Attack on the Feds independence

[Big Fin]

I know we agree on more than we don't. Yet...

I have hardened, for right or wrong, on the opinion that it is far, FAR more important to be able to weigh the two shit sandwiches and reach a conclusion about which one is better, even if only marginally, than it is to throw up your hands and declare them equally terrible. They are not.

Yes, both parties listen to the most extreme edges of their base. Yes, both are more concerned with winning than with the long term direction of the country. And yes, both are neck-deep in fraud and corruption, which I believe is intrinsic to politics and always has been. None of that is in dispute. But despite all of that, you still have to choose one or the other.

If you refuse to make that difficult choice and instead take the easier route—picking someone who has no realistic chance of being elected—you prevent any appreciable correction from ever occurring. In effect, you doom the country by opting out while convincing yourself you took the moral high ground.

If everything and everyone sucks, then what’s the point? That kind of defeatist mentality absolves you from the much harder work: sorting through the nuance, making a judgment call, and attempting to change the course, however incrementally. Declaring all options equally bad is not insight, it’s disengagement.

Is a pendulum swing ideal? No. Clearly not. But given the system we actually have, not the one we wish we had, it remains the best available alternative.

OK, on this post we disagree. In fact, I disagree so much I wrote a long dissertation of how much I disagree. You make a lot of implications in that post, whether you are intending to or not. After reading my reply, I see no sense in posting a long dissertation, as it makes no difference. You've stated your opinions on it.

I just leave it with my disagreement with the statements made, the premises it seems to come from when I read it, and the implications it draws. We each have our life experiences that have formed our views. They differ in this case.

The attack on Fed Independence, a great example of the trends that concern us, is a small speck on a huge map of uncertainty.

 

[406dn]

On a more serious note, after seeing a few JD Vance interview clips I want to know how much we are spending on eyeliner on top of the already high spray tan budget.

JD's eye liner is covered as petty cash under Kristi Noem's make up, and costume budget.

 

[Irrelevant]

OK, on this post we disagree. In fact, I disagree so much I wrote a long dissertation of how much I disagree. You make a lot of implications in that post, whether you are intending to or not. After reading my reply, I see no sense in posting a long dissertation, as it makes no difference. You've stated your opinions on it.

I just leave it with my disagreement with the statements made, the premises it seems to come from when I read it, and the implications it draws. We each have our life experiences that have formed our views. They differ in this case.

The attack on Fed Independence, a great example of the trends that concern us, is a small speck on a huge map of uncertainty.

I would encourage you to post it. You may not change my opinion, but you'll likely shift it. One of our fundamental tenets is open debate.

 

[406dn]

Earlier I mentioned median and average household wealth. Here is a link of some of the wealthiest countries in the world, showing both their average and median wealth.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-top-20-countries-by-average-vs-median-wealth/

 

[BuzzH]

Earlier I mentioned median and average household wealth. Here is a link of some of the wealthiest countries in the world, showing both their average and median wealth.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-top-20-countries-by-average-vs-median-wealth/

That's about what I figured.

The wealth disparity is staggering yet nobody seems to mind. Also, I would argue that those in the 70th percentile and below a good chunk of their net worth is their home. Something that has becoming increasing difficult for those below median net worth to even consider buying into. I'm tired of those that bought into the market a long time ago saying American workers just aren't trying hard enough. That's just not true and what you posted illustrates that.

Secondly the other problem with concentrated wealth is what it buys, and that is undue influence over the majority. Certainly shields them from doing right by the majority. No longer do politicians have to be accountable to the middle class, they don't give a shit about your small contributions to their campaigns. Their problems are not your problems and frankly they just don't care. They're worried about themselves and ONLY interested in landing the whale that will fund their campaigns. They aren't going to let their whale donors get away, isn't going to happen unless reform in a meaningful way happens.

