Top 1% pays 50% of the taxes.

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JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,889
2,788
136
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

Well, yeah, of course he didnt answer the question, just like he wont answer yours. I'll do it.

Full numbers here, but a few excerpts:

For every two recent inheritances of more than $500,000 (in constant 2006 dollars) that high-earning households received, 13 were received by those with incomes of less than $200,000 a year.

For every two large inheritances received by those with relatively high incomes since 1940, nine were received by households with relatively low incomes.

According to data from the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances:
Among the wealthiest 1 percent, with a net worth averaging $32 million per household, 17 percent of their wealth, or about $5.5 million, came from bequests. (FAR less, I bet, than people think...comment mine)

Among the poorest 50 percent, with a net worth averaging $158,000 per household, almost 7 percent, or $10,740 of their net wealth, was a result of bequests.

Even for the wealthiest households, bequests are not the primary source of wealth. According to surveys in 1998 and 2006 by the U.S. Trust Corporation:
Nine of every 10 affluent Americans became wealthy without inheritances

Earnings from a privately owned business (46 percent), corporate employment (33 percent) and a professional practice (29 percent) were more significant sources of wealth.
 

brandonbull

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
6,363
1,222
126
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

Well, yeah, of course he didnt answer the question, just like he wont answer yours. I'll do it.

Full numbers here, but a few excerpts:

For every two recent inheritances of more than $500,000 (in constant 2006 dollars) that high-earning households received, 13 were received by those with incomes of less than $200,000 a year.

For every two large inheritances received by those with relatively high incomes since 1940, nine were received by households with relatively low incomes.

According to data from the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances:
Among the wealthiest 1 percent, with a net worth averaging $32 million per household, 17 percent of their wealth, or about $5.5 million, came from bequests. (FAR less, I bet, than people think...comment mine)

Among the poorest 50 percent, with a net worth averaging $158,000 per household, almost 7 percent, or $10,740 of their net wealth, was a result of bequests.

Even for the wealthiest households, bequests are not the primary source of wealth. According to surveys in 1998 and 2006 by the U.S. Trust Corporation:
Nine of every 10 affluent Americans became wealthy without inheritances

Earnings from a privately owned business (46 percent), corporate employment (33 percent) and a professional practice (29 percent) were more significant sources of wealth.

If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

No, I don't think it's over the top at all. Slavery used to be an accepted practice for centuries and I'm sure all the elite spoiled brats used to tell their slaves it's just "the way it is".



 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: brandonbull
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

Well, yeah, of course he didnt answer the question, just like he wont answer yours. I'll do it.

Full numbers here, but a few excerpts:

For every two recent inheritances of more than $500,000 (in constant 2006 dollars) that high-earning households received, 13 were received by those with incomes of less than $200,000 a year.

For every two large inheritances received by those with relatively high incomes since 1940, nine were received by households with relatively low incomes.

According to data from the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances:
Among the wealthiest 1 percent, with a net worth averaging $32 million per household, 17 percent of their wealth, or about $5.5 million, came from bequests. (FAR less, I bet, than people think...comment mine)

Among the poorest 50 percent, with a net worth averaging $158,000 per household, almost 7 percent, or $10,740 of their net wealth, was a result of bequests.

Even for the wealthiest households, bequests are not the primary source of wealth. According to surveys in 1998 and 2006 by the U.S. Trust Corporation:
Nine of every 10 affluent Americans became wealthy without inheritances

Earnings from a privately owned business (46 percent), corporate employment (33 percent) and a professional practice (29 percent) were more significant sources of wealth.

If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Like GWB? Look how well that turned out. He has bankrupted everything he has gotten his hands on.
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,889
2,788
136
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

No, I don't think it's over the top at all. Slavery used to be an accepted practice for centuries and I'm sure all the elite spoiled brats used to tell their slaves it's just "the way it is".

You just can't seem to give a straight answer to a couple of straight questions can you? Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

And once again, this has absolutely nothing to do with slavery. This is kind of like the slavery version of Godwin's law.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

No, I don't think it's over the top at all. Slavery used to be an accepted practice for centuries and I'm sure all the elite spoiled brats used to tell their slaves it's just "the way it is".

