There is a Travis Tritt song that says “the rich man’s busy dancing while the poor man pays the band.” So here is my point.
If we tax business owners more, then won’t they find savings in holding back on paying their entry level employees more?
If we raise minimum wage, product costs will also inflate, harming the poor porportionately.
I can’t think of one way we can add taxes, force higher minimum wages, or any other scenerio and improve a standard of living for the poor.
On the other hand, we could eliminate such handouts to illegal immigrants as free education, free medical care, free food, and tax exemptions for their illegal businesses. We could also reign in welfare to the young adults who absolutely refuse to work and are able.
Those two measures alone would greatly benefit the poor as more funds would be available to the elderly and disabled.
On the other hand, we could eliminate such handouts to illegal immigrants as free education, free medical care, free food, and tax exemptions for their illegal businesses. We could also reign in welfare to the young adults who absolutely refuse to work and are able.
Those two measures alone would greatly benefit the poor as more funds would be available to the elderly and disabled.
Amen & Amen
I would like to add another measure/solution/benefit to the poor, elderly, and disabled. Quit paying professional athletes foolish amounts of $. Come on, are they really worth it? Think of all the money the country as a whole would save and dispense where it is actually needed.
I’m just not sure more taxes on anyone is the problem. I think our country has forgotten how to manage money.
It’s like lottery winners or those who come into some other type of big money quickly. If people can’t manage what they have, they probably won’t manage any better with more. Most lottery winners become broke almost as easily as they became millionaires. Our country is suffering from a long line of terrible money managers, both republican and democrat.
Throwing money at a problem has never nor will it ever rectify the problem. I work in education and hear constantly that we need more money. We have money, but we don’t know how to budget wisely and require accountability.
Off my soapbox back to the original thread. My original point is that taking more money from any source is ultimately going to hurt the poor working class.
We have money, but we don’t know how to budget wisely and require accountability.
I agree. It’s not like there aren’t any budget classes,books,seminars. etc. to
become more financially accountable. People want to spend way more than they bring in - and where does that lead to - bankruptcy, etc. And it probably comes out of the working man’s pocket, in the long run. My sister-n-law went through this and now that she is back on her feet - she acts like it was no big deal. There seems to be a “no accountability” attitude in just about everything, though. Thank goodness there want be any currency in Heaven!
We have money, but we don’t know how to budget wisely and require accountability.
I agree. It’s not like there aren’t any budget classes,books,seminars. etc. to
become more financially accountable. People want to spend way more than they bring in - and where does that lead to - bankruptcy, etc. And it probably comes out of the working man’s pocket, in the long run. My sister-n-law went through this and now that she is back on her feet - she acts like it was no big deal. There seems to be a “no accountability” attitude in just about everything, though. Thank goodness there want be any currency in Heaven!
I’m not sure that you have thought that through. At what point do you want to cap professional athletes on how much they can make? It’s called free enterprise, and our nation is built on this principle. The way to cut pro athletes pay is to not go see them play, not government mandates that limit their pay. Same thing with actors and singers. Do we then tell a contractor that he can only make $5,000.00 per house that he builds? It’s not long before someone is telling you that you can only make a certain amount of money. I really don’t think you want to open that can of worms.
[ Edited: 15 February 2008 09:41 PM by Deon Unthank ]
I’m not sure that you have thought that through. At what point do you want to cap professional athletes on how much they can make? It’s called free enterprise, and our nation is built on this principle. The way to cut pro athletes pay is to not go see them play, not government mandates that limit their pay.
I actually have thought this through for about 15 years now. I do understand what free enterprise is and how it is in our country. Do I really think that this would ever change? Heck no, but I can still have an opinion on the matter. I am however, expressing my personal opinion on professional sports’ athletes, not any other topic. I do not support professional sports at all so I am doing my part in the matter. I am an NCAA fanatic.
