Do you believe in wealth redistribution?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Do you believe in wealth redistribution?
62
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 12:27pm

Do you believe in wealth redistribution?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 8:08pm

Thank you so much for asking this question!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 8:21pm

This might be convoluted but what if....


Government designated a % of tax revenues for entitlement programs


Your charitable contributions could be used as a tax credit against all of the portion of your taxes otherwise applicable to entitlement programs


Your charitable contributions that were applicable towards the above had to

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 8:33pm

"Do you believe in wealth redistribution? I am curious about what everyday Americans think about this."

We all do. Every Republican and every Democrat believes in wealth redistribution. That's what government does. No wealth redistribution, no defense, no law enforcement, no government.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 8:34pm

I assume you are going to medical school solely to make money?


Of course not. But let me tell you something I read years ago from a book about the stock market, written by some who used the nom de plume of "Adam Smith."


Smith wrote, "Most people who invest in Wall Street aren't there to make money, they are there to play the game. After you reach a certain amount of income to cover housing, food and other basic necessary items, the rest is just "Playing the game." The only difference from that game to any other is that in that game, money is the way you keep score."


I read that over thirty years ago and that always stuck with me. Once you have a certain amount that covers the necessaries, the rest is just keeping score. And it made me think. What if? What if you just stopped keeping score? What if you could look at the neighbors new car and tell him, "Nice car." and not really care one way or the other about it? What would happen if you dropped out of the game?


Well, I did that. And I discovered two things. One, I'm much happier than most of my neighbors. Two, it really pisses them off. Have you ever noticed that? When someone who is caught up in the "Big, newer, shinier" thing show you the latest big, new shiny, and you just don't care and how pissed of they get? Gives me the warm and fuzzies ever time.


As for wealth, I have attended the "Nutcracker" every year for the last eight years. It is put on by a small ballet company. That company changes from year to year. It is fun to watch how the company changes and how the dance changes each year, based on the strengths of the various dancers. Now, that is real wealth.


As for incentive, walk into any courtroom the the U.S. on almost any given day and watch the public defender and the prosecutor, both paid by a flat salery and not gaining a dime more for extra work. It's like watching a dog fight to the death. But where is the incentive?


It comes from within. Do you really imagine all the CEOs demanding those outrageous saleries because they need them? Not likely. They are simply playing the game and money is how you keep score.


I am one of the wealthiest people I know. I make what I consider a good income, I have a wonderful wife of long term and what other people have or not means absolutely nothing to me.


So let me ask again. How do you define wealth?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 8:40pm
Excuse me? There is a problem with people donating money to their alma maters? Why is this?
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 9:03pm

Man Alive, I'm worried that I might be related to you!!! lol


I couldn't agree more!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 9:41pm

Why did Christina take a job that paid so much less than her previous one?

If her ex-husband can better provide for the children should they go live with him?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2008
Wed, 10-08-2008 - 10:26pm

The greedy #$$#$%%$ on Wall Street deserved to be taxed at 80%!


while i can understand this general sentiment, it does appear that this statement is rooted in greed.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Thu, 10-09-2008 - 1:28am

Well, I have seen the wealthy get 8 years of tax cuts that they don't need, and working class people not get tax cuts even though they need them. That is stealing money out of the pockets of the less wealthy to accommodate the wealthy. Upside down wealth distribution, IMHO. Because the wealthy don't give back their savings, while the working class pays into SSI and may never see that money again. The current tax rates are not working for the economy.

Rolling back tax rates on the higher incomes to the 90's rates, which is proportionate to working class' rates makes sense. That's called growing the economy. Class war? No, because the working class far out number the wealthy. And building the economy should be top priority, not keeping taxes low just for the wealthy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Thu, 10-09-2008 - 7:22am

No ginnie, if anything, I think it is worse.


First, because I don't think the government should be in the "entitlement" business to begin with.

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