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News & ArtsSaturday, December 24, 2011
Occupy / Politics / Economy Required Reading: A Christmas Message From America's Rich
Posted by Anthony Hecht on Sat, Dec 24, 2011 at 10:49 AM
As usual, Matt Taibbi doesn't mince words in dissecting a series of quotes from some of America's richest men about their responsibility to the rest of us.
These people honestly don't seem to understand that the world they live in is nothing like the world the rest of us live in. As Taibbi says, they "buy their own social infrastructure." It's easy for them to decry government spending as wasteful, because they don't need anything the government supplies (except subsidies and tax breaks, of course). They don't need the police, the courts, Medicare, or school lunches. They buy whatever they want and wonder why the rest of us don't just do the same. Their idea of who has "skin in the game" is completely backwards.
Nobody hates them for being successful. And not that this needs repeating, but nobody even minds that they are rich.
What makes people furious is that they have stopped being citizens.
The whole thing is worth a read.
And for a refreshingly different take on all this from a member of the 1%, see this piece by Seattle's own Nick Hanauer. Sadly, there are few like him.
2
Let The Troll help you girls out:
re:the Moocher Class
It's easy for them to demand more government spending, because they don't pay for anything the government supplies. They don't pay for the child care subsidies, the educational loans they'll never pay back, the mortgage subsidies, the government health care they demand, the Federal courts, or school lunches. They whine for whatever they want and wonder why the rest of us don't just do the same. Their idea of who has "skin in the game" is completely backwards.
re:the Moocher Class
It's easy for them to demand more government spending, because they don't pay for anything the government supplies. They don't pay for the child care subsidies, the educational loans they'll never pay back, the mortgage subsidies, the government health care they demand, the Federal courts, or school lunches. They whine for whatever they want and wonder why the rest of us don't just do the same. Their idea of who has "skin in the game" is completely backwards.
3
The recent tax bruhaha revealed the Democrap Moocher Takers for the lying lazy freeloaders they really are.
They in the past have paid lip service to the fiction that SS was a trust fund, that they were paying their way where SS was concerned.
But given a chance to welch out on paying the minimum SS that they are asked to they ran out on the tab, passing yet another bill for what they consume to the next generation (we would say to "their" kids but homosexuals and abortional murderers don't leave behind another generation- another reason they don't mind borrowing 40˘ of every dollar their government spends.....)
They in the past have paid lip service to the fiction that SS was a trust fund, that they were paying their way where SS was concerned.
But given a chance to welch out on paying the minimum SS that they are asked to they ran out on the tab, passing yet another bill for what they consume to the next generation (we would say to "their" kids but homosexuals and abortional murderers don't leave behind another generation- another reason they don't mind borrowing 40˘ of every dollar their government spends.....)
4
It really is a matter of do we want to repeat the past mistakes of failed civilisations? Or do we take a rational approach to the problems of concentrating wealth at the top and leaving the bulk of society struggling to survive? Because being rich won't be any fun if the society around you is crumbling.
5
@3
Actually, when the Moochers are old expect the rising generations to kill them in their sleep.
Liberal Euthanasia Laws will make it easy to pull the plug on the worthless whiny old mooches when they get to the nursing home.
They won't have any children of their own, and the children of the few who do will loathe them as much as everyone else in their generation, so at the first excuse a syringe will be produced and they will die wallowing in their own feces...
Actually, when the Moochers are old expect the rising generations to kill them in their sleep.
Liberal Euthanasia Laws will make it easy to pull the plug on the worthless whiny old mooches when they get to the nursing home.
They won't have any children of their own, and the children of the few who do will loathe them as much as everyone else in their generation, so at the first excuse a syringe will be produced and they will die wallowing in their own feces...
6
Past Mistakes of Failed Civilizations-
Masses of idle unskilled moochers whining for circus and bread.
Importing aliens to pick their apples and do all the work they now consider beneath them.
A final straw is when they depend on aliens to man their army and defend them. Dream Act, anyone?
Oh, don't forget the moral depravity that accompanies the implosion of corrupt decadent societies.....
Masses of idle unskilled moochers whining for circus and bread.
Importing aliens to pick their apples and do all the work they now consider beneath them.
A final straw is when they depend on aliens to man their army and defend them. Dream Act, anyone?
Oh, don't forget the moral depravity that accompanies the implosion of corrupt decadent societies.....
7
How precious.
"the society around you is crumbling"
Half of the members of "society" consider themselves too pitiful and needy to pay ONE PENNY in Federal Income Taxes.
And yet, they claim to find the solution to societies decline in the 1% they envy.
Vince, if you STEAL every last cent the "rich" own and kill them how many months will that fund your collapsing socialist welfare state?
two? three?
then what?
look in the mirror.
You have met the Enemy.
It is You.
"the society around you is crumbling"
Half of the members of "society" consider themselves too pitiful and needy to pay ONE PENNY in Federal Income Taxes.
And yet, they claim to find the solution to societies decline in the 1% they envy.
Vince, if you STEAL every last cent the "rich" own and kill them how many months will that fund your collapsing socialist welfare state?
two? three?
then what?
look in the mirror.
You have met the Enemy.
It is You.
8
The trolls are out in force today. Shouldn't they be in church today praying to their parthenogenic god?
10
Taibbi is as usual completely on the point. He fails to restrain his overt sense of outrage, well, because what he's pointing out IS outrageous. And the fucking TV zombie US electorate just sits in front of their electronic tranquilizer while they all get looted and ass-raped by these pricks, who now own the government and virtually all the hard assets of the country.
