Some Interesting Facts

[lesbiaphrodite]

*The top 1% of Americans now control more wealth than the bottom 90% combined.

*World-wide porn revenues, including in-room movies at hotels, sex clubs, and the Internet, topped $97 billion in 2006—more than that of Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflixs, and EarthLink combined.

*The football coach is the University of California-Berkeley’s highest paid “employee”; he makes about $3 million a year. Nationwide, full-time faculty positions have been disappearing, replaced by adjunct positions, with itinerant instructors barely making living wages.

*Collapsing and overwhelmed sewage systems release more than 40,000 discharges of raw sewage into our drinking water, streams and homes each year.

*One-third of our schools are in such a severe state of disrepair that it interferes with the delivery of instruction.

*We spend $8.9 billion on ICBM missile defense systems that would be useless in stopping a shipping container concealing a dirty bomb.

*A family of 4 now pays about $12,000 a year in premiums for healthcare—up about 90 percent from 2000 to 2006. About 50 million Americans are uninsured; another 25 million are “under-insured.”

*We have 2.3 million of our citizens behind bars. With less than 5% of the world’s popultion, we have 25% of the world’s prisoners (1/2 for non-violent drug crimes).

from Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle
by Chris Hedges, 2009

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/08/the-end-of-literacy-and-the-triumph-of-spectacle/

 

[Safe_Bet]

Well, gee, Little Ms. Sunshine... Thanks for lightening up my day!

 

[WRJames]

Things gradually grow out of proportion until something breaks.

The unequal distribution of wealth is at the heart of all the howling about Obama's "socialist" agenda. You track down who is funding all the uproar and it's the wealthy trying to protect what they gained under years of Republican rule.

Other facts that worry me a little -- age of puberty going down as age of marriage goes up.

The cost of college exploding as the quality of a college education (as you noted) declines.

And of course there are the few billion unfortunates on the verge of starvation.

 

[rgraham666]

(Starts humming Dire Straits)

Because that's what it boils down to. We want stuff but aren't willing to pay for it.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

*The top 1% of Americans now control more wealth than the bottom 90% combined.

And that top 1% pay more in income taxes than the lower 50% of wage earners combined.

 

[Safe_Bet]

And that top 1% pay more in income taxes than the lower 50% of wage earners combined.

Ummm, let's see:

Top 1% = More money than Bottom 90%

Top 1% = More taxes than Bottom 50%


Well, gee... Seems like there is a discrepancy of 40% there. It would only seem right that the Top 1% pay more taxes than the bottom 90%, seeing how they control more wealth.

Nah, It's MUCH better to disproportionately tax the working people who can least afford it.

P.S. It seems to be one big assed trickle of tax burden and a damn small assed trickle of real income!

 

[Xelebes]

And that top 1% pay more in income taxes than the lower 50% of wage earners combined.

That's not an impressive fact. An impressive fact would be an equal matching of the argument, like "The top 1% pay morein income taxes than the lower 90% of wage earners combined."

 

[Safe_Bet]

That's not an impressive fact. An impressive fact would be an equal matching of the argument, like "The top 1% pay morein income taxes than the lower 90% of wage earners combined."

Pffffft! Beat'cha!

 

[DesertPirate]

Pffffft! Beat'cha!

The bottom 30% pay nothing.

 

[Safe_Bet]

The bottom 30% pay nothing.

After inflation, cost of living and passed along "fees and alloted costs" which EVERYONE has to pay, lets compare "actual" tax burdens between the Top 1% and the bottom 30% shall we? As a percentage of real residual income the bottom 30% carry a MUCH heavier burden than the "anointed" stinking rich fascist wingnuts that are sneering at all of the rest of us from their "Bernie Maddoff" like Ivory Towers.

 

[DeeZire]

Originally Posted by DesertPirate
The bottom 30% pay nothing.

And many of those bottom 30% work for a less-than-livable wage, which means their sacrifice is enabling the top 1% to amass even more wealth. We're all connected here DP, whether you want to admit it or not.

 

[Huckleman2000]

And many of those bottom 30% work for a less-than-livable wage, which means their sacrifice is enabling the top 1% to amass even more wealth. We're all connected here DP, whether you want to admit it or not.

Exactly. At the root of this current R vs. L ideological debate isn't "socialism" vs. "status quo", it's "consumption and competition" vs. "conservation and innovation". It's the idea that "what's mine I worked for, and what's yours you probably don't deserve unless you display my brand of dogmatic 'moral' rigidity." It's the cogent recognition of negative long-term social issues and debate about how best to address them, versus a blind faith that god or corporations will provide.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Ummm, let's see:

Top 1% = More money than Bottom 90%

Top 1% = More taxes than Bottom 50%


Well, gee... Seems like there is a discrepancy of 40% there. It would only seem right that the Top 1% pay more taxes than the bottom 90%, seeing how they control more wealth.

Nah, It's MUCH better to disproportionately tax the working people who can least afford it.

P.S. It seems to be one big assed trickle of tax burden and a damn small assed trickle of real income!

Your world of what is fair sure does seem to lopsided??? So it's fair that 1% of the population pays more to support not only the functions of government but, doesn't even get a proportionately bigger slice of the government pie?

I pay $100 for a tiny piece of pie, where the guy next door pays $10 but gets a bigger piece of the pie. Damn that seems so...fucked up.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That's not an impressive fact. An impressive fact would be an equal matching of the argument, like "The top 1% pay morein income taxes than the lower 90% of wage earners combined."

