Closing the wealth gap

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DiabloWags
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In reply to dajo9 • 10:37a, 1/11/22
dajo9 said:

I'm more interested in outcomes than I am in technical explanations. There is always a "reason" to take unusual actions with the Fed balance sheet.

Personally, I believe the technical "explanations" are important.
Otherwise, one winds up with the typical partisan presentation of news that we see so much of on Faux.

To my point about the REPO issue back in Sept of 2019, (last July), the FED created two new permanent standing repo facilities (one for domestic firms and another for international) in an effort to make sure that the "plumbing" of the financial system chugs along smoothly.

I find that it helps to understand what specifically happened, in order to identify whether or not there was any direct correlation or causation in relation to an outcome, especially since the "plumbing" of the financial system can be quite complicated.




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going4roses
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11:39a, 1/11/22
"Oppressors will always, and I mean always use their power to destroy Liberators. It may seem like a simple equation, but for whatever reason folks fail to do the basic math."
"Tedious Repetition of routine actions are what make us great"
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calbear93
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In reply to DiabloWags • 11:45a, 1/11/22
DiabloWags said:
82gradDLSdad said:
Forgive this tangential post...I watch CNBC every morning. Today I get to watch Fed chairman Powell field questions from senators. It reinforces why smart people don't want to hand over to these people any more tax money than they have to. Blowhards, buffoons, senile, etc. pick your own words to describe most of these folks. It's hard to watch. Luckily, a sane, rational, smart, bipartisan person gets to do most of the speaking: Powell. You may not like all of his actions but I wish more folks like him were in charge of the government rather than the grandstanders that are asking the questions. It's embarrassing to our country.
Agreed 100%

Can you imagine if the Clowns in Congress had gotten involved when it came to AIG and putting it through some kind of receivership process?






Yes, exactly. And it isn't that they are dumb. Yes, some are just idiotic. But others are smart enough but evil enough to do what is destructive to cater to their left/right base.

All you have to do is look at how some who know better are willing to default on our obligations and not increase the debt ceiling to pay for things that they approved.

Likewise, there are those who think we can spend without thinking about how we will pay for it or say that because of tax increases, it costs nothing.

Imagine otherwise entrusting your own investments or financial accounts to these clowns. You wouldn't.
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calbear93
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In reply to Big C • 11:51a, 1/11/22
Big C said:



Which is where someone like me comes in. I would choose a path somewhere between your two scenarios. I believe that a regulated free market is the best way of allocating resources and I also believe in personal responsibility, but I also believe we should do more to provide opportunity to all our citizens. Yes, this might involve many people paying more taxes, but not a lot more, hopefully. (I would also love to cut defense spending and government waste, but easier said than done.) I agree with you and others that a wealth tax is not feasible, so we would have to look for other ways.

Sorry if you would have to pay more taxes (I would, too) and especially if your wife would scream at you. I know from personal experience that that is no fun! I would not want to raise anyone's taxes a ridiculous amount, but I feel like many people (like me) can pay a little more and some can even pay a little more than that,
Sorry, I know you mean well, but the phrases I highlighted is the reason it is not meaningful.

What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?
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DiabloWags
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In reply to going4roses • 11:56a, 1/11/22
going4roses said:
"Oppressors will always, and I mean always use their power to destroy Liberators. It may seem like a simple equation, but for whatever reason folks fail to do the basic math."
You mean the Basic Math that shows that the Top 5% pay 60.6% of all federal income taxes?
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calbear93
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In reply to DiabloWags • 11:58a, 1/11/22
DiabloWags said:
going4roses said:
"Oppressors will always, and I mean always use their power to destroy Liberators. It may seem like a simple equation, but for whatever reason folks fail to do the basic math."
You mean the Basic Math that shows that the Top 5% pay 60.6% of all federal income taxes?
For your sanity, I would recommend exercising a bit more discretion on whose posts you read and whose post you respond to.
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DiabloWags
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In reply to calbear93 • 12:05p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
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In reply to calbear93 • 12:10p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:


Imagine otherwise entrusting your own investments or financial accounts to these clowns. You wouldn't.

