Tax the Super Rich - NOW - Or Face a Revolution.

[kpete]

PAUL B. FARRELL


March 29, 2011, 12:01 a.m. EDT
Tax the Super Rich now or face a revolution
Commentary: A ‘Super-Rich Delusion’ is leading us to ruin

By Paul B. Farrell, MarketWatch
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (MarketWatch) — Yes, tax the Super Rich. Tax them now. Before the other 99% rise up, trigger a new American Revolution, a meltdown and the Great Depression 2.

.....................”

We know the Super Rich don’t care. Not about you. Nor the American public. They can’t see. Can’t hear. Stay trapped in their Forbes-400 bubble. An echo chamber that isolates them. They see the public as faceless workers, customers, taxpayers. See GOP power on the ascent. Reaganomics is back. Unions on the run. Clueless masses are easily manipulated.

........................

Here’s how one savvy insider who knows described this Super-Rich Delusion: “The top 1% live privileged lives, aren’t worried about much. Families vacation at the best resorts. Their big concerns are finding the best Pilates teacher, best masseuse, best surgeons, best private schools. They aren’t concerned with the underlying deterioration of America or the world, except in the abstract, because they aren’t directly affected by it. That’s not to say they aren’t sympathetic, aware, or don’t talk about the issues you bring up. They are largely concerned with protecting and enhancing their socio-economic positions, ensuring their families live well. And nothing you write about will change things.”



the rest:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/story/print?guid=CA183FE6-5966-11E0-9F0E-00212804637C

[handmade34]

1. ...

[SugarShack]

38. Yeeeah!!!!

[opihimoimoi]

2. Its only Right and its not like we gonna make them poor...heavens forbid...

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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[PonyJon]

33. F super rich and their GOP (greedy old pricks) party.

F super rich and their GOP (greedy old pricks) party.  Let
them all go to the third world countrys they love so much and
stay there.  Who needs the bastards?  Hell let 'em go anywhere
just so the're out of here.  We'll do much better without the
creeps and the pseudo humans (corporations) the wizzened old
farts make love to.    http://dumprepublicans.blogspot.com/

[kenny blankenship]

3. Sssh!

You'll ruin the surprise.

[white_wolf]

4. Not to sound like a teabagger but, I'll let these quotes speak for me.

"Revolution is medicine necessary for the sound health of government." -Thomas Jefferson.

And just to make sure I don't sound like a teabagger here is a quote that sums up my feelings on the rich. “You are pitiful isolated individuals; you are bankrupts; your role is played out. Go where you belong from now on into the dustbin of history!” -Leon Trotsky.

[femrap]

31. Baggers certainly don't

quote Jefferson and the Pinko, Trotsky, do they?????

[jwirr]

40. They are quoting Jefferson on the need for watering the liberty tree

all the time. I am quite sure Jefferson would be appalled.

[patrice]

5. K&R

[Marblehead]

6. This is why

capitalism without regulation is so dangerous. They cannot regulate themselves we must do it for them.

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

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

[okieinpain]

7. hahahhahahahahahahaaaa, man most people won't even get up

to vote.

[Initech]

18. Yup. Go back to bed America your government is in control.

There should be no delusions like right to a fair wage. Here, watch Dancing With The Stars and get fat and stupid. Oh and keep eating Taco Bell you fucking morons!!!

[dana_b]

46. just like this song says:

http://www.lyrics.com/pet-lyrics-a-perfect-circle.html

Don't fret precious I'm here, step away from the window
Go back to sleep

Lay your head down child
I won't let the boogeyman come

Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble

Head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind what other voices say
They don't care about you, like I do, like I do
Safe from pain and truth and choice and other poison devils,
See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do.

Just stay with me, safe and ignorant,
Go back to sleep
Go back to sleep

Lay your head down child
I won't let the boogeyman come
Count the bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble

Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums

I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and all your demons

I'll be the one to protect you from
A will to survive and a voice of reason

I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and your choices son
They're one in the same
I must isolate you
Isolate and save you from yourself

Swayin to the rhythm of the new world order and
Count the bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums

The boogeymen are coming
The boogeymen are coming

Keep your head down, go to sleep, to the rhythm of a war drums

Stay with me
Safe and ignorant
Just stay with me
Hold you and protect you from the other ones
The evil ones
Don't love you son,
Go back to sleep

[Initech]

80. Maynard = win.

[dotymed]

56. That is so sad, but so true.

I have been asking wondering, watching and listening. Are we there yet? Hell No. Americans will practically have to be "tazed" to get off their couches, benches, whatever, before they will do what they ALL KNOW IS THE RIGHT THING and demand that the wealthy are thrown from their pedestals and all money is removed from politics, etc...
It disgusts me to watch people suffer so much, yet not say "we need to do something about this NOW"......
Our fabulous Wall Street Government knows this.

