September 6, 2017
Trump lie of the day: US is highest taxed country
The Hill - President Trump in a tweet previewing his upcoming trip to North Dakota to discuss taxes again claimed that the U.S. is the highest taxed nation in the world, despite data to the contrary. Data complied in 2015 by the Organizations for Economic Cooperate and Development, however, shows the U.S. behind countries such as the U.K., Germany and France in terms of taxes.
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6 comments:
When US politicians babble about shrinking government and reducing taxes, what they are really doing is blowing the horn for capitalism and hoping to deter socialism.
Democratic socialism requires an expanded federal government and higher taxes for the rich, which is what we see in the European countries mentioned in the article.
Sheeeeyit. That there 10:41 AM is jest unother punk commonist tryin to paint the USA red.
Re: Anon @ 10:41
Just as reality is not merely "black and white".
Might I suggest that Politicians, Politics, Economics, and Society exits in a broad spectrum.
Of course, there is always going to be a struggle between the 'Right' and 'Left' on most issues. On the subject of the size of our government, I might guess that saving costs that inflate our long-term national debt and annual budgetary deficit are also an aim. Also, reducing government size (strength) be used to allow industry avoid penalties for things like air and water pollution. Also, if I carry the argument a little further, it was the federal government that helped people accept minorities into public schools along with whites. Well, maybe that could be considered "Socialism", after all it was the 'Social' thing to do. But, could a smaller government allow for a reversal of fortune for many people?
In our country, we have balanced Capitalism with Social programs for a number of years. All without being called a "Socialist" country. Our programs have allowed for a more equitable distribution of wealth, that most likely help most of our families to get a decent education, job, and maybe even health care. I joined the Navy and took advantage of the G.I. Bill to get an education – is that 'Socialism'?
I might argue that economic disparity is not a healthy thing. That having a large portion of the population living in poverty is akin to 'serfdom', or even slavery. But what good would it be to throw more extreme terms around. My point would be only that unregulated Capitalism should be avoided, that people don't need Millions / Billions of dollars to live on. We shouldn't expect government to be run like a corporation; or elect people from 'business' that have no expertise in diplomacy, history, politics, or even common courtesy. Social programs do not mean that Corporations will go broke, but that business leaders will not be allowed to live like Kings in a country of Paupers. Also, right now we seem to two separate economies in this country; one being that of 'Labor', and one being that of 'Wall Street' where “To Much” is Never Enough.
I would like to point out that our country's long term national debt increased dramatically under George W. Bush, and has continued ever since. War and the economic bail-out of Wall Street / Banks has caused this, not chalked up to a “Socialist” environment – merely unscrupulous Capitalists.
12:38 PM:
If it were not for the fact that the Navy is a military organization, it is an excellent example of the purest of socialisms.
Your every necessity (and later education) was satisfied without cost, and you even received a bit of mad money. All at government expense and tax free.
Karl Marx would have given it a gold star.
The key fact in most Capitalism-vs-Socialism arguments is that nobody stops to think about how economies work. If they did, it would soon become evident what a psychopathic shell game Capitalism really is.
Sam has posted the story several times about how the Bailiwick of Guernsey, in bad straits after the Napoleonic Wars, bootstrapped itself back to prosperity without enriching a single banker.
Guernsey's success is a beautiful illustration of how life could be if we weren't constantly being gulled by the rich, who mystify their role so that its true nature --predation-- is hidden. We borrow from the rich, and thus keep them rich and ourselves in thrall to them forever, only because they tell us we must. There is no other reason!
Re: Anon @12:38PM
Oh come on... Really? Another use of carrying things to the 'extreme'?
OK, you are correct (from a fanatic Libertarian point of view), the Navy is not something that produces a “product” and therefore doesn't contribute to Capitalism in that way. However, in a way it was much worse than Socialism because we were considered to be military 'property', and that is why a person would get into trouble if they shot themselves in the foot. But many institutions don't produce a “product” - like in the Heath Care industries and some other Service industries, they might be pretty good examples of Socialism also.
The Military does provide necessities. POSH for some individuals – Port out, and Starboard home as they say, but the size of the bunk and personal storage space is quite limited. Necessities like a free trip to the South Pacific, or maybe North Korea today? Wow, who wouldn't want to get in on that deal. But Costs for some people are large. Family troubles, psychological problems, medical issues, and death.
While your comment is interesting, the GI Bill did not cover the total cost of education, and I can tell that you are uninformed when you include that comment about “mad money”. Truly a red herring. I do admit that I don't know how things are today, I believe that people in the military have to pay into the modern day GI Bill program.
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