it's time for the Democrats to stand up for the redistribution of wealth . . .

[OneBlueSky]

in the U.S. . . with the concentration of wealth into fewer and fewer hands, the gap between rich and poor has grown so massive that it's like there are two different countries . . . time to restore progressive taxation and bring some semblance of equilibrium back to the system . . . or lose it all . . .

[MadHound]

1. I wouldn't expect this anytime soon

Not from the corporate controlled Dems. Corporate campaign cash is their mother's milk, and they're not going to do anything to shut off the tap anytime soon. And sadly, that is a huge part of the problem, they're just as bought and paid for as the 'Pugs are.

[mod mom]

18. That would help the middle class and hurt the corporate class. Too FDR for DLC types.

[TwilightGardener]

2. That sounds like socialism. No thanks--I like fair taxation, and I think

the wealthy should carry a bigger burden, but "redistribution of wealth" does not sound like capitalism to me.

[RB TexLa]

4. Wait, there are some here who also want to "get the healthy" as well

as in "Look those haven't had to pay any medical bills, GET 'EM, make em pay!"

[TwilightGardener]

7. Yeah, redistibution of wealth always sounds like a good idea as long as it's

not YOUR hard-earned wealth! Actually, the way insurance is set up, we already pay for the unhealthy, and bad drivers, etc.--the cost of risk gets spread to everyone.

[flashl]

10. So, some day multinationals will allow fair tax and

the repeal their tax deferrals?

[hedgehog]

19. But, does unfettered capitalism carry the seeds of its own demise?

I sk you, what is the effective difference between Wal-Mart's plans and any Soviet 5 year plan? If Wal-MArt stumbles, a lot of people will be in serious trouble.

I think of wealth redistribution as being similar to the outlet valve on a dam. Too much wealth in one place creates pressures that society can not sustain.

[TwilightGardener]

22. How do you "redistribute" fairly? Increased wages for workers and the rich

and corporations paying their fair share of taxes, with no loopholes, are about the only way I can see to lift up the people at the bottom and lessen the gap between rich and poor without literally stealing from people and entities who earned their wealth honestly, or hampering business growth. Again, if I were wealthy, and accumulated my money by working hard and playing by the rules, why would I agree to "redistribution" by unfair and punitive taxation? Taxes themselves are a form of redistribution--make it fair, and everyone will be able to make and keep a profit while at the same time picking up their share of the check for our country's bills. Everyone gets so pissed at CEO's making so much money, but that never bothered me--makes me want to BE one, LOL! What bothers me is if they don't contribute at the same rate, proportionally, as the middle class--that's what needs to be examined.

[Selatius]

23. As it stands, earned income is taxed more heavily than unearned income.

You're honestly saying that the capital gains tax rate should be the same as income tax rates?

Hate to break it to you, but wealth redistribution exists even under the current tax code. You either accept it, or you're going to have a problem dealing with reality as far as solving major problems.

[hedgehog]

26. Social Security is a giant wealth redistribution scheme

masquerading as a retirement savings plan. Good for Roosevelt is what I say! It's one way he saved capitalism form itself!

[TwilightGardener]

30. Yes--I don't think anyone's arguing about the "redistribution" that's already

in place as a safety net. Unchecked/unregulated capitalism would be bad for those of us at the middle and bottom rungs--that's why I'm not a Ron Paul fan! I don't believe the "markets" should rule everything in society. Punitive taxation and other measures that hamper capitalism (and thus business growth, innovation, etc.) would be bad for the economy, and thus bad for everybody at ALL levels. It's all a balancing act, but a call to redistribute the wealth from the rich to the poor is not going to help Democrats win in November 2008.

[hedgehog]

31. Income redistribution is never going to be popular as long as most Americans

are conviced that they themselves will be wealthy one day.

[TwilightGardener]

33. That's the American dream. That's why communism died.

edit--well, communism's not TOTALLY dead in some countries, but it sure as hell didn't work.

[Romulox]

36. Except in 2007, the young are the poorest, and the elderly the wealthiest Americans...nt

[Rockholm]

3. I'll keep my money, thank you.

[fasttense]

5. But this is the Friedman dream come true.

His soulless "free trade" capitalism ideology always leads to a handful of uber wealthy and everyone else uber poor.

[xultar]

6. You must be joking? Seriouly, this is candid camera right? Where's the camera?

[BridgeTheGap]

8. Wait just one minute...most of that money was stolen, fair & square -

ENRON style.
Finders keepers, losers...
Redistrubiting wealth - isn't that SOCIALISM?