And that's the crux of the hypocrisy of those that are educated, work hard, and make money, and support socialists like Sanders and Warren. They'd NEVER entrust their own investments or financial accounts to them. Never.
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bearister
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12:24p, 1/11/22
" Bearsister did not use QE because he likely doesn't know " that about the Fed's plans to raise interest rates to control inflation is to tax QE." WIAF


I'm not an economics guy, and certainly not in the same zip code as the Gordon Gekko Squad experts in this thread. I'm simply a troll. I'm smart enough to spot an article that expresses an opinion contrary to the Squad's, I post it here, and then I sit back and watch the litter of kittens that gets birthed all over the thread each time I do so.

Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
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DiabloWags
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12:44p, 1/11/22
A Troll?
Now that's a SHOCKER.
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Unit2Sucks
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In reply to DiabloWags • 12:47p, 1/11/22
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.
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DiabloWags
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In reply to Unit2Sucks • 12:54p, 1/11/22
Unit2Sucks said:

I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.

As a State, we spend slightly less on the typical student than the rest of the country.

Per fiscal 2017, we spend $12,143 per pupil.
Salaries and Wages accounted for $6,947 per pupil and worker benefits make up $3,131 per student.

Utah is at the bottom at $7,179 and ranked #21st overall in education.
NY at the top of the spending chart at $23,091 but only ranked #19th overall.in education.

I suspect that you are right about the challenges of bilingual education.

But the lack of accountability remains.






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calbear93
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In reply to Unit2Sucks • 12:57p, 1/11/22
Unit2Sucks said:
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.
I think the problem is that most think money will solve the education issue. It will help if dedicated to computers, books, cleaner/safer space, etc. However, if you ever witnessed a typical school district in large cities, more money is not the problem. If you note the difference in two parent households with involved parents vs. single parent, charitable organizations like Boys & Girls Club providing afterschool programs and tutoring, charter schools (not popular with those who rely on unions even if they know it is better for the kids), etc., you will know that accountability is the main issue, whether it's accountability to the parents (always blaming the government or the schools and never themselves), the administrators, the politicians, the teachers, the schools, etc. We have seen with LAUSD, Chicago schools, New York schools, etc. what happens when you just throw more money. Nothing. I am sure some low level do-gooder starts with the right ideas but once special interest, political groups, etc. get their hands on it, it becomes more an appeasement of different factions instead of an effective solution to help the kids. Would you donate to a charity if they had the same inefficient use of your funds? No, you would donate to organizations like Boys & Girls club.
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Unit2Sucks
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In reply to calbear93 • 1:16p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:
Unit2Sucks said:
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.
I think the problem is that most think money will solve the education issue. It will help if dedicated to computers, books, cleaner/safer space, etc. However, if you ever witnessed a typical school district in large cities, more money is not the problem. If you note the difference in two parent households with involved parents vs. single parent, charitable organizations like Boys & Girls Club providing afterschool programs and tutoring, charter schools (not popular with those who rely on unions even if they know it is better for the kids), etc., you will know that accountability is the main issue, whether it's accountability to the parents (always blaming the government or the schools and never themselves), the administrators, the politicians, the teachers, the schools, etc. We have seen with LAUSD, Chicago schools, New York schools, etc. what happens when you just throw more money. Nothing. I am sure some low level do-gooder starts with the right ideas but once special interest, political groups, etc. get their hands on it, it becomes more an appeasement of different factions instead of an effective solution to help the kids. Would you donate to a charity if they had the same inefficient use of your funds? No, you would donate to organizations like Boys & Girls club.
I obviously don't disagree that just spending more money isn't going to solve the problem alone, but I did want to address the notion that somehow we are a big spender achieving worse outcomes. We are a below average spender achieving below average outcomes.

DW mentioned Utah as a counter example but Utah is a homogenous state - very few non-english speakers or immigrants and among the lowest poverty rates in the country. They have simpler problems to solve in education.

