Thank God for Rich People

[Truthmatters]

Some wants to level the US people with the rest of the world, including the third world.

 

[WillowTree]

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

You don't believe in god DUmmie. Yer an atheist.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

.....Especially if he's re-routed thru The Colbert Report!!!!!!

 

[Mr. Shaman]

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

You don't believe in god DUmmie. Yer an atheist.

....And, you're a SUCKER!!!!!

 

[Wry Catcher]

I like Rich people...I really do

They do so much for this country and ask for so little in return. The problem is that we have this nasty deficit thing. $13 trillion is a lot of money that we owe. Keeping the tax cut will add another $2 trillion to the $2 trillion we added in 2001-2010.

I would be perfectly willing to give them a tax cut once we get this nasty deficit out of the way. Rich folks are reasonable people, they understand that we should not borrow money to give them tax cuts

Just curious. What is it you think that we SHOULD borrow money for?

Sorry for sticking my nose in your conversation with rightwinger, but I was watching Executive Vision on CNBC last night and they were discussing the high importance of the US infrastructure. It seems in the panel's mind, the US is falling way behind the rest of the world as we let our infrastructure deteriorate. It was stated and I have read this before, our infrastructure desperately needs over $2 trillion. By ignoring this, the US is sliding into a the demise of it's greatness.
One has to be impressed by the high quality and creditentials of their panel by the way.

ABOUT THE SHOW
More than a simple network of roads and rails, infrastructure is a crucial building block of capitalism. Its ingredients – energy, metals, and materials – are all traded on the stock exchange, and these trades have far-reaching impact. Governments are just now realizing that there is money to be made from trading infrastructure, making this one of the hottest markets around.

In this hour we take a look at how to trade infrastructure for profit while avoiding the potential pitfalls. In addition we examine new cities and how they’re mushrooming around meccas of technology, instead of around commercial centers as we’ve seen in the past. We will consider how public and private partnerships are laying new networks of roads and rails to service our new capitals of commerce. Finally we consider how leaders can navigate and negotiate their way through uncharted territory and how they can ensure sustainability in our ever-changing society.
Here's the link to watch this telecast: News Headlines

So, what I'd borrow $2 trillion for? The US infrastructure.

Better yet, raise taxes and not borrow. Why pay interest to China?
I know, taxes are anathema to many; me, I'd rather pay the piper than the piper and the bankster.

 

[Mr Natural]

Hey, what ever happened to the meek inheriting the earth and all that crap?

 

[BlindBoo]

I have an idea for a monument in our nation’s capital. I envision a big bronze and granite statue that would honor an entire group of Americans who are true heroes, and unsung heroes at that.

It is time — no, make that long past time — to pay tribute to those this nation of ours owes a great debt; to those who give and give and give and in return get anything but our gratitude.

This is an idea whose time has finally come.

Right there, amongst the sacred national structures that honor great Americans, we need to build a shiny monument to … (this is where the drum roll would come in) The Rich – otherwise known in liberal circles as the filthy, no good, greedy, heartless rich.


President Obama compromises with Republicans and gives the wealthiest two percent of Americans a temporary respite from a tax hike and listening to the yelps of the “progressives” you’d think he just tried to shut down WikiLeaks or something.

The Left is bawling about how “we can’t afford” to give people “who don’t need it” a tax break. This argument makes perfect sense, of course – as long as income re-distribution is a central tenet in your theology. Never mind that liberals weren’t all that concerned about what we could afford when they passed a nearly trillion dollar stimulus package that didn’t stimulate very much or when they poured in billions of our tax dollars to bail out General Motors. It’s only now that they’re concerned about budgets because those nasty rich folks are getting a break. But I don’t want to pick a fight with my liberal friends over whether the wealthiest Americans “deserve” a tax break or not. I have come to praise The Rich, not to bury them.

I offer a few numbers to make my case:

Did you know that the top one percent of American wage earners (adjusted gross income) pay about 38 percent of all our federal personal taxes (according to the National Taxpayer Union)? The top one percent, by the way, account for 23.5 percent of all income — a substantial amount, yes, but considerably less than 38 percent.

Or that the top five percent pay just under 60 percent?

Or that the top ten percent pay about 70 percent of all the personal income taxes collected in this great land of ours?