[JDPriestly]

64. Poor Americans get vicarious pleasure without responsibility

involving themselves emotionally in the antics of the Charlie Sheens and, on the political level, the Sarah Palins and Newt Gingrichs.

They do not hope to improve or steady their lives. They just bask in the glow of the wealth they see on TV as they make their ways to the Food Stamp office.

But Wisconsin has made an additional number of Americans aware that they are not the only Americans suffering serious economic setbacks. Just stop and talk to someone on the street. Mention in just a couple of words that the big corporations, B of A, Exxon, etc. aren't paying taxes. Go on from there. Eventually, the person will look at you and say "Wisconsin" and smile and give you the thumbs up.

That actually happened to me this morning as I went for a walk. I had never seen this young woman before in my life. She was jogging.

Ordinary Americans are now developing a shared vocabulary -- code words that the super-rich would probably not understand. Outsourcing gains. Insourcing losses.

In just a few quick phrases, you can identify who understands and who doesn't, who is living in reality, who is mired in the illusion that ours is a super-rich country. No, a few Americans are super-rich. The rest of us are teetering or actually drowning in debt and poverty.

Even if you have money in the bank, you are poor because your money can't earn you anything since no one is investing in anything productive (except the super-rich who grab ALL THE PROFITS for themselves and put it in offshore accounts).

We aren't angry any more. We just know. Things will not go on as they are. We will see change. The only question is whether we can find a way to communicate with each other and prepare for the even bigger shocks that are coming our way.

[county worker]

8. What can you do to get ready for a revolution but to decide what side to be on.

If there is a revolution in this country many will die. There is no telling who will win but, when people are at the place where there is nothing more that can be taken from them they have nothing to risk but their lives which may seem not as important as once thought. That is the point where the powerful start to shit their pants.

When people are willing to die for a better world for their kids anything can happen.

[jwirr]

41. Interesting thought. Think of us standing in front of the capital/WH in

the same fashion as the Egyptians did not so long ago. First we need to ask the military which side they are going to be on? Since they are the corporations we hate I think there is not question - they will not be on our side. The police - we are safe from them only if the rethugs manage to fire enough of them that they realize they have to be on our side. Then the next question is: would our government use force to stop a take over? Damn straight they would.

I personally think any revolution we have will have to come in the form of anonymous rather than armed rebellion. Or we just let the government fall and hope we are on the top of the pig pile when it is over.

[hifiguy]

71. The fear of revolutionary activity

even if peaceful like that in Egypt, is why the powers that be created monstrosities like Blackwater/Xe. The military would not shoot the people. The mercernaries will, and gleefully.

[jwirr]

76. Yes, that is what I believe. And the MSM would justify it to the people.

That is the reason why I think we need to come up with a different form of revolution such as what happened with the industrial revolution. Slow deliberate change from the bottom up.

[russspeakeasy]

53. Well put countyworker..

[Doctor_J]

9. Our version of revolution

is posting rants on the internet and signing on-line petitions. the last quoted passage is spot on

“The top 1% live privileged lives, aren’t worried about much. Families vacation at the best resorts. Their big concerns are finding the best Pilates teacher, best masseuse, best surgeons, best private schools. They aren’t concerned with the underlying deterioration of America or the world, except in the abstract, because they aren’t directly affected by it. That’s not to say they aren’t sympathetic, aware, or don’t talk about the issues you bring up. They are largely concerned with protecting and enhancing their socio-economic positions, ensuring their families live well. And nothing you write about will change things.”.

this isn't self-delusion. It's absolutely correct. We can't even get Limpballs off of taxpayer-funded AFN fer chrissakes.

Unrec'ing this useless rant.

