electricpawn wrote:
The so called taxes that the top earners pay wind up in bank account
Accounts in the Caiman Islands. Investment in a politician or two is the best investment a wealthy man can make.
We can eliminate poverty in the USA
Sort:
Feb 23, 2016
0
#43
Senior-Lazarus_Long wrote:
Freedom from poverty is a human right.
Privilege SLL....privilege.
giving money away has NEVER worked as a solution to poverty - we've spent TRILLIONS on handouts starting with Lyndon Johnsons anti-poverty programs in the 60's. IT DOES NOT WORK!! some people simply refuse to behave resposibly, or are mentally ill, or have behavioral issues, or are addicted, etc etc. THROWING CASH AT PROBLEMS DOES NOT FIX THEM. Education, training, and personal responsibility are the only fixes
Fair distribution of wealth is a difficult ambition. The stronger, the wiser want more share. And the greedy wants it all!
if hunger is the problem, then give food away, not money. money does NOT equate to food; much of it will be spent on liquor, cigarettes, drugs.
The idea of the basic income is you can spend it as you choose. We will still have snap.
unfortunately, some people will squander any money they are given. handouts of money don't work. we've already proven that. in this country beginning in the 60s.
CensoredReality wrote:
@ab impose a restricted income, i.e. You can only spend the money on certain things. This is how food stamps works. I have a card that looks like a credit card that is only valid for non-prepared food. It's easy to manage and easy to fix which items are acceptable to be purchased.
No,the basic income right that everyone receives can be spent as they see fit. SNAP will still be retricted as will assisted living expenses. We will see some trade off,as every household will have $20,000 in income less people will qualify for SNAP and assisted living expenses. I think SNAP disappears after income is in the low $30K and assisted living expenses will virtually disappear. The savings gained from this should go to reduce the defecit. I think.
Feb 23, 2016
0
#50
CensoredReality wrote:
@spirit. You sound like a parrot. What's your educational background, faux news?
I don't have or watch a TV and I did study Economics quite a bit. Other than that, I simply have some common sense. As to you, you sound like somebody with parasitic mentality. I wonder where did you get that mindset and your info is coming from. 
Oooh, now it's going to get good. *grabs popcorn*
Feb 23, 2016
0
#52
ab121705 wrote:
giving money away has NEVER worked as a solution to poverty - we've spent TRILLIONS on handouts starting with Lyndon Johnsons anti-poverty programs in the 60's. IT DOES NOT WORK!! some people simply refuse to behave resposibly, or are mentally ill, or have behavioral issues, or are addicted, etc etc. THROWING CASH AT PROBLEMS DOES NOT FIX THEM. Education, training, and personal responsibility are the only fixes
Not only that, it encourages those who are poor to stay poor and not even try to succeed. Some people argue that this was actually done intentionally to keep certain people down. Whatever the case, it does punish work and reward laziness. The US has always been about self-reliance and success.
'Murica!
Feb 23, 2016
0
#54
It will never happen while human nature is human nature! It is just not the real world we live in. Face reality not some wishful feel good idea.
That was my original premise. The only reason we have poverty in the US is because the rich like it as an incentive for people to work harder. That's immoral. Poverty is not good for people. Since we can afford to ensure people a basic standard of living,not affluent but survivable,we should. People come first,not business.
Feb 23, 2016
0
#56
I just googled SNAP since I wasn't sure what it was. Here's the website:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
Once I clicked on it, I saw a mother holding her child in the food market. Very touching indeed. Certainly, I don't want to see that child go hungry. I've known poverty by the way. But, I also know that some people keep abusing the system by popping up kids (often women do this with different partners) to get benefits. Those benefits help not only the kids, but also them. The more kids you have, the more you receive. So, instead of working hard, creating a nest egg and only then having children, some people start having children as young as 18 (or, sometimes even younger), and take the "easy way out", so to speak. Meanwhile, the more responsible people have to foot the bill. I'm no expert on the matter, but this is just basic common sense and it's plain wrong. Unfortunately, the more some of these people get free stuff, the more they feel they're entitled to it. And they keep voting for those politicans who keep promising more free stuff. Needless to say, that this type of system is unsustainable.
SNAP will still exist under my plan. I don't believe in cutting people off.However,the number of people eligible will neccessarily go down.
Feb 23, 2016
0
#59
Senior-Lazarus_Long wrote:
That was my original premise. The only reason we have poverty in the US is because the rich like it as an incentive for people to work harder. That's immoral. Poverty is not good for people. Since we can afford to ensure people a basic standard of living,not affluent but survivable,we should. People come first,not business.
It's business and business activity that create prosperity. And it's the freedoms from heavy taxation and excessive regulation that enable some individuals to create businesses that will employ people and lift them out of poverty. Nowadays, because there are excessive regulations and high taxes, there are a lot of individuals who won't convert their savings into business activity. They're afraid of being taxed or sued for some ridiculous reason. Instead, they use these savings to create so-called safe nets for themselves in overseas bank accounts. And yes, many people leave the US and give up the Citizenship.
Feb 23, 2016
0
#60
I think I presented my views on the matter enough here. I know that these "debates" have a tendency to go long and points will often be repeated. Sometimes they turn into a trade of personal insults and I certainly don't wanna go there.
But I'd like to share a video where one person from the 1% club goes and actually has a converstation in a park with others. Perhaps you folks will be interested in hearing from him. You can watch it with popcorn. :)
Short version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGL-Ex1CD1c
Long version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahMGoB01qiA
Trying to avoid paying tax is not the same as intentionally limiting your income to avoid paying taxes.
One is dishonest, the other is stupid.
It's only your, not so educated opinion. It's obvious that when you have a disincentive to make more money, you may chose to do other activities other than make money. And if you have handouts, it's even better. You may end up in poverty but sill be comfortable. Happened throughout history, from the Ancient Roman times - bread and circus to the masses and everybody's happy!
Well I certainly can't argue that bread and circuses don't keep the masses mollified, but that's not the subject under discussion.
It's a boring and tired trope that taxes disencentivize work. It's a platitude of reactionaries who don't do much yet jealously hold on to the idea that they are more valuable than the rest of humanity. For the rest of us work, itself, is its own reward. 39.6% is the highest income tax bracket in the U.S. Who is so niggardly that they would intentionally remain in the 35% tax bracket to avoid that additional tax?