[erikkellison]

Do you want to know why??? It's simple really. The top 5 percent (in terms of income) in the US pay 53.8 percent of the total taxes.
The people in the top 50 percent of the income bracket pay 94 percent of income taxes.
The lower 50 percent (half of the united states) pay only 6 percent in taxes.

Please tell me how this is fair?? Welfare breeds stupidity and laziness. Why not force drug tests for welfare?? Force jobs for welfare?? There are reasons bro, it's not all a government conspiracy.

Are you kidding? You must not know anyone who is really poor, or ever been poor yourself. It's not a "choice." Sure, there are lazy people out there who choose to drink instead of work, but that's some dangerous generalization, and far from a fair appraisal of the situation. It's just more fun and easier to blame the poor people for their situation so you don't feel some social responsiblity and culpability for their socioeconomic status.
It's all about disposable income. Rich people should pay more because they have more money to spare. If the bottom 50% had to pay 94% of taxes, they wouldn't have ANY money left for ANYTHING. I can't believe there are still people that think the way you do.
And for the record, I had to pay an additional $3000+ on April 15th.
Do you really think that increasing taxes for those who have more disposable income will stymie innovation and industry? Rich people will just "give up," stop trying and settle in for being poor because it's just "too expensive" to be rich? I am highly suspect of the intellectual faculties of anyone who might actually fall for that line of reasoning.

 

[3D.]

I know of very few wealthy people in today’s world that have actually earned their own riches, stupid or smart. I see many well-off (brainless) families that are currently prospering from previous generations hard work and higher intelligence levels.

We all can’t be rich, no matter how hard you work or however smart you think you are… it’s not the way it works. One mans fortune, leaves less for some.

If you are living a rich life, just be thankfull all your cards fell into place because it’s not always as easy as you made it look.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I know of very few wealthy people in today’s world that have actually earned their own riches, stupid or smart. I see many well-off (brainless) families that are currently prospering from previous generations hard work and higher intelligence levels.

We all can’t be rich, no matter how hard you work or however smart you think you are… it’s not the way it works. One mans fortune, leaves less for some.

If you are living a rich life, just be thankfull all your cards fell into place because it’s not always as easy as you made it look.

poverty is a birth defect?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Obama:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes offering reparations to the descendants of slaves, putting him at odds with some black groups and leaders.

 

[Defenestrated]

poverty is a birth defect?

depends where you are born

to a single mother living off welfare in the inner city housing projects your probably screwed from jump street.

 

[$tinkle]

book recommendation time: rich dad, poor dad

 

[Defenestrated]

This book is depressing.

 

[3D.]

book recommendation time: rich dad, poor dad

like I was saying… it’s impossible for everyone to be rich. If it wasn’t for the poor, there would be no rich.

 

[dirtboyracer]

Do you want to know why??? It's simple really. The top 5 percent (in terms of income) in the US pay 53.8 percent of the total taxes.
The people in the top 50 percent of the income bracket pay 94 percent of income taxes.
The lower 50 percent (half of the united states) pay only 6 percent in taxes.

Please tell me how this is fair?? Welfare breeds stupidity and laziness. Why not force drug tests for welfare?? Force jobs for welfare?? There are reasons bro, it's not all a government conspiracy.

You claim the fact that the top 5% pay 53.8% of the total taxes is unfair. That 5% also holds MORE then 53.8% of the net worth in Defenestrated's graph so in actuality, they pay less taxes then the poor as a percentage of their net worth. Even a true flat tax on their net worth would have them paying more then they are now.

 

[Samirol]

graphs are cool so I'm going to post graphs

These people were asked if they thought humans and apes had a common ancestor:

This is Iran's political structure, the President is NOT the most powerful:

This is per week IIRC:

edit: forgot some good ones

 

[BIGHITR]

Not looking to start an argument but... I would like to point out something... the non minority tax payer pays $35K a year per inmate for 85% minority majority of the prison population, I'd say that repartion bill has been already been paid.

 

[Defenestrated]

Crime is linked to poverty not race, it just so happens that minorities are poor.

 

[Samirol]

Not looking to start an argument but... I would like to point out something... the non minority tax payer pays $35K a year per inmate for 85% minority majority of the prison population, I'd say that repartion bill has been already been paid.

This argument might hold water (it wouldn't anyway, since paying back reparations in the form of imprisonment and degradation is ridiculous) if prison was designed to turn convicts into citizens, but instead it perpetuates the life of crime. The prison system is very good at turning citizens into convicts, but not the other way around. Prison is essentially a convict training ground, not a rehabilitation center to help people return to society with tools to succeed. We refuse to use effective rehabilitation programs because we want justice more than we want peace.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/07/slammed-the-shawnee-redemption.html

edit: who took my social darwinism trolling seriously?

 

[rockwool]

poverty is a birth defect?

Well, we're all born with different abilities, some even with the luck to be able to call those abilities talents, nobody can do everything. We're not made by nature to do everything, to compete against each other, we're made to complete each others abilities; to work in teams.

It's pure luck who's born with a talent. Working hard to shape that talent to perfection is another step, but that's a luxury for only those who's already in that club. Although, everybody can develop, and should strive for it, but not to the same level.

Some people have an enourmous talent when it comes to organize, they become CEO's for multi national companies. Some people have a head for technical things, some can get into other persons heads and play them. Not all actors can play the charachters that Johnny Depp has played. Some people can't act at all, they just are.

Add what Defenestrated said about where you're born; city/country side, where in the city, which city, which country, all those things have to do with luck, we don't chose where we're born.

Be happy about the fortunes you're born with, don't play them out against others. That only brings more negative energy to the world. Some people just jump higher, and you Nate8, you will never be a baller. ChK

 

[rockwool]

book recommendation time: rich dad, poor dad

Could you please get into a bit what difference those fathers do, or post a review perhaps?

This book is depressing.

Do you have a review?

like I was saying… it’s impossible for everyone to be rich. If it wasn’t for the poor, there would be no rich.

Never heard anybody put it like that before, simplest logic but still I haven't thought of it my self.. Props!

 

[Samirol]

[Rich Dad Poor dad book] Could you please get into a bit what difference those fathers do, or post a review perhaps?

I read it a long time ago, so I may be a bit hazy, but the general idea is that your business sense and social networking skills will get you farther in any business than a business degree. It also talks about investing, and how to reconstruct your thinking and be more focused on making money work for you rather than working for money.

 

[jimmydean]

Obama in the 212:

 

[rockwool]

graphs are cool so I'm going to post graphs

Hey that's no joke, I walked one of those paths. Keep on reading Readers Digest, one of many many publications put out by the CIA, it will tell the world for what it truly is!

Look, Greece is Zion! You made me happy of my ancistry!!

Not looking to start an argument but... I would like to point out something... the non minority tax payer pays $35K a year per inmate for 85% minority majority of the prison population, I'd say that repartion bill has been already been paid.

Don't forget all that money that goes back to those non minority tax payers in form of dividends from all that good business that strangely prisons are in your country...

edit: who took my social darwinism trolling seriously?

Ehh.



Reread it afterwards and dunno what to blame my blindness on.

 

[rockwool]

I read it a long time ago, so I may be a bit hazy, but the general idea is that your business sense and social networking skills will get you farther in any business than a business degree. It also talks about investing, and how to reconstruct your thinking and be more focused on making money work for you rather than working for money.

That must be the trick of tricks..

Could be interesting.

 

[$tinkle]

Could you please get into a bit what difference those fathers do, or post a review perhaps?

on pg 105 from this a.m.'s flight - so it's a fast read. essentially chocked full o' anecdotes which are aimed at 'financial intelligence' and knowing the difference between assets & liabilities, as as samirol said, making money work for you. i'm not into the making money work for you thing (focus on money can be silly & damaging i believe), but does accurately & unabashedly lampoon socialism.

one failure i found so far is the absence of the acknowledgment of the zero-sum-gain of capitalism. still doesn't mean that being poor is bad, just inconvenient at times. like the first 20 or so yrs of my life. he also hates on being middle class.

still a damn good read for those who are financially ignorant - at any level.

 

[jimmydean]

still a damn good read for those who are financially ignorant - at any level.

I don't like any book that bashes on good fathers.

He should have titled it "Rich uncle, poor uncle" or something.

 

[Samirol]

on pg 105 from this a.m.'s flight - so it's a fast read. essentially chocked full o' anecdotes which are aimed at 'financial intelligence' and knowing the difference between assets & liabilities, as as samirol said, making money work for you. i'm not into the making money work for you thing (focus on money can be silly & damaging i believe), but does accurately & unabashedly lampoon socialism.

one failure i found so far is the absence of the acknowledgment of the zero-sum-gain of capitalism. still doesn't mean that being poor is bad, just inconvenient at times. like the first 20 or so yrs of my life. he also hates on being middle class.

still a damn good read for those who are financially ignorant - at any level.

He's a rich laissez-faire capitalist, the viewpoint is interesting to look at though. I forgot about his disdain for the poor since it has been about 6 years since I read the book, but wikipedia gives a good rundown on the controversies and criticisms surrounding him

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kiyosaki#Criticism_and_controversy

 

[$tinkle]

in bob's defense, the poor do smell & act like you're supposed to pay them for sex.

 

[ohio]

Meh, it reads like just another self-help, get-rich-quick pile of stink that makes it sound like the poor are poor because of their own self-loathing and if you would just self-actualize you'd instantly be financially independent.

Drivel, in my opinion. And maybe, barely, better than nothing.

I'd prefer a basic worksheet that help folks budget and manage their real income and future income potential.

edit:
edit - this sums it up, from wiki:

Former real estate investor and author of books on real estate investment John T. Reed has questioned much of what Kiyosaki has claimed to have achieved. According to Reed, much of Kiyosaki's advice is illegal, makes no sense or is the product of "a rather ignorant, not very bright, novice, investor wannabe". [15] He concludes his criticism, saying that "Rich Dad, Poor Dad is one of the dumbest financial advice books I have ever read. It contains many factual errors and numerous extremely unlikely accounts of events that supposedly occurred."

 

[$tinkle]

I'd prefer a basic worksheet that help folks budget and manage their real income and future income potential.

before reading the wiki link, a few bullets came to mind
- mlm/qixar
- the vague notion of unaccountability
- oil d'snake
- mormon/mammon obsession