Obama proposes cuts to social security and medicare

[Kuya]

Don't rich people in the US pay the least taxes in most of the world and currently pay the lowest amount of taxes (i'm not sure which) in the history of the US?

[solanis]

Don't rich people in the US pay the least taxes in most of the world and currently pay the lowest amount of taxes (i'm not sure which) in the history of the US?

whatever it is, it's too much. though I do know the brits and ex-axis countries in particular take it in the ass. I pay 40-45% personally and more on gains from investing. I don't feel like it's my social obligation to fund everything because I've been successful. I completely understand why people outside this bubble feel differently, of course.

[Drex]

this whole maddening stance by the GOP is why I went the international relations route. to say this whole "no tax raises, no defense cuts!" stance is totally insane & detached from reality would be the understatement of the century.

and I wish some sort talk of cuts to the ridiculous amount of money we spend on people in jail was on the table. nice to see more people are talking about it (mainly in a indirect sort of way by slamming the war on drugs), but the dialogue could definitely pick up the pace. i dont think anyone makes the claim that the system is anything short of broken, yet there is little talk of fixing it.

Which part of the prison budget (and whose prison budget, or just all of them?) would you want to cut?

[Plow]

Question: are they letting all the bush tax cuts expire, or just the ones on the wealthy?

Protip: this entire thread is based on hearsay. I.E. we have no fucking idea whatsoever. It's kind of like how the thread title is intentionally utterly misleading and designed to tell you where to start your thinking from. The closest this could be to what the title says is Obama, in a "back room deal," saying "ok, well let's look at what we could do to SS," where it's presented as though he went to a congressional floor and said let's put social security cuts on the table.

Anyway, to answer your question as best as possible atm, Obama's position has been that we should keep the cuts for any 2 or more person household making 250k or less. Who knows though, even that may go out the window since we've already lost like 600b+ just by extending it 2 years.

[Plow]

Which part of the prison budget (and whose prison budget, or just all of them?) would you want to cut?

For a whole lot of people it's more about not sending so many people in there for no damn reason.

[solanis]

Yes, the smallest percentage of your overall wealth in comparison to the rest of the world, and, in the case of some corporations, a smaller amount in actual dollars than the middle class.

corporations are not individuals (discounting people who run personal expenses through their companies), hope that helps. it's not our job or ethical responsibility.

[solanis]

U.S. law disagrees with you.

in the sense that they are independent entities? and yeah I'd be doing fine, but that's not the point, socialist.

[Pirian]

Don't rich people in the US pay the least taxes in most of the world and currently pay the lowest amount of taxes (i'm not sure which) in the history of the US?

The lowest % in taxes compared to total wealth, is the correct statement iirc.

[Talint]

it's not our job or ethical responsibility.

Government is a societal construct. The government needs money to function considering what we as a society wanted it to do.

So, yes, it is your job and ethical responsibility.

-edit-

socialist

People who throw this word around like an insult amuse me. What's wrong with being a socialist, exactly?

[solanis]

Government is a societal construct. The government needs money to function considering what we as a society wanted it to do.

So, yes, it is your job and ethical responsibility.

we give them plenty, they need to stop squandering our money on retarded pork shit and inefficient plans. as a jew, I'm not a fan of pork. if the government functions at a high level of efficiency, sure, take some more of my blood and sweat. until then, they need to get their eyes off my wallet.

[Plow]

in the sense that they are independent entities? and yeah I'd be doing fine, but that's not the point, socialist.

In the sense that they have the same rights.

I guess you missed it, it's been kind of a big deal recently, but yeah our corporations can pretty much put politicians straight on their payroll legally at this point.

[archibaldcrane]

we give them plenty, they need to stop squandering our money on retarded pork shit and inefficient plans. as a jew, I'm not a fan of pork. if the government functions at a high level of efficiency, sure, take some more of my blood and sweat. until then, they need to get their eyes off my wallet.

Pay your share first.

Including their share of payroll taxes, the top 1% probably pay about 18% of all federal tax revenue. The top 1%'s share of the earnings is about 22%. Ergo, the super-rich pay less of a share of taxes that the share of the pie they are earning.

Just sayin'

[archibaldcrane]

whatever it is, it's too much. though I do know the brits and ex-axis countries in particular take it in the ass. I pay 40-45% personally and more on gains from investing. I don't feel like it's my social obligation to fund everything because I've been successful. I completely understand why people outside this bubble feel differently, of course.

If you actually pay 40-45% of your annual income in taxes (not just looking at pay stubs, looking at tax returns), you need a better accountant.

[Talint]

we give them plenty, they need to stop squandering our money on retarded pork shit and inefficient plans. as a jew, I'm not a fan of pork. if the government functions at a high level of efficiency, sure, take some more of my blood and sweat. until then, they need to get their eyes off my wallet.

Pork is like piracy. Everyone's against it until it suits them.

Anyway, you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who likes inefficient government, outside of a republican. Republicans like inefficient government because it helps them get reelected (though they'd never admit it).

[solanis]

If you actually pay 40-45% of your annual income in taxes (not just looking at pay stubs, looking at tax returns), you need a better accountant.

no, I just need to live in a less expensive city and make a lot less money lol

Pork is like piracy. Everyone's against it until it suits them.

Anyway, you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who likes inefficient government, outside of a republican. Republicans like inefficient government because it helps them get reelected (though they'd never admit it).

at least we agree on this!

[Darus Grey]

Not that I personally endorse this view:

But I always find it amusing that successful people feel their success was 100% their own doing and they owe no one anything; and never consider the possibility that the tax money the rest of the people pay laid the foundation for or maintain the systems that supported their rise to success.

Just sayin'

[solanis]

Not that I personally endorse this view:

But I always find it amusing that successful people feel their success was 100% their own doing and they owe no one anything; and never consider the possibility that the tax money the rest of the people pay went to support their rise to success.

Just sayin'

http://operatorchan.org/st/src/st875...ou%20troll.jpg

[Darus Grey]

Are you going to argue that publicly funded services had no part in your ability to be successful in life?

They invested in you, now you balk at investing in them.

[solanis]

Are you going to argue that publicly funded services had no part in your ability to be successful in life?

They invested in you, now you balk at investing in them.

yes. aside from like... roads and passport offices? surely you are trolling

[Darus Grey]

And surely you've never taken a moment in your life to actually think about how those services have impacted you. I don't blame you, it's a very common attitude, most people like to pretend that their success was their own doing and then attribute failures to outside influences; quite natural.

Doesn't make it correct though.