[Hardrada]

12. Counter unrec. All power to the workers!

[Auntie Bush]

26. I was afraid of a revolution when Bush and Rummy moved so many military

construction plants down South. I figured if we ever had a war the South would have all the fighting power. :gr: I wonder if they had that in mind at the time as people were pretty angry and talking revolution.
Should I take my tin hat off? :shrug:

[JDPriestly]

65. Having lived in the South when I was young, I believe

that the South will fall apart before any other part of the country. They don't have a culture that encourages supporting your neighbor in the way we do in California.

Those parts of the country in which people are well educated and prepared to be self-reliant will be best off.

It is highly unlikely that defense factories will help anyone when our country breaks down. That is because the first thing that will go is the dollar. When that goes, we won't be able to import the materials we need to keep our weapons arsenal in shape. The defense industry is a parasite on a nation's real economy. The defense industry can export to other countries but it relies on its research and development funds on the US government. It will implode as the tax revenues that feed it dwindle.

I suspect that the areas of the country that will survive are those that have lots of water and healthy soil (if that exists anywhere in the US) and can produce edible food.

I lived in Germany and Austria for some years. I remember one elderly woman who told me that she survived because, well before WWII she had saved all her old clothes in her attic -- never threw anything away.

After the war, she was able to alter the clothes to fit people and sell them. That is how she made her living during the difficult years. Things that you think are worth a lot now will not be worth much if times get rough. That I-Phone? How long do you think it will continue to function? How are you going to recharge your old batteries for that kind of equipment?

There is nothing wrong with enjoying these trinkets while you can, but think about how you would live if the cost of gasoline rose to the point that your grocer had to charge very high prices for food. You can do without much electricity in your house, but you have to have food.

I don't think we will have a violent revolution at this time. I just think we will get poorer and poorer and it will get rougher and rougher. It is hard to say what might happen then. We might actually join together and reaffirm our democracy. Hard to say.

[tnlefty]

82. From my perspective you should be more concerned

with the tea bagger mentality, which I refer to as any southern republican, that has taken hold in other parts of the country.

More likely the plants were moved for cheap labor, etc.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jimlup]

11. Not to be a downer but...

My observations of Americans say that we will take it until we crash and burn. As a culture we are so deeply indoctrinated that we can't even stand up for ourselves in this crises.

We will take it until we are all but dead... unfortunately, mark my words. And yes, I know this won't be a popular sentiment but it is unfortunately true.

[snagglepuss]

15. Did you see the article posted today 'Are Americans A Broken People? '

from alternet about passivity being the result of demoralization brought about by consumerism among other things?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=776202&mesg_id=776202

[neoralme]

32. Sadly, I agree with you. But, then, how much of America is really

occupied by Americans anymore. About 40% of the country is occupied by people from other countries who think America is great compared to where they came from. Now, the Boomers may revolt, but that's about it.

[snagglepuss]

13. k & r

[Armstead]

14. We'll revolt after Dancing with the Stars season is over...

Unless baseball season heats up by then

[Curmudgeoness]

16. What shoes will you wear to the revolution?

The only pair I have.

We are not there yet. And I have a feeling that the PTB will always make sure we have just enough to keep us from revolution. My opinion is that right now, they are testing the waters to see where the bottom of that tolerance is, then they will back off a centimeter from the bottom.

[wildbilln864]

19. Exactly!

They have the best sociologists & psychologists in the world and they own all the major media and they've been studying this type of shit for decades. They know how to control the masses. When a few individuals get out of hand well they're just enemy combatants and will be handled with full approval of the public. But hopefully I'm wrong. :shrug:

[Curmudgeoness]

22. Sadly, I don't think you are wrong. But that won't stop me

from trying to expose the tactics every chance I get.

[JohnWxy]

17. please check out link all those who agree

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x595459

[Generic Other]

20. They will pay as all greedy rich dimwits throughout history have paid

And all the money in the world won't save them when their time comes.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

21. Yep, when the masses finally do rise up

it usually does work out well for the aristocracy.

[glitch]

23. Not.

You forgot a not.

[socialist_n_TN]

43. Or the sarcasm thingy.....

:)

[Skip_In_Boulder]

83. Thanks

You're right I did forget the not. Just ask Louie and Marie.

[proud patriot]

25. shoulder to shoulder brothers and sisters

start your own Freeway, street corner, telephone pole, billboard blogging .

tis the Summer of recall.

