Adam and Teddy
Hanna
2011/10/27 17:18:30
I feel compelled to warn conservatives this isn't a story about two homosexuals but is an economic story. The moral is modern-day "conservatives" are , based upon the words of two men greatly revered by conservatives, actually modern-day economic extremists.
"The necessities of life occasion the great expense of the poor. They find it difficult to get food, and the greater part of their little revenue is spent in getting it. The luxuries and vanities of life occasion the principal expense of the rich, and a magnificent house embellishes and sets off to the best advantage all the other luxuries and vanities which they possess. A tax upon house-rents, therefore, would in general fall heaviest upon the rich, and in this sort of inequality there would not, perhaps, be anything unreasonable. It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion." (Emphasis added)
"I believe in a graduated income tax on big fortunes, and in another tax which is far more easily collected and far more effective - a graduated inheritance tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded against evasion, and increasing rapidly in amount with the size of the estate." (Emphasis added)
The first quote comes from Adam Smith's An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book Five-Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth (1776). Smith argues not only that the rich should be taxed in proportion to their income but further argues they should be taxed at an even higher rate.
The second quote is from Theodore Roosevelt's The New Nationalism. Roosevelt supported, in direct opposition to modern-day Republican and tea party economic extremism, a progressive income tax. He also argued that inheritances should be taxed to ensure major wealth was not passed on to descendents who hadn't earned it by competing in the free market.
When do modern-day right wing economic extremists begin to claim Adam Smith and Theodore Roosevelt were socialists?
"I believe in a graduated income tax on big fortunes, and in another tax which is far more easily collected and far more effective - a graduated inheritance tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded against evasion, and increasing rapidly in amount with the size of the estate." (Emphasis added)
The first quote comes from Adam Smith's An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book Five-Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth (1776). Smith argues not only that the rich should be taxed in proportion to their income but further argues they should be taxed at an even higher rate.
The second quote is from Theodore Roosevelt's The New Nationalism. Roosevelt supported, in direct opposition to modern-day Republican and tea party economic extremism, a progressive income tax. He also argued that inheritances should be taxed to ensure major wealth was not passed on to descendents who hadn't earned it by competing in the free market.
When do modern-day right wing economic extremists begin to claim Adam Smith and Theodore Roosevelt were socialists?
Top Opinion
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luvguins 2011/10/27 17:45:24
+11Adam and Teddy were correct. The right wing GOP is conducting class warfare on the middle class and the poor, the largest population, with their flat and 999 taxation plans. Americans now know it from the polls, and the OWS protesters know it on the streets of our cities.
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A wealthy businessman goes to the city board to get the ok to build a factory, hire people and create hundreds of jobs. The city donates the land, gives the wealthy man an exemption from property taxes for his factory.
The factory is built, but here is the catch,
all the workers hired are part time temps. No insurance, no vacation, no benefits and getting paid minimum wage.
It happens all the time. The fat cat at the top and management gets richer while the poor worker gets crapped on.
This is the new way of the Republican business man. There is no opportunity for advancement for the little man. If he gripes about it, he is just let go. Remember, he is a temporary worker. They don't need a reason to let the worker go. There is NO job security.
They also keep women out of the top positions. They want to take away her ability to have rule over her body. And now they want to make contraceptives unavailable. The Republicans want to take us back to the dark ages and ignorant people are following them like stupid sheep. The wealthy have brainwashed them with words of socialism and fascism, and some of these idiots just follow along.
Republicans wan...
A wealthy businessman goes to the city board to get the ok to build a factory, hire people and create hundreds of jobs. The city donates the land, gives the wealthy man an exemption from property taxes for his factory.
The factory is built, but here is the catch,
all the workers hired are part time temps. No insurance, no vacation, no benefits and getting paid minimum wage.
It happens all the time. The fat cat at the top and management gets richer while the poor worker gets crapped on.
This is the new way of the Republican business man. There is no opportunity for advancement for the little man. If he gripes about it, he is just let go. Remember, he is a temporary worker. They don't need a reason to let the worker go. There is NO job security.
They also keep women out of the top positions. They want to take away her ability to have rule over her body. And now they want to make contraceptives unavailable. The Republicans want to take us back to the dark ages and ignorant people are following them like stupid sheep. The wealthy have brainwashed them with words of socialism and fascism, and some of these idiots just follow along.
Republicans want to do away with public education. Keep our minions ignorant and they will follow is their banner cry. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG PEOPLE? Education of our children is the most important gift we can possible give our children. Ignorance is NOT bliss, it is just ignorance. The future of our country depends on the education of our children. Being wealthy does not make you smart. Some of the most intelligent people have come from humble beginnings.
The Republicans will destroy America just to protect the oil and gas companies, they will destroy America to keep the tax cuts and loopholes for the wealthy. The Republicans will destroy America to keep Obama out of the White House and we, as caring Americans who are the REAL patriots, must not let that happen.
"...and will vote for whomever will give the most handouts..."