11
"But it seems to me that if you’re broke enough that you’re not paying any income tax, you’ve got nothing but skin in the game. You've got it all riding on how well America works." - Taibbi.
What is missing in his argument is that many of the broke folks are busy reading their Religious texts, making sure the evil Homos don't marry, having babies with their cousins and Not getting involved in "how well America works." Often they want to protect their gun rights over their civil rights. They often seem to think the "system" is gamed so they don't bother to vote. While "the rich" are all over the political system. It's time for "The broke" to stop being The Dumb or as mentioned "imbeciles" and start acting smart. HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE: Call up American Express or any company that has call centers OUTSIDE of the states and demand they move the call centers back to the states OR no two year contract. But what OWS kid wants to go with out the mobile phone and all those apps? The Rich get educated, the broke just get made and occupy parks.
What is missing in his argument is that many of the broke folks are busy reading their Religious texts, making sure the evil Homos don't marry, having babies with their cousins and Not getting involved in "how well America works." Often they want to protect their gun rights over their civil rights. They often seem to think the "system" is gamed so they don't bother to vote. While "the rich" are all over the political system. It's time for "The broke" to stop being The Dumb or as mentioned "imbeciles" and start acting smart. HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE: Call up American Express or any company that has call centers OUTSIDE of the states and demand they move the call centers back to the states OR no two year contract. But what OWS kid wants to go with out the mobile phone and all those apps? The Rich get educated, the broke just get made and occupy parks.
14
@8:
Naw, they're too busy standing in line at the Circle K buying Lotto tickets in the misplaced hope that, if they could only win that Powerball Jackpot, they too could afford to opt out of the Social Contract.
Naw, they're too busy standing in line at the Circle K buying Lotto tickets in the misplaced hope that, if they could only win that Powerball Jackpot, they too could afford to opt out of the Social Contract.
15
Theyre rioting for shoes to make into soup at America's malls. The end has come. The po' ain't gonna take it anymore.
18
A brief review of American history/financial history/fraud history and legislative history for the typically ignoramus who believes themselves to be a citizen of this country.
1913: In that year, the year know as Rockefeller's Year, four pieces of fraud legislation were passed.
(1) The Aldrich Act, latter to be renamed the Federal Reserve Act (Sen. Aldrich had married into the Rockefeller family and was John D. Rockefeller's son-in-law) which set up 12 credit monopolies, the Federal Reserve System -- who created the money, then lent it to the US Treasury, thusly putting the American government and people in debt to the private banksters. The private banks which own the Fed receive a guaranteed 6% dividend.***
(2) The 16th Amendment, creating the federal income tax, which was created to pay to the Federal Reserve the interest owed on the money they lent the US government. (Originally, the federal income tax went directly to the Federal Reserve Bank.)
(3) The oil depletion allowance, which subsidized the oil companies, chiefly Rockefeller's Standard Oil. (But also Morgan, Harriman and Mellon's businesses.)
(4) Tax exemptions for foundations and churches. Foundations, although probably used somewhat for this reason previously, were highly structured through this legislation to be the principal source to hide both wealth and ownership, while avoiding taxation, of the senior plutocrats (supposed to have been structured by Rockefeller's law firm which originally created the holding company structure).
***Thusly, the banksters were completely subsidized and given complete control of the money supply, the complete insider trading and speculation advantages; their oil companies were subsidized, they avoided taxation while hiding the true amount of their wealth and vast holdings. William Jennings Bryan, who was against such a move, was fooled into believing the government would print the money (which it does and pays for, via the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing) without being shown the entire legislation. Robert Owens, the coauthor of this legislation, was connected to the plutocrats as his father was president of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad (much was made of Owens' mixed ancestry, which may have allowed him too much leeway --- but the guy was ONLY 1/32nd Cherokee!!!).
More...
1913: In that year, the year know as Rockefeller's Year, four pieces of fraud legislation were passed.
(1) The Aldrich Act, latter to be renamed the Federal Reserve Act (Sen. Aldrich had married into the Rockefeller family and was John D. Rockefeller's son-in-law) which set up 12 credit monopolies, the Federal Reserve System -- who created the money, then lent it to the US Treasury, thusly putting the American government and people in debt to the private banksters. The private banks which own the Fed receive a guaranteed 6% dividend.***
(2) The 16th Amendment, creating the federal income tax, which was created to pay to the Federal Reserve the interest owed on the money they lent the US government. (Originally, the federal income tax went directly to the Federal Reserve Bank.)
(3) The oil depletion allowance, which subsidized the oil companies, chiefly Rockefeller's Standard Oil. (But also Morgan, Harriman and Mellon's businesses.)
(4) Tax exemptions for foundations and churches. Foundations, although probably used somewhat for this reason previously, were highly structured through this legislation to be the principal source to hide both wealth and ownership, while avoiding taxation, of the senior plutocrats (supposed to have been structured by Rockefeller's law firm which originally created the holding company structure).
***Thusly, the banksters were completely subsidized and given complete control of the money supply, the complete insider trading and speculation advantages; their oil companies were subsidized, they avoided taxation while hiding the true amount of their wealth and vast holdings. William Jennings Bryan, who was against such a move, was fooled into believing the government would print the money (which it does and pays for, via the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing) without being shown the entire legislation. Robert Owens, the coauthor of this legislation, was connected to the plutocrats as his father was president of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad (much was made of Owens' mixed ancestry, which may have allowed him too much leeway --- but the guy was ONLY 1/32nd Cherokee!!!).
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