The federal government spends $400 for screwdrivers and $1,500 for toilet seats; throws hundreds of billions of dollars at failing banks while sneaking provisions into thousand-page bills allowing those same banks to give bonuses to their executives; writes a nearly $800 billion stimulus package that promises to keep unemployment under 8% and calls it a success when unemployment reaches 9.8%; balloons the deficit to $1.4 trillion, devaluing our dollar and putting us, our children, and our grandchildren in hock to the Chinese; pays off its campaign contributors with earmarks; and is scheduled to bankrupt Medicare in less than a decade.
Why shouldn't I trust them with my health insurance?
The rich seem to be doing very well in this recession. They aren't creating any jobs to help anyone. I think they could afford to pay some more taxes, and I don't think that would hurt the economy any more than it already is. Besides, isn't the recession over for them? That's what I read in the news.
"The rich seem to be doing very well in this recession."
Some are, some aren't. It depends on where their money was invested. Ask the "rich" who invested their life's savings with Bernie Madoff or a company that went bankrupt.
"They aren't creating any jobs to help anyone."
The purpose of creating jobs isn't to "help anyone." It's to provide goods and services that are in demand. The greater the demand, the more jobs are needed and created. If I'm running a business, I'm not going to hire "anyone" to staple papers together just because they need a paycheck.
Right now demand for many goods and services is low, because people don't have much expendable income, and what they do have is being socked away in the event they lose their jobs too.
"I think they could afford to pay some more taxes, and I don't think that would hurt the economy any more than it already is."
At some point, it becomes counterproductive for the "rich" to create more wealth. If a small businessman is going to be penalized for earning more than $250K a year, and he's already earning $245K, what incentive does he have to expand his business? Stagnant business = no new jobs = less expendable income = smaller demand for goods and services = fewer jobs still.
If you think it will help the overall economy to take from the rich and give to the poor, when was the last time a poor person ever offered you a job?
"Besides, isn't the recession over for them? That's what I read in the news."
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From the excellent blog What Would Jack Do?
The federal government spends $400 for screwdrivers and $1,500 for toilet seats; throws hundreds of billions of dollars at failing banks while sneaking provisions into thousand-page bills allowing those same banks to give bonuses to their executives; writes a nearly $800 billion stimulus package that promises to keep unemployment under 8% and calls it a success when unemployment reaches 9.8%; balloons the deficit to $1.4 trillion, devaluing our dollar and putting us, our children, and our grandchildren in hock to the Chinese; pays off its campaign contributors with earmarks; and is scheduled to bankrupt Medicare in less than a decade.
ReplyDeleteWhy shouldn't I trust them with my health insurance?
Because they don't get a bonus for denying your coverage!
ReplyDeleteSo we're in agreement that our corporatist government really fucking sucks then?
ReplyDeleteHow are we going to pay for it?
ReplyDeleteWe can start by wiping out the Bush tax cuts.
ReplyDeleteAndrea:
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't put it quite that way, but yeah, we're in agreement (I think).
Ted:
Raise taxes during a recession? What do you suppose that will do to the economy?
The rich seem to be doing very well in this recession. They aren't creating any jobs to help anyone. I think they could afford to pay some more taxes, and I don't think that would hurt the economy any more than it already is. Besides, isn't the recession over for them? That's what I read in the news.
ReplyDelete"The rich seem to be doing very well in this recession."
ReplyDeleteSome are, some aren't. It depends on where their money was invested. Ask the "rich" who invested their life's savings with Bernie Madoff or a company that went bankrupt.
"They aren't creating any jobs to help anyone."
The purpose of creating jobs isn't to "help anyone." It's to provide goods and services that are in demand. The greater the demand, the more jobs are needed and created. If I'm running a business, I'm not going to hire "anyone" to staple papers together just because they need a paycheck.
Right now demand for many goods and services is low, because people don't have much expendable income, and what they do have is being socked away in the event they lose their jobs too.
"I think they could afford to pay some more taxes, and I don't think that would hurt the economy any more than it already is."
At some point, it becomes counterproductive for the "rich" to create more wealth. If a small businessman is going to be penalized for earning more than $250K a year, and he's already earning $245K, what incentive does he have to expand his business? Stagnant business = no new jobs = less expendable income = smaller demand for goods and services = fewer jobs still.
If you think it will help the overall economy to take from the rich and give to the poor, when was the last time a poor person ever offered you a job?
"Besides, isn't the recession over for them? That's what I read in the news."
Don't believe everything you read in the news!