On all the great social issues of our time, "The Left" has already won.

[Wineslob]

I'm reminded of some one.....................hummmm.............................AH!

How Laelth sees himself:





The reality:

[wasp69]

Here's what I can safely say.  If a $15/hr. minimum wage didn't destroy the American economy in 1962, then it won't destroy the American economy now.  History proves me right on this point.

Feel free to show your work on this, it appears no one is taking your word for it.

[Laelth]

Of course it would sparky.  You speak like a man with a paper a**hole.

Dude, and I assume you are a dude, I have no idea what you are talking about. Please explain.  I am genuinely curious to know what you think.

-Laelth

[Laelth]

I think you have capitalism and crony-capitalism mixed together.

No one here likes how businesses and special interests get in bed with politicians.  And especially how the Unions and lawyers act as the strong arm thugs of the Democrat party.

I've never seen it as bad as it is with this Administration either.  

Dori, you rock.  None of us wants business interests (or union interests, for that matter) in bed with our politicians, but that's exactly what we have.  What to do about that is the question.  I will say this, though.  The Unions have been crushed, and they have little if any power.  Whether that's a good thing for the United States is another question altogether.  The business interests, however, control our government, and that's why we saw the bail-out of AIG and the banks in 2008.  Nobody is willing to fight them, despite the fact that most Americans opposed the bail-out.

Thanks for the response.

-Laelth

[Laelth]

I'm reminded of some one.....................hummmm.............................AH!

How Laelth sees himself:





The reality:

OK.  That's funny.  Credit where it is due.

 

-Laelth

[Bad Dog]

Dude, and I assume you are a dude, I have no idea what you are talking about. Please explain.  I am genuinely curious to know what you think.

-Laelth

Dude, history has shown over and over that increasing tax rates doesn't increase revenues.  Increasing economic activity does.  History also shows that increased revenues are always spent.  The only way to reduce the deficit is to reduce spending.

Oh, and stop calling me dude.

[Carl]

Dori, you rock.  None of us wants business interests (or union interests, for that matter) in bed with our politicians, but that's exactly what we have.  What to do about that is the question.  I will say this, though.  The Unions have been crushed, and they have little if any power.  Whether that's a good thing for the United States is another question altogether.  The business interests, however, control our government, and that's why we saw the bail-out of AIG and the banks in 2008.  Nobody is willing to fight them, despite the fact that most Americans opposed the bail-out.

Thanks for the response.

-Laelth

Tell us then what you thought of all the money O has laundered through public employee unions?
How about the crushing tax burden to fund union controlled job mills also known as public schools?

[Laelth]

Tell us then what you thought of all the money O has laundered through public employee unions?

Honestly, I wasn't aware that BO had laundered any money through public employee unions.  Please feel free to enlighten me.

How about the crushing tax burden to fund union controlled job mills also known as public schools?

As a general rule, I support teachers' unions.  Teachers provide a vital service to our nation, and they do so for wages that are far lower than they deserve.  It's absurd to call their labor costs "crushing."  I think they should be paid more, not less.  So what, exactly, are you driving at?



-Laelth

[Laelth]

Dude, history has shown over and over that increasing tax rates doesn't increase revenues.  Increasing economic activity does.  History also shows that increased revenues are always spent.  The only way to reduce the deficit is to reduce spending.

Oh, and stop calling me dude.

Ah, the absurd Laffer curve.  Here's what you need to know.  President George H. W. Bush called "supply-side economics" voodoo economics when he ran against Ronald Reagan for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980.  He was right then, and his wisdom rings true today.  Increasing tax rates does, in fact, increase tax revenues, and most people understand this intuitively.  If you don't, there's not much I can do for you.

And I will try to remember to never call you "dude" again.

