Wealth Distribution in the United States

[NYcarbineer]

Ideas conservatives have to help the poor, and help them narrow their income gap:

If YOU (as in YOU the individual) do the following:

- Stay off drugs
- Try not to have kids out of wedlock, or even in it if you can't afford them
- Don't get arrested, especially for a felony
- Stay in school and graduate high school
- Consider going to college (Yes, you MAY have to work during college to pay for it, many have before)
- Accept an entry level job (Not NBA, not rap star, not CEO right out the gate)
- Stay at entry level job and work hard
- Accept that you may have to take a job you don't want and/or like
- Accept you just may have to STAY in that job
- Accept you just MIGHT have to make a career of that job
- Meanwhile, in your spare time, pursue and aspire to the job you really want, all while keeping that bad job to make ends meet
- Keep staying off drugs
- Keep having kids only if you can afford it
- Dont' buy a house or car you can't afford
- Don't buy expensive clothes, jewelry, cell phone, TV, boat if you can't afford it
- Delay buying those luxury items or simple wants until you are stable and satisfied where you are, OR until you do reach the dream of being among the rich if everything falls into place for you.


If you follow all of the above, you're economic outlook will improve.

OH and 1 more: Try to eat right and exercise, don't be a fat ass, and you'll likely not get sick or need much healthcare, as much of America's health issues are fatness related.



There ya go. The conservative plan for success. Enjoy!

So conservatives essentially want to do nothing for lower income people.

Where in the world has that ever made a society better???

Where in the world does that post even come close to saying that? Either you're not much on comprehension or just purposefully obfuscating. You don't seem to be that dumb, so I'll pick the latter.

List the measures the government should be involved in to help decrease the gap between rich and poor.

 

[NYcarbineer]

You can be paying NO taxes in this country, and perhaps even getting government assistance to boot, and yet,

the government will additionally provide your children a free public education.

Conservatives, in principle, based on the posts in this thread, oppose that.

That is a core value of the conservative philosophy. Do you really want conservatives to EVER be in power?

First off, government doesn't provide anything. Your neighbor who does pay taxes is doing the providing.

Secondly, where in any of the posts do you get the idea that conservatives are opposed to public education?

I said in principle for a reason. Public education is a handout to those who get it without paying anything for it. Public education is a redistribution of wealth from those who pay for it to those who don't.

Those are principles conservatives oppose.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Someone in my family takes in foster children. She gets paid, by the government, for that.

In principle, conservatives believe that is wrong. In principle, conservatives believe that those children should sink or swim on their own, without government handouts to try to make their lives better.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

So conservatives essentially want to do nothing for lower income people.

Where in the world has that ever made a society better???

Where in the world does that post even come close to saying that? Either you're not much on comprehension or just purposefully obfuscating. You don't seem to be that dumb, so I'll pick the latter.

List the measures the government should be involved in to help decrease the gap between rich and poor.

Well, there will always be rich people and poor people; let's get that out there from the start. People are different. Now, to your point, I think it is obvious that the government can't eliminate poverty by putting people on the taxpayer dole for generation after generation. At a maximum, we should, as a people be willing to assist the poor in limited measure, public education, sure, nothing to be gained by illiterate masses. Other public assistance, ok, fine. But when we allow it to become a way of life, it isn't helping, it's just enabling.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

You can be paying NO taxes in this country, and perhaps even getting government assistance to boot, and yet,

the government will additionally provide your children a free public education.

Conservatives, in principle, based on the posts in this thread, oppose that.

That is a core value of the conservative philosophy. Do you really want conservatives to EVER be in power?

First off, government doesn't provide anything. Your neighbor who does pay taxes is doing the providing.

Secondly, where in any of the posts do you get the idea that conservatives are opposed to public education?

I said in principle for a reason. Public education is a handout to those who get it without paying anything for it. Public education is a redistribution of wealth from those who pay for it to those who don't.

Those are principles conservatives oppose.

Nah, you're wrong on this one.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

Public education is not redistribution of wealth, it is, I believe, essential to a functioning society. Now, EIC payments, free cell phones, tax rebates to people who don't pay taxes, allowing 45% to pay no income taxes, punitive tax rates and policies, etc. are redistribution of wealth. Conservatives are not opposed to all public policy, just out of control public policy that seeks to make people wards of the state for life. We believe the government is there to provide some very basic functions and the rest is up to the individual to provide for himself.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

And, if for some reason, you end up having less than your neighbor, get over it.

