Some say "class warfare" like it's a bad thing.

[Atticus]

And, it is usually only mentioned when those who are not millionaires dare to suggest that those who are should pay higher taxes in some way.

It is hardly ever mentioned that such actions by the non-millionaire class are reactions. That is, they are the have-nots fighting back for a change against the steady and overwhelming onslaught by the uber-wealthy to squeeze just another million or two out of those who can't afford heat, a decent diet or medicine.

Am I guilty of engaging in class warfare? You damn betcha!

The only alternative is to accept that I and most all of my family, friends and neighbors truly are second or third class citizens who just aren't good enough to share in all the wealth this country produces.

I'll fight.

[Taverner]

1. When people ask why I say we should tax the rich I say "pay their fair share"

Look - the rich have lots of investments. Companies, whatnot. Those things rely on local laws friendly to their existence, roads to move said stuff, active phone lines that keep delivery in communication with HQ, Sat for the same thing, standards to keep their trucks, and every one else's up to snuff, standards to keep the roads up to snuff, standards to keep monopolies from forming in their niche, and airwaves to communicate commercials for said products.

They get a lot in government help, beyond the tax gifts and free land use.

Make em pay for it.

[gtar100]

2. Anyone who works hard all day doing honest work deserves

a living wage. It should support them in all the ways that Theodore Roosevelt indicated in his speech about living wages. And if one doesn't receive that kind of compensation for their work, then they are having their wages stolen from them. And that's what all these so-called wealthy investors are doing, all these so-called bankers and businessmen are doing when they rip people off by keeping wages down, laying people off as their profits rise and charging more for their products than they are actually worth. They are thieves and deserve a punishment to fit their crimes and the suffering that they cause.

[msongs]

3. wealthy benefit most from system set up precisely to benefit them most nt

[taught_me_patience]

4. I know some very rich people who are democrats

Hell, my wife and I have been demonized by many here on DU as being "rich". It's a real diservice to alienate good liberals because of how much they make.

[Hydra]

8. How rich are you?

Can you donate $1,000,000 to Skinner and DU so he can provide us an even better place to organize and get the message out without it affecting your daily life? How about 10,000,000?

The people class warfare describes as the "rich" can easily do those things many times over and not even notice. They do so while flouting the law and asking the working people to shoulder the load, and they benefit from the squeeze they create.

Is that you? If it is, why don't you have a chat with your Peers? There are a lot of people dying out there while they fight over what's left of the pie.

[taught_me_patience]

16. I'm in the income class that gets demonized over and over again here

We're actually middle class, hard-working dems. The people I know who are rich make between one and two million a year, but are still democrats.

[Hydra]

23. See? We're not talking about you, or those people.

Unless of course they would like their taxes lowered or laws written in their favor too.

As the quote from the movie Wall St. goes:

Gekko: "The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons – and what I do, stock and real estate speculation. It's bullshit. You got ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal. The news, war, peace, famine, upheaval, the price per paper clip. We pick that rabbit out of the hat while everybody sits out there wondering how the hell we did it. Now, you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you, buddy? It's the free market. And you're a part of it. You've got that killer instinct. Stick around, pal, I've still got a lot to teach you."

[taught_me_patience]

26. There is a class war on DU right now

there is a small but vocal faction railing against upper-middle class folk like my wife and I. It's pretty sad.

[Hydra]

30. Then you have to pick a side

And live with the consequences. Do you side with people like me who work hard and get nowhere, or do you side with the people who built and maintain the system that brought us GWB and his continuing goodness?

If you and the people you speak of are democrats by principle and not just name(ala DLC), then where's the argument? Do you honestly think the size of your bank account should dictate your side, or is determining where we see you?

[Occulus]

28. Direct question: how much income in total do you bring in per year? n/t

[Atticus]

10. Where to start?

Who said wealthy people could not or should not be Democrats(it is capitalized when referring to the political party) or liberals?

I certainly did not.

And, nothing in my OP should alienate "good" liberals.

Good liberals who are wealthy acknowledge that everyone should be entitled to a decent job, good medical care, a first-rate education and security in their old age. Good liberals who are wealthy know that they should pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than their less fortunate neighbors so that these "basics" can be provided. They know that taxes are the dues that decent people willingly pay to live in a civilized, humane and just society.

Good liberals "walk the walk", regardless of their income.

That's what makes them "good" liberals.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Earth_First]

9. Goodbye! nt

[Earth_First]

11. Giddyup! n/t

[Hydra]

12. Good post

And Welcome to DU!

The problem, IMO, is systemic. We've gotten so caught up in money that the tool has come to own us. Instead of just doing things and paying people, we're chasing pieces of paper around.

[Beam Me Up]

14. the whole point of liberalism is to subvert

the economic contradictions necessary to make revolution not only possible but inevitable

[Catherina]

19. Succintly said. n/t

[Catherina]

18. Great post. Welcome. n/t

[femrap]

6. I'll fight, too. nt

[somone]

7. Social progress was won through class warfare

The ruling class always resists change and expends tremendous resources to maintain the status quo which perpetuates their wealth and power.

[Hydra]

13. Don't forget expansion

When they don't find pushback, they gobble up more. This is increasingly evident lately.

Soon enough there won't be anything to gobble up...

[cali]

15. It's a bad thing

when the class war is being waged effectively by billionaires against working people as is in the here and now.

[Jester Messiah]

17. War is an acceptable response when you're under constant attack.

The rich and the corporatists are squeezing the life out of us every day. We're within our rights to fight back tooth and nail.

[grahamhgreen]

20. The framing is that there is a war on everything, but the biggest war is their war on us.

[kgnu_fan]

21. Class wars have been waged by corporate elite against the rest of population

We are just pushing back the tide.... Distribution of wealth in the US has been carefully manipulated by privatization of our public domain.... as if "privatization" is a good thing.

Language twist needs to be watched because mainstream media has been manipulating our thoughts through language....

[TBF]

22. With ya 100%. nt

[Starry Messenger]

24. k&r

[upi402]

25. I'll fight just as I have for decades

for an opposition parry to corporatism.

Until my house sells and I leave the damn country! :crosses fingers:

[kgnu_fan]

27. Some say "privatization" like it's a good thing

[RandomThoughts]

29. how will you fight.

'Fight' has many meanings.

I think fighting in peaceful non violent protest, hopefully with information, and education that is what I think fighting is.

It is unfortunate that there are not more words to define types of fighting.

That is why I like the word Stand. It is fighting without fighting, but without breaking either.


So I will fight, but wont fight. The word has multiple meanings.


This song is so awesome, it can be seen as a choir of two positions, from two places but still together with same thoughts. First part and reply. Or it can be thought of as an explanation for what fighting is, not breaking by not giving into the worse meanings of the word fighting.

it is an awesome song.

answer Sarah Mclachlan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8B1ai25lUo


In my view it does not justify holding what so many have due by some, it says better treasures will be stored elsewhere to help with that wrong done.