House GOP sacrifices progress for purity
By any rational measure, House Republicans were on the verge of a major accomplishment a couple of weeks ago.
Even though they held control of only one legislative chamber, they had backed President Obama into proposing a $4 trillion deficit-reduction package, including more than $3 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade. Enacted into law, it would have easily been the largest budget-cutting package in U.S. history. All they had to do was say yes.
But they could not bring themselves to utter that word.
Their victory, you see, must be absolute and total or it is not victory at all. A “win-win” outcome — fine for liberals and RINO pansies — is insufficiently decisive to those who feel morally obligated to turn politics into scorched-earth warfare. They are Harry Truman demanding unconditional surrender from Imperial Japan.
And they have the Bomb.
As a result, a historically significant reduction in the federal deficit and in once-untouchable entitlement programs had to be rejected, because in their minds its purity was tainted by an increase in taxes on the wealthiest of Americans.
In his latest column, David Brooks assesses the messianic radicals of the GOP with brutal clarity:
“They do not see politics as the art of the possible. They do not believe in seizing opportunities to make steady, messy progress toward conservative goals. They believe that politics is a cataclysmic struggle. They believe that if they can remain pure in their faith then someday their party will win a total and permanent victory over its foes. They believe they are Gods of the New Dawn.”
Well, they’re not.
– Jay Bookman
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621 comments Add your comment
Midori
July 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
LOL, Fred
1811/1801 - 0311/0317
July 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
F. Sinkwich:
Our economy is going to stay in the tank until Obama and his minions are gone.
The lib., prog., lock-nuts will never admit this.
Paul
July 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
Libertarian
“You people who think a 4% rate increase on the “rich” is going to solve all of our problems are sadly mistaken.”
I don’t know what blog you’ve been reading, but it’s obviously not this blog. (note the 11:49 – “That in and of itself would not, as you noted, solve the problem. Which is why the President also proposed higher cuts than Republicans were willing to accept.”).
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
11:59 am
You use quite a broad brush there pal. Some people actually did earn their wealth and started with nothing. What would you say if I said all poor people on welfare are just lazy?
1811/1801 - 0311/0317
July 19th, 2011
12:03 pm
Fred:
Re: last night.
Did you ever look up USMC 0317 ?
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
July 19th, 2011
12:03 pm
Jay
July 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
But if he supported obama’s policies you’d be okay with him, right?
kayaker 71
July 19th, 2011
12:05 pm
Paul,
As soon as we make this clown a one term president, we will be well on the way toward solving our economic problems. Until then, I agree with Mitch McConnell,
Jay
July 19th, 2011
12:06 pm
No Leg.
I’m sure there are spoiled brats among Obama supporters too.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:06 pm
“What would you say if I said all poor people on welfare are just lazy?”
With all due respect I would venture to say that the majority of people on welfare wouldn’t be considered the hardest working individuals. Does someone actually disagree?
Left wing management
July 19th, 2011
12:07 pm
Woodstock Mike: “First off, if someone is making that kind of money they are doing something very well and must be near the best at their profession”
Astounding naivete there Mike. In two ways. One, in thinking that high pay is a failsafe indicator of skill at what one does. And two, the idea that such an indicator would work across all professions and even that all professions are alike.
Take someone who’s hands down the best site foreman at a construction site in the whole state of Georgia and then compare him to Lloyd Blankfein or John Paulsen, hedge fund managers who probably make 5-10 times as much in one day as the best paid site foreman will make in his entire lifetime of work.
Are you really going to tell me this is an ‘accurate’ and ‘just’ reflection of the relative importance of what these two people do?
Did you remember to get down on your knees last night and say a few words to propitiate your gods, who are the Wall St barons?
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:07 pm
Good link Midori. It also has a live video feed. Looks like some dork tried to hit him in the face with a plate of shave cream. I tuned in just as they were doing a replay of the incident.
His wife is a tigress lol. She was up in a millisecond and all over the guy. they should have just let her handle it.
getalife
July 19th, 2011
12:07 pm
Mrs. murdoch retaliates after a prank on her husband.
Jay
July 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
And it’s hard to imagine a more ludicrous argument than the “Obama’s mere presence causes our economic problems” claim.
Then again, a more ludicrous argument is sure to come tomorrow. That’s how such things have been going lately.
ty webb
July 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
Mega kudos to Murdoch’s wife…she was on the guy before security…awesome.
Paul
July 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
kayaker 71
Defeat Obama above all else and let the country continue in dire straits until the election?
Is that the new Republican definition of patriotism?
willie lynch
July 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
1811/1801 – 0311/0317
July 19th, 2011
12:00 pm
Suprise! Suprise! It was a minority employee. Too predictable.
DebbieDoRight
July 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
It seems you, and several other posters, roll right past that and keep responding with bumper sticker generalities.
You know him so well!
Brosephus
July 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
You are correct, but with enough observations, the law of averages creeps in at some point………and I’ve been around long enough to have lots of observations………
In your calculations, is there also variable that account for changing times and costs??? Averages change depending on the number and value of things being averaged. Averages do not always remain constant.
As a former federal employee I must sadly admit this is true. It’s almost impossible to fire an employee especially for poor job performance.
Heck, you can’t even get rid of them during their probation period.
And as a current federal employee that has seen numerous firings of both veteran and probationary officers, I disagree. Many are likely to die than lose jobs because of stress on the jobs too. Ask the families and co-workers of TSA workers who have died WHILE at work screening people. Ask the families and co-workers o CBP officers who have died WHILE defending the country.
For someone who made their living off of the federal teat, you do an awful amount of employee bashing while still collecting your pension. Seems like somebody who’s retirement income comes from the taxpayer would be just a bit more appreciative and understanding of those who choose to do the same thing you did.
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
midori
Ooooohhhh…that was a nice break!
Jefferson
July 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:00 pm
Jefferson
July 19th, 2011
11:53 am
So why should anyone work at all? Why go to college? Why start a business? Perhaps the government should just assign us a job after high school and, in turn, give us our basic needs (food, shelter, etc.) Then everyone is equal. Does that sound good to you?
I don’t know what you are thinking about, everyone is not equal and I would not think you can make everybody equal, financialy that is.
Why do those things – many reasons and for some it is to make more salary, pay more taxes and have more security.
You can live like you want.
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:11 pm
Wow, Louise Mensch is hot. Tories are the conservatives in Britain correct?
Scout: yes
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:11 pm
Murdoch says he was humble to testify but ultimately not responsible for the scandal and blamed it on the people he “trusted”.
Ahhh… the buck stops below me. That is why CEOs earn the big bucks….to be clueless. Taking credit but not responsibility.
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:11 pm
Libertarian — “You use quite a broad brush there pal.”
Maybe you should go back and reread the entire thread, including the comments to which I responded. You have pretty clearly misread me.
“Some people actually did earn their wealth and started with nothing.”
And some people didn’t; so now what?
My wife and I have a family friend who is tremendously wealthy and who hasn’t done a lick of work in his life, so clearly, some wealthy people *don’t* earn their wealth and the conservative tale of ‘work hard and you will reap great benefits’ isn’t telling the whole story.
All I’m saying is that the claim of ‘all wealthy people worked hard and deserve their money’ is bulldada. And the notion that working hard inevitably leads to wealth is, too.
“What would you say if I said all poor people on welfare are just lazy?”
I’d say you were as full of crap as someone who claims that all wealthy people *earned* their money.
DebbieDoRight
July 19th, 2011
12:12 pm
Mega kudos to Murdoch’s wife…she was on the guy before security…awesome
She has to protect her “investment”.
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:12 pm
Jay – 12:01 – and this isn’t the first time he’s criticized Obama, so I don’t understand why people seem “surprised and shocked” by his latest tanty
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:12 pm
“Take someone who’s hands down the best site foreman at a construction site in the whole state of Georgia and then compare him to Lloyd Blankfein or John Paulsen, hedge fund managers who probably make 5-10 times as much in one day as the best paid site foreman will make in his entire lifetime of work.”
All I can say to the above statement is wow. Are you comparing a construction site foreman to Lloyd Blankfein or John Paulsen? That’s hilarious. Call me naive, call me anything you want. If it was so simple to run a hedge fund why don’t you? Let me tell you, running a hedge fund is extremely difficult and most fail. So with your logic, the best construction worker should make the same as say the best athlete or entertainer, because they are both the best at what they do, right? Talk about naive…
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
July 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
Here’s the lowdown on many of the “poor” that obama claims are due more money from the “rich”:
Data from the Department of Energy and other agencies show that the average poor family, as defined by Census officials:
● Lives in a home that is in good repair, not crowded, and equipped with air conditioning, clothes washer and dryer, and cable or satellite TV service.
● Prepares meals in a kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave as well as oven and stove.
● Enjoys two color TVs, a DVD player, VCR and — if children are there — an Xbox, PlayStation, or other video game system.
● Had enough money in the past year to meet essential needs, including adequate food and medical care.
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
“I call ‘em like I see ‘em.”
although, I’m sure the hood obstructs your view.
just sayin
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
I love how left wingers think the only people who will be impacted by a tax increase on the “rich” are “hedge fund managers” and “wall street barons” and that everyone else is just a hard working construction worker or other “blue collar” type. Talk about naivete. News flash, not everyone in the over $200k crowd is an evil wall street hedge fund manager sitting in a penthouse yelling “let them eat cake.”
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
Has anyone seen a link for the video where Murdoch got a pie in the face today? I have only seen a picture.
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:14 pm
Mike — “With all due respect I would venture to say that the majority of people on welfare wouldn’t be considered the hardest working individuals. Does someone actually disagree?”
Depends. Can you establish how many of them are long-term recipients who are able-bodied (and able to work), how many are long-term recipients who aren’t able-bodied (and can’t work), and how many are short-term recipients who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own?
Seems to me like you’re leaping to a big conclusion there, Mike.
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:14 pm
Actually, I don’t think that was Murdoch’s wife. Whoever she is, she looks like Lucy Liu, and acted like her (Lucy) in Kill Bill lol. She MAY be a body guard………….
Brosephus
July 19th, 2011
12:14 pm
kayaker 71
Defeat Obama above all else and let the country continue in dire straits until the election?
Is that the new Republican definition of patriotism?
Paul
For the umpteenth time, what part of “I HOPE HE FAILS!!!” do you not understand?? It’s not just a statement anymore. It is now a way of life for many.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:14 pm
“One, in thinking that high pay is a failsafe indicator of skill at what one does.”
Question, how many people do you know that make enough money to be considered rich that aren’t highly skilled at their profession? And let me know what line of work they are in please…
getalife
July 19th, 2011
12:15 pm
I think it was her Mom that stood up first.
She swung over her Mom and slapped him on top of his head.
Midori
July 19th, 2011
12:15 pm
Fred/Getalife – some background on Mrs. Murdock. After reading this, you won’t be surprised by her actions today:
Born in Jinan, Shandong, she was originally named Wenge Deng. She is the third of four children born to engineers. While Deng was in high school, her father relocated to Hangzhou, where he was employed at the People’s Machinery Works; she and her family remained behind for a short while. In 1985, when she was 16 years old, Deng enrolled in Guangzhou Medical College.
In 1987 Deng met an American businessman and his wife, Jake and Joyce Cherry, who had temporarily relocated to China to help build a refrigerator factory. Deng asked the couple for tutoring lessons in English, which Joyce eventually provided. In 1988, she abandoned her medical studies and travelled to the United States to study, with the Cherrys sponsoring Deng’s student visa. Deng enrolled at California State University, Northridge, where she studied economics.
After entering the United States, Deng lived with the Cherry family for a while when attending university. Mrs. Cherry suspected her husband was having an affair with Deng (30 years his junior) and demanded she leave the house. Mr. Cherry soon followed and moved in with her. The two married in 1990. Deng and Cherry’s marriage lasted 2 years and 7 months before they were legally divorced, but he would later explain they only stayed together for 4 or 5 months, after which he learned of the extramarital relationship Deng had with David Wolf. Nonetheless, she had been able to secure a green card through being legally married to Cherry.
In 1997, Deng met Rupert Murdoch at a company party in Hong Kong. Deng and Murdoch married in 1999, less than three weeks after his divorce from ex-wife Anna Maria Torv Murdoch Mann was finalized.
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:16 pm
Murdoch’s wife…hmmmm…the Hoare investigators might want to check out that lead…
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:16 pm
Leg Lamp – “Data from the Department of Energy and other agencies show that the average poor family, as defined by Census officials:”
are you familiar with the term “average”???
that means that some families have more
and some have less.
AVERAGE. not EVERY
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
“Depends. Can you establish how many of them are long-term recipients who are able-bodied (and able to work), how many are long-term recipients who aren’t able-bodied (and can’t work), and how many are short-term recipients who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own?”
Once again, someone making their own conclusions. My point is quite simple, I’m not talking about a disabled person. I am only stating that in my opinion MOST people on welfare aren’t the hardest working people. And I don’t feel the slightest bad for saying that. Some people don’t like working, that’s all.
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
josef –
frankly, the idea that the MET is investigating the death tells me that (lo and behold), they probably won’t find anything.
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
Leg Lamp — “Here’s the lowdown on many of the “poor” that obama claims are due more money from the “rich”:
I often see this claim posted, but I’ve never seen attribution for the supposed governmental claim or proof in terms of validated figures.
I smell an e-mail meme.
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
“Talk about naivete. News flash, not everyone in the over $200k crowd is an evil wall street hedge fund manager sitting in a penthouse yelling “let them eat cake.””
hrm. I’ve met my fair share of contractors, plumbers and electricians.
not one of them made a QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
Well I learn something here everyday. Today I saw a “how-to” on gold digging.
Left wing management
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
Woodstock : “Are you comparing a construction site foreman to Lloyd Blankfein or John Paulsen? That’s hilarious. Call me naive, call me anything you want”
Perhaps managing a hedge fund is somewhat more complex than running a construction site, or than being a country doctor, and perhaps it’s not. But if it is, one thing that I seriously doubt is that it’s 500,000 times more complicated, or 5,500,000 times, or 5,500,000,000 times as complicated, and so forth.
THAT’s the type of insane p$ssing match with numbers that we get into with the current hyper-runaway earnings era of modern-day financialized capitalism. But it has to be done. That’s the world we live in.
Midori
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
same here, Keep!!
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
I believe this is the link that info came from:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/272081/modern-poverty-includes-ac-and-xbox-ken-mcintyre
AmVet
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
“Ahhh… the buck stops below me. That is why CEOs earn the big bucks….to be clueless. Taking credit but not responsibility.”
It’s called Reaganitis. Or Playing Stupid to Perfection.
What???!!! There was a United States Marine Colonel running a completely illegal and putrefying operation out of the White House basement???!!!
Who could possibly have known???!!!
DebbieDoRight
July 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
k71: Bozo is waging a class warfare struggle to get votes. He is plotting the “evil” rich Americans against those of lower incomes
If that’s the case then he is sure to be re-electd in 2012 — as your own (made up) numbers states, there aren’t that many “evil” rich in America; as it is “lower incomes”.
md: Yes Deb, somewhere down the line, that money was “earned” by someone…….old grandaddy Hilton put his butt on the line for all those after him to squander his fortune…..
You STILL won’t answer my original question md, if all income is “earned” by someone, then why are republicans wanting to cut SSI, Disability and SS Benefits? People EARN SSI benefits by paying into the system paycheck after paycheck. SSI for Dependent Survivor children is the exact same thing as the example you cited of Grandad Hilton. In essence md – What’s the difference? and why is SSI etc., expendable but inherited income not?
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
Libertarian –
the National Review???
the pub started by William F. Buckley???
oh, NOOOOOOOOO, no agenda there …
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
July 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:16 pm
I’m well aware of the difference between “average” and “every”. Are you endorsing the concept that EVERY “poor” family is entitled to what was listed in my post?
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
Mike — “Once again, someone making their own conclusions.”
