1. I think we have a horrible tax code.
2.  The irs  should go away
3. I don't think  someone should be allowed to price gouge because someone had a medical need.
4. I think the government completely fucks everything up.
5. I think both democrats and republicans are corrupt (at least  the majority) only looking out for themselves.
6. I think all the loopholes should be  closed that allow businesses and the rich to pay zero taxes, even get a rebate
7. I think the estate (death) tax should be abolished.
8. I think capital gains tax should remain low.
9. I think a flat tax system is doable(I'm sure some people have some ideas)
10. I think inflation may hit us like a freight  train in the not to distant future.
11. I think even if a business does business outside the U.S. They still must pay taxes on it.
12. I think the government was put in place for the benefit of the people, not just an"elite"class that currently gets all the benefits.
13. I think social security is a good idea, until they taped into the surplus many years ago, and now its practically broke.
14. I think we have some of the worst working conditions in the developed world.
15. I think people fight to much against themselves to get  anything done/changed.  Instead of asking why someone has a 3 week paid holiday, great benefits, etc.  and wanting that taken away from them, we should be asking why we dint have that.
16. I think we should cut defense,a lot, cut medicare.
17. I think the disparity between rich and middle class(poor) is growing and is not sustainable in a society.
18.  I  think the majority of people are idiots when it comes to financial knowledge
19. I know the so called american dream is dead, what with more and more people joining the  poor class, while the rich get richer.
20. I think the US is fucked.  And we wil come very close to not being the worlds reserve currency...that would be bad.  Every empire falls, 200 plus years ain't bad as top dog, but all things come to an end

These are just ramblings of a sick person in bed with the flu.  Thoughts?

-- Modified on 4/10/2011 11:23:28 AM

-- Modified on 4/10/2011 11:29:54 AM

As for the rest, I agree with a lot of what you say but don't have the energy to respond further.

1) Agree
2) Yep
3) Agree, but remember while a pill may costs 12 cents now, the first one probably cost about 500 million. They do have the right to recoup thise costs
4) They do a FEW things right. The Eisenhower Interstate System. But for the most part, yeah, they can screw up a wet dream
5) Yep
6) Yep, will happen when you do away with the stupid tax code
7) ABSOLUTELY
8) Yep
9) That or the Fair Tax
10) Yep
11) Not sure here. Would need to consider it
12) Agreed. But remember, lately the eliste class includes government employees who get huge perk packages no average citizen could ever expect
13) Overall I liked the concept, but it has major flaws in that they could get to the money and it was never indexed based on life expectancy
14) Totally Disagree.
15) One exception to this. If the employee is a govenrment employee. This it is the tax payer paying the bill and we should have a say. If it is a private employer, than none of our business.
16) We will have to cut the big 3, Defense, Medicare, Social Security. BUT, we should get rid of all the little BS stuff before we start taking away from the stuff that really matters. That means NPR and Planned Parenthood out of the budget
17) Possibly, but no one knows what the point is.
18)  Amen!!!
19) Depends on how you define it. If it is working in a factory building goods, yeah, pretty much gone. However, the dream is not gone, opportunity is still there to be had, but it is not as automatic as it use to be. Now you have to work harder for it. This has nothing to do with the rich and poor gap, but the fact that we are now a global economy so the Amercan worker must compete
20) You may be right. When all a population does is try to vote itself monies from the public trough and spend more time worrying about how to take away what others have than to think about how they can earn it themselves, I would say the clock is ticking....

1. We have a perfect tax code. It is designed to redistribute wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich, and it does it remarkably well.

2. If we're not going to bother with raising revenue anymore, then we should get rid of the IRS. In the meantime, Republicans should read the Federalist Papers and discover why the Articles of Confederation failed.  

3. Price gouging the sick is part of the American Dream. How do you expect some cretin to make a profit if he can't impose a defacto death penalty over someone's head?

4. The government does fuck everything up. Yet, businessmen always complain about how government gets in their way. That tells you all you need to know about how much they fuck up.

5. I think after the next election, our country will improve immediately, regardless of who wins. But I won't hold my breath.

