Is capitalism a religion?

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Neoliberal capitalist article of faith #2:

Though shalt not tax the rich to give to the poor. Thou must tax the poor to give to the rich.

 

[Lark]

Neoliberal capitalist article of faith #2:

Though shalt not tax the rich to give to the poor. Thou must tax the poor to give to the rich.

I dont think that there is a single example in history of anyone taxing any rich people to "give to the poor", I'm not even sure what that would look like, maybe a universal basic income but this would not be a redistribution from rich to poor either as its universally targetted, which includes the same rich people supposedly paying for it.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I dont think that there is a single example in history of anyone taxing any rich people to "give to the poor", I'm not even sure what that would look like, maybe a universal basic income but this would not be a redistribution from rich to poor either as its universally targetted, which includes the same rich people supposedly paying for it.

Well, haven't you heard of the issue of the evils of wealth-distribution as a neoliberal talking point? Essentially: "Taxation is theft, but only when I'm the one being taxed. "

 

[Tellenbach]

Taxation for the purposes of redistributing wealth is stupid. You can't lift up the poor by drowning the rich. This is why some billionaire on CNN just called Warren's Medicare for All scheme "junk".

To reduce poverty, you need to create opportunities. Policies that reduce opportunities such as the minimum wage, excessive taxation, and heavy regulations need to be eliminated. It's just common sense. We've seen Obama policies create more poor people and we've seen Trump's policy reduce poverty.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Taxation for the purposes of redistributing wealth is stupid. You can't lift up the poor by drowning the rich. This is why some billionaire on CNN just called Warren's Medicare for All scheme "junk".

But we already have taxation that redistributes wealth. It just redistributes it upwards, rather than downwards. Why is redistribution a good idea in those cases?

 

[Tellenbach]

It just redistributes it upwards, rather than downwards.

The top 1% pays almost 40% of the total income tax. The bottom 50% pays no income tax. What exactly are you talking about?

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

The top 1% pays almost 40% of the total income tax. The bottom 50% pays no income tax. What exactly are you talking about?

Well, for one example, bailing out the bankers who wrecked the economy because their banks were too big fail. That happened under a Democratic administration, so maybe you can agree that it's a bad thing.

 

[Tellenbach]

Well, for one example, bailing out the bankers who wrecked the economy because their banks were too big fail. That happened under a Democratic administration, so maybe you can agree that it's a bad thing.

The banks (run by Democrats) were pressured (by Democrat politicians) to give loans to people who were unqualified to receive those loans and about 75% of the subprime loans entered the markets through Fannie/Freddie (run by Democrats). This is the same type of stupid thinking as the "redistribution of wealth" schemes. It's the same crowd. Libertarians wanted to dismantle Fannie/Freddie and let the big banks fail.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

The banks (run by Democrats) were pressured (by Democrat politicians) to give loans to people who were unqualified to receive those loans and about 75% of the subprime loans entered the markets through Fannie/Freddie (run by Democrats). This is the same type of stupid thinking as the "redistribution of wealth" schemes. It's the same crowed. Libertarians wanted to dismantle Fannie/Freddie and let the big banks fail.

Hmm, don't think it was just that.

https://projects.propublica.org/bailout/list

According to that list, it's not just Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but PNC, Wells Fargo, AIG, etc. etc... These are all in the billions of dollars, by the way.


And see, [MENTION=7280]Lark[/MENTION]? It's a common claim of neoliberals that "wealth redistribution" is going on all the time and needs to stop.

 

[EllevenSevenSounds]

As someone who makes well above nine figures, I can assert that capitalism is not a religion but a technology used to enslave the masses.