I’d hoped to talk about a lot more on last night’s Political Roundtable, but the discussion about the race between Democrat Ron Barber and Republican Jesse Kelly to complete Gabby Giffords’ term ended up stretching through most of the show. Still, we managed to touch on a new state law that forces cities, towns and other jurisdictions to have all their elections at the same time as the presidential or gubernatorial elections and Secretary of State Ken Bennett’s new embrace of birther politics.
This article appears in May 17-23, 2012.
We all saw what happens to investments in the market. It is all a gamble and is subject to the whims of financial institutions. Many retirees had to go back to work after the last crash because they relied on retirement accounts invested in the market. To allow people to invest in these markets and opt out of SS would be setting them up for poverty as it requires discipline to first place money in those investments, then the willingness to accept the risk it entails. Then, if those investments fail as financial institutions rig the market to move money from those investors into their own buckets, the individual investors will be left with no recourse. This would leave a lot of people destitute and without a way to survive. This is why social security was created in the first place. What does the Tea Party propose as solutions to the likely event that people will be left entirely with means?
Mr. Kelly is deluded into believing that there is this “free market” out there – with no government – that would miraculously bring about equality in our society. He even wants to get rid of the minimum wage! The fact of the matter is that large corporations and their CEO’s have a rigged deal from the beginning. Big tax breaks, special deals and huge bonus pay-offs to upper management is the norm for our biggest, most wealthy corporations. We have truly turned into an oligarchy that favors the wealthy and the elite – – big time. Unfortunately, the average guy has no lobbyist for him in Washington, so one of the best things we can do is to elect Barber, who is not so naïve and uninformed about what is really going on in government and the corporate world. Lobbyists and billionaires, and the corruption of big money must be thoroughly removed from politics to put us on the path of returning our government to US, the people. A vote for Barber is a vote for those who have no voice in today’s acrimonious political world.
Lance I would love the return of my investment let alone the return on. Based on last year SS statement what I pay in if it continues until most likely 70 (what the age would be most likely when I am eligible to collect) I will have to live to 94 years old just to recoupe what I paid in IN TODAYS DOLLARS. We can discuss what the future value of those dollars should be based solely on inflation in another class. So in esences my tax dollars pay for others to live better and my SS dollars will pay for others to live better. And of course in the end I get shafted welcome to the middle class.
Jesse Kelly not the right answer either as he can’t own up to what he says. Strangely enough I’m a capitalist and I will probably just not vote or write in someone else.
Also if you google Dow Jones historical graph you will see that the returns are there over the long term. Very few people lose long term money as a whole because you are constantly putting in more capital.
Is that idiot woman living on Pluto? There are more white unskilled worker in the US, than any other race of people, she really does need to do her homework before opening her mouth. Can someone please tell me when igronance became envogue in this country? It seems as if the GOP is reviling in there new found igronance.
Kelly’s ideas about a flat tax, if enacted, would be ruinous to our country. Progressive taxation actually puts more money into the flow of our economy. For this is money that will come around and be spent on goods and services instead of sitting in a bank account or gambled with on Wall Street. This flow of money benefits the poor, the middle class, as well as the wealthy capitalist – – as more goods and services will be circulated into the economy, creating an expanding, snowballing marketplace for the venture capitalist. Don’t believe me – see multi-millionaire venture capitalist Nick Hanauer explain why.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/nick-hanauers-ted-talk-on-taxes/2012/05/17/gIQAXCncWU_blog.html
The same train of thought is another great reason social security and Medicare payroll withholding works well in a compassionate society that wants to increase capital spending. These payments are not for our sole benefit. This money goes to help all elderly and disabled people to get a paycheck when it is most needed – to buy food and clothing and shelter. All economists know that this is where you get the biggest bang for your buck on stimulating an economy – and we help out those with the most need at the same time. Compassionate capitalism works for the benefit of all. Selfish capitalism is an unhealthy society. It closes one’s heart and works from the stance of fear and greed. That’s why the past 30 years has created exploding debt with many of our fellow citizens going bankrupt from exploding hospital and insurance costs, and also why our kids are going into debt just to get a decent education. That’s not the way it was 45 or 50 years ago……nor is it the way with societies that have much less income inequality. The rich have eaten up all the gains the economy has produced for more than thirty years, now. And those that become leaders in government with unwise ideas like Mr. Kelly’s will only make it much worse.
I threw my Barber vote in the mail today
Barber could have simplified matters, by using his I’M With Stupid Tee Shirt, with the arrow pointing in the direction of kelly, during the debate.