Post
by bobbo » 11-13-2011 07:39 PM
Diogenes: well done. We are struggling towards common ground.
Let's parse. It helps me be direct, responsive, fact oriented, objective.
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I would not call your method of interaction direct - but then I covered that didn't I? /// You had a few adjectives yes. You read a set of words and call them boorish or insulting. I read the same words and call them direct. Certainly lots of overlap but the IMPORTANT THING is the transmission of ideas. Worth a slap or two in my book. YMMV.
Perhaps you are simply too smart for me to spar with or as you like to say "parse: with. /// No. Smart has nothing to do with it, neither does dumb. Its RIGOR. Structure. Can I/do I back up what I say with examples, links, argument, definitions? Or do I just make a statement and then run away from it?
I viewed it as no sense to give you a number in terms of taxes for all as I don't know that any number no matter how nominal would suit you - but a buck a month sounds good to me as telling people they are too poor to pay federal income tax smacks frankly of condescension. /// Well there you go. You know what ass-sume means I'm sure. You should ALWAYS back up your positions with DETAILS. Do you really think "Poor People should pay taxes" means a buck a month? I AM AGAINST THAT===DON'T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS WASTED spending 300 dollars per year to keep track of one dollar per month. -Or- ((watch the consideration of both sides!!!!---try it!)) is this really by way of another social spending program to better the mental health of the poor as you suggest. Give them a sense of involvement and contribution? I hadn't thought of that. See?????? Provide some facts and details and the disagreement goes away.
Probably we are not meant to converse because I've never been angry in the sense of feeling like someone who has something has to give it to me so I can have something too. // Yea, thats the ticket. Tax/social policy is "giving" people your stuff. Very mature.
I have never been envious of those with more of anything because there is always someone who has more - I am referring to material things and money. /// Well, I don't believe you. Envy is natural and expected. Its what you DO with those emotions that count. Sounds like you have it worked out. But there is a big difference in not begrudging the Rich Guy his Mercedez, Vacations, and Big House as long as you have your Toyota, time off, and home your call your own verses the Rich guy imposing an additional 9% sales tax on food, clothing and shelter while your are holding down two jobs trying to make ends meet. Know what I mean?
I work hard and have for a long time and have made some of my own luck in various ways. /// Yeah--most people do. Most poor people do. Of course you "position yourself to take advantage of opportunities as they arise." but===what makes those opportunities arise? Luck. There are all kinds of luck. Provides a bit of balance in one's appreciation of life and the luck/hard work we have the privilege to exercise.
I've been blessed with good health so far and if you want to view that as luck so be it. /// You don't? You think those early childhood immunizations were you willing yourself to good health? Or was it the luck of having parents who cared--or a school system that required proof of immunization in order to attend? Should poor work to earn the cost of basic immunization or be exposed to disease if they don't have the money===you know, the money that you are forced to give them. But btw==do you see any benefit at all to you not being exposed to the diseases that un-immunized people carry around? Much of social benefit it like that. YOU give up thru tax and public health policies the cost of keeping the public healthy===and you benefit from it. Do you agree you benefit from it, or do you only want to benefit from your own luck? Assuming your agreement--the rest of social policy readily continues on much the same rational.
I view a hand up preferable to a hand out. A hand up gets a person on their way while trying to do better. To pay folks to stay home and deprive them of the opportunity to become independent (if they are able) as per the welfare system, is unfathomable to me and I have no understanding of that concept. /// Ha, ha. I can see the coming/already here structural unemployment is going to constitute some tough sledding for you. How many people are paid to stay home when they are capable of being independent? Who are these people?===but how many? Does each one have an elf in their pocket as well? How about a rule that no such people get any of your money if they ride unicorns? Would that help address the issue of the worthless poor just leeching off of our efforts?
Along with taxing the rich further why not look into those social programs - many which are rife with fraud - Medicare alone costs the taxpayers $60B a year. Of course now I am running the risk of sounding like the theater owner/popcorn manager, etc. /// No, I don't see the link to the "joke" about not seeing the whole picture, how the parts work together. Good to see you are for Obama Care and getting rid of the useless overhead and duplicative cost associated with for profit competitive medicine leaving the USA paying twice what any other system pays per capita while ranking in the declining 30's from the top in outcomes. Yes, lots of waste in for profit medicine/rip offs.
You didn't insult me - I've covered the boorish and would have to throw in unkind. /// Oh, thats good to know. So posted that I'm insulting, but you weren't insulted yourself? I'm just unkind. Please post the exact words/sentence I used that you think were either? I can see a few candidates, but I'm interested in how you parse those two ideas.
Direct doesn't bother me but you come across as unkind and right out of the chute - again choices. /// Basically a restatement. Yes, its very kind to characterize the OWS as a bunch of criminals who are wasting our tax resources by their silly protests. Kind to advise them to shut up and go home. Very kind indeed. I take your counsel on that.
But what is the BS about being new to the forum? Ha, ha. Quite a substantive criticism of anything said: "Hey==I was here first: "Repeck mah authoratay!" What a douchebag idea. How would you say that with kindness? Heat before inserting?