 

-Laelth

[Carl]

Honestly, I wasn't aware that BO had laundered any money through public employee unions.  Please feel free to enlighten me.As a general rule, I support teachers' unions.  Teachers provide a vital service to our nation, and they do so for wages that are far lower than they deserve.  It's absurd to call their labor costs "crushing."  I think they should be paid more, not less.  So what, exactly, are you driving at?



-Laelth

An example...

http://mediatrackers.org/wisconsin/2011/06/01/did-80-of-federal-stimulus-funds-go-to-public-unions

Well,back when I was in school classes were probably twice the size as today with one teacher.
Now in my own district the budget amounts to 19,000.00/student and they can`t count change back on graduation.
This is funded in large part by property taxes and along with Medicaid has bankrupted most of NY.

[JohnnyReb]

An example...

http://mediatrackers.org/wisconsin/2011/06/01/did-80-of-federal-stimulus-funds-go-to-public-unions

Well,back when I was in school classes were probably twice the size as today with one teacher.
Now in my own district the budget amounts to 19,000.00/student and they can`t count change back on graduation.
This is funded in large part by property taxes and along with Medicaid has bankrupted most of NY.

They just hand you a fist full of change and if you stand there and count it, they look at you like you're crazy.

I know how to count back change to people.....learned in the third grade back in 1953.....in a brand new 3 room grammar school that had only 3 teachers......real teachers.....and used that knowledge to run a country store all by myself when I was 12.

[Chris_]

Today, the cash registers do all the figuring.  Hell, the ones at the drive-through even spit the change out for you, no counting required.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Today, the cash registers do all the figuring.  Hell, the ones at the drive-through even spit the change out for you, no counting required.

And when it doesn't work to spit out the change, the highly pierced and incredibly stupid cashier usually can't even count out your change correctly.

[JohnnyReb]

And when it doesn't work to spit out the change, the highly pierced and incredibly stupid cashier usually can't even count out your change correctly.

I rarely eat in fast food places any more because of the tattooes, chrome balls in the mouth, rings in the lips and bone in the nose people working there.....but CHIK FILET here doesn't hire those types so they get more of my fast food business and I don't really like chicken that much..

[Ralph Wiggum]

I rarely eat in fast food places any more because of the tattooes, chrome balls in the mouth, rings in the lips and bone in the nose people working there.....but CHIK FILET here doesn't hire those types so they get more of my fast food business and I don't really like chicken that much..

That's what the drive-thru is for.  And then they always F*ck you in the drive-thru...

[youtube=425,350]V66XdulPrBM[/youtube]

[Eupher]

I am a visitor here, and I am aware that I disagree with you on a number of issues.  Are you interested in discussing these issues with me, or not?  If not, then quit responding.  It's that easy.

That said, I am curious to know what you think.  Astounding, isn't it?

-Laelth

I'm interested in pointing out how wrong you are on many issues. Over and over and over again.

And you really, truly don't want to know what I think. Because what I think on any issue is irrelevant to your grandstanding and posturing, which is, of course, the reason you're back here.

Does it get dark in Mommy's basement to the point that you get skeered? I'd like the answer to that question, because that question has more relevance to this entire thread than your fawning, obsequious style which is as false as you are.

[txradioguy]

I'm interested in pointing out how wrong you are on many issues. Over and over and over again.

And you really, truly don't want to know what I think. Because what I think on any issue is irrelevant to your grandstanding and posturing, which is, of course, the reason you're back here.

Does it get dark in Mommy's basement to the point that you get skeered? I'd like the answer to that question, because that question has more relevance to this entire thread than your fawning, obsequious style which is as false as you are.

Perhaps he's tired of no one paying attention to Laelth's Letters. I noticed that his return coincided with the govt shut down.

[Eupher]

Perhaps he's tired of no one paying attention to Laelth's Letters. I noticed that his return coincided with the govt shut down.

Ah, a furloughed lawyer. Probably one of Holder's sycophants.

[Big Dog]

True.  Too hard to define and measure.  That's why I dropped the subject.

 

-Laelth

Fair enough.