Thank God for Rich People | BernardGoldberg.com

I have an Idea for the design. Well, My dog helped me out this morning by generating a nice steaming pile of poop which is the inspriration for my design of this statue or monument that honors them rich folk. That way they can alway have something to throw at we peons below them.

But seriously folks I wish just this once President Obama would have called their bluff. I for one don't care if my taxes go up 3%. One has to expect that they will considering all the spending the Bush\Obama presidencies have done in the past decade. I say it's time to close up the empire, close 80% of our military bases world wide (unless of course the American businessmen who profit from our military presense in these countries want to cough up some cash to keep them open.) Let the world get along without the US as the world police. Free trade with all and intangling alliances with none.

As to the numbers, well they do seem to profit the most in our society so it is fitting that they pay the most as well.

 

[rightwinger]

I have an idea for a monument in our nation’s capital. I envision a big bronze and granite statue that would honor an entire group of Americans who are true heroes, and unsung heroes at that.

It is time — no, make that long past time — to pay tribute to those this nation of ours owes a great debt; to those who give and give and give and in return get anything but our gratitude.

This is an idea whose time has finally come.

Right there, amongst the sacred national structures that honor great Americans, we need to build a shiny monument to … (this is where the drum roll would come in) The Rich – otherwise known in liberal circles as the filthy, no good, greedy, heartless rich.


President Obama compromises with Republicans and gives the wealthiest two percent of Americans a temporary respite from a tax hike and listening to the yelps of the “progressives” you’d think he just tried to shut down WikiLeaks or something.

The Left is bawling about how “we can’t afford” to give people “who don’t need it” a tax break. This argument makes perfect sense, of course – as long as income re-distribution is a central tenet in your theology. Never mind that liberals weren’t all that concerned about what we could afford when they passed a nearly trillion dollar stimulus package that didn’t stimulate very much or when they poured in billions of our tax dollars to bail out General Motors. It’s only now that they’re concerned about budgets because those nasty rich folks are getting a break. But I don’t want to pick a fight with my liberal friends over whether the wealthiest Americans “deserve” a tax break or not. I have come to praise The Rich, not to bury them.

I offer a few numbers to make my case:

Did you know that the top one percent of American wage earners (adjusted gross income) pay about 38 percent of all our federal personal taxes (according to the National Taxpayer Union)? The top one percent, by the way, account for 23.5 percent of all income — a substantial amount, yes, but considerably less than 38 percent.

Or that the top five percent pay just under 60 percent?

Or that the top ten percent pay about 70 percent of all the personal income taxes collected in this great land of ours?


Thank God for Rich People | BernardGoldberg.com

I have an Idea for the design. Well, My dog helped me out this morning by generating a nice steaming pile of poop which is the inspriration for my design of this statue or monument that honors them rich folk. That way they can alway have something to throw at we peons below them.

But seriously folks I wish just this once President Obama would have called their bluff. I for one don't care if my taxes go up 3%. One has to expect that they will considering all the spending the Bush\Obama presidencies have done in the past decade. I say it's time to close up the empire, close 80% of our military bases world wide (unless of course the American businessmen who profit from our military presense in these countries want to cough up some cash to keep them open.) Let the world get along without the US as the world police. Free trade with all and intangling alliances with none.

As to the numbers, well they do seem to profit the most in our society so it is fitting that they pay the most as well.

You mean you expect the wealthy to pay their way?

How Socialist

 

[Mr Natural]

I have an idea for a monument in our nation’s capital. I envision a big bronze and granite statue that would honor an entire group of Americans who are true heroes, and unsung heroes at that.

It is time — no, make that long past time — to pay tribute to those this nation of ours owes a great debt; to those who give and give and give and in return get anything but our gratitude.

This is an idea whose time has finally come.

Right there, amongst the sacred national structures that honor great Americans, we need to build a shiny monument to … (this is where the drum roll would come in) The Rich – otherwise known in liberal circles as the filthy, no good, greedy, heartless rich.


President Obama compromises with Republicans and gives the wealthiest two percent of Americans a temporary respite from a tax hike and listening to the yelps of the “progressives” you’d think he just tried to shut down WikiLeaks or something.

