The problem with the Republican approach is the only alternative for the poor and disadvantaged is to die. The Rebublicans are perfectly willing to spend the big bucks on big business, defense and big oil but nothing on job training, immigration reform, or medical care. Personally I think we have enough multimillionaires.
The current debate over raising the minimum wage and extending benefits for the long-term unemployed is merely a symptom of a larger dilemma. The American worker/wage earner is still feeling the repercussions of shipping jobs overseas; not just in manufacturing, but in customer service, tech support and many other areas of business. This, in addition to increased computerization and automation has created a huge vacuum of what was once well-paying jobs. Where can the big-box store clerk, or the burger & fries server go to better his/her situation? It’s a big leap to a degree in engineering or finance!
Paul Ryan thinks the solution to starving children is to quit giving them food. He thinks the solution to poor people is to stop helping them improve themselves, just let them suffer and somehow magically the power of the Free Market Fairy will touch them and turn them into rich CEOs.Sorry, folks, Ayn Rand wrote fantasy, not science fiction.
@Ted Lind – The Republicans do offer alternatives to being poor and disadvantaged. But those alternatives require courage, self discipline, and hard work.
The courage to reject peer pressure and avoid: premarital sex, drug abuse, and other self destructive habits.
The self-discipline to Stay in School (A government entity that is available to all) and to learn as opposed to hold down a desk.
The hard work to develop yourself, your character, your contact list, and your work skills.
The Democrats offer a worse alternative – A lifetime of living hand to mouth on a government dole with no self respect and little future.
Anyone who thinks that Government programs don’t keep people in perpetual and abject poverty needs to take a history lesson in Cabrini Green I offer this link as a quick refresher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini_Green. By the time they tore down that little bit of hell we had 3rd and 4th generation welfare mothers living off the government dole.
These are REAL unintended consequences of the war on poverty. Unless you limit the use of the safety net to a fixed period – There will be a group of people who will use it as a hammock. And that group Grew and Grew and Grew during the downturn of the late 2000s.
I honestly believe in a Social Safety net to carry people through short periods of unemployment (6months to a year tops). But I cannot stomach these constant calls to help the long term unemployed.
I look in the paper and online and there are jobs out there. Many of them are dirty, menial, miserable jobs but they are out there. But many Americans, today, won’t take those jobs as long as it ’s easier to file for unemployment.
@Rad-ish – Actually, I couldn’t agree more. I’ll be the first to agree that we institute a flat tax; or better yet a consumption tax that everyone pays from $1.
No tax breaks for the rich; but no tax breaks for the poor either. I hate the fact that 49% pay no income tax at all to support the Federal Government but get just as much say in how that money will be spent.
If there is any truth to what you say, then explain how poverty rates increase by about 33% when a conservative Republican is in the White House and has a working GOP representation in Congress and decreases when the Democrats are in charge. Those are facts, check them out.
We need a tax code that includes the rich & super rich. In 1938 we had 33 tax brackets in order to reach all range of income. they ranged from 4% for all income up to $64K (Adjusted for Inflation) progressively going up to a top marginal rate of 79% for income over $79Million. Now that’s Fair & Balanced, and is exactly what we need today, to slow down this runaway Income Inequality.
When one talks about equality, consider this. The more money one has, the easier one’s access to state & federal legislators (governors & presidents too)The super-rich actually get the military to protect their off-shore interests and get legislation to favor their businesses. A progressive tax structure is perfectly reasonable.
That’s the ticket! If you deny hard enough, all the breaks the rich get will go away, and they won’t have seen their profits skyrocket while the middle class got smaller and smaller. Way to live up to your avatar!
I read the history of the 19th century, thanks. Ryan’s policies are not only immoral (certainly not Catholic, as the Pope has made clear), but ineffective.
Yeah, pretty much…………..because he’s RIGHT (see how I did that there?). Of course, the lefties don’t care, they want everyone dependent on government for the vote. Got to hold the goodies over somebodies head don’t you know!
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Maimonides
Heck, even the ancient Chinese had it right, what the heck is wrong with the libs?
No Rad-ish – The poor pay a higher percentage of their disposable income in taxes but they don’t pay a higher tax.
A 15% flat tax charges $15000 to the guy who makes $100K and charges $150000 to the guy who makes $1000K.
I don’t care what my neighbor’s disposable income is (defined as what he gets to spend on himself after he pays for food, housing, clothing etc.) But Liberals always get hung up on this.
So instead we have this complicated tax code designed to shift money from those who earn their living to those who vote Democratic because that keeps them voting democratic.
Theodore E. Lind Premium Member about 10 years ago
The problem with the Republican approach is the only alternative for the poor and disadvantaged is to die. The Rebublicans are perfectly willing to spend the big bucks on big business, defense and big oil but nothing on job training, immigration reform, or medical care. Personally I think we have enough multimillionaires.
patcrs about 10 years ago
you just do not get it. with an attitude like that no wonder the repubs are on the decline. their outdated philosophy.
patcrs about 10 years ago
you just do not get it. with an attitude like that no wonder the repubs are on the decline. their outdated philosophy.
moosemin about 10 years ago
The current debate over raising the minimum wage and extending benefits for the long-term unemployed is merely a symptom of a larger dilemma. The American worker/wage earner is still feeling the repercussions of shipping jobs overseas; not just in manufacturing, but in customer service, tech support and many other areas of business. This, in addition to increased computerization and automation has created a huge vacuum of what was once well-paying jobs. Where can the big-box store clerk, or the burger & fries server go to better his/her situation? It’s a big leap to a degree in engineering or finance!
