Are the very wealthy paying their share?

[KrazyHorse]

Adjusted Gross Income

[Hauldren Collider]

You really have no clue about what exists in this country, do you?

Why don't you ask your teacher to give your class a trip of a real homeless shelter? preferably a family one.

Which, the people in Lesotho or the homeless? I don't actually have a responsibility for either. I'm merely pointing out the inconsistency of saying we need to redistribute to the poor but then giving your money to people who are in the top 50% of everyone in the world in terms of income.

I doubt most homeless in this country fall under the "50% of everyone in the world in terms of income" unless they are recipients of government transfer payments already - last time I cheked, hard to be in the "top 50%" of income if you have none.

If you were even slightly familiar with the actual data you would know that I am correct.

[Aeson]

If you were even slightly familiar with the actual data you would know that I am correct.

no. The point ur trying 2 make may be correct, but u ****ed it up. Income n0t adjusted 4 cost of living is meaningless 2 who lives better, and even when adjusted misses the point.

[C0ckney]

How does it stack up after adjusting for cost of living? I spend about $100/mo here on necessities and then some.

yes exactly. there are people who live in the same neighbourhood as me who make considerably less than $300/month, but they have a roof over their heads, enough food to eat etc. their situation is much better than that of someone living on the street in a US city by any reasonable measure.

[giblets]

Homeless people are much more prone to being robbed, from what I've heard.

[Thorn]

robbed and robed! mind you!

[GePap]

If you were even slightly familiar with the actual data you would know that I am correct.

Which, the people in Lesotho or the homeless? I don't actually have a responsibility for either. I'm merely pointing out the inconsistency of saying we need to redistribute to the poor but then giving your money to people who are in the top 50% of everyone in the world in terms of income.

Median monthly income for beggars is estimated to fall somewhere in the 100-300$ range in the US

The top end of that range is above the 50% individual world median income.

1. Most homeless are NOT beggers and I don't know what gives anyone that idea.
2. As Aeson said, comparitive costs matter, and I have plenty of experience having grown up in the Third World and having family there about the importance of purchasing power parity. .Poverty is a relative judgement. After all, by the "figures" somoene in Lesotho making $400 a month will be very well off there, but certainly not in the US.
3. We have more than enough wealth in this country to give to both the poor here and the poor in the Third World if we wanted to, and I personally have no problem with that, unlike budding sociopath HC, so I see no inconsistency in seeking to remove poverty whereever it exists.

I am very glad not to share the values you two seem to currently hold.

[Hauldren Collider]

So why not take all the money directed for US poor people and give it to Bangladeshis instead where it is needed more? That whole cost of living stuff is crap by the way, it's merely a reflection of the fact that the stuff they get for their money isn't as awful. The fact that US beggars can get $400 a month and Sothos cant is the whole point.

Also if we had unlimited cash, we wouldn't have a deficit. ******.

[Thorn]

Bangladeshis don't take visa.

[giblets]

That whole cost of living stuff is crap by the way, it's merely a reflection of the fact that the stuff they get for their money isn't as awful. The fact that US beggars can get $400 a month and Sothos cant is the whole point.

Are you saying significant cost of living differences don't exist?

[GePap]

So why not take all the money directed for US poor people and give it to Bangladeshis instead where it is needed more? That whole cost of living stuff is crap by the way, it's merely a reflection of the fact that the stuff they get for their money isn't as awful. The fact that US beggars can get $400 a month and Sothos cant is the whole point.

Also if we had unlimited cash, we wouldn't have a deficit. ******.

We CAN have unlimited 'cash' if we wanted to - there is nothing material stopping the US from crediting every banking instutition with access to the Fed window $1 Trillion in their accounts and then passing a law ordering them to spend it. The limit on that is one of beliefs and values. The fact that you act as if your last statement were somehow self-evident without even taking the time to realize your mistake is your fundamental flaw.

[C0ckney]

That whole cost of living stuff is crap by the way, it's merely a reflection of the fact that the stuff they get for their money isn't as awful. The fact that US beggars can get $400 a month and Sothos cant is the whole point.

the cost of living arguement is a response to people who say 'well what those beggars are earning is in the top 50% of world income'. it doesn't matter what the level of income is. what matters is the standard of living that income can give you.

[Egbert]

So why not take all the money directed for US poor people and give it to Bangladeshis instead where it is needed more?

1. Starving Bangladeshis can't travel to the other side of the world to rob your house and mug you on the way to school. Starving Americans have you close by, ready to robbed.

[KrazyHorse]

I am very glad not to share the values you two seem to currently hold.

Given that I haven't expressed any views in this thread about the relative value derived by rich vs poor from marginal dollars, go **** yourself.

The views I've expressed here have had to do with the economic efficiency of various forms of taxation and redistribution programs versus each other, and some empirical facts about the dynamic response of labor supply to tax rates.

For your information I support fairly large, in-cash transfers to the poor, mostly to other regions which are much poorer than the First World.

[KrazyHorse]

1. Starving Bangladeshis can't travel to the other side of the world to rob your house and mug you on the way to school. Starving Americans have you close by, ready to robbed.

There are virtually no starving Americans, and if they were starving they would be easy to fight off.