The Left is bawling about how “we can’t afford” to give people “who don’t need it” a tax break. This argument makes perfect sense, of course – as long as income re-distribution is a central tenet in your theology. Never mind that liberals weren’t all that concerned about what we could afford when they passed a nearly trillion dollar stimulus package that didn’t stimulate very much or when they poured in billions of our tax dollars to bail out General Motors. It’s only now that they’re concerned about budgets because those nasty rich folks are getting a break. But I don’t want to pick a fight with my liberal friends over whether the wealthiest Americans “deserve” a tax break or not. I have come to praise The Rich, not to bury them.

I offer a few numbers to make my case:

Did you know that the top one percent of American wage earners (adjusted gross income) pay about 38 percent of all our federal personal taxes (according to the National Taxpayer Union)? The top one percent, by the way, account for 23.5 percent of all income — a substantial amount, yes, but considerably less than 38 percent.

Or that the top five percent pay just under 60 percent?

Or that the top ten percent pay about 70 percent of all the personal income taxes collected in this great land of ours?


Thank God for Rich People | BernardGoldberg.com

I have an Idea for the design. Well, My dog helped me out this morning by generating a nice steaming pile of poop which is the inspriration for my design of this statue or monument that honors them rich folk. That way they can alway have something to throw at we peons below them.

But seriously folks I wish just this once President Obama would have called their bluff. I for one don't care if my taxes go up 3%. One has to expect that they will considering all the spending the Bush\Obama presidencies have done in the past decade. I say it's time to close up the empire, close 80% of our military bases world wide (unless of course the American businessmen who profit from our military presense in these countries want to cough up some cash to keep them open.) Let the world get along without the US as the world police. Free trade with all and intangling alliances with none.

As to the numbers, well they do seem to profit the most in our society so it is fitting that they pay the most as well.

Not to mention, that in the event of an absolute and total catastrophic collapse of our system they stand to lose the most.

Or to put it another way, who do you think would do better after such a collapse when money has no value. The rich guy who's been used to living in the lap of luxury or the homeless guy living in carboard box under the overpass?

 

[Truthmatters]

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

You don't believe in god DUmmie. Yer an atheist.

I didnt say GOD BLESS THE RICH someone else did.

Should Jesus have been whipping the poor for being lazy instead of the money changers for being rich?

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.....it appears the wannabe-1%ers whiiiiiiiined their way outta Politics.

 

[kiwiman127]

Just curious. What is it you think that we SHOULD borrow money for?

Sorry for sticking my nose in your conversation with rightwinger, but I was watching Executive Vision on CNBC last night and they were discussing the high importance of the US infrastructure. It seems in the panel's mind, the US is falling way behind the rest of the world as we let our infrastructure deteriorate. It was stated and I have read this before, our infrastructure desperately needs over $2 trillion. By ignoring this, the US is sliding into a the demise of it's greatness.
One has to be impressed by the high quality and creditentials of their panel by the way.

ABOUT THE SHOW
More than a simple network of roads and rails, infrastructure is a crucial building block of capitalism. Its ingredients – energy, metals, and materials – are all traded on the stock exchange, and these trades have far-reaching impact. Governments are just now realizing that there is money to be made from trading infrastructure, making this one of the hottest markets around.

In this hour we take a look at how to trade infrastructure for profit while avoiding the potential pitfalls. In addition we examine new cities and how they’re mushrooming around meccas of technology, instead of around commercial centers as we’ve seen in the past. We will consider how public and private partnerships are laying new networks of roads and rails to service our new capitals of commerce. Finally we consider how leaders can navigate and negotiate their way through uncharted territory and how they can ensure sustainability in our ever-changing society.
Here's the link to watch this telecast: News Headlines

So, what I'd borrow $2 trillion for? The US infrastructure.

Better yet, raise taxes and not borrow. Why pay interest to China?
I know, taxes are anathema to many; me, I'd rather pay the piper than the piper and the bankster.

I agree with you Wry. But the question was regarding borrowing, so I answered the question as it was presented.
We have a huge problem in the US and with our leaders, doing something as important as getting our infrastructure up to snuff has been ignored because it isn't pretty/breathtaking/spectacular enough. Not a whole lot of bells and whistles for politicans to hang their hate on. So for years it gets ignored and now our infrastructure is fragile and every year it's getting worse. So, we as a country are setting the chart of the continuing decline of this country.
So here we are, we have a failing infrastructure and no one wants to raise taxes. The US is plagued with short-sightedness.

