tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444476276287180978.post4796765943417534708..comments2023-11-20T05:15:20.137-05:00Comments on Behind the Headlines: Bordering on politicsMichael Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668546349672243203noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444476276287180978.post-43316009574233548862011-09-27T08:19:18.395-04:002011-09-27T08:19:18.395-04:00This is just the modern version of Marxism vs Capi...This is just the modern version of Marxism vs Capitalism. The State vs the individual. Who creates whom? Thankfully, from my perspective, mutated capitalism is still winning the argument. The guest argument about fellow taxpayers/state is absolutely no different than the positions held by acknowledged Socialists, Communists, Fidel, Chavez, et al. One would think after seventy years of the failed experiment behind the Iron Curtain we would not even be having these ridiculous discussions. However in tough times with our government's crony capitalism on exhibit, populist sentiments like those expressed in Ms. Warren's viral youtube video temporarily gain traction.<br /><br />My guess, with 10% of the people paying 70% of the taxes, this is a discussion that will be quickly forgotten during the next secular bull market. With some luck that market will be accompanied by a flat tax of sorts. Then everyone will be paying their fair share! Imagine a world with no deductions.patrick neidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05381083122153127803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444476276287180978.post-62145543493718358412011-09-27T01:37:46.097-04:002011-09-27T01:37:46.097-04:00"The difference is their own efforts". ..."The difference is their own efforts". How do you prove this? There is no proof of this anywhere, except in our own heads, because we think our work must provide results, and the result is success beyond that which someone else achieved because we worked harder or we are smarter. Only when considering averages does this come out true, and that is only because in general the work that uses more "education", gets paid more, on average. But, within the same segment, where all things are equal except the factor under consideration, there is no proof that the specific factor made the difference between success and failure.<br /><br />Yet we'll continue to believe that we somehow know the factors of success. There is a whole industry trying to teach you to be successful.<br /><br />It is nothing but bias that makes us look down on people without education, those that make less money, those that pay less taxes (amount, not just the percentage) and then say they should all be paying more in taxes.<br /><br />One could also argue that the same segment that earns less and pays less in taxes have nothing but bias when looking at the wealthy too.<br /><br />The only difference is that when the rich pay a bit more in taxes, their comfort level is not much compromised, whereas the poor will get worse if they pay more in taxes.<br /><br />You say such thinking is socialism? Capitalism in its purest form never succeeded; there was a reason for instituting social security. Some amount of socialism ain't so bad. The question is what is the right proportion..<br /><br />To your point of rich people using the services more effectively - poor people find it hard to break the cycle to even know how to use the services...which is one more reason we shouldn't have more of them. The more important question is what makes some of the not so poor become lazy and fall below the threshold and eventually end up poor.Amalanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597327887568168370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444476276287180978.post-57924279518412739192011-09-26T20:00:24.628-04:002011-09-26T20:00:24.628-04:00«...bounty is there for all people, whether or not...«...bounty is there for all people, whether or not they use it»<br /><br />You are totally right.<br />Let's have the people who use it most pay for it.Normandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03988115960408502078noreply@blogger.com