Income inequality "solutions"

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I don't know about in the US, but there is many similar sentiments in the UK regarding welfare fraud. Don't get me wrong, it's a burden on the system and it's f'ing frustrating as a tax payer. However, the actual number of cases are much smaller than the media would tell you and cost much less than the tax money missing from corporations which circumvent the tax laws.

 

[spade2you]

I didn't disagree with you. I added that it is far more complex than that.

But frankly, in the past, those people would have gotten a bed, a diet, a vitamin, and died. Now, they are injected, supplemented, medicated, tested 'til their wallet is dry.

Or until our country's wallet is dry.

We can discuss Big Pharma until the cows come home. Spiriva wouldn't be around if so many people didn't smoke. New people will continue to start smoking, too. Not smoking saves a lot of dough on product and avoids a hell of a lot of nasty health problems later. Makes little financial sense to me.

 

[michael_atw]

I don't know about in the US, but there is many similar sentiments in the UK regarding welfare fraud. Don't get me wrong, it's a burden on the system and it's f'ing frustrating as a tax payer. However, the actual number of cases are much smaller than the media would tell you and cost much less than the tax money missing from corporations which circumvent the tax laws.

Unfortunately, there will always be fraud as long as humans exist. I am from a family of generational poverty and welfare and some of my family members have been arrested for welfare fraud; the extent of it was they collected bennies for a while while they were working under the table. It's the equivalent of tax avoidance in my mind - when people work under the table and don't report it on the taxes.

 

[buzzbass]

That stat does not include food stamps, unemployment, or disability, all of which has skyrocketed the past 5 years and is full of fraudulent claims on my dime. Who cares? I do!

This coming from a guy who lives in a state that's known for being one of the "takers" in the union. Your state gets lots more back in federal aid than the taxes it pays in, yet your population is also one of the loudest when it comes to railing against abuses of the system. Do your research and find out the real answers instead relying on Faux Snooze memes.

From where I'm standing, FLA & it's residents are a big source of the problem, and have no room to cast aspersions. Yes I'm from NJ, we put in far more than we get back in federal aid. So, I'm tired of your backwards hillbilly arses living off of MY dime. See how that works ? Research is your friend(unless you're a KKKonservative).

 

[Low Class]

Neo-conservative didn't exist until recently, or else "neo" would not prefix. Considering how little I can find on the dude other than his 'ten bull****s' and how much Reagan loved them, I doubt very many people care about the guy. Seems only the Conservatives have worshiped him though since at least the 1940's.

From Merriam Webster
Definition of NEOCONSERVATIVE


1: a former liberal espousing political conservatism


2: a conservative who advocates the assertive promotion of democracy and United States national interest in international affairs including through military means

Neoconservative has become an attack word whether it applies or not. I don't know of any conservatives that "worship" the guy.

As far as my using the word "everyone", it is quite apparent in my wording that I referring to those looking for a free ride or looking to blaming others for their own problems, yet you have to dig to come up some way to attack a conservative position.

Federal and personal debt is destroying this country and is caused by both Democrats and Republicans. Until people care enough about it to make a difference and understand why we are where we are there is not a pretty future ahead.

 

[Low Class]

This coming from a guy who lives in a state that's known for being one of the "takers" in the union. Your state gets lots more back in federal aid than the taxes it pays in, yet your population is also one of the loudest when it comes to railing against abuses of the system. Do your research and find out the real answers instead relying on Faux Snooze memes.

From where I'm standing, FLA & it's residents are a big source of the problem, and have no room to cast aspersions. Yes I'm from NJ, we put in far more than we get back in federal aid. So, I'm tired of your backwards hillbilly arses living off of MY dime. See how that works ? Research is your friend(unless you're a KKKonservative).

Lay off the personal attacks!! I may live here, but I'm not from here!! I was placed here while serving my country, you want to attack that now? Yeah this state has problems, many of which are a result from the snowbirds moving into the state.

 

[Unrepresented]

Or until our country's wallet is dry.

We can discuss Big Pharma until the cows come home. Spiriva wouldn't be around if so many people didn't smoke. New people will continue to start smoking, too. Not smoking saves a lot of dough on product and avoids a hell of a lot of nasty health problems later. Makes little financial sense to me.

I don't want us to get too hung up on specific recent polarizing laws, but the optimist in me hopes that by making healthcare costs more visible to the general public, there will be more pressure to pass commonsense reforms to help improve amount of the obesity and obesity related illnesses we have.

 

[DwaynieAD]

glad to see this going off the rails, as is tradition.

 

[spade2you]

I don't want us to get too hung up on specific recent polarizing laws, but the optimist in me hopes that by making healthcare costs more visible to the general public, there will be more pressure to pass commonsense reforms to help improve amount of the obesity and obesity related illnesses we have.