Okay, here's the impressive fact...the top 10% of wage earners pay more in taxes than the other 90% of wage earners.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

After inflation, cost of living and passed along "fees and alloted costs" which EVERYONE has to pay, lets compare "actual" tax burdens between the Top 1% and the bottom 30% shall we? As a percentage of real residual income the bottom 30% carry a MUCH heavier burden than the "anointed" stinking rich fascist wingnuts that are sneering at all of the rest of us from their "Bernie Maddoff" like Ivory Towers.

Actually, the bottom 30% of wage earners get a bonus called the earn income tax credit.

The bottom 30% pay nothing.

The bottom 50% of wage earners pay little or no income tax.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Exactly. At the root of this current R vs. L ideological debate isn't "socialism" vs. "status quo", it's "consumption and competition" vs. "conservation and innovation". It's the idea that "what's mine I worked for, and what's yours you probably don't deserve unless you display my brand of dogmatic 'moral' rigidity." It's the cogent recognition of negative long-term social issues and debate about how best to address them, versus a blind faith that god or corporations will provide.

So what I work for isn't mine? You Communist PIG!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Your world of what is fair sure does seem to lopsided??? So it's fair that 1% of the population pays more to support not only the functions of government but, doesn't even get a proportionately bigger slice of the government pie?

I pay $100 for a tiny piece of pie, where the guy next door pays $10 but gets a bigger piece of the pie. Damn that seems so...fucked up.

A bigger slice of pie?

If you really believe that, you could join him in his good luck, by getting fired and going below the poverty line yourself. Than you too could pay $10.00 for pie. I hope you can live on it.

 

[Liar]

Okay, here's the impressive fact...the top 10% of wage earners pay more in taxes than the other 90% of wage earners.

That is only unfair if the top 10% earn less than the bottom 90%.

What is the average wage for those among the top 10%?

What is the average wage for those among the bottom 90%?

If the ratio is higher than 10:1, you have no case. If the ratio is lower, then yes, it's disproportionate, but still not as dramatic as you make it sound.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

From the same author who gathered and studied the aforementioned statistics:

“A culture that cannot distinguish between reality and illusion dies,” Hedges writes. “And we are dying now. … Those who cling to fantasy in times of despair and turmoil inevitably turn to demagogues and charlatans to entertain and reassure them."--Chris Hedges, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

 

[PeachandCream83]

Your world of what is fair sure does seem to lopsided??? So it's fair that 1% of the population pays more to support not only the functions of government but, doesn't even get a proportionately bigger slice of the government pie?

I pay $100 for a tiny piece of pie, where the guy next door pays $10 but gets a bigger piece of the pie. Damn that seems so...fucked up.

Yes you make a good point, but what about where the tax money really goes.....

Mentioned earlier how many people are in prison and what for. Do you realize how comfortable those prisoners are? The average American who struggles with paying bills, providing food, and finding healthcare can barely afford it and in most cases can not get government assistance. But the prisoners have their bills paid for them, free rent, electricity, phone, gym, and medical. And who might they thank for that…….your tax money. They aren’t really working in jail so they don’t contribute to the taxes and in most cases when they are released they are back in a short amount of time.
So tell me how screwed up you think that is?

Now don’t get me wrong those who commit a crime should pay the consequences but it shouldn’t be easy time. I think they should make them do something to earn their comforts, not just have it handed to them.

Also did you know that a man who is caught steeling gets 25 yrs or more, but a rapist only get 15 yrs per account and has a protection of statue of limitation? How is it, a person can get their things back but a woman (even a man) can not forget the damage done to them.

 

[TE999]

Now don’t get me wrong those who commit a crime should pay the consequences but it shouldn’t be easy time. I think they should make them do something to earn their comforts, not just have it handed to them.

At one time state penal systems had chain gangs that performed useful chores such as repairing roads and planting/harvesting various crops. In the course of things there were abuses, so they were subsequently outlawed as being cruel and inhuman.

Now prisoners have the free time to be cruel and inhuman to each other.

 

[PeachandCream83]

At one time state penal systems had chain gangs that performed useful chores such as repairing roads and planting/harvesting various crops. In the course of things there were abuses, so they were subsequently outlawed as being cruel and inhuman.

Now prisoners have the free time to be cruel and inhuman to each other.

Well, HELL! Just think of those damn medical bills!

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

Well, HELL! Just think of those damn medical bills!

It's always nice to see a refugee from the "Amateur Pics" thread come over and get involved in an intelligent discourse. Please, by all means, what might you contribute to us here?

Perhaps you have read Michel Foucault's "Discipline and Punish?" Or, better still, the "Panopticon?"

Or, maybe you have studied the various writings of Noam Chomsky? The recent work of Naomi Wolf?

We are all eagerly waiting for you to enlighten us. And, even if you've read absolutely nothing in your life, perhaps you have been in prison? Ah well, if you haven't, I suspect that when you are imprisoned, you'll wish that you had a little bit of what you actually perceive that prisoners get? Comfort. You make me laugh so hard, I could cry....

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

“The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge.”
Elbert Hubbard

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That is only unfair if the top 10% earn less than the bottom 90%.

What is the average wage for those among the top 10%?

What is the average wage for those among the bottom 90%?

If the ratio is higher than 10:1, you have no case. If the ratio is lower, then yes, it's disproportionate, but still not as dramatic as you make it sound.

What does what they make have to do with it...

10% of %100,000 is far more than 10% of $1000. Why should the person making $100,000 pay 35% of their hard earned dollars, while the person making the $1,000 pays -150% in taxes?