You just can't seem to give a straight answer to a couple of straight questions can you? Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

And once again, this has absolutely nothing to do with slavery. This is kind of like the slavery version of Godwin's law.

I say slavery makes a great analogy to what is going on in the lower classes these days. If you don't agree, I really don't care. Take your silver spoon and piss off.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Im in the same exact situation as you. Just a little older ;) +1
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

Maybe you should get out in the world and meet a few people. I just came back from kenneling up my neighbor's dogs. The neighbor to the north is 48 years old and is having a knee replacement, yes replacement. He was a farmer for years but then his wife got MS and they lost the farm after their insurance dropped them. He's now punching the clock as a maintenance man at an ethanol plant. I don't think he wore his knee out by the age of 48 by being lazy. I know from talking to his wife they are having money problems because they owned a house someplace and recently lost it. The phone rang when I was over their the other day and I answered it. It was bill collectors.

I'm also taking care of my neighbor to the west's dog. He and his girlfriend went south about 3 weeks ago. He's just over 50 and hasn't had a job in 20 years I've know him. He inherited a bunch of land from his Dad and his 3 bachelor uncles, so he has no worries.

I like and get along well with both of them, but it's hard not to see the disparity.
 

extra

Golden Member
Dec 18, 1999
1,947
7
81
What a joke.. yeah, the rich pay most of the taxes because they control almost all of the wealth!

As to the title of the thread, if it's even true... that the top 1% pay 50% of the taxes. I wonder how much of the wealth there the top 1% control. Probably >50%. lol
 

Dissipate

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2004
6,815
0
0
Originally posted by: extra
What a joke.. yeah, the rich pay most of the taxes because they control almost all of the wealth!

As to the title of the thread, if it's even true... that the top 1% pay 50% of the taxes. I wonder how much of the wealth there the top 1% control. Probably >50%. lol

So wouldn't shutting down their business be better than just taxing them? Shut down the business or nationalize it. If the wealth is ill gotten gains, then confiscate all of it.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: Dissipate
Originally posted by: extra
What a joke.. yeah, the rich pay most of the taxes because they control almost all of the wealth!

As to the title of the thread, if it's even true... that the top 1% pay 50% of the taxes. I wonder how much of the wealth there the top 1% control. Probably >50%. lol

So wouldn't shutting down their business be better than just taxing them? Shut down the business or nationalize it. If the wealth is ill gotten gains, then confiscate all of it.

So give us your top 5 picks as to companies you would shut down...of those controlled or owned by the top 1%. And what exactly would is solve? Would it create more wealth in the lower or middle incomes? Would it create more jobs? Would it create more stability? Eh, no. The opposite on all 3 counts.
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,889
2,788
136
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
[
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

Slavery used to be "the way it is" too.

Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

Wait, didn't you just accuse him of not answering questions? And yea, comparing slavery to people living off of inherited money is a little over the top don't you think? I'm sure you know the answer to this, so could you tell us roughly what percentage of the "rich and ultra rich" are living off of inherited money?

No, I don't think it's over the top at all. Slavery used to be an accepted practice for centuries and I'm sure all the elite spoiled brats used to tell their slaves it's just "the way it is".

You just can't seem to give a straight answer to a couple of straight questions can you? Now if you have nothing of substance to add but your tired sterotypes and bourgeois cliche's please just STFU.

And once again, this has absolutely nothing to do with slavery. This is kind of like the slavery version of Godwin's law.

I say slavery makes a great analogy to what is going on in the lower classes these days. If you don't agree, I really don't care. Take your silver spoon and piss off.

Huh? Why would you think that I was born with a silver spoon? And once again, why are you having such a hard time answering these questions?
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,889
2,788
136
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

Maybe you should get out in the world and meet a few people. I just came back from kenneling up my neighbor's dogs. The neighbor to the north is 48 years old and is having a knee replacement, yes replacement. He was a farmer for years but then his wife got MS and they lost the farm after their insurance dropped them. He's now punching the clock as a maintenance man at an ethanol plant. I don't think he wore his knee out by the age of 48 by being lazy. I know from talking to his wife they are having money problems because they owned a house someplace and recently lost it. The phone rang when I was over their the other day and I answered it. It was bill collectors.

