Calling a conservative on his comparison of prog taxation to rape

[More Than A Feeling]

A few might remember that I posted a short while ago about not being able to state a positive Democratic message, and being embarassed by it. Well, tonight, I got a second shot.

This guy's number one issue is taxation, and so a conversation that started with me stating that the Republican party was captive to the far right, and that there were no liberal republicans migrated to taxation.

He actually had the gall to say that the top 1% was being raped by progressive taxation. Now, normally I am not the word police, but having to pay a few dollars more cannot by any means be compared to physical violation of women (who get the vast majority of rapes in this country.)

Normally, this guy is smug and condescending, but when I called him on his bullshit, he actually made a show of getting offended (hard to tell with him when he's actually offended, and when he is messing around). It knocked him off his stride, and I held my own the rest of the way.

I guess the point of the story is that I never realized how being aware of the words conservatives use and their inherent meanings, and calling them on it when their word use is outrageous could swing debates my way.

[xchrom]

1. there's that -- and then there is just the lie

that the top 1% are being given short shrift -- they are still mega rich rich aren't they?

[More Than A Feeling]

4. Yeah, and thanks to loopholes, don't really pay anything anyway

I only gave part of the conversation. I know this one pretty well, because I've had practice at it. All the issues got brought up.

[ThomCat]

2. Good for you!

That's awesome. Too many people throw the word Rape around to mean any little inconvenience that they and theirs experience.

You know, it's appalling that the people who get the most out of our society, the ones who are best protected by the law, live on the best maintained streets, etc. are the ones complaining about paying taxes.

And then to frame doing their civic duty as getting raped?

That's just low.

[Boojatta]

3. "to say that the top 1% was being raped by progressive taxation"

Does the highest income tax bracket affect just one percent of taxpayers?

The working poor who pay various kinds of taxes are suffering under what kind of assault by the system?

How about people who work 60 hours per week and earn $8 per hour. Are they treated fairly by an income tax system that treats them the same as people who work 30 hours per week and earn $16 per hour?

[xchrom]

5. the highest income tax bracket affects people who can well afford to pay

and should pay.

but yes -- there should be much greater tax relief for the poor, the working poor, etc.