the truth
Surprisingly, it came from Bill Maher: Americans love their socialism.
He’s right, they do. With the federal budget just north of 40% of GDP and about 40% of income in this country coming from transfer payments from the government, it’s almost cute to call it capitalism.
Also, gains are privatized. But the big losses are public with bailouts and such. As a matter of policy, we take the worst of all systems. So admit it!
July 31st, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Markie Marxist sez: “Communism is 100% taxation, so we’re 40% of the way there! All your capitalism are belong to us! Well, 40% of it anyway, but we’re working on raising the debt ceiling, so we’re going in the correct direction, that is, the politically correct according to Marxist values direction. Ha! Ha!”
July 31st, 2011 at 2:10 pm
What’s wrong with private gains? Without them, the amount of capital in the world cannot increase and thus neither can the value of human labor.
July 31st, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Private gains with public losses are theft, Nathaniel.
You create wealth by taking risk. Take out the risk by government fiat, and wealth gets squandered in activities that cannot create new wealth.
July 31st, 2011 at 2:29 pm
@ Nathaniel: Because private gains and public losses (bailouts) are Fascism or possibly corporate socialism. That is the reason why I feel that Republicans and Democrats are two sides to the same coin: They both want to take your money. The only difference between them is in who receives my stolen money.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:56 pm
I see what Uncle is saying now. I get edgy when private gain is criticized, because profits earned by producing things people want are essential to the creation of a wealthy society. Of course, private gain as a result of government intervention does the opposite.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:57 pm
The only ones who love it are the ones NOT paying for it.
August 1st, 2011 at 1:20 am
Bill Maher is such a strange creature. His bouts of batshit idiocy are punctuated by moments of shocking lucidity.
August 1st, 2011 at 7:44 am
emdfl, I would bet that there are many who receive social security or participate in a union that would balk at it being taken away, yet complain about their taxes going to those that done deserve it or lazy welfare bums.
When you talk of real reforms, they get upset when they realise that you are talking theri portion of governement cheese as well.
August 1st, 2011 at 8:54 am
Social Security is a little unique. My father who retired after a very successful career takes his SS. They took it out of his pay back when we were dirt poor and told him it was an investment – not a tax.
Of course it’s a ponzi scheme that seriously needs to be privatized. Removing all taxes on saving and investment would also help get people off the government tit.
The rest of it – welfare, medicare, etc… is socilaist crap and should be cut down to only those most in need.
August 1st, 2011 at 9:20 am
“Removing all taxes on saving and investment would also help get people off the government tit.”
Wonderful idea, Old Soldier! We make our money, pay our taxes and then save a little and then get taxed on the paltry interest. Of course, the Fed printing money back by no goods, no services,and no precious commodities, keeps interest nil and provides a source of ever expanding debt…the greatest ponzi scheme going.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:26 am
I hope you watched early on when Bill seemed shocked to learn of our future obligations in the 80 trillion range by 2025. The interest on that alone will be over 75% of tax intake if all Americans were taxed at 100% of their income. Debt ceiling, no debt ceiling, it is coming like a freight train and I hope everyone is ready. When the dollar collapses who do you want in the White House? Mitt Romney? Herman Cain? All bets are off at that time and many in the Austrian school give it no more than 14-24 months. A business man in the White House during a collapse will be useless, but if you want liberty in the U.S. you better vote with your conscience. Only 1 in 1000 Americans have a clue as to what is about to occur to our way of life, do you?….
http://www.stansberryresearch.com/pro/1103PSIEOAVD/OPSIM533/PR
August 1st, 2011 at 10:28 am
One more tidbit that was sent to me today…
http://www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/drastic-measures-needed-now%C2%A0-12583
August 1st, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Old Soldier –
SS is an interesting scheme. It was set up so your payout would never go over your pay in. But when you retire at 65 and live well into your 80’s, after some point, you are just taking a handout.
Like Unc has said in the past, it would be so much nicer to just give my parents the money that they take out of my check each month, they would probably be better off.
Heck, imagine if you could invest it yourself. And if you didnt, shame on you.