I work a 12 hour day normally (with paperwork thrown in maybe even longer) and regularly hit 16 hour days. I work some hours on the weekend too doing paperwork/billing. Gary believes he should get a larger part of MY hard earned money for doing less. Or thinks he should get paid equally. I’m sorry, move to England, France or Spain. Since their economies are pretty much toast in the very near future good luck. “Socialism works as long as someone else is willing to pay for it.” <– Famous quote, find the source.

This country was founded on the belief of small government (I'm not a Republican, both parties are equally as useless, both spend beyond their means) and people taking care of THEMSELVES. A government does not have the ability to do ANYTHING efficiently or effectively. It could all be done for cheaper privately. No pensions to fund, no benefits to pay out (that is put onto the company doing the work to do or not do) and to pay a fair market value to its employees for the work done. The government does a horrid job at distributing wealth, a lot of waste, corruption, etc.

Soon the minimum wage will be lowered so we can finally compete with China (or it will go up as our dollars become worthless and inflation spirals out of control). Heck, we might even start MAKING things again. Sorry but being a customer service country produces nothing.

I have a motto I live by (btw I'm from Canada, I left a socialist country for a reason and didn't plan on moving to a new one!) that, "if government is the answer, it was a stupid question."

Don't expect government to solve your problems, if you do, get out of the country you're a drain on society. Thanks, sincerely those that pay your lazy way.

We have people in left-of-centre just as well extreme right etc and it is this group of people we must value, I suppose if, all the others must survive because they work their arses out physically for the big ideas bosses in airconditioned offices.
The US and allies could save the world not with amunition but with respect and understanding. Well, destroy thereby creat a market in re-building isnt it?
I believe in hard work and so is the rights of the retired to benefit.
Kind Regards
Hassan

What will happen if you increase taxes for ONLY the wealthest:

1.) They will hire the best lawyers to avoid paying taxes at all cost. Or maybe something like Warren Buffet, he has something like $9 billion in carry forward charitable contributions, and will be donating everything to charity upon his death. Government reciepts from him = $0. But how can you hate someone that is giving away his entire net worth to a charity that’s mission is to help the greatest amount of people with the least amount of money. Or as I like to think of it, help the people that really need help, not the lazy.

2.) Businesses will be hurt, less jobs, markets decline, 401k’s and retirement accounts of middle class get hit hard. To further let you understand, the funds of people in the wealthest 5%, tends to be investment. A lot of it is invested in the country, whether it be for new businesses, exsisting business, fund government debt, etc, but it provides capital that grows GDP, helps the government run, starts and maintains Businesses, creates jobs, keeps markets rising, keeps currency strong, etc. (I could go on and on and on).

3.) The wealthest become Ex-Patriots, or go live in other countries where they aren’t punished for working hard, innovation, and risk taking.

4.) The incentive to work hard and strive for excellence goes down, so the attitudes and actions of citizens could ruin the country (I hear a little voice saying “Subprime Debt and MBS’s” in the background)

5.) The entire foundation for a Democracy is gone.

Gary, you would love what is called a socialist society. Unfortunately their has never been one that has survived in the history of the world.

Not at all : The deficit in the pensions, brought on by inadequit funding, poor investment choices, and “borrowing” from the pools has created a tremendous overall lack of money–which will have to be made up by the US Govt and states if they choose to go ahead with this. This becomes a major expense to the taxpayers. Just turn to Calpers, New York, and New Jersey for examples.

You’ve got thing mixed to gether. Teachers and Police etc. are covered by the State and Local pension system, and have noting to do with the Federal deficit.

The cost of Federal Pensions, including military pensions, is very small compared to the rest of the Federal Spending, practically a drop in the bucket. Both Military and over 75% of Civilian Federal employees are covered and pay into Social Security. That’s supposed to cover about 1/3 of thier reitrment. Civilians ahve been paying into a Trust Fund, kind of like the Social Security Fund, especially, since that money has also been borrowed for other things. They are kind of in the same boat as the rest of the US.