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appalachiablue

(41,056 posts)
50. +10. The glorification of the super wealthy in the US is widespread and disturbing,
Wed Jan 28, 2015, 05:04 PM
Jan 2015

like their entitlement and exception from paying more taxes and wages afforded by a rigged system. The corporate media fuels adoration of the rich and entertainment celebrities who actually make far less than the global level wealthy who fund think tanks, politicians and measures to protect their class's property and power.

Many now have no memory and are uninformed about how the wealthy were once taxed at a 70% rate and higher in this country pre-Reagan. During that time the rich continued to live well and they contributed to society as they should. Within my own family there were a few who were lower level well off, others middle class, some knuckleheads. The most profitable paid 90% and 70% taxes, employed workers who were unionized with benefits. The anti government, anti Washington sentiment of the last 30 years was unthinkable because of their respect, appreciation and loyalty to this country. During that era owners, workers and society here were much better off obviously.

The rise of oligarchy and decline of the great American middle class in the last 35 years is difficult to see and very dangerous. I am profoundly concerned for the future of younger generations and the health of the planet.

It's certainly a big one dissentient Jan 2015 #1
K&R tnlurker Jan 2015 #2
2. The utter lack of will to challenge the MIC and wasteful military spending n2doc Jan 2015 #3
+1 brer cat Jan 2015 #4
And in today's news n2doc Jan 2015 #5
sigh. brer cat Jan 2015 #21
That's the plan. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #41
Not that I disagree with what you have written; but, ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #60
True. I had two brothers-in-law who were military, brer cat Jan 2015 #64
^^This!^^ BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #68
With all due respect, 'fiscal' refers to both the spending AND KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #6
But when the cost of feeding a child is consumed by bloated military spending HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #10
Hence my reference to 'spending wisely and humanely'. A lot of KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #15
I was 'gifted' with both VSR and VCR, so I can't claim to be free of the corruption HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #16
I was born in 1960, so missed out on the Vietnam draft by a few years. 'VSR' and 'VCR'? Don't KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #18
Vietnam Service Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #29
Thank you for clarifying. I hardly think enlisted\conscripted troops or lower-level KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #30
When I was awarded those things they meant only that I was home "free" HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #31
Ah, geez, my Dad got 35% VA disability (I think) for his Korean War (Inchon) wounds, so KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #32
What will American people still be paying due to the sand land wars in 2030? HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #34
The Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz estimated a total bill (conservatively) of KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #35
Most people here are too young to remember Oldtimeralso Jan 2015 #55
To be fair even if you raise the taxes on the weathly I doubt they could pay that much back either. cstanleytech Jan 2015 #61
Definitely valid point(s) you raise about how taxing the rich may not raise enough to pay for the KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #66
Add budget deficit terrorism to the list I hate liars Jan 2015 #7
I like it. Welcome. Ed Suspicious Jan 2015 #9
K & R N_E_1 for Tennis Jan 2015 #8
I can answer that in one word....Republicans Bandit Jan 2015 #11
Amen! FiveGoodMen Jan 2015 #12
K&R abelenkpe Jan 2015 #13
You are going in the right direction, but think the actual situation is worse than described. lark Jan 2015 #14
It's that we allow the rich to legally bribe our politicians to get everything they want, to our Dustlawyer Jan 2015 #25
+10. The glorification of the super wealthy in the US is widespread and disturbing, appalachiablue Jan 2015 #50
We should all be taxed more. A lot more. To the tune of like 75% of income. MadDAsHell Jan 2015 #17
Okay, THAT was funny.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #22
Nice snark, but I'm dead serious. There's an awful lot that needs to be paid for in this country... MadDAsHell Jan 2015 #39
I'm saying the rich are way richer than you think.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #52
Seriously? malokvale77 Jan 2015 #59
Progressive from 0 to 90% is much better. ErikJ Jan 2015 #23
Why not just 90% on all of us? There's healthcare to be provided, roads/bridges to be fixed, etc nt MadDAsHell Jan 2015 #38
There was plenty of revenue to do that in 50's 60's etc when ErikJ Jan 2015 #48
Correct. Many top wealthy were taxed 90%, put money back into grow their companies which benefited appalachiablue Jan 2015 #51
+1 byronius Jan 2015 #63
So if you make min wage, you think the govt should get 5.00+ of that per hr?? nt 7962 Jan 2015 #46
Just stop. Codeine Jan 2015 #74
And lots of their loot goes to buying our government ErikJ Jan 2015 #19
Actually, it's poor people who will throw a punch at you if you suggest raising taxes on the rich. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #20
Well, it's because THEY'RE going to BE that very rich person one day, dontcha know? HughBeaumont Jan 2015 #36
This is also why there is a spike in suicides amongst males in their mid-fifties.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #49
And we waste half our budget on military AgingAmerican Jan 2015 #24
As others have mentioned, our ridiculous and out of control SheilaT Jan 2015 #26
We didn't win the arms race, the Soviets just lost first. Scuba Jan 2015 #71
Yup, we outspent them. unhappycamper Jan 2015 #72
Oh, there's the will to it... 99Forever Jan 2015 #27
You are correct. The question is, why are they unwilling to tax those ladjf Jan 2015 #28
give it time Adam051188 Jan 2015 #33
My one disagreement is the size of our military budget... Sancho Jan 2015 #37
I agree with one exception. There is far too much military spending and waste. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #40
That's money that goes back to the rich. nt valerief Jan 2015 #45
Pretty Much colsohlibgal Jan 2015 #42
+10. The day RR was elected and Carter was defeated I was absolutely stunned, and I didn't even appalachiablue Jan 2015 #54
i was not surprised in the least that Raygun won hifiguy Jan 2015 #56
You knew more than I did, but we agree how his election was a hard turn to a very different appalachiablue Jan 2015 #58
Like most profound truths, this will not be widely spoken. nt Flatulo Jan 2015 #43
If all the soldiers went on strike, the rich wouldn't have a fighting chance. valerief Jan 2015 #44
If taxes on the 1% doubled, they'd still be rich. tclambert Jan 2015 #47
The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2015 #53
I'd say two - TBF Jan 2015 #57
We don't have a fiscal problem we have the EXACT same problem that the Founding Fathers had ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #62
Well said. It's time to kick some 1% ass. nm rhett o rick Jan 2015 #65
This tells you all what you need to know AZ Progressive Jan 2015 #67
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/The_Pentagon_January_2008.jpg blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #69
Now that we are here, we really have no choice unless we start shutting down silvershadow Jan 2015 #70
I'd say another fiscal problem is spending WAY too much on the MIC. nt raccoon Jan 2015 #73
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