2013 tax expendatures

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

If the truth be told, the tentacles of the church are arguably part of the public sector, particularly in times past where it was entwined in the function of governing. How long has it been that way? It's fair to say a long as there has been organized religion. In fact, even today in many parts of the Muslim world, folks are forced to live under Sharia Law. You must pay your dues in so many ways so that the church and everything that it entails can live and thrive.

KGB-NP · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 2856

So what about sustainability? Is anyone going to deny that having too many public service workers and tax recipients or programs can not continually be funded by the private sector. Is the current trend sustainable? I think not. You can list programs, etc that benefit society but it has to be sustainable and the current trend is not sustainable, and not without continually raising taxes or holding corporations responsible to pay their "fare" share.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

Maybe it's time for some here to watch "It's a Wonderful Life".

What would happen if the government did almost nothing, but the few folks with the money had their way with everything. One could almost envision feudal times where folks were quartered and slaved for protection.

KGB-NP · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 2856

That doesn't answer the question. I'm not arguing the benefit of government programs, etc. Is the current trend sustainable?

mac · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:56 pm Post subject:

RR--you've asked a good question. The simple answer is no, we have to gradually cut back on entitlements. But we have to make sure that we make investments that the private sector would not make. Remember that the investments in the American rail, road, port, and airport systems have returned many times their investments in economic growth. Something lost on zealots like mrgybe who insist that the private sector was working fine without these investments.

mrgybe · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 5180

All the huffing and puffing above, and the predictable fabrication from Berkeley, does nothing to rebut the proposition that the public sector exists only by extracting funds from the private sector. Whether there is merit in some functions fulfilled by the public sector is an entirely different question.

mac · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:46 pm Post subject:

From the sector that only exists by extracting resources from the public commons..words of bitterness, not wisdom.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

Despite the fact that taxes have been at historically low rates for better than a decade, Republicans have developed this contrived meme that we are being taxed to death, and that we're going broke paying for big government. Ironically, it's not true at all. Outside of the market and banking debacle that threw the world into a financial tail spin, one of the principle reasons we are swimming in debt is the fact that Republicans lowered tax rates beyond what was sensible, especially while entering into two wars and failing to pony up to pay for them.

All the focus on the public sector bankrupting the nation is just Republican BS. It's a bogus charade to fool the weak minded so that they can set up shop, and take advantage of the resources important to the powerful few. It's all about money, influence, power and greed. It's guys like Grover Norquist, the Kochs and other elitists like them that want to starve and strangle the government to point where they can bent it to their will. Do they really give a crap about the average American? Not at all, and that's why the power of middle class has been shrinking at an alarming rate.

pueno · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2807