I cringe when someone talks about the 1%

[Stizzel]

Sometimes it feels like some americans are worshipping rich people like in some sort of twiested religion.

Thing is - most of the ultra-rich probably had a lot of "help" and pretty much everybody who got there himself probably isnt what you would consider a "nice guy" - you just dont become that rich without beeing pretty ruthless.

Last but not least - the problem is that societies where the gap between the rich and the poor becomes too big will fall apart. Not to mention that its bad for the rich even before that happens - living in a golden cage isnt fun. And if people havent realized that by now - the number 1 creator for criminality is poverty.

Also for the wannabe rich people here - thing is chances are you will never become one of them and - believe it or not - with all their money and influence they actually are pretty good at standing up for themselves.

Middles classes have always grown out of a free market. There has never been a single year in which the government did less, spent less or regulated less thn the previous and yet that gap keeps growing, rather than shrinking as it did in the past. The government is owned by the rich, so it should not surprise you that the push for more power never stops.

[Mulyark]

Here's a little tutorial for the slow among us:

The rich got that way through hard work, inheritances, saving and investing.

The rich got even richer through higher stock prices.

Companies raise their share price by out-competing, innovating and delivering what people want.

But they also raise their share price by consolidating which slashes payrolls, cost-cutting, outsourcing production abroad, and automating which has hollowed out the middle class.

Bill Clinton was the king of allowing mergers and acquisitions, and he only crowed about the phony gains in productivity that automation and mergers were creating. Hillary is cut from that same cloth.


And now comes Bernie Sanders who is so idiotic that he thinks taxing all the remnants of American enterprise to death will magically recreate the Big Union 1950s.


lol just lol

[VinoVeritasIn]

Middles classes have always grown out of a free market. There has never been a single year in which the government did less, spent less or regulated less thn the previous and yet that gap keeps growing, rather than shrinking as it did in the past. The government is owned by the rich, so it should not surprise you that the push for more power never stops.

Well one of the main problems is that rich people and corporations simply have way too much power. Just look at the campaigning costs etc. do you really think they would invest that much money in somebody if there was no return?

For example:
2008 a total of 5.3 billion Dollars was spent on federal elections - does anybody really think all that money is invested without any return? Same goes for the tons of lobbyists ...

So yes i agree with you to some extent. But now lets be honest - lets say the government shrinks or even dissapears - wouldnt the corporations with money just simply start to enforce what they want themselves? Thats pretty much what happened in the past - people with money simply enforced what they wanted themselves and poor people pretty much had to accept it because its not like they had a choice - so its somewhat better now.

[NYPat]

Here's a little tutorial for the slow among us:

The rich got that way through hard work, inheritances, saving and investing.

The rich got even richer through higher stock prices.

Companies raise their share price by out-competing, innovating and delivering what people want.

But they also raise their share price by consolidating which slashes payrolls, cost-cutting, outsourcing production abroad, and automating which has hollowed out the middle class.

Bill Clinton was the king of allowing mergers and acquisitions, and he only crowed about the phony gains in productivity that automation and mergers were creating. Hillary is cut from that same cloth.


And now comes Bernie Sanders who is so idiotic that he thinks taxing all the remnants of American enterprise to death will magically recreate the Big Union 1950s.


lol just lol

lol just lol is right.

You seem to have left out the part where they lobby congress.

And Bernie is idiotic for wanting to tax these poor, hard working, innocent companies.

[Mulyark]

lol just lol is right.

You seem to have left out the part where they lobby congress.

And Bernie is idiotic for wanting to tax these poor, hard working, innocent companies.

Congress has been for sale for 225 years.

And you can only kill the goose that lays golden eggs once. Then you have to go after the middle class like most socialist countries do..

[NYPat]

Congress has been for sale for 225 years.

And you can only kill the goose that lays golden eggs once. Then you have to go after the middle class like most socialist countries do..

That makes it ok? That's your position? And lol at calling them the goose that lays the golden egg. Kill it and another will take it's place instantly. Lol at thinking these companies are untouchable. Trickle down didn't work brah.

And lol again at your socialist fear mongering rhetoric.

[Stizzel]

Well one of the main problems is that rich people and corporations simply have way too much power. Just look at the campaigning costs etc. do you really think they would invest that much money in somebody if there was no return?

