Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStick to Your Day Job, Comrade Steves
A facebook post from my favorite travel guy about politics that is worth sharing.
Stick to Your Day Job, Comrade Steves
The thought-provoking wealth distribution video I posted a few days ago stirred up more comments than anything else weve ever posted. Of the over 700 comments, there were many constructive suggestions, lots of questions, and as usual plenty of anti-government sentiment. Thanks for all of your comments.
The most common question: What can we do? Theres the obvious: Avoid needless wars. Cut back on military spending. Open up our economy for investment and growth. Go back to a more progressive tax code, as we had under Reagan and Clinton. And defend the inheritance tax (without which we encourage a future generation of idle-rich kids).
And then there's something nobody seems willing to seriously consider: Why not institute a small but inescapable wealth tax? Imagine if just having a "net worth" here in the USA cost 1 percent of that net worth every year? If you sat on a pile of wealth (say $10 million) for 20 years, it would cost you 20 percent of that wealth ($2 million) to keep it in a country where it's not scary to be rich. (Anywhere else on the planet, someone that rich would spend at least that much just on security.) I'm sorry, but I wouldn't pity a person once worth $10 million now only worth "only" $8 million if it makes our country a stronger and healthier one.
Many asked why, if I care so much, dont I just give more taxes? Thats kind of silly. We need to respond to this challenge as a society. A few caring, patriotic, wealthy people giving what all wealthy people should give would accomplish nothing. If being wealthy in the USA came with a higher tax obligation (as it did for most of the 20th century), we could assuming smart use of that money entrusted to the government create a better society. Remember, not long ago our tax dollars took us to the moon and built the Interstate Highway System.
What can we do? In short, Id say support a return to a more progressive tax code. Making it more expensive to be rich would not deter hard-driven capitalists (like me) from investing and working hard to get rich and, assuming they're at all patriotic, it certainly wouldnt drive them out of the country. I believe anyone who says otherwise is either mistaken or dishonest.
For all those who say, "Why dont you just stick to travel writing?, I've been a loyal customer for years, but with this post, you have lost me, and Stick to your day job, comrade Steves, I say life is political. We have to live with the political decisions we make as a society. And so do people struggling in our country, people struggling south of our border, and people who will be struggling generations from now with the mess we leave them. Politics is like stewardship. And I believe in thoughtful stewardship.
If you missed this wonderfully intriguing little video clip, check it out below. Meanwhile, next week, I kick off my spring travels overseas reporting from Egypt, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories.
&feature=youtu.be
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves/posts/347469535373718
The thought-provoking wealth distribution video I posted a few days ago stirred up more comments than anything else weve ever posted. Of the over 700 comments, there were many constructive suggestions, lots of questions, and as usual plenty of anti-government sentiment. Thanks for all of your comments.
The most common question: What can we do? Theres the obvious: Avoid needless wars. Cut back on military spending. Open up our economy for investment and growth. Go back to a more progressive tax code, as we had under Reagan and Clinton. And defend the inheritance tax (without which we encourage a future generation of idle-rich kids).
And then there's something nobody seems willing to seriously consider: Why not institute a small but inescapable wealth tax? Imagine if just having a "net worth" here in the USA cost 1 percent of that net worth every year? If you sat on a pile of wealth (say $10 million) for 20 years, it would cost you 20 percent of that wealth ($2 million) to keep it in a country where it's not scary to be rich. (Anywhere else on the planet, someone that rich would spend at least that much just on security.) I'm sorry, but I wouldn't pity a person once worth $10 million now only worth "only" $8 million if it makes our country a stronger and healthier one.
Many asked why, if I care so much, dont I just give more taxes? Thats kind of silly. We need to respond to this challenge as a society. A few caring, patriotic, wealthy people giving what all wealthy people should give would accomplish nothing. If being wealthy in the USA came with a higher tax obligation (as it did for most of the 20th century), we could assuming smart use of that money entrusted to the government create a better society. Remember, not long ago our tax dollars took us to the moon and built the Interstate Highway System.
What can we do? In short, Id say support a return to a more progressive tax code. Making it more expensive to be rich would not deter hard-driven capitalists (like me) from investing and working hard to get rich and, assuming they're at all patriotic, it certainly wouldnt drive them out of the country. I believe anyone who says otherwise is either mistaken or dishonest.
For all those who say, "Why dont you just stick to travel writing?, I've been a loyal customer for years, but with this post, you have lost me, and Stick to your day job, comrade Steves, I say life is political. We have to live with the political decisions we make as a society. And so do people struggling in our country, people struggling south of our border, and people who will be struggling generations from now with the mess we leave them. Politics is like stewardship. And I believe in thoughtful stewardship.
If you missed this wonderfully intriguing little video clip, check it out below. Meanwhile, next week, I kick off my spring travels overseas reporting from Egypt, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories.
&feature=youtu.be
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves/posts/347469535373718
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 848 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (10)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Stick to Your Day Job, Comrade Steves (Original Post)
MelissaB
Mar 2013
OP
Faygo Kid
(21,477 posts)1. Posted this, too. Awesome, isn't it?
Can't be posted enough. He's just great. Got to watch him more often than I do.
MelissaB
(16,420 posts)2. Sorry I missed it.