and cannot be denied. The growing poverty and dire conditions that exist in too many areas of the US must be recognized by more Americans, notably the uninformed and unconcerned.

in the past addressed the insane discrepancy in income levels within our own country here, and that the ultra rich pays less as a % of taxes than an average worker does in today's world (Warren Buffet said this).

Enough of the excuses by republicans. Not everyone can be a millionaire or billionaire, the mere definition of these two terms means that the vast majority of us won't ever have this kind of money.

These guys don't pay taxes, or at the very least a very minimal amount, w/ their current income. They shelter so much of their current income (not using their real names, using trusts to hide/shelter, etc.), and when they die, no death taxes will apply either, so effectively, this income/wealth is NEVER ever taxed.

We need a wealth tax in this country. Fair is fair. If they own 83% of the latest tax cuts in 2018, then they should pay 83% of ALL taxes paid in this country, including property and real estate taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, etc.

We already have made this country into one of the greatest countries on earth, and we did it not because of what a Koch brother did or didn't do. We did it because it was right. Republicans are selfish. Republicans are self centered, business driven 100% and that the world is totally against them. Facts? Facts to republicans are statements in truth that simply get in the way of what they desire. Any kind of law/regulation hampers them, and thus, reject any law/regulation what so ever.

Remember this. These people don't play fair, don't play by the rules, and never intend to do so. Get money out of politics and any attempts to bring money into the process by a candidate and/or their supporter(s) should automatically disqualify that person as a candidate for office forever (or at least 3 strikes and you're out!).

poverty and other ills in this country. Money in politics a la Citizens United, other measures and steady lowering of taxes have allowed the wealthiest to avoid paying their fair share of taxes and the result in 30 years as documented in the new UN Report is dismal.
For decades the very rich paid more in taxes during which time the country was its most productive and many people were able to live secure lives through hard work, decent wages, jobs with benefits and unions, combined with affordable education, opportunity and support systems. I remember, can testify to it and benefited from it as did many F&F.

The 40-year dismantling of the society and economy that built the greatest, largest middle class in the world is driven by pure avarice and greed, grotesque selfishness, inhumanity and cruelty. Echoes of the unbridled, unregulated Gilded Age of Robber Barons. The steady, dangerous destruction, plundering and rising costs by the GOP has to cease before the US descends further into Third World conditions similar to places in Brazil, India and elsewhere as Philip Alston stated in the revealing new UN Report. ~ Thanks again. NOTE, *Patriotic Millionaires,* https://patrioticmillionaires.org/

It did. Other developed nations - and the not-so-developed - were appalled - at the (lack of) response, at the conditions people were living in, at the conditions at shelters, people shooting at survivals, and because the victims were majority POC and poor.


They haven't forgotten, and now with Trump - his actions and those of the GOP seeking to harm the most vulnerable even more - they're speaking up.

Haley can be outraged all she wants - but it shows she is one of those Americans who wants to deny the extent of poverty in America. She wants to deny how she, her party, and her president are making it worse.

She's one of those Americans who like to say things like, it might be bad in America but look how much worse it is in (fill in blank), as if that statement in any of its forms makes a difference to what is happening in America.

I've heard people make the same kind of statement about rape, racism, murder, poverty, sexism - as if pointing to another country suddenly makes it more bearable for victims in America.

One of the favorites some people use is women have it worse elsewhere, so stop complaining about domestic violence, rape, pay gaps, misogyny in America. As if the slogan - We only rape X many women in America - much lower than in (fill in the blank), so we're better! - is supposed to make women anywhere feel better.


Maybe America should be living up to its hype instead of merely paying lip service to the values America claims to hold. Maybe instead of saying how great you are, you actually try being great.

And, yeah, it might just be motivated, in least in part, by politics - in reaction to an America that withdraws from everything and refuses to work with other nations (and the hypocrisy in America) - but that doesn't mean they're wrong about conditions in America.

So maybe poverty isn't as bad/widespread here - but there is no such thing as better poverty or better rape or better hate or better sexism or better racism.

It's all bad no matter where it is taking place.

Not even breaking it down by numbers changes that. Poverty is still poverty, etc..

Of course our standards for poverty are different - we're supposed to be a developed nation. At the very least people in America should have safe, clean running water - and we don't. So how does that make us any different from so-called 3rd world countries with the same problem?

That we have the resources to make it better? That we know better?

Yeah, well - A person who won't read has no advantage over a person who can't read.

Unless we are using those resources to benefit/help people, having those resources doesn't make a difference.

I'm ranting. Overlook me.

Thank you, sTrumpet, for fucking everyone who doesn't have your whore or you money.