Comments on: GOP Still Pushing “Screw The Poor” Strategy In Health Care Reform http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:30:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Sanjiv Sarwate http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173674 Sanjiv Sarwate Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:49:44 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173674 But you see, if we do things to HELP the poor, then the poor have no incentive to help themselves. In fact, we need to do everything we can to make life as difficult as possible for the poor, just to give them the maximum incentive to improve their lives. And if they can't, it's because they are Lazy and/or Immoral. (read above sarcastically) But you see, if we do things to HELP the poor, then the poor have no incentive to help themselves. In fact, we need to do everything we can to make life as difficult as possible for the poor, just to give them the maximum incentive to improve their lives. And if they can’t, it’s because they are Lazy and/or Immoral.

(read above sarcastically)

]]> By: Quaker in a Basement http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173602 Quaker in a Basement Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:26:34 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173602 Never mind the lefty view. Let <em>conservative</em> economist <a href="http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/files/bartlett_fair_tax.pdf" rel="nofollow">Bruce Bartlett</a> explain why the Fair Tax is a load of cracked pottery. Never mind the lefty view.

Let conservative economist Bruce Bartlett explain why the Fair Tax is a load of cracked pottery.

]]> By: Sean D. Martin http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173592 Sean D. Martin Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:38:59 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173592 Buzz K.: <i>Sean, how to the “pre-bates” not address that issue?</i> That would be the "pre-bate" that's based only on family size and not actual consumption level? In other words, a rebate of the consumption tax that isn't based on consumption. Looks like it's moving off the rails already. Buzz K.: Sean, how to the “pre-bates” not address that issue?

That would be the “pre-bate” that’s based only on family size and not actual consumption level? In other words, a rebate of the consumption tax that isn’t based on consumption.

Looks like it’s moving off the rails already.

]]> By: freD http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173531 freD Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:23:39 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173531 I’d go for a regressive tax if progressive spending was mandated. But seriously folks, progressive taxation is also about keeping the economy steady, among other things. I’d go for a regressive tax if progressive spending was mandated. But seriously folks, progressive taxation is also about keeping the economy steady, among other things.

]]> By: Buzz Killington http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173528 Buzz Killington Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:17:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173528 Sean, how to the "pre-bates" not address that issue? And I was referring to my own previous snarky comment. Sean, how to the “pre-bates” not address that issue?

And I was referring to my own previous snarky comment.

]]> By: Sean D. Martin http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173524 Sean D. Martin Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:49:56 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173524 Buzz K.: <i>Snark aside, have you read up on the Fair Tax? I’d be interested to hear the concerns from the lefty side.</i> Yes, I have. And what isn't there to be snarky about? A "Fair Tax" would be fair to whom? It's progressive on consumption and while that may at first glance seem a good and fair idea (the more you consume the more you pay), it's apparent to anyone who spends more than two seconds actually understanding it that it shifts the tax burden vastly towards those least able to afford it. It is extremely regressive on income. Those who make just enough to pay for the basic needs of life lose a far higher portion of their income to taxes than those who make more, those who are actually able to handle a higher tax burden without a significant effect on their living standard. And that's "fair"? Buzz K.: Snark aside, have you read up on the Fair Tax? I’d be interested to hear the concerns from the lefty side.

Yes, I have. And what isn’t there to be snarky about?

A “Fair Tax” would be fair to whom? It’s progressive on consumption and while that may at first glance seem a good and fair idea (the more you consume the more you pay), it’s apparent to anyone who spends more than two seconds actually understanding it that it shifts the tax burden vastly towards those least able to afford it. It is extremely regressive on income.

Those who make just enough to pay for the basic needs of life lose a far higher portion of their income to taxes than those who make more, those who are actually able to handle a higher tax burden without a significant effect on their living standard.

And that’s “fair”?

]]> By: Quaker in a Basement http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173510 Quaker in a Basement Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:53:31 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173510 <em>I’d be interested to hear the concerns from the lefty side.</em> <a href="http://www.google.com/" rel="nofollow">Here ya go.</a> Go nuts. I’d be interested to hear the concerns from the lefty side.
Here ya go. Go nuts.

]]> By: Buzz Killington http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173509 Buzz Killington Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:50:40 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173509 Snark aside, have you read up on the Fair Tax? I'd be interested to hear the concerns from the lefty side. Snark aside, have you read up on the Fair Tax? I’d be interested to hear the concerns from the lefty side.

]]> By: Sean D. Martin http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173505 Sean D. Martin Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:24:01 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173505 Buzz K.: <i>We should go ahead and change over to a consumption tax and simplify things for everyone, since income/sales/etc is just semantics.</i> Yes, that would be a much simpler way of ensuring the least wealthy pay the highest proportion of tax. Buzz K.: We should go ahead and change over to a consumption tax and simplify things for everyone, since income/sales/etc is just semantics.

Yes, that would be a much simpler way of ensuring the least wealthy pay the highest proportion of tax.

]]> By: Buzz Killington http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173503 Buzz Killington Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:15:10 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173503 I agree with Oliver. We should go ahead and change over to a consumption tax and simplify things for everyone, since income/sales/etc is just semantics. I agree with Oliver. We should go ahead and change over to a consumption tax and simplify things for everyone, since income/sales/etc is just semantics.

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173499 Oliver Willis Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:54:26 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173499 Are you this thick? They pay taxes, which is my point. The lucky duckies argument died years ago. Are you this thick? They pay taxes, which is my point. The lucky duckies argument died years ago.

]]> By: icruise http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173498 icruise Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:52:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173498 That would also reduce the amount paid by the rich, no? That would also reduce the amount paid by the rich, no?

]]> By: SaveFarris http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173497 SaveFarris Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:46:38 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173497 If you have a problem with the amount of sales tax paid by the poor, then adjust the sales tax. If you have a problem with the amount of sales tax paid by the poor, then adjust the sales tax.

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173496 Oliver Willis Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:37:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173496 How much taxes as a part of their income do they pay in sales tax? Let's just liquify them, right Save? How much taxes as a part of their income do they pay in sales tax? Let’s just liquify them, right Save?

]]> By: Wek http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173485 Wek Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:06:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173485 Even more than Ayn Rand, Judge Smails is the GOP's most influential icon. Even more than Ayn Rand, Judge Smails is the GOP’s most influential icon.

]]> By: SaveFarris http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/08/24/gop-still-pushing-screw-the-poor-strategy-in-health-care-reform/#comment-173476 SaveFarris Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:46:30 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=16338#comment-173476 How much income tax do families 3X under the poverty rate pay? How much income tax do families 3X under the poverty rate pay?

]]>