Thread: Obama to target tax fairness in speech

Originally Posted by Mordent

Read the thread.

already did. anything else? are you actually going to explain how anything i've said is wrong? or do you have more dancing and excuses?

Originally Posted by highway234

...conservatives seem to believe if you're wealthier, it must mean you're a better person...

Just for the record, I'd like to offer that these people aren't necessarily conservative, they're just pathetic. Becoming fixated on accumulating money is one of the ways that the inadequate personalities of the world make themselves feel better. I have a lot of conservative beliefs, and I can say for sure that deep feelings of inadequacy leading to an obsession with material attempts to demonstrate my worthiness is not something I consider to be a core tenet of conservativism. They're masquerading as conservatives because, well, I don't suppose popular support for the "Desperately Trying To Assuage My Feelings Of Inadequacy Through A Pathological Need To Acquire And Control More And More Wealth And Power" political party would be that strong...

Originally Posted by highway234

honestly, and i mean this sincerely, i think the right is much more inclined to see wealth as a transparent reflection of self-worth than liberals do. conservatives seem to believe if you're wealthier, it must mean you're a better person. a lot of this other mythology of the right springs out of that belief. if you're richer, you're better. if you're poorer, you're worse, and who doesn't envy their betters?

another reason why progressive taxation is such anathema for conservatives, because yeah, if that's your worldview, then obviously progressive tax rates punish success. it's the core belief that's bunk, of course. wealth isn't a transparent reflection of worthiness, and there are all sorts of dishonest ways to get your hands on wealth.

and thats what else i don't understand. if you start with very little, and thats what conservatives like to tell us, its all about starting small and working hard and building your wealth, then you aren't being "punished" for your success. you're paying you share of the tax burden that you DIDN'T all the years you were small and builing up to your success. its like a student loan. its like calling student loan interest "punishment" for graduating. no, you didn't pay interest all the while you were IN school. and because of that benefit, you now have to start paying interest once you've graduated. its a trade off.

Originally Posted by nickcuse

less stating "you've lost", more showing of how you think i'm wrong.

Not bloody likely.

Originally Posted by splansing

Not bloody likely.

haha i know! i've never seen someone avoid actually addressing posts so much in my life!

Originally Posted by Mordent

No mirrors at your place?

oh geez...now you're going with the "i know you are but what am i" defense?

yikes. thats a shame.

Originally Posted by Mordent

The shame is you projecting your deficiencies on me:

we posted at the same time. it happens. yer graspin'.