Professional athlete salaries are a drop in the bucket when compared to salaries of gas industry execs. One of our most significant problems in this country right now is coming from the influence and power of the major oil cooperations.
Professional athlete salaries are a drop in the bucket when compared to salaries of gas industry execs. One of our most significant problems in this country right now is coming from the influence and power of the major oil cooperations.
You know the problem with free enterprise? There’s a little socialism in all of us. We don’t mind seeing someone make more money than us, unless it is a lot more money than us. I admit that when I read of the oil companies making a 3 billion, with a b, profit, it bothers me. Why does anyone need to make that much profit? Why does anyone need to make 4 or 5 million a year for just playing a game, or being the head of a company? It really irks me when those high paid athletes can’t play because they have a back ache, and I’m hanging off a ladder 30 feet in the air with my back hurting. I think that little socialism demon pokes his head out every so often.
The problem again is, when we tell the oil companies that they cannot make that much profit, then we are subjecting ourselves to the government capping our income. So, I just have to cast that little socialistic demon out and keep going, because I do believe in free enterprise.
[ Edited: 17 February 2008 06:28 PM by Deon Unthank ]
Very good points, Deon. I see the gas companies as another example of the poor man paying. I see construction workers, factory workers, health care workers in the mornings at the little store where I stop to get a biscuit and cup of coffee. It amazes me that often times I see them scraping together change at the end of the week to put gas in vehicles. Driving to work costs them a tremendous chunk of their salary. All the time they are padding the pockets of those oil company execs.
Entertainment is no different. How many in the stands at a ball game or secular concert saved for weeks (some even months) to buy those tickets. I too believe in free enterprise, but I believe that whatever measures are taken by Washington politicians will ultimately take money from the poor. We have all types of hidden regressive taxes such as the lottery. In most lotteries, the poor and lower middle class pay for the uppper middle class children to go to college for free.
It seems to me like the gap between the rich and poor is widening and the middle class is disappearing.
Very good points, Deon. I see the gas companies as another example of the poor man paying. I see construction workers, factory workers, health care workers in the mornings at the little store where I stop to get a biscuit and cup of coffee. It amazes me that often times I see them scraping together change at the end of the week to put gas in vehicles. Driving to work costs them a tremendous chunk of their salary. All the time they are padding the pockets of those oil company execs.
Entertainment is no different. How many in the stands at a ball game or secular concert saved for weeks (some even months) to buy those tickets. I too believe in free enterprise, but I believe that whatever measures are taken by Washington politicians will ultimately take money from the poor. We have all types of hidden regressive taxes such as the lottery. In most lotteries, the poor and lower middle class pay for the uppper middle class children to go to college for free.
It seems to me like the gap between the rich and poor is widening and the middle class is disappearing.
I agree with everything except the lottery being a tax. The lottery is a choice, you don’t have to pay it, so it can’t be a tax.
On the other hand, there are plenty of taxes on things like gasoline, and telephone services that we could be helped a bunch if we didn’t have to pay those.
Professional athlete salaries are a drop in the bucket when compared to salaries of gas industry execs.
Sure, maybe on an individual vs. individual basis. If you look at professional
sports as a whole business entity (that really what it is) you may be shocked.
I was when looking some of this up. But have you seen what salaries were for 2007 in professional sports? This information was taken directly from espn.com. Here are some figures for baseball and basketball. The Boston Celtics 2007 salary for players only for 2007 was $73,931,590. That’s for 13 players (no coaches, CEO, owner, ballboy, etc.). Multiply that times 30 teams. The Boston Red Sox 2007 salary for players only for 2007 was $123,813,714. That’s for 36 players (no coaches,Ceo, owner, batboys, etc.) Multiply that times 30 teams. Then there is the NFL, ATP,NHL,NASCAR (or sprint for the corporate minded),PGA. My point is this - THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY for professional sports here in the U.S.A.
Think of all the money the country as a whole would save and dispense where it is actually needed.
