You dislike me that much?

Seriously though, I like Alberta.

I've completely tuned myself out of Provincial, and civic politics for the most part. Some federal stuff slips by. And some civic stuff wrt the new rink/arena and development of the former city center airport and anthony henday (ring road).

Otherwise I've just gotten tired of the jibber jabber. There's no one here to make jokes like Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert

Imagine 100 people. 80 people divide 7% of the net earned wealth for themselves. Most of the 71 of these guys work pretty hard but 9 of them are unemployed. There are 19 guys who split the next 50% of the wealth. One guy gets 43% of the wealth. He must either be working really, really hard or maybe it's that the others are giving him nearly 43 percent of their wealth. Which sounds more plausible? (Stats from 2007 USA)

Arthur Kalliokoski, I respect your view of not wanting to take advantage of the wealth of others. But you've said your position is in making very little money and your admirably humble perspective skews your perspective. Most Americans work harder than you and the top one percent's wealth is mostly made off of the sweat of others. They have way, way more than is reasonable compensation for what they do. Money isn't distributed morally for work done by default. It's distributed exponentially by default. A progressive tax scheme is a great balance in reality. The Bush Tax cuts did not create jobs. They merely removed a system that helped make wealth be distributed in a slightly more fair manner. If a few lazy bums sponge up at the bottom in a Socialist program, that's a shame but it's less of a travesty (statistically and morally) than what's happening.

Edit: this is long enough

They need a book that explains it.

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Maybe. Maybe. Most of them get away with paying almost no, or no tax at all. They clearly don't pay their share. I say take out all the tax loopholes, and leave the tax rate where it is.

Um, did something funny happen in the USA today? The way I'm hearing people talk, the Congress and Senate just gave up their authority to Obama and 13 yes-men .. sounds democratic, whatever it is!

No... Congress agreed to raise the debt limit and promise to talk about making cuts in the future. Just as expected.

Isn't it kind of laughable the debt ceiling? Has anyone ever looked at how much debt we have? How about a plan to lower that debt....instead we fight for months to raise it...

I wonder what other countries think of us?

Thanks
Mike Williams

It sounds like the USA is fucked^[1]. Which is scary when you think about it. What the Hell is going to happen to this rock with somebody else in power, like China, India, or Russia?

When the government robs Peter to pay Paul, they can always count on the support of Paul.

Closely related:

Getting a man to understand the rightness of something is extremely difficult when his income depends on not understanding it.

Hence the flat rate tax. Due to corrupt politicians accepting bribescontributions, the tax code is riddled with exceptions. That's not the fault of Adam Smith or capitalism, but just human nature (greedy politicians float to the top and lazy citizens don't kick them out).

It would help if the government didn't pander to every special interest group and egg on the lazy ignorant bums who expect the government to provide things "for free".

A good example of government waste are the bunny inspectors.

I bet the latest version of Madame Defarge is in high school already.

Just buy it overseas with cash you stealthily also store overseas.