Not at all, Mike. I’m just questioning YOURS.
“My point is quite simple, I’m not talking about a disabled person.”
You’re talking about welfare recipients. Some welfare recipients are disabled.
“I am only stating that in my opinion MOST people on welfare aren’t the hardest working people.”
And I am stating that your opinion may or may not be supported by facts, and that if you actually *have* any facts to support your opinion, I would appreciate seeing them. Otherwise, it is my opinion that you are leaping to some unwarranted and unproven assumptions.
“And I don’t feel the slightest bad for saying that.”
I’m not a bit surprised.
“Some people don’t like working, that’s all.”
And some people don’t like supporting their claims.
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
Funny, because I know plenty who make well over a quarter of a million.
md
July 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
“Irrelevant to the claim that was made, and to which I responded. Wealth does not always result from hard work, and hard work does not inevitably lead to wealth.”
Not at all irrelevant Joe……what generation are you drawing the line? It is obvious from your answer that you must think a line must be drawn at some given generation……where is your line? And how did you arrive at it?
RB from Gwinnett
July 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
With you liberals, it’s always this game of growing government, raising taxes, new entitlements in exchange for something. It’s never ending. And even a complete idiot can see this method dragging us into the same cesspool as most of Europe, yet we continue on as if the result will be differnt for us. I’ve got news for you. It won’t. You’re going to eventually run out of the “billionaires and millionaires” money.
That you keep following this idiot Obama is just bizzare….
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
Keep: Here’s a link Midori orovided earlier to a live feed of the grilling. They were showing replays until the session started again. Now they are showing the questioning and the excuses. I think you’ll find it interesting. i have it going in the back ground.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14193124
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:23 pm
midori
Green card? Oh, boy, does that mean we left wing liberals can now jpin the “send ‘em back where they came from” crowd…investigate her NOW… put her on a slow boat to China…
kayaker 71
July 19th, 2011
12:23 pm
Outta here. Have to go to the gym to make the old heart sweat. One parting quote…. Reagan told a story about showing up at a county fair to give a political speech during a campaign. He asked for a podium and was told that the only thing tall enough for him to stand on was a big pile of horse sh*t. As he began his speech he said that, although it might be difficult, he would try to speak while standing on a Democratic platform. One of our more prophetic presidents.
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:23 pm
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
What a surprise…you don’t provide back up on this blog and you get “where’s your proof”….provide proof and its not the RIGHT KIND of proof.
md
July 19th, 2011
12:23 pm
Matti,
“All corps” would include “all products”……..so unless one is not buying anything, it affects “all of us”……….
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:24 pm
@LWM
Using Paulsen or Blankfein are poor examples. They are nearly the richest managers in the world. They are extremely rare and they are the best in the world at what they do. Read up on Blankfein and you will see he came from poverty to get to where he is now, it’s an amazing story. They are in line of work that produces dollars. You can’t fault them for that. When they make those obscene numbers so do their clients. So do you if you are invested. So does everyone with a 401K or pension. If you have an issue with them you must have a huge issue with athletes and movie stars. They play games for a living. Johnny Depp make something like 100 million last year. Chipper is to make almost 20 million this year and isn’t even playing…
F. Sinkwich
July 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
Steve Wynn:
“And I’m saying it bluntly, that this administration is the greatest wet blanket to business, and progress and job creation in my lifetime. And I can prove it and I could spend the next 3 hours giving you examples of all of us in this market place that are frightened to death about all the new regulations, our healthcare costs escalate, regulations…”
Wynn about Hopey/Changey:
“The guy keeps making speeches about redistribution and maybe we ought to do something to businesses that don’t invest, their holding too much money. We haven’t heard that kind of talk except from pure socialists. Everybody’s afraid of the government and there’s no need soft peddling it, it’s the truth…”
This guy speaks the truth. This economy will not recover until this European socialist is out of the White House.
Left wing management
July 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
Libertarian, Woodstock: ” love how left wingers think the only people who will be impacted by a tax increase on the “rich” are “hedge fund managers” and “wall street barons”
The point being that these people, along with their buddy high rolling CEOs and their wannabes — the Mitt Romneys of the world — are the models of success in the current world system.
