# I pit the republican party for incredibly hypocrisy regarding taxes **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 22, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639 "2011-08-22T11:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rekd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Rekd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rekd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/41 "2011-08-22T19:46:57Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Because the Republicans are the ones who picked the fight over raising the debt ceiling. Concerned about the deficit? Want to get a handle on government spending? Done reasonably, I’m all for it. Best of luck getting your ideas adopted. But it doesn’t need to be done this way; don’t hold up necessary bookkeeping in a tantrum to get your own way. Speaking of tantrums, how about the Wi state thugs that walked out on their job? You need to realize it’s a two way street. Both sides are fucked up (and fucking US) and the longer we bicker between ourselves about it the better for them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/42 "2011-08-22T19:56:30Z")
“Thugs”? Bit of an exaggeration, wouldn’t you say? OK, a wild exaggeration. Actually, more to the point, totally out of whack partisan slur. That’s about right. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/43 "2011-08-22T20:00:42Z")
Nonsense. He called Republicans “Repugs” too. That’s how you know he’s objective and level-headed. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/44 "2011-08-22T20:10:53Z")
> [@Rekd](#): > > Speaking of tantrums, how about the Wi state thugs that walked out on their job? I might have mentioned them, but I felt that the actions of one party at the state level were a bit off-topic in a thread about the other party at the federal level. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/45 "2011-08-22T20:12:55Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Yes, of course. > > Except that the wealthy wield vastly more power, so when they want more money the propaganda machine we erroneously call the news sets about convincing the rest of us that we should struggle so they don’t have to. And we believe them. In other words, they’re using their “power” to keep the government from taking more of the money they’ve earned and giving it to you, and so you’re having to “struggle” along trying to make ends meet based on your own value in the marketplace. Because, you know, the amount of money they have doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to your ability to earn money yourself. You can earn every bit as much as you’re able, and the money they have doesn’t prevent you from doing that. So the only way you are being harmed (or having to “struggle”) is because the government isn’t giving you more of their money. How you people can look yourselves in the mirror is a thing of amazement to me. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/46 "2011-08-22T20:15:06Z")
In my case, because I look a lot like George Clooney, only better. Thanks for asking! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/47 "2011-08-22T20:23:49Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > In other words, they’re using their “power” to keep the government from taking more of the money they’ve earned and giving it to you, and so you’re having to “struggle” along trying to make ends meet based on your own value in the marketplace. > > Because, you know, the amount of money they have doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to your ability to earn money yourself. You can earn every bit as much as you’re able, and the money they have doesn’t prevent you from doing that. > > So the only way you are being harmed (or having to “struggle”) is because the government isn’t giving you more of their money. > > How you people can look yourselves in the mirror is a thing of amazement to me. Believe in that just world with all of your heart, little conservative. I know how much you need it to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/48 "2011-08-22T20:34:45Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Then why should the