Like with police forces in this country, schools have become tasked with too many responsibilities and burdens. You are right that society has changed and that we no longer have as many full-time parent caregivers which has made it harder for families to ensure that their children are on track at school. This is certainly something that money can help solve - after school programs, funded prek etc., but that doesn't mean that other organizations and charities might not be a part of the solution. I think what people sometimes ignore when discussing Prop 13 in California is that it ends up limiting educational funding and has caused somewhat of a disconnect between the rise in the cost of living in California and the rise in revenues available for education (which property taxes are a meaningful contributor to).
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calbear93
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In reply to Unit2Sucks • 1:30p, 1/11/22
Unit2Sucks said:
calbear93 said:
Unit2Sucks said:
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.
I think the problem is that most think money will solve the education issue. It will help if dedicated to computers, books, cleaner/safer space, etc. However, if you ever witnessed a typical school district in large cities, more money is not the problem. If you note the difference in two parent households with involved parents vs. single parent, charitable organizations like Boys & Girls Club providing afterschool programs and tutoring, charter schools (not popular with those who rely on unions even if they know it is better for the kids), etc., you will know that accountability is the main issue, whether it's accountability to the parents (always blaming the government or the schools and never themselves), the administrators, the politicians, the teachers, the schools, etc. We have seen with LAUSD, Chicago schools, New York schools, etc. what happens when you just throw more money. Nothing. I am sure some low level do-gooder starts with the right ideas but once special interest, political groups, etc. get their hands on it, it becomes more an appeasement of different factions instead of an effective solution to help the kids. Would you donate to a charity if they had the same inefficient use of your funds? No, you would donate to organizations like Boys & Girls club.
I obviously don't disagree that just spending more money isn't going to solve the problem alone, but I did want to address the notion that somehow we are a big spender achieving worse outcomes. We are a below average spender achieving below average outcomes.

DW mentioned Utah as a counter example but Utah is a homogenous state - very few non-english speakers or immigrants and among the lowest poverty rates in the country. They have simpler problems to solve in education.

Like with police forces in this country, schools have become tasked with too many responsibilities and burdens. You are right that society has changed and that we no longer have as many full-time parent caregivers which has made it harder for families to ensure that their children are on track at school. This is certainly something that money can help solve - after school programs, funded prek etc., but that doesn't mean that other organizations and charities might not be a part of the solution. I think what people sometimes ignore when discussing Prop 13 in California is that it ends up limiting educational funding and has caused somewhat of a disconnect between the rise in the cost of living in California and the rise in revenues available for education (which property taxes are a meaningful contributor to).
I agree. However, I would say culture, parental involvement, and expectations are critical. You see that in immigrants from Asia or Africa where, despite the language barrier, the children overall do better because of expectations from the parents. In communities where education is not as emphasized or where parents are not as involved and expect the schools to do most of the parenting, the kids often underperform. The schools are not the right venue to replace parenting, and the kids lose out.

However, I do agree with you on funding afterschool programs and funding free lunches. I am all for spending money and getting taxed if I can be convinced that the money will be spent for the benefit of the kids. When the funds are mandated and the programs do not have to earn it, they are less accountable and often underperform. Programs like Boys & Girls Club (one of my favorite charity organizations - they have to be accountable because they rely on corporate and individual voluntary donations) or even government provided afterschool enrichment programs are awesome. But anyone who has been anywhere near LAUSD knows how political and inefficient/wasteful that district is. It is mired in politics, with results rarely benefiting the kids. I think of that when I think whether giving more money to politicians and superintendents whose next election is not dependent just on doing what is best for the kids.
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DiabloWags
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1:32p, 1/11/22
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.





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82gradDLSdad
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In reply to bearister • 4:15p, 1/11/22
bearister said:
" Bearsister did not use QE because he likely doesn't know " that about the Fed's plans to raise interest rates to control inflation is to tax QE." WIAF


I'm not an economics guy, and certainly not in the same zip code as the Gordon Gekko Squad experts in this thread. I'm simply a troll. I'm smart enough to spot an article that expresses an opinion contrary to the Squad's, I post it here, and then I sit back and watch the litter of kittens that gets birthed all over the thread each time I do so.



I love this gif. It describes most of what I do on this site.
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82gradDLSdad
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In reply to Unit2Sucks • 4:22p, 1/11/22
Unit2Sucks said:
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.