For example:
2008 a total of 5.3 billion Dollars was spent on federal elections - does anybody really think all that money is invested without any return? Same goes for the tons of lobbyists ...

So yes i agree with you to some extent. But now lets be honest - lets say the government shrinks or even dissapears - wouldnt the corporations with money just simply start to enforce what they want themselves? Thats pretty much what happened in the past - people with money simply enforced what they wanted themselves and poor people pretty much had to accept it because its not like they had a choice - so its somewhat better now.

You probably dont realize it, but you just described the current system as your worst case scenario. The truth is there are a number of examples of stateless societies and this never happens. Its only through the state that this is achieved.

[MrFrogbottom]

If you don't like the rich getting richer then vote against all forms of wealth redistribution. If it's allowed to take from one person who rightfully earned it and give it to someone who has no claim to it, then everyone will want to influence the law in their favor. And guess who's going to be able to do that way better than the poor people you think you're doing a big favor for? That's right, those big bad evil rich people all you limp wristed lib ****s hate so much. The only way to end all the corruption is to not allow wealth redistribution in any form to begin with.

Inb4 butthurt lib feelz.
Inb4 the word "bootstraps" is mentioned

[Stizzel]

If you don't like the rich getting richer then vote against all forms of wealth redistribution. If it's allowed to take from one person who rightfully earned it and give it to someone who has no claim to it, then everyone will want to influence the law in their favor. And guess who's going to be able to do that way better than the poor people you think you're doing a big favor for? That's right, those big bad evil rich people all you limp wristed lib ****s hate so much. The only way to end all the corruption is to not allow wealth redistribution in any form to begin with.

Inb4 butthurt lib feelz.
Inb4 the word "bootstraps" is mentioned

Repped for logical and empirical accuracy

[MangoPort]

Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires

That quote has never been more true than on this site, where so many lower-middle class zealots rage in favour of the 1% because... well, that will be them some day!

You want to know how much money you're going to make when you grow up? About exactly as much as your parents, with VERY little exception in the US.

I'm okay with that. I had privilege and I'll pass that on to my daughter, but sometimes R/P just makes me laugh.

[Stizzel]

That quote has never been more true than on this site, where so many lower-middle class zealots rage in favour of the 1% because... well, that will be them some day!

You want to know how much money you're going to make when you grow up? About exactly as much as your parents, with VERY little exception in the US.

I'm okay with that. I had privilege and I'll pass that on to my daughter, but sometimes R/P just makes me laugh.

This is pretty stupid bro, even for you. You dont have to think you're a part of a minority to speak against bigotry and oppression.

[tnel00]

I cringe at the thought of American citizens hiding money in off shore accounts in order to avoid paying taxes. Its like they are betraying the country which allowed them to create all that wealth.

Yet you're going to vote for a politician who will guarantee it will occur more often...

strong logic

[KRANE]

Seriously they couldn't sound more pathetic and jealous. I really don't understand the hate on the wealthy people have been brainwashed into believing. Those business owners are the ones who took all the risk when creating the enterprise that allows the rest of us to have cushy stable jobs. Sorry I don't buy into the idea that I'm somehow held back by the wealthy. I'm free to work where I want and free to quit if I don't like the company I'm working for. If the owners of the company make 1000x what I make wtf do I care. I'm happy with my pay and if not I'll find a different job.

Permit me to enlighten you. One word: exploitation.

[MangoPort]

This is pretty stupid bro, even for you. You dont have to think you're a part of a minority to speak against bigotry and oppression.

Clearly you haven't read some of my earlier work.

The Bern is speaking out against the fact that the game is rigged. It's no longer a fair fight for the poor to rise above their station and make something of themselves. It's not just a nation of lazy, 'gimme gimme gimme'. American's are hard working - by and large most of 'em. And yet so many can't get ahead in this world.

[HankScorp1o]

I cringe at the thought of American citizens hiding money in off shore accounts in order to avoid paying taxes. Its like they are betraying the country which allowed them to create all that wealth.

But thats just me.

I cringe at broke people like yourself that demand such high taxation for Americans. It's like betraying their very countrymen who worked to create that wealth.

[Stizzel]

Clearly you haven't read some of my earlier work.