 

[rightwinger]

Ideas conservatives have to help the poor, and help them narrow their income gap:
- Stay off drugs
- Try not to have kids out of wedlock, or even in it if you can't afford them
- Don't get arrested, especially for a felony
- Stay in school and graduate high school
- Consider going to college (Yes, you MAY have to work during college to pay for it, many have before)
- Accept an entry level job (Not NBA, not rap star, not CEO right out the gate)
- Stay at entry level job and work hard
- Accept that you may have to take a job you don't want and/or like
- Accept you just may have to STAY in that job
- Accept you just MIGHT have to make a career of that job
- Meanwhile, in your spare time, pursue and aspire to the job you really want, all while keeping that bad job to make ends meet
- Keep staying off drugs
- Keep having kids only if you can afford it
- Dont' buy a house or car you can't afford
- Don't buy expensive clothes, jewelry, cell phone, TV, boat if you can't afford it
- Delay buying those luxury items or simple wants until you are stable and satisfied where you are, OR until you do reach the dream of being among the rich if everything falls into place for you.


If you follow all of the above, you're economic outlook will improve.

OH and 1 more: Try to eat right and exercise, don't be a fat ass, and you'll likely not get sick or need much healthcare, as much of America's health issues are fatness related.



There ya go. The conservative plan for success. Enjoy!

This entire screed is an insult to millions of Americans who do just that and still see themselves falling behind. People who were loyal to their companies and sacrificed for the good of the company only to see their job sent abroad

The constant labeling from the right that American workers are lazy, spoiled, drug addicts who waste their meager incomes on frills is insulting. American workers are the best in the world and deserve better treatment

American workers are what? Oh, man, that is one dumbassed assertion.

Your feeble attempt at baiting doesn't cut it...

I have no problems in defending the quality of the American worker. They are as productive as any worker on earth. Among industrialized nations, they work more hours, receive less vacation and receive fewer benefits

 

[M14 Shooter]

Wrong and wrong. Go away.

Your lack of effective response only serves to illustrate the considerable lack of substance to your position.

You didn't back up anything you said.

Yes, I did. You, however, likely didnt pick up on it.

Your post was based on the premise that the only way to (x) is the path you cited.
This is false. Each of the things you mention can be attained without (x). Numerous examples illustrate this w/o doubt.

Thus, your premise is false.

 

[M14 Shooter]

If we eliminated Medicaid, the minimum wage, the progressivity of the income tax, food stamps, public assistance, subsidized housing, for starters -

pretty much all on the conservative agenda...

...the gap between rich and poor would skyrocket. That is why I say that the bigger the gap between rich and poor, the more it suits conservatives.

:roll:
Where to begin?

1: if we eliminate... the gap would skyrocket.

Show this to be true. To do this you need to show that those things - none of which do anything to maintain the current seperation between the rich and the poor - would cause that gap to increase.

2: Pretty much all on the conservatine agenda...

Show that the eliminatiuon of these thins is "all on the conservatine agenda".

The primary function of most socialism is to decrease the gap between rich and poor; conservatives loathe socialism and want nothing to do with it;

No... the primary function of most socialisn is to create a class of people dependant on government,m at the expense of the wealthy. It seeks a state where everyone suffers equally, and no one has any hope of improving his situation.
Anyone capable of rational thought opposes this - which may expain why liberals support it.

in other words, conservatives want nothing to do with anything that functions to decrease the gap between rich and poor, therefore,

Non sequitur. Your conclusion does not folow from your arguments, never mind that your arguments are false.

they must consider that gap either a plus, or at the very least tolerable.

See above.

 

[M14 Shooter]

Ultimately, the disproportionate wealth distribution in America is the fault of working Americans:
It's no secret that America is a competitive society economically: it is based upon contention.
But since the 1980s, working Americans stopped fighting for their fair share of the wealth - they agreed to take what was given and not fight for a cent more.

Not entirely true.
Some people fight for more handouts, at the expense of the wealthy.
They are, after all, entitled to it.

And so, you're not all wrong and you're not all right -- the 'failure' of the system is because of the onset and then the spread of the entitlement mentality.

I wonder where -that- came from, and who it benefits most.
:shrug:

 

[M14 Shooter]

OK then,

let's hear you name all measures that conservatives support that serve to narrow the gap between rich and poor,

and all the measures that conservatives OPPOSE that serve to narrow the gap between rich and poor,

and let's see what reasonable conclusions we can draw from those facts.

I and many other conservatives support the freedom for you to narrow the gap as you can, choose, or try to all on your own... or fail to do so on your own... just like everyone else...

