We are in the middle of an extraordinary moment in American history: a public health crisis, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the existential threat of climate change and a president who is moving our country in an authoritarian direction.
In the midst of all these crises, there is another issue of major concern that is receiving very little attention. And that is the obscene level of income and wealth inequality which exists in our country and the fact that, during the pandemic, that inequality is becoming much worse.
While tens of millions of Americans are now facing economic desperation – unemployment, loss of healthcare, evictions, hunger – the very rich are becoming much richer. Here are three figures that should come as a shock to everyone in America ...
From Bernie Sanders : The pandemic is helping the rich get even richer. It's time to tax their obscene wealth
Excerpt:
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So, don't say nobody never told ya so ...[/FONT]
Bernie. Have a couple of questions. Now that you are a millionaire how much have you made during the pandemic? You once talked about taxing the heck out of millionaires till you became one. Now the emphasis is on billionaires. Why is that?
Bernie's net worth is 2M$. (Mostly from books he wrote.)
Go for it! Make a mountain out of a molehill ... !
The rich and large corps are being taxed the lowest since immediately before the Great Depression. Just like taxes were decreased leading up to the Great Recession. Just as Trump gave $2T away to the rich and large corps before the depression we're in now that has squandered our national treasure and thus prevent recovery from the economic impact of this pandemic. When we finally get to a bill that is for the avg American, not including large corps, the Reps and Trump stall. But the stock market was pumped-up with a couple trillion $ from the Fed to a market where money had no other place to go. And not hardly a cent to the avg American.
It is true that in tough economic times, whenever the stock market falls sharply, the wealth gap widens. The stock market will always do well. The avg American loses.
Nah. not worth the effort. Besides Bernie would most likely could not get the tax increase approved by the majority in Congress.
Today, yes. Tomorrow is quite another question.
The upper-income tax-raise would provide millions upon millions in revenue that is going to families that neither deserve nor need it!
And the enhancement of revenues from better jobs people get when they have a professional-degree will provide all of them a great deal of good ... !
What he wants it for is more spending. Shouldn't the US work on reducing the debt and a balanced budget before increase spending?
Today, yes. Tomorrow is quite another question.
The upper-income tax-raise would provide millions upon millions in revenue that is going to families that neither deserve nor need it!
And the enhancement of revenues from better jobs people get when they have a professional-degree will provide all of them a great deal of good ... !
You defend the wealthy. Either you are wealthy or you are one of the blind and brainwashed. We are not talking about poor people.
I am writing about poverty. Don't know about you.
You apparently have no idea whatsoever of Income Disparity, which means the difference between the super-poor and the super-rich and those in between. So, take a course in the subject.
Then come back and maybe we can discuss the matter ...
And exactly what is your plan for poverty. A plan to bring them up out of poverty. Train them and get them in the job market. Break the generational trap of our welfare system.
No doubt that would increase revenue. Lets say Bernie gets the tax increase he wants and the dollars come in. What he wants it for is more spending. Shouldn't the US work on reducing the debt and a balanced budget before increase spending?
No doubt that would increase revenue. Lets say Bernie gets the tax increase he wants and the dollars come in. What he wants it for is more spending. Shouldn't the US work on reducing the debt and a balanced budget before increase spending?
The left have spent the money they haven't even received yet and already are preparing to ask for more.
BETTER THE LIVES OF AMERICAN FAMILIES
You are reducing the argument in question in order to make it look ludicrous. Nice try. Didn't work.
Of course new tax-dollars are needed - when you look at the US budget (see here) where is more than half the budget going? To the DoD!!!
Where's the war? Which enemy country is attacking America?!?
As I have mentioned a thousand times (in this forum), we need only spend that budget more wisely and we (as a nation) will handle well the presently humongous evolution from the Industrial Age into the Information Age. Our people need to upgrade their talents because working in a manufacturing plant (making tea-cups, for instance) is no longer "on". The percentage of Americans that work in goods-producing industry is only 12.8% (see here).
The above means that we must prepare our people for the Information Age by assuring that they can obtain the post-secondary degrees that are necessary to obtain decent work. And I mean by that whether they are in high-school or whether they have long since graduated and need to go back to obtain an advanced degree.
So now do show how that objective suggested above cannot better the lives of American families ...
BETTER THE LIVES OF AMERICAN FAMILIES
You are reducing the argument in question in order to make it look ludicrous. Nice try. Didn't work.
Of course new tax-dollars are needed - when you look at the US budget (see here) where is more than half the budget going? To the DoD!!!
Where's the war? Which enemy country is attacking America?!?
As I have mentioned a thousand times (in this forum), we need only spend that budget more wisely and we (as a nation) will handle well the presently humongous evolution from the Industrial Age into the Information Age. Our people need to upgrade their talents because working in a manufacturing plant (making tea-cups, for instance) is no longer "on". The percentage of Americans that work in goods-producing industry is only 12.8% (see here).
The above means that we must prepare our people for the Information Age by assuring that they can obtain the post-secondary degrees that are necessary to obtain decent work. And I mean by that whether they are in high-school or whether they have long since graduated and need to go back to obtain an advanced degree.
So now do show how that objective suggested above cannot better the lives of American families ...
What war? I didn't mention any war.
As far as your comment of "we must prepare our people for the Information Age by assuring that they can obtain the post-secondary degrees that are necessary to obtain decent work. "
The US will always need workers that work on vehicles, build houses, repair houses, etc. Many of those jobs do not require going to college. Trade schools are also needed.
PPS: But!In a trend that has been widely lauded, the proportion of high school graduates who go straight to college has increased from 63 percent in 2000 to 70 percent now, the Department of Education says. (Jul 5, 2018]
The official four-year graduation rate for students attending public colleges and universities is 33.3%. The six-year rate is 57.6%. At private colleges and universities, the four-year graduation rate is 52.8%, and 65.4% earn a degree in six years.
The US will always need workers that work on vehicles, build houses, repair houses, etc. Many of those jobs do not require going to college. Trade schools are also needed.
True, but so what. All of the specialities that you speak above are NOT TAUGHT in secondary-schools.
One must go to a "trade school". Which I include in the batch of "post-secondary schooling that should be free, gratis and for nothing". We shall get "payback" from a higher skill-set including better salaries and a much lower population below the Poverty Threshold (which is already at 12% of the total).
Post-secondary schooling must be taught by each state and it should be as close to free as humanly possible.
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