Naturally!

p.s. I heard this last night on the radio and its pretty durn funny.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/04/13/135385998/rickrolled-or-how-one-politician-overcame-partisan-divide-to-pull-a-prank

"Only Nixon could go to China."

No, wait, that can't be right...

Heh.

Michale [3] -

Yeah, but isn't that true of every one of us?

Osborne -

Yeah, this is why Progressives have been against what would normally be a progressive position, I think -- because once the idea is in place, it would be oh, so easy to just move the goalposts a little bit.

But I think means-testing Medicare, if it ever happens, will happen before means-testing Social Security. Medicaid is already means-tested.

And there's means-testing and means-testing. One is means-testing your total assets, which I know of because a disabled friend had to go through it. It is truly bureaucratic evil personified. But means-testing income is an easier thing to do -- just show last year's tax return: how much did you make? If it's over a million bucks (say), then you pay for your own healthcare.

Michale [5] -

Republicans want to kill all women?!? Oh, wait, you were being sarcastic. I thought I had a scoop on my hands there...

Heh.

David [6] -

Bernie Sanders is already calling it "reverse Robin Hood", which is pretty good, too...

Michale [9] -

There's an article today (HuffPost, I think) about a group of millionaires calling for higher taxes on millionaires. Sorry, don't have the link handy, but people like that do actually exist.

David [10] -

Yeah, they do have great marketing, I agree. I keep trying, though, to level this particular playing field. Join us here every Friday! Heh...

Michale [11] -

Democrats aren't pushing for redistributing assets, just income, to be clear. And it's not like Republicans don't put their money where their mouth is, either. When John McCain was pushing vouchers for health care, I dared him to take his $7K and go buy insurance on the open market, as I thought it'd be a good way to wake him up to the reality outside the government "socialist" health insurance he has had HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.

Oh, and it's "n'est pas?" Otherwise, you are saying "Is it not Pa?" (perhaps a question Yoda would ask if transported to the world of "The Waltons"... heh.... couldn't resist.)

David [13] -

I'm still digesting Obama's speech. I had another column lined up for Wednesday, so maybe I'll write about it tomorrow...

Michale [14] -

Is that anything like "where all the children are above average..."?

Whew! Done answering for now...

-CW

Not quite sure what you mean by "better than the GOP". Is it the attitude I've seen from some on the left that if you don't agree with us than you must be stupid?

I think that impression may just come from a lot of party members, liberals and such, who fall back on that tired old chestnut of trying to tell adults how wrong they are.

I wish I could say I haven't seen it, Michale, but I see it on many of the local blogs here that I read. Of course, you'll see it from both sides. But it really grates me to see folks who I would tend to agree with be so unlikable. Often I'll say something and try and help them understand how they sound.

To make your case is one thing. But to be an ass about it is another.

Or were you talking more in a political sense?

-David

Yer preaching to the choir with regards to the faults of the GOP...

But I somehow get the impression that the Democratic Party think that it is BETTER than the GOP, despite all evidence to the contrary.. :D

Michale....

So let those who don't want to pay taxes or follow the laws the rest of us follow do as they please?

When did anarchy become your official platform? :)

How about this? I'm ok with your modest proposal so long as we own the military, all the roads, air traffic control, all the parks, the social safety net, the schools, a clean water supply, and everything else brought to you by government.

Perhaps, those who hate government so much should follow your advice, "lead by example," and not rely on any of the benefits of our socialist society.

If everyone shares in the benefits, everyone should share in the cost. Equally. Or, let us own the benefits of government as per my proposal. We'll pay the higher taxes and we'll figure out a fair way to charge you tax evaders for their use.

-David

It makes perfect sense..

If Pelosi and Soros are truly sincere about wealth redistribution, then let them put their money where their mouths are...

Literally... :D

For example, let's get rid of the tax breaks and loopholes that allow companies like GE to pay $0 in income taxes.

Is that the same GE that is the Obama Administration's pet corporation?? Whose CEO is running Obama's new "Job Focus" panel?? Who donated almost half a million dollars to the Obama campaign?

That GE??? :D

These fairer rules would apply to everyone equally. George Soros and Nancy Pelosi included :)

I seem to recall people around here castigating the GOP for taking advantage of parts of the Stimulus while savaging it at the same time..

So, it seems to me that if Democrats want fairer rules then they should lead by example and follow the rules that they want everyone else to follow.

