Attack on the Feds independence

[The_Jim]

But why is it ok for the ultra wealthy to keep paying our politicians to find ways to use OUR money to enrich themselves at a greater and greater rate?

The middle class is demonstrably shrinking, and falling further and further into a financial abyss not of our making. That isn’t sustainable either. So what’s the solution?

My views are pretty darn conservative and I agree with all of this. Its just the solutions that we likely have different ideas about. I think we have to get over the left vs. right and stop blaming the "other side" for problems. Half the county hating the other half seems like a pretty good way to keep the status quo, and we keep re-electing people that are obviously compromised in some way once they got to Washington.

 

[SaskHunter]

Cut the taxes for the middle class, encourage business to expand, cut regulations to get more people jobs & let the free market decide. Get the Government Out of the WAY.

Your own data regarding life-expectancy:
Canada #5 @ 84.2 years
USA #49 @ 80.9 years

Life expectancy at birth Comparison - The World Factbook

www.cia.gov

Bootlicking billionaires is wild... It's always Americans who seem so hell-bent on arguing against taxing the richest for the betterment of the poorest. The rest of the first world seems to have it figured out though, but sure, we're the ones doing it wrong. We literally live miles apart and have very different realities.

You have American podcasters trying to convince the rest of you that retirement is a commie hoax and working until death is completely acceptable, if not a requirement.

It takes a village to raise a child and if you did it right, the children will work towards caring for those who raised them down the line, completing the circle. Bottom line, the majority of the first-world have societies where we care for the weak, sick and injured, from cradle to grave.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I doubt it does.

There is no doubt that in most cases wealth accumulates thru a lifetime, unless you win the birth lottery. I also do not think that is enough to explain the difference in the median wealth between the US and Canada.

4 years older in peak earnings years seems significant.

 

[rjthehunter]

My views are pretty darn conservative and I agree with all of this. Its just the solutions that we likely have different ideas about. I think we have to get over the left vs. right and stop blaming the "other side" for problems. Half the county hating the other half seems like a pretty good way to keep the status quo, and we keep re-electing people that are obviously compromised in some way once they got to Washington.

Same. No career politician is here to help the average person.

I applaud Nick Shirley for figuring out how much money somalis are stealing from the MN taxpayers. Everyone in MN, left or right should applaud this, but they don't. It is divided, mainly along party lines. Hence the left storming the streets of Minneapolis again.

I appreciate a politician that does what they say they're going to do when running for office.

 

[Dougfirtree]

But why is it ok for the ultra wealthy to keep paying our politicians to find ways to use OUR money to enrich themselves at a greater and greater rate?

The middle class is demonstrably shrinking, and falling further and further into a financial abyss not of our making. That isn’t sustainable either. So what’s the solution?

And to add on to your point, why is it about "taking other people's money" when we contemplate raising taxes on the wealthy, but not when we reduce taxes for the wealthy, or change policies to make it easier for the wealthy to accumulate wealth that comes from the middle class and the poor, as has been going on at alarming rates, over the past couple decades?

When I talk about income inequality as an issue, I'm not looking for a world where we all make the same amount, or where there aren't people who are hugely successful. I'm just talking about reducing the size of the gap a little, like maybe back to what it was when America was apparently so great...? As I said earlier, I don't think most Americans really grasp how concentrated wealth is now, as compared to say, the 1970's or 80's.

To put it into an appropriate metaphor for this site: When I'm working up a new load for my rifle, I don't need a velocity spread of 0. I don't even need it to be under 30, but I don't want it to be 600fps...

 

[BigHornRam]

Most all of the ultra wealthy have made their paper wealth latey through stock ownership. With today's ridiculous stock values, it seems apparent to me that the Musk types have mastered the art of manipulating their stock value. George Soros mastered currency manipulation. They are no angels for sure

 

[BuzzH]

Oh no, there's no wealth gap or wealth concentration happening...