[Freeper]

To be honest, I understand why you feel this way.  That said, I have no interest in crashing the American economy.  We operated quite well in the 1950s when the marginal income tax rate was 90% (or more) http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/history-of-federal-individual-1.html.  What's wrong with asking those who derive the greatest benefit from this society to pay the most for its upkeep?



-Laelth

No I don't feel that way, I know for a fact that leftists are never satisfied when it comes to taking from other people.

You aren't asking anyone to pay, you are demanding they pay. It gets on my nerves how leftists misuse words like ask. The reality is the rich already do pay most of the tax bill. Where the hell do you get the idea that government is the great equalizer and has the authority to step in and take from one group of people and give it to another group?

The fact that a free country ever had a tax rate of 90% is disturbing as hell. Even if no one ever paid that rate it bothers the hell out of me that it was on the books.

[Freeper]

Why would you think I want that?  Seriously.  Despite the fact that we disagree on a number of issues, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt--that you are an American citizen, as much a citizen of this nation as I am, and that both of us care enough about our country to think about it and write about it in a public forum.  Is this not so?

In addition, I would add that liberals are capitalists.  Our goal is to prevent socialism by curbing capitalism's excesses.  I want a capitalist country (the United States) that spreads the benefits of capitalism in a just way throughout our society.  I do not favor state ownership of all property, i.e. socialism.

So, I'm not sure what straw-man you're setting fire to, but it ain't me if you think I am a socialist.

-Laelth

So you want to prevent socialism by implementing socialist programs.

[Laelth]

I'm interested in pointing out how wrong you are on many issues. Over and over and over again.

Cool.  Please continue if you are so inclined.

And you really, truly don't want to know what I think. Because what I think on any issue is irrelevant to your grandstanding and posturing, which is, of course, the reason you're back here.

I will continue to assume that you are an American patriot--one who cares about this country enough to think about it and write about it in a public forum.  Way back when, I got some good political advice.  Among the legislators and politicians I know, the 1st rule is: don't question another politician's motives.  You make political enemies that way, and I have no desire to make enemies here.

Does it get dark in Mommy's basement to the point that you get skeered? I'd like the answer to that question, because that question has more relevance to this entire thread than your fawning, obsequious style which is as false as you are.

I am not skeered, actually, but you can see that, I'm sure.

 

-Laelth

[Laelth]

So you want to prevent socialism by implementing socialist programs.

Yes, in fact.  That's the basic jist, though, as you might imagine, I would call those programs "liberal" (because that's what they are).

-Laelth

[wasp69]

Yes, in fact.  That's the basic jist, though, as you might imagine, I would call those programs "liberal" (because that's what they are).

-Laelth

By all means, lay out your plan and show your work.

[Laelth]

You aren't asking anyone to pay, you are demanding they pay. It gets on my nerves how leftists misuse words like ask. The reality is the rich already do pay most of the tax bill. Where the hell do you get the idea that government is the great equalizer and has the authority to step in and take from one group of people and give it to another group?

Assuming we're talking about the "guaranteed minimum income,"  and assuming there was political will to do such a thing in the United States (which there isn't), under those circumstances "I" wouldn't be demanding that anyone pay anything, but it is true that the Federal Government of the United States could demand (and does demand) that its citizens pay taxes for whatever constitutional purpose that the federal government decides needs to be done.

Government does have the power to take wealth from one group and distribute that wealth to another group.  This power is not new, nor is it going away.  How to use this power is the question.  It appears to me that government takes money from the poor and middle class and gives it to the rich far moreso than it takes money from the rich to give to the poor and middle class (bailout of AIG and the banks, for example).

The fact that a free country ever had a tax rate of 90% is disturbing as hell. Even if no one ever paid that rate it bothers the hell out of me that it was on the books.

Nobody I know wants a 90% top marginal rate.  As I said elsewhere on this forum, I'd be happy to return to the 39.6% top marginal rate we had under Clinton.

-Laelth