N'est pa??

You don't think that Pelosi and Soros et al are using loopholes to escape taxes??

What the Republicans are fighting for is to rearrange the rules to even further benefit the wealthy. More tax breaks for the rich. More deregulation. More trickle down. More costs shifted onto the middle class and poor.

So let the people who allegedly are against such practices lead by example and follow the set of rules that THEY want to see implemented...

In short, let them re-distribute THEIR wealth first...

Then, and only then, will they have a truly sturdy soapbox to stand on and preach to the masses...

Michale.....

Huh? This doesn't make sense.

We're fighting for fairer rules. Rules which have been rigged by the wealthy to benefit the wealthy.

For example, let's get rid of the tax breaks and loopholes that allow companies like GE to pay $0 in income taxes.

These fairer rules would apply to everyone equally. George Soros and Nancy Pelosi included :)

What the Republicans are fighting for is to rearrange the rules to even further benefit the wealthy. More tax breaks for the rich. More deregulation. More trickle down. More costs shifted onto the middle class and poor.

Basically, their vision of America looks a lot like a 3rd-world country. That's not an America I think is worth fighting for.

But they've got great marketing :).

-David

We'll start with President Obama..

He has a reported net worth of 10.5 million.. Since everything is taken care of FOR a US President, there shouldn't be ANY problem with the President giving away all of his millions to charities..

Next, let's look at Harry Reid.. He has a reported Net Worth of approx 4.5 million. Once again, since the US taxpayer foots a lot of his bills, he can afford to give the majority of his money to charities..

Now, my favorite. Nancy Pelosi has a net worth of between 25 million and 92 million. To be fair, lets just go with the low figure... Pelosi also has the majority of her needs taken care of by taxpayers, so she has absolutely NO EXCUSE for not redistributing her wealth to the poor and middle class..

What about George Soros? An estimated net worth of 14.2 BILLION dollars!! Why doesn't Soros re-distribute all his wealth and live in a mobile home in a trailer park in Podunk, Kentucky???

You see, that's the problem with Democrats and their "re-distribute wealth" credo...

They are all about re-distributing OTHER people's wealth. They want to hold onto their OWN for their OWN purposes..

That's why it's impossible to take the Democratic Party seriously most of the time..

They are the Party of "Do as I say, not as I do"...

Michale.....

no, they don't necessarily want it to happen (at least not to anyone they know), but if it must, it must, y'know, for the sake of the free market and all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp-R1o753pM

The point I would hammer over and over with Ryan is that he is "redistributing wealth".

Upwards.

A great term for this would be "reverse socialism".

Its obvious to even the casual observer.

Because of this, his budget should be a gift from the gods as you argue, Chris.

However ... we have a conservative President. So it will be interesting to see where he starts in the negotiations.

-David

p.s. @Michale- Speaking of Alabama, did you know that the people in states which are most Republican typically receive the most in welfare?

"Consider the state of Alaska. In 2004, the average Alaskan received $1.84 in federal benefits for each $1.00 he or she paid in federal taxes. The Republican presidential candidate, George W. Bush, received 62 percent of the vote.

Now consider the state of Massachusetts. In 2004, the average resident received only $0.82 in federal benefits for each $1.00 paid in federal taxes. Yet less than 38 percent of all voters pulled the lever marked George W. Bush. "

- Gary Richardson, "The Truth about Redistribution: Republicans Receive, Democrats Disburse"

So, we should just write off all the Americans in Alabama, is that what yer saying???

You would make a great Republican... :^/

They do it to everyone under 65; they'll do it to grandma, too.

Yea, and the Republicans want to kill all women and make Seniors eat cat food...

Seriously, you don't actually BELIEVE that utter felgercarb, do you???

Michale.....

Got two pennies to rub together? Then you're not poor enough for Medicaid in Alabama. Own a car? Too rich, sorry. Own a house, even one that's underwater? Never mind the wet, your investment in the American dream is now a cross to bear.

This is Alabama, where your right to life ends at birth. We've stripped Darwin from the textbooks so we could enforce Darwin on your health care. They do it to everyone under 65; they'll do it to grandma, too.

I bet Obama would like a DO OVER on a LOT of things he has said and done, eh? :D

Michale.....

But it seems I have
TM

Gore Vidal was right....

It no longer makes the slightest difference who the President is....

They own us now
TM