I woudln't say I'm defensive...I'm just not ignorant about it. I am ignorant about other things that I tend to stay away from. I'm not going to spew garbage about QE3's potential impact on financial markets worldwide b/c I really don't have much of a clue. The "defensiveness" you're referencing have been factually-based. I tend to stay away from rhetoric, b/c it doesn't get much done. What, exactly, are you advocating in bringing up mortality rates in Cuba? Here are some other wiki-facts about Cuba. On top of rationing, the average wage at the end of 2005 was 334 regular pesos per month ($16.70 per month) and average monthly pension was $9. A person can get more jail time for killing a cow (10 years in prison) than killing a human. Those who sell beef without government permission can get three to eight years in prison. Eaters of illegal beef can get three months to one year in prison. Rampant starvation due to food rationing? That's ok...their reported infant mortality rate is less than ours! Hm...you might be on to something here. Let's abolish taxes and give everyone in the country $25 a month, and see what happens.
the US has a lower average life expectancy than cuba too good stuff though, i appreciate the factoids
can we elaborate on this? i think having a large military helps corporations make billions by pushing their interests in other countries, thats one thing, thereby making pineapples cheaper, etc. also, it makes us less likely to be invaded
can I get back to you on that? My lunch break's about over, and not enough time to write anything worth reading. That said, there are some classics ("Influence of Sea Power on History"), some historical works ("Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" talks about his time as Asst. Sec. of the Navy, and modernization efforts and the reasons for them), "Quadrennial Defense Review" (put out by the President) and its associated Naval Review, "Sea Power 2010", the first half of "The Next 100 Years", some of the Adelphi Papers. Milan Vego is a professor at the War College and writes encyclopedias about this stuff, but especially in the Maritime Trade Protection realm. Most of the stuff I'm giving you is Navy-centric, b/c I think that's the easiest to grasp and the most far-reaching. To your last point, the last time we were invaded (and our capital city burned to the ground) was a direct result of only having a protectionist, isolationist Navy and no standing army to speak of.
I like the idea of increasing income tax on those what you make, and lowering the income tax on those making what I make.
Surprising. A majority of Americans are in favor of increasing taxes on people that make more than themselves? I'm shocked!
yes surprisingly, people tend to be in favor of things that benefit them you should write an entire article about this! then tackle the intense discussion behind "kids are in favor of free ice cream"
I'm fortunate enough to be fairly wealthy (not gonna mention numbers, but I'm over the 250k/year thing), and I really don't mind paying more in taxes at all. I'm probably the only wealthy person in the world who will say that But I know how hard it is for many families to survive on a very limited income. I've been there. I have many friends who've been there and/or are still there. Hell I grew up in that kind of environment...there was no silver spoon in my mouth growing up. There are TONS of excellent, excellent people who work hard every day (many harder than myself I'm sure), yet can barely support their kids. And yet here I am, after a series of fortunate events, sitting comfortably. How is that fair? I just as easily could be in their shoes too if things hadn't gone my way. Anyway, I don't want to write an essay, but I really feel wealthy people who habitually whine about taxes are simply greedy. You don't need a 8000 square foot home, 5 hot sports cars, a yacht, a private jet, or whatever else. How about lending some extra support to the country that enabled you to live such a wonderful life to begin with???
The US Treasury accepts Money Orders, Checks, VISA, MasterCard and American Express. They look forward to your unsolicited donation. I'm not in the least bit guilty about what I make. And I prefer to direct money I choose to give to charities who use the money more wisely than the Federal Government.
Maybe if everyone was like you, we wouldn't need to raise taxes. But the reality is most do not give to the gov't or to charities. Most want to hoard their riches and not give any (if they had their way) to the country that gave them the opportunity to make all that money.
Oh, no, you have it wrong. I'm the greedy bastard; TehChad is the altruistic one because he wants all of us to give our money to the government. The reason we are being asked to pay more taxes is that the previous Administration preached fiscal conservatism while spending like drunken sailors, and the current Administration made the previous one look like misers. Jesus, we've increased non-discretionary spending by 24% in the past 30 months. What the fuck? Get the damn spending under control first.
I don't disagree with that concept. It's complicated and not saying I agree they are out of control, but agree gov't is spending a lot of cash. My point is if increasing taxes is the answer, I think it makes more sense to tax the "wealthy" (again) than this idea of a national sales tax.
That has to be the most fucking retarded argument in the history of retarded arguments. You sound two years old when you make statements like that.