Considering corporations receive far more "handouts" than any person on welfare, you very accurately described conservative voters.
A flat tax is a regressive tax and has a negative impact on the poor and working families. It's just a tool to make the rich even richer. Another example of a regressive tax is a sales tax.
A flat tax is a regressive tax and has a negative impact on the poor and working families. It's just a tool to make the rich even richer. Another example of a regressive tax is a sales tax.
Instead of insulting me, maybe you could devote some of your time to fixing the following:
Texas ranked, in 2010, as the 40th healthiest state to live in
Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured population in the country.
Texas has the highest insurance rates in the nation
Texas ranks #1 in children without health insurance
Texas ranks #1 in teen pregnancy
Texas has very low rates of early prenatal care (only 59.7 percent of women receiving care within their first trimester of pregnancy, another last-place ranking) and availability of primary physicians (95.4 physicians per 100,000 members of the population).
Texas' has a high rate of children in poverty has risen in the past year from 23.1 percent to 25.6 percent of the population under the age of 18.
The obesity rate in Texas is relatively high, at 29.5 percent of the overall population.
In 2009, Texas had the 48th lowest spending per pupil and the 45th lowest SAT scores. Despite those horrible rankings, the majority GOP House and Senate cut public education funding by 13% more rather than raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Texas has the lowest high school graduation rate
Texas ranks #1 in pollution. Texas has appr...
Instead of insulting me, maybe you could devote some of your time to fixing the following:
Texas ranked, in 2010, as the 40th healthiest state to live in
Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured population in the country.
Texas has the highest insurance rates in the nation
Texas ranks #1 in children without health insurance
Texas ranks #1 in teen pregnancy
Texas has very low rates of early prenatal care (only 59.7 percent of women receiving care within their first trimester of pregnancy, another last-place ranking) and availability of primary physicians (95.4 physicians per 100,000 members of the population).
Texas' has a high rate of children in poverty has risen in the past year from 23.1 percent to 25.6 percent of the population under the age of 18.
The obesity rate in Texas is relatively high, at 29.5 percent of the overall population.
In 2009, Texas had the 48th lowest spending per pupil and the 45th lowest SAT scores. Despite those horrible rankings, the majority GOP House and Senate cut public education funding by 13% more rather than raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Texas has the lowest high school graduation rate
Texas ranks #1 in pollution. Texas has approximately 12,179,362 fewer people than California but Texas leads the country in cancer risk from hazardous air pollutants. Texas emits about 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, more than any other state, according to Texas EPA spokesman David Gray. If Texas were a country it would be the world’s eighth-largest polluter.” (http://www.businessweek.com/...
Texas is one of the worst places in America to be an African American because of its extraordinary high rate of black incarceration. The ratio between Texas' black and white rates of imprisonment is 5 to 1. Since very few of the rich in Texas are imprisoned, it's evident Texas is a very bad place to be poor regardless of whether you're African American, white or Latino.
Electricity deregulation dropped Texas from #4 in the nation for affordability to #37.
Instead of insulting me, maybe you could devote some of your time to fixing the following:
Texas ranked, in 2010, as the 40th healthiest state to live in
Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured population in the country.
Texas has the highest insurance rates in the nation
Texas ranks #1 in children without health insurance
Texas ranks #1 in teen pregnancy
Texas has very low rates of early prenatal care (only 59.7 percent of women receiving care within their first trimester of pregnancy, another last-place ranking) and availability of primary physicians (95.4 physicians per 100,000 members of the population).
Texas' has a high rate of children in poverty has risen in the past year from 23.1 percent to 25.6 percent of the population under the age of 18.
The obesity rate in Texas is relatively high, at 29.5 percent of the overall population.
In 2009, Texas had the 48th lowest spending per pupil and the 45th lowest SAT scores. Despite those horrible rankings, the majority GOP House and Senate cut public education funding by 13% more rather than raise ta...
Instead of insulting me, maybe you could devote some of your time to fixing the following:
Texas ranked, in 2010, as the 40th healthiest state to live in
Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured population in the country.
Texas has the highest insurance rates in the nation
Texas ranks #1 in children without health insurance
Texas ranks #1 in teen pregnancy
Texas has very low rates of early prenatal care (only 59.7 percent of women receiving care within their first trimester of pregnancy, another last-place ranking) and availability of primary physicians (95.4 physicians per 100,000 members of the population).
Texas' has a high rate of children in poverty has risen in the past year from 23.1 percent to 25.6 percent of the population under the age of 18.
The obesity rate in Texas is relatively high, at 29.5 percent of the overall population.
In 2009, Texas had the 48th lowest spending per pupil and the 45th lowest SAT scores. Despite those horrible rankings, the majority GOP House and Senate cut public education funding by 13% more rather than raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Texas has the lowest high school graduation rate
Texas ranks #1 in pollution. Texas has approximately 12,179,362 fewer people than California but Texas leads the country in cancer risk from hazardous air pollutants. Texas emits about 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, more than any other state, according to Texas EPA spokesman David Gray. If Texas were a country it would be the world’s eighth-largest polluter.” (http://www.businessweek.com/...