[Cresent City Kid]

27. No rant here, just the obvious

Money doesn't come from the rich, it goes to them, from us.

They don't create wealth, they aquire and hold it.

They create the fewest possible jobs at the lowest cost possible.

They give back to society for 1)the tax break, and 2)to prevent the revolution we're talking about, just enough to prevent it.


There are a few well meaning philanthropic wealthy people, but they don't have the zeal that the Reaganite crowd brings to the fight. Less than 400 people are burning the world, killing people, and ruining the lives of the survivors for nothing more than what is in essence just a 10 or 11 digit number they confuse with their "worth".

Alright, so it was a little bit of ranting.

[annabanana]

34. Right on the nose, CC Kid!

The power is in the calibration.

[annm4peace]

28. my unemployed brother keeps saying "off with their heads"

He keeps saying we need another French Revolution

[SDuderstadt]

72. Threatening people with the...

guillotine? Your brother won't find a lot of support.

[yurbud]

29. K & R: time to storm the Hamptons

or wherever their in spot is these days.

[felix_numinous]

30. Show us the money, cough it up

--after awhile you don't want to just see people's mouth moving, it's time for some cash.

[JoePhilly]

35. People who don't have the energy to vote will start a revolution?

[Wait Wut]

39. +1

...for the people!

[russspeakeasy]

55. That's been my point all along. A 10% turnout in a non presidential

year; has become "successful turnout". WTF ? 

[davidthegnome]

36. Not going to happen

Who's going to tax them? Our charismatic President and his administration? No. They work too hard to appeal to moderates and swing voters - they work too hard not to be seen as liberal, though fox and the tea party doesn't seem to care much. I mean, hello, they're passing tens of billions in cuts rather than tax the rich. Isn't that answer enough?

Why would congress support this? The Senate? The WH? Seriously - these people need the super rich to fund their campaigns. A great many of them have quite a significant amount of wealth themselves. The rich aren't going to increase taxes for the super rich. Not in this economy, not in this Country, not in this era.

They have already refused to tax the rich. The demand may be good and well intentioned, but it comes too late. A small handful of the wealthy might agree to pay taxes, might even actually pay them fairly. A small handful may even see things like we do. The majority though, in this case, far overpowers that small handful.

No, the super rich will not be taxed. I'm not convinced we'll ever really revolt. What, risk my life, my family - only to show up on National media as a crazed liberal nut willing to resort to any means for my own political agenda? Then it's prison for me, or a high security psych hospital somewhere. That's how it would go. Or worse, a real rebellion arises and the military is ordered to put it down. That will be fun, infighting in the military, people killing each other all over the Nation and most of us not even knowing who's on what side or what they want.

I suppose it could happen, but it would be insanity, not progress. It is possible that perhaps, progress might come over time... but consider the cost. The lives lost, the sacrifices made - and will it in the end have been worth it? How much innocent blood would be shed on all sides?

No, I don't have a better solution or any solution at all. I'd rather live in misery though, or even die painfully, than watch my people kill each other in the streets.

[hfojvt]

67. thanks for a sensible response n/t

[Wait Wut]

37. Awesome.

Some of the same people I've seen bitching about the "three wars" because wars are bad and kill people want to start a revolutionary war to kill people and don't think that's bad. If you think that it will be a "peaceful" revolution you're more delusional that I had originally thought. The teapers and cons will jump at the chance to use all that ammo they've been stockpiling to protect their trailers and caddies. Pickin' off a few Libs and Progs will make them whet.

Genius. I've read this same rant on many teaper sites.

Yes, we need to tax the rich, but making the rest of the country pay for your tantrums isn't going to make it happen. A second Depression? That's really a great thing to hope for. You do realize that the "super-rich" that we wish to tax won't be homeless and starving just because of a silly thing like a Depression, right? Sure, they may have to cut back on caviar, but they'll still be eating steak while the rest of us scrounge through their garbage for gristle.

Go ahead, start a new Revolution. I'll be on the side with the grown-ups. My goal in life is not to make others suffer because of my own ideals. But, hey, it's a free country. Punish the already suffering for your chance at infamy.