 

[BlindBoo]

My boss is rich, a millionaire, not where he lives today but I have been to two of his houses for dinner parties more then once. One time on the beach in San Clemente. We have had some very nice company christmas parties in South Orange county area as well. I pray my boss makes ten times as much money next year. I want his business to expand beyond belief. All that extra business means money in my pocket.

we need to end all these taxes, the personal income tax need to disappear, look how much everyone fights, one group makes it their business to know how much money we have, where we spend our money, and that group gets pissed and demands more, and more, and more of my labor, my money, taxes.

People can not handle knowing what others make, it brings out the ugliness of human nature.

Seems fascist, Narxist, for people to want and demand my labor benefit themselves.

"Seems fascist, Narxist, for people to want and demand my labor benefit themselves."

It is, but many Dems. are socialists and proud of it. And today, Steny Hoyer, D---Maryland, will try to take more money from the "death tax" ( estate tax ) than has been agreed upon by Obama and the Republicans. So if a person wants to leave their business to their children, those children will have to pay to the government 35% of their inheritance, instead of nothing, as it has been, but the Dems want that percentage to be 50%. The owner of the business has already paid taxes on the business, so the added penalty for dying, will be double taxation. Sounds really fair. I hope the Republicans walk off the floor before voting "yea" for this new and greedy attempt to "soak the rich."

"If the House Democratic leadership decides to make partisan changes, they will ensure that every American taxpayer will see a job-killing tax hike on January 1," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Associated Press release.

I believe that socialism and social programs in America have been beneficial to our society.

But then again I believe in truth too: But House Democrats are balking that the bill would put the estate tax at 35 percent for estates worth $5 million rather than 45 percent on estates worth $3.5 million. Without the bill, the estate tax will rise to 55 percent on estates worth more than $1 million.

Catch that watergirl? Even under the House plan the estate tax only effect estates worth 3.5 million dollars or more.

 

[WillowTree]

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

You don't believe in god DUmmie. Yer an atheist.

I didnt say GOD BLESS THE RICH someone else did.

Should Jesus have been whipping the poor for being lazy instead of the money changers for being rich?

defect. deflect defect you talked of entering the kingdom of GOd.. you don't believe in god. you izz a atheist.

 

[loosecannon]

I offer a few numbers to make my case:

Did you know that the top one percent of American wage earners (adjusted gross income) pay about 38 percent of all our federal personal taxes (according to the National Taxpayer Union)? The top one percent, by the way, account for 23.5 percent of all income — a substantial amount, yes, but considerably less than 38 percent.

personal taxes don't include FICA which is 14% of a person's income up to a cap of $110K. Once you adjust for SS those in the top 2% pay a lower % of tax on income and capital gains than those in the lower 98%.

So maybe you should build a monument to the middle class who bears the biggest tax burden of all.

Its only 14% if you are self employed. For a wage earner it is half of that. And it still doesnt counter that the 1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes.

It is 14% even if you are a wage earner. Whether the employer pays you 7% more and you pay the full amount, pays you 7% less and pays the full amount or something in between matters not.

And actually it more than offsets the fact that when you cherry pick the stats "1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes". In fact it proves that statement a lie.

 

[martybegan]

personal taxes don't include FICA which is 14% of a person's income up to a cap of $110K. Once you adjust for SS those in the top 2% pay a lower % of tax on income and capital gains than those in the lower 98%.

So maybe you should build a monument to the middle class who bears the biggest tax burden of all.

Its only 14% if you are self employed. For a wage earner it is half of that. And it still doesnt counter that the 1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes.

It is 14% even if you are a wage earner. Whether the employer pays you 7% more and you pay the full amount, pays you 7% less and pays the full amount or something in between matters not.

And actually it more than offsets the fact that when you cherry pick the stats "1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes". In fact it proves that statement a lie.

Yes it does matter. The first 7% does not compute into my salary, but the companies operating expenses. The other 7% is directly calculated based upon how much I make, and then I pay it.

Besides the payroll tax is for social security only, and has nothing to with the regular goverment, or thats what I have been told by various supporters of the current SS system.

and you cannot do the math on percentages because it is limited to 110k. As income goes up the amount saved by the cap goes down rather quickly. its not like you can just add 14% to the numbers and be done with it.

 

[loosecannon]

Its only 14% if you are self employed. For a wage earner it is half of that. And it still doesnt counter that the 1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes.