I'm also taking care of my neighbor to the west's dog. He and his girlfriend went south about 3 weeks ago. He's just over 50 and hasn't had a job in 20 years I've know him. He inherited a bunch of land from his Dad and his 3 bachelor uncles, so he has no worries.

I like and get along well with both of them, but it's hard not to see the disparity.

Yes, if only we could all be so fortunate to have an after school job as a dog walker like you, then we'd get some REAL perspective...:roll:
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,889
2,788
136
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

If you'll notice in his reply, he completely ignores every valid point, especially your last one. I actually do agree with a bunch of the liberals on this one. It's obvious why the top 1 percent pay so much in taxes, and I really don't have a problem with a progressive income tax, to a certain degree. What I don't understand, is why so many people that hold this point of view seem to have so much anger towards people that have either made a lot of money or inherited a lot of money.

This whole "ZOMG you inherited money your like a slave owner" thing is a little silly, but at least nobodyknows is upfront about it.
 

Praxis1452

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2006
2,197
0
0
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Thats the way it is! I dont know what your beef is....class envy, rich and poor, and even those who take advantage at the top AND at the bottom always have been, are, and always will be. So? In your perfect society everyone would be middle class or what?

First, the words 'envy' and 'jealousy' have no place in discussing class issues, except in very narrow cases where they are*actually* relevant. 99% of the time, they are simply propaganda words used to avoid the real issues of fairness and to attack and discredit the vast majority of citizens' interests.

Second, in my ideal society, everyone would have the opportunity to be middle class, if they do the reasonable things needed to be, far more access than many have now.

Not everyone would do those things, and there would remain some poor people as a result, who could have basic needs met.

People would be properly incented, with carrots, rather than the current situation for many where there is needless suffering to extract every cent possible for the most wealthy.

There would remain rich people, but the word rich would be relatively changed; when our country was founded, the wealthiest man, George Washington, had a modest estate.

Times have changed and we can have people richer than that, but the taxes would greatly increase to prevent the sort of oligarchy we are faced with, that is getting worse.

We're on the road to the South American culture of oligarchy - which people don't seem to realiza that while they don't like it now, once it's in place is all but impossible to change.
And what exactly is fair? Any argument about fairness is absolutely useless. The only way people seem to judge is to vote. Any what happens when people vote? The majority win. To some, nothing is more fair simply because their is a majority, if you believe in some ideal. Still, that is what occurs and thereby it determines what is fair.

Is it fair that someone gets cancer, or is diagnosed with some new illness? No, but it occurs. Life is hardly fair, no matter what we can do to rectify it towards some majority sympathy. And the pathetic thing is that the public can hardly tell what they truly want. The public voted for bush twice, and so if you criticize bush you must blame the people themselves and thereby blame democracy itself.

So really, when your criticize the rich for becoming "too wealthy" you are criticizing the majority of people(the voters that have shaped the nation from its founding to now), the politicians(who have voted and made the decisions), and what are they both representative of? Either the ideology of this constitutional republic or the form of government itself.

Basically, my point is that fairness in most people's minds is the creation of a majority, and on this principle we have had a large part in creating the present. How easy of us it is to blame other people when it is in fact a failure of the system, and of ideology.
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,938
1,605
126
Originally posted by: borosp1

Here is a good article for everyone... Warren Buffet a Billionaire pays less taxes than his secretary:

"Mr Buffett said that he was taxed at 17.7 per cent on the $46 million he made last year, without trying to avoid paying higher taxes, while his secretary, who earned $60,000, was taxed at 30 per cent."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t...tax/article1996735.ece

So dollar wise, how much did Warren payout versus his secretary?

If we want to play this percentage numbers game, out of the total amount income tax revenue that was received by all of the tax payers, what percentage did Warren pay versus his secretary?