[ejbr]

42. We need to get more progressives in office. n/t

[neohippie]

44. who are the rich

My biggest problem with this whole start a revolution thing is that most people don't know anyone who is "super rich" In my neighborhood which is very poor, because NAFTA took all the mill jobs away, there are a lot of very poor very uneducated people to whom someone who owns a house is rich... someone who has a job who to you or me may be lower or middle class seems rich when you have nothing.

So when the revolutions starts, who will these folks come to attack, to vent their frustrations on, well probably you and me, because we seem rich to them. This is the real problem with anarchy, once a revolution starts, it will not be controlled by anyone and everyone will suffer but more than likely it is average people who will suffer the most while the "super rich" are able to hire protection or flee to another country while we fight amongst ourselves

[white_wolf]

47. The U.S revolution didn't devolve into anarchy.

And neither did, despite whatever bad you can say came from it, neither did the Russian Revolution. They were both led by men who had clear ideas and goals.

[JDPriestly]

66. At the time of the American Revolution, people could easily

acquire land. There was lots of demand for work including menial labor jobs. The situation was totally different.

The country had resources like oil oozing out of the ground. It did not take a lot of technology or education to work as a smith or to raise horses or cattle.

Even the technology required to build a railroad didn't take the years of education that are needed by people who build and maintain internet highways or drill for oil today.

So, what happened at the time of the American revolution and the years following is unique to that historical period. The problem then was developing land. The problem now is overpopulation on that same land.

[Just_visiting]

73. wouldn't worry about that....

Like every industrial nation birth rates are declining. We'll have plenty of space in 20 years.

[JDPriestly]

81. Population is exploding in other parts of the world.

We will have massive immigration. I wonder where the displaced Japanese will go?

[CanonRay]

45. The politician who taps into this first

(as Roosevelt did) will ride the wave all the way to the White House. Unfortunately, none so far have the guts/brains to do so.

K&R a million times.

[kpete]

54. thanks

for the sparkle CanonRay
and peace, kpete

[greyghost]

63. Spot on.

[brooklynite]

48. Unrec'd for tired cliche's...

First, that the top 1% (my wife and I included) are focused solely on luxury and self-gratification (there are plenty of us focus on community service and support for liberal causes, including progressive income taxation), and second that the bottom 99% are a seething mass of angry peasants ready to revolt. The average American may not be happy with their economic situation, but they do not see this as a "class warfare" issue. The sooner we recognize that, the sooner we can develop political strategies that have a chance of success.

[white_wolf]

50. The vast majority of your class is.

Your class is waging war on the middle and working classes, so don't try and deny that. I'm not saying you or your wife is, however the fact remains that the majoirty of the rich are and you shouldn't be surprised if people are angry and resentful at the way they are being treated.

[nxylas]

61. But they also have a compliant media ready to redirect that anger

That's what the article in the OP ignores to an extent. The article admits that the delusion has infected virtually the entire populace, but doesn't follow this to the conclusion that the revolution is more likely to be directed at other members of the 99% than at the Forbes 400. It's like that oft-quoted joke about the teabagger, the CEO and the cookies that I don't feel like repeating yet again.

[davidthegnome]

51. To give credit where credit is due

Thank you for your honesty and your support. My initial reaction to significant wealth is to distrust it and those who have it, but I realize that some of the wealthy are very decent and honest people. I know that you don't see the bottom 99% as a seething mass of peasants ready to revolt - unfortunately though, I think there are more in the top 1% that consider us to be ignorant peasants than those that don't (that don't consider us to be ignorant peasants).

I'd rec your post if I could, because (IMO - and from my personal experience) there are few among the wealthier who display any sense of humility and fewer still willing to support progressive income taxation. I believe that those who do deserve to be recognized and applauded - and so I humbly thank you for being one of the few on the right side.

It takes a significant amount of courage to admit (here of all places) to being in that top 1%. So I applaud your courage as well. I hope none of this is seen as condescending, because it certainly isn't intended as such - quite the opposite.

You have my gratitude and my respect.

[socialist_n_TN]

52. Well just remember that it doesn't take a majority.........

to actually START a revolution, it just takes a majority to SUPPORT a revolution, even if it's just tacitly. We are at the point in income disparity that revolutions generally occur. And all it takes is a spark.