It is 14% even if you are a wage earner. Whether the employer pays you 7% more and you pay the full amount, pays you 7% less and pays the full amount or something in between matters not.

And actually it more than offsets the fact that when you cherry pick the stats "1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes". In fact it proves that statement a lie.

Yes it does matter. The first 7% does not compute into my salary, but the companies operating expenses. The other 7% is directly calculated based upon how much I make, and then I pay it.

Besides the payroll tax is for social security only, and has nothing to with the regular goverment, or thats what I have been told by various supporters of the current SS system.

and you cannot do the math on percentages because it is limited to 110k. As income goes up the amount saved by the cap goes down rather quickly. its not like you can just add 14% to the numbers and be done with it.

It makes no difference whether an employee or an employer pays the 14% for FICA. It is still levied against what the employer is willing to pay for the employee.

It is instituted that way to trick dumb people into believing that they aren't paying 14% of their whole life's income for SS, medicare etc.

and you cannot do the math on percentages because it is limited to 110k.

I forgot to repeat my previously stated second correction to your lie, capital gains. The wealthy get long term tax shelters for capital gains and then pay only 15% when they cash in. They should be charged more than income tax rates on capital gains held in shelter for many years.

Personal income taxes do not include capital gains or the myriad other taxes. Your entire thread premise is a red herring.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Did you know that the top one percent of American wage earners (adjusted gross income) pay about 38 percent of all our federal personal taxes (according to the National Taxpayer Union)? The top one percent, by the way, account for 23.5 percent of all income — a substantial amount, yes, but considerably less than 38 percent.

]

That's just a reflection of the ongoing loss of good paying working class/middle class jobs in this country and the ongoing widening of the gap between rich and poor.

Obviously if more Americans are working for less, or seeing their incomes stagnate they will be in lower tax brackets and end up paying less taxes. When someone like a GM gets rid of 40,000 jobs and most of those people end up in lower paying jobs,

they pay less taxes.

Duh.

The sad part is you're stupid enough to think this is a good thing.

 

[martybegan]

It is 14% even if you are a wage earner. Whether the employer pays you 7% more and you pay the full amount, pays you 7% less and pays the full amount or something in between matters not.

And actually it more than offsets the fact that when you cherry pick the stats "1% gets 23.5% of the income, but pays 38% of the taxes". In fact it proves that statement a lie.

Yes it does matter. The first 7% does not compute into my salary, but the companies operating expenses. The other 7% is directly calculated based upon how much I make, and then I pay it.

Besides the payroll tax is for social security only, and has nothing to with the regular goverment, or thats what I have been told by various supporters of the current SS system.

and you cannot do the math on percentages because it is limited to 110k. As income goes up the amount saved by the cap goes down rather quickly. its not like you can just add 14% to the numbers and be done with it.

It makes no difference whether an employee or an employer pays the 14% for FICA. It is still levied against what the employer is willing to pay for the employee.

It is instituted that way to trick dumb people into believing that they aren't paying 14% of their whole life's income for SS, medicare etc.

and you cannot do the math on percentages because it is limited to 110k.

I forgot to repeat my previously stated second correction to your lie, capital gains. The wealthy get long term tax shelters for capital gains and then pay only 15% when they cash in. They should be charged more than income tax rates on capital gains held in shelter for many years.

Personal income taxes do not include capital gains or the myriad other taxes. Your entire thread premise is a red herring.

Note i was discussing INCOME taxes. The perecentages quoted refer to INCOME taxes. If I was discussing total taxation then you may have a point.

So your argument boils down to "I dont like what he is saying, so I take something out of context as use it as my position point." Thanks for playing, drive on through.

And I have stated in another response I have no issue with simplfying taxation into a true "Income Tax" with all income taxed at the same rate. I think it would lower the overall rate for everyone if you do this. I also do not have an issue with a modestly progressive form of taxation, just when it is taken into the extreme.

 

[loosecannon]

Note i was discussing INCOME taxes. The perecentages quoted refer to INCOME taxes. If I was discussing total taxation then you may have a point.

Duh, I said that. So I must have known it!

The point is that by focusing exclusively on personal income taxes you paint a completely false picture, and the whole premise of any reason to erect a monument to the rich becomes a lie.

You are perpetuating a lie. If your OP had included all federal taxes it would be obvious that the middle class deserves the monument if anybody does at all.