energy, and they are largely the same group that have fallen for the MAGA BS.



ah, well, let me clear that up for you. i have no desire to return to 1955. i do not, however, support the opposite extreme.

evolution
Global warming
Eating healthy
Renewable energy
education
facts
words with three syllables

all of the above are liberal conspiracies.

 

[danielpalos]

...by stealing their future.



It's really disgusting to see what this country has become.

Ryan says Republicans to target welfare, Medicare, Medicaid spending in 2018



So, while senators and their betters live to 90 and beyond, the plebes will all begin dropping dead by 60 again. That's one way to control costs. I guess.

Of course, demanding that the rich begin to pay their fair share is out of the question. They insist that getting richer is their right. And, none of the Republican politicians have the stones to deny them that...nor are they motivated to do so.

Discretionary spending has to go before entitlement spending. Our drug war has to go first.

 

[JustHanging]

Yes, because historically wealth redistribution has made everyone equally miserable, good plan..

You really think creating/enlarging the middle class "made everyone equally miserable?"

Personally I would say it made a lot of people happy.

 

[Renae]

You really think creating/enlarging the middle class "made everyone equally miserable?"

Personally I would say it made a lot of people happy.

Please show where that's happened.

 

[JustHanging]

Please show where that's happened.

Show what?

 

[Dolphin]

I trust Donald Trump is make America great again. If you love our country, love Donald Trump.

 

[calamity]

I trust Donald Trump is make America great again. If you love our country, love Donald Trump.

Most people from the USA do not mix up their verbs like you just did.

 

[Joecool44]

Hmm... is your definition of robbery simply not getting a 'fair share' of what someone else earned? Why rely on government to take what is rightfully yours?

Because to the dimocrats, buying your own health insurance and other things is the gubment's responsibility and nobody else's?