Hey by the way does your local Baptist minister know you worship the idols of the Wall Street Barons? Oh yeah, you’re right, they probably worship them too.
Like I said, better remember to kneel down tonight before bed, them Wall St. Barons want their burnt offerings, and they want them on time!
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
Libertarian — “I believe this is the link that info came from:”
Thank you for that link; I would have preferred a clean link directly to the study, but knowing that the supposed data is coming from the National Review and The Heritage Foundation gives me a good idea of where to look for bias and misattribution in the study when I examine it in detail this evening.
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
Midori: Thanks for the info. I agree with you Keep, a gold diggers tutorial lol. Wouldn’t be surprised to find out that she’s really a Chinese intelligence agent. (where is my tinfoil hat………)
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
Thanks Fred. Its also on Current (Countdown) but I was on the phone for awhile and missed the pie.
Libertarian
July 19th, 2011
12:26 pm
This is an exercise in futility…and all it does is get my blood pressure up. Back to work…..you know, raking in the money while walking all over the little people…
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:26 pm
@Joe Mama
So lets be clear, you believe that most welfare recipients are actually very hard working people? Yes or no? And please support your claim.
Midori
July 19th, 2011
12:26 pm
LOL Josef
she’s a real piece of work, isn’t she?
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
Leg Lamp – “Are you endorsing the concept that EVERY “poor” family is entitled to what was listed in my post?”
nice try at projection
I’m simply saying that NOT every poor family has them
Midori
July 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
enjoy guys – I’ve got to get back to work
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
See? The Murdoch trainwreck is a lot more fun… !
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:28 pm
“Funny, because I know plenty who make well over a quarter of a million”
then it shouldn’t be a problem for them.
Brosephus
July 19th, 2011
12:29 pm
Joe Mama
Google search of “Data from the Department of Energy and other agencies show that the average poor family, as defined by Census officials:” returned about 42,200 results. The first link was…
http://nation.foxnews.com/poverty/2011/07/18/air-conditioning-cable-tv-and-xbox-what-poverty-united-states-today
That link directed me to “View the full study at Heritage.org” at this link:
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/07/What-is-Poverty
One particular quote in the Heritage Org piece that smacks of No Sh*tism is this one here…
As scholar James Q. Wilson has stated, “The poorest Americans today live a better life than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago.”[3] In 2005, the typical household defined as poor by the government had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR. If there were children, especially boys, in the home, the family had a game system, such as an Xbox or a PlayStation.[4] In the kitchen, the household had a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. Other household conveniences included a clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker.
Considering the fact that 100 years ago, not much of that really existed, that’s not a huge undertaking of thought to come to that conclusion. Compound the fact that technological gains almost decreases the cost of technology quarterly, things that the poor could not afford 20 years ago, cost only a few dollars now. Fifteen years ago, I was selling progressive scan DVD players for upwards of $500. Now you can get one for $39 dollars at Wal Mart….
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:29 pm
Libertarian –
yeah. and I’m sure if I provided an article stating hte opposite from Mother Jones, you’d be perfectly sanguine about the source.
please.
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:30 pm
Keep? Did you have a post disappear?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:30 pm
Somebody has got to stop these “anchor bimbo chasers”. We need a constitutional amendment.
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:31 pm
Libertarian –
and, if you bothered to read beyond the headline, the “report” comes from the HERITAGE FOUNDATION and their interpretation of the Census Bureau.
Heritage Foundation + National Review = fair and balanced
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:31 pm
md — “Not at all irrelevant Joe”
It’s completely irrelevant to the claim that was made, which was that wealthy people worked for their money. If some wealthy people became such without doing any work, then the original claim is invalid. If the original claim is invalid, your objection is irrelevant.
“…what generation are you drawing the line?”
I’d say the original claimant drew the line when saying that wealthy people all earned their money via hard work. And many of our friends here make that claim over and over.
“It is obvious from your answer that you must think a line must be drawn at some given generation……where is your line? And how did you arrive at it?”
