DanBest's Comments (380)

“You make some valid points, but I simply cannot agree with you as to how we got here. We got into a huge debt hole because we spent more than we collected, repeatedly, continually, over a long period of time. Thats a fact.

You contention that we did so because we did not tax the rich enough, is an opinion. Its just as equally valid to say that we spent too much on defense, or social programs, or anything else you might choose to select.

Having said that, and back to your valid points, I would agree that Wall Street is not in the business of "doing anything", they are in the busiiness of making money.....­period. Its bothersome to me that one of our biggest market sectors does nothing but pursue money, with money. It is capitalism run rampant, and is fueled by speculation, not the production of anything that is beneficial to society in general.

Having said THAT, my original post merely pointed out that while the government did indeed tax the richest of the rich at 90% in the 40s/50s, they also taxed the poorest of the poor at 23%. To me, it disingenuoous to relate one statistic without relating the other.”

“I got it, just not sure how it relates directly to taxation.

The minimum wage in 1944 (when i pulled MY numbers from) was $.30 an hour, which would give an annual salary of a little over $600. Result, no federal income taxes.

Minmum wage right now is $7.25 and hour, which would give an annual salary of a little over $15000 a year. Result, about the same, no Federal income taxes.

Average Joe did not pay income taxes back then, average Joe does not pay income taxes now. Its when you start climbing out of the "average" column that you find taxation then and now are way different. After you climbed out of average, taxation for EVERYBODY was pretty high. Current fad is to get the rich to pay for everything. And I am of the opinion that is people want something everybody should pay, within reason.”

“Yes...Capi­talism is what made America...­WE have too many people in this country that don't want to earn their keep.... I see it everyday throughout daily life....Sa­d to see Socialism coming our way....”

“The Tea Party is about onerous government intrusion, nothing more, nothing less. We would welcome minorities into the movement as soon as we can get them out of the liberal grasp of government dependence.”

“DanBest, let me try to answer your main question, what is the TEA movement about. If it is as you say, to empower lower and middle class white conservatives, then my question would be "to what end?" They already have the power to get educated about government and economics and they have the power of the vote. So what more empowerment would they need? They can meet in groups, send letters to the newspapers, what are they missing?

You might ask yourself, why they are lower and middle class especially if their jobs went overseas or their factories closed.

Most of the groups looked old enough for Medicare, but for those in the 30 to 50 range, where there isn't much welfare for them and only the specter of private insurance to protect them, life must look pretty scary especially if they are misled into seeing single payer as some socialist plot.

I don't think the TEA party movement has coalesced into a single argument. Their signs and statements are all over the board. Maybe if they get one good idea and research it, then make it their purpose, well maybe then they can get more power.”

“Hey, facts are facts. Yes, some people get extremely wealthy, but it's not a zero-sum game. The evidence is overwhelming that the lives of ordinary people are far better in countries which are predominantly capitalist than anywhere else. People vote with their feet. You all can huff and puff but do you have any evidence to indicate otherwise?”

“This is exactly the problem. We hare heard this Reaganugget for a generation. However, people don't understand that a business exists for the benefit of its owners, no one else. Its owners' interest is to make money, usually any which way they can. Only very rarely do they really care about anyone/anything else.

A democratic government is the ONLY protection against the rapacious behavior of businesses.

Note that our government is responsive to the people, if only sluggishly.

Note that business leaders are NOT responsive to the people or public good, unless it is to their benefit (or for the benefit of their company, if that benefits them, also).

Business leaders are interested in keeping the society going well enough to keep the game going for their benefit, but that's about it.

Furthermore, business leaders, BY LAW, are responsible to their stockholders, not their employees, not their communities, not society.

Businesses are generally run on non-democratic principles. What real say does an hourly worker have in the goals of their employer? In how the business is run? In how they are rewarded?

Basically, none.

If you don't like how things are run in your community, what can you do? You can call or write your representatives. If they are not responsive, you can get them voted out. What can you do about your evil or incompetent boss? Or his? Not a damned thing.

"Government is the problem" is the BIGGEST LIE ever perpetrated in this country.”

“We as Americans must break free from this false left - right paradigm. This duopoly is allowing the politicians a cheap way to offset criticism, and lay blame across the party lines and blame their ineffectiveness to create any effective meaningful change to the system. Case in point, the Federal Reserve Act, although passed nefariously while the majority of Congress was on Christmas break (which is the excuse as the story goes); however, once Christmas break was over, the deed was done, yet there wasn't a great outcry that the bill was passed. Therefore, by complicity, Congress aided and abetted the passage. Col. House (who wasn't really a Colonel) was a well paid agent of the bankers, and he had Woodrow Wilson under his control. Yet, later Woodrow Wilson regretted all. "I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson, after signing the Federal Reserve into existence”

“Thanks for your comments. I understand too well how CEOs have hurt their reputations by losing sight of how their compensation has been perceived. Boards also have contributed to this problem by not doing their jobs well enough and allowing exorbitant compensation to happen. I agree that behavior is important and that we need to see more CEOs doing what they say and leading by doing the right thing. Words are not enough but they have been sorely missed and must accompany the right behavior. When times are tough, people are in great need of more information and reading the tea leaves does not suffice. There needs to be a balance between behavior and words.

I also want to add that many CEOs add value everyday. We have seen what happens when the wrong CEOs are in a position of power. The right CEOs make a difference. Unfortunately people lose sight of the fact that there are many CEOs leading businesses of all shapes and sizes that are contributing to employees' well-being and community needs. Many of these CEOs are not headline worthy because they are just doing their job day in and day out. We tend to focus on the Most Admired and forget that the vast majority of companies are not Fortune 500 companies. Not all CEOs are value-less. The good ones make a difference and determine the destiny of their companies and shape our careers. The bad ones cost us in many ways.”

“So name a crime they have committed. I'm still waiting. You lefties are accusing them of crimes so name just one.”

“We all are culpable, but I'm not gullible. If you want to fork over 50% of your earnings (assuming you do earn) to the government be my guest.

And forget the debt. We will always be in debt. Why do you worry so much about it when your elected officials do not?

We are on the hook for programs, which is why ObamaCare is such a bad idea because we cannot afford it..

You truyly think the government cares that much about you?”

“Jenny Stoooopid.­..

Oops, I spelt it rong, Jenny be meeen to me.

I must go hide....”

“Excuse me...... the market is down today, so I'm off to buy more shares and take advantage of America”

“Apparently I understand more than you . Wall street just means that they are public companies that you as an individual can buy shares in that company. Outsourcing can be done by both public and private companies. Wall street is not the problem , Outsourcing jobs for 10 years and moving all means of production , manufacturing and skilled technical support off shore is the problem. If you eliminate job on Wall Street as the writer suggests in what manner will this magically create jobs or force off shoring to stop. I personally say forget Wall street or risk crashing the market again and end up right back where we started last year. Focus on placing tariffs on companies that offshore good and services and tax breaks and incentives on companies that hire people on American soil”

“Let's see what rolls out of their pockets!!!”