Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Is This Socialism?

Who wrote, in 2001 when the Bush tax cuts were being passed into law, "I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of the middle class Americans who most need tax relief?"

What kind of socialist said those kinds of things, and believes that wealthy people should pay more than less wealthy people? The Bush tax cuts weren't even calling for people to be taxed at the same rates, just lowering the amount rich people paid but still paying more than less wealthy people. So there would still be progressive taxation, that is, the rich pay proportionally more than the poor. Could it be the same guy who said:

"I think your question -- questioning the fundamentals of a progressive tax system where people who make more money pay more in taxes than a flat, across-the-board percentage. I think it's to some degree because we feel, obviously, that wealthy people can afford more.

But I believe that when you really look at the tax code today, the very wealthy, because they can afford tax lawyers and all kinds of loopholes, really don't pay nearly as much as you think they do when you just look at the percentages. And I think middle-income Americans, working Americans, when the account and payroll taxes, sales taxes, mortgage pay -- all of the taxes that working Americans pay, I think they -- you would think that they also deserve significant relief, in my view..."

This was a response to a student's question. When the same student asked if this was all not a step towards socialism, the same person responded:

"So, look, here's what I really believe, that when you are -- reach a certain level of comfort, there's nothing wrong with paying somewhat more.

And frankly, I think the first people who deserve a tax cut are working Americans with children that need to educate their children, and they're the ones that I would support tax cuts for first."

There's nothing wrong with the wealthy paying somewhat more, and working people should get tax cuts first? Doesn't that sound a bit like the wealth redistribution that McCain accused Obama of and calling it socialist? Oh wait, McCain said all of this. Check out the video.

5 comments:

FEMily! said...

What that video doesn't show is when that young woman used the word "punish" She asked why her father the doctor should be "punished" with higher taxes. A lot of rich people talk about being "punished" with taxes, but nobody asks them how they're being punished. Whenever I was punished as a child, I had something taken away, like privileges. Is that what these rich people are complaining about? Reducing some of their class privilege? What is this woman's father, the doctor, sacrificing by paying higher taxes? This doctor is pretty privileged. He has a good job and had enough money to pay for his extensive education, and now his daughter is going to college on his dime (University of Michigan, if memory serves). Her father's tax dollars are going to helping the underprivileged individuals and families in this country who work just as hard as her father but don't make as much have a brighter future, maybe a future that includes a college education. So what is this woman's real beef with her privileged father paying higher taxes? Does she see higher taxes as true unfairness, or does she fear losing her privilege as the daughter of a rich man? Those are just a few of the questions I wish politicians would ask of rich people who complain of paying higher taxes.

Anonymous said...

To respond to the comment above.... what your saying is: "How dare that doctor go to school and work his butt off to earn more than the rest of us. That's not fair - we should take his money." What???
The doctor went to medical school and worked hard to be a doctor - you don't deserve to steal his money because you don't make as much. Work harder- find another job - become a doctor too! Many people aren't born "rich" - they work their butts off to get where they are.
Read a great story about how a man who has "nothing" starts a business and works to achieve his dreams. You can choose to read or not read and decide for yourselves whether you agree with this man or not. Take time to ponder this.. People will get tired of having their hard-earned money taken out to help support people who do not want to work and may want to get in the line to get government handouts. We do not need more government, just have spending cut down. Story found at: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2112513/posts
Oh - and to respond to the post -- I do think McCain needs to be more conservative - I disagree with him in some areas - we need more tax cuts and less government spending to pull us out of this economic mess we are in. We need more Reagan conservatives! I truly wish McCain and other Republicans would stop reaching so far across the aisle to the liberal side as it is not helping this country. We need to be more conservative.
We are in this economic mess due to government interfering with the free market in the first place. for more info regarding this see: http://patriotpost.us/alexander/edition.asp?id=610 and http://aredvoiceinabluestate.blogspot.com/2008/10/fannie-mae-origin-of-trouble.html
There shouldn't have been a bailout. I disagree with McCain in that aspect. But just because I disagree with McCain on certain issues - doesn't make me want to vote Obama when he is truly running on a Socialistic Platform - Socialism has never (past or present) worked in any country - Many libs would like to see the U.S. descend into the Socialist Economies that they have over there in Europe. What American DOESN'T need is more Socialism, more big government, more Government controls and regulations and more of the same of what they have in Europe. What I find amazing about Europe is that these guys have been around for thousands of years, and yet here comes America and in just a few hundred years becomes the pre-emanate Super Power of the world. We have an economy that is unmatched by any other country in the world, our populace enjoys a level of wealth and comfort unmatched anywhere in the world, we drive the biggest cars, live in the biggest homes, have the most disposable income and live the most lavish lifestyles, yet somehow we want to become more like the Europeans?? They are trying to make their markets more like ours since they have seen how successful it is. So why are we doing the opposite?
In November of 1989, The Berlin Wall fell, the Iron Curtain came Crashing Down. Capitalism won the Cold War! Now, however, our Capitalist foundations are crumbling, and a new and more dangerous form of Socialism is emerging. One that promises freedom, but delivers bondage. Bondage to the state, and to their party.
for more info on socialism see: http://www.nosocialism.com/ and http://aredvoiceinabluestate.blogspot.com/search/label/socialism and
For more info on Obama to understand truly where he stands on issues and what kind of man he is see: http://frwest.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-than-100-reasons-to-vote-against.html and http://aredvoiceinabluestate.blogspot.com/search/label/Obama

FEMily! said...

I don't think there's much point in reading your entire, long-winded comment, since the very first paragraph is based on a falsehood. I did not say anything like "How dare he work his butt off and make more money." At the risk of repeating myself to someone who doesn't take the time to pay attention to a view other than their own, what I said was that there are people who work just as hard as that doctor who simply don't make as much money for any number of reasons (like gender and race discrimination). Hard work does not always equal high pay.

My main point, which you seem to have missed completely, is that I don't think rich people are as concerned with paying more as they are with losing privilege and status in a society that puts income above all. You didn't disagree, so I guess I'm right.

Anonymous said...

Sorry you aren't right.
She wasn't upset about losing status or privileges. This isn't about losing privileges or status in society - it is about being taxed unfairly.
It is about socialism, -can you say "Marxism"
Of course, you don't want to read my post and learn the facts, libs NEVER DO. -
If you read the link I provided: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2112513/posts you would find your answer. But it is a long post too - so maybe that is too much for you to read too.
If people want to make money - they work hard and they take risks that others don't take. They think of ways to earn more money. They have initiative. If you don't like your job, because you work hard and it doesn't pay enough - "find another job" - it isn't right to take someone else's money because YOU THINK YOU DESERVE it.
Did you know that when the capital gains tax was lowered - that the government actually brought in more revenue than it did when the taxes were higher. When taxes were lower - people worked harder and were able to make more. (http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/capital-gains-tax-effect-on-investment-and-the-economy-604744.html) - "When the government needs to raise more revenue it generally raises the tax rate to create more income. The idea of raising taxes to raise revenue generally works; however, history has shown that more revenue is not gained from the capital gains tax. When the capital gains tax rate rises there is less revenue generated, investment capital decreases, and the economy slows." If you keep taxing people to death - they eventually get tired of it and stop working hard and the economy slows down.
It is a known fact Socialist society have never been successful.
Now we get to experience socialism here in the USA YIPEE!!!

- by the way - we don't have race and gender discrimination it is more like reverse discrimination - there are so many scholarships and grants available to females and minorities - also there's affirmative action - so many minorities are accepted just because they are a minority.

Well, I hope you were able to read the whole post - I know it was probably really hard to comprehend facts.

FEMily! said...

Talk about lack of comprehension! That's what I don't feel like reading. As a graduate student, I'm very used to reading scholarly work like mad. But I just don't have time for your not listening and just reacting, especially when the reaction is long, ridiculous, and far from a credible or even relevant counterpoint. That would simply be a complete waste of my very precious time. I have much more important things to do, like celebrating last night's amazing victory for the human race.