The Following Is An Existential Danger....

[TruthNotBS]

View attachment 994786

You don't believe capitalists love the cheap foreign labor? Why are we still burning fossil fuels in 2024? Only the Dems? Socialism? We could've switched to safe nuclear energy decades ago, using MSRs or other non-pressurized reactors. If we go nuclear, we can easily electrify much of our transportation, or even generate other liquid fuels:

• Hydrogen Production Using Nuclear Energy:
  
  • Hydrogen is produced via high-temperature electrolysis using nuclear power, which is carbon-free.
• Carbon Monoxide Production:
  
  • Carbon monoxide can be derived from CO₂ through a reverse water-gas shift reaction or from biomass gasification.
• Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis:
  
  • The hydrogen and carbon monoxide are then fed into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, where they are catalytically converted into long-chain hydrocarbons (synthetic crude). This synthetic crude can be refined into various liquid fuels like diesel, gasoline, or jet fuel.

Methane and ammonia can also be produced as fuel with nuclear reactors. Why are we still drilling for oil and gas and burning it, polluting our atmosphere, drinking water, and our oceans? Not to speak of all fo the wars and corruption around fossil fuels and the billions of dollars the US government spends yearly subsidizing BIG OIL. Why would you be in favor of that?

The problem isn't just a high cost of living, but stagnant wages that don't pay enough for anyone to live on. Over half of America lives hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck. Tens of millions of Americans work two full-time jobs to make ends meet. They don't have healthcare, they're in debt. etc. Do you want to pretend Republican right-wingers with their trickle-down economics and the gutting of the working class in the early 1980s, don't have a hand in this?

​

The Republicans eliminated our manufacturing base and encouraged corporations to move abroad. They stripped workers of their rights to unionize leading to massive shutdowns of labor unions. All of the power was handed to wealthy and powerful employers, at the expense of the American workforce. Many of you right-wing Republicans on this forum are working-class people, or retirees, living off a government pension. Republicans are completely under the spell of their capitalist masters, voting for people who undermine their interests and don't give a hoot about them. Do you believe Trump cares about you? These wealthy elites have completely hoodwinked you.

If it wasn't for the American left, you wouldn't have a 40-hour workweek or 8-hour workday. You would have no rights in the workplace, forget about "Unemployment" or any benefits. You wouldn't be able to form a union with your fellow workers, as your capitalist masters do when they "unionize" in the form of Chambers Of Commerce, super PACs, industry-specific organizations, armies of lobbyists bribing politicians in the halls of government, think tanks..etc. Capitalists are smart enough to unionize and fight for their rights and interests, but you American working-class people are brainwashed by your bad religion, turning you into a mindless, exploitable bootlicker.

You don't have to be an atheist to be a socialist, you can be a Christian Socialist. A socialist who believes in God. Stop being brainwashed by your capitalist masters. Since when does the Christian Protestant work ethic have to be under the heel of capitalists, who don't care about you? You need to develop socioeconomic class consciousness. That will greatly improve your work-life and standard of living. The rich have it, but they've convinced you, that you shouldn't. The wealthy ruling class has CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS. Time to open your eyes and stand up.

​

 

[OldFlame]

You don't believe capitalists love the cheap foreign labor? Why are we still burning fossil fuels in 2024? Only the Dems? Socialism? We could've switched to safe nuclear energy decades ago, using MSRs or other non-pressurized reactors. If we go nuclear, we can easily electrify much of our transportation, or even generate other liquid fuels:

• Hydrogen Production Using Nuclear Energy:
  
  • Hydrogen is produced via high-temperature electrolysis using nuclear power, which is carbon-free.
• Carbon Monoxide Production:
  
  • Carbon monoxide can be derived from CO₂ through a reverse water-gas shift reaction or from biomass gasification.
• Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis:
  
  • The hydrogen and carbon monoxide are then fed into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, where they are catalytically converted into long-chain hydrocarbons (synthetic crude). This synthetic crude can be refined into various liquid fuels like diesel, gasoline, or jet fuel.

Methane and ammonia can also be produced as fuel with nuclear reactors. Why are we still drilling for oil and gas and burning it, polluting our atmosphere, drinking water, and our oceans? Not to speak of all fo the wars and corruption around fossil fuels and the billions of dollars the US government spends yearly subsidizing BIG OIL. Why would you be in favor of that?

The problem isn't just a high cost of living, but stagnant wages that don't pay enough for anyone to live on. Over half of America lives hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck. Tens of millions of Americans work two full-time jobs to make ends meet. They don't have healthcare, they're in debt. etc. Do you want to pretend Republican right-wingers with their trickle-down economics and the gutting of the working class in the early 1980s, don't have a hand in this?

View attachment 994809

View attachment 994810​

The Republicans eliminated our manufacturing base and encouraged corporations to move abroad. They stripped workers of their rights to unionize leading to massive shutdowns of labor unions. All of the power was handed to wealthy and powerful employers, at the expense of the American workforce. Many of you right-wing Republicans on this forum are working-class people, or retirees, living off a government pension. Republicans are completely under the spell of their capitalist masters, voting for people who undermine their interests and don't give a hoot about them. Do you believe Trump cares about you? These wealthy elites have completely hoodwinked you.

If it wasn't for the American left, you wouldn't have a 40-hour workweek or 8-hour workday. You would have no rights in the workplace, forget about "Unemployment" or any benefits. You wouldn't be able to form a union with your fellow workers, as your capitalist masters do when they "unionize" in the form of Chambers Of Commerce, super PACs, industry-specific organizations, armies of lobbyists bribing politicians in the halls of government, think tanks..etc. Capitalists are smart enough to unionize and fight for their rights and interests, but you American working-class people are brainwashed by your bad religion, turning you into a mindless, exploitable bootlicker.

