a fact for those who want to increase taxes

Contributor: married with children married with children
If we took the 2008 profits for exxon mobil (45.2 billion), GE (17.41 billion), wal-mart (12.7 billion) and IBM (12.3 billion). for a total of 87.61 billion. If we taxed those profits at 100%, we still would not have enough to cover 1/3 of the interest payment on the national debt. (in 2008, those are the newest numbers I could find)

For all those that believe taxing "the rich" more would solve our problem.
08/11/2011
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Contributor: aliceinthehole aliceinthehole
the national debt is astronomical however. covering 1/50th of it i would consider a feat.

who thinks it's the sole solution to the problem? it certainly couldnt hurt though.
08/11/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
A lot of people have been drinking the kool aid. I hear it all the time at work, on this site, on other sites, on the tv, just about anywhere. No one wants to discuss the real problem and how to fix it. We need to get back on track. We became the greatest country in the world because of the free market in this country. Just think about all the great things that were invented here in the short amount of time we have been a country. All because of the free market. We have been headed down a different road for years now. The wrong path. We are not a socialist country, we do not need our government making all our decisions for us. We do not need to look to our government for all our needs. Progressive thinking and policies are a cancer destroying this great country. If you dont believe me, just turn on the tv.

If you are not pissed off with the way this country is headed, you are not paying attention.
08/12/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
I agree with you 100% sloppy donkey! It makes me mad, but it makes me sad mostly.
08/12/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
A lot of people have been drinking the kool aid. I hear it all the time at work, on this site, on other sites, on the tv, just about anywhere. No one wants to discuss the real problem and how to fix it. We need to get back on track. We became the ... more
I'm trying hard not to get offended by the rhetoric here.

I like to think of myself as a progressive person, preferring to push the envelope and learn more rather than sticking to the "tried and true" methods that are usually remnants of by-gone eras with staid boundaries and, often, stagnancy. I don't think my views are a "cancer".

I despise the free market, in that it promotes greed and avarice. Those who have can, those who don't can't.

I do agree with you, our country needs to change direction. The two party system of rich white guy one and rich white guy two needs to change.
08/12/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
I'm trying hard not to get offended by the rhetoric here.

I like to think of myself as a progressive person, preferring to push the envelope and learn more rather than sticking to the "tried and true" methods that are usually ... more
We can start with their outrageous salaries.
08/12/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
I'm trying hard not to get offended by the rhetoric here.

I like to think of myself as a progressive person, preferring to push the envelope and learn more rather than sticking to the "tried and true" methods that are usually ... more
why do you despise the free market? Does greed not exist in every country on this planet? Greed is not a result of the free market, nor is the free market a result of greed. Greed has been around from day one. Greed will always be here. Lets not embrace it with open arms.

Do I not deserve my pay check? Should the high school drop out next door be making the same as me? Someone who has gone to college and learned a highly skilled job skill. Someone who goes to work every day. Someone who is professional on the job. So because he chose to smoke dope and take the path of least work, I should donate a portion of my paycheck to him? That is the progressive agenda. Take a look at Europe, a highly progressive society. They have had money problems for decades. Take a close look, that is the path our country is on.

You should look up and read THE FEDERALISTS PAPERS. It will give you some good in site as to why our forefathers created the federal government they way they did, and why we need to fight to get it back to their original plan. Our government was not just thrown together haphazardly. It took years of thought and planning to create a limited government. One that was unlike the over controlling governments the original settlers came from.
08/12/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
why do you despise the free market? Does greed not exist in every country on this planet? Greed is not a result of the free market, nor is the free market a result of greed. Greed has been around from day one. Greed will always be here. Lets not ... more
Mm, yes, because the forefathers' ideas really are the best to bring to the 21st century. Let's bring back slavery and have only male land owners while we're at it, sounds like a great plan!
08/12/2011
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
why do you despise the free market? Does greed not exist in every country on this planet? Greed is not a result of the free market, nor is the free market a result of greed. Greed has been around from day one. Greed will always be here. Lets not ... more
Why is it always assumed that the ranks of the unemployed are solely populated with unskilled drug addicts? There are plenty of people that don't have a job because big company bean counters thought it was more important to increase their share price by a nickel than to keep jobs stateside. The result is plenty of college graduates with specialized skill-sets, and no employment opportunities.
08/12/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Why is it always assumed that the ranks of the unemployed are solely populated with unskilled drug addicts? There are plenty of people that don't have a job because big company bean counters thought it was more important to increase their share ... more
Very true.
08/12/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Why is it always assumed that the ranks of the unemployed are solely populated with unskilled drug addicts? There are plenty of people that don't have a job because big company bean counters thought it was more important to increase their share ... more
Why is it always assumed that drug addicts don't have any skills?
08/12/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Why is it always assumed that drug addicts don't have any skills?
Agreed on that, too.
08/12/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Why is it always assumed that the ranks of the unemployed are solely populated with unskilled drug addicts? There are plenty of people that don't have a job because big company bean counters thought it was more important to increase their share ... more
*I* don't do drugs.

