I feel this article merits re-posting:
http://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-tax-rates
The chart's a little wonky to figure out. It's the tax rate at the highest tax bracket - ie, the multi-hundred-thousand bracket. As of this year, 2015, you hit that "highest rate" at $400,000 income. The highest rate being about 35% (actually, IRS states it's just under 40% for 2015). Compare to... every other time in US history.
70% in the '70s
80% right before WWII
90% in the '50s
Let's pick the "fairest" of these - the 1970s. I'm going to throw some numbers at you:
$1.4 million today -> $.9 million, after taxes
$1.4 million 1970s (or about $236,000 in 1970) -> $570,000. About half your $1.4 million.
So today, you keep most of your millions, about 2/3rds. 1970, you keep about half of your first million, then 1/4 of the next several millions.
(Calculations from hand on this site: http://taxfoundation.org/article/us-federal-individual-income-tax-rates-history-1913-2013-nominal-and-inflation-adjusted-brackets. About 6x for inflation.)
Is that 70% "rich" taxation fair? Fairer than 40%?
Yes.
Consider the practical aspects of what these taxes go toward. They go toward national security. Infrastructure (roads, airports for that private jet). Social Security and other boring stuff.
Stuff that makes America go 'round. Stuff that lets you keep the majority of your millions you rake in from your CEO paycheck, plus bonuses (who else is going to lay off those workers, after all?)
Taxes pay for things that allow you to maintain your company and lifestyle in the US. Living here isn't always a choice, but doing business here is definitely a privilege. One that you should acknowledge and, gee, pay for...?
You want more numbers? Okay.
http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/federal_budget
About $1 trillion to pensions, another to defense, and another to health care. And half a trillion to corporations, because they're cute and starving.
What?
Actually more. This link gives a small little look at some of the loopholes created for large businesses.
I can't even find how much corporations are being subsidized by the government. More than a trillion...?
WE SPEND MORE ON CORPORATE WELFARE THAN ON PEOPLE WELFARE ($.4 trillion for the little guy).
This is true. Shit like this boggles the mind. Click if you haven't spat up on your computer by now.
Corporations ARE people. They're people who count.
I'm actually really fucking pissed right now. Chew on that. I literally can't write any more.
-Upper Mgmt.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Why the Discontent
Because:
And:
https://www.ted.com/talks/nick_hanauer_beware_fellow_plutocrats_the_pitchforks_are_coming?language=en
And:
http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Cities-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486406512/
That first image is just a rough NY Times chart showing wealth inequality of distribution. It was high in the 1920s and it's about the same rate, perhaps worse, in recent years. In case you forget history a bit, search up "The Great Depression."
Second is a link to a Ted Talk. The pitchforks are referring to the third link.
That previous post, I said "Voice and Show your support." This is a blog of discontent. It's in the name. Voice and show that, too. This is the discontent I'm voicing, and showing. This is what I'm discontented about:
-Economic inequality
-The leveraging of money to create political power
(reference this NYT link on campaign contributions)
-The leveraging of political power to siphon more wealth, power, ad infinitum (presumably)
-The fact that I still have to eat
If someone can solve one of these four problems, I think the discontent would be let out of my tires. It's not a fair system. More importantly, it's not a sustainable system. The fact that we vote in representatives who are then swayed by lobbyists, campaign funds, straight graft; well, consider it this way. It's not a moral question. Morals can differ from person to person. But if maintaining your wealth and status is predicated on society's stability, and increasing that wealth is predicated on things that will destabilize society, especially among the lower rungs...
Maybe you're swinging your swing too high, kiddo. The swingset's gonna keel over, y'know?
I'm discontent at the belligerence of corporations, of so many people in power to see that they're piling their sandcastles top-heavy (you gotta have a good base for a sandcastle, yes?), ignorant to the fact that they're creating the kinds of people they rightfully fear - people who are poor, marginalized, and incapable of making a better life for themselves.
The economic theory of "Trickle Down," that money from the top will float all boats... I think that's only true for knowledge. Giving someone money, who gives a damn? Give someone knowledge, education, and access to communication - is that too dangerous? Is it dangerous to have an independent, unshackled and informed populace? Isn't that how we basically came to be a world Superpower anyway?
Hopefully this blog will be a step in the right direction. Become a voice: leave a thought. Become a hand, leave an imprint. Leave comments and George Carlin quotes here as you see fit.
-Mgmt.
And:
https://www.ted.com/talks/nick_hanauer_beware_fellow_plutocrats_the_pitchforks_are_coming?language=en
And:
http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Cities-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486406512/
That first image is just a rough NY Times chart showing wealth inequality of distribution. It was high in the 1920s and it's about the same rate, perhaps worse, in recent years. In case you forget history a bit, search up "The Great Depression."
Second is a link to a Ted Talk. The pitchforks are referring to the third link.
That previous post, I said "Voice and Show your support." This is a blog of discontent. It's in the name. Voice and show that, too. This is the discontent I'm voicing, and showing. This is what I'm discontented about:
-Economic inequality
-The leveraging of money to create political power
(reference this NYT link on campaign contributions)
-The leveraging of political power to siphon more wealth, power, ad infinitum (presumably)
-The fact that I still have to eat
If someone can solve one of these four problems, I think the discontent would be let out of my tires. It's not a fair system. More importantly, it's not a sustainable system. The fact that we vote in representatives who are then swayed by lobbyists, campaign funds, straight graft; well, consider it this way. It's not a moral question. Morals can differ from person to person. But if maintaining your wealth and status is predicated on society's stability, and increasing that wealth is predicated on things that will destabilize society, especially among the lower rungs...
