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The Soviets weren't socialist, or even communist, so it's a false comparison. Joel Send a noteboard - 05/09/2009 03:09:06 AM
My point is that what you are advocating for the United States is not in fact in place in any other industrialized nation. The "soak the rich" notions that you propose are inimical to me for several reasons, not all of them simply matters of principle.

Simply put, nations that loot their wealthy in this manner end up destroying the means of creating more wealth, because they create disincentives to excel and take money out of the hands of people who know how to make it and put it in the hands of people who mismanage it.

While I agree that not all wealthy people are wealthy because they know how to handle money, and not all poor people are poor because they mismanage it, the tax policy you advocate still does have the effect that I noted.

The Soviet Union did this - it expropriated money from the rich in the name of feeding the poor. When the money ran out, it turned to slave labor and the threat of executions to continue economic growth. When the regime realized that a state of fear and executions can't be maintained indefinitely, it took about 30 years for the system to collapse completely. When the Soviet Union collapsed, it was bankrupt many times over.

I don't think poor people should starve, but I also realize that socialism ultimately leads to a situation where everyone is poor.

In terms of higher taxes themselves what I'm advocating is the norm in every other industrialized nation, despite the fact they lack our federal laws preventing income being sent out of the country to avoid taxes. None of them are in danger of going the way of the Soviets, probably because their governments are generally founded on socialism rather than the military, secret police and authoritarianism of the Soviets.
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For Europeans who don't understand why Americans are against ObamaCare - 03/09/2009 04:24:35 AM 1278 Views
I'd be happy to tax top "earners" more and suffer Europes economic "collapse. " - 03/09/2009 04:30:31 AM 745 Views
The US will never work with socialism. - 03/09/2009 04:40:21 AM 812 Views
Re: The US will never work with socialism. - 03/09/2009 04:58:47 AM 801 Views
I don't think the mistrust of the government is really all that overblown - 03/09/2009 05:04:34 AM 732 Views
It's advanced beyond what it was during the Revolution, I think. - 03/09/2009 05:18:22 AM 769 Views
I would say it's grown with the government - 03/09/2009 05:23:52 AM 753 Views
Re: I don't think the mistrust of the government is really all that overblown - 04/09/2009 03:30:23 AM 696 Views
If I lived in France I wouldn't trust the Government either. - 04/09/2009 03:44:55 AM 762 Views
*laughs* the point is taken. *NM* - 04/09/2009 04:24:07 AM 484 Views
Re: The US will never work with socialism. - 04/09/2009 03:28:24 AM 857 Views
How much more can we really tax the wealthy?? - 03/09/2009 04:41:14 AM 659 Views
Sadly, I think going back to the Clinton rates would help - 03/09/2009 04:42:54 AM 637 Views
I'm ok with that....not super excited....but ok with it - 03/09/2009 04:57:32 AM 652 Views
A lot; before Reagans "reforms" we already taxed them less than any other industrialized state did. - 03/09/2009 05:06:00 AM 777 Views
I'm in the lower-middle class tax bracket - 03/09/2009 05:13:39 AM 699 Views
It's both, IMHO. - 03/09/2009 05:29:41 AM 622 Views
I hear a lot of socialism coming from you..... - 03/09/2009 05:19:08 AM 636 Views
Re: I hear a lot of socialism coming from you..... - 03/09/2009 05:40:32 AM 723 Views
Nice non-answer answer..... - 03/09/2009 05:52:04 AM 734 Views
You want detailed answers that require detailed data I don't have. - 03/09/2009 06:06:55 AM 787 Views
Here are some facts and analyses..... - 03/09/2009 02:40:22 PM 839 Views
The Heritage Foundation, huh? - 03/09/2009 03:01:17 PM 843 Views
The non-working wealthy? Please quantify..... - 03/09/2009 03:31:58 PM 809 Views
Paris Hilton? - 04/09/2009 03:43:19 AM 710 Views
You're so full of shit on this issue I don't know where to begin. - 04/09/2009 03:15:55 AM 822 Views
Re: You're so full of shit on this issue I don't know where to begin. - 04/09/2009 03:59:21 AM 907 Views
Less than 200 people were said to be US persons with Swiss accounts - 04/09/2009 04:16:24 AM 709 Views
And yet account for many millions of dollars; what does that say...? - 04/09/2009 04:21:57 AM 701 Views
It's statistically insignificant and your hyperbole is reminiscent of screaming guests on CNN. - 04/09/2009 02:07:31 PM 636 Views
Well, look at this way: - 04/09/2009 02:24:03 PM 767 Views
That's not a solution. - 05/09/2009 02:39:12 AM 770 Views
The Soviets weren't socialist, or even communist, so it's a false comparison. - 05/09/2009 03:09:06 AM 716 Views
Okay, now you've just gone into Kool-aid drinking territory. - 05/09/2009 04:32:07 AM 836 Views
Communist THEORY is predicated on democratic participation at every level,totally absent in the USSR - 05/09/2009 04:55:00 AM 954 Views
