pirana

So your economic model is to create a ceiling of $100 million as the most a person can earn without giving up 100% of any excess to taxes? What is the incentive for anybody to put forth the effort to make any more than that? Are you aware of how much that would stifle the economy? Don't you see how that would actually shrink the tax base? I'm curious, have you studied economics? That is not a putdown; I'd really like to know, because although your ideas are elegant in their simplicity, they don't hold any water either in modeling or in reality. yes i have studied economics - extensively for many years

So your economic model is to create a ceiling of $100 million as the most a person can earn without giving up 100% of any excess to taxes? What is the incentive for anybody to put forth the effort to make any more than that? Are you aware of how much that would stifle the economy? Don't you see how that would actually shrink the tax base? I'm curious, have you studied economics? That is not a putdown; I'd really like to know, because although your ideas are elegant in their simplicity, they don't hold any water either in modeling or in reality. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

So what is your answer to how much they should pay? Is there a ceiling? How will the money be used? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

What do you consider their "fair share" and explain how you arrive at that amount. Would it be whatever it takes, regardless of cost? Is there a ceiling, or would you just take all their money if that is what it might take? Would you just give the money directly to the poor so they can go shopping, or would you increase the size of government by some ungodly amount and add to the bureacracy? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Your generalities are showing. Cuba prospers? Compared to where, maybe Zimbabwe? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

It's a shell game. Basically, unless the actual cost of care is reduced, it just amounts to another redistribution of wealth scheme. It does not appear that any expenses will be taken out of the system or reduced significantly; just a reshuffling of who pays. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

The fact that each state's leaders are most focused on why each of them are so special is a strong indicator of what a patchwork piece of provincialized shit this thing is going to be. Kudos to Obama for publicly denouncing it, but that is probably more of him responding to opinion and needing to look good than anything. But if it works, cool. However, since there is very little chance of cutting the pork and actually creating a level playing field this time around - I'd say the best we can hope for is extension of the current system, the pain of which might make enough people see the light in time for the next round of "reform." " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

As someone's sig line says, sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Maybe the goal is to have debt surpass assets. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

From reading past posts of yours I would argue that this statement is complete and utter crap. You have just replaced mood altering chemicals with mood altering religion. I have no problem with that, but don't try to pretend that your extreme religious beliefs are anything more than a different drug of choice. They are no different. You are not living any differently. You just choose to look to an invisible friend for your high instead of chemicals. You still end up in pretty much the same place. Again, I have no problem with that other than your attitude that in some way your drug makes you superior and everyone who chooses to use some other form of mood altering substance has a problem. There are many who believe that your particular affliction causes more pain and suffering than all the pot and alcohol combined. Who was it that called religion the opiate of the masses? I feel pretty much the same way about TV - the ultimate opiate. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Maybe a good half-way measure; but it seems silly to say it's OK to grow it, and smoke it at home, but let's not legalize it. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Does one smoke 20 joints? I thought the norm was substantially lower than that. A study from 1973 found that squirrels forced to smoke more than 3 joints per day tended to lose their sense of self-preservation and play with their nuts instead of storing them. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Non-interventionism. Two very different things. Maybe we shouldn't have intervened in the Pacific after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Are you characterizing our response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as an intervention? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Exactly, darn near anything can be abused. People abuse fast food, but I do not think it should be illegal. Given the rise in obesity and it's impacts, quarter-pounders ought to be higher on the list of things to ban than pot. Cigarettes, quarter-pounders, guns, automobiles, etc all appear to be more dangerous than pot when abused. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

A great example of programs begun with all good intent, then being allowed to run amok because of greed and the all pervasive reform-is-good-but-don't-begin-with-me attitude. Social programs run amok are just a different flavor of evil than free markets run amok. Whether we rely on social engineering or market forces only determines which flavor of abuse we will be fighting. What's the saying? Life is like a box of chocolates; all your choices are bad for you. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Well, there are some impacts; might have to allocate more funds to the snack budget. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Drop kick me Jesus, Through the goal posts of life . . . " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

"Skill"??? read my sig line - it's appropriate and, I believe it's pronounced "Skilz" So you drive around in a singularity? Even asking that question about your sig line does not make sense. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

You talk as if English is the official language here. gotta ask... are you being serious with that? just wondering. So much for give me your poor, your tired, your downtrodden . . . We didn't say that. It was on that thing the French gave us... Ah yes, the French. Thanks for reminding me. Figures they would trick us into that, and coming from a people that don't like anything, including themselves. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

ROFLMAO ... you need to do more than just groan ... this is just too funny. I've heard that car flip thing a couple times. Someone sent me a hyperbolic chain email warning that using cruise control on icy roads could cause the car to jump into the air. Holy reindeer, I don't think so. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

You talk as if English is the official language here. gotta ask... are you being serious with that? just wondering. So much for give me your poor, your tired, your downtrodden . . . " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

The melting pot is a myth. Groups have never assimilated quickly. Quite the opposite, each wave of immigrants has set up their own enclaves, usually in large cities - witness the Little Italy, Greektown, Chinatown, etc in nearly every large city in our country. The initial assimilation happens only to the degree necessary to function, and has rarely included language unless English is already spoken. Assimilation increases only with the passing of generations. It is why language services are in most demand for recently immigrated populations. Today, most in demand are Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Russian, etc. In past eras it was German, Italian, Dutch - with almost no demand for those languages today. Nothing has really changed, other than the places the immigrants come from. I do agree that a mailing telling people to watch for a mailing is a supreme waste. I'm sure it increases the percent of returns, but at what price? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Sounds far fetched. Doing 90+, called on the phone, a trooper caught up (or slowed down?) to them, they had communication, etc. Possible, but highly unlikely. I'm betting on fraud. About as likely as the commercial with the skydiver who phones in for a matress delivery " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Yes it is. Some nice fellow suggested that I resembled said character, for daring to ask questions of people who don't write clearly. So I figured I'd just adopt that personae for a while. But I'm actually more fond of the cookie monster. Besides, you're probably tired of me encroaching upon your flying dinosaur photo. Oh come on; you don't recognize Wil E Coyote in an acme wingsuit? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

You must be tenured. That was pretty darn funny. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley