View Full Version : Again: Why Worry About Inequality?
http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/09/08/again-why-worry-about-inequality
bendog
09-11-2006, 08:52 AM
Typical libertarian whining. The progressive tax code is not about wealth redistribution, or it hasn't been for approximately 26 years.
Rohirrim
09-11-2006, 09:39 AM
Man, I've seen swiss cheese with fewer holes.
And libertarianism tells you how to get money out of politics: take political power off the auction block by restricting political power to narrow limits.
He must not have gotten the memo that the SCOTUS ruled that money IS free speech. Talk about your wide open auction. Hell, it's political Ebay!
I really liked the line about how people in the Wal Mart jeans should be just as happy as the people in the jeans that cause five times more. That reminds me of Barbara Bush's comment at the Astrodome while surveying the refugees from Katrine and said something to the effect, "Well, given how these people normally live, this is pretty good for them." Marie Antoinette couldn't have said it better. Ha!
Typical libertarian whining. The progressive tax code is not about wealth redistribution, or it hasn't been for approximately 26 years.
What's it about, then?
Man, I've seen swiss cheese with fewer holes./QUOTE]
You sure it wasn't Emmanthaler?
[QUOTE=Rohirrim]And libertarianism tells you how to get money out of politics: take political power off the auction block by restricting political power to narrow limits.
He must not have gotten the memo that the SCOTUS ruled that money IS free speech. Talk about your wide open auction. Hell, it's political Ebay!
Show me an example of so-called "Campaign Finance Reform" that actually worked. I'd much rather see no limits and 100% transparency than limits and hidden contributions, which is what we have now.
I really liked the line about how people in the Wal Mart jeans should be just as happy as the people in the jeans that cause five times more.
It's not that these people "should be just as happy", it's that spending 5x for what is functionally the exact same thing doesn't make you any happier. In short, money != happiness.
bendog
09-11-2006, 12:52 PM
What's it about, then?
The article speaks of inequality. Since 1980, the richest 5% have been INCREASING their take of gnp FASTER than their share of taxes has INCREASED. The difference has been made up in shifting taxes to workers, cutting middle class entitlements and running up deficit even more that Johnson and Nixon did.
So, NOW they're bitching about the progressive income tax. Give me a fciking break. The article MIGHT have been relevent circa 1980.
At this pt, making the tax code MORE progressive would simply be about maintaining the status quo, not addressing inequality.
Since 1980, the richest 5% have been INCREASING their take of gnp FASTER than their share of taxes has INCREASED.
Do you have a time series graph that shows this?
bendog
09-12-2006, 07:26 AM
I'm never really sure when to take you seriously, wags. It's like 'oh, prove the earth is not flat."
http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=5746&sequence=1&from=0
here's a cyber quarter.
I'm never really sure when to take you seriously, wags. It's like 'oh, prove the earth is not flat."
I expect folks who make rather declarative statements to be able to prove them.
http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=5746&sequence=1&from=0
This doesn't address your point.
bendog
09-12-2006, 10:46 AM
I'll cease taking you seriously.
L.A. BRONCOS FAN
09-13-2006, 06:30 AM
Man, I've seen swiss cheese with fewer holes.
And libertarianism tells you how to get money out of politics: take political power off the auction block by restricting political power to narrow limits.
He must not have gotten the memo that the SCOTUS ruled that money IS free speech. Talk about your wide open auction. Hell, it's political Ebay!
I really liked the line about how people in the Wal Mart jeans should be just as happy as the people in the jeans that cause five times more. That reminds me of Barbara Bush's comment at the Astrodome while surveying the refugees from Katrine and said something to the effect, "Well, given how these people normally live, this is pretty good for them." Marie Antoinette couldn't have said it better. Ha!
:yep: :thumbsup:
Babs' infamous Astrodome comment is undoubtedly just the sort of thing that endears people like her and her eldest son to W*GS.
http://www.bartcop.com/big-oil-just-fine.jpg