If you were rich, would you still be a democrat?

[ringmastery]

It seems that a lot of people start out as liberals when they are young, but once they become very successful in their life and start making a lot of money, they get greedy and switch to being republicans because of the tax issue.

I've seen it happen time and again with some of my friends who went to law school or business school. Once they start getting that six figure salary, tax cuts mean a hell of a lot to them.

[Dookus]

1. I've been poor and I've been rich

and I've been a Democrat through it all.

[Shanty Oilish]

41. Same here

The only thing that's different about having money is that I don't have to worry about money.
However, I know a lot of people who have it and still worry about it. My parents were like that. I guess I wasn't poor long enough to make a habit out of worrying. :shrug:
Politically speaking I learned nothing from poverty. I already knew the govt and the courts weren't going to be my champions, and if I needed health care I'd be screwed.
My parents weren't very politically minded but they took me places where people were so oppressed and poor, it would make a stone weep. Places where men worked like brutes and thought themselves very fortunate to be working.
You can't really learn this in school, you can only get indoctrinated there.

[redqueen]

2. Yes

I have since my earliest memories sensed that money carries with it a corrupting influence. If I were to hit some mega jackpot and become filthy rich overnight, I would likely donate much of the profits from that sum being invested into civic action groups and the like.

I've never wanted more than I need. I do not fit in at ALL.

[Walt Starr]

3. Finacially, it is in my best personal interest to vote Republican

I'm still a Democrat and will vote for the democratic Candidate in every race this fall.

If I were rich, nothing would change. I would still vote in the best interest of the nation rather than in my own personal financial interest.

[formernaderite]

24. All the wealthy people I know are democrats....I work on their...

pools. The only right wingers I have contact with are blue collar guys, like sub-contractors. So I don't buy the argument that the rich should vote republican. I think the rich have it exactly right, they realize the economy is better under the democrats and make more money with the left.

[Walt Starr]

34. I was speaking in erms of take home pay ;)

I take home more pay under Republicans because I actually benefit from the tax cuts.

Well, more than the standard $300/person the Republicans give to the Middle Class.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Yes

I kind of wish the Admins would do a good poll on the income demographics of DU'ers - I think you'd be surprised.

[Walt Starr]

16. Poll started about it here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x387854

[RobertSeattle]

38. Thanks for taking the initiative

Many of the DU polls are plain silly - this one could actually be useful.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. yes

i was born a liberal and will die one

[ET Awful]

6. Oddly enough . . . .

As a teenager and in my early twenties I would have considered myself to the right of center, not really CONSERVATIVE, but conservative if that makes sense. I was also poor as hell.

I've actually grown more liberal as I've made more money. I'm far from being "rich," but making more money hasn't made me conservative, if anything it's made me more liberal than I was then :).

[NuckinFutz]

20. That's what happened to me, too.

I've become more liberal over the years.

I credit being able to get an education, thru a scholarship, grants and loans. I also credit being in the USAF and traveling to the UK.
Both these experiences, by introducing me to people from all walks of life, expanded my horizons and my mind.

I don't really think my financial status ever really was a deciding factor.

[Lindacooks]

7. Absolutely

Then I could do cool stuff with money, like donate to liberal causes everywhere.

[havocmom]

31. Buy apartment buildings in college towns and give deserving kids

struggling to put themselves through school a real break on decent housing! That is what my sweety and I would do with lots of $$.

More money would just make me a more radical liberal. Oh, the possibilities...

[mmonk]

8. You mean like the Kennedys?

[wryter2000]

30. And the Roosevelts

And to a lesser extent, the Rockefellers. And Howard Brush Dean, III.

If you look at Mount Rushmore, you'll see three wealthy men who were populists. It isn't a matter of wealth but of greed.

[BL_Zebub]

9. I've been a Demoncrat since political parties were invented.

and I've been around since before money existed.

[EXE619K]

10. I think....

It's not really about Democrat vs. Republican thing.

There are many so-called "Democrats" that are racially intolerant and closet "homo-phobes". But, will not admit publically.

There are many so-called "Republicans" that are for Social programs and cutting defence budgets. But, will not admit in public.

I think a lot of people "follow the crowd" in America.

Rather than party affiliation, I think it has more to do with personal views in terms of "Liberal vs. Conservative".

