Originally Posted by
crimzy
http:///forum/post/2789681
Very insightful, eloquent and intelligent thread Darth.
And about half of it actually makes sense.
Unfortunately you lost me on your tax gripe. Your logic is that since some people don't pay taxes then no one should complain about where the $$ goes. Essentially you are campaigning for no checks and balances. Why? Because the government is so trustworthy that they would never improperly waste tax dollars. I'd venture to guess that most people who worry about where their tax dollars are spent are generally people who actually do pay taxes.... not so much of a stretch. To compare this to your 5 year old is pretty silly and slightly demeaning, unless your 5 year old works 50 hours per week and contributes a percentage of his income to your household.
And regarding your love for the oil companies, they are in a business where the consumer needs their product. They have control over the product that allows people to earn a living. And they dishonestly use false perception and paranoia to inflate their prices, (ie. domestic oil producers using the perception of an oil crisis in the middle east to raise prices). Oil is so important that the world leaders have a hand in this "business". It is so important that because of oil, the USA kisses Saudi Arabia's a$$, when Saudi is the largest producer of terrorists against our country.
The middle and lower classes are being squeezed because of this "business". It's basically as if you are stranded on a deserted island with no food, but for a single banana tree. But the other guy there owns the banana tree and will only give you food if you pull out your own fingernails. To suggest that the oil industry is simply capitalism at work is ridiculous
Finally, you have made quite a habit of starting threads based on the party line that you now claim to despise. Until McCain started to lose ground recently, you have spouted the virtue of him and his lapdog Palin, while attesting to the evils of Obama, Biden, Clinton, etc. To suggest that you, of all people, are not controlled by your "party label" would be sort of like suggesting that Journeyman went to Bagdad to serve the greater good and not to cash in on the $$ people are sucking out of this ridiculous war.
However I did enjoy reading your thread. Very thought provoking.
You missed my point on taxes. The five year old represents those that do not pay anything in federal income tax. Not those that pay a small percentage, so yes, they are equivalent to my 5 year old when they ask for free healthcare and then complain about the process, coverage, or what have you about it.
I didn't say just the oil companies. I was commenting on the perception that anyone that is a ceo of a company is considered greedy. Last I checked we are all greedy. Otherwise you wouldn't see the housing market the way it is. People buying to much house, just because they want it and it is offerred. This is greed in and of itself. Unless you have a family of 6 there is no need to own a 2800-3300 sq ft house is there? No, people buy these things because they want them...not need them. CEO as for that huge salary because they want it, not need it...It is on the same scale. The citizens of this country are just as guilty of greed as anyone else. Here is an example you may understand. I know a few lawyers that charge 500-1000 dollars per hour....I wonder how much mark up that is on their supplies, time, and research. You are going to defend this salary because of the high cost for schooling, yet the average CEO has just as much if not more schooling as a lawyer....but for them to make that much money per hour is evil and greedy. why is it ok for one and not the other?
To touch on oil, if you compare it now and to the rise of inflation of the last 30 years, it is still well below most goods.....yet we whine and complain. Yet, as americans we bought the huge hummer...we don't need it, we wanted it, and now it costs a lot to operate...Greed at work. You don't need a hummer and the average american does not NEED a big truck.Nor do they need the dubs they put on, or the chrome work,or the special paint job, or the extra engine modifications. It is greed.
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