*I* have over a decade experience in a particular field.

*I* became educated in a skilled trade only to find that there are no jobs because of the progression of technology and outsourcing. (Mostly technology)

*I* have put in over 150 resumes in the past 2 months and have had exactly FOUR interviews.

*I* STILL don't have a job.

But let's pay our "public" servants (aka, politicians) outrageous salaries, while I struggle to make my ends meet in a single-income family of 4. They spend more on one suit than I spend on my entire family's wardrobe in two years.
08/13/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Why is it always assumed that the ranks of the unemployed are solely populated with unskilled drug addicts? There are plenty of people that don't have a job because big company bean counters thought it was more important to increase their share ... more
because I was talking about my neighboor, a high school drop out who smokes pot.
08/13/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
Mm, yes, because the forefathers' ideas really are the best to bring to the 21st century. Let's bring back slavery and have only male land owners while we're at it, sounds like a great plan!
I do not remember slavery being mentioned in the constitution.
08/13/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
I'm trying hard not to get offended by the rhetoric here.

I like to think of myself as a progressive person, preferring to push the envelope and learn more rather than sticking to the "tried and true" methods that are usually ... more
this.
08/13/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
why do you despise the free market? Does greed not exist in every country on this planet? Greed is not a result of the free market, nor is the free market a result of greed. Greed has been around from day one. Greed will always be here. Lets not ... more
the views of people held at the beginning of the country aren't going to be applicable to our times- way too much has changed economically and socially. it would be a little bit nutty to apply outdated economics and politics to our times. and remember, they encouraged children working and the poor to live in filthy slums without an issue.
08/13/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
so miss informed. sad
08/13/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
The thing is, in my country, the current government has put in place the system of low taxes for the rich, and high taxes for the poor - which isn't particularly smart. You can tax them all you like, can even put a 100% tax on their income, but simple maths tells us that 100% of, say, £20,000 PA is a lot lower than £120,000 PA. So, really, if you're going to tax someone, let it be the rich - those who can afford it.
08/13/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
why do you despise the free market? Does greed not exist in every country on this planet? Greed is not a result of the free market, nor is the free market a result of greed. Greed has been around from day one. Greed will always be here. Lets not ... more
I despise the free market, in this case Wall Street, the Banks, and the top wage earners of the country who really don't have to work to get their money.

Wall Street - The financially minded people only interested in getting more money. It's a support system for...

The Banks - Yeah, there was that whole bank bail out that got pushed on a very new president after his predecessor... well, that's a different topic. Just look at who worked on the board of people on the bank bailout. At least the car companies (except Ford) paid back their loans. Good thing we didn't have another S&L issue! What about credit unions, not a one needed a bail out to my knowledge. If I'm wrong, please let me know. I'd rather be wrong and in then informed, rather than working on half facts.

Top wage earners who really don't have to work to get their money - Glad you came from a rich family. Good thing the Bush tax cuts are helping you out, capital gains are great right? Isn't this like winning the lottery, but you pay less taxes and the element of chance is dictated by your birth?

Sure you deserve your paycheck! But isn't the government running because of the taxes we pay? We can't decide who/what/where our taxes go to, that's just not feasible. If the person living next to you is a drop high school drop, smoking pot all day, and makes the same as you...either ask for a raise or figure out his scam.

Looking to Europe - so much history... No way Americans can compare their government to Europeans ones except on topics of money! That health care system...wow. I hate how most of the EU has a better health care system than we do! It must suck not having to consider bankruptcy vs. surgery!

The direction I see our country going is continued stagnancy and ineptitude until the special interests of big business finally start taking over the legislative branch overtly. I'm starting to wonder how long it'll take before we see a situation like in shudder "RoboCop". When the city can't afford to run its police force, it gets out-sourced to a large corporation with the money to run it.