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. (Insert snort of derision here)

The current crop of Democratic "leaders" and candidates are among the 0.5% of Americans with the most to lose in a redistribution of wealth. Don't hold your breath.

[Bluebear]

11. Excellent slogan for '08! "Vote Democratic. It's time to redistribute wealth!"

:silly:

[OHdem10]

12. You have to get as smart as GOP. Words matter.

Find a better way of saying Redistribution of wealth. Frightening
expression which GOP uses expertly against Democrats.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. They'll do that

right after they pass the Free Pony Act of '09

[shadowknows69]

17. I think the U.S. is still working on that 40 acres and a mule for some people too

[Tyler Durden]

14. Money did the Romanovs SO MUCH GOOD in 1917.

My late dear ol' Dad, the "Rockefeller Republican," used to BRAG about how he paid his taxes in his high bracket, paid cash for a new car every year, and still took the family on regular vacations.

He said it was paying his way for not living in a tenement in New York or Detroit; explained as "I came to the dance, I had better God Damn well pay the band."

[pampango]

15. You are talking about redistribution within the US, not worldwide, right?

The Third World may use your slogan on the US and the "rich" countries one day. ;)

[TwilightGardener]

16. How about YOU start with YOUR paycheck? The rest of us will watch and learn.

[Selatius]

24. We already are subject to wealth redistribution. See the income tax. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

25. Yes, I know. I mentioned that taxes were in themselves a form of

redistribution in an above post--I was just being a smartass.

[Selatius]

28. I guess the question is are you in favor of progressive taxation?

Like, do you favor progressively higher tax rates the greater and greater your income becomes? Or do you favor the current system that taxes unearned income (income such as on stocks/bonds) at a lower rate than income earned through labor?

[TwilightGardener]

32. Progressive taxation is what we already have on earned income, no?

That's why the Forbes types are always pushing for the flat tax--the rich would LOVE to be able to shrug off even more of their burden onto those at the bottom, and then the rest of us supposedly would benefit from the magical booming economy and job growth from all of those expanding business and industries newly freed from their "unfair" tax burden. I'm SURE they wouldn't just pocket the difference, right? LOL. As far as unearned income from capital gains, etc.--I am not very familiar with that type of taxation, seeing as how I haven't liquidated any big assets and don't have a whole lot invested in stocks, etc., beyond a 401K. I'm not sure if increasing the taxation on unearned income would help painlessly "redistribute" wealth.

[Selatius]

34. No. It's currently a flat tax of 15% for capital gains.

Earned income, or payroll income, is taxed at a maximum of 35% on the other hand. However, most middle class folks are usually in the 20-25% range as far as taxes go on payroll income. As a result, most CEOs are compensated through stock options and dividends on pre-existing investments, to dodge the higher tax loads. Their payroll income is often a fraction of the total income they get in a year.

Warren Buffett quipped that his office assistants are taxed more heavily on their payroll income than he is taxed on his capital gains income, which is where he gets 90% of his income at any rate.

You honestly didn't know it was only 15%???

[TwilightGardener]

35. LOL! I have no idea about capital gains taxes--

it doesn't affect poor little ol' me, unless I try to sell my house or whatever. I remember Warren Buffet saying that about his secretaries paying proportionally more than he does--but honestly, I'm not sure that making unearned income subject to anything other than a flat rate would be a help, overall--what would it do to the stock market, real estate, etc. if the tax burden were increased for those participating in these markets? Would it be a deterrent to investment, would it change the value of various investments? OK, I'm in way over my (economically ignorant) head now...

[L. Coyote]

20. You might think about a new "name" for this idea first, like "equity in taxation."

The point to make is that the tax system has unfairly redistributed the wealth.

[shadowknows69]

21. Redistribution of corporate wealth

through taxation. You want to do business in this country at all you must give xx% back to the country in some way. Not even necessarily more taxes but community (not faith based) charities. I know that's a popular write off anyway but things need to get changed so monies from corporate CEO's don't just get in the hands of Non-profit CEO's.

[dysfunctional press]

27. then DO NOT elect dlc dino's to office.

like, hillary for example.

[shadowknows69]

29. amen to that

everyone is already talking like she IS the nominee. The primes haven't happened yet people. Turn off your TVs and vote with your brain.

[MonkeyFunk]

37. Who else

is running on a platform of redistribution of wealth? Gravel? Kucinich?

[Skidmore]

38. These are the same people who will vote themselves pay raises annually

in spite of the fact that the majority of them are millionaires and don't really need those salaries, while refusing to vote for a living wage for the rest of the nation. The only wealth these guys will be redistributing is ours.