BlackPhx
Posts: 3432
Joined: 11/8/2006
Status: offline
|
Nightphoenix, you might want to change that "headed towards a socialist government for a long time now" to we have ALWAYS been a socialist government.
George Washington, the man they wanted to make King, who talked them into President, levied a horrendous tax against the colonies to pay for the revolutionary war..and to cover debts and help those who were injured in it, or lost everything. Everything from alcohol to food products were taxed, farms, businesses, books. Ships bringing products to port were taxed, and still are.
Every President who has considered the population and not just the wealthiest portion of it could conceivably be considered Socialist, including Lincoln, FDR, Taft, heck all of them, especially since that money not only goes to support the government but the programs that the government subsidizes.
You want schools, dams, roadways, universities, hospitals, even banks (FDIC insurance), all have to be paid for somehow. It was wonderful that the wealthy could afford teachers, schools and college for their kids, but if you weren't rich, that was out of reach in fact most people could not read until the government subsidized it, built schools and colleges, paid teachers and made it possible for you to attend, through tuition assistance, loans, grants and scholarships. Two of the biggest social programs was the vaccination program against smallpox and polio. Without them only the rich would have been protected. The government subsidized pastuerization of milk and hospitals that treated thousands of children who would have died without it.
It's all been spreading the wealth from the first tax onward. Over half of the pharmaceutical research , gene research, scientific advances have been made with grants from the government then co opted, or purchased by Corporations for their profit. Our military and their weapons are paid for by the government from our taxes and the equipment is bought with money from our tax dollars. I don't see Bill Gates donating thousands of program licenses to the military to keep it running or Jobs donating computers. Harris doesn't GIVE the government it's equipment, it is paid for with taxes on the companies and the wealthy and the middle class. Spreading the wealth, taxing you and them and the wealthy to fund the programs that give you work, keep you healthy and educate you so you too can contribute.
Should we step back and say..OK, we will do without all of this unless someone DECIDES to pay taxes? Whose education gets tossed, whose health? Which road crumbles so food can't get to whose table? Does Amtrak get it's funding cut so you have to pay 3 times as much for a ticket to get you to work and back?
Everyone from the top down and back up again INCLUDING the Corporations benefit from these programs..all done in the name of the Social Good.
So...please show me where Obama has said we are going to take over the Companies and administer them for the Public Good? That is the very definition of Socialism. Quite simply, it is public ownership of all major corporations—industry (manufacturing, services, and energy), banks and insurance companies, agribusiness, transportation, the media, schools and medical facilities. That doesn’t mean small businesses or individual belongings, but the giant enterprises that dominate the economy. These are privately owned, but their assets and profits have all been created by working people. Through their labor, though consumerism, through stock purchases and 401(k)'s.
I have yet to see in anything he has said, his plans, ANYTHING that says this is what he wants to do. Please I ask you as have several others, point out where he has said this is what he wants to do. OR can you admit that what he said was that the percentage of those earning over 250K (after credits, after deductions, after tax shelters) would have to pay a little more, while those struggling to keep their homes, food on their plates, and health care for their families would pay a little less.
Please note one small thing. The President elect is not a Dictator or King..anything, any program has to be approved BY CONGRESS before it is fait acompli.
poenkitten
< Message edited by BlackPhx -- 11/13/2008 11:05:03 AM >
|
RE: An Open letter to President-elect Obama - 
Profile
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread