My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
[quote]John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.[/quote]
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
[quote]tom63 wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
John S. wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
phil_leotardo wrote:
Lazy and stupid people plague this country. They don’t want to crack a book and get a degree and we have to give visas out to Hindus and Chinese because of their laziness and stupidity. Many criminals in the inner city and other low life types are caught up in drug culture so that they can buy designer clothes instead of going to school or working hard. They want easy money!
Ever seen how people on welfare abuse the system here? Sit in an ER room here and you will see people on welfare going to the ER for a “headache”. Why? Because it’s “free”. Give something to people for free and they take 3!
I doubt you are lazy, but I have to question your intelligence. I personally think rude ignorant people plague this country. What they can not get with their intelligence they get with brash rudeness
Why would you question his intelligence? He is right a lot of people on welfare do abuse the system. My dad was a doctor and he would talk all the time about how people on government programs would come in for things like the flu, headaches, and hell even some would come in for shit like sprains.
There are some people that are lazy and dumb, but I do not feel the people at the bottom are the problem, it is the people in the middle that think they got where they are because of themselves. The majority of people are where they are because their parents taught them how to fend for them selves. If you had educated parents you had an advantage.If you were middle class you still may be so. If you were poor you are probably still poor
Why I question his intellect is because he really enjoyed stroking himself and inflating his worth by reflecting negatively on the poor. I personally thought his remarks were paper thin. Just my opinion.
It’s the people at the bottom, believe me. I’ve seen it enough. It is do to their lack of work ethic, morals, and character. See my above story. this is not a rare occurrance.[/quote]
I met a real asshole of a doctor the day before my mother died, and am sure that is not the only asshole of a doctor there is. Yes poor people have some issues. So does everybody.
Some of the people that lack Character more than any one else I know are some of the wealthiest. I am not talking six figures a year; I am talking more than 7 figures a year. Two of the worst people I know are two of the wealthiest.
[quote]tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.[/quote]
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog,
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog, [/quote]
Fallacy, because the rising tide lifts all boats.
Consequently even the people who are considered to be poor in Europe or the US are rich compared to billions of people.
All those people could be better off without taking anything away from someone else.
[quote]orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog,
Fallacy, because the rising tide lifts all boats.
Consequently even the people who are considered to be poor in Europe or the US are rich compared to billions of people.
All those people could be better off without taking anything away from someone else.
[/quote]
I agree with you our Society is collectively better than most of the world, though it could be allot better, As a side note I think the social programs are what makes America better than the third world Nations, You have free markets alive and well in Viet Nam, India, China, The places where the free market can not survive is where there are no social programs (like a functioning GOV.)
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog,
Fallacy, because the rising tide lifts all boats.
Consequently even the people who are considered to be poor in Europe or the US are rich compared to billions of people.
All those people could be better off without taking anything away from someone else.
I agree with you our Society is collectively better than most of the world, though it could be allot better, As a side note I think the social programs are what makes America better than the third world Nations, You have free markets alive and well in Viet Nam, India, China, The places where the free market can not survive is where there are no social programs (like a functioning GOV.)[/quote]
Yes it could be a lot better.
The problem is that any kind of redistribution just leads to a suboptimal allocation of capital, i.e. the economy grows slower.
Any pain you may relieve now with other peoples money will be repaid later by someone else, plus interest.
[quote]John S. wrote:
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.[/quote]
You reminded me of somthing. I used to have a rather shitty job in California. The only upside was the overtime I could work. Anyway, a coworker once said to me: “Don’t work too much overtime, they (the government) just take more money”.
[quote]orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog,
Fallacy, because the rising tide lifts all boats.
Consequently even the people who are considered to be poor in Europe or the US are rich compared to billions of people.
All those people could be better off without taking anything away from someone else.
I agree with you our Society is collectively better than most of the world, though it could be allot better, As a side note I think the social programs are what makes America better than the third world Nations, You have free markets alive and well in Viet Nam, India, China, The places where the free market can not survive is where there are no social programs (like a functioning GOV.)
Yes it could be a lot better.
The problem is that any kind of redistribution just leads to a suboptimal allocation of capital, i.e. the economy grows slower.
Any pain you may relieve now with other peoples money will be repaid later by someone else, plus interest.
[/quote]
I know the rich pay a higher percentage of Income tax, but if you add up all the fees, taxes, (sales, income, gas, cable, telephone, electric, environmental) the poor are paying a higher ( percentage ) than the wealthy, I know it is another thread but I would go for a flat tax if they did away with all other taxes and fees.
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
I know the rich pay a higher percentage of Income tax, but if you add up all the fees, taxes, (sales, income, gas, cable, telephone, electric, environmental) the poor are paying a higher ( percentage ) than the wealthy, I know it is another thread but I would go for a flat tax if they did away with all other taxes and fees.[/quote]
Link the thread please because this seems rather ridiculous to me given how progressive income tax is.
As an aside, the more you post, the more I get the sense you’ve never taken an econ class.
[quote]Agressive Napkin wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
I know the rich pay a higher percentage of Income tax, but if you add up all the fees, taxes, (sales, income, gas, cable, telephone, electric, environmental) the poor are paying a higher ( percentage ) than the wealthy, I know it is another thread but I would go for a flat tax if they did away with all other taxes and fees.
Link the thread please because this seems rather ridiculous to me given how progressive income tax is.
As an aside, the more you post, the more I get the sense you’ve never taken an econ class.[/quote]
Brilliant deduction, what is your point?
Is it you want proof that the poor pay a higher percentage than the rich?
If you don’t read it all, go to the ending then you may want to. Isn’t this amazing?
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer registration tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Gas Guzzler Tax
Death Tax
Ammuntion Tax
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
John S. wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
phil_leotardo wrote:
Lazy and stupid people plague this country. They don’t want to crack a book and get a degree and we have to give visas out to Hindus and Chinese because of their laziness and stupidity. Many criminals in the inner city and other low life types are caught up in drug culture so that they can buy designer clothes instead of going to school or working hard. They want easy money!
Ever seen how people on welfare abuse the system here? Sit in an ER room here and you will see people on welfare going to the ER for a “headache”. Why? Because it’s “free”. Give something to people for free and they take 3!
I doubt you are lazy, but I have to question your intelligence. I personally think rude ignorant people plague this country. What they can not get with their intelligence they get with brash rudeness
Why would you question his intelligence? He is right a lot of people on welfare do abuse the system. My dad was a doctor and he would talk all the time about how people on government programs would come in for things like the flu, headaches, and hell even some would come in for shit like sprains.
There are some people that are lazy and dumb, but I do not feel the people at the bottom are the problem, it is the people in the middle that think they got where they are because of themselves. The majority of people are where they are because their parents taught them how to fend for them selves. If you had educated parents you had an advantage.If you were middle class you still may be so. If you were poor you are probably still poor
Why I question his intellect is because he really enjoyed stroking himself and inflating his worth by reflecting negatively on the poor. I personally thought his remarks were paper thin. Just my opinion.
It’s the people at the bottom, believe me. I’ve seen it enough. It is do to their lack of work ethic, morals, and character. See my above story. this is not a rare occurrance.
I met a real asshole of a doctor the day before my mother died, and am sure that is not the only asshole of a doctor there is. Yes poor people have some issues. So does everybody.
Some of the people that lack Character more than any one else I know are some of the wealthiest. I am not talking six figures a year; I am talking more than 7 figures a year. Two of the worst people I know are two of the wealthiest.
[/quote]
’ But they aren’t a drain on society. I’m not saying you bad because you are poor, but poor habits will make many people poor. It is within their control to not be poor. It is not fate they are poor, it is their own actions that make themselves poor.
I said people are poor because they are lazy and stupid. not that they are assholes, read what I said. Your doctor asshole buddy is probably intelligent and not lazy. He might be reprehensible, but I’m not paying for his housing, food, medical care or mileage so he can cheat welfare.
Not all bad character flaws make you a drain on society,. This is where you bleeding hearts make an error. you assume all character flaws are equal. I don’t care if he cheats on his wife. I don’t care if he is miserable to his staff, or treats waitresses badly. He is not a drain to society. He is contributing more than some welfare queen scamming mileage money.
I don’t care about people’s own personal crap, I just believe people should pay their own way, period.
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog,
Fallacy, because the rising tide lifts all boats.
Consequently even the people who are considered to be poor in Europe or the US are rich compared to billions of people.
All those people could be better off without taking anything away from someone else.
I agree with you our Society is collectively better than most of the world, though it could be allot better, As a side note I think the social programs are what makes America better than the third world Nations, You have free markets alive and well in Viet Nam, India, China, The places where the free market can not survive is where there are no social programs (like a functioning GOV.)
Yes it could be a lot better.
The problem is that any kind of redistribution just leads to a suboptimal allocation of capital, i.e. the economy grows slower.
Any pain you may relieve now with other peoples money will be repaid later by someone else, plus interest.
I know the rich pay a higher percentage of Income tax, but if you add up all the fees, taxes, (sales, income, gas, cable, telephone, electric, environmental) the poor are paying a higher ( percentage ) than the wealthy, I know it is another thread but I would go for a flat tax if they did away with all other taxes and fees.[/quote]
Ugh,no. Fees are fees. We don’t pay more for various consumption because we should not charge people more or less for the same services. I do realize there are kid and senior movie discounts. I do know that we all pay the same at the pump, but it’s the same for the same service.
