Lone Candle
Champion of Truth
When we talk about parts of Germany being “left behind”, we are talking about first-world problems. These areas are still wealthy by world and historical standards. But, their wealth and economic growth is smaller than the big cities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoQgoV-T8wM
Labors’ share of the national income is the lowest it has been since this has been measured.
We live in a world based on giant firms that are efficient and can do a lot of things with few workers. Needing less workers means workers have less bargaining power and therefore get paid less. Globalization also weakens bargaining power as companies can move some of the work overseas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgcNgo6IIpM
Other than the free 1k for those children born in the right window, Trump accounts will mostly help those who already have money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1nyY8e4Zj0
Politicians used to talk more about saving or fixing social security. It is closer to running out now, and politicians irresponsibly ignore it!
Someone’s willingness to pay isn’t just a function of how much they want the product or service, but also their ability to pay. So, when you have limited seats available for a sports game or concert, the people who go are not simply those who love the sport or the artist the most, but those who can better afford expensive tickets. This can result in rich people who don’t even care that much, having the best seats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJPlYopcxmc
The very wealthiest of Americans are not making money from work. Their wealth grows by capital appreciation, and they pay very little tax on that income. The estate tax is supposed to capture this at death, but it is riddled with loopholes.
It’s extremely unfair and makes the national debt worse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K06ys5VuGu4
Why Is It So Hard To Tax Billionaires?
There are a hell of a lot of games and loopholes. And, Congress won’t do shit about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E308lijSQv0
We’ve got to be able to have fair, reasonable ways to tax the super wealthy without demonizing them.
The wealthy pay a lot, however, due to how incredibly much they have, and inequality, they still don’t pay their fair share. The goal of taxation is to pay for government in the least harmful way possible, not to liquidate the rich. Fair taxation and reasonable welfare policy is good. Class warfare is evil. A society that taxes in order to end billionaires, or that uses rhetoric that endangers the wealthy, will be a violent and repressive society–either because the masses will turn authoritarian and violent, or because the wealthy will out of fear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu5wTYUaPs8
Fast food restaurants are reporting that people are buying cheaper things and running out of money at the end of the month. Meanwhile, the wealthy have never been wealthier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPRis-2uTM
Jeff Bezos pays himself an 82k salary even though he is the head of a massive company, Amazon, but he is fabulously wealthy through his stock, which he can use to take out loans tax free. So, he lives a tremendously wealthy lifestyle while paying very little taxes. This is legal. The estate tax is supposed to make up for this, but it is riddled with loopholes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX5U5DNUfBc
The Roman Empire fell partially because super-rich land holders selfishly avoided taxes, weakening the empire from within.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ke7n-OV33Q