My next door neighbor is leaving her job as the sole ESL teacher at Mt. Diablo HS to become a flight attendant. She said she had reached her limit when the school combined all four years of students into one class...making teaching almost an impossibility. I was sort of shocked that by high school there were still that many students that didn't speak English well enough to not need this class. How do you learn in other high school classes without some command of English. I know, another topic for another day.
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Big C
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In reply to 82gradDLSdad • 4:36p, 1/11/22
82gradDLSdad said:
Unit2Sucks said:
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.


My next door neighbor is leaving her job as the sole ESL teacher at Mt. Diablo HS to become a flight attendant. She said she had reached her limit when the school combined all four years of students into one class...making teaching almost an impossibility. I was sort of shocked that by high school there were still that many students that didn't speak English well enough to not need this class. How do you learn in other high school classes without some command of English. I know, another topic for another day.

Or even today. I taught that class in HS for a couple of years, so I feel qualified to answer: They are kids whose first language (and the language they speak at home) is not English, so it is thought that they need more help in "academic English". When a kid comes to the US, especially as a pre-teen, they will pick up "conversational English" fairly quickly, often speaking without a foreign accent if they start early enough, but their academic English is still behind that of native speakers.

The reason they combined a bunch of different grades into your neighbor's class was probably because they didn't have enough students to make separate classes and if you have some super-small classes, it blows the budget.
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In reply to DiabloWags • 5:02p, 1/11/22
DiabloWags said:
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.







…and this coming from the guy who cried to me about how dare I accuse him of not "getting it."… and telling me to " back away from my keyboard."

Now not only are you an expert in economics, you are an expert analyzing the character of people that you have never met that dare to not subscribe to your take on things.

How many selfish pr@icks do you think I've met in Men's Grills at Country Clubs that advocate precisely your positions?

I don't know you. You could be an exception.
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
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In reply to bearister • 5:12p, 1/11/22
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.







…and this coming from the guy who cried to me about how dare I accuse him of not "getting it."… and telling me to " back away from my keyboard,"

Now not only are you an expert in economics, you are an expert analyzing the character of people that you have never met that dare to not subscribe to your take on things.

How many selfish pr@icks do you think I've met in Men's Grills at Country Clubs that advocate precisely your positions?

I don't know you. You could be an exception.
That's true. Privileged lawyers who hang out playing golf regularly and socialize with the other wealthy folks at Men's Grills usually do not post woke gibberish and articles on how the privileged are not doing enough on a football board.

But that's just a stereotype, and we should not presume to know anyone else we have not met.
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5:13p, 1/11/22
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In reply to calbear93 • 5:35p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.







…and this coming from the guy who cried to me about how dare I accuse him of not "getting it."… and telling me to " back away from my keyboard,"

Now not only are you an expert in economics, you are an expert analyzing the character of people that you have never met that dare to not subscribe to your take on things.

How many selfish pr@icks do you think I've met in Men's Grills at Country Clubs that advocate precisely your positions?

I don't know you. You could be an exception.
That's true. Privileged lawyers who hang out playing golf regularly and socialize with the other wealthy folks at Men's Grills usually do not post woke gibberish and articles on how the privileged are not doing enough on a football board.

But that's just a stereotype, and we should not presume to know anyone else we have not met.


Woke gibberish = any opinion that disagrees with traditional Republican philosophy on the issue under discussion.

Signed
Woke bearister
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
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In reply to bearister • 5:41p, 1/11/22
bearister said:
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.







…and this coming from the guy who cried to me about how dare I accuse him of not "getting it."… and telling me to " back away from my keyboard,"

Now not only are you an expert in economics, you are an expert analyzing the character of people that you have never met that dare to not subscribe to your take on things.

How many selfish pr@icks do you think I've met in Men's Grills at Country Clubs that advocate precisely your positions?

I don't know you. You could be an exception.
That's true. Privileged lawyers who hang out playing golf regularly and socialize with the other wealthy folks at Men's Grills usually do not post woke gibberish and articles on how the privileged are not doing enough on a football board.

But that's just a stereotype, and we should not presume to know anyone else we have not met.


Woke gibberish = any opinion that disagrees with traditional Republican philosophy on the issue under discussion.