FINALLY!!! - 07/09/2009 10:22:53 AM 750 Views
Ever heard of the 20-80 rule? - 04/09/2009 04:28:54 AM 629 Views
Yes, and 90% of people are idiots. - 05/09/2009 02:41:35 AM 935 Views
Re: Yes, and 90% of people are idiots. - 07/09/2009 10:09:30 AM 750 Views
Top earners? Please define.....what income and how much more? *NM* - 03/09/2009 04:52:25 AM 498 Views
That would be open to definition, and should change with inflation. - 03/09/2009 05:13:02 AM 888 Views
What is your justification for taking over 50% of anyone's income? - 03/09/2009 05:28:22 AM 831 Views
That's a good example of why I say the rate has to be set to cost of living. - 03/09/2009 05:50:16 AM 847 Views
Still no comment on the fact that 40% of Americans don't pay any income taxes? - 03/09/2009 02:32:12 PM 767 Views
To what 40% do you refer? - 03/09/2009 02:42:55 PM 631 Views
Dude, you are not making this easy..... - 03/09/2009 03:38:01 PM 668 Views
No one "gets money from the IRS. " - 04/09/2009 02:55:02 AM 676 Views
Actually with EIC you can get money back that you never paid in. - 04/09/2009 02:56:43 AM 666 Views
It MIGHT be possible with the EIC, but in practice few people get more than they paid. - 04/09/2009 03:43:36 AM 720 Views
I don't know, I've known plenty of people that have gotten more back than they paid in - 04/09/2009 03:46:29 AM 798 Views
A neat trick then. - 04/09/2009 04:09:58 AM 795 Views
To be fair - 04/09/2009 04:50:20 AM 734 Views
Ah, gotcha. - 04/09/2009 04:53:58 AM 748 Views
Yet another example of your ignorance on tax policy. - 04/09/2009 03:19:39 AM 616 Views
The word I notice is "welfare" - 04/09/2009 03:57:01 AM 733 Views
I wouldn't say that's what it means.... - 04/09/2009 04:02:40 AM 739 Views
It's what welfare means to me... - 04/09/2009 04:32:17 AM 747 Views
I was just talking about EIC as a form of welfare, not welfare welfare. *NM* - 04/09/2009 04:45:13 AM 426 Views
yes, I get that now. *NM* - 04/09/2009 05:02:53 AM 412 Views
*NM* - 04/09/2009 05:14:01 AM 407 Views
Not necessarily - 04/09/2009 04:11:41 AM 670 Views
*shrugs* I have a soft heart. *NM* - 04/09/2009 04:30:52 AM 419 Views
It's a credit for people who file a return on income that's been taxed. - 04/09/2009 04:19:57 AM 673 Views
It is only for the WORKING poor, yes. - 04/09/2009 02:12:55 PM 661 Views
Mean it may be, but hardly illegal. - 04/09/2009 02:31:16 PM 687 Views
How does the business benefit? - 04/09/2009 04:54:27 PM 690 Views
I didn't realize you meant literal withholding. - 05/09/2009 03:03:32 AM 707 Views
That's a no-no, Joel - 03/09/2009 07:32:03 AM 673 Views
Europe impresses me for one simple reason: - 03/09/2009 09:21:28 AM 725 Views
No real comments, just 100% agree with you....plus the $12 trillion is terrifying to me. *NM* - 03/09/2009 04:33:39 AM 316 Views
If that scares you, check this out! - 03/09/2009 04:48:56 AM 813 Views
Excellent post - the US government is not capable of running HC..... - 03/09/2009 04:40:19 AM 617 Views
There is one thing the government did right - 03/09/2009 04:41:36 AM 731 Views
The bailout, some of it, was necessary..... - 03/09/2009 04:51:03 AM 731 Views
I still think it was too one sided. - 03/09/2009 05:21:45 AM 761 Views
It depends on your level of cynicism - 03/09/2009 05:38:53 AM 787 Views
when have they ever cut the fat? - 03/09/2009 08:35:36 PM 711 Views
Contrary to popular belief, they are quite good at it - 03/09/2009 09:05:15 PM 739 Views
Well there is only one catch *NM* - 03/09/2009 10:56:00 PM 404 Views
This doesn't make sense to me. - 03/09/2009 08:33:18 AM 720 Views
The key phrase is "should be. " - 03/09/2009 09:38:15 AM 888 Views
Re: The key phrase is "should be. " - 03/09/2009 09:47:39 AM 772 Views
That sounds like a good stop gap to me. - 03/09/2009 09:50:57 AM 781 Views
In fairness, most Europeans don't seem to realize what ObamaCare is. - 03/09/2009 02:34:01 PM 761 Views
What makes you think we do? - 03/09/2009 09:11:06 PM 775 Views
Oh, you don't either. I thought that went without saying. *NM* - 03/09/2009 09:25:54 PM 420 Views
As far as most people I know are concerned, opposition to ObamaCare isn't the issue. - 03/09/2009 11:04:36 PM 855 Views
It's hard not to be horrified with a government as wasteful as ours - 03/09/2009 11:24:59 PM 631 Views
I can understand horror of governments. - 03/09/2009 11:30:23 PM 628 Views
a bit, yes. *NM* - 04/09/2009 04:08:37 AM 437 Views
For Americans who don't understand why Canadians like their public healthcare. - 04/09/2009 04:23:11 AM 744 Views
Correction - 04/09/2009 04:44:32 AM 739 Views
Re: Correction - 04/09/2009 05:05:11 AM 855 Views
In all honesty.... - 04/09/2009 05:18:23 AM 690 Views
Re: In all honesty.... - 04/09/2009 07:19:28 AM 773 Views
Re: Correction - 04/09/2009 05:24:49 PM 695 Views
Re: Correction - 07/09/2009 10:11:45 AM 886 Views
That's a nice theory. - 04/09/2009 02:49:34 PM 750 Views
It's a fact - 04/09/2009 05:21:59 PM 748 Views
Re: It's a fact - 05/09/2009 03:18:39 AM 703 Views

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