It’s fair, because you pay for the gas you buy, your movie ticket, your concert ticket and so on.
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
If you don’t read it all, go to the ending then you may want to. Isn’t this amazing?
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer registration tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
[/quote]
This is a fantastic example of how we are all over taxed, not how the lower incomes are over taxed. It works this way, tax some and most don’t care. I don’t hunt, who gives a crap. I don’t have a car, who cares. I don’t fish, have restaurant or drill a well. I’m not fixing my home and on and on.
Government needs a diet and it would help the poor in many ways more than the rich guy.
[quote]tom63 wrote:
Government needs a diet and it would help the poor in many ways more than the rich guy.[/quote]
Which is the flip side to his argument. The poor are more oppressed by an overreaching government, by virtue of the fact they have less liquid resources and less ability to out-flank the system. Why should the private (rich) citizen be taxed even more to relieve the symptoms of the problem on the poor, when we should address the source of the problem instead? That’s somewhat like taking a tylenol for a migraine–it won’t relieve the symptoms nearly as well as the hard medicine.
[quote]Aragorn wrote:
tom63 wrote:
Government needs a diet and it would help the poor in many ways more than the rich guy.
Which is the flip side to his argument. The poor are more oppressed by an overreaching government, by virtue of the fact they have less liquid resources and less ability to out-flank the system. Why should the private (rich) citizen be taxed even more to relieve the symptoms of the problem on the poor, when we should address the source of the problem instead? That’s somewhat like taking a tylenol for a migraine–it won’t relieve the symptoms nearly as well as the hard medicine.[/quote]
Yep rich guys have options, regular folk and the poor don’t.
Perot was doing his blah blah talk years ago. He made 100 million or so one year and paid 6 million in taxes. 6% A guy with that much money can live off a few million, park his money in tax free ventures, and still tell us what to do.
He paid a lower % of taxes on his income than some lower income people, but made a helluva lot more.
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
A long list of taxes.
[/quote]
Well my point was that I was under the impression that the rich in fact paid much more taxes. This list of taxes shows me that there are many taxes (which can spawn all sorts of other discussions), but I fail to see how that means the poor pay more taxes then the rich given that the rich pay a considerably larger portion of their income in income taxes. (and yes, I know taxes on spending unfairly affect the poor)
If you are wondering about my other point, it was mainly in reference to the fact that you don’t seem to appreciate the power of the free market.
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
orion wrote:
pittbulll wrote:
tom63 wrote:
John S. wrote:
My dad came from a family where my Grandma was stay at home and my grandpa worked in a factory, they where upper poor-lower middle class. He worked hard at school and became a doctor.
My mom came from a white trash family down in Texas. She did well in school then met my dad became a stay at home mom. I have 4 siblings. After my dad died my mom took on a full time job and went to school and became a RN.
In this country if you really want to pull yourself up you can.
Exactly,
I am middle to upper middle class, not rich, but doing better than my parents who are now retired, but doing better than when I was a kid. Middle class you might say.
I here tales of woe every day. It usually amounts to stupid decisions in relationships, school work, working or lack of, taking drugs, etc. The poor are not on a higher moral plain. In fact I argue we don’t have poor anymore.
Standing in line for free food, texting on your phone. Defrauding welfare while dressing better than the workers in the welfare office. It’s a load of crap.
People like you and your parents are better. My kids nad me are better. Not by God’s grace, but by the willingness to take personal responsibility for our own lives.
I have to go back to physics, not everybody can be on top, and you need people below to build on. . If some one rises some one has to sink it is a law of nature. We can all build a better society collectively, but we can not all be top dog,
Fallacy, because the rising tide lifts all boats.
Consequently even the people who are considered to be poor in Europe or the US are rich compared to billions of people.
All those people could be better off without taking anything away from someone else.
I agree with you our Society is collectively better than most of the world, though it could be allot better, As a side note I think the social programs are what makes America better than the third world Nations, You have free markets alive and well in Viet Nam, India, China, The places where the free market can not survive is where there are no social programs (like a functioning GOV.)
Yes it could be a lot better.
The problem is that any kind of redistribution just leads to a suboptimal allocation of capital, i.e. the economy grows slower.
Any pain you may relieve now with other peoples money will be repaid later by someone else, plus interest.
I know the rich pay a higher percentage of Income tax, but if you add up all the fees, taxes, (sales, income, gas, cable, telephone, electric, environmental) the poor are paying a higher ( percentage ) than the wealthy, I know it is another thread but I would go for a flat tax if they did away with all other taxes and fees.[/quote]
That was not the point.
The point was that the “poor” in the US are better off because of hundreds of years of capital accumulation.
If you interfere with that process by redistributing money capital grows slower so the “poor” of tomorrow will be far worse off than they would have been otherwise.