Maybe you're swinging your swing too high, kiddo. The swingset's gonna keel over, y'know?
I'm discontent at the belligerence of corporations, of so many people in power to see that they're piling their sandcastles top-heavy (you gotta have a good base for a sandcastle, yes?), ignorant to the fact that they're creating the kinds of people they rightfully fear - people who are poor, marginalized, and incapable of making a better life for themselves.
The economic theory of "Trickle Down," that money from the top will float all boats... I think that's only true for knowledge. Giving someone money, who gives a damn? Give someone knowledge, education, and access to communication - is that too dangerous? Is it dangerous to have an independent, unshackled and informed populace? Isn't that how we basically came to be a world Superpower anyway?
Hopefully this blog will be a step in the right direction. Become a voice: leave a thought. Become a hand, leave an imprint. Leave comments and George Carlin quotes here as you see fit.
-Mgmt.
Why the experiement
Because:
There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.
Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey, a terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arrival. When the storm threatens, a man is afraid for his house. But when the house is destroyed, there is something to do. About a storm he can do nothing, but he can rebuild a house.
I talked to a friend the other day. She and I talked endlessly about how we are cornered, dumbfounded, secured by those in power. But I asked of her what we are to do to break this imprisonment, and our conversation ended in silence.
I stole two of these quotes, and the poorly-written one is my own. It's telling to me that people I know are aware of vast economic and societal inequalities, and yet, when it comes to talking about solutions - or worse, actions to take, responsibilities to take with us - there is no answer to that. I am not sure where to start.
But to me, this is a place to start. It is a place to start because I can see if other people are seeing what I'm seeing. Limited opportunities. More concentration of wealth. The shrinking independence of whole families, dependency of those in power on those of wealth.
I want to start this blog because I think people are starting to take Bernie Sanders seriously. Here is my take on Bernie Sanders: any well-intentioned politician can make a difference, as a few drops of lemon in water can make it keep better.
But I think people are unrealistic in assuming what he (or any noble-minded politician) can reasonably accomplish. If you're starting from something rather septic, what good will a few drops of anything do?
I believe it is the daily duty of US citizens to do these three things:
1. Become informed. This means to avoid bias in your news as well. Unfortunately, many US news outlets are unabashedly biased - this one left, this one right, this one up shouting all damned night - but perhaps BBC News is somewhere on your TV.
2. Voice your support. Voting, starting blogs, writing to your newspaper. Or representative. Or Senator. Or... President?
3. Show your support. Money where your mouth is. When it comes to it, a handful of ten-dollar words can only give someone your two cents; and it's only a penny for your thoughts, anyway. Time is money, too, more than a penny.
-Mgmt.
There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.
Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey, a terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arrival. When the storm threatens, a man is afraid for his house. But when the house is destroyed, there is something to do. About a storm he can do nothing, but he can rebuild a house.
I talked to a friend the other day. She and I talked endlessly about how we are cornered, dumbfounded, secured by those in power. But I asked of her what we are to do to break this imprisonment, and our conversation ended in silence.
I stole two of these quotes, and the poorly-written one is my own. It's telling to me that people I know are aware of vast economic and societal inequalities, and yet, when it comes to talking about solutions - or worse, actions to take, responsibilities to take with us - there is no answer to that. I am not sure where to start.
But to me, this is a place to start. It is a place to start because I can see if other people are seeing what I'm seeing. Limited opportunities. More concentration of wealth. The shrinking independence of whole families, dependency of those in power on those of wealth.
I want to start this blog because I think people are starting to take Bernie Sanders seriously. Here is my take on Bernie Sanders: any well-intentioned politician can make a difference, as a few drops of lemon in water can make it keep better.
But I think people are unrealistic in assuming what he (or any noble-minded politician) can reasonably accomplish. If you're starting from something rather septic, what good will a few drops of anything do?
I believe it is the daily duty of US citizens to do these three things:
1. Become informed. This means to avoid bias in your news as well. Unfortunately, many US news outlets are unabashedly biased - this one left, this one right, this one up shouting all damned night - but perhaps BBC News is somewhere on your TV.
2. Voice your support. Voting, starting blogs, writing to your newspaper. Or representative. Or Senator. Or... President?
3. Show your support. Money where your mouth is. When it comes to it, a handful of ten-dollar words can only give someone your two cents; and it's only a penny for your thoughts, anyway. Time is money, too, more than a penny.
-Mgmt.
An Experiment
Hello all.
I'm a modestly published writer. On occasion successful. A blogger, editor, things like that; less successfully.
This blog is my second, and comes from an area of discontent in my life. Mostly, it's an experiment, one I'm not positive I'll see to any particular use. But such are experiments. Here is the credo of the blog:
"To ever encourage continuous sifting and winnowing in pursuit of the truth."
And the second credo, should that one fail:
"Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards."
That is all for this post.
-Mgmt.
I'm a modestly published writer. On occasion successful. A blogger, editor, things like that; less successfully.
This blog is my second, and comes from an area of discontent in my life. Mostly, it's an experiment, one I'm not positive I'll see to any particular use. But such are experiments. Here is the credo of the blog:
"To ever encourage continuous sifting and winnowing in pursuit of the truth."
And the second credo, should that one fail:
"Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards."
That is all for this post.
-Mgmt.
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