 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: spacejamz
Originally posted by: borosp1

Here is a good article for everyone... Warren Buffet a Billionaire pays less taxes than his secretary:

"Mr Buffett said that he was taxed at 17.7 per cent on the $46 million he made last year, without trying to avoid paying higher taxes, while his secretary, who earned $60,000, was taxed at 30 per cent."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t...tax/article1996735.ece

So dollar wise, how much did Warren payout versus his secretary?

If we want to play this percentage numbers game, out of the total amount income tax revenue that was received by all of the tax payers, what percentage did Warren pay versus his secretary?

Thats a good question, and his statement of 30% taxes on $60k is bullshit. I already posted tax table info for 2008 and she paid 19% based on $60k filing single.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

Maybe you should get out in the world and meet a few people. I just came back from kenneling up my neighbor's dogs. The neighbor to the north is 48 years old and is having a knee replacement, yes replacement. He was a farmer for years but then his wife got MS and they lost the farm after their insurance dropped them. He's now punching the clock as a maintenance man at an ethanol plant. I don't think he wore his knee out by the age of 48 by being lazy. I know from talking to his wife they are having money problems because they owned a house someplace and recently lost it. The phone rang when I was over their the other day and I answered it. It was bill collectors.

I'm also taking care of my neighbor to the west's dog. He and his girlfriend went south about 3 weeks ago. He's just over 50 and hasn't had a job in 20 years I've know him. He inherited a bunch of land from his Dad and his 3 bachelor uncles, so he has no worries.

I like and get along well with both of them, but it's hard not to see the disparity.

Yes, if only we could all be so fortunate to have an after school job as a dog walker like you, then we'd get some REAL perspective...:roll:

You know nothing about me, do you? You obviously think you do, but for all you know I may be richer then you.

If you have a point to make instead of slinging insults then have at it. Otherwise kindly STFU before I shove your silverspoon down your throat. :D
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

If you'll notice in his reply, he completely ignores every valid point, especially your last one. I actually do agree with a bunch of the liberals on this one. It's obvious why the top 1 percent pay so much in taxes, and I really don't have a problem with a progressive income tax, to a certain degree. What I don't understand, is why so many people that hold this point of view seem to have so much anger towards people that have either made a lot of money or inherited a lot of money.

This whole "ZOMG you inherited money your like a slave owner" thing is a little silly, but at least nobodyknows is upfront about it.

You only see what you want to see. Your attempt to put words in my mouth falls pathetically short.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: nobodyknows
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: brandonbull
If you are in a position to receive large bequests, I would guess that wouldn't be your first encounter with large sums of money. I doubt the person would be let to wallow in poverty until it was time for the money train to pull in. In most cases, they are going to able to build off of the financial gains of the previous generation and would have benefited from better education and social/professional networks.

Or. like my parents (new money, millionaire next door types), they wanted to make sure I knew how to earn a buck before I could get my trust. To this day I behave as if it isn't even there, I'm 37 and it's never touched my hands, or my accounts.

Face it, work hard, be motivated towards success and you to can be "rich". The bullshit about no opportunity to become rich is complete nonsense - get to work, better yourself, strive to be something better and it will come to you. As long as you work for it.

Hard work in and of itself just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore.

Hard work NEVER guaranteed success. Ever. But one thing IS true-the lack of hard work guarantees the lack of success. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the quote from Anton Chekhov: Only entropy comes easy.

As far as your slavery remark...the poor have a chance to be free. Slaves never did. The poor (or the middle class to move to rich for that matter) have opportunity to change. Slaves didnt. Youre WAY off base here.

If you'll notice in his reply, he completely ignores every valid point, especially your last one. I actually do agree with a bunch of the liberals on this one. It's obvious why the top 1 percent pay so much in taxes, and I really don't have a problem with a progressive income tax, to a certain degree. What I don't understand, is why so many people that hold this point of view seem to have so much anger towards people that have either made a lot of money or inherited a lot of money.

This whole "ZOMG you inherited money your like a slave owner" thing is a little silly, but at least nobodyknows is upfront about it.

You only see what you want to see. Your attempt to put words in my mouth falls pathetically short.

Are you going to actually answer any question posed to you? Ive answered and provided input even. If not, how about stay out the thread?