This is how wacky the right are when it comes to higher capital gains taxes

[True Dough]

Posted in the general section of a sports discussion forum that I visit:


"The majority of poor people pay a pittance, if any taxes. Fuck them. I’m tired of subsidizing them."

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Right. Because poor people don't pay things like sales taxes,

or the taxes built into gas prices. I don't need the sarcasm thingy, do I?

Look, I'm someone who will probably feel at least some impact from capital gains taxes. And while I live on a reasonably tight budget, I'm just fine with that. I am not spending 100% of my income on the bare necessities. Oh, and while you're at it, have some kind of a fee for each and every sale or purchase of a stock.

I have more than once in my life been relatively poor, although I've never been homeless or even close to it. I have depended on charity for much needed dental work, and the kindness and compassion of others to pay for school textbooks. This is in part why I do volunteer work at my local homeless shelter.

Here's my most pertinent story. When I was a sophomore in high school I had a Saturday babysitting job for several months. Two little girls whose teacher parents worked on Saturdays at a nursery. It paid $3.00 for the day, which sounds awful but this was 1964, so it was a decent wage. Most days, when the mom was driving me back home, I'd ask to stop at a grocery store so I could buy food for us. I was one of five kids still at home, single mom who was a nurse back when nurses truly earned a pittance. The mom was always surprised at that request, but I couldn't imagine spending the money on myself when we needed food.

[True Dough]

4. Well, you sound like

a perfectly reasonable individual, which the person I quoted in the OP clearly is not!

I'm glad your finances give you more breathing room these days than when you were younger.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Oh, yes, I have vastly more financial breathing room than ever before.

I am actually in the pleasant situation of having my income increase a little bit periodically. I have a small pension, two annuities, Social Security, and money I can take from investments. It's that last one that I get to increase a bit. It also helps that my expenses are relatively low. I have one grown son, no grandchildren so no grandchildren spending. My health is overall very good and so I spend very little on medical care.

I have more than once, in my earlier years, been where a free meal was greatly appreciated and impacted my budget. I have never forgotten that. I think it is precisely because I went hungry at various times in my youth that I get so much joy from my volunteer work at the homeless shelter. I always work in the kitchen, preparing and serving food to our guests. We, meaning the particular faith group I volunteer with, take great pride in fixing good, hearty, nutritious meals for them. And they are always appreciative. I cannot begin to imagine what it is really like to depend on the kindness of strangers for a meal, and so I do my best to make it the best possible meal.

[True Dough]

7. Volunteer work does good for the soul

Keeps a person humble. Good on you.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Thank you.

I don't do it to keep humble, but because it's the right thing to do. I often feel that I should give more than I do.

Here's my story about how I started doing the homeless volunteer thing. Two of my good friends approached me one day, saying they wanted to ask me something, but I didn't need to agree and they'd understand. What? I asked. Turned out their church (First Presbyterian in Santa Fe, NM) at the time had something they called their Hot Water Ministry. In the summer months, on Sundays after services they'd give a hot meal, showers, and a community clothes closet to homeless people. Well. This was EXACTLY the kind of thing I wanted to be a part of, and since I wasn't a member of any church and since churches are often those who do this, I was more than happy to be asked. I've been volunteering with them ever since. Once the local homeless shelter opened up, that church stopped doing their hot water ministry, but all those who used to work there now work at the shelter. And I honestly love it that many church members think I am likewise a member. I happen to be completely non religious in terms of personal beliefs, but I absolutely enjoy this connection.

[rickyhall]

2. Where's my torch and pitchfork?

[unblock]

3. "As a rich person, I earned a world in which people with disability starve to death in the streets"

[bamagal62]

6. I read similar things on sports boards and its

Infuriating. I used to engage and then I gave up. I also realized it’s the same 4 people that say stupid shit. They’re all a bunch of idiots that watch Fox News and call us “libtards”. .

[True Dough]

8. It's well beyond 4 people on the sports form I log on to

and I do see the term "libtards" frequently.

Like you, I've stopped engaging the offenders. I did invest a lot of time and effort in the past, but they never budge a single inch. Sheer futility and frustration trying to talk sense to them.

So I brought the comment in the OP here, where I figured I'd find some like-minded posters. Glad I did!

[bamagal62]

10. Yep. It's not worth the stress. They glom onto

You immediately if you question them. Apparently, I’m a dumbass. I tried at first to argue and then I realized it would never go anywhere. They called me all kinds of names and should have been booted from the forum. I finally decided they weren’t worth my time and hoped the covid karma lady would do her thing. Hopefully, she has. But, I won’t know because I refuse to even read their posts now.