Spread the wealth? What do you mean?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2008
Spread the wealth? What do you mean?
56
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 5:28pm

Why is everyone so upset about the comment "spread the wealth"? How many on this forum makes over $250k per year? I don't mind the government spreading some wealth my way. Read Obama's Tax Plan to see if it will benefit you or not. I know most of my family and community do not make over $250k per year.


Obama’s Comprehensive Tax Policy Plan for America will:

  • Cut taxes for 95 percent of workers and their families with a tax cut of $500 for workers or $1,000 for working couples.
  • Provide generous tax cuts for low- and middle-income seniors, homeowners, the uninsured, and families sending a child to college or looking to save and accumulate wealth.
  • Eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses, cut corporate taxes for firms that invest and create jobs in the United States, and provide tax credits to reduce the cost of healthcare and to reward investments in innovation.
  • Dramatically simplify taxes by consolidating existing tax credits, eliminating the need for millions of senior citizens to file tax forms, and enabling as many as 40 million middle-class Americans to do their own taxes in less than five minutes without an accountant.

Under the Obama Plan:

  • Middle class families will see their taxes cut – and no family making less than $250,000 will see their taxes increase. The typical middle class family will receive well over $1,000 in tax relief under the Obama plan, and will pay tax rates that are 20% lower than they faced under President Reagan. According to the Tax Policy Center, the Obama plan provides three times as much tax relief for middle class families as the McCain plan.
  • Families making more than $250,000 will pay either the same or lower tax rates than they paid in the 1990s. Obama will ask the wealthiest 2% of families to give back a portion of the tax cuts they have received over the past eight years to ensure we are restoring fairness and returning to fiscal responsibility. But no family will pay higher tax rates than they would have paid in the 1990s. In fact, dividend rates would be 39 percent lower than what President Bush proposed in his 2001 tax cut.
  • Obama’s plan will cut taxes overall, reducing revenues to below the levels that prevailed under Ronald Reagan (less than 18.2 percent of GDP). The Obama tax plan is a net tax cut – his tax relief for middle class families is larger than the revenue raised by his tax changes for families over $250,000. Coupled with his commitment to cut unnecessary spending, Obama will pay for this tax relief while bringing down the budget deficit.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2006
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 9:53pm

<>

And maybe YOU should get to know some of those in the "poor working class" so that you can better understand them, and the rest of us.

I have worked with plenty of those poor--the ones who work two, full-time jobs; the ones who get only two, yes TWO vacation days per year; the ones who go out to eat only twice a year, and the ones who live off the vegetables in their gardens because they cannot afford meat. I do not appreciate your saying that my friends did not bother to get an education (they did) or that they are not ambitious enough.

And you have the gall to say it's the RICH who are getting screwed?

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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2006
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 10:17pm

Why should the Republicans, the party of the holier-than-thou Christian right be opposed to spreading the wealth? I don't get it either!

"If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. . . . If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. . . . If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave." Leviticus 25:25, 35, 39

"At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied." Deuteronomy 14:28-29

"However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you." Deuteronomy 15:4

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15:7

"Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near, so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin." Deuteronomy 15:9

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

"Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns." Deuteronomy 24:14

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31

"He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished." Proverbs 17:5

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9

"He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich -- both come to poverty." Proverbs 22:16

"Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court." Proverbs 22:22

"A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops." Proverbs 28:3

"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27

"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." Proverbs 29:7

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:9

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20

"If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still." Ecclesiastes 5:8

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

"The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 3:14-15

"The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just." Isaiah 32:7

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49

"He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked." Ezekiel 18:7

"Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Matthew 19:21

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need." 1 Timothy 5:3

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2006
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 10:25pm

>>Under capitalism, the prevailing view is that one is as wealthy as one makes oneself. <<

I don't think that's capitalism. It's a philosophical belief known as the Just World Theory.

Just World Theory:

>>individuals have a need to believe that they live in a world where people generally get what they deserve and deserve what they get<<
www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v3n2/justworld.html

Capitalism:

>>an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth. <<
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/capitalism




Edited 10/19/2008 10:35 pm ET by nisupulla
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:01pm

>>> Yea, we would like to keep more of our income also, but we pay 20,000 in tax.

And? Get a better accountant.

>>> I don't remember this much bellyaching before Bush gave the tax cuts to the wealthy who in turn didn't provide jobs to americans, they took the jobs overseas.

I don't recall Bush saying that he was going to take money from people who earned it and give it to people who didn't. Quite a bit different than the government simply raising or lowering taxes. BTW, "the wealthy" did provide jobs...that's kind of like...um...where the jobs came from.

>>> Now that there is a possiblility of loosing your precious tax cuts which the very top 1% didn't NEED. there is this outcry of unfair unfair, how will I buy my mercedes.

You really have no concept of what constitutes "wealthy" or how economics works do you?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:04pm

< ***It may look like Paris sits around all day sunbathing, but in reality, she does work relatively hard to earn her money...relatively.***

>>> Although none of that would have been likely were Paris Hilton an average Joe. Her "celebrity"--and therefore the investment in her as a celebrity--is due to her inheritance.

A bit of a ridiculous proposition that would naturally extend your irrational resentment to the progeny of anyone who was famous. BTW...there's a difference between being a "celebrity" and marketing that celebrity to earn money as Paris has.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:12pm

I have worked with plenty of those poor--the ones who work two, full-time jobs; the ones who get only two, yes TWO vacation days per year; the ones who go out to eat only twice a year, and the ones who live off the vegetables in their gardens because they cannot afford meat. I do not appreciate your saying that my friends did not bother to get an education (they did) or that they are not ambitious enough.


Yikes, and you're in my neck of the woods, Northern Virginia


Americans need to snap out of their, "I want more & I want it now" and "entitlement" philosophy


I took ZERO vacation days last year, but gained 25% more in revenue.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:53pm

<>

>>> And maybe YOU should get to know some of those in the "poor working class" so that you can better understand them, and the rest of us.

What makes you think I don't? I know a LOT of them. Do you think they'll suddenly become more "educated" or "ambitious" if you rub shoulders with them? People are responsible for the choices they make...and shouldn't expect others to make up for them.

>>> I have worked with plenty of those poor--the ones who work two, full-time jobs; the ones who get only two, yes TWO vacation days per year; the ones who go out to eat only twice a year, and the ones who live off the vegetables in their gardens because they cannot afford meat. I do not appreciate your saying that my friends did not bother to get an education (they did) or that they are not ambitious enough.

I'm sorry the people you know live the lives they chose rather than the lives they wished for. Generally speaking, educated people with marketable skills are not poor. Generally speaking, people with ideas, skills and ambition are not poor. Not that there's anything wrong with an "average" life, but people are responsible for the choices they make...and shouldn't expect others to make up for them.

>>> And you have the gall to say it's the RICH who are getting screwed?

They're the ones Obama expects to pay for his handouts...so yes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-1999
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:06am

I don't think that's capitalism. It's a philosophical belief known as the Just World Theory.


Under communism, man exploits man.


Under capitalism, the opposite is true.

dablacksox


Cynic: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.---Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.

dablacksox


Cynic: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.---Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2003
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:50am

If he paid their taxes for them they would then have to declare that money as income.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 1:01am

To the 'just curious'; You asked what does spread the wealth mean. Listen to this former Russian KGB, who escaped to the U.S, as he describes socialism and