My problem is that simple and healthier lifestyles are pennies on the hundred dollar bill and we the people choose an extremely expensive alternative. The idea that new healthcare reform will fix this is simply inaccurate.

 

[buzzbass]

wrong again. The snow birds are the ones who are actually self sufficient. Hence their ability to vactation down there during the winter. Have you ever had a logical point of view(of your very own) that wasn't dictated to you by Faux Snooze or some conservative blog site. The welfare abuse is far less prevelant then your thought masters would have you believe.

The delicousness in all of the conservative hypocrisy here is that in a lot of instances it is the conservative base that's actually taking most of the government handouts. Then they rail against "those people" for doing what it is that they themselves are most guilty of. Open your eyes, research things for yourself.

 

[Marial]

Well, I see this thread getting closed shortly.

 

[Unrepresented]

My problem is that simple and healthier lifestyles are pennies on the hundred dollar bill and we the people choose an extremely expensive alternative. The idea that new healthcare reform will fix this is simply inaccurate.

Again, not trying to derail, so I'll make this my last post here on healthcare, but:

a) while diet and exercise are certainly going to contribute to overall population health, it won't solve everything, so the reform is much broader than that.

b) hopefully the law will cause us to view people who abuse their bodies with a poor diet and lack of exercise with the same wrath as we view welfare moms and we can reform our way to closing down Golden Corral.

 

[spade2you]

wrong again. The snow birds are the ones who are actually self sufficient. Hence their ability to vactation down there during the winter. Have you ever had a logical point of view(of your very own) that wasn't dictated to you by Faux Snooze or some conservative blog site. The welfare abuse is far less prevelant then your thought masters would have you believe.

The delicousness in all of the conservative hypocrisy here is that in a lot of instances it is the conservative base that's actually taking most of the government handouts. Then they rail against "those people" for doing what it is that they themselves are most guilty of. Open your eyes, research things for yourself.

Perhaps dial down your political content a bit. We get that you don't like conservatives, but sheer politics aren't really allowed here.

Things are different in Florida. It's cheap to buy condos in retirement complexes at the moment. They took a big financial hit AND the buying pool is restricted to a specific age bracket. Florida also doesn't tax pensions. It's not a bad deal moving down there when you retire.

 

[Unrepresented]

Well, I see this thread getting closed shortly.

2014 was looking so promising for "peace on earth and good will towards men," too.

 

[Marial]

Keep that up and I'll have some lanes closed, yo!

 

[Low Class]

2014 was looking so promising for "peace on earth and good will towards men," too.

On Talkbass? This will probably be viewed as a religious statement and someone will be offended.

 

[Tituscrow]

Zippidy doo-dah, zippidy yay
My oh my what a wonderful day.

Bassybill made a post the other day about how the moderators were letting a few threads fly recently because even though the potential was there for rule violations, the conversations were generally civil, respectful and good-natured.

This thread, however, has been dragged down the drain by a few posters who just cannot resist spouting controversial and provocative vitriol.

What a shame. Inevitable I suppose, but a shame nevertheless.

 

[Unrepresented]

On Talkbass? This will probably be viewed as a religious statement and someone will be offended.

My own posts frequently offend me. I have nearly reported myself a number of times.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Neoconservative has become an attack word whether it applies or not.

It is when it's used by certain talking heads, but more broadly, it applies to a certain set of ideological dispositions and policy approaches, particularly foreign policy, within the conservative sphere. It's often contrasted with paleoconservatism, but I honestly don't know if those two things are a fair comparison to one another.

I've seen "neoconservative" used non-pejoratively in scholarly work and less emotionally-driven political discussion, so it's not always a dog whistle word. I've also seen "statism" used non-pejoratively in (usually older) poli-sci work, but it's almost always a dog whistle word nowadays. Although for the record, I've perceived "liberal" to be an almost dirty word nowadays in political discussion, which is somewhat ironic considering how the media and general public uses the word "liberal" is almost completely the opposite of what the word has traditionally meant in political science and economic discourse.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Zippidy doo-dah, zippidy yay
My oh my what a wonderful day.

Bassybill made a post the other day about how the moderators were letting a few threads fly recently because even though the potential was there for rule violations, the conversations were generally civil, respectful and good-natured.

This thread, however, has been dragged down the drain by a few posters who just cannot resist spouting controversial and provocative vitriol.

What a shame. Inevitable I suppose, but a shame nevertheless.

I haven't really been keeping up with this thread, but a few days ago, I was quite impressed with the level of discussion in the first 10 pages or so when I gave it a cursory reading. But things have definitely slipped into familiar territory.