Signed
Woke bearister
It would be exactly on point if you ever actually expressed a substantive opinion.

But brilliant anyway. The picture file just took the genius level over the top.

Your buddies at the Men's Grill at your country club must love your wit and are secretly admiring the high impact you are having on the lives of the less privileged you so care about on this board.
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In reply to going4roses • 5:48p, 1/11/22
going4roses said:
"Oppressors will always, and I mean always use their power to destroy Liberators. It may seem like a simple equation, but for whatever reason folks fail to do the basic math."
Do you strive to be the worst person you could possibly be? What is wrong with you ? Why are you so evil ? I feel sorry for you.
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In reply to Big C • 5:48p, 1/11/22
Big C said:
82gradDLSdad said:
Unit2Sucks said:
DiabloWags said:
calbear93 said:



What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

When I read Big C's post, I had the same thought.

One doesnt have to venture outside of California to see that we have the most progressive tax rate in the entire country and we spend BILLIONS of money on things like Education and we still rank in the bottom third when it comes to college readiness, high school graduation rates, math and reading scores, pre-school enrollment, etc.

According to US News & World Report, California is ranked 40th overall.

We are 33rd when it comes to college readiness, 36th for high school graduation rates, ranked 38th and 37th when it comes to math and reading scores, and 16th in the nation when it comes to preschool enrrollment.

We are the POSTER CHILD for throwing money at issues and NOT GETTING THE DESIRED RESULTS.

Best States for Childhood Education | US News Best States
I don't think our overall tax burden is the most relevant metric. When you look at actual spending, we rank 30th, which isn't that different from our rankings. This is adjusted for cost of living, as it should, so it's should make for an apples to apples analysis.

I suspect that our rankings are greatly impacted by our struggles with bilingual education but I don't have any data to cite that.


My next door neighbor is leaving her job as the sole ESL teacher at Mt. Diablo HS to become a flight attendant. She said she had reached her limit when the school combined all four years of students into one class...making teaching almost an impossibility. I was sort of shocked that by high school there were still that many students that didn't speak English well enough to not need this class. How do you learn in other high school classes without some command of English. I know, another topic for another day.

Or even today. I taught that class in HS for a couple of years, so I feel qualified to answer: They are kids whose first language (and the language they speak at home) is not English, so it is thought that they need more help in "academic English". When a kid comes to the US, especially as a pre-teen, they will pick up "conversational English" fairly quickly, often speaking without a foreign accent if they start early enough, but their academic English is still behind that of native speakers.

The reason they combined a bunch of different grades into your neighbor's class was probably because they didn't have enough students to make separate classes and if you have some super-small classes, it blows the budget.
Academic English for native speakers is generally not very advanced.
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In reply to calbear93 • 6:00p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.







…and this coming from the guy who cried to me about how dare I accuse him of not "getting it."… and telling me to " back away from my keyboard,"

Now not only are you an expert in economics, you are an expert analyzing the character of people that you have never met that dare to not subscribe to your take on things.

How many selfish pr@icks do you think I've met in Men's Grills at Country Clubs that advocate precisely your positions?

I don't know you. You could be an exception.
That's true. Privileged lawyers who hang out playing golf regularly and socialize with the other wealthy folks at Men's Grills usually do not post woke gibberish and articles on how the privileged are not doing enough on a football board.

But that's just a stereotype, and we should not presume to know anyone else we have not met.


Woke gibberish = any opinion that disagrees with traditional Republican philosophy on the issue under discussion.

Signed
Woke bearister
It would be exactly on point if you ever actually expressed a substantive opinion.

But brilliant anyway. The picture file just took the genius level over the top.

Your buddies at the Men's Grill at your country club must love your wit and are secretly admiring the high impact you are having on the lives of the less privileged you so care about on this board.


In business fraud cases, guys like you were just too easy in depositions. They always thought they were the smartest guy in the room, and the sweetest sound in nature to them was their own voice talking. By the end of the deposition, they had supplied plenty of rope for their own hanging….and when you impeached them on the witness stand during trial with their deposition testimony, they got a case of the vapors.

