Fiscal irresponsibility - McCain & Obama tax policies

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Ma'ake

Republicans rail against government, yet when in power cynically use government as a mechanism for shoveling tax money to special interests (all the while pushing more & more tax cuts, pushing deficits into the stratosphere without regard for consequences.)

If government is nothing but a piece of crap, what is it good for other than a vehicle to enrich cronies? There are ideological roots to GOP corruption.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

If government is nothing but a piece of crap, what is it good for other than a vehicle to enrich cronies? There are ideological roots to GOP corruption.

And the Clintons never enriched their own cronies. Democrats are the biggest hypocrites on this issue. Remember Tammany Hall, that was a Democratic stronghold, not a Republican one. IIRC.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

And the Clintons never enriched their own cronies. Democrats are the biggest hypocrites on this issue. Remember Tammany Hall, that was a Democratic stronghold, not a Republican one. IIRC.

not to the point where it crippled the administration's competence.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

not to the point where it crippled the administration's competence.

You are nothing but a shill for the Democrats nowadays.

You level the baseless allegation by insinuation that Republicans are the only ones who engage in cronyism but forget some of its American origins or the most recent Democratic administration.

We'll see the same stuff from Obama.

Admit you just argue against your adversary in order to fill justified in your selection, when in reality, the morality of both parties is non-existent. I am free to admit this, because I have no delusions about the goodness of the political process or of the participants. There is no goodness, or only utilitarianism.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

You are nothing but a shill for the Democrats nowadays.

You level the baseless allegation by insinuation that Republicans are the only ones who engage in cronyism but forget some of its American origins or the most recent Democratic administration.

We'll see the same stuff from Obama.

Admit you just argue against your adversary in order to fill justified in your selection, when in reality, the morality of both parties is non-existent. I am free to admit this, because I have no delusions about the goodness of the political process or of the participants. There is no goodness, or only utilitarianism.

Baseless? Economists and political scientists use bureaucratic efficiency as an inverse measure of corruption. Did the Clinton administration fumble every major foreign/domestic policy task? Compare flood relief between the two administrations. Did the Clintons have Paul O'Neill's/Scott McLellans/Colin Powells left and right?

If the government is nothing but a piece of hud anyway, so what if I embezzle?

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

First, yes that's true to some extent, but I don't know of an instance where it's so pronounced that raising income tax rates did not raise tax revenue.

Second, no matter how many shenanigans they use, it hardly affects how much they work and produce.


http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/SLEDOE.html

One subset of the rich (Doctors) this is completely opposite.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

One subset of the rich (Doctors) this is completely opposite.

Why do you think that is? Just wondering. Do you think the fact that it is a regulated industry distorts their cost structure?

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

Why do you think that is? Just wondering. Do you think the fact that it is a regulated industry distorts their cost structure?

The marginal extra hours needed to produce income aren't worth it. Especially since its more difficult to hide their gains and through capital gains instead of personal income. Thus they are paying 40% on any incremental dollar they make.

[MikeWaters]

It has crossed my mind recently. Taking on extra work, and I think, well, that money is going to be taxed at a high level, and I can just spend time with my family instead. Screw it.