Question for Democrats

@izzythepush,

There is more than one "problem" Izzy. I care about income disparity. I also care about productivity and other measures of a healthy economy.

Tax policy is complex. It impacts many parts of society from economic justice to productivity and prosperity.

1 Reply

@McGentrix,

McGentrix... I think you are greatly exaggerating the amount of violence from the protests. Covid-19 has killed 150,000 and decimated businesses. What have the protests done?

I have no problem condemning the violence.... but come on. This is a distraction. You are making it sound like cities are going up in flames

As someone who lives in a "Democrat city" this alleged violence doesn't seem like much of a threat.

0 Replies

@maxdancona,

Well that said nothing.

You care more about feathering your nest than improving the lot of those less fortunate. It’s why you keep banging on about how much money you’ve got.

1 Reply

@McGentrix,

Quote:

It is the sad state of global affairs that despite what is happening now, America remains the greatest country in the world.

It's a sad state of affairs when grown men still prattle about how their country is the "greatest in the world" while the rest of the planet, including our former allies, can see us struggling, leaderless and incompetent, as our citizens die and our economy tanks.

Paul Krugman wrote:

Has any previous president failed his big test as thoroughly as Trump has these past few months? He rejected the advice of health experts and pushed for a rapid economic reopening, hoping for a boom leading into the election. He ridiculed and belittled measures that would have helped slow the spread of the coronavirus, including wearing face masks and practicing social distancing, turning what should have been common sense into a front in the culture war.

The result has been disaster both epidemiological and economic.

Over the past week the U.S. death toll from Covid-19 averaged more than 1,000 people a day, compared with just four — four! — per day in Germany.

2 Replies

@izzythepush,

You are doing the either/or thing again Izzy.

We can have an economy that allows people to be successful, and takes care of the less fortunate.

In any account we all need a healthy economy.

You don't have to destroy the economy to help poor people.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

I’m cutting through your bullshit.

The either or nonsense is a result of your monochrome thinking.

I said no such thing, I questioned your motivations.

1 Reply

@izzythepush,

Good! So you accept the fact that someone can both want to personally benefit from a productive economy AND support policies that help the poor and provide more economic balance.

If you accept that someone can support both of those things, I will ignore the petty personal swipe.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

I’ve never said otherwise.

What do you mean, good?

You keep making up problems that aren’t there.

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@hightor,

I know you see your country as a giant burning dumpster. I don't share your poor attitude, sorry.

Paul Krugman.... hehehehe That guy cracks me up.

2 Replies

@McGentrix,

Quote:

I know you see your country as a giant burning dumpster. I don't share your poor attitude, sorry.

No apology necessary, nor expected. If it's any consolation, I don't see the USA as the worst — I just think your insistence that it's the best is sort of juvenile. Actually humans are turning the whole planet into a burning dumpster with the USA leading a pack of lemmings.

Quote:

Paul Krugman.... hehehehe That guy cracks me up.

I figured you might respond that way but I'd reserved a bit of hope that you might address the particular points made in the quote and tell me why you think they are mistaken.

0 Replies

Am I the only actual Democrat on this thread?

For some reason, that makes me chuckle.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

I’m not, not even close.

0 Replies

@McGentrix,

I am curious McGentrix...

Do you support the principle that limiting wealth disparity (the difference between the very rich and the very poor) is a good goal? I believe that sound economic policy will have this effect; it's not only the right thing to do, it leads to productivity and stability.

Of course the devil is in the details.... but I want to ask if you at least agree on the underlying principle.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

Quote:

limiting wealth disparity (the difference between the very rich and the very poor) is a good goal?

Why should there be an artificial limit? There will always be a vast difference between the wealthiest and poorest.

1 Reply

@McGentrix,

McGentrix wrote:

Quote:
limiting wealth disparity (the difference between the very rich and the very poor) is a good goal?

Why should there be an artificial limit? There will always be a vast difference between the wealthiest and poorest.

Is your question rhetorical? You answered my question... not the answer I wanted.

I believe that extreme wealth disparity should be seen as a negative when formulating economic economic policy. Tax policy is certainly related to this. I am not exactly suggesting an absolute limit. I am suggesting an economic goal.

I believe that objectively speaking economic disparity correlates closely with stability and with productivity.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

There has never been a time in human history where a disparity has not existed. There has never been a country in the world where a wealth disparity has not existed.

1 Reply

@McGentrix,

McGentrix wrote:

There has never been a time in human history where a disparity has not existed. There has never been a country in the world where a wealth disparity has not existed.

I don't disagree.

However the economies where this disparity is the worst don't fare very well.

I have spent time in countries where the wealthy literally hide behind walls where the rest of society ekes out a meager existance. This doesn't appeal to me.

When I was in Guatemala, I had a maid. I didn't hire her myself, nor did I feel comfortable with a maid. I am an old Yankee with a belief in self-reliance and all that. But she was from the poor class, she was provided for me by people who believed anyone with status should have a maid. I paid her well. And the I paid her more put of white guilt... and I still felt guilty.

The reality of the poverty in these countries hit me very hard. Wealthy people in Guatemala live comfortably at the expense of others who work for almost nothing and who have no choice.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

What do you propose to fix this?

1 Reply

@McGentrix,

I have never suggested that there is a quick fix.

I saying that when there are two economic policy options, and one of them will reduce economic disparity... I will tend to favor that one. This is a thread about corporate taxes, and this is one argument I would make in favor of them.

I am not a socialist, nor do I want to eliminate wealth. I do think there is a balance. I want mildly regulated capitalism. I perfectly willing to accept that my position has a lot of gray areas.

I am in favor of corporate taxes. I am against most price controls.

Go figure.

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

I have no desire to limit a person's wealth. I do, however, believe that ,for me, there is a limit to how much I would need. How much someone else decides is enough for them is up to them.

I also don't think giving money away fixes anything.

1 Reply

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