Can't argue with results!

But it's your freakin' money! Wanting to keep more of it is not selfish, especially since we already have a progressive tax system.

You sound like the dude in George Harrison's Tax Man:

Should 5% appear too small, be thankful I don't take it all.

 

What I find most ASTONISHINGLY HUMOROUS about this post, where you call me selfish:

Spoiler

YOU HAVE NEARLY 20,000 POSTS ON THIS WEBSITE, HAVE BEEN ON HERE SINCE 1999, AND HAVE NEVER CONTRIBUTED TO CLUTCH.

...and you're calling others out for being selfish? Self-reflection time brah

 

I would agree its selfish to want to keep your money to live a hedonistic lifestyle. It is also brutish and thuggish to force this moral view on others (which is what you condone).

 

And what spending would you cut to balance the budget. Last time the rich paid 3% more, we had a surplus and they were doing just fine.

 

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/conservatives_more_liberal_giv.html

I think its easy for people to believe that government should tax more to help the world and as Biden said "Give their fair share", but its pretty well known that conservative people give more in charitable donations than liberal people.

So a conservative person is less willing to give the government money but more willing to support causes he sees as right and efficient, whereas a liberal person wants more taxes but is tighter fisted with his own discretionary money. Hmmm.

 

Thats pretty funny. I act in my own self interest, which includes wanting the best for my country, but at least I admit it.

All these people claiming not to be selfish and 'everyone needs to pay their fair share (Biden)' while giving no charity and donations.

 

Here's a photo of Lil Sammy celebrating the fantastic results with his homies.

 

The budget ain't gonna be balanced anytime soon.

 

Way to add something productive. Raising taxes is one way to slash a deficit. Why should tax cuts/hikes be permanent when spending always varies?

 

Yeah, remember when Bill Clinton gave his used underwear to charity? Very generous, Bill.

 

You want to raise taxes in the middle of an unemployment rate that is near 10%?

 

Then who better than the rich to take a 3% bump in income over 250k... heck make it personal income over a cool mill.

 

You haven't been been posting long enough for me to speak about your motivations.

But my my fundamental point is that for people like bigtexx, this sort of explanation would be a vast intellectualiation used to cover up this:

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For many of the people who can spout off these arguments about free markets, etc. when you probe their position a bit, it really is all about the most primal of selfish concerns.

 

Now is not the time to raise taxes.

 

Nah it def was... But I guess I'll settle for less bigotry in the military, extended unemployment benefits and a 30% of nukes in Russia.

 

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But who doesn't act to maximize their own individual utility? Who doesn't act within their best interests and self-interests?

Just because one acts in their own self-interest doesn't mean that they're short-sighted in regards to their increased income. One can be 'greedy', but be long-term greedy in regards to their wanting the most for their country, their family and themselves.

Even someone that gives all their possesions away to their church maximizes his/her own utility as that is what makes them satisfied inside. Just as one may give up energy consumption and monitor their carbon footprint as they believe they are protecting the earth and in that appeasing their own set of Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs.

We all act in our own self-interest, whether to appease our pocketbooks, our moral conscience or our ego.

 

Future headline: Karma Runs Over Dogma