[SheilaT]

11. The older I get, the richer I get,

the more liberal I get.

I probably should be a Republican, based on exterior trappings, but I despise them.

I've also been a union member, and still feel enormous loyalty to unions.

[4morewars]

12. What is a man profited,

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16;26

[Faygo Kid]

13. I am 52 - but an American History scholar

You're damned right I would be; there are principles, and there is self interest - and self interest should make you a liberal. It would be best for my wealth to have a healthy, stable society. I could horde my wealth, but for what? A gated community where my children have nothing? Plus, we all croak sometime. Plus, if I am religious, Christ's message (not his scourging, Mel Gibson) might be something I might want to listen to.

[THUNDER HANDS]

14. If I could give a totally honest answer

If I were rich I doubt how much of an interest I'd have in politics. If I was living in the lap of luxury I might be out spending my money on wine, women and song.

Or at least women. :evilgrin:

I'd like to think I'd still be a Democrat. I know I'd probably never be a Republican again.

[unfrigginreal]

15. If I were rich

a Kerry nomination wouldn't bother me in the least.

[lovedems]

17. Absolutely!

Tax cuts equal program cuts and I am not for that. Every nation that has good roads, good schools, good health care, clean water etc. pay alot in taxes. As we have all seen over the last 3 years the consequences of tax cuts. Things suck.

Go look at a country that doesn't pay much in taxes and my guess is you'd find a country that you wouldn't want to live in.

So yes, I would love to be a rich democrat and I wouldn't bitch about my taxes.

[indigo32]

18. I already do just fine

not rich but very comfortable and have always been a D.

[SharonAnn]

19. Was Republican, as I made more money I became a Democrat

For several reasons, but a big one was that I began to realize how fortunate I was and how well compensated I was and how many people work as jard (even harder) and get paid very little.

I began to realize that the more I made, the smaller percentage of it I needed to spend to support myself.

Somehow, I became less selfish and more generous.

[mohc]

21. Well

I'm a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP).
I'm male.
I'm affluent, without going into actual numbers, I can put about 25% of my paycheck into savings and investments, versus the national average of about 1%.
I'm southern (technically born in Ohio, but I was raised in the south and my parents are southern).

By most demographic standards (the only exception that I can think of is that I am single), I fit the Republican prototype to a tee, but there is not any chance of me ever being a Republican. I firmly believe that the opportunities afforded me because of who I am should be offered to everyone. Looking around at my neighbors, most of which are married,have children, and make less money than I do, I am well aware of the fact their tax burden is way too high, and mine way too low.

[movonne]

22. Being a liberal is good for all...when there is too much span between

rich it is not good for anyone.

[mmonk]

27. Exactly

I've done quite well. I've been in business and I'm also an investor in securities and real estate. The better everyone does, the better the economy does. The better the economy, the better for the rich as well. And a little known general fact-the stock market performs historically better under Dems than under Repubs. I guess it's because the fundamentals are better.

[skippysmom]

23. I'd like to think so

I would like to think that I wouldn't stop caring about my fellow citizens because I'd become rich. I'm certainly not rich, but we do pretty well, and I haven't stopped caring about this country and where it's going.

Personally, I'd trade my tax cut for good schools, better services for the poor, etc.

[NuckinFutz]

37. My sentiments exactly..

Having benefited from some of those services, I want others to have the same oppotunities.

[ShimokitaJer]

25. Social equity is in everyone's best interest

Those who evaluate these things based purely on their financial well-being have a fundamental misunderstanding of taxes. They see them as a burden, applied arbitrarily and spent carelessly. The Republicans have succeeded in promoting this view through their use of loaded terms such as "tax relief" and "tax and spend." In doing so, they have successfully divorced taxation from the benefits derived from taxes in the minds of most Americans.

The Democrats need to refocus the issue of taxes on results rather than burdens. Everyone benefits from a society in which there is more incentive to work than to commit crimes, in which everyone has access to quality health care, and in which the entire population is educated. Taxes are the costs of living in a society, and we need to subvert the GOP characterization of them as useless and wasteful.

Given the obvious failure of Bush's attempt at prosperity through tax cuts for the wealthy, I'd say that right now's a pretty good time to do so.

[Anwen]

26. I'm a Dem for life.

I've never been remotely close to being rich, but if I happened into fortune I can't see how that would sway me into crossing over to the dark side!

