Time for a wealth tax in the USA!

@PureProgressionFTW said ^

You're not a lone voice, you're a copypaste of the right-wing propaganda that's been fed into the vulnerable American mind over decades.

Neither is this disrespectful person a true conservative. A true conservative would get mad when International Monetary Fund is warning us that Iran war risks triggering a rise in global debt levels, forcing governments to choose between cushioning a cost of living shock and maintaining sound public finances.

@steel-apron said ^

Mercy is not when you throw a bone to a dog. Mercy is when you share it with the dog — when you are just as hungry yourself.

Jack London

mercy- - don’t deserve it, but get it anyway.

example - chris is hanging off a cliff holding on with only one hand when their rival, who they wronged in the past, extends their hand and lifts them up

@PureProgressionFTW said ^

The stock market is one giant lottery.
In a lottery a million people each lose $1, to create one millionaire.
In the stock market a million people lose $1000, to create one billionaire.

Investment creates wealth, though; it doesn’t just redistribute.

Thing is, more 'wealth' these days is simply redistribution. It's not creating b...

That's not exactly accurate.

Wealth is indeed created via investment. As money is invested into capital, it allows the creation of more efficient tools and processes that produce more output at lower costs. That's how economic growth occurs. If you invest in a company that profits from this, you earn a share of the profits.

Income earned from investment does indeed improve quality of life.

Now, as for the moral problem, you're raising a couple of issues that are distinct from investment serving as wealth creation. In general, I'd say that the solution to those particular cases is to not invest with those companies to which you object.

As for monopolies, that's why we have antitrust laws. It's the responsibility of elected officials to properly enforce those in the US system, so monopolies tend to exist as government, not market, failures.

(PS-- Student loan companies, much as we all hate them, do actually create value, which is why so many people use them. We can debate the amount of value they create and whether or not they are taking advantage of young people, but they do allow kids to go to school. Bankers allow for loans, as well)

"Wealth is indeed created via investment."

• That is true, but speculation is gambling. It is concentration of wealth from many to few. That is like a lottery or a casino. Many lose money, a few gain money. No wealth is created. It is only a redistribution from many to a few.

@notsoneutral said ^

You're not a lone voice, you're a copypaste of the right-wing propaganda that's been fed into the vulnerable American mind over decades.

Neither is this disrespectful person a true conservative. A true conservative would get mad when International Monetary Fund is warning us that Iran war risks **triggering a rise in global debt l...

A true conservative would be against the bloated military budget, bank bailouts, and corporate welfare in general. A true conservative definitely wouldn't be a fan of Elon Musk who's received more government money than whole cities worth of welfare recipients.

It's just team sports for some people. My team captain says X so everyone else is wrong.

@clousems said ^

(PS-- Student loan companies, much as we all hate them, do actually create value, which is why so many people use them. We can debate the amount of value they create and whether or not they are taking advantage of young people, but they do allow kids to go to school. Bankers allow for loans, as well)

The schools themselves are a racket, a college degree is becoming worth less each year as it's costing more.

It's a ponzi scheme that at one point created value but at this point the people at the bottom (or even 50% mark) are just treading water to keep it solvent.

One could argue the whole modern economic system was just riding the wave of cheap fossil energy and people became so prosperous they let themselves forget the real reason for it, letting economics become more & more abstract from reality.

@BasicDecencyNotFound said ^

So ? system works as intended.
You are just a jealous commie who probably beleive in climate change, and who finds it important to leave breathable air and drinkable water to their children...

Can't tell whether trying to troll or what this post is about...

@PureProgressionFTW said ^

Can't tell whether trying to troll or what this post is about...

my comment was sarcasm, in clear text it could be roughly translated in ...
"Yeah, Duh"

@PureProgressionFTW said ^

Noflaps said [their usual propaganda]
Human fairness would require the richest to pay their fair share. It's crazy to see the unpaid supplication you engage in thread after thread, with no sense of embarassment whatsoever.

Oh but noflaps are partly embarrassed by what they say. that's why they spend so much words fending off smiley reactions and why they hide their hate behind politeness.

But noflaps is not the problem. any group will have someone loud and egoistic proud boys. some will even call themselves that. The problem is how the dynamic of the group deals with it. or don't.

The problem is people still engaging reasonably with individuals that proved 7K comments ago that they are not able to exchange on that level.

Also, there are no insults or personal attacks here. just verifiable facts. But no doubts some broken plane will try to twist it ;)

@firebreathingpoptart said ^

Fighting oligarchy and public employment has paid quite well for Mr. Sanders as well. Maybe we just need to have congress spend less than they take from us.

You think Bernie's modest wealth is the problem? Man, whatever your source of news is, stop watching it now.

You misunderstand me. Actually I do not find his wealth problematic. I do not believe it is modest when compared to the median, but that is also not an issue. My point is that the congressman (pick almost any of them, by the way) makes a portion of his wealth by using the convenience of office, and throw in the fight against the wealthy for good measure. For the record, I do like to hear the congressman pronounce “oligarch” with that accent. And no, I do not watch any news source. We unplugged that thing long ago.