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Guilty secret

I read somewhere that everyone starts to lean toward a more conservative viewpoint as they get older. That's not the case for me. The more I learn about the world, the more I feel like a Socialist.

However, I absolutley loved when NYC (thank you Rudy Guiliani) cracked down on petty street crime culture, i.e., graffiti, window washing in traffic for change, sleeping in train stations, pissing in public. The jay-walking tickets went a little too far, but the effect overall was magic.
 
novella said:
I read somewhere that everyone starts to lean toward a more conservative viewpoint as they get older. That's not the case for me. The more I learn about the world, the more I feel like a Socialist.
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Some people do get more conservative, probably because they get smarter with age.

I don't believe in socialism, except for individual programs that help those down on their luck get back on their feet. I'm a big believer in capitalism and that people are responsible for themselves.

I also understand that college in many socialist countries is paid in full, which I think is a good thing that I wouldn’t mind seeing in this country. I wonder if there is any reasons why it wouldn’t work out?
 
Robert said:
Some people do get more conservative, probably because they get smarter with age.

I don't believe in socialism, except for individual programs that help those down on their luck get back on their feet. I'm a big believer in capitalism and that people are responsible for themselves.

I also understand that college in many socialist countries is paid in full, which I think is a good thing that I wouldn’t mind seeing in this country. I wonder if there is any reasons why it wouldn’t work out?
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England has a long Socialist legacy that I admire. It has its problems, but overall it seems to work. Programs that I would support are uniform social security for all elderly and disabled, national healthcare, very low or free university for those who get in (but still academically competitive, as in most European countries) or tax-exempt tuition accounts, higher minimum wage to bring it up to a real livable wage, serious open-book scrutiny of private corporations with government contracts, a national nonmilitary community service program for high school kids . . . stuff like that.
 
novella said:
England has a long Socialist legacy that I admire. It has its problems, but overall it seems to work. Programs that I would support are uniform social security for all elderly and disabled, national healthcare, very low or free university for those who get in (but still academically competitive, as in most European countries) or tax-exempt tuition accounts, higher minimum wage to bring it up to a real livable wage, serious open-book scrutiny of private corporations with government contracts, a national nonmilitary community service program for high school kids . . . stuff like that.
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Please define "uniform social security."
 
free advanced schooling (college/university), healthcare, higher minumum wage...all those things come with a price....you either pay for them individually, or you pay for them through taxes, or you pay for higher wages with higher prices of the things you buy...

So how much more tax money do you want to pay so that every kid in America has the chance to go to college? I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I know that when local taxes are increased for the public schools in my area people come out of the woodwork to complain. In many cases they have a right to complain because many in this country think that the educational system has just gotten worse over time, and that constantly throwing money at it is causing more problems than it fixes.

The way the US government runs some things, like the IRS, I'd be scared as hell to turn over the educational system entirely to them.
 
Motokid said:
free advanced schooling (college/university), healthcare, higher minumum wage...all those things come with a price....you either pay for them individually, or you pay for them through taxes, or you pay for higher wages with higher prices of the things you buy...

So how much more tax money do you want to pay so that every kid in America has the chance to go to college? I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I know that when local taxes are increased for the public schools in my area people come out of the woodwork to complain. In many cases they have a right to complain because many in this country think that the educational system has just gotten worse over time, and that constantly throwing money at it is causing more problems than it fixes.

The way the US government runs some things, like the IRS, I'd be scared as hell to turn over the educational system entirely to them.
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The college thing is a good question. Once of he big problems is that that colleges throw a ton of money away in perks. Hell, the typical college president gets more in salary and perks then the President of the US.

Of course if the government gets involved, then we might have the problem of government interference in the curriculum. Probably not a good thing except in those few cases where college classes are being used solely for indoctrination of liberal views.
 
Robert said:
The college thing is a good question. Once of he big problems is that that colleges throw a ton of money away in perks. Hell, the typical college president gets more in salary and perks then the President of the US.

Of course if the government gets involved, then we might have the problem of government interference in the curriculum. Probably not a good thing except in those few cases where college classes are being used solely for indoctrination of liberal views.
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Or for those colleges that might be inclined to grant bogus Ph.D's...like in air guitar....