I’m simply pointing out that the original claim doesn’t hold water. Nothing more.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
“The point being that these people, along with their buddy high rolling CEOs and their wannabes — the Mitt Romneys of the world — are the models of success in the current world”
I’m so glad I don’t hate people for being rich… And worship rich people, that statement is so lame, I have my own life to be concerned with, if you actually think that I sit around and worship rich people that just proves you have no clue what you’re saying….
I would like to ask a question though, how do you think taxing rich people more will help you personally?
Left wing management
July 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
Woodstock: “Using Paulsen or Blankfein are poor examples. They are nearly the richest managers in the world. They are extremely rare and they are the best in the world at what they do. Read up on Blankfein and you will see he came from poverty to get to where he is now, it’s an amazing story”
Oh I’m sure it’s great rags to riches stuff. I’m wiping a tear from my eyes with one hand as I type with the other.
I just wish Mr. Blankfein was out there with Mr. Buffett, Mr. Gates Sr. and a few others, making the case that he and his type don’t need the loophole that allows them to pay a tax rate one third what you and I pay. They’re already doing just fine, so KEEP the money, let us pay a standard tax rate, or dare we say, even a little higher rate? We’re doing just fine without an extra few billions.
See what I’m saying?
But in general, these voices are silent. And that’s the problem I have.
Again, I’m sure he is quite good at running hedge fund. Point being, why does he need to earn 25,000 times as much as the average American worker? Is what he does 25,000 times as important and valuable as what the average person does? I say NOT.
And you forgot something in this statement: “They are in line of work that produces dollars”
You forgot to add: “that produces dollars for their elite clients”. How much of that money really comes back into the economy in ways that really benefit other members of the community?
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
Gettin’ my welfare as we speak…garbage, the one dealing with yard trimmings, etc, making a big ole racket outside…of course, I was too lazy, trifling and low down good for nothing to even put mine out…
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
Mike — “They are in line of work that produces dollars.”
They don’t produce any more dollars than the Federal Reserve does.
DebbieDoRight
July 19th, 2011
12:33 pm
Data from the Department of Energy and other agencies show that the average poor family, as defined by Census officials:
● Lives in a home that is in good repair, not crowded, and equipped with air conditioning, clothes washer and dryer, and cable or satellite TV service.
OMG!! How EVIL!! they had a WASHER & DRYER!! and Air conditioning? Somebody call the law.
● Prepares meals in a kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave as well as oven and stove.
Do you mean to tell me they rented a house or an apartment that came with a REFRIGERATOR and an OVEN? What a bunch of freeloaders!
● Enjoys two color TVs, a DVD player, VCR and — if children are there — an Xbox, PlayStation, or other video game system.
I blame KMart, WalMart and that evil thing called “Lay-A-Way” for that! Write your congressman NOW!
● Had enough money in the past year to meet essential needs, including adequate food and medical care.
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:34 pm
good fight
“Anchor bimbo?” I like that one…!
Fred
July 19th, 2011
12:34 pm
Wow, that was interesting, thanks again Midori for the link.
Keep: BBC now has the video up. You can see it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14209268
Corey
July 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
During this country’s most prosperous times even before Reagan the top tax rate was much much higher than Clinton’s 39%. Where was the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party then? One wouuld think that, if you believed the TEA party, that no sooner than Mr. Obama took office taxes skyrocted. Actually, part of the stimulus roughly 25% was dedicated to tax cuts for the average working man and woman. In addition, another reduction of the payroll tax was signed into law by Mr. Obama. Why do people who parrot lies and false impressions in the name of party loyalty because their favored party did not win the White House baffles the hell out of me.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
@Left Wing Management
And you comments about my baptist minister. Wow, just another example of how clueless you really are. I don’t attend church. And I’m not baptist.
md
July 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
“It’s completely irrelevant to the claim that was made, which was that wealthy people worked for their money.”
And I made the claim that all money is “earned”………never said by who……and it was.
So why is your guy any different than a couple of kids whose parents have lots of money? Or the guy with no money living in the house he inherited from his parents?