You don't have to be an atheist to be a socialist, you can be a Christian Socialist. A socialist who believes in God. Stop being brainwashed by your capitalist masters. Since when does the Christian Protestant work ethic have to be under the heel of capitalists, who don't care about you? You need to develop socioeconomic class consciousness. That will greatly improve your work-life and standard of living. The rich have it, but they've convinced you, that you shouldn't. The wealthy ruling class has CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS. Time to open your eyes and stand up.

​

You need to quit living in the past, if you don't think the D's are completely sold out, then you're a complete and total fool.

 

[Calypso Jones]

 

[Calypso Jones]

You need to quit living in the past, if you don't think the D's are completely sold out, then you're a complete and total fool.

D's are worse than sold out...they support things that you would never have believed that any human being would sit still for....killing new borns, who could live, in the name of women's healthcare(??). A country steeped in corruption and vile beliefs and behaviors? to confusing mentally ill children and supporting cutting off their body parts to 'cure; it. mtf, ftm, telling us men can have babies? allowing men to beat hell out of women in sports or n the street? But that is what they are doing.

It is as God said would happen. Peoples' eyes and minds are shut to the truth.

 

[PoliticalChic]

D's are worse than sold out...they support things that you would never have believed that any human being would sit still for....killing new borns, who could live, in the name of women's healthcare(??). A country steeped in corruption and vile beliefs and behaviors? to confusing mentally ill children and supporting cutting off their body parts to 'cure; it. mtf, ftm, telling us men can have babies? allowing men to beat hell out of women in sports or n the street? But that is what they are doing.

It is as God said would happen. Peoples' eyes and minds are shut to the truth.

Ephesians 4:25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

 

[SweetTea]

In this country we have socialism for the rich and powerful, and pick yourself up by your bootstraps capitalism for the working class.

What do you consider rich? My family is well into the top 5%. Are we rich? If so, what benefits do I get for being rich? I can list many government “penalties” due to higher income. We can’t directly invest in Roth IRAs. We didn’t get any stimulus money. We pay higher federal income taxes. We pay higher property taxes simply because the property we paid for with post tax money is worth more. Every year my accountant is breaking more bad news to me about how must pay more or we can’t do xyz due to income restrictions. My wife and I both work for corporations. They pay us for our expertise. We picked ourselves up by the bootstraps by studying, getting degrees and working hard. Yes, it still works in the US, not so much in many other countries.

Those that complain of the “rich” haven’t typically walked in their shoes. They buy into propaganda like, for example, Trump giving the rich a tax cut, when in fact virtually everyone got a tax cut.

America is doomed unless it adopts socialism ASAP.

This is pure ignorance.

 

[TruthNotBS]

What do you consider rich? My family is well into the top 5%. Are we rich? If so, what benefits do I get for being rich? I can list many government “penalties” due to higher income. We can’t directly invest in Roth IRAs. We didn’t get any stimulus money. We pay higher federal income taxes. We pay higher property taxes simply because the property we paid for with post tax money is worth more. Every year my accountant is breaking more bad news to me about how must pay more or we can’t do xyz due to income restrictions. My wife and I both work for corporations. They pay us for our expertise. We picked ourselves up by the bootstraps by studying, getting degrees and working hard. Yes, it still works in the US, not so much in many other countries.

Those that complain of the “rich” haven’t typically walked in their shoes. They buy into propaganda like, for example, Trump giving the rich a tax cut, when in fact virtually everyone got a tax cut.



This is pure ignorance.

DBA, your response is filled with the kind of selective reasoning that ignores the broader realities of wealth and privilege in America. Yes, you and your family might face higher taxes and certain restrictions due to your income level, but those inconveniences pale in comparison to the advantages you enjoy simply by being in the top 5%.

First, let’s talk about the benefits of being rich. The wealthy have access to resources, networks, and opportunities that are largely inaccessible to the average person. You can afford top-tier education, which is often out of reach for many in the working class. This isn't just about "studying hard"—it's about having access to the best schools, tutors, and extracurricular activities that give you a competitive edge. Moreover, being in the top 5% means you have more disposable income to invest, save, and grow your wealth further. You have the ability to weather financial storms that would devastate a working-class family, and you benefit from a financial system that often rewards wealth with more wealth, through mechanisms like preferential tax treatments for capital gains.

When you mention “penalties” like not being able to invest in Roth IRAs or receiving stimulus checks, you're conveniently overlooking how the tax system still favors the wealthy in numerous ways. For instance, capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income, which overwhelmingly benefits the rich. The estate tax threshold is so high that only a tiny fraction of estates ever pay it, allowing vast amounts of wealth to be passed down untaxed. And let’s not forget about the loopholes and deductions that accountants—like yours—can exploit to reduce your tax burden, something working-class families simply cannot afford to do.

Your assertion that “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” still works in the U.S. is a myth for many Americans. Yes, hard work is important, but not everyone starts from the same place. The reality is that systemic issues like generational poverty, racial discrimination, and unequal access to education create significant barriers for millions of people. You had the privilege of being in a position where your hard work could pay off. But for many, no amount of hard work will overcome the structural inequalities they face.

Moreover, your claim that "Trump's tax cuts benefited everyone" is misleading. While it’s true that many Americans saw a temporary reduction in their taxes, the vast majority of the benefits from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went to the wealthiest individuals and corporations. The top 1% will eventually receive 83% of the benefits from these cuts, while the middle and lower classes will see their benefits diminish over time (FierceHealthcare).

Your response ignores the fact that we have a system that consistently props up the wealthy, often at the expense of the working class. The idea of "socialism for the rich" isn't just rhetoric—it's a reality where the rich get bailed out and given preferential treatment, while the rest of society is told to fend for themselves. So yes, when you ask, "what benefits do I get for being rich?" the answer is clear: the benefit is being in a position where the system is designed to keep you wealthy, often using public resources and policies that the working class can only dream of accessing.