Then we should abolish public schools and make education available only to those who can pay??

I'm really afraid to ask - but what leads you to -that- conclusion?

 

[M14 Shooter]

List the measures the government should be involved in to help decrease the gap between rich and poor.

False premise, that reducing the gap betwen the rich and the poor is a legitinate function of government.

You have the right to pursue happioness. There's no guarantee you will catch it.

 

[M14 Shooter]

I said in principle for a reason. Public education is a handout to those who get it without paying anything for it. Public education is a redistribution of wealth from those who pay for it to those who don't.

Really?
I didn't get any money from the government when I went to school.
Neither did anyone else.

You clearly don't understand that "redistribution of wealth" means.

 

[snjmom]

I said in principle for a reason. Public education is a handout to those who get it without paying anything for it. Public education is a redistribution of wealth from those who pay for it to those who don't.

Really?
I didn't get any money from the government when I went to school.
Neither did anyone else.

You clearly don't understand that "redistribution of wealth" means.

Yet, you received services that those that attended private school paid for. And you clearly don't understand what social safety net means. A floor on the amount of desperation a citizen must suffer in no way means that every rock star or hedge fund manager must forego multiple mansions and wiping one's ass with silk. As a society, most of us think minimal standards of housing, food, education and health care should be available to all citizens.

 

[M14 Shooter]

I said in principle for a reason. Public education is a handout to those who get it without paying anything for it. Public education is a redistribution of wealth from those who pay for it to those who don't.

Really?
I didn't get any money from the government when I went to school.
Neither did anyone else.
You clearly don't understand that "redistribution of wealth" means.

Yet, you received services that those that attended private school paid for.
.

So? That's not redistribution of wealth
Apparently you don't understand the term, either.
:shrug:

And you clearly don't understand what social safety net means.

Sure I do.
What I -don't- understand is how you think other people are entitled to the money of those that actually earned it.

 

[oxfordcoma]

This thread is idiotic... I must be lost. I thought people were going to suggest viable plans for betttering our country, not use regurgitated useless conservative propaganda that really just says, we are the do nothing party, vote for us, and you can pay taxes, and we wont use them to help you or your neighbors!

idiots.
You must pay taxes if you want a system that works, you must use those taxes to support people fallen on hard times. providing social services keeps people from resorting to crime or simply dying in poverty in this so-called free nation. (paying to house criminals is much more expensive than providing a kid with free lunch at school etc.) Oh, and your list of things to help poor people. is really just a vieled list of how you think all poor people are racial minorities that are addicts and criminals and it says, hey, shut up and enjoy being a peasant. the american dream is not for you, just for children of rich people! enjoy the job you hate, while I go make one I love. becuase you were born poor, and you will stay poor. because I don t believe the government should support its citizens equally, only based on taxes. (by the way, if the rich want to maintain thier great government services... they should pay taxes)
idiots...

 

[DiamondDave]

This thread is idiotic... I must be lost. I thought people were going to suggest viable plans for betttering our country, not use regurgitated useless conservative propaganda that really just says, we are the do nothing party, vote for us, and you can pay taxes, and we wont use them to help you or your neighbors!

idiots.
You must pay taxes if you want a system that works, you must use those taxes to support people fallen on hard times. providing social services keeps people from resorting to crime or simply dying in poverty in this so-called free nation. (paying to house criminals is much more expensive than providing a kid with free lunch at school etc.) Oh, and your list of things to help poor people. is really just a vieled list of how you think all poor people are racial minorities that are addicts and criminals and it says, hey, shut up and enjoy being a peasant. the american dream is not for you, just for children of rich people! enjoy the job you hate, while I go make one I love. becuase you were born poor, and you will stay poor. because I don t believe the government should support its citizens equally, only based on taxes. (by the way, if the rich want to maintain thier great government services... they should pay taxes)
idiots...

Your first bolded statement is simply WRONG

And the second bolded statement shows where you will be as a poster on this board.... welcome our newest winger

 

[Avatar4321]

They idea that you can forceably take wealth from others to give to yourself or your friends is one of the most evil concepts created by man. That is why it has been a capital crime through much of history.

Robbers are dangerous.

 

[rightwinger]

They idea that you can forceably take wealth from others to give to yourself or your friends is one of the most evil concepts created by man. That is why it has been a capital crime through much of history.

Robbers are dangerous.

Where on this thread has anyone advocated "Forceably taking wealth"??

You are being overly dramatic