[Burma Jones]

28. I am well off, I am a Democrat

I am not a Limousine Liberal, I live comfortably, but in the same school districts as people in subsidized housing.

I get mail from the Republicans asking for donations, they promise access to Frist and DeLay in return for my $5,000 per year. I don't say anything, because I want them to continue sending me invites and crap like that.

I am not fooled by Repuke lying about taxation. The bottom line is that if you want to live in a decent place, you are going to pay taxes. What you have reduced by the feds gets added by your state and local governments. I don't know what people consider wealthy, I suppose it's relative. I've met people that were not satisfied with $50 million in assets. I've lived in a place where our property tax was about 20K per year and we had a very large mortgage. That, along with dependents, insurance and other deductions, kept us from paying Federal Income taxes for three years. In short, if you have enough money, you don't have to pay income tax.

I have done some IT work for the US Army up at Ft. Detrick where they basically deal with Biological threats. One of their major activities is distributing research grants. Breast Cancer and AIDS research figure large in the research spending. Congress gets to say that they've increased Defense spending to make the no neck monsters back home happy while still funding research.

[Robroy]

To Wax Philosophical

The more you know the less you need.

[heidler]

29. I believe we are all primarily motivated by selfishness, but many well off

and also the poorer Democrats and Liberals have a enlightened view of wanting to live in a world with less human suffering. They see this as the rational path toward peace, security and Harmony in the world.

This has nothing to do with life after death in my case, but belief in a after life could affect this, however, I have seen very little proof that this faith has much effect on the problem.

[emulatorloo]

32. Yes, because I would still care about what was good for the country

and not just me me me me me me me.

I would see paying taxes as the price I would gladly pay for my success, and the responsibility I had to society.

Actually I was doing pretty well under Clinton, not rich but ok. . .and the only time I complained was when I felt I was paying to fund the Ken Starr Show.

Now I am not doing so well under the GWB economy, but that is another story and I am still way luckier than most.

[ringmastery]

33. I would love to see payroll and capital gains taxes

lowered and income taxes raised a lot on the upper brackets. 50% sounds good to me on any income over 200,000.

Payroll taxe cuts would help the working poor. Income taxes cuts do absolutely nothing for them.

And lowering capital gains taxes would encourage more people to invest in the stock market. It would help a lot of rich people, but it would also help a ton of poor and middle class persons just starting to get into the market.

[Zookeeper]

35. Yes, unless I fell and hit my head...

...and made a bizarre 180 degree change like Dennis Miller.

I've only voted for a Republican once, because he was the pro-choice candidate. I usually voted third-party as a young adult because the Dems were too conservative for me.

If I were rich, I would continue to vote Democratic. From a pragmatic point of view, having a shrinking middle class, increased poverty and unemployment, low-wage jobs, poor public education does not make rich folks safer in the long run. I suppose it reduces the competition for jobs for their privileged young, but eventually our society will deteriorate to the point where they will have to start worrying about kidnappings for ransom like the rich of less developed countries.

Ideally, rich people recognize that their wealth wasn't created in a vacuum and they are obligated to give back to a society that allowed them to prosper.

[DinahMoeHum]

36. Yes, it's a matter of "ensuring domestic tranquility". . .

People without jobs, education, housing, decent health care, and/or hope become very angry people. Bush and the Repukes seem hell-bent on creating more of these people and making the 1960's seem like a garden party.

:kick:

[Goldberg]

39. Of course I would.

Money means nothing to me.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

40. I would be a DLC "New Democrat" - 99% same as Republicans ...

except we love gays and abortion! (Yes, I am an official member of the DLC/New Democrats. PM me on how to join!)

[hippiegranny]

42. yes, i would

i have actually come full circle politically... started out liberal, went to the dark side for about 10 years (because i wasn't paying attention - not a proud time of my life) and came back to my senses in the mid 90's. the theft of election 2000 is what made me politically ACTIVE.

i could never ever align myself again with the republicans, a party of mostly self serving, bigoted, white men with huge issues of entitlemet. (no offense meant toward the white men on this board!)

[MercutioATC]

43. I was a Republican when I was poor, now that I have money, I'm a Dem

...how messed up is THAT?

[GreenPartyVoter]

44. Well, I'd still be a Green who votes Dem by default at times ;^)