General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRick Steves does it again - a must-read progressive. Awesome.
Well, he posted again on Facebook tonight, and DU should wrap our arms around travel honcho Rick Steves - he stands with us:
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

Ohio Joe
(21,894 posts)Is how one nails it right on the head.
eppur_se_muova
(38,280 posts)Just to remind us that the USA could be like that, if Repubs weren't allergic to taxes.
CTyankee
(65,618 posts)We just took trains on day trips to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp and did a lot of walking around Brussels. We took one cab due to the extreme hilliness of the part of Brussels we were heading and I had attempted it but got sidelined with a pulled gluteal muscle. In each city we took buses and saw a lot of the town, the architecture and the people and just walked around public squares and had our frites et moules (altho I refused to eat while walking around like everyone else seemed to do...we sat at outdoor cafes for our little meals).
I am hoping to do something similar out of Madrid next year, altho the distances are greater...however, they have really fast trains in Spain and I am eager to try them!
SammyWinstonJack
(44,203 posts)rsmith6621
(6,942 posts)JHB
(37,568 posts)Last edited Mon Mar 21, 2016, 09:42 AM - Edit history (2)
Most discussion of tax history mentions the top marginal rates of the past (91% in the 50s, 70% in the 60s and 70s, 50% through most of Reagan's presidency, etc.)
I like to highlight a different aspect: leaving aside what the rates were, where did they kick in? We live in times where people argue "are couples who make $250K 'rich'?" "Should we raise taxes on people who make over $250K? Over $500K?"
Where did these sorts of things lie in the past?
Using the inflation adjusted historical tax bracket tables from The Tax Foundation for married couples filing jointly, let's break it down a little and find out the equivalents in 2012 dollars:
1945:
Total number of brackets: 24
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 14
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 9
Top bracket affects income over: $2,551,044
1955:
Total number of brackets: 24
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 16
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 11
Top bracket affects income over: $3,426,776
1965:
Total number of brackets: 25
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 13
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 8
Top bracket affects income over: $1,457,740
1975:
Total number of brackets: 25
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 9
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 5
Top bracket affects income over: $853,509
1985:
Total number of brackets: 15
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 1
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 0
Top bracket affects income over: $360,650
1995:
Total number of brackets: 5
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 1
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 0
Top bracket affects income over: $386,423
2005:
Total number of brackets: 6
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 1
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 0
Top bracket affects income over: $383,773
2013:
Total number of brackets: 7
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 2
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 0
Top bracket affects income over: $440,876
Special Bonus Gipper edition numbers:
1988:
Total number of brackets: 2 (No, not a typo. Two brackets)
# of brackets only affecting income over $250K: 0
# of brackets only affecting income over $500K: 0
Top bracket affects income over: $57,738
(There was a reason why Poppy Bush had to go back on his 'Read My Lips' line -- this rate was so low it was unsustainable (naturally, they crucified him for it). And every RWNJ wants to go back to this, or lower...)
ALL income tax progressivity for very high incomes was eliminated under Reagan, and has stayed that way ever since.
Sad current state of affairs, but great info!
Sirveri
(4,517 posts)LOLWUT?!
CrispyQ
(39,029 posts)Someone posted a photo of a truck with a bumper sticker that read:
Freedom isn't Free
Stop Whining &
Pay Your Taxes.
I want one.
ybbor
(1,620 posts)We're high school teachers, and she shared it with some of our students. Her take was that we should strive to be part of the 1%. Some sheeple are so clueless! The students were disgusted by the video, and after she said that, I stated that they could only be invited into that 1% by existing members. My right-wing brother, ever the entrepreneur (he's sold algae, stars, cutting edge golf clubs no one's heard of, ... ), also said he was gonna be in the 1%. As Bill Maher said in a post above, the 49%, besides the 1%, who vote Repub are so so effing stupid!
ReRe
(11,177 posts)They will live their lives trying to stay honest, work themselves to death, and along the way make their families suffer miserably because they are so tight with their money, and will never be there to go to the soccer games, the class plays and the recitals. What was that song by Cat Stevens, that follows along this line of thinking? "Cat's in the Cradle." Send a Youtube clip of that song to your wanna-bee friends. Hey, they just might think about it. If they are really hard-core-gone wanna-bees, yeah. All you can do is just sit back and watch them self-destruct, because they will start hating you if you keep nagging at them. And I'm not even going to start on what's going to happen to their marriages. Think Annette Benning and Kevin Spacey in the classic "American Beauty."
