Re: Tariffs and bikes

On Fri, 4 Apr 2025 22:03:16 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

On 4/4/2025 12:26 PM, AMuzi wrote:

 
You can have whatever opinion you like but not your own facts.

>
Heck, I thought it was fashionable to have "alternative facts" if you
don't like the look of normal ones! Wasn't that made clear during Trump
version 1?
>

USA has
among the most steeply sloped tax regimes on earth, such that the top 1%
of earners pay roughly half of all income tax.
 
https://usafacts.org/articles/who-pays-the-most-income-tax/

>
The USA also has some of the highest income and wealth disparity of
developed nations. Granted, not as bad as many small 3rd world countries
- but I think we should not be striving to emulate those.
>
https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/issues/economic-justice/income-and-wealth-inequality/
>
I'd say that means our tax structure is still insufficiently progressive.
>
And what should we be trying to achieve anyway? ISTM our nation was
founded on the idea of doing away with a privileged class lording it
over those purportedly of less worth. Also the idea of everyone (well,
as long as their complexion wasn't too dark) getting an equal shot at
prosperity. If nothing else, those ideas, if implemented, work toward
keeping the masses content enough that they don't literally rebel.
Rebellions are messy, unpredictable, and bad for bike shops.
>
We now have a new privileged class, one that can rake in millions per
year and pay lower rates than struggling middle Americans, in part
because of clever deductions. Remember Leona Helmsley? "Taxes are for
little people."
>
And of course, any money made over $170,000 per year is free of Social
Security duties. Because hey, one's third mega-mansion is much more
important than better food for the family making $50,000 per year. Why
should the ultra-rich help to keep Social Security afloat?

Most of that is nonsense straight out of far left media, but I do
believe that last paragraph is an issue that needs to be addressed. I
see no reason to exempt rich people from being part of the ponzi
scheme.

--
C'est bon
Soloman