[Bored] [Druid] [Thread] Follow

So I'm taking that Political Compass test, and there's one "question" that makes me angry, because it's a ridiculous oversimplification.

"The rich are too highly taxed."

If you have no idea what taxes look like for someone like Warren Buffett, you'd probably agree or disagree based on how you view redistribution of wealth or social welfare.

But the crazy part of our country's tax code is that capital gains are only taxed 15%. So if Warren Buffett makes $1B on capital gains, the government only sees $150M (which seems like a lot, but it's a drop in the bucket for the government). Take ten people like Warren Buffett and say they all make $1B this year in capital gains; that's $1.5B for the government.

And that's awesome. But what if that was part of their income tax (since it actually is a type of income)? Well, then it's taxed at 35%. So instead of $150M each, they owe $350M each. $1.5B from ten billionaires becomes $3.5B.

This is really all that's necessary to tax the wealthy more. They don't need higher income taxes; they'll just cut their salaries to $1 like Steve Jobs did, and take options in stock, which is taxed at an insanely lower rate than income.

Boom. Lawyered.

So yes, I'm angry about the question. Continue on.

Edit: actually, taxes on capital gains are going up to 20% this year. So yippee, going in the right direction.

Edited, Jan 8th 2013 11:56pm by Theophany

/flingpoo

Edited, Jan 8th 2013 11:28pm by Horsemouth

ITT: Lots and lots of boring American politics about economy.

Not ITT: Boobs and beer.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

Edit: Aeth, I had a few of these when I was in Sweden. Good stuff.

Edited, Jan 9th 2013 3:22pm by Mazra

Even as a citizen it's hard to care much about specifics. You do try, you do care, but between the inane babble and constant political propaganda you just want to shove them all off a fiscal cliff or something.

Those look... uncomfortable.

Pet peeves. When are the Brits going to learn how to pronounce words properly. Keepers of the Mother Tongue, eh? Why does every word ending in "ia" or "w" get pronounced as ending in "re"? India is Indier, China is Chiner, Law is Lore, etc. I listen to the BBC on my morning drive and it drives me nuts (no pun intended).


Theo, you talk about redistribution of wealth like it's a bad thing. It's not. As long it is done in moderation. I'm not at all interested in returning to the days of Jolly Old England, when there was a nobility that kept everything it owned and passed it all on down to the heirs. In a civilized society there has to be a certain redistribution of wealth. And I assure you, my wife and I land squarely in the group that would have its wealth redistributed, so I'm not looking to take your money for myself.

I don't think anyone can argue that what's made America the country it is today, is that for a long time anyone could "make it big" if they worked hard. Today, working hard won't get you anywhere unless you have real money backing you. So, you have to win the gene lottery and be born to parents with the cash to help you through school, help you dress the part, and if you want to go into business - help you get started with that.


If they could just do whatever they think or feel is best, the result would be pretty indistinguishable. Unfortunately, you don't elect the man/woman, you elect the people they are beholden to. Romney would have gone more to the right because he would have wanted to get re-elected. Obama has a little more leeway since it is his second term, but history shows us that second term Presidents have about 18 months before they become lame duck.

Other over-riding moral values where it could be acceptable or something? Okay before marriage, but cheating is bad. It's okay if he cheats on you first, it's fine if you both agree to it, etc. etc. Something like that?

But yeah, some of them were a little odd.



Sharing is caring.

Still more constructive and less stupid than an Alma or Gbaji post.

I shall try that if I ever get the chance. And here's some Allison Brie to calm your mind.

Those tits are just straight up terrifying.




And hideous, mostly hideous I think. She looks malformed.

Oh God, first practice today after 3 weeks off for winter break. I vomited.

Does the "practice" involve consumption of alcohol?

Agreed, hope you're feeling better soon fish.



That brings back some memorable times. Not necessarily good, but throwing up has a way of making memories stick.

Edited, Jan 9th 2013 12:24pm by someproteinguy

Do what I say, but not what I say, eh?

Yeah, I'd agree that the sex question is worded weird. I do believe in some sort of moral ambiguity, but if they're looking for gut reactions to things, I would think they'd word their questions in absolutes.

I mainly cringed.


Also, I think my Karma is now high enough to get me to Excellent with 1 rate up. Unless someone else thought that was funny enough to upvote which I honestly doubt.

I just start off with doubting everyone's intelligence and sometimes people prove that they aren't actually morons.


Also, world domination is nigh! Or more likely, Xsarus having a laugh playing pinball with my karma.

Edit: I upvoted all the sages in this thread now to see who needs 1 and who needs 2 upvotes to reach Excellent. So far only Mazra needs 2. Poor Maz

Edited, Jan 10th 2013 2:53am by Aethien

It's because Maz posts too much.

That just makes me cringe. And since Protein hasn't commented on it I'm going to assume he's dumbstruck.

Wow, a Pharmacy Tech. Although the few chain store Pharmacists I've spoken with in the last few years do not impress me at all. I don't know how they pass the Boards.


It took a long @#%^ing time to get Maz green. Twice as long as Digg.


Is that a challenge? Something for us to do during the winter doldrums?

I'm ok with that. Red goes better with my avatar anyway

I dunno, House seems to fit you and I can't say I've seen anything of Archer.

Why would you go into anything medicine related if you believe all that?

You can always tell who the people who just got out of basic training/boot camp, including myself. I went on such a binge that the next day the combination of alcohol and exercise threw me over the edge. I don't really remember anyone being sick after exercise while in training, though I do remember vomiting near the first phase.

See, we drink a lot of water. A lot. It's simply necessary considering the environments we go to and the amount of activity we tend to do. Have to stay hydrated. So at nights there were "Hydration Formations." It's were you take a canteen of water, which is about a quart and stand there, holding it out in front of you. The instructors inspect to make sure it's full, and then everyone has to start drinking, the whole thing, while the instructors count. The longer it takes everyone to drink, the more push ups you had to do afterwards. Now, a quart of water is not a little bit, and most people simply don't start off with the capacity to drink that much at all, much less as fast as possible. So much spewing the first week (including myself) that it was hilarious.

I don't wat to upvote you because I'm afraid it'll only bring your karma down.

But that would be lying and lying is bad.

Not a lie if you believe it's true.


Water is better when coffee-flavored.