But even still, where's the money come from to pay for kids going to college. You either pay for your own child and be done with it, or you pay for everyone's child for your entire earning life.

A better educated society should be a better society in general, but how many Americans are going to "sign up" to pay more taxes? That's going to be a huge struggle to overcome. Especially when you look at how our government has handled the Social Security system, or look at how our tax codes are already written....

Anyone care to discuss the merits of a flat tax rate? Across the boards, no loopholes, no advantages, no nothing...just a plain flat percentage that every single living, working American pays.
 
Motokid said:
Or for those colleges that might be inclined to grant bogus Ph.D's...like in air guitar....

But even still, where's the money come from to pay for kids going to college. You either pay for your own child and be done with it, or you pay for everyone's child for your entire earning life.

A better educated society should be a better society in general, but how many Americans are going to "sign up" to pay more taxes? That's going to be a huge struggle to overcome. Especially when you look at how our government has handled the Social Security system, or look at how our tax codes are already written....

Anyone care to discuss the merits of a flat tax rate? Across the boards, no loopholes, no advantages, no nothing...just a plain flat percentage that every single living, working American pays.
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How much more would we have to pay I wonder? What would be the impact on the economy? Would the US be better able to compete in the world economy?

A flat tax would never work because it makes too much sense. I mean, where would be if everybody paid their fair share?
 
Robert said:
A flat tax would never work because it makes too much sense. I mean, where would be if everybody paid their fair share?
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christ...what the hell was I thinkin....where's that rabid koala....
 
Motokid said:
christ...what the hell was I thinkin....where's that rabid koala....
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Don't ask me, I have no idea what you were thinking. Next thing you know, you'll want people to be held accountable for their own actions.
 
Robert said:
Don't ask me, I have no idea what you were thinking. Next thing you know, you'll want people to be held accountable for their own actions.
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just a few shorts steps from legalizing marijuana, prostitution, polygamy, fireworks, and allowing motorcycle riders to wear whatever they desire on thier own heads....I am surely a candidate for the rubber rooms and white coats...
 
Motokid said:
just a few shorts steps from legalizing marijuana, prostitution, polygamy, fireworks, and allowing motorcycle riders to wear whatever they desire on thier own heads....I am surely a candidate for the rubber rooms and white coats...
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Look on the bright side; you won't have to pay taxes while you're a resident of a rubber room.
 
Robert said:
Look on the bright side; you won't have to pay taxes while you're a resident of a rubber room.
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Nope...you fine citizens will be paying for my capture/rehabilitation....
 
Motokid said:
just a few shorts steps from legalizing marijuana, prostitution, polygamy, fireworks, and allowing motorcycle riders to wear whatever they desire on thier own heads....I am surely a candidate for the rubber rooms and white coats...
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Motokid, if motorcycle riders wear whatever they want on their own heads, then we would all be in Flordia. And since they don't have a state tax, I think you should take the idea and run with it.
 
Robert said:
Motokid, if motorcycle riders wear whatever they want on their own heads, then we would all be in Flordia. And since they don't have a state tax, I think you should take the idea and run with it.
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Delaware does not have a helmet law either...and we don't have a state sales tax....just high state income taxes....
 
Motokid said:
So how much more tax money do you want to pay so that every kid in America has the chance to go to college? I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I know that when local taxes are increased for the public schools in my area people come out of the woodwork to complain. .
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Hang on a sec. Who said anything about every kid in America going to university? There should be academically competitive placement with tough admissions standards and not everyone would get in. Frankly, I think what average dumb kid learns in a community college (vocational stuff and business accounting) should be taught in high school.

But a decent college should not cost 30K a year in after tax income just for tuition. Add room and board and books and expenses to that, and a kid needs 50K a year in after-tax money to attend a good university.

In Britain and Europe the best schools are affordable for everyone who gets in. A lot of them actually give stipends to students to live on.

And, yes, part of the Socialist picture is paying high taxes. I would start by taxing the pants off the richest 1%.
 
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