 

[SweetTea]

First, let’s talk about the benefits of being rich. The wealthy have access to resources, networks, and opportunities that are largely inaccessible to the average person. You can afford top-tier education, which is often out of reach for many in the working class. This isn't just about "studying hard"—it's about having access to the best schools, tutors, and extracurricular activities that give you a competitive edge. Moreover, being in the top 5% means you have more disposable income to invest, save, and grow your wealth further. You have the ability to weather financial storms that would devastate a working-class family, and you benefit from a financial system that often rewards wealth with more wealth, through mechanisms like preferential tax treatments for capital gains.

Yes there are benefits as there should be. Without benefits, people wouldn't work as hard to get there. People become complacent when not incentivized. The US offers this incentive and many other countries don't.

When you mention “penalties” like not being able to invest in Roth IRAs or receiving stimulus checks, you're conveniently overlooking how the tax system still favors the wealthy in numerous ways. For instance, capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income, which overwhelmingly benefits the rich. The estate tax threshold is so high that only a tiny fraction of estates ever pay it, allowing vast amounts of wealth to be passed down untaxed. And let’s not forget about the loopholes and deductions that accountants—like yours—can exploit to reduce your tax burden, something working-class families simply cannot afford to do.

My accountants don't find loopholes. Those are for people with teams of accountants and many businesses, not the working wealthy. As for the estate tax, I should be able to pass along to my children what I have earned and paid taxes on multiple times without it being given away. The death tax should be abolished entirely. On a similar note, it is Democrats that have proposed to remove the step up one receives on property they receive in an estate. That would kill everyone, poor included.

Your assertion that “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” still works in the U.S. is a myth for many Americans. Yes, hard work is important, but not everyone starts from the same place. The reality is that systemic issues like generational poverty, racial discrimination, and unequal access to education create significant barriers for millions of people. You had the privilege of being in a position where your hard work could pay off. But for many, no amount of hard work will overcome the structural inequalities they face.

Funny, but my wife and her family were legal immigrants. They came over with nothing but the clothes on their backs. She and her family would have never had the opportunties in their former country to get where they are today. They took full advantage.

Moreover, your claim that "Trump's tax cuts benefited everyone" is misleading. While it’s true that many Americans saw a temporary reduction in their taxes, the vast majority of the benefits from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went to the wealthiest individuals and corporations. The top 1% will eventually receive 83% of the benefits from these cuts, while the middle and lower classes will see their benefits diminish over time (FierceHealthcare).

They receive the most benefit because they pay the most taxes. That is simple logic.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

Then you will really love them.

Your flight awaits.

Air Koryo - North Korea's National Airline | Uri Tours​

View attachment 993232
uritours.com
https://www.uritours.com › air-koryo


Air Koryo is North Korea's only airline and has a history of over 50 years in flight. Air Koryo currently operates internationally scheduled flights between ...

China Airlines - 中華航空​

View attachment 993234
中華航空公司China Airlines
https://www.china-airlines.com › ...
China Airlines are committed to the best flight quality, safety and treasure every encounter.



Or if you prefer your daddy's.......Daddy.

Aeroflot - Russian Airlines: buy air tickets online, book flights, search ...​

View attachment 993235
Aeroflot
https://www.aeroflot.ru › us-en
Welcome to the official website of the Russian airline Aeroflot! On our website you can buy a plane ticket at a bargain price.

To better this country, bring those leaders here and get rid of democrats. The evil in this country is democrats. Not North Korea or China. It's democrats.

 

[TruthNotBS]

Yes there are benefits as there should be. Without benefits, people wouldn't work as hard to get there. People become complacent when not incentivized. The US offers this incentive and many other countries don't.



My accountants don't find loopholes. Those are for people with teams of accountants and many businesses, not the working wealthy. As for the estate tax, I should be able to pass along to my children what I have earned and paid taxes on multiple times without it being given away. The death tax should be abolished entirely. On a similar note, it is Democrats that have proposed to remove the step up one receives on property they receive in an estate. That would kill everyone, poor included.



Funny, but my wife and her family were legal immigrants. They came over with nothing but the clothes on their backs. She and her family would have never had the opportunties in their former country to get where they are today. They took full advantage.



They receive the most benefit because they pay the most taxes. That is simple logic.

DBA, your response only serves to reinforce the very point I was making about the disparities in wealth and opportunity. To start, let's address your admission that there are benefits to being rich and that these benefits are necessary to incentivize hard work. The problem with your argument is that it ignores the massive gap between the opportunities available to the rich and those available to the working class. It's not just about working hard—it's about having access to the resources that make success possible. Your ability to afford the best education, invest in lucrative opportunities, and weather financial storms is a direct result of your wealth, not simply your hard work. Meanwhile, the working class, who are often just as hardworking, if not more, are trapped in a cycle of limited opportunities and constant financial precarity.

Your claim that your accountants don't find loopholes because you're not "working wealthy" is disingenuous. The tax system in the U.S. is structured in a way that inherently favors the wealthy, whether through lower capital gains taxes, the ability to shelter income, or the passing of wealth through estates with minimal taxation. The estate tax, which you seem to despise, affects only a tiny fraction of the richest estates, yet you frame it as if it's a burden on the average family. This is classic misinformation. The reality is that most working-class families will never even come close to having to worry about the estate tax, while the wealthiest use various strategies to pass down their fortunes with minimal loss. The so-called "death tax" you're railing against is one of the few remaining measures that attempts to prevent the concentration of wealth from becoming even more entrenched across generations.