And more and more of that 99% DO see it as a class warfare issue. And every new convert to the class warfare viewpoint tells his family and his buddies. At some point if it keeps going the way it is, a tipping point is reached and even the average asshole on the street goes, "These fuckers ARE trying to ruin me. ME! Who's always played by the rules, but playing by the rules don't matter anymore. Fuck it, I'm getting back at them." I honestly don't believe we're that far off.

[white_wolf]

57. Those fuckers are trying to ruin us all.

The sooner people realize that the better.

[CanonRay]

59. Please define "plenty of us"

I think the vast majority of wealthy Americans could give a shit about the rest of us. If that weren't so, there'd be no gated communities. I'm thankful that you are not that way, but I think it is very unusual. Roosevelt was considered a traitor to his class.

[JDPriestly]

68. See my other posts.

Baby boomers who are spending down their retirement funds just to keep alive until they can finally qualify for Social Security are reaching the boiling point as are the young with huge student loans to repay and no job prospects.

You are missing the point of the article which is that people like you are completely unaware of the reality of the middle class around you.

About a month ago, I spoke to a young friend who confessed to me that she did not know how she could possibly earn enough to pay her rent and eat. She is working but not paid enough to survive. She doesn't want to leave her job because it allows her to buy health insurance.

She blames herself at this time. But that will change unless the economy improves drastically for people like her. Her mother died some years ago and her father is a deadbeat. She has nowhere to turn.

Remember how quickly the tsunami in Japan invaded the beaches. Social change can arise out of a seemingly tranquil sea. I'm not saying it will. It depends to a great extent on people like you.

My young friend has no power to change her situation. If you are wealthy, you can choose how and where to invest your money. Will you invest it to give opportunities to people like my friend, jobs that provide a living wage? Or will you offshore your money so that you personally can live well off the work of some miserable but anonymous person in India or China or the Congo? That is your choice. Most of us do not have that choice.

[white_wolf]

74. Thank you!

The above poster and the rest of the top 1% are so out of touch with the rest of Americans. It's ridiculous. I have no sympathy for them, they live in luxury while others suffer.

[hifiguy]

77. It is people like your friend who lit the fuse

in Egypt. It CAN happen here. And I suspect it just might, and sooner than many think.

[SDuderstadt]

75. Well said n/t

[Quantess]

84. 1% is too large

The real fat cats are not one out of a hundred Americans.
It's more like the top .01% or top .001%

Let's just focus on the 400 richest Americans. They all got richer in 2010. I do have a source for that if you would like.

[SalviaBlue]

49. K&R

[ej510]

58. The global revolution has begun.

[progressoid]

60. Ummm, can we wait until after this season of Dancing With The Stars ?

[WatsonT]

62. I don't know if that's the best course of action

Of course everyone has to pay their fair share.

But the more I've thought about it the more I think the so-called "death tax" is the way to go.

Let people inherit some money but not the billions upon billions that the children of the super-elite get.

Wealth isn't the problem per se, it's accumulated wealth over generations that inoculates the inheritors against any ills that might happen. People who start from nothing and earn billions have my respect, that should be encouraged.

People who are born to it on the other hand . . .

At some point money becomes self-perpetuating. And that not only gives undo influence to people who haven't earned it but also goes against the competitive nature that makes our economy so efficient.

Put a severely progressive tax on all heritable wealth with a complete exemption for wealth below a certain point (a million or so).

Let people earn as much as they can with their own abilities, but don't let them pass it on forever.

[hifiguy]

79. Excellent point

I had a friend in law school who came from a fabulously wealthy family in Texas. Much to my surprise, one day when we were discussing taxes he stated that he was in favor of confiscatory estate taxation. When I asked him why his response was twofold: (1) he thought it was the height of hyprocisy for people with loads of money they had done nothing to earn to tell people with nothing to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, and (2) it allowed morons who had never done a lick of work in their lives (and were incapable of it) to become fabulously wealthy with no effort.

He believed that passing along enough money for a good education and a down payment on a house was enough for anyone.

Good man, he is.

[hifiguy]

69. This should be read by every "ordinary" American

which is to say everyone not among the super rich.

The funny thing is that a friend of mine, who is conservatively worth $30 million, has been saying almost _exactly_ the same thing for the last couple of years.

As for me, I live check to check...

[RagAss]

78. As long as I get to watch "Swamp People"....so plan my role accordingly.