6. If you close all those tax loopholes than GE, Exxon, Citi, and Bank of America will have to cut all those tax advisor jobs that allow them to pay zero taxes. That would be bad for 'Murica.

7. I think we should have a negative estate tax. When a rich guy dies, his siblings should be able to steal money from the homeless who panhandle.

8. I think we should eliminate the capital gains tax, but offset the lost revenue by making 6 year olds work in sweat shops under slave labor contracts.

9. The best thing about a flat tax is that the richer you are, the lower the percentage you pay in taxes.

10. When the US is hit with hyperinflation, it won't matter since the rich can just offshore their wealth overseas.

11. A corporation having to pay any taxes is theft. A corporation that rips off consumers by selling them overpriced junk is not theft.

12. The purpose of government is to keep the stupid masses from setting corporate executives on fire. In this way, India has a shitty government.

13. The biggest problem with social security is that no one is allowed to skim off the top of it and get filthy rich off of it.

14. If we can make working conditions worse, then investors can make larger profits.

15. An eye for an eye may leave the whole world blind, but if you're in the business of selling ice picks, you can make a handsome profit.

16. Cutting defense would mean that a lot of private businesses who turn a lower profit. It's better to cut medicare, since that's only going to harm sick old people.

17. So long as people still have money to shop at Wal-Mart, then Wall Street hasn't gotten all the Middle Class's money yet.

18. It's a good thing that public schools don't require that you take an economics class in order to graduate. It makes stealing their money a lot easier.

19. The American Dream is alive and well, for about 400 households in America.

20. The US isn't fucked. But Americans are.

1. I think we have a horrible tax code - Agree, too many loop holes for the rich

2.  The irs  should go away - No, some other agency will take its place

3. I don't think  someone should be allowed to price gouge because someone had a medical need- Agree

4. I think the government completely fucks everything up - Partisan ship and no term limit does the fuck up. No one should be allowed to serve in Congress or the Senate their entire life time. POTUS has 8 Years, why for congress both at 8 years max.

5. I think both democrats and republicans are corrupt (at least  the majority) only looking out for themselves. Agree, Elections have gotten so expensive, fund rising by doling out favors their primary job and representing their constituents and doing what is good for the country is their part time job.

6. I think all the loopholes should be  closed that allow businesses and the rich to pay zero taxes, even get a rebate- Agree

7. I think the estate (death) tax should be abolished- No, because they didn't pay taxes when they earned it like the rest of us. Besides it makes whomever inherits the money useless to the society.

8. I think capital gains tax should remain low - To a certain extent. If its is from creating new innovation, starting business, yes. If it is from speculation and playing the market, it should be taxed because either activity didn't contribute zilch.

9. I think a flat tax system is doable(I'm sure some people have some ideas) - No immediately because our tax code at the moment is lopsided.

10. I think inflation may hit us like a freight  train in the not to distant future - May not because global economy no longer entirely controlled by the G8.

11. I think even if a business does business outside the U.S. They still must pay taxes on it - They do when the money brought back to the country. Most don't bring it back because repatriation taxes are high. Pretty much all developed and newly developed countries have the same taxation policy.

12. I think the government was put in place for the benefit of the people, not just an"elite"class that currently gets all the benefits - How are they going to do that when the Government is controlled by the 1%. They are not going to hurt themselves.

13. I think social security is a good idea, until they taped into the surplus many years ago, and now its practically broke - It was solvent when Clinton left office in 2000. You know rest of the story.

14. I think we have some of the worst working conditions in the developed world. - True, our work life business is worst in the world including Newly Industrialized Nations.

15. I think people fight to much against themselves to get  anything done/changed.  Instead of asking why someone has a 3 week paid holiday, great benefits, etc.  and wanting that taken away from them, we should be asking why we dint have that. Yep. I will add people also refuse to read and think for themselves and have become drones of talking heads. Ability and intelligence is last and sound bites and riling people by misleading is what gets you elected.

16. I think we should cut defense,a lot, cut medicare- People paid for Medicaid. If you cant properly manage it you elected morons and we have for very long time. If you are working you are paying. It is not a handout like people have you believe.