As for your wife and her family being immigrants who worked hard and succeeded, that's great for them, but it’s hardly proof that the system works the same way for everyone. Your anecdotal evidence doesn't negate the systemic barriers that millions of Americans face due to generational poverty, racial discrimination, and lack of access to quality education. The fact that a few people beat the odds doesn’t change the fact that the deck is stacked against the majority. Moreover, it’s likely that your wife and her family benefited from various government programs designed to help immigrants and low-income families. The notion that anyone is 100% self-made is a myth. Everyone receives help in one way or another, whether it’s through public education, infrastructure, or direct financial assistance.

Your mention of other countries where your wife’s family might not have had the same opportunities ignores the broader geopolitical realities. Many of these countries suffer under economic sanctions, exploitation by foreign corporations, and political instability often exacerbated by outside interference—particularly from the U.S. The idea that these countries perform poorly solely because of socialism or mixed economies is laughable. The U.S. has a long history of undermining the economies of these nations to extract cheap labor and resources, ensuring they remain dependent and impoverished.

The bottom line is that your experience as someone in the top 5% does not reflect the reality of the majority of Americans. The privileges you enjoy are the result of a system designed to favor the wealthy at the expense of the working class. The idea that capitalism rewards hard work equally is a lie; it rewards those who already have the resources to succeed. And when you ask what benefits you get for being rich, the answer is simple: you get to live a life with opportunities, security, and advantages that most people can only dream of, all while benefiting from a system that continually props up your wealth.

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

To better this country, bring those leaders here and get rid of democrats. The evil in this country is democrats. Not North Korea or China. It's democrats.

Proof Trump AND his cult love communist and hate America.

 

[SweetTea]

DBA, your response only serves to reinforce the very point I was making about the disparities in wealth and opportunity. To start, let's address your admission that there are benefits to being rich and that these benefits are necessary to incentivize hard work. The problem with your argument is that it ignores the massive gap between the opportunities available to the rich and those available to the working class. It's not just about working hard—it's about having access to the resources that make success possible. Your ability to afford the best education, invest in lucrative opportunities, and weather financial storms is a direct result of your wealth, not simply your hard work. Meanwhile, the working class, who are often just as hardworking, if not more, are trapped in a cycle of limited opportunities and constant financial precarity.

What you are describing is a classic Catch 22 situation. To use a college sports analogy, a team can’t win without good players, but they can’t get good players without first winning. Well guess what, such is life. Life isn’t fair. Such a team needs to coach better, hire big named coaches to attract better players even before the W’s on the schedule. In other words, figure it out. Many teams have become good programs without the pedigree.

Your claim that your accountants don't find loopholes because you're not "working wealthy" is disingenuous. The tax system in the U.S. is structured in a way that inherently favors the wealthy, whether through lower capital gains taxes, the ability to shelter income, or the passing of wealth through estates with minimal taxation. The estate tax, which you seem to despise, affects only a tiny fraction of the richest estates, yet you frame it as if it's a burden on the average family. This is classic misinformation. The reality is that most working-class families will never even come close to having to worry about the estate tax, while the wealthiest use various strategies to pass down their fortunes with minimal loss. The so-called "death tax" you're railing against is one of the few remaining measures that attempts to prevent the concentration of wealth from becoming even more entrenched across generations.

I said that the “working wealthy” don’t have a lot of loopholes. That is a misnomer. Only the extremly wealthy have teams of accountants finding large loopholes to avoid paying as much tax. Also, the “working wealthy” aren’t typically in the position of having enough in savings for capital gains taxes to replace their income taxes. Again, you are talking about the ultra-wealthy, trust-fund baby or self-made multi-millionaires who have enough money in savings(not retirement) to live off the interest and thus pay capital gains taxes vs federal income tax. Ironically, the ultra-wealthy tend to lean liberal. They show their true stripes when the bleeding heart liberal policies they support start directly and negatively affecting them. (See SALT Trump’s deduction cap)

Again, the estate tax is wrong. It is nothing more than stealing. You conveniently ignored my mention of this administration’s desire to remove the stepped up basis one gets from any property they receive via an estate. That means that if a person receives a house worth 100k(hardly rich) from their deceased mom via her estate and wants to sell the house upon their mom’s death, they will pay capital gains taxes on the full 100k as opposed to only paying taxes on any gain that may have occurred since the death and the time they sell. That would be a huge negative effect for everyone who receives any property via an estate. In this hypothetical case, the person would lose 15-20k of the 100k. If this administration could also get their way, capital gains taxes would also increase, so the number could be even larger. That is a complete sham affecting the non-wealthy and the wealthy alike.

As for your wife and her family being immigrants who worked hard and succeeded, that's great for them, but it’s hardly proof that the system works the same way for everyone. Your anecdotal evidence doesn't negate the systemic barriers that millions of Americans face due to generational poverty, racial discrimination, and lack of access to quality education. The fact that a few people beat the odds doesn’t change the fact that the deck is stacked against the majority. Moreover, it’s likely that your wife and her family benefited from various government programs designed to help immigrants and low-income families. The notion that anyone is 100% self-made is a myth. Everyone receives help in one way or another, whether it’s through public education, infrastructure, or direct financial assistance

Her and her family’s success prove that it can be done. They didn’t receive any financial assistance from the government. They did get some hand me down clothes from church on occasion. The key was she did well in school as her parent’s pushed her to do so. They also went(back as they had degrees in their former country) to school to get US degrees while the other worked to pay the bills. They didn’t speak any English, so they also had to overcome this barrier .There are countless examples of immigrants succeeding that start with far less than many US born citizens.