It's no accident and should be no surprise that the middle class and median wealth has declined the way it has over my lifetime. Makes only one thing, and that's total sense based on our policies to favor the top 10%, and that maybe a bit overstated, more like the top couple percent.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Bottom line up-front: we pay a decent amount of taxes, but life is relatively worry-free. 10/10 recommend gov't funded through taxes, strong social programs.

27% of my overall gross income goes to taxes and I'm pretty damn happy with what I get in return, to name a few things: paid maternity leave (15 weeks prior to birth), paid parental leave (40 to 69 weeks after birth), paid paternity leave (5 to 9 weeks), free health care, subsidized daycares, free elementary and secondary schooling, cheap post-secondary studies, social security, Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, etc. I also can't get fired because I called the President Prime Minister a .pdf protector.

I think something people don't understand is that if you make 260k, you don't pay a combined prov/fed tax rate of 47.5% for your total income (tax brackets below), it means that your earnings are progressively taxed per tax bracket, whatever % per tax bracket isn't tallied to the max for your gross income, your income is separated in tax brackets where that bracket is taxed at the bracket's rate.

We also don't have the American "hustle" culture where everyone seems to be overworked. We have strict employment laws and regulations to mandate federal $17.75/hour minimum wage (some Provinces at $19+), minimum paid vacations, sick leave, working hours, etc. We enjoy a lot of paid holidays and overall have a much better work/life balance. I remember on HT a few years back a thread where some members were mocking Canadians and our "aversion" to work and the numerous paid holidays we had, to this day I still don't understand the obsession with making work your life and entire personality. My job allows me to maintain the lifestyle my family and I enjoy, that's it, nothing more. I strive to be the last one in and first one out of work. My employer cannot use this against me as long as I complete my work during regular work hours, up to 37.5 hours a week, everything outside of that is over-time that my employer has to approve and pay me if I cannot reasonably perform my duties within these hours. There are obviously nuances with contractual work, shift workers, etc., but overall it's more or less the same. Yes, Canadians LOVE their paid time off to spend time with family, friends or afield!

Here are the Saskatchewan tax brackets for 2025:

• 10.5% on the first $53,463 of taxable income.
• 12.5% on the portion of taxable income over $53,463 up to $152,750.
• 14.5% on the portion of taxable income over $152,750.

2025 Federal Income Tax Brackets & Rates

• 15% on the first $57,375 of taxable income.
• 20.5% on the portion over $57,375 up to $114,750.
• 26% on the portion over $114,750 up to $177,882.
• 29% on the portion over $177,882 up to $253,414.
• 33% on the portion over $253,414.

That's about what I figured.

The wealth disparity is staggering yet nobody seems to mind. Also, I would argue that those in the 70th percentile and below a good chunk of their net worth is their home. Something that has becoming increasing difficult for those below median net worth to even consider buying into. I'm tired of those that bought into the market a long time ago saying American workers just aren't trying hard enough. That's just not true and what you posted illustrates that.

Secondly the other problem with concentrated wealth is what it buys, and that is undue influence over the majority. Certainly shields them from doing right by the majority. No longer do politicians have to be accountable to the middle class, they don't give a shit about your small contributions to their campaigns. Their problems are not your problems and frankly they just don't care. They're worried about themselves and ONLY interested in landing the whale that will fund their campaigns. They aren't going to let their whale donors get away, isn't going to happen unless reform in a meaningful way happens.

It's no accident and should be no surprise that the middle class and median wealth has declined the way it has over my lifetime. Makes only one thing, and that's total sense based on our policies to favor the top 10%, and that maybe a bit overstated, more like the top couple percent.

I think that the vast majority of Americans just have no clue how extreme wealth inequality is and how much worse it has gotten in the last few decades. It should be one of the most important political issues in our nation, affecting so many others that people are up in arms about, like affordability, social security, etc. But it's not even on the radar for most and is thought of as a fringe issue, only cared about by Bernie and other left-wing whack jobs. Folks on the left and right should be very concerned, IMO.