Obama intensifies push for ‘Buffett Rule’

[Jerry_Miah]

Exactly. It sickens me, when I see my fellow net receivers complaining that others aren’t paying their “fair share.” It’s just envy and greed - nothing less.

This is a startling and uncharitable accusation. No, something besides envy and greed is at play – something like common sense and awareness. Under Reagan, the top tax rate was 50% most of the time. It helped our economy. Claims that tax breaks help the economy have never come true. Our country is cutting back on basic services so that the mega-rich can enjoy the lowest tax rates in decades. It doesn’t make sense.

 

[rlg94086]

This is a startling and uncharitable accusation.

It’s neither startling nor uncharitable. It is an observation of people who are net recipients of other people’s money complaining that those other people are not giving enough. Greed (wanting more than they are already receiving) and envy (resentful of what others have).

 

[Jerry_Miah]

It’s neither startling nor uncharitable. It is an observation of people who are net recipients of other people’s money complaining that those other people are not giving enough. Greed (wanting more than they are already receiving) and envy (resentful of what others have).

It is definitely startling.

I answered you about how you are wrong, in case you want to reply. Is there no greed involved when extremely rich people keep pushing for lower and lower taxes for themselves, damning the consequences? I argue that it is the extremely wealthy who are being greedy as they hoard more and more wealth as the country around them gets poorer and poorer.

About envy – I don’t. Jesus said they won’t get into heaven, and I believe them.

 

[rlg94086]

It is definitely startling.

I answered you about how you are wrong, in case you want to reply. Is there no greed involved when extremely rich people keep pushing for lower and lower taxes for themselves, damning the consequences?** I argue that it is the extremely wealthy who are being greedy** as they hoard more and more wealth as the country around them gets poorer and poorer.

About envy – I don’t. Jesus said they won’t get into heaven, and I believe them.

Wow. How uncharitable of you.

 

[revert_jen]

Is there no greed involved when extremely rich people keep pushing for lower and lower taxes for themselves, damning the consequences?

Since when do two wrongs make a right? Since when does the greed of the rich make it OK for others to be greedy too?

And as for your answer about how it isn’t greed or envy, all you had were a lot of somewhat vague assertions. In what way did making the rich pay more taxes help the economy? Where is the proof that tax breaks never help the economy? And in what way are we actually cutting back on basic services?

I’m not saying it’s only greed and envy, but the claim wasn’t startling, because of the way the most vocal people talk about the issue. “I don’t know how much they’re paying, but it’s not enough!” is not a cry of reason or common sense.

–Jen

 

[Jerry_Miah]

The line the president is preaching is disengenuous at best. Buffett pays taxes on capital gains (on which he has already paid income taxes.). His secretary pays taxes on her income. Our dear leader thinks the American people are so uninformed (stupid) that we do not know the different. And then there is the matter of the earned income tax credit, where 49% of our citizens who do not pay income taxes get a rebate. Now I ask you, is that fair?

Not sure what you mean – capitals gains are taxed lower than income, which is why, for example, Mitt Romney paid only 14% in taxes last year.

No matter how you slice it, the top tax rate is at historically low. It is not helping the economy and it is hurting the rest of us.

 

[rlg94086]

Since when do two wrongs make a right? Since when does the greed of the rich make it OK for others to be greedy too?

And as for your answer about how it isn’t greed or envy, all you had were a lot of somewhat vague assertions. In what way did making the rich pay more taxes help the economy? Where is the proof that tax breaks never help the economy? And in what way are we actually cutting back on basic services?

I’m not saying it’s only greed and envy, but the claim wasn’t startling, because of the way the most vocal people talk about the issue. “I don’t know how much they’re paying, but it’s not enough!” is not a cry of reason or common sense.

–Jen

Well said. Expect more vague assertions in reply. Even though the top 1% pay more than the bottom 95% (not even close in the Reagan years), they still aren’t paying “enough” (however much that is).

 

[He_Man]

Since no one will give an answer as to how much, arguing with them is pointless.

I paid 42% between federal and state taxes last year, and have no plans to ever use public education. So I save that private education money for my 18 month old as well. And I should pay more?

Again, claiming the rich should pay more and not being able say how much, but simply more, illustrates clearly that the person is fueled by envy, covetousness, and greed.

If you can make a logical argument for a certain amount based on numbers, we can talk. If you can’t, you basically just prove that you don’t know what you are talking about, and are quite jealous.

 

[timotheos]

It is definitely startling.

I answered you about how you are wrong, in case you want to reply. Is there no greed involved when extremely rich people keep pushing for lower and lower taxes for themselves, damning the consequences? I argue that it is the extremely wealthy who are being greedy as they hoard more and more wealth as the country around them gets poorer and poorer.

About envy – I don’t. Jesus said they won’t get into heaven, and I believe them.

This is nothing but a distraction. There is not enough money or productivity in our country to deliver what has been promised by Washington. This is what we as a nation voted for, and what we have put our* real *faith in — that is what is destroying us, not rich people per se. Take everything from the rich if you want, but it won’t do a durned thing.

Our country hasn’t even come close to see what *real *poverty looks like.

