Punishment? Really?

[madamesilverspurs]

The rightwingers keep putting people out there to cry about how unfair it is to "punish" the wealthy by eliminating tax loopholes and allowing the temporary Bush tax cuts to lapse.

One of these blubberers opined that "...this is America, we don't punish hard work, we reward it!" Really? Tell that to the middle class and the working poor, who all too often see the rewards of their sweat go into the pockets of those whose sweat only happens at the gym.

Call me naive, but in my experience it ain't sacrifice unless it causes me to yelp at least a small "ouch!" So how much real pain are the ultra-wealthy being asked to share? How much suffering will they have to endure if those tax cuts lapse, if those loopholes close? Will they feel, really feel the lack? Will that loss require them to become intimately acquainted with hunger on a regular basis? Will it throw them into panic mode because they'll have to choose between taking their child to the doctor or paying the rent? Will they have sleepless nights on the couch after turning their bedroom over to an elderly parent who instead needs round-the-clock trained medical attention? Will they have to tell their kids that living in a storage unit is an exciting adventure in urban camping?

As if.

Frankly, the only response worthy of their platinum tears is "STFU". Really.


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[Autumn]

1. Nice. I like the " platinum tears "

recommended.

[KansDem]

2. The wealthy suck the blood of the working and middle class...

The consume labor and resources and give nothing in return.

They won't invest in anything unless there's a guaranteed return on their investment. If they fuck up and lose money, they expect to be bailed out by US taxpayers.

We were lead to believe they provided jobs; a rational for Reagan's "trickle down," but that proved to be a lie. The wealthy took their tax cuts and skipped town. They did not invest in America.

How this "argument" can still be "valid" in today's reality is beyond me...

[renegade000]

3. I wish someone would just come out and say something to the effect:

"If you really believe the wealthy have it too rough in this country, by all means vote for the Republicans."

They succeed because they frame it as a matter of fairness vs. unfairness for "hard-working" rich folks, but getting people back to the greater context reveals that frame for what it is... bullshit.

[sandyshoes17]

4. K&R

You are so right!!!

[CJCRANE]

5. Just ask "where are the jobs?"

"Tax cuts for the rich!"
"Where are the jobs?"
*Crickets*

[Waiting For Everyman]

6. I'd like to know how many actual minutes of "work" they do per week

how many calls to they take? and for how long?

how many meetings do they attend?

how many decisions do they make? and on what?

I'd like to see "billable" hours on that, divided into what they're paid, and I think ANYONE would be shocked... shocked that we have allowed this massive overpayment of certain individuals to go on for this long.

Hard work? Skill? Do not make me laugh. The exercise above would prove that pretty quick. And btw the rich are not "job creators". That is evident by now.

The middles class are the real entrepreneurs. That is, when they have a few dollars to spare beyond their needs.

Taxing the mega-rich should be our #1 priority right now, even above jobs. Until that is done, the power gap will get worse and worse, and so will the economy.

That's what I would say to a RWer if I knew any. I make it clear what I think of them, and their willingness to hand the keys of power to idiots, so I don't have any left in my circle who want to admit that they are. They empower people who are my enemies and do harm to me, therefore those who vote for them or speak up for them are my enemies too. The enablers of crime are just as guilty of the crime.

TAX THE SUPER-RICH UNTIL WE DRAG THEIR ASSES OFF OF OLYMPUS. It's not only necessary to eliminate the deficit, it's necessary as PUBLIC POLICY not to allow absurd compensation. I don't mean just high compensation, I mean absolute beyond all imagination unjustifiable nonsense. It's theft, call it what it is. They are stealing from their corporations which in turn underpay other low-tier workers and/or shareholders, and usually overcharge the public for their products and services as well. Not to mention meddling in our government itself.

Punish them? At the very least most of them should be in prison.

And I really hate when I hear the phrase "ask" the rich to pay more. No, REQUIRE them to. What is this - a pretty please, mother may I, please sir can I have some more game?

We don't need their agreement. We (the people) tell them, we don't ask them.