Sorry for my rant, but I so wish there was a way to reach those kinds of people.
JHB
(37,568 posts)ReRe
(11,177 posts)Now I can hear his voice, not Cat's. Thanks for setting me straight on the artist.
ErikJ
(6,335 posts)Steves is the best. FANTASTIC TRIP. Remember his #1 rule above all else. TRAVEL LIGHT!!
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)His trips have given me such insight to other cultures. I love him!
SaveAmerica
(5,342 posts)get travel tips and found a man who got a lot of great stuff to say.
Vinnie From Indy
(10,820 posts)He expresses himself very well and relates concepts in a way most can understand. Besides having a very cool job, he seems to be a good person as well!
Cheers!
Overseas
(12,121 posts)Marie Marie
(10,071 posts)Remember when they were insituted on oil companies to keep oil prices from breaking the backs of the consumers? That would bring in even more money now than it did in the past because corporations are making record profits. And maybe, just maybe stop this insane greed for the obscene profits they are all after today instead if the healthy profits they used to be happy with. Again, capitalism isn't inherently bad - uncontrolled capitalism is.
SpearthrowerOwl
(71 posts)I always knew about Rick Steves, but it wasn't until his "controversial" release of the Iran video in 2011 I think that I really noticed him as a dissident and became an ardent fan. Can't believe he had the courage to break through the US media propaganda barrier. He also recognizes the responsibility of the educated to speak out. Truly a class act.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,761 posts)OK OK I don't hate him, more like I'm so jealous of him. He has one of the best jobs I could think of and on top of that he seems like an awesome dude. That bastard!!!!
ReRe
(11,177 posts)
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)They are simply wonderful, and they are free.
Learning more and more about peoples, places, and cultures around the world is so much fun through Rick.
His main podcast is "Travel with Rick Steves". There are currently 391 shows posted (each one an hour). I've probably listened to near 50 so far, and they are great!
ReRe
(11,177 posts)I will do the itunes then!
PA Democrat
(13,356 posts)I love his travel advice because he really emphasizes getting to know the people and the culture of the countries you visit, not just hitting all the "must-see" sights.
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)ReRe
(11,177 posts)Floyd_Gondolli
(1,277 posts)ReRe
(11,177 posts)CreekDog
(46,192 posts)deutsey
(20,166 posts)It says a lot that what he says here is so marginalized.
colsohlibgal
(5,276 posts)He has a new fan in me, bravo Rick Steves.
People must have a sliding empathy/compassion/fairness capacity, lots for the Rick Steves of the world, very little or none for people like Chuck Norris.
Demoiselle
(6,787 posts)I have always loved Rick Steves.. And occasionally I have asked myself why I do...because his delivery isn't, well, he doesn't sound like Gregory Peck, he's a bit nasal in his delivery. But the details he chooses to highlight in his travel shows, and his open delight in all of the world's wonderful flavors and quirks won me over a long time ago. That's the key, maybe...he is open to all the extraordinary variety in the world, and it comes over in his shows.
dgauss
(1,241 posts)beemer27
(533 posts)If we are fighting all these wars and "actions" to preserve and protect the American way of life, it seems only fair that those who are benefiting the most from that way of life should kick a little more in the kitty than those who aren't getting quite as much from it. This is not complicated, nor is it unfair. Those who feel that it is not in their best interest are always free to go to someplace that doesn't cost them as much. They will of course have to ask that place protect them when they get in trouble. It would be unfair to ask America to protect the wealth that they made someplace else.
Kurovski
(34,657 posts)Kidding! I'm kidding, godammitz!
Matariki
(18,775 posts)Matariki
(18,775 posts)sfpcjock
(1,936 posts)Harding did the same thing quicker--he chopped the top tax rate from 90% to 25%, apres him, the Crash of 1929 and slow painful recovery in which the Republican disease could not even be quickly diagnosed.