Conservative Ben Stein on Tax Rates

[Publius]

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

Tax cuts always increase tax revenue in the long run. Theoretically we should keep cutting taxes and we could remove the national debt. As the tax percentages go to zero our revenues should approach infinity.

I hope you're being sarcastic, because that is absurd and completely false.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Publius

I hope you're being sarcastic, because that is absurd and completely false.

He is showing the absurdity of continually cutting taxes to increase revenue

There is a nobel prize in economics for the first person who can prove that cutting taxes spurs revenue growth more than using that same amount and investing it in your country

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

I don't see why people are against paying their taxes that funds the war on terror

And no, you can't pick and choose, because i use the subway so much I'd stop paying for roads

But no, we have people trying to give as little to this country as possible, and thus we have to fight 'wars on the cheap' that create more terrorists and endanger america

You could say those who want lower taxes aren't patriotic, nothing would make Osama Bin Laden happier than having US taxes abolished

So, are you on OBL's side or America's side?

I was talking to my grandpa the other day and he was saying how nobody but those who have volunteered have had to make any sacrifices. Because it started with nobody making sacrifices (such as financing the whole thing so we don't feel it on our pocket book) and continues to this day with nobody making sacrifices except for those volunteers, we are never going to get a true sense on who would actually, in the bottom of their gut, support this war. There are so many people who are like "Fuck yea!! kick some ass".. if a little voice was like "well we need to you cut back on gasoline, no using your boat on the weekends during the war, car pool to work, and we need a progressive war tax of 2, 4, and 6%" All of the sudden people will be like...whull...uh..did the inspectors find weapons or something?

In world war 2 we had to limit fuel, food, rubber, and all kinds of things. Women had to go work while the husbands and sons went off to fight back when women working was not as common place. You want to talk about supporting the troops and supporting the war... that is the definition. Not this horse shit we see today.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I was talking to my grandpa the other day and he was saying how nobody but those who have volunteered have had to make any sacrifices. Because it started with nobody making sacrifices (such as financing the whole thing so we don't feel it on our pocket book) and continues to this day with nobody making sacrifices except for those volunteers, we are never going to get a true sense on who would actually, in the bottom of their gut, support this war. There are so many people who are like "Fuck yea!! kick some ass".. if a little voice was like "well we need to you cut back on gasoline, no using your boat on the weekends during the war, car pool to work, and we need a progressive war tax of 2, 4, and 6%" All of the sudden people will be like...whull...uh..did the inspectors find weapons or something?

In world war 2 we had to limit fuel, food, rubber, and all kinds of things. Women had to go work while the husbands and sons went off to fight back when women working was not as common place. You want to talk about supporting the troops and supporting the war... that is the definition. Not this horse shit we see today.

If people made the same arguments today in the war on terror about taxes in 1943, they'd be called nazi sympathizers and unpatriotic

[lew]

Going back to FDR's tax scheme and war is eleventy billion times worse than the shit hole we're in now.

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

If people made the same arguments today in the war on terror about taxes in 1943, they'd be called nazi sympathizers and unpatriotic

It is that kind of mentality from the neo-conservative republican sean hannity pnac crowd that has me in some sort of shock and awe in regards to how bad they have been able to fuck this country without people feeling it. They used so much patriot lube they can't even feel the red white and blue beef missile up their ass.

I have no issue with the traditional libertarian style republican. Though i do not agree with them on some things, at least they can make a good argument. The new "red scare" and biggest threat to democracy is the neo-conservative republican because of their tactics. When they can take a decorated war veteran and bust his balls down to nothing, while at the same time they can make a non-serving alcoholic coke head tree trimming red neck look more patriotic and more qualified to be present... something is fundamentally wrong. John McCain, John Murtha, or John Kerry, all three are significantly better men than this guy (whether you agree with their politics or not) but the Karl Rove neo-conservative agenda is so powerful it lead to 2 election wins and Murtha being labeled "white flag democrat" "defeatocrat" and a variety of other things.

sorry for the rant

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by lew

Going back to FDR's tax scheme and war is eleventy billion times worse than the shit hole we're in now.

At least we were able to pay off some debt when we got done.

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Ben stein is writing for idiots now?

It should be no surprise that the richest guy with so much income from capital gains is going to pay a lower percentage of total income to taxes than the rest of us paying all the taxes that come with ordinary income.

What gets me is the idea that Warren Buffett is so damn Intelligent. I don't doubt his ability to bankroll what money he has to make more. But that is no Einstein evidence, just good business practice. He should know that by investing his money and creating econoimic growth and jobs in the private sector he is doing far more public good than throwing the money at government so they can find new creative ways to waste it. Another rich guy who has little understanding or defence of basic capitalism. That may be rich but not so smart!

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

He is showing the absurdity of continually cutting taxes to increase revenue

There is a nobel prize in economics for the first person who can prove that cutting taxes spurs revenue growth more than using that same amount and investing it in your country

As soon as the government actually produces it is more than welcome to invest. The government confiscates and redistributes money by force of law. If they were so clever with money why do they even need taxpayers? They could compete with the private sector. But the fool attempts at government controled and run economics have already proven the folly of that route and I don't need to give a Nobel prize to prove it!

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

What gets me is the idea that Warren Buffett is so damn Intelligent. I don't doubt his ability to bankroll what money he has to make more. But that is no Einstein evidence, just good business practice. He should know that by investing his money and creating econoimic growth and jobs in the private sector he is doing far more public good than throwing the money at government so they can find new creative ways to waste it. Another rich guy who has little understanding or defence of basic capitalism. That may be rich but not so smart!

maybe it is a signal that he thinks his underlings are incompetent and unable to acheive the same level of returns that he has in the past ?

maybe he values his legacy over efficiency?

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

What gets me is the idea that Warren Buffett is so damn Intelligent. I don't doubt his ability to bankroll what money he has to make more. But that is no Einstein evidence, just good business practice. He should know that by investing his money and creating econoimic growth and jobs in the private sector he is doing far more public good than throwing the money at government so they can find new creative ways to waste it. Another rich guy who has little understanding or defence of basic capitalism. That may be rich but not so smart!

Uh... he started with very little and converted it to 45 billion dollars... hes not stupid.

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Uh... he started with very little and converted it to 45 billion dollars... hes not stupid.

Warren Buffet isn't stupid but he has the ability to pay the treasury whatever he wants. I agree loopholes need to be filled but dont force everyone to do something just because an individual(s) wants it.

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

I don't see why people are against paying their taxes that funds the war on terror

And no, you can't pick and choose, because i use the subway so much I'd stop paying for roads

But no, we have people trying to give as little to this country as possible, and thus we have to fight 'wars on the cheap' that create more terrorists and endanger america

You could say those who want lower taxes aren't patriotic, nothing would make Osama Bin Laden happier than having US taxes abolished

So, are you on OBL's side or America's side?

Guess you cant cut your personal spending while paying your rent/mortgage.

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Warren Buffet isn't stupid but he has the ability to pay the treasury whatever he wants. I agree loopholes need to be filled but dont force everyone to do something just because an individual(s) wants it.

Yes, a simplified Tax, even if it is not flat.

[nbiggershaft]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

As soon as the government actually produces it is more than welcome to invest. The government confiscates and redistributes money by force of law. If they were so clever with money why do they even need taxpayers? They could compete with the private sector. But the fool attempts at government controled and run economics have already proven the folly of that route and I don't need to give a Nobel prize to prove it!

Come again, the private secter? You guys would go apeshit if the government started running private companies.