Your mention of other countries where your wife’s family might not have had the same opportunities ignores the broader geopolitical realities. Many of these countries suffer under economic sanctions, exploitation by foreign corporations, and political instability often exacerbated by outside interference—particularly from the U.S. The idea that these countries perform poorly solely because of socialism or mixed economies is laughable. The U.S. has a long history of undermining the economies of these nations to extract cheap labor and resources, ensuring they remain dependent and impoverished

Right, it’s the US’s fault. That is a typical lefty, brainwashed, response. Regardless of the reasons, the US is the land of opportunity, which is why so many come here. Remove the opportunity and we will no longer be the world’s most powerful and successful country(by far when all is taking into account).

The bottom line is that your experience as someone in the top 5% does not reflect the reality of the majority of Americans. The privileges you enjoy are the result of a system designed to favor the wealthy at the expense of the working class. The idea that capitalism rewards hard work equally is a lie; it rewards those who already have the resources to succeed. And when you ask what benefits you get for being rich, the answer is simple: you get to live a life with opportunities, security, and advantages that most people can only dream of, all while benefiting from a system that continually props up your wealth

I earned those privileges. That is kind of the point of being successful and the driver for hard work. Remove those privileges and my wife and I would have been better off going out every night partying instead of going to school or working late nights at work.

You sound like a typical lefty who is consumed by envy.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

Proof Trump AND his cult love communist and hate America.

No it's proof that no matter how bad these totalitarian dictators are, they are still better than democrats.

 

[Calypso Jones]

This must be some kind of record. Harris went from dismal and the dem party looking for ways to remove dumb, hateful, unlikeable , to DYNAMIC in less than six months.

and this bunch is buying that. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[TruthNotBS]

What you are describing is a classic Catch 22 situation. To use a college sports analogy, a team can’t win without good players, but they can’t get good players without first winning. Well guess what, such is life. Life isn’t fair. Such a team needs to coach better, hire big named coaches to attract better players even before the W’s on the schedule. In other words, figure it out. Many teams have become good programs without the pedigree.



I said that the “working wealthy” don’t have a lot of loopholes. That is a misnomer. Only the extremly wealthy have teams of accountants finding large loopholes to avoid paying as much tax. Also, the “working wealthy” aren’t typically in the position of having enough in savings for capital gains taxes to replace their income taxes. Again, you are talking about the ultra-wealthy, trust-fund baby or self-made multi-millionaires who have enough money in savings(not retirement) to live off the interest and thus pay capital gains taxes vs federal income tax. Ironically, the ultra-wealthy tend to lean liberal. They show their true stripes when the bleeding heart liberal policies they support start directly and negatively affecting them. (See SALT Trump’s deduction cap)

Again, the estate tax is wrong. It is nothing more than stealing. You conveniently ignored my mention of this administration’s desire to remove the stepped up basis one gets from any property they receive via an estate. That means that if a person receives a house worth 100k(hardly rich) from their deceased mom via her estate and wants to sell the house upon their mom’s death, they will pay capital gains taxes on the full 100k as opposed to only paying taxes on any gain that may have occurred since the death and the time they sell. That would be a huge negative effect for everyone who receives any property via an estate. In this hypothetical case, the person would lose 15-20k of the 100k. If this administration could also get their way, capital gains taxes would also increase, so the number could be even larger. That is a complete sham affecting the non-wealthy and the wealthy alike.



Her and her family’s success prove that it can be done. They didn’t receive any financial assistance from the government. They did get some hand me down clothes from church on occasion. The key was she did well in school as her parent’s pushed her to do so. They also went(back as they had degrees in their former country) to school to get US degrees while the other worked to pay the bills. They didn’t speak any English, so they also had to overcome this barrier .There are countless examples of immigrants succeeding that start with far less than many US born citizens.



Right, it’s the US’s fault. That is a typical lefty, brainwashed, response. Regardless of the reasons, the US is the land of opportunity, which is why so many come here. Remove the opportunity and we will no longer be the world’s most powerful and successful country(by far when all is taking into account).



I earned those privileges. That is kind of the point of being successful and the driver for hard work. Remove those privileges and my wife and I would have been better off going out every night partying instead of going to school or working late nights at work.

You sound like a typical lefty who is consumed by envy.

What you are describing is a classic Catch 22 situation. To use a college sports analogy, a team can’t win without good players, but they can’t get good players without first winning. Well guess what, such is life. Life isn’t fair. Such a team needs to coach better, hire big named coaches to attract better players even before the W’s on the schedule. In other words, figure it out. Many teams have become good programs without the pedigree.

Adam Smith the father of capitalism, identified capitalist employers as masters:

"What are the common wages of labour, depends everywhere upon the contract usually made between those two parties, whose interests are by no means the same. The workmen desire to get as much, and the masters to give as little as possible. The former are disposed to combine in order to raise, the latter in order to lower the wages of labour.

It is not, however, difficult to foresee which of the two parties must, upon all ordinary occasions, have the advantage in the dispute, and force the other into a compliance with their terms. The masters, being fewer in number, can combine much more easily; and the law, besides, authorizes, or at least does not prohibit their combinations, while it prohibits those of the workmen."(Wealth Of Nations, Book I, Chapter VIII)

DBA admits that "Life Isn't Fair":

"Well guess what, such is life. Life isn’t fair."
Ok DBA, life, "Isn't Fair". Let's explore that...​

Life isn't fair, so sorry capitalist masters (i.e. employers/exploiters), you can't exploit human labor for a profit or own assets for that purpose (a.k.a. "Private Property"), you can only own property for personal use, like a house, vehicle, computer, gun collection, your Fruit Of The Looms. etc. See how easy that was? Here is another less "leftist", but still within the parameters of socialism...