The Bern is speaking out against the fact that the game is rigged. It's no longer a fair fight for the poor to rise above their station and make something of themselves. It's not just a nation of lazy, 'gimme gimme gimme'. American's are hard working - by and large most of 'em. And yet so many can't get ahead in this world.

Of course people are struggling. Theres an enormous leech serving the top .01% and hordes of liberals cheering it on. Theft and extortion or wrong, but if immorality doesnt bother you, they're also inefficient and counter productive.

[ratt1ehead]

Seriously they couldn't sound more pathetic and jealous. I really don't understand the hate on the wealthy people have been brainwashed into believing. Those business owners are the ones who took all the risk when creating the enterprise that allows the rest of us to have cushy stable jobs. Sorry I don't buy into the idea that I'm somehow held back by the wealthy. I'm free to work where I want and free to quit if I don't like the company I'm working for. If the owners of the company make 1000x what I make wtf do I care. I'm happy with my pay and if not I'll find a different job.

Spoken like a true cuck.

I cringe when people think there's nothing wrong with the fact that 62 people own as much wealth as half of the world's population and that many in the so-called "greatest country in the world" ('merica) still struggle to make ends meet while working multiple jobs.

[Dave22reborn]

This is not about envy or hate, really.

Once again. Sorry for the repetition but it seems like there are many people that still don't get it.

That chart shows their wealth going up and down.

[Dave22reborn]

Spoken like a true cuck.

I cringe when people think there's nothing wrong with the fact that 62 people own as much wealth as half of the world's population and that many in the so-called "greatest country in the world" ('merica) still struggle to make ends meet while working multiple jobs.

And you would do what exactly? Take their wealth from them, and do what?

[ratt1ehead]

And you would do what exactly? Take their wealth from them, and do what?

Tax the fuk out of them. Set a max ratio of how much the top earner in a firm can earn compared to the lowest earner, hell you could set it to 100:1 and it'll be much better than it is currently.

It's true, the business owner is the one with the idea and the one who takes the risk, and deservedly so he should get a large, if not biggest piece of the pie.

But successful business owners don't build their entire businesses themselves; without workers and infrastructure an idea is just an idea.

Tell me, do you honestly believe those 62 people worked hard to get that amount of wealth?

EDIT: Example: If a janitor at a firm takes home $30,000 a year, the top earner can't make more than $3,000,000 a year...or is that unfair???

[Dave22reborn]

Tax the fuk out of them. Set a max ratio of how much the top earner in a firm can earn compared to the lowest earner, hell you could set it to 100:1 and it'll be much better than it is currently.

It's true, the business owner is the one with the idea and the one who takes the risk, and deservedly so he should get a large, if not biggest piece of the pie.

But successful business owners don't build their entire businesses themselves; without workers and infrastructure an idea is just an idea.

Tell me, do you honestly believe those 62 people worked hard to get that amount of wealth?

EDIT: Example: If a janitor at a firm takes home $30,000 a year, the top earner can't make more than $3,000,000 a year...or is that unfair???

That's insane. You would punish the CEO, because his company was too successful? And if the person on the bottom of a pyramid wants more money, then maybe, just maybe, they should rise through the ranks.

[andrew28]

Idk which side is more annoying

The poor people who blame all their problems on the 1%

Or

The people on the misc who suck the 1% CEO's dicks so hard as if they're gonna give you money for defending them on an Internet forum.

[HankScorp1o]

Idk which side is more annoying

The poor people who blame all their problems on the 1%

Or

The people on the misc who suck the 1% CEO's dicks so hard as if they're gonna give you money for defending them on an Internet forum.

Nobody here does this. Some of us just believe that people who earn their money should get to keep most of it.

I know that's an outrageous concept that liberals and simpletons can't wrap their heads around and it's much easier to say 'YORE JUST SUCKKING THE RICH GUY'S DICK BY SAYING HE CAN HAVE THE MONEY HES EARNED HURR DURRRR" but it's a childish and selfish viewpoint to insist that you deserve more of the fruits of other people's labor for doing absolutely nothing.

[ratt1ehead]

That's insane. You would punish the CEO, because his company was too successful? And if the person on the bottom of a pyramid wants more money, then maybe, just maybe, they should rise through the ranks.

No, don't punish the CEO; but at least reward the workers with a decent life. You make it sound as if the CEO, owners, or founders are the only ones who do work and deserve all the earnings.