Joe Mama
July 19th, 2011
12:36 pm
Mike — “So lets be clear, you believe that most welfare recipients are actually very hard working people?”
I said no such thing and I challenge you to demonstrate otherwise.
“Yes or no?”
Do you have a reading problem, today Mike? This is what I said –
“Depends. Can you establish how many of them are long-term recipients who are able-bodied (and able to work), how many are long-term recipients who aren’t able-bodied (and can’t work), and how many are short-term recipients who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own?”
I didn’t say yes and I didn’t say no. I asked you to CLARIFY what YOU were saying.
“And please support your claim.”
I made no claims, Mike. You did. I merely asked you to *substantiate* and *clarify* your own claims.
SKH
July 19th, 2011
12:36 pm
“I am only stating that in my opinion MOST people on welfare aren’t the hardest working people.”
Well, I’ve done some research on the Section 8 renters I spoke of a few weeks back (when all the liberals jumped me for not “reporting” them). First, it does not appear that the recipients of this voucher program have to work at all. The main requirements concern eligibility (low enough income, family size and the like). Second, though the money comes from the federal government, the program is administered by the states, and each state has it’s own additional requirements. The state my friend rents scores of houses to Section 8 renters now requires random drug tests (which is good, since my friend tells me almost all of the use drugs). Third, besides the housing allowance, these renters also are eligible for (and usually get) an allowance for utilities, food stamps and medical benefits. I am told that all of these benefits can total up to 30 thousand a year – all without working. Fourth, my friend told me that more whites are on this kind of welfare than blacks.
Here is what John Stossel had to say about this issue:
http://www.freedompolitics.com/articles/black-2623-people-wage.html
USinUK
July 19th, 2011
12:36 pm
josef and keep up –
considering the physical attributes of most bimbos, wouldn’t flotation device be more appropriate???
just saying
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:37 pm
josef — made more sense than “anchor treasure prey”
Fred — I dont think so. But I could have missed on.
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
July 19th, 2011
12:38 pm
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2004/01/Understanding-Poverty-in-America
Here’s a link to an older article of what the “poor” own. Trash the article source if you will, but do pay attention to the sources of each chart. They are various agencies of the US Govt.
Shovel Ready Jobs and other Tales
July 19th, 2011
12:39 pm
Nevada man sues DMV over rejection of ‘GOPALIN’ license plate
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jul/18/nevada-man-sues-dmv-over-rejection-gopalin-license/
Ooops…looks like somebody got caught trying to suppress free speech.
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:39 pm
“Funny, because I know plenty who make well over a quarter of a million.”
Me, too. And I know plenty making less than $15,000…so?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
July 19th, 2011
12:39 pm
USinUK…. Possibly. And remember to return her to her original upright position before landing
RB from Gwinnett
July 19th, 2011
12:40 pm
“Do you mean to tell me they rented a house or an apartment that came with a REFRIGERATOR and an OVEN? What a bunch of freeloaders!”
Most likely with the help of Section 8 funds. But they’re entitled to it aren’t they DDR??? I mean, isn’t everybody who finishes 6th grade and goes to work 27 days per year entitled to a house with all those amenities at the expense of all those people who work 14 hour days?
You’re a communitst, Debbie. You and freedom can’t co-exist.
Shovel Ready Jobs and other Tales
July 19th, 2011
12:40 pm
“Trash the article source if you will…”
Why would they do that? Have they ever trashed one of the sources Jay uses in his columns?
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
July 19th, 2011
12:41 pm
josef
July 19th, 2011
12:39 pm
and how many tvs, cell phones, computers and game systems do the people you know making less than $15K own?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
July 19th, 2011
12:41 pm
Somebody has got to stop these “anchor bimbo chasers”.
How comes it’s always women? It’s so unfair to us men. I wouldn’t mind being some rich woman’s bimbo. If she was rich enough and had a Daddy that owned a liquor store and looked halfway good. But no, I’m doomed to spend the rest of my life hauling and lugging beer and paying for my own booze at Billy Bob’s. It’s Discrimination, is what it is. And she ain’t even American!