Life isn't fair, so big-money capitalists, sorry but you can only own private property within the economy's consumer goods and services sector. The major centers of economic power, all of the resources and industries that are vital to our nation's infrastructure, like mining, energy production, utilities, finance-banking, our military-industrial complex, telecom, mass-public transit, and a few other large industries, become the commonwealth of the American people. All of the profits from those large, important, fully nationalized industries are reinvested into those companies, and a % of the revenue is allocated to healthcare, education, SBA loans for worker-cooperatives and working-class people who want to start a business..etc.

Here is another one, similar to the first one, but inevitable due to advanced automation and artificial intelligence...

Life isn't fair, so all of you billionaires and multimillionaires, who think you're going to turn everyone into an unemployed consumer serf, living off of an UBI:

​

Mass production with all of its productive assets (mines, factories, robots, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology..etc), is publicly owned and democratically run. Mass production is no longer for private profits, it's rather a publicly owned, democratically managed, rationally planned, socialized system, managed by the US government, under the authority of the American people.

(There's something called "ELECTIONS", that doesn't exist in the privately owned workplace - where most working-class people spend most of their waking hours. When did you last vote in the workplace to elect one of your managers/leaders? Exactly, NEVER..so spare me the BS about the government ALWAYS being "bad bad" and private companies being GOOD GOOD..That's capitalist claptrap propaganda and fearmongering for morons).

Eventually, technology will become so advanced that the individual consumer, every single American, will be able to produce everything they consume without anyone else's assistance, including relying on any government infrastructure. That is the direction the production of goods and services is going. Advanced automation and artificial intelligence, eliminates capitalism and also, the need for a socialist government. It inevitably transfers all productive assets from public ownership to personal control over the means of production.

Life is not fair, so sorry capitalist-ruling elites, the people are going to own the means of production, first collectively and then personally. It doesn't matter how you feel about it, everyone will own the robots and artificial intelligence, with all of the computing power behind it, or NO ONE is going to own the robots and artificial intelligence.

​

Life is not fair. The working-class (94% of the population) wins, and the capitalist ruling class, i.e. the masters, lose. Too bad, that's just the way it is. That's life buddy.

I said that the “working wealthy” don’t have a lot of loopholes. That is a misnomer. Only the extremly wealthy have teams of accountants finding large loopholes to avoid paying as much tax. Also, the “working wealthy” aren’t typically in the position of having enough in savings for capital gains taxes to replace their income taxes. Again, you are talking about the ultra-wealthy, trust-fund baby or self-made multi-millionaires who have enough money in savings(not retirement) to live off the interest and thus pay capital gains taxes vs federal income tax. Ironically, the ultra-wealthy tend to lean liberal. They show their true stripes when the bleeding heart liberal policies they support start directly and negatively affecting them. (See SALT Trump’s deduction cap)

My critique is for the big-money capitalist class, not a high-paid working-class person like you or a mom-and-pop Pizzeria owner, who worked 20 years, 10, 12 hours daily, saving money, building up their credit to start a small business. It's often the case, that small business owners, at least in the beginning, make less than what they were earning before, as employees (i.e. exploitees). They work just as hard as their employees (if not harder), being there with them, handling the cashier, and interacting with customers. etc. My criticism is not directed at such "masters" or capitalists. Those are really just working-class people who started a business.

I don't care if you're wealthy, that's not my concern or "gripe". Are you wealthy? Good for you, enjoy. Just don't get in the way of others having what they need to survive and thrive. Socialists are concerned with capitalism at the very least, serving the country, and not just the capitalists at the expense of everyone else. I don't care if you are living well, making good money, good for you. Socialism allows capitalism to exist within certain parameters, making sure it always serves the country, the community, rather than just a few wealthy capitalists.

Understand, that eventually, the people are going to own the means of production collectively. All of the robots and artificial intelligence, all supercomputers, quantum computers, mines, factories, and the logistical infrastructure, including every distribution warehouse and retail outlet, is going to be in the hands of the consumer. The American consumer and public, is going to collectively own everything until technology allows each person, to own and operate the means of production themselves, without anyone else's help or any government service or infrastructure.

Again, the estate tax is wrong. It is nothing more than stealing. You conveniently ignored my mention of this administration’s desire to remove the stepped up basis one gets from any property they receive via an estate. That means that if a person receives a house worth 100k(hardly rich) from their deceased mom via her estate and wants to sell the house upon their mom’s death, they will pay capital gains taxes on the full 100k as opposed to only paying taxes on any gain that may have occurred since the death and the time they sell. That would be a huge negative effect for everyone who receives any property via an estate. In this hypothetical case, the person would lose 15-20k of the 100k. If this administration could also get their way, capital gains taxes would also increase, so the number could be even larger. That is a complete sham affecting the non-wealthy and the wealthy alike.

DBA, your argument against the estate tax and the removal of the stepped-up basis is fundamentally flawed and overlooks the broader context of gross wealth inequality which undermines societal stability and the capitalist system that you love and swear by.

The estate tax is not "stealing"—it's a measure designed to prevent the excessive concentration of wealth within a small fraction of society. Without such a tax, wealth would increasingly become entrenched within wealthy families, allowing them to pass down vast fortunes untaxed while ordinary working people continue to struggle with basic economic security.

The estate tax only affects a tiny percentage of estates, and the idea that it’s a burden on the average person is simply not true. It’s about ensuring that the richest among us contribute their fair share to a society that has provided them with the infrastructure and opportunities to accumulate that wealth in the first place.

As for the removal of the stepped-up basis, this policy change is aimed at ensuring that capital gains are taxed more equitably. Under the current system, wealthy individuals can pass on assets that have appreciated in value without ever paying taxes on those gains. Removing the stepped-up basis would close this loophole, ensuring that inherited wealth is taxed just like income earned through labor.

Your hypothetical example of someone losing $15-20k on a $100k inheritance ignores the fact that the vast majority of wealth affected by this change would come from the very rich, not ordinary families. There can also be an exemption for inheritances under a certain amount, like let's say, everything under a million dollars is non-taxable.