17. I think the disparity between rich and middle class(poor) is growing and is not sustainable in a society. Correct, you posted the VF article so you know why? Revolutions are made that way.

18.  I  think the majority of people are idiots when it comes to financial knowledge - Not only finance but also politics, global economy, what politicians and lost the ability to critically think when the talking heads on TV and Radio took over their lives.

19. I know the so called american dream is dead, what with more and more people joining the  poor class, while the rich get richer. Correct. Middle class is declining rapidly, and the infrastructure is crumbling.

20. I think the US is fucked.  And we wil come very close to not being the worlds reserve currency...that would be bad.  Every empire falls, 200 plus years ain't bad as top dog, but all things come to an end - It is only a matter of time. One shenanigan like 2008, it is over.

1. We have a perfect tax code. It is designed to redistribute wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich, and it does it remarkably well. Exactly what have today.

Not going to change anytime soon.

2. If we're not going to bother with raising revenue anymore, then we should get rid of the IRS. In the meantime, Republicans should read the Federalist Papers and discover why the Articles of Confederation failed.  

Republicans and reading does not belong in the same sentence so, SOL.

3. Price gouging the sick is part of the American Dream. How do you expect some cretin to make a profit if he can't impose a defacto death penalty over someone's head?

Agreed

4. The government does fuck everything up. Yet, businessmen always complain about how government gets in their way. That tells you all you need to know about how much they fuck up.  

Businesses want free access to your money and if you take loan, they want charge 50-60% APR

5. I think after the next election, our country will improve immediately, regardless of who wins. But I won't hold my breath.  

Not holding breadth, ain't happening.

6. If you close all those tax loopholes than GE, Exxon, Citi, and Bank of America will have to cut all those tax advisor jobs that allow them to pay zero taxes. That would be bad for 'Murica.

Yes, indeed.

7. I think we should have a negative estate tax. When a rich guy dies, his siblings should be able to steal money from the homeless who panhandle.

Give them the opportunity and see what happens.

8. I think we should eliminate the capital gains tax, but offset the lost revenue by making 6 year olds work in sweat shops under slave labor contracts.

Good idea, why not. Then we can close schools and universities, we don't need them. Education creates trouble for the ruling class.

9. The best thing about a flat tax is that the richer you are, the lower the percentage you pay in taxes.

But there will be taxes on everything you buy or do and they can increase it and you would not know. That's the trick.

10. When the US is hit with hyperinflation, it won't matter since the rich can just offshore their wealth overseas.

In order to have inflation, money supply has to increase. Since 1% control all the wealth, they will not let if happen.

11. A corporation having to pay any taxes is theft. A corporation that rips off consumers by selling them overpriced junk is not theft.

That's capitalism

12. The purpose of government is to keep the stupid masses from setting corporate executives on fire. In this way, India has a shitty government.

It will happen eventually.

13. The biggest problem with social security is that no one is allowed to skim off the top of it and get filthy rich off of it.

Yep

14. If we can make working conditions worse, then investors can make larger profits.

15. An eye for an eye may leave the whole world blind, but if you're in the business of selling ice picks, you can make a handsome profit.  

Agree

16. Cutting defense would mean that a lot of private businesses who turn a lower profit. It's better to cut medicare, since that's only going to harm sick old people.

Agree

17. So long as people still have money to shop at Wal-Mart, then Wall Street hasn't gotten all the Middle Class's money yet.

They haven't gotten all of it yet but they are working on it. Not to worry


18. It's a good thing that public schools don't require that you take an economics class in order to graduate. It makes stealing their money a lot easier.

19. The American Dream is alive and well, for about 400 households in America.

Actually, it is way, way better than what the dreamt.

20. The US isn't fucked. But Americans are.

Getting fucked more every day and liking it.

I don't really agree with everything you're saying but I like how you say it.
"Are there no prisons?  Are there no workhouses?
E. Scrooge

-- Modified on 4/11/2011 8:07:15 PM

military. For the past 100 years we have been the biggest ass kickers on the planet.