Kip W about 10 years ago
This isn’t right. The Republican wouldn’t just sit there. He’d throw the life preserver way out to where the guy on the yacht is being fanned.
Motivemagus about 10 years ago
Paul Ryan thinks the solution to starving children is to quit giving them food. He thinks the solution to poor people is to stop helping them improve themselves, just let them suffer and somehow magically the power of the Free Market Fairy will touch them and turn them into rich CEOs.Sorry, folks, Ayn Rand wrote fantasy, not science fiction.
Mephistopheles about 10 years ago
@Ted Lind – The Republicans do offer alternatives to being poor and disadvantaged. But those alternatives require courage, self discipline, and hard work.
The courage to reject peer pressure and avoid: premarital sex, drug abuse, and other self destructive habits.
The self-discipline to Stay in School (A government entity that is available to all) and to learn as opposed to hold down a desk.
The hard work to develop yourself, your character, your contact list, and your work skills.
The Democrats offer a worse alternative – A lifetime of living hand to mouth on a government dole with no self respect and little future.
Mephistopheles about 10 years ago
Anyone who thinks that Government programs don’t keep people in perpetual and abject poverty needs to take a history lesson in Cabrini Green I offer this link as a quick refresher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini_Green. By the time they tore down that little bit of hell we had 3rd and 4th generation welfare mothers living off the government dole.
These are REAL unintended consequences of the war on poverty. Unless you limit the use of the safety net to a fixed period – There will be a group of people who will use it as a hammock. And that group Grew and Grew and Grew during the downturn of the late 2000s.
I honestly believe in a Social Safety net to carry people through short periods of unemployment (6months to a year tops). But I cannot stomach these constant calls to help the long term unemployed.
I look in the paper and online and there are jobs out there. Many of them are dirty, menial, miserable jobs but they are out there. But many Americans, today, won’t take those jobs as long as it ’s easier to file for unemployment.
Tuner38 about 10 years ago
If you like your life preserver you can keep it.
Mephistopheles about 10 years ago
@Rad-ish – Actually, I couldn’t agree more. I’ll be the first to agree that we institute a flat tax; or better yet a consumption tax that everyone pays from $1.
No tax breaks for the rich; but no tax breaks for the poor either. I hate the fact that 49% pay no income tax at all to support the Federal Government but get just as much say in how that money will be spent.
tabonsell about 10 years ago
If there is any truth to what you say, then explain how poverty rates increase by about 33% when a conservative Republican is in the White House and has a working GOP representation in Congress and decreases when the Democrats are in charge. Those are facts, check them out.
hodg about 10 years ago
We need a tax code that includes the rich & super rich. In 1938 we had 33 tax brackets in order to reach all range of income. they ranged from 4% for all income up to $64K (Adjusted for Inflation) progressively going up to a top marginal rate of 79% for income over $79Million. Now that’s Fair & Balanced, and is exactly what we need today, to slow down this runaway Income Inequality.
moosemin about 10 years ago
When one talks about equality, consider this. The more money one has, the easier one’s access to state & federal legislators (governors & presidents too)The super-rich actually get the military to protect their off-shore interests and get legislation to favor their businesses. A progressive tax structure is perfectly reasonable.
Kip W about 10 years ago
That’s the ticket! If you deny hard enough, all the breaks the rich get will go away, and they won’t have seen their profits skyrocket while the middle class got smaller and smaller. Way to live up to your avatar!
Motivemagus about 10 years ago
I read the history of the 19th century, thanks. Ryan’s policies are not only immoral (certainly not Catholic, as the Pope has made clear), but ineffective.
lisak157 Premium Member about 10 years ago
Yeah, pretty much…………..because he’s RIGHT (see how I did that there?). Of course, the lefties don’t care, they want everyone dependent on government for the vote. Got to hold the goodies over somebodies head don’t you know!
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
MaimonidesHeck, even the ancient Chinese had it right, what the heck is wrong with the libs?
Diane Lee Premium Member about 10 years ago
Fine,as soon as the Republicans agree to the first part, there will be no need for any welfare system.
Mephistopheles about 10 years ago
No Rad-ish – The poor pay a higher percentage of their disposable income in taxes but they don’t pay a higher tax.
A 15% flat tax charges $15000 to the guy who makes $100K and charges $150000 to the guy who makes $1000K.
I don’t care what my neighbor’s disposable income is (defined as what he gets to spend on himself after he pays for food, housing, clothing etc.) But Liberals always get hung up on this.
So instead we have this complicated tax code designed to shift money from those who earn their living to those who vote Democratic because that keeps them voting democratic.