Let us eat cake? I say eat the rich

[Connonym]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/72721

At a recent members-only meeting of the California based Institute for Private Investors, some of America's richest were partaking in the ultimate luxury: talking about the problems associated with extreme wealth, such as handling conflicts between multimillionaire heirs and choosing a reliable wealth manager. There was comfort in being among people who could relate; 80 percent of IPI's members have investable assets of $50 million or more.

In part, the focus on members only is simply a result of there being more rich people to associate with. According to Merrill Lynch and Capgemini's 2007 World Wealth Report, the number of people with more than $1 million in assets excluding their primary residence grew by more than 8 percent last year, to 9.5 million worldwide.

Am I a commie pinko or suffering from class envy? Meh, I just think it's morally repugnant to live this kind of lifestyle. I say this with the full acknowledgment of the guilt that even my working-class lifestyle is more luxurious than millions (billions even?) of people in the world. It's just not right.

From the latest issue of Newsweek. The subsequent article discusses the dire shortage of BUTLERS. :nopity:

[Brother_1969]

1. We need to tax the rich MUCH more

Good post.

Personally, I would like to see a maximum income ceiling in this country. The limit could be whatever but I would like to see something like $200,000 per household. Above that limit, there should be a 100% income tax and that money could be used to pay for the needs of the less fortunate: health care, food, housing, clothing, transportation, etc.

The rich and greedy would oppose this but caring people would not.

[cali]

2. no thank you.

100% tax on income over $200,000 is a spectacularly bad idea. Yes, raise taxes on the wealthy, but your proposition is simply straight out theft by the government. Were it ever enacted, there would be a massive drain of wealth from this country.

[Connonym]

3. they'd just stick their money into off shore accounts anyway

I don't think that anyone should be taxed at 100% but I do sure as hell think the ultra-wealthy should shoulder more of the burden. Corporations too for that matter.

[BushOut06]

16. How is it 'theft'?

The government already takes money from individuals and businesses. So if the 100% tax is 'straight out theft', then are other taxes simply petty theft?

I don't know about the $200,000 figure, but I do believe there should be a cap on individual and corporate earnings, anything above which would be taken and used to help those in need.

[BushOut06]

9. We need some sort of "luxury tax" on individuals and businesses

We should borrow a page from professional sports, and implement a "luxury tax". Once you hit a certain figure, your tax rate would raise exponentially. There is NO fucking reason why there should be multi-millionaires and billionaires talking about the "problems" of ultra-wealth while people in this country scrape by on minimum wage.

[Sanctified]

23. $200,000 or you pay 100% in taxes wtf?

$200,000 in some areas is middle class, you put a tax like that in place and you will force all the wealth out of the country. Seriously who would want to work here if they were being punished for being successful, most people would opt to move to another country where taxes are more lenient.

[shadowknows69]

4. I say we start with a Mainstream Media Executive appetizer

[blondeatlast]

14. Yeah, Rupert Murdoch would finally convert me to vegetarian. My husband's been trying

for years to know avail. :rofl:

[NotGivingUp]

5. They haven't earned their super wealth, and it should be given back

to the people whose life's energies were spent providing it.

[cali]

8. I know people who have earned their wealth

and who are responsible folks who work to maintain the estate tax, advocate higher taxes on people like themselves, and are indeed liberals. Broad brushes really don't work well.

[NotGivingUp]

13. i am not broadbrushing. nobody EARNS billions of dollars. n/t

[BushOut06]

18. Agreed - it's always at the expense of somebody

Anytime you're making that much money, it's going to be coming at the expense of someone.

[Dr. Strange]

20. Have you earned your free speech today?

I think we should delete your post until you do.

[NotGivingUp]

21. you're a sicko. n/t

[Dr. Strange]

22. Don't like people deciding if you've "earned" something, eh?

Perhaps you should meditate on that.

[bunkerbuster1]

6. Don't eat 'em, just build bridges.

Figuratively speaking. If these rich fuckheads think they can avoid exposure to the groundlings, I'd say it's time for working class (and those who are in denial about being working class) to legislate away their hiding privileges.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

7. You read Newsweek?

A shitrag if there ever was one.

The accumulation of wealth is a cornerstone of our sad capitalist society, although the scales have a tendency to balance themselves every so often, and it's usually not to the benefit of those who "have".

Should the rich pay more tax? Perhaps, but it might also be a better plan to enhance the potential returns on wealth investments when the rich utilize their wealth for the public good. The best times during the Rome of the caesars was when the wealthy were persuaded to cough up cash for improving Rome's mighty infrastructure, which was to the benefit of all citizens.

I too am working class, and while I'd like to have some more, I am also quite content with a good job, few worries, and a mortgage within my means. Spending a lot of time and energy wishing you had something that you don't produc es the same kind of anxiety that rich assclowns face about their wealth every day. Don't let it rule your life.

[Connonym]

12. oh you cut me with your distain

:eyes: I read the back of a cereal box if it's the only thing around, what of it?

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. With fava beans. And a nice Chianti.

[BuelahWitch]

11. How many families would that one gas company CEO feed?

The one with 40 chins...

[dysfunctional press]

15. fantastic movie...

[Orwellian_Ghost]

17. Obscene

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2420472

[RB TexLa]

19. Don't worry there are more people who could write the same post about you and I

and our complaining about the cost of fueling our cars and buying our food.

They might even use the :nopity: icon a few times, as well as express repugnance over our lifestyles. That is if they had computers and electricity.