Should the U.S. government "bail out" individuals and/or corporations? (Poll)

[Infohawk]

There's been a lot of talk lately of of private gains and socialized losses. Instead of saying that corporations should not be bailed out and individuals should be, I like to think that this is a reason for having higher taxes on the rich (capital gains + progressive income tax).

Is anyone aware of how much revenue capital gains tax generate in one year? I would be curious to see how it compares with the bail out of AIG. I argue frequently that the rich should pay more because they have more to lose if government isn't around. These recent bail-outs are a perfect example. The bum has nothing to gain from an AIG bail-out but most other Americans do and they should pay for more of it.

On the other hand, I think the poor should get some basic level of "bailing out" but they already get this by way of food stamps and basic shelter in most cities.

 

[OutHouse]

will my government be there for me if i lose my job and cant make my house payment, car payment credit card payment? will they bail me out and save me?

no i didnt think so.

so my money that my government took from me was used to BUY a private company... that is communism pure and simple.

 

[StageLeft]

Yes, I want it to coddle all of us. Hold me. I need a bailout, too.

You know, for a party that supports small gov, this one sure isn't acting like it.

And that's a joke anyway; we all know that republicans grow gov faster than anybody else, although dems are behind all this, too.

What a mess.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: Citrix
will my government be there for me if i lose my job and cant make my house payment, car payment credit card payment? will they bail me out and save me?

no i didnt think so.

so my money that my government took from me was used to BUY a private company... that is communism pure and simple.

Not sure about the communism part but the rest is spot on.

 

[winnar111]

Well, 1 type of bailout is a loan. The other is a giveaway.

Doesn't the Fed stand to gain a lot of money off the AIG deal?

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: winnar111
Well, 1 type of bailout is a loan. The other is a giveaway.

Doesn't the Fed stand to gain a lot of money off the AIG deal?

Yeah, I read that 'we' own about 80% of AIG now. But you know if 'we' get any 'profits' congress will spend them on more crap instead of paying off some of our debt..