A liberal and a conservative were sitting in a bar. Then Bill Gates walked in.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

You haven't givin me any reason why ordinary folk should support the tax cut when they aren't getting anything for it.

Maybe they support it because it's fair. Maybe they support it because they know the people who pay the most taxes should get the most relief. You act like these people are idiots just because they aren't greedy and riddled with envy.

You actually believe this?! You sound like the guys in the cartoon. Have you ever had to worry about not paying for things you need? They think its fair?!

[Drake Tungsten]

That would be even stupider since the vast majority will not ever be wealthy.

So all the folks in the Midwest are stupid for having confidence in themselves and hope for the future?

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by cia
Duncan, no one takes care of me. I offer a business a service which they must pay for to get. A price is agreed upon and the deal proceeds from there. Most businesses are small ( I believe under 10 employees) and so decreasing their taxes allows someone who needs to hire an additional worker but could not economically stretch that far the opportunity to do so.

The fact that only a small number of small businesses get any tax break at all, and most of them don't has already been discussed.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

That would be even stupider since the vast majority will not ever be wealthy.

So all the folks in the Midwest are stupid for having confidence in themselves and hope for the future?

I would say they are stupid to vote Republican just because they think they will be rich in the future.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

GP: whats a doppelganger?

CIA: Well, if the US had full retirement pensions for every american, you wouldnt need to worry about your grandparents. Of course, that means more taxes before to pay for later. Yes, your situation is dire. You obviously need to cut your spending (first and formost by getting rid of your internet line so then you cant challenge me so much ) by moving to a lower cost house, going out to eat less, buying less expensive food, consuming less gas and electricity and water. In hindsight you should have layed off getting that house with the big mortgage (but of course hindsight is 20/20. Did you know before you bought it that you had to support your grandparents too? How old are they?)

[Drake Tungsten]

I would say they are stupid to vote Republican just because they think they will be rich in the future.

That's only part of the reason. They also value fairness and the rewarding of merit, values that seem to have fallen out of favor in the rest of the country.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Drake - Maybe they arnt greedy, but the republicans are then just playing them for political gain for their own.

CIA: you can be wealthy and not have tax breaks at the same time. Who says I've given up?

[Drake Tungsten]

Drake - Maybe they arnt greedy, but the republicans are then just playing them for political gain for their own.

Why? It's quite possible that they ordinary folk in the Midwest actually agree with the Republicans. Why is it so outrageous to think that people might actually support a tax cut that rewards taxpayers based on how much they put into the system? Since when does supporting fairness make you a rube?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

'fairness' is a very loaded term. 'fair' from your perspective is different from mine.

Why should we 'reward' the richest taxpayers? Because they vote overwhelmnigly republican? Will this 'reward' push the economy forward? of course not! The tax cut will return vast sums of money into the poketbooks of rich americans who will say thank you very much, sit down on their cushy couch and invest into the stockmarket.

Meanwhile, the rest of the US is going down the toilet literally. But thats fine, as long as the rich get a 'reward'

Thats fair

Isnt it?

[Drake Tungsten]

'fairness' is a very loaded term. 'fair' from your perspective is different from mine.

I'm just trying to give the general Midwestern view of "fairness", as I see it.

Will this 'reward' push the economy forward? of course not!

Why not? The money's going to be put back into the economy; it's not going to sit under some rich guy's bed.

The tax cut will return vast sums of money into the poketbooks of rich americans who will say thank you very much, sit down on their cushy couch and invest into the stockmarket.

And investing in the stockmarket doesn't boost the economy?

Meanwhile, the rest of the US is going down the toilet literally.

In absolute terms, most of the US is doing very well. I don't see where you get the "going down the toilet" idea from.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

I would say they are stupid to vote Republican just because they think they will be rich in the future.

That's only part of the reason. They also value fairness and the rewarding of merit, values that seem to have fallen out of favor in the rest of the country.

If this country valued fairness there would be no rich.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Investing in the stockmarket will NOT boost the economy.
And yes, the money will go under the mattress (*so he doesnt have to declare it to the IRS) or into an offshore tax haven (so he doesnt ahve to declare it to the IRS)

Ill tell you where I get the toilet idea from

Nearly 6% unemployment, inflation rate which is steadily growing at a slower and slower rate, low GDP growth

[Drake Tungsten]

If this country valued fairness there would be no rich.

Equality of results is not the same as fairness...

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by DuncanK


If this country valued fairness there would be no rich.

Well said, comrade.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
And investing in the stockmarket doesn't boost the economy?

Money going into the stock market will help the economy precious little. However, if the end results are budget deficits and there is a tax increase for low and middle income tax payers then you will see big problems for the economy.