Moreover, this policy would generate much-needed revenue that could be reinvested in public services, infrastructure, and programs that benefit everyone, particularly those who do not have the luxury of inheriting large sums of money.

Her and her family’s success prove that it can be done. They didn’t receive any financial assistance from the government. They did get some hand me down clothes from church on occasion. The key was she did well in school as her parent’s pushed her to do so. They also went(back as they had degrees in their former country) to school to get US degrees while the other worked to pay the bills. They didn’t speak any English, so they also had to overcome this barrier .There are countless examples of immigrants succeeding that start with far less than many US born citizens.

Starting as a new, legal immigrant with a degree here in the US, even if it's not accredited, gives a person an advantage, when it comes to skills and perhaps IQ as well. I doubt they didn't avail themselves of any financial assistance from the government for their college tuition fees (among other things). Most immigrants that I know (being the son of immigrants myself I know this), who get a university education, get some type of financial assistance from the US government to help pay their tuition. To claim otherwise is ridiculous and to suggest that those who do are "bums", or being irresponsible is just disingenuous.

If you don't want to benefit from such government programs, like FAFSA and Pell Grants, among others, that's your prerogative, but why would you deprive yourself and your children of such resources? Is that smart? Why deprive me or my children of government FAFSA or Pell Grants?

Did your wife go to a private school or a public one? Most of the children of legal immigrants go to public schools, not expensive private ones. For the sake of argument let's assume your version of the story is correct. OK, so what? How does that apply to everyone? Your circumstances and situation, don't apply to everyone. To compare yourself to others in this way is misleading at best.

Right, it’s the US’s fault. That is a typical lefty, brainwashed, response. Regardless of the reasons, the US is the land of opportunity, which is why so many come here. Remove the opportunity and we will no longer be the world’s most powerful and successful country(by far when all is taking into account).

It's partly the fault of American ruling capitalist elites, along with Canadian and European capitalists as well, yes. They're at least partly responsible for much of the misery in the third world. Those capitalist imperialists love their cheap labor and raw materials. To keep those foreign markets captive and cheap, a lot of meddling in that developing country's politics has to go on, mostly funded by Western capitalist elites.

We live in an empire and we're the aristocracy of labor. The working class of the US, serves as the main consumer for Western capitalism. We're in a privileged position as Americans, living here in the empire.

I earned those privileges. That is kind of the point of being successful and the driver for hard work. Remove those privileges and my wife and I would have been better off going out every night partying instead of going to school or working late nights at work.

You don't necessarily work any harder than others who are now struggling to survive, you just maybe, work smarter and have a good, committed, and ambitious wife you could partner with to help you succeed. Not everyone is in the same position and situation as you, socially, skill-wise, psychologically, and intellectually, including physically and healthwise. You might be exceptional, and of course, just lucky. Being at the right place at the right time.

Whatever allowed your hard work and dedication to pay as it did, isn't necessarily present or accessible to everybody who also labors hard and is fully dedicated to his or her work. Not everyone is like you, hence society through its government should ensure that everyone at least has the basics upon which to build a successful, rewarding, and productive life. It makes no sense at all, for you to object to that.

As far as your privileges, you should have them to the extent that they don't undermine the lives of others. Society decides what is and isn't permitted. It's that simple.

You sound like a typical lefty who is consumed by envy.

Provided your success and privileges aren't at the expense of everyone else, more power to you.

 

[PoliticalChic]

.....to Democrat supporters.


Many of us regularly post about how wonderful this nation is, how utterly corrupt the media is, how law has been turned upside down to favor the lawless.....

In the following, one of my peeps, a lady who escaped from North Korea tells a life story that verifies everything we on the Right have said.
The following is as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking.

1. While campaigning to be governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz called Muslim cleric Asad Zaman a “master teacher.” The problem? Zaman openly celebrated October 7 and has promoted a pro–Adolf Hitler film called The Greatest Story Never Told. The Harris-Walz campaign has previously denied that Walz had a “personal relationship” with the imam after it was reported that the Democratic vice-presidential nominee had repeatedly hosted Zaman at events as governor. Seems. . . weird. (Washington Examiner)

 

[Calypso Jones]

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

oh you rhink you're sitting in the catbird seat don't you. You think you have it all taken care of. Dems are lawless, and you support that.

Yes, because you told a lie that one time, all of the above is therefore true.

Logic!

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Kamala;

• Contrary to the term itself, Kamala has stated that illegal aliens are not criminals
• She has stated that she wishes to decriminalize illegally crossing the border, similar to the way Democrats have decriminalized shoplifting.
• She has argued against, not the death penalty, just the death penalty for cop killers
• She favors defunding the police
• She authored a fund to bail out domestic terrorists, called the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
• Joining Communist Bernie Sanders in “Medicare For All,” in which she argues for all private health insurance. BTW, some 220 million Americans have private health insurance, 65% of the population
• Kamala plans to include all the illegals in the Medicare plan
• Eliminate and ban all fracking which produces 64% of the total crude oil produced in the United States in 2023.
• She supported a law which bans arrests for shoplifting under $950.
• She supports indicting Israel for war crimes against Hamas
• Believes in banning internal combustion engines, allowing only electric vehicles.
• As Attn’y General, her office supported Prop 57 that put rapists and murders back on the street after serving a fraction of their sentence
• Supported a state law that keeps parents from knowing about the indoctrination of their children toward gender transition
• When the nation was wracked by Democrat-fueled George Floyd riots Kamala said the riots should not stop:

“As a U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021, she had a more leftist voting record even than socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont independent.” Harris had a more leftist voting record in Senate than Sanders

Kamala wrote “Trump supports a national abortion ban.” Of course that is a lie. Kamala Harris na Instagramie : "Donald Trump supports a national abortion ban. President @JoeBiden and I will do everything in our power to stop him and restore women's reproductive freedom."