Texas is one of the worst places in America to be an African American because of its extraordinary high rate of black incarceration. The ratio between Texas' black and white rates of imprisonment is 5 to 1. Since very few of the rich in Texas are imprisoned, it's evident Texas is a very bad place to be poor regardless of whether you're African American, white or Latino.
Electricity deregulation dropped Texas from #4 in the nation for affordability to #37.
Of course, you'll blame it on Democrats but Reagan didn't veto any of the bills.
life. Get a job. Get 2 jobs!
The American dream is based on the premise that any person can become what ever they choose to become...
It seems to me that a lot of people have become full of envy for anyone who has more than themselves, Then they enlist the powers of RICH politicians to pass laws which steal the Dreams of others so that pennies can be handed to the masses of layabouts who believe the American dream is achieved by sleeping till noon and waiting in line at social services..
The worst is inheritance tax, Look at this.
When that money was earned by the deceased, IT WAS TAXED
When that money was saved by the deceased, IT WAS TAXED
When the money was used by the deceased, IT WAS TAXED
Now the money is handed to a loved one by the deceased, IT IS TAXED
How many times do you on the left believe it is OK to tax a persons labor..???
Maybe if the JOB MAKERS weren't taxed to death in this country, We wouldn't have so many products with labels that say MADE IN CHINA
Your responsibility to pay taxes isn't stealing.
"The American dream is based on the premise that any person can become what ever they choose to become..."
Many of the richest people in America didn't earn their fortunes; they inherited them.
"It seems to me that a lot of people have become full of envy for anyone who has more than themselves, Then they enlist the powers of RICH politicians to pass laws which steal the Dreams of others so that pennies can be handed to the masses of layabouts who believe the American dream is achieved by sleeping till noon and waiting in line at social services.. "
I've heard the conservative "envy" argument before and it's lame. The richest Americans employed the powers of conservative politicians to make them even richer at the expense of the poor and working families.
Read what Teddy Roosevelt said about those who inherit fortunes.
"How many times do you on the left believe it is OK to tax a persons labor..???"
If you inherit a fortune, you didn't labor for it.
"Maybe if the JOB MAKERS weren't taxed to death in this country,"
Yet another variation on the Rand "producer" mantra.
"We wouldn't have so many products with labels that say MADE IN CHINA"
No, th...
Your responsibility to pay taxes isn't stealing.
"The American dream is based on the premise that any person can become what ever they choose to become..."
Many of the richest people in America didn't earn their fortunes; they inherited them.
"It seems to me that a lot of people have become full of envy for anyone who has more than themselves, Then they enlist the powers of RICH politicians to pass laws which steal the Dreams of others so that pennies can be handed to the masses of layabouts who believe the American dream is achieved by sleeping till noon and waiting in line at social services.. "
I've heard the conservative "envy" argument before and it's lame. The richest Americans employed the powers of conservative politicians to make them even richer at the expense of the poor and working families.
Read what Teddy Roosevelt said about those who inherit fortunes.
"How many times do you on the left believe it is OK to tax a persons labor..???"
If you inherit a fortune, you didn't labor for it.
"Maybe if the JOB MAKERS weren't taxed to death in this country,"
Yet another variation on the Rand "producer" mantra.
"We wouldn't have so many products with labels that say MADE IN CHINA"
No, the reason there are is "MADE IN CHINA" is because our tax code gives incentives to American corporations to take jobs offshore.
Of course, you'll blame it on Democrats but Reagan didn't veto any of the bills.
Read Teddy Roosevelt's reasoning for taxing large fortunes.
You need to go and read Adam Smith in his entirety. Beware, "Wealth of Nations" is a long book and it's going to go entirely against what you believe in. What I find extremely funny is what is happening on OWS. Seems that they have a problem with crime although I don't know how stealing goes against their agenda. They don't want women to report rape, which seems a bit against women's rights and the rights of their sacred bodies! Then they are tired of feeding bums who don't do anything and can't figure out a way to split the $500,000 they have so they aren't doing it.
Society is complex and when you reward the parasites and punish the producers, you get one screwed up society. The left is in favor of that.
You can try and deflect attention away from conservative economic extremism if you like by demeaning OWS protesters. And, it's even more curious you didn't post any links supporting your charges against OWS protesters.
"Society is complex and when you reward the parasites and punish the producers, you get one screwed up society."
I love the reference to Ayn Rand. Do you, like her, admire serial killers?
http://occupywallst.org/forum...
You are totally distorting the teaching of a brilliant economist and pervert it's meaning and I'm radical? Ayn Rand was a writer and I admire her writing. She as a woman had a screw loose but she did know tyranny when she saw it.
You put one small quote of Adam Smith on the rich but you neglected the balance of a quote on the poor so I'll help you out.
"The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations."
Adam Smith