I think your BI Hall of Fame work is in the Ahmaud Arbery thread.
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
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In reply to calbear93 • 6:02p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:
Big C said:



Which is where someone like me comes in. I would choose a path somewhere between your two scenarios. I believe that a regulated free market is the best way of allocating resources and I also believe in personal responsibility, but I also believe we should do more to provide opportunity to all our citizens. Yes, this might involve many people paying more taxes, but not a lot more, hopefully. (I would also love to cut defense spending and government waste, but easier said than done.) I agree with you and others that a wealth tax is not feasible, so we would have to look for other ways.

Sorry if you would have to pay more taxes (I would, too) and especially if your wife would scream at you. I know from personal experience that that is no fun! I would not want to raise anyone's taxes a ridiculous amount, but I feel like many people (like me) can pay a little more and some can even pay a little more than that,
Sorry, I know you mean well, but the phrases I highlighted is the reason it is not meaningful.

What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

calbear93, I understand and appreciate your views on this topic. As I believe Sycasey wrote (perhaps on this thread), I am not "wonky" enough to have all the answers, but obviously the questions you raise would need to be addressed.

Intelligent, educated people are going to differ on where they land on this continuum of the proper role of government. I am I guess what could be called a "Jerry Brown / Bill Maher liberal".
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In reply to bearister • 6:14p, 1/11/22
bearister said:
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Sadly, the most outspoken of posters in the Blogosphere that want to increase income tax rates as a remedy for the wealth "gap", are the same people that do absolutely zero charity work in their Community.

They talk a BIG SOCIALIST GAME on message boards like this and spend much of their day on social media "trumpeting" their socialist dogma. - - - But they wont lift a finger when it comes to donating their time or money to a charitable effort in their own Community.

There really is something to be said for Think Globally, Act Locally.

But the typical liberal keyboard "warrior" makes no personal contributions whatsoever. They dont work with kids after school. They have no interest in tutoring anyone. You'll never see them helping the underprivileged or chipping in when it comes to animal welfare. They wouldnt be caught dead donating their time cleaning out kennels at their local Animal Shelter. You'll never see them amongst environmentalists cleaning out a nearby creek of garbage. Earth Day is nothing but a slogan for them. How about helping out in some way at a local convalescent home? Never. - - - Maybe dropping off some food and water and masks for some farm workers at the other end of their County who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic?

No.

Their biggest single contribution is a bunch of hot air on a message board on the internet superhighway, thinking that their posts actually move the needle when it comes to promoting liberal politicians that can help spend your money . . . because they KNOW how to spend it better than YOU can.

That's their effort.
That's how they give back to their Community.







…and this coming from the guy who cried to me about how dare I accuse him of not "getting it."… and telling me to " back away from my keyboard,"

Now not only are you an expert in economics, you are an expert analyzing the character of people that you have never met that dare to not subscribe to your take on things.

How many selfish pr@icks do you think I've met in Men's Grills at Country Clubs that advocate precisely your positions?

I don't know you. You could be an exception.
That's true. Privileged lawyers who hang out playing golf regularly and socialize with the other wealthy folks at Men's Grills usually do not post woke gibberish and articles on how the privileged are not doing enough on a football board.

But that's just a stereotype, and we should not presume to know anyone else we have not met.


Woke gibberish = any opinion that disagrees with traditional Republican philosophy on the issue under discussion.

Signed
Woke bearister
It would be exactly on point if you ever actually expressed a substantive opinion.

But brilliant anyway. The picture file just took the genius level over the top.

Your buddies at the Men's Grill at your country club must love your wit and are secretly admiring the high impact you are having on the lives of the less privileged you so care about on this board.


In business fraud cases, guys like you were just too easy in depositions. They always thought they were the smartest guy in the room, and the sweetest sound in nature to them was their own voice talking. By the end of the deposition, they had supplied plenty of rope for their own hanging….and when you impeached them on the witness stand during trial with their deposition testimony, they got a case of the vapors.

I think your BI Hall of Fame work is in the Ahmaud Arbery thread.
Yeah, I am sure you are as brilliant as you think you are. That was superfluous. Your contributions here as a troll long ago established how great you must have been and how you would have reduced me to a weeping sap on the witness stand. One day, I am going to brag how I chatted with a brilliant guy like you.

