Read Kats' post.
The issue isn't "You're rich, I'm poor, give me your money!"
The issue is that the wealthiest 1% of the population has more than half of the total wealth in the country.
If you don't see that as an issue, I wouldn't call you selfish, I'd call you stupid, because you are in that bottom 99%.
It's not not a left vs. right issue like people are trying to make it. There are plenty of left wing billionaires in that 1%, and they are just as guilty as their right wing partners in business.
It's not a rich vs. poor issue, it's a super rich vs. everyone else issue. The point is that the "fabulously rich" are out of touch with the rest of the country, and as such shouldn't be trusted to make decisions on our behalf. And it can't be argued that they've done the job fine so far, because our current economic position is proof that they haven't.
People who are super rich have earned it. They deserve the money they have. They have made contributions or have simply found ways to make that money that has earned them their wealth. Why the fuck should they have to spread it?
You may think I'm stupid, but I disagree. I never said they can be trusted to make all of the decisions, I just don't think that they should be penalized for being more successful than others.
I wasn't actually referring to tax, I was referring to the austerity measures being implemented in order to pay for the economic downturn and the lost jobs and housing repossessions which all have hit the working and middle classes hardest while the rich and super rich have barely seen any impact on their wealth or quality of life. On the subject of tax, however, in America the super rich are proportionally taxed less than the working and middle class, billionaires can pay as low as 15 per cent tax on their earnings (Warren Buffett only paid ~17.5% tax on his earnings last year, for example).
People find tax loopholes, they exist. I honestly don't think those should be changed either. I don't really agree with companies like Google and GE that practice tax avoision strategies; they should definitely be taxed and the loopholes that they use should be limited.
This makes me absolutely sick, and I refuse to believe you are that callous. I don't much care for people, but if I have something I can afford to lose that can make someone else's life better, I'd lose it. I know what it's like to be hungry. I'm doing well enough now (I can afford cable!), but it hasn't always been like this and might not always be this way. I've pounced on every opportunity to advance in my life, and I'm getting paid $12 an hour.
Honestly, compared to a lot of people, you are fabulously rich. (I know how much you've paid for clothes, mister! ) I certainly don't feel that everyone is entitled to the nice things you have, but there are people who are starving in our country and struggling to pay their rent. There has to be some sort of balance. Yes, there is government assistance, but that system is so flawed. It's not like all poor people are all lazy motherfuckers having babies left and right. There are people working their asses off and getting paid jack shit.
On a side note, would you be interested in purchasing a Nyan Cat blanket for like $200?
Punk, sadly, I am that callous. I prefer that most people don't know what I believe economically or politically because my views are very limited to those people who I'm around. Due to where I live and go to school, most people are just like me so I don't catch any flak there.
I like to help certain people; it's not that no one matters to me. I just don't think that I should have to help everyone because I make more money. I prefer to donate my money to causes that are close to my heart. For example, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I'd much rather donate to someone who was born with something that depletes their ability to increase their quality of life. I've always felt really close to people with MD because I have friends with it, so maybe that's why. I just don't believe in welfare or anything of the sort.
I really am not fabulously rich. My family is middle class, but we live in an area dominated by those who are extremely rich. While I do spend an exorbitant amount of money on things that I don't need, I've earned that money through businesses that I've created and generated. I don't want people to be hungry, but I also don't want to pay for people all over when I've seen that so many people with food stamps use money for things that they shouldn't have. I worked in a deli and tons of people would come in with food stamps but have iPhones, Sidekicks, and custom cars. If you have the money for these things, you don't need food stamps.
I realize that there are people working their asses off, and I respect them. Some people are just dealt a bad hand and they can't afford the opportunities that others are able to have. This makes sense to me. At the same time, however, there are tons of opportunities to do well. I come from an Italian family with one of those typical "off the boat with no money" stories. Obviously, times were different then; but, it is still possible.
If you were anyone else, Punk, I would buy that blanket for $200 and sell it online for profit; but, I care about you.
You can get much more than $200 for that, in my opinion, especially with the right marketing. There are so many nerds online that would love that