Ron Paul's economic revitalization plan
#101
Loki,
The constitution protects inalienable rights to life, liberty and property. The Constitution says all men are equal in the eyes of the law.
Re: government "supporting" hetero marriage, and "not supporting" same sex marriage... government should not be "supporting" hetero marriage either - it should not stick its nose in marriage which is a social contract. There should be no favors or tax breaks to married couples - heck, there should be no income tax on wages to begin with. What the government is doing is that it is subsidizing certain types of social behavior (e.g. getting married). Government should not be trying to regulate morality or behavior. The function of government is to protect individual rights. If one were to allow gov't to regulate this behavior, or that behavior, where does it stop? 55 mph speed limits? No cars >250 hp? The Constitution enumerates the powers that the Federal gov't can have, and says those are its ONLY powers. Remember that the design of the Constitution is to limit government powers specifically to prevent abuse. The Founding Fathers knew from history that governments have a tendency to grow in size and scope, and to abuse its powers and violate the rights of its citizens. The size of gov't was 12% of GDP in 1930 and has grown to 45% now. Where does it stop? Not only does gov't take and control 45% of the nation's economic output, it owes $9 Trillion! http://mwhodges.home.att.net/debt.htm
Taxes are so huge these days... government takes all this money from us, then we're supposed to be happy they're giving $800 back?
The constitution protects inalienable rights to life, liberty and property. The Constitution says all men are equal in the eyes of the law.
Re: government "supporting" hetero marriage, and "not supporting" same sex marriage... government should not be "supporting" hetero marriage either - it should not stick its nose in marriage which is a social contract. There should be no favors or tax breaks to married couples - heck, there should be no income tax on wages to begin with. What the government is doing is that it is subsidizing certain types of social behavior (e.g. getting married). Government should not be trying to regulate morality or behavior. The function of government is to protect individual rights. If one were to allow gov't to regulate this behavior, or that behavior, where does it stop? 55 mph speed limits? No cars >250 hp? The Constitution enumerates the powers that the Federal gov't can have, and says those are its ONLY powers. Remember that the design of the Constitution is to limit government powers specifically to prevent abuse. The Founding Fathers knew from history that governments have a tendency to grow in size and scope, and to abuse its powers and violate the rights of its citizens. The size of gov't was 12% of GDP in 1930 and has grown to 45% now. Where does it stop? Not only does gov't take and control 45% of the nation's economic output, it owes $9 Trillion! http://mwhodges.home.att.net/debt.htm
Taxes are so huge these days... government takes all this money from us, then we're supposed to be happy they're giving $800 back?
If i remember ron paul wants to make it a states right. Since some states will outlaw same sex marriage (regardless of sexuality) the federal government will have to step in if all men are created equal in the eyes of the law how can laws be different for two people?
#103
Didn't the Dems promise to "Bring our troops home" or "not vote for more funding" when they were running for seats on Capital Hill? What happened? Didn't Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy tell General Patreaus that he was "lying" when he gave his report in September that the war is improving? Wait, what happened to the War debate? Why is everyone so quiet about it NOW?
#104
That leaves? Yes, the gasoline tax. You supported that. I guess we can run the whole country on that. [irony] And, when you think about it, it makes sense.[/irony] A guy earning 25,000 a year has to buy the same amount of gas as a rich guy racking in 100 times that much. So they'll both be pouring in the same $250 a year into the system. No matter that this is 1% of one man's income, and 0.01% of the other's.
Taxing goods IS a tax on the poor. The poor have to spend their money. And they get much less value for the money they do spend. You are taxing the people inversley proportional to their income with a flat or goods based tax.
Something we'd probably both agree on, the tax system needs to get a lot simpler. If it were harder to get out of paying taxes, the system could be a lot more fair. The second richest guy I know (know well) was up in arms because he had to pay $355 in taxes a couple years back. He'd never had to pay so much before, and he is NOT a poor man. In the mean time I'm giving up a good solid 1/3 of my income.
The Four-Point Plan (cont)
2. Spending Reform: Eliminate wasteful spending. Reduce overseas commitments. Freeze all non-defense, non-entitlement spending at current levels.
2. Spending Reform: Eliminate wasteful spending. Reduce overseas commitments. Freeze all non-defense, non-entitlement spending at current levels.
His other tenet is that you CANNOT cut taxes unless gov't cuts spending. The easiest place to cut spending is with the overseas military.
Gov't controls 45% of GDP now, and that is outrageous. Government is a virtual monopoly on many things, and everyone agrees government is very wasteful and squanders money.
One of the basic tenets of capitalism is that savings get plowed into investment. If you leave money in the bank, this money can get lent out to businesses to start investment, and investment generates wealth. SPENDING, on the other hand, while allowing money to change hands, doesn't produce nearly as much investment.
I've posted many times on the Compound Interest Paradox, and explained it MANY times in MY own words, on miata.net. You cannot accuse me of doing a "pathetic, uninformed, misunderstood cut-and-paste job." Here is the miata.net thread:
The biggest beneficiary will be the working poor, not the rich. The rich don't get paid wages and typically pay a much lower % of their income as taxes.
The net amount we can adjust seperately by raising/lowering all taxes together. But right now let's see:
DROP death tax RAISE medications tax
DROP corporations tax RAISE social security income tax
DROP wages tax RAISE eliminate tax break for poverty line workers
DROP cigarette tax RAISEgasoline tax
Not those taxes, you fill it in. But I'm not understanding how this system works, and if you could explain which taxes (even if they don't exist yet) are better than the current ones, it will go a long way to making me see this as a viable plan. It's a basic tennant that government will need SOME income. Forget the amount, I just want to know how to get it.
#105
Abe you are misunderstanding the details of his proposed tax cuts. Look at the very specific HR's and HJ's he wants passed, such as HR 191 and 192:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/prosperity
You misunderstand - he says the military budget can be cut hugely by getting out of the 100+ countries we're in. He wants to re-shore up the bases ON U.S. SOIL which are being decommisioned. He wants a strong DEFENSE, strong bases on US Soil, and things like a strong submarine force (a very, very effective deterrent). NOT a military presence overseas that costs taxpayers a lot of money and pisses a lot of people off in other countries. Overall the military spending would be cut greatly.
I strongly disagree. Big business has some modicum of competition that keeps them from being as wasteful as government. The favors that the large corporations get from government, a manifestation of corporatism, is a whole 'nother topic. Note how Ron Paul wants to pass legislation that reduces regulations on small businesses. Small business has gotten the short end of the stick vs. the large corporations when it comes to costly regulations.
It's a LOT less roundabout than getting Mr. Cattle Farmer buying a Samsung big screen TV at Circuit City. In the former, if he kept his money at a local bank that likes loaning out to locals, the money gets invested mostly locally. In the latter, how much money ends up in the US Economy at all?? This is why Ron Paul is gung ho on removing regulations that discourage local banks from lending to local businesses. (one of the latter points in his list)
Thank you. May I point out that you are responding in theh manner of someone who attacks a person knee-jerk style rather than thoughtfully considering his points before responding?
It doesn't matter specifically what I think point by point. I am trying to point out that in general, Ron Paul's proposal is the real deal, unlike the misguided, simplistic "let's print more money and give it to the consumers to spend". Look at the specific HRs and HJs he is pushing. You can read more about this economic philosophy by reading up on what a guy named Peter Schiff has written about for years and years. Schiff endorsed Ron Paul many months ago. He's a fund manager that has made his clients wealthy by betting against the US economy. Listen to what he says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UuivYdiS5w
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/prosperity
Ah, so... Get the military out of Iraq, but still pour more money into it? That's confusing. Why do they get the only exception?
I've worked in acedamia, government, big business, small business, and tiny business. They are all wasteful, but the worst are big businesses.
This I'll have to read up on. It seems to me telling the cattle farmer from my example that he could put his money in the bank and maybe someone else will borrow money and start their own cattle farm seems kinda roundabout.
Well, I hadn't seen it here, and I'm glad you're starting to respond. Maybe we'll both learn something.
Let's play a little game. You tell me what tax to cut and which tax you would raise to keep the field level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UuivYdiS5w
#107
"If i remember ron paul wants to make it a states right. Since some states will outlaw same sex marriage (regardless of sexuality) the federal government will have to step in if all men are created equal in the eyes of the law how can laws be different for two people?"
Let's say a state decides to give tax breaks to married people. A gay couple is denied this same break. Couple takes it all the way to the supreme court. If the courts are fair, they will tell the state they can't deny the tax break. BTW Do you think the Federal courts are more fair than the State courts? Hmm, let's see, CA has decided that medical marijuana is legal. Federal judge decides it isn't....
Now WTF does this all have to do with the economy? This thread is about the economy and Ron Paul's proposal. You keep saying Ron Paul "isn't promoting equal rights" by being mum on gay marriage.
Let's say a state decides to give tax breaks to married people. A gay couple is denied this same break. Couple takes it all the way to the supreme court. If the courts are fair, they will tell the state they can't deny the tax break. BTW Do you think the Federal courts are more fair than the State courts? Hmm, let's see, CA has decided that medical marijuana is legal. Federal judge decides it isn't....
Now WTF does this all have to do with the economy? This thread is about the economy and Ron Paul's proposal. You keep saying Ron Paul "isn't promoting equal rights" by being mum on gay marriage.
#108
You asked. You might want to get that memory taken care of.
So instead of the Federal government supporting the constitution from the beginning (ensuring equal rights) you want more cases going before courts? Who pays for the courts? I guess we would have to raise taxes for to pay for more judges and such.
But hey whatever you messiah ron paul wants.
So instead of the Federal government supporting the constitution from the beginning (ensuring equal rights) you want more cases going before courts? Who pays for the courts? I guess we would have to raise taxes for to pay for more judges and such.
But hey whatever you messiah ron paul wants.
#109
Loki,
The Federal Gov't doesn't need to explicitly spell out "supporting the constitution from the beginning and insuring equal rights" on every issue. ONE case brought to the courts will set a precedent. Don't forget that the way I described it is exactly what the courts are supposed to be for anyway.
Again, how is this favorite issue of yours so much more important than the economy?
BTW is a big beef you have with RP that he wants to cut foreign aid to Israel? If so, you have to realize that the US sends 2x as much money to Israel's Arab neighbors than to Israel, and all that should be cut.
The Federal Gov't doesn't need to explicitly spell out "supporting the constitution from the beginning and insuring equal rights" on every issue. ONE case brought to the courts will set a precedent. Don't forget that the way I described it is exactly what the courts are supposed to be for anyway.
Again, how is this favorite issue of yours so much more important than the economy?
BTW is a big beef you have with RP that he wants to cut foreign aid to Israel? If so, you have to realize that the US sends 2x as much money to Israel's Arab neighbors than to Israel, and all that should be cut.
#111
Loki,
The Federal Gov't doesn't need to explicitly spell out "supporting the constitution from the beginning and insuring equal rights" on every issue. ONE case brought to the courts will set a precedent. Don't forget that the way I described it is exactly what the courts are supposed to be for anyway.
Again, how is this favorite issue of yours so much more important than the economy?
BTW is a big beef you have with RP that he wants to cut foreign aid to Israel? If so, you have to realize that the US sends 2x as much money to Israel's Arab neighbors than to Israel, and all that should be cut.
The Federal Gov't doesn't need to explicitly spell out "supporting the constitution from the beginning and insuring equal rights" on every issue. ONE case brought to the courts will set a precedent. Don't forget that the way I described it is exactly what the courts are supposed to be for anyway.
Again, how is this favorite issue of yours so much more important than the economy?
BTW is a big beef you have with RP that he wants to cut foreign aid to Israel? If so, you have to realize that the US sends 2x as much money to Israel's Arab neighbors than to Israel, and all that should be cut.
A) No support Equal Rights
B) Short sighted Foreign Policy
C) Heavy taxing of the poor (which your all sales tax system would cause)
D) Lack of social programs
#112
B) What's short sighted about shoring up DEFENSE and getting out of foreign lands?
C) Ron Paul does not support any sales tax system. He wants to get rid of the income tax on wages which will be the best thing to do for the working poor.l
D) See (C), and remember, he's the only Congressman to consistently vote against spending SS money on non SS benefits. I see now, you like socialism. That's a whole 'nother topic. I will just say that Socialism isn't what it seems....
C) Ron Paul does not support any sales tax system. He wants to get rid of the income tax on wages which will be the best thing to do for the working poor.l
D) See (C), and remember, he's the only Congressman to consistently vote against spending SS money on non SS benefits. I see now, you like socialism. That's a whole 'nother topic. I will just say that Socialism isn't what it seems....
#114
And no I don't like socialism. But lets back up in the conversation (i really didnt think i would have to have this talk with a grown man.) I will say what I like and don't like, what i think is best for the country etc.... You say what you like and don't like, and what you think is best for the country etc... I won't put words in your mouth you don't put words in mine. If you can't handle that the discussion will be by yourself.
I just know its better to spend .50 cents now on education than 3 dollars later down the road on prices
Your really poor at explaining your view (although its becoming clearer and clearer you don't truly understand them)
#116
B) What's short sighted about shoring up DEFENSE and getting out of foreign lands?
C) Ron Paul does not support any sales tax system. He wants to get rid of the income tax on wages which will be the best thing to do for the working poor.l
D) See (C), and remember, he's the only Congressman to consistently vote against spending SS money on non SS benefits. I see now, you like socialism. That's a whole 'nother topic. I will just say that Socialism isn't what it seems....
C) Ron Paul does not support any sales tax system. He wants to get rid of the income tax on wages which will be the best thing to do for the working poor.l
D) See (C), and remember, he's the only Congressman to consistently vote against spending SS money on non SS benefits. I see now, you like socialism. That's a whole 'nother topic. I will just say that Socialism isn't what it seems....