But I am glad that I made such an impression on you with my post. I had no idea that I even posted on that topic, but will take your word for it. Wish I could remember what you posted even yesterday but I am sure if I said some brilliant trolling, I would nail it.
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In reply to Big C • 6:17p, 1/11/22
At least he didn't patronize you in the opening sentence of his response.

Don't you get it Big C? First, there is no wealth inequality issue and second, even if there was, there is no solution to it because there is simply no way to define, to their satisfaction, the various terms that are used in such a discussion.

Solution: status quo (but with the possibility of increasing the gap, naturally).

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In reply to bearister • 6:20p, 1/11/22
bearister said:
At least he didn't patronize you in the opening sentence of his response.

Don't you get it Big C? First, there is no wealth inequality issue and second, even if there was, there is no solution to it because there is simply no way to define, to their satisfaction, the various terms that are used in such a discussion.

Solution: status quo (but with the possibility of increasing the gap, naturally).
For a post that got absolutely nothing right or even scratched the outer layer of understanding in the discussion on monetary policy, that was an absolutely brilliant post. For anyone who doubted your brilliance in the courtroom, I submit this post as evidence of your skills.

Next time you are buddying up with your friends at your country club (we won't tell them that you hate them so much), you can explain how you did such brilliant work for the poor by reducing me to a weeping sap on this board with your litigation skills.
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In reply to calbear93 • 6:27p, 1/11/22
Why so angry?
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In reply to Big C • 6:29p, 1/11/22
Big C said:
calbear93 said:
Big C said:



Which is where someone like me comes in. I would choose a path somewhere between your two scenarios. I believe that a regulated free market is the best way of allocating resources and I also believe in personal responsibility, but I also believe we should do more to provide opportunity to all our citizens. Yes, this might involve many people paying more taxes, but not a lot more, hopefully. (I would also love to cut defense spending and government waste, but easier said than done.) I agree with you and others that a wealth tax is not feasible, so we would have to look for other ways.

Sorry if you would have to pay more taxes (I would, too) and especially if your wife would scream at you. I know from personal experience that that is no fun! I would not want to raise anyone's taxes a ridiculous amount, but I feel like many people (like me) can pay a little more and some can even pay a little more than that,
Sorry, I know you mean well, but the phrases I highlighted is the reason it is not meaningful.

What is doing more? When will you know we have done enough?

What is the paying a ridiculous amount of taxes and why? What is paying just a little more? Why is that OK, and have the government shown that they are better steward of your money for those things than you? How much of that really results on the things promised? What is the evidence? Wouldn't you do that before you bought something or if someone called you up an said, give me 10% of your earnings and I promise I will do these things with it? Would you give it to someone who failed to deliver 100 times before?

calbear93, I understand and appreciate your views on this topic. As I believe Sycasey wrote (perhaps on this thread), I am not "wonky" enough to have all the answers, but obviously the questions you raise would need to be addressed.

Intelligent, educated people are going to differ on where they land on this continuum of the proper role of government. I am I guess what could be called a "Jerry Brown / Bill Maher liberal".
That's fine. In many ways, I consider myself more aligned with Bill Maher than the Republicans or the far left. I just have an issue with people saying so and so is not doing enough as opposed to I am not doing enough. But that seems to be the call of most people who want the other guys to pay, as long as it doesn't mean they have to pay that much more (just enough to say that they are also sacrificing). Because that turns into a false moral statement of so and so is greedy and I am good for pointing it out. If it is - the government has proven that it is the best source for providing this as opposed to private and it will use the money well and therefore, we should raise so and so from the population, but because we think so and so is the right standard of living, anyone above it should pay so and so. That I can buy.
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In reply to bearister • 6:30p, 1/11/22
bearister said:
Why so angry?
I am angry? It seems you are angry. I am just admiring your litigation skills you keep telling us about.
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In reply to calbear93 • 6:43p, 1/11/22
calbear93 said:
bearister said:
Why so angry?
I am angry? It seems you are angry. I am just admiring your litigation skills you keep telling us about.


Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
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I got some friends inside
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