Walz:
a. Drivers licenses for illegal aliens
b. Free healthcare for illegal aliens
c. Free college education for illegal aliens
d. Tampon machines in boys bathrooms from 4th grade on
e. No law enforcement during the George Floyd riots that Kamala encouraged (wife lived the smell of burning tires)
f. Strict enforcement of the bogus Covid restrictions; demanded reporting of individuals who didn't follow Covid restrictions
g. "Gender-affirming care for minors"
h..Big abortion champ
i. Picked by communist Bernie Sanders; called socialism "neighborliness."
j.Carbon-free agenda, getting rid of internal combustion engine cars
k. Convicted felons to vote
l. "Under Walz's tenure, Minnesota has become a war zone. Once heralded as one of the least crime-ridden states in the nation, violent homicides in Minnesota are now up 71 percent. Carjackings in Minneapolis are up 548 percent.19 hours ago

Tim Walz Has Been a Disaster for Minnesotans | Opinion

Newsweek

I don't really read or pay any attention to your dimestore Gish Gallops.

 

[PoliticalChic]

I don't really read or pay any attention to your dimestore Gish Gallops.

Let me suggest a simple rule that will clarify the current milieu:

Any article, event, opinion, data or study that redounds in favor of the Left/Demorat Party, is to be considered a lie or hoax.

Begin with that rule and you will never go wrong.




To support the above rule, remember this:

Let’s document that about the Democrat Party:

There are sooooo very many lies on which the Left's politics and promises are built.
One can take his pick....that there is systemic racism, the election was fair, illegals don't vote, gun control is aimed at criminals, CRT isn't taught in government school, welfare stops starvation, the Democrat's flipped and the Republicans became the party of racism, Nazis were rightwing, Liberals founded this nation, Hillary is the smartest woman in the country and Bill Clinton ever had a budget surplus, women have a right to kill their unborn, women get paid less for the same job.....and "1 in 5 women being sexually assaulted while in college."



Democrats lie about everything….on what basis would any of their fabricated data be considered valid???
Here the prism through which every Democrat pronouncement should be viewed: First collusion, collusion, collusion, Russia, Russia, Russia, Obstruction, Obstruction, Obstruction. Racist, Racist, Racist, Impeach, Impeach, Impeach, Recession, Recession, Recession, Emoluments, 25th amendment, “HandsUpDon’tShoot,”Stormy Daniels, lies about Charlottesville fine Nazis, Kurds, Ukraine, Quid Pro Quo, ‘lynching,’ the Kavanaugh hoax, the GAO charges, Lev Parnas, impeachment, coronavirus ‘hoax,’ General Flynn perjury trap, no evidence of voter fraud in the stolen election.....and “More than 50 former intelligence officials signed a letter casting doubt on the provenance of a New York Post story on the former vice president's son."



Don’t forget the Democrats told you that Trump was colluding with Russia…and that wasn’t true. They also told you that so was Naval Academy grad Carter Page and so was George Papadopoulos and so was General Michael Flynn, a three star general and former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency….and all of that was a lie. How stupid must one be to keep believing what they say?
...and, and that ‘armed insurrection’ that never occurred, and AOC lying about her near-death experience in the Capitol Riots.....when she wasn't even in the Capitol. And, of course the 275 Democrat inspired riots were ‘mostly peaceful.’

And that Biden voters as agents provocateur weren't behind the Capitol Riot.....and that Pelosi knew and refused to allow extra security. They lie about everything.......yet Democrat voters are, ready to swallow the next lie.

And that the Wuhan Red Death did not come from a Chinese Communist lab that got its funding via Dr. Fauci, and its purpose was to remove Trump….

FakeStories: Three years of Russian Collusion stories; altering documents at the DoJ and FBI to railroad political opponents; the state media burying the Hunter Biden Scandal what with Joe getting 10% of the bribes; stories about Kavanaugh rape parties, and Covington Catholic School; Carter Page working for Russia when he was actually working for the CIA….where were those ‘fact checkers’? The great lie that there was an ‘insurrection’ January 6th. The lie that it was Republicans who wanted to defund the police. The lie that Critical Race Theory wasn’t being taught. The lie that 600,000 died from the Wuhan Red Death.
What should you do when they lied to you at least these 30 times already???????????

Democrats claimed it was Republicans who demanded defunding the police, AOC claimed ten people were killed Jan6th, Ilhan Omar blames the police for crime, they claimed that CRT wasn’t being taught in government school, men can become pregnant, and MAGA fans attacked Jussie Smollett, inflation due to Putin and the invasion…

• Brett Kavanaugh — Serial Rapist
• President Michael Avenatti
• The Covington KKKids Hoax
• Hands Up, Don’t Shoot
• George Zimmerman
• Mostly Peaceful Black Lives Matter Riots
• The Russia Collusion Hoax
• Antifa Stormed the Beaches on D-Day
• Cuomo (D-NY): King of Coronavirus Competence
• The Clearing of Lafayette Square Hoax
• The Lab Leak Theory Has Been Debunked Hoax
• The Russians Are Behind Hunter’s Laptop Hoax
• The Russian Bounty Hoax
• The Capitol Police Officer Killed with a Fire Extinguisher Hoax
• The Very Fine People Hoax
• Men Can Magically Transform into Women
• And on and on and on…

…what is the point of watching any corporate media outlet? All they do is lie. Even if you are an NPR wine mom, you do not want to be serially lied to.
The era of corporate media influence is ending thanks to the over the top bias, and that should be good for the future. Americans are rebelling against these exposed frauds, and 2022 should be a turning point."
Mark Simone 710