 

[rlg94086]

I’m not saying it’s only greed and envy,…

… envy, covetousness, and greed.

Jen was right… I forgot covetousness.

 

[_Abyssinia]

Lot of people earning $1 million dollars are small business owners

 

[markomalley]

I think it would be far better to have a Christian attitude toward the subject than the course advocated by Mr. Obama (and endorsed by a number of posters on this thread):

Should we look to kings and princes to put right the inequalities between rich and poor? Should we require soldiers to come and seize the rich person’s gold and distribute it among his destitute neighbors? Should we beg the emperor to impose a tax on the rich so great that it reduces them to the level of the poor and then to share the proceeds of that tax among everyone? Equality imposed by force would achieve nothing, and do much harm. Those who combined both cruel hearts and sharp minds would soon find ways of making themselves rich again. Worse still, the rich whose gold was taken away would feel bitter and resentful; while the poor who received the gold form the hands of soldiers would feel no gratitude, because no generosity would have prompted the gift. Far from bringing moral benefit to society, it would actually do moral harm. Material justice cannot be accomplished by compulsion, a change of heart will not follow. The only way to achieve true justice is to change people’s hearts first - and then they will joyfully share their wealth.

- St John Chrysostom, On Living Simply​

But, the Father of Lies always figures out a way to talk people into violation of the 9th Commandment. Seems he’s pretty successful in modern times.

 

[markomalley]

I paid 42% between federal and state taxes last year, and have no plans to ever use public education.

Isn’t living in the People’s Republic of Merlin (HON) fun?

 

[mary_bobo]

Not sure what you mean – capitals gains are taxed lower than income, which is why, for example, Mitt Romney paid only 14% in taxes last year.

No matter how you slice it, the top tax rate is at historically low. It is not helping the economy and it is hurting the rest of us.

I understand the different tax rates with cap gains and income. What I am saying is that the president is comparing apples to oranges. Just how much of someone’s earnings do you call fair? How much more of someone else’s income do you think it will take to help the economy?

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Since when do two wrongs make a right? Since when does the greed of the rich make it OK for others to be greedy too?

And as for your answer about how it isn’t greed or envy, all you had were a lot of somewhat vague assertions. In what way did making the rich pay more taxes help the economy? Where is the proof that tax breaks never help the economy? And in what way are we actually cutting back on basic services?

I’m not saying it’s only greed and envy, but the claim wasn’t startling, because of the way the most vocal people talk about the issue. “I don’t know how much they’re paying, but it’s not enough!” is not a cry of reason or common sense.

–Jen

Thank you for injecting some logic into this thread.

The rich can certainly be generous and the poor can certianly be greedy. Simply white washing one group is a slippery slope.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Since no one will give an answer as to how much, arguing with them is pointless.

I paid 42% between federal and state taxes last year, and have no plans to ever use public education. So I save that private education money for my 18 month old as well. And I should pay more?

Again, claiming the rich should pay more and not being able say how much, but simply more, illustrates clearly that the person is fueled by envy, covetousness, and greed.

If you can make a logical argument for a certain amount based on numbers, we can talk. If you can’t, you basically just prove that you don’t know what you are talking about, and are quite jealous.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

It is definitely startling.

I answered you about how you are wrong, in case you want to reply. Is there no greed involved when extremely rich people keep pushing for lower and lower taxes for themselves, damning the consequences? I argue that it is the extremely wealthy who are being greedy as they hoard more and more wealth as the country around them gets poorer and poorer.

About envy – I don’t. Jesus said they won’t get into heaven, and I believe them.

Everyone, regardless of class, tries to lower their tax burden and wants to get more money from the government.

And what do you define as “rich” and “greedy.” And what do you define as “fair share?” Are the 47% of the population that pay no Federal Income Tax paying their fair share or are they all poor?

 

[JMJSHJ]

To raise the cap gains tax rate is going to hurt the economy as unlike income tax where there is no risk of losing your money with investment, there is with cap gains. If the tax rate becomes too high less people invest and as a result corporations have trouble financing their enterprises and possibly job losses can ensue.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

This is nothing but a distraction. There is not enough money or productivity in our country to deliver what has been promised by Washington. This is what we as a nation voted for, and what we have put our* real *faith in — that is what is destroying us, not rich people per se. Take everything from the rich if you want, but it won’t do a durned thing.

Our country hasn’t even come close to see what *real *poverty looks like.

You are correct. the “poor” in this country are in the top 1% if you consider the whole world and/or people who have ever lived. In fact, we have an obesity problem in this country - millions in this country aren’t excatly dying in the streets.

I read somewhere that we’d need to tax people making $70K a year at 100% to cover current federal expenditures. $70K isn’t rich by many objective standards and taxing people at 100% creates a whole new set of problems.

The people who say that the rich are greedy and should pay more, do not know facts and cannot define these terms.

 

[He_Man]

Isn’t living in the People’s Republic of Merlin (HON) fun?

Great jobs, great economy, mostly thanks to the military industrial complex nearby. Love the sports and the weather, but the politics, cost of living, and taxes are terrible…