CEO pay: Zooming out over the last 50 years

The bigger picture ‍Aside from the big individual stories this week, the debate on CEO pay, and inequality more generally, is likely to intensify...

sherwood.news

"Trickle down" economics at it's finest. CEO Compensation increases by 940% since 1978, typical worker compensation a whopping 12%. Yeah, its definitely a fuggin' trickle alright.

https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-compensation-2018/

 

[Bonasababy]

Cut the taxes for the middle class, encourage business to expand, cut regulations to get more people jobs & let the free market decide. Get the Government Out of the WAY.

Cutting middle class taxes will balloon the debt even more. Restoring former rates from Reagans time on the wealthy..Will greatly improve it.

Unless of course you call Ronnie a commie pinko socialist. Be about par for some here.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Oh no, there's no wealth gap or wealth concentration happening...

CEO pay: Zooming out over the last 50 years

The bigger picture ‍Aside from the big individual stories this week, the debate on CEO pay, and inequality more generally, is likely to intensify...

sherwood.news

"Trickle down" economics at it's finest. CEO Compensation increases by 940% since 1978, typical worker compensation a whopping 12%. Yeah, its definitely a fuggin' trickle alright.

https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-compensation-2018/

Has anyone argued that there is not a wealth gap? What harm is caused by a wealth gap? What is the correct wealth gap?

Using wealth gap as a metric of success or failure is a fools errand, IMO.

 

[Bonasababy]

More of Trumps winning.

Continental Resources halts Bakken drilling for first time in 30 years

Falling oil prices squeeze profit margins as North Dakota loses drilling pioneer’s rigs

www.valleynewslive.com

 

[BuzzH]

Has anyone argued that there is not a wealth gap? What harm is caused by a wealth gap? What is the correct wealth gap?

Using wealth gap as a metric of success or failure is a fools errand, IMO.

The harm is pretty apparent if you choose to recognize it.

I don't believe its a good idea to let a handful of people decide an election via 100's of millions in campaign donations, for starters. Or allowing these mega-mergers that reduce competition for not only goods, but labor. Remember when monopolies were frowned upon? Or when the same mergers start controlling the news media. These happen because of the wealth gap, all of them.

It's also not a real good idea to shrink the middle class via wealth concentration if you're going to lie to them about the American Dream, for yet another.

In fact, there used to be a day when politicians actually wanted a robust middle class...now they want peasants and kings.

 

[406dn]

What harm is caused by a wealth gap?

I think wealth gaps have been the primary source of political upheavals for a long time.

Marie Antoinette was rather oblivious to the ramifications of an extreme weather gap.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

The harm is pretty apparent if you choose to recognize it.

I don't believe its a good idea to let a handful of people decide an election via 100's of millions in campaign donations, for starters.

It's also not a real good idea to shrink the middle class via wealth concentration if you're going to lie them about the American Dream, for another.

Paying your CEO more doesn't mean you must pay your workers less. Plenty of companies have CEO's with extreme wealth and extreme pay but their average employee or even lowest employee are earning a fine living.

Last I checked we all have one vote regardless of our NW. Most spent doesn't always result in who wins. I sure didn't in the last presidential election.

The American dream, whatever that actually is, is still alive and well. Is it the same as 50 years ago? No. Is it still achievable? Absolutely.

Best way, IMO, to depress wage growth for American workers is to provide an artificially high influx of low skill workers willing to work for extreme low wages. If I was CEO, why would I raise my average worker's pay when I can bring in an immigrant workforce that will accept a low wage as it is better than what they can get elsewhere?

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

I think wealth gaps have been the primary source of political upheavals for a long time.

Marie Antoinette was rather oblivious to the ramifications of an extreme weather gap.

The Governing body of a Country concentrating wealth at the expense of its citizens is not the same as some citizens having a boat load more than others. When Trump starts raising my taxes so that he can increase his salary your analogy will be more appropriate.

 

[SAJ-99]

If I was CEO, why would I raise my average worker's pay when I can bring in an immigrant workforce that will accept a low wage as it is better than what they can get elsewhere?

Because you can't find any US citizen to do the job at any wage that will remain sober and clear headed for an entire 8 hr day. Add to that the customer demands the product be as cheap as possible and doesn't care who does it, just wants it done semi-right.