Some people simply can't rise through the ranks, some people just aren't smart enough, some people were made to lead and some made to follow, but does that make them worthless?

Is a man that works his ass off all fuking day doing manual labor worthless and undeserving of a decent life just because he doesn't possess the intelligence to progress his career?

[DennisR1977]

Tax the fuk out of them. Set a max ratio of how much the top earner in a firm can earn compared to the lowest earner, hell you could set it to 100:1 and it'll be much better than it is currently.

It's true, the business owner is the one with the idea and the one who takes the risk, and deservedly so he should get a large, if not biggest piece of the pie.

But successful business owners don't build their entire businesses themselves; without workers and infrastructure an idea is just an idea.

Tell me, do you honestly believe those 62 people worked hard to get that amount of wealth?

EDIT: Example: If a janitor at a firm takes home $30,000 a year, the top earner can't make more than $3,000,000 a year...or is that unfair???

So, to help this poor janitor, you'd tax the ceo more and give it to the government? How in the flying **** does that help anyone out, besides the government?

[Dave22reborn]

No, don't punish the CEO; but at least reward the workers with a decent life. You make it sound as if the CEO, owners, or founders are the only ones who do work and deserve all the earnings.

Some people simply can't rise through the ranks, some people just aren't smart enough, some people were made to lead and some made to follow, but does that make them worthless?

Is a man that works his ass off all fuking day doing manual labor worthless and undeserving of a decent life just because he doesn't possess the intelligence to progress his career?

The reward is his job, if he wants a decent life, then work harder, sacrifice, maybe save some money. Don't punish the guy at the top who has ambition.

[Dave22reborn]

So, to help this poor janitor, you'd tax the ceo more and give it to the government? How in the flying **** does that help anyone out, besides the government?

I hope he's not being serious.

[andrew28]

Nobody here does this. Some of us just believe that people who earn their money should get to keep most of it.

I know that's an outrageous concept that liberals and simpletons can't wrap their heads around and it's much easier to say 'YORE JUST SUCKKING THE RICH GUY'S DICK BY SAYING HE CAN HAVE THE MONEY HES EARNED HURR DURRRR" but it's a childish and selfish viewpoint to insist that you deserve more of the fruits of other people's labor for doing absolutely nothing.

Oh come on are you really gonna act like the 1% are all a bunch of honest, harmless people who don't have their hands dirty in anything? that they don't use loopholes to get what they want at the expense of the middle and lower classes? GTFO of here.

Look, I understand the frustration of being taxed up the ass and the whole concept of wanting to keep as much fukkin money as you possibly can. I get why honest hard working people don't want their hard earned money being redistributed just so aunt jemima can get on medicaid. Just don't sit here being 100% biased towards your political ideology and try to find a middle ground for a change. because the 1% has their hands dirty in a lot of sh!t too.

It seems like if you even dare to bring up some sh!t about the 1%, you get branded as some commie liberal. i fukkin hate liberal ideology and their bitching as much as anyone so I do take that as an insult lol. It's just the misc's obsession with the whole "CEO 10k a day" nut hugging I see at times gets a little ridiculous.

I see people posting threads about some corrupt CEO and there's a bunch of mouth breathing morons rushing in to defend the bastard just because he acts 'alpha'. you know what I'm talking about.

[zinkhan99]

Is a man that works his ass off all fuking day doing manual labor worthless and undeserving of a decent life just because he doesn't possess the intelligence to progress his career?

According to some libs in R/P they are indeed worthless. Trump having strong working class support ? Fat, uneducated, dumb and hopeless. Can't recall which state, perhaps Georgia, introduced stricter laws on illegal immigrant labor and there was a shortage of workers willing to work in the field. Libs were quick to asses that Americans are lazy and not hard working at all. Reading the frequent bashing of working class, it makes me wonder who do they really want to help with their really weird rhetoric.

[forcexdistance]

The system is basically OK as is. It just needs adjustment. The system is increasingly favoring the very wealthy. The amount of the nation's wealth that they control has become too large. Not enough of it is trickling it's way down. Taxing the wealthy a little more will not make them quit trying to make money. Getting money down into the lower classes would spur the economy. Right now most of that money is in the stock market and piles of gold. Piles of gold in safes don't do much for the economy.