I've read bits and pieces of the Federalists Papers. Very interesting stuff. The forefathers of the country were definitely a forward thinking progressive bunch of guys. Ben Franklin is one of my faves in that group.

Seriously though...turn off Glen Beck and Fox News. Ignore their rhetoric and venom and see it for what it is...a Rupert Murdoch company that's known for their honesty, integrity, and unflinching eye in the site of a cream pie.
08/13/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
so miss informed. sad
So is drinking Tea Party/Right Wing created Kool Aid.

Taxing the rich mother fuckers who destroyed this country may not solve ALL the problems, but damn, it would help. Why should they NOT pay taxes. GE paid absolutely NO taxes in the USA in 2010 and they made more than twenty BILLION DOLLARS profit Why should that be OK, while my husband and I pay more taxes than they do, and I can't find a job, even with a Master's Degree?

Your barking up the wrong tree. If the "free market" worked, we wouldn't be in this mess. This mess is a DIRECT EFFECT of the Bush family making laws so that their fat, rich white friends, all billionaires can keep virtually every penny of their ill gotten gains.

The whole "If you tax us we won't create jobs" party line that the RICH use now is utter bullshit. They AREN'T paying enough taxes and in many cases paying NO taxes and there are still no fucking jobs.

I'm glad YOU are so fucking financially well off that you don't have to think about anyone but yourself. (But, I have a newsflash for you, the Rich White Boys Club that the Bushes and the Rockefellers belong to still aren't going to let you in.) But we live in a SOCIETY, that means that we have to contribute. I don't give a SHIT about your pot smoking neighbor, he is nothing but a red herring anecdote and anyone can refute your claim that ALL the unemployed are dope smoking losers.

The Rich can afford to pay MORE and still live very nice lifestyles. How much do those fuckers NEED? Goddam selfish bastards. Go back to the Reagan tax laws. There was plenty of prosperity then (although his theory of "trickle down wealth" was UTTER bullshit)_why can't the goddam rich pay their share?

You're not going to get a lot of sympathy for rich, white bastards here, while so many are suffering, out of work and can barely pay their bills and have ALWAYS played by the rules and are still screwed by the system, buddy.
08/13/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
so miss informed. sad
Double post, although it probably deserved to be said twice.
08/13/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
I despise the free market, in this case Wall Street, the Banks, and the top wage earners of the country who really don't have to work to get their money.

Wall Street - The financially minded people only interested in getting more money. ... more
THANK YOU, JR!

You are an honest and brilliant man. (And you said it with fewer F Bombs than I could. )
08/13/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by BBW Talks Toys
*I* don't do drugs.

*I* have over a decade experience in a particular field.

*I* became educated in a skilled trade only to find that there are no jobs because of the progression of technology and outsourcing. (Mostly ... more
I'm in nearly the same boat, BBW. I can't work in nursing on the Floor anymore, due to health issues, and between myself and my youngest daughter (who has Tourette Syndrome and Aspergers) our medical bills are a huge percentage of my husband's pre-tax income. The average co-pay for a prescription with our insurance (Blue Cross, one of the most EVIL money making companies in the world) is $65.00 per month. (I'm on 7 meds, my daughter is on three.) They just hiked the amount of money we pay out of pocket before THEY start to pay for health care (of course this doesn't include prescriptions) by 33% this year, without telling us before hand, and the cost went up. It's like we don't even have insurance, everything comes out of pocket anyway.

I've been looking for work for over a year, I've had 2 interviews for minimum wage jobs and was overlooked for girls in their 20s. The excuse? "You have a lot of education and you are older. If we hired you, you'd only quit when you found something better."

I, like you, resent the Wing Nut Right Wing assertion, by FORTUNATE PEOPLE that everyone who is out of work is a drug addicted, uneducated moron.

The only thing that changes people's minds is when they themselves start to lose things.... And as a good person, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But, I do wish higher taxes on those who can STILL live a good life after paying their share.
08/13/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
I do not remember slavery being mentioned in the constitution.
You do realize that the amendments are part of the constitution, right? Number thirteen, slavery gets abolished? Therefore, before that amendment, there were slaves? Thank you for telling us to read when it's clear that you are not the most educated on it.

Either way, I do not want to say much on this topic. I have a feeling we're dealing with a person who's extremely conservative and has no compassion for people who have less than them.

Just because your neighbor (1 in 350 million people in the United States) smokes marijuana and is a high school drop out doesn't mean that everyone who doesn't have money is. Actually, most people I know who smoke marijuana have tons of money because they sell. You know how much money that makes? Yeah, let's not even go on that topic. Having a job makes shit money. I have a degree already and am getting my Master's, and I make minimum wage. And I got the job, want to know how? Because I KNEW people. I can only imagine what would happen if I didn't happen upon those connections when I did. I work my ass off most days, get hardly any hours because the place I work has a cap on hours, and get a small paycheck that can hardly pay for anything.

My father has a master's and he's been looking for a job for over six years. Six years. He must have gone on hundreds of interviews, and still nothing. This is their excuse: he's either overqualified, or underqualified. Never what they "want." He doesn't do drugs, he is clean and well put together. He's respectful and a good man. Do open your eyes and realize that it's not because people are doing drugs that they do not have jobs. And like I said before, most of the people that I know that are drug addicts get and drop jobs like they're nothing. I know someone who had a new job every week. Wasn't fired from one - they quit. And they did pot every day, sometimes at work.

I could say a few things about the financial system of this government, but I won't, as my views may very well offend the entire population. HAHAHA!!!
08/13/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by married with children
so miss informed. sad
So rude. A shame.
08/13/2011
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
"GE paid absolutely NO taxes in the USA in 2010 and they made more than twenty BILLION DOLLARS profit Why should that be OK, while my husband and I pay more taxes than they do"

This is the problem. The people who are making the most don't want to contribute, and when they do, they want to decide exactly where the money goes. Since when? It's not like I got to send a post-it with my tax filing that said "Do not use for war or bank bailouts." It's a bullshit attitude of entitlement.

Of course, mention social obligation to a gung-ho capitalist and you're a COMMUNIST. Nevermind that studies prove some of the best long term investments for countries are education and healthcare for its citizens. If it means slightly higher taxes than the "haves" start running around like Gollum screaming "MY PRECIOUS!"

I'd love to see a flat tax percentage for everyone. It would instill in people, rich and poor and inbetween, that yes, everyone has an obligation to their country and we must all contribute. It would also solve the problem of fair share. Right now, fair share is the poor are too poor, tax the middle class to death, and let the rich keep getting rich. There's nothing fair about that.
08/13/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
I think that what needs to be noted here also is who the people are that MADE the national debt. Was it the people who make minimum wage that put our country into debt? I don't THINK SO! Sure, you could technically argue that we vote on what happens with the money. But that's just another excuse when it's obvious who the ones are that created the national debt.

And by the way, I am a communist. Just wanted to put that out there. I say it loud and say it proud. HAHA!!!

Edit: This reminds me of the time that someone in one of my classes had the nerve to say that it's worse when people with tons of money lose money than when poor people do. How about you just let that marinate for a second.
08/13/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Everyone has an example story of people who fit stereotypes about the unemployed neighbor. I have neighbors like that. SO WHAT? We can all find people to make an example of. That doesn't mean that it's the majority.

I have been a pharmacy technician, a medical billing specialist, a transcriptionist, a medical receptionist, and various other jobs in the medical field. I've spent over 6K on a transcription degree. I am nicely qualified. I can't do anything with it now. 10 years in the medical field and I've got nothing to show for it right now. It's frustrating. It's depressing. And I'm really pissed off about it.

But I should pay in thousands of my dollars into the federal government when others can literally sit in their living room in their underwear and make that money in a day, or in a few minutes, or hell, even a week or a month? Yet I can't always afford my electric bill. Are YOU going to pay it? Are the wealthier folks in my city going to pay my electric bill? Are they going to buy my groceries? Clothe my children? Pay my rent? Put gas in my car so I can get to job interviews? Oh, yeah, didn't think so. I bet you think corporations are people too! Oh, did you know, everyone? Mitt Romney's here! YAY.
08/13/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
"GE paid absolutely NO taxes in the USA in 2010 and they made more than twenty BILLION DOLLARS profit Why should that be OK, while my husband and I pay more taxes than they do"

This is the problem. The people who are making the most ... more
I love you! I love the term "the bullshit attitude of entitlement" It explains so much of the recent unrequited greed in this country. I love the Gollum analogy. "MY PRECIOUS!" I've used it myself. I can't imagine being that greedy about anything but I guess the rich are, as they are so freaking defensive when someone suggests they pay their share to help the entire country work.

Good work, Valentine.
08/13/2011