Jessie Ventura on Bill Maher

[1a2b3c]

Did anyone else think he had some great ideas? I liked his sales tax idea.

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

1. I watched

I didn't like what he had to say this time as much as I did in the past.

[1a2b3c]

6. I share his view on the perscription drug/marijuana discussion

they had on there. Pot, which makes you feel good is free and illegal, Prozac which is government controled and makes you feel good is legal and expensive.

[AntiBushRepub]

2. I saw some of it...

He's actually an intelligent guy...

I have a hard time watching Bill Maher lately though.. he's such a chode..

and I'm not saying that because I don't agree with him.

I used to like him alot.

The sales tax idea wasn't too bad.....

...but, I'm not the expert on economics enough to say I'm sure it would work....

-An

[MissMillie]

8. I work w/ economists

and overall, they like the idea of consumption taxes, versus sales taxes.

[mac56]

14. What exactly is a consumption tax?

Serious question. Thanks.

[sangh0]

20. Consumption taxes

are a conservative idea. It means:

1) No income taxes
2) No estate taxes
3) No capital gains
4) Everyone, rich or poor, pays the same rate

[mac56]

22. Are there examples currently in use?

It sounds like you're describing a flat tax.

[sangh0]

23. Yes and no

Sales taxes, tariffs, licensing fees, etc are all examples of consumption taxes. How much you pay depends on how much you buy/import/license/etc

It's not a flat tax. A flat tax is on income. It's a form of income tax.

[walkon]

3. Not I.

Arrogant, shallow and derivative.

[mac56]

4. Nope.

Suffered with him as my Governor. Any good ideas that emerged from his administration weren't his - he copped them from someone else. He's a thin-skinned publicity hog with no idea about what working people have to deal with.

[readmylips]

5. Ventura, last night defended Gov Davis....

he said the problems were caused by the Legislature and not Davis. Ventura was hot and pointed his finger at (that nasty loud guy...what's his name?) and told him...'you know it, and why you insist on blaming the Governor is beyond me...' The loud guy pundit came back with personal insults against Davis, and Ventura was cut off.

[GumboYaYa]

7. I saw that and I completely disagree.

I thought Jesse's ignorance was stunning. I can't imagine someone with such little knowledge of public policy as govenor of a state.

Jesse has no concept at all of how farm subsidies work or the global impact of those subsidies.

His concept of a national sales tax is a terrible idea. Sales tax is a regressive tax. Poor folks must use the vast percentage of their income to purchase things. As a result a substantial portion of their income is subject to sales tax. Wealthy folks save and invest; significant portions of their income is not taxed as ales tax. A national sales tax would result in poor folks paying a substantially greater portion of their income as taxes than wealthy folks would. I am absolutely opposed to regressive taxes like this. I was disappointed that Krugman did not elaborate on this point.

[1a2b3c]

9. What do you mean

Jesse has no concept at all of how farm subsidies work or the global impact of those subsidies.

Why do you say that? He was close enough on for the discussion they were having at the time. Bill was saying farmers are "wellfare whores" and he was just pointing out that farmers have a need for government assistance because they are selling on a price set by the government. They cant get together and form a set price themselves (form unions) They are controlled by the government to give everyone food at a cheap price, they should be able to get government aid.

I never thought of the taxes like that. Taxes arent my strong issue. But youre right, if there wasnt any way of also taxing the stocks and bonds or other investments, his tax idea wouldnt work.

I cant really remember, what was Krugman saying about the rich getting taxed 11% and the lower income gets taxed 20%???

[GumboYaYa]

15. Price controls for farmers are

minimum prices that can be charged, not maximum prices. Jesse had it completely ass backwards.

[sangh0]

17. Right. they're MIMINUM prices

and Krugman pointed that out on the show. Did 1a2b3c watch the same show we did?

[stopbush]

10. I thought Krugman attempted to respond

but he was interrupted or shouted down before he could offer a rebuttal. Plus, there was so much BS coming from Ventura and the rw blond bimbo that Krugman would have needed a whole show to himself to refute it all. I thought he did OK, considering he was the only person out of 4 (if you include Maher) who knew what he was talking about. The other three postulated the usual soundbites and consumer-friendly bromides.

JV is an a-hole. Your description of the regressive nature of sales tax is spot on. Too bad a guy who was governor of a state doesn't get it. And as far as hidden "taxes (or costs)" go, what about the typical mortgage? The super rich can walk in and pay cash. The middle and lower classes typically need to opt for a 30-yr mortgage - which means that at the end of the day they've actually paid about 200% in interest on top of the original buy price of the house. As Krugman pointed out to the bimbo, income tax is only ONE form of tax.

Here's a question for JV, the rw bimbo and most Americans: would you prefer to make $1 million a year and pay a 90% progressive income tax, or would you prefer to make a "lucky duckie" income of $12,000 a year and pay no income tax?

[ikojo]

11. When libertarians and pugs push a national sales

tax they are not talking in the realm of only 7-10% they are talking about a 15-20% sales tax. This would hurt the poor and working class disproportionately.

Yes, supposedly paychecks would be larger since there would be no payroll taxes but what was previously taken out in the form of payroll taxes would be eaten up by the new sales taxes.

[Uzybone]

18. I think Krugman

was too aghast at the idiots stupidity to fully repudiate his crap. He did explain that a national sales tax was regressive however.

[Rich Hunt]

12. my opinion

I sort of like Ventura for his honesty.

I like his social views, but his economics stink.

[mac56]

13. His "honesty" was a crock of showmanship and BS.

He could dish it out, but he sure as hell couldn't take it. Turned into Mister Pouty-Pants whenever he came under the slightest bit of "honest" criticism from anyone else.

[jayfish]

16. I Liked It When Krugman...

caused him to change his mind about Iraq. The drug thing was good to.

Jay

[Love Bug]

19. How did Jesse get his head through the door?

After the hissy-fit he threw after the Wellstone memorial he pretty much used up any good will I had left for him. But I'd still take him back rather than have the repuke we have now for governor.

[Breezy du Nord]

21. He definitely didn't do any worse

Pawlenty sux.

[Liberal Classic]

24. I'd like to see Ventura and Maher on Tough Crowd

Anyone watching this show? It's like Politically Correct but they throw food. It rocks! I miss Maher's show, but it's fun to see the guests rip into each other on the new one.

[MercutioATC]

25. Best Ventura quote:

Ventura: You people from California have never seen a Minnesota winter. We need our SUVs.

Maher: C'mon...what did you do before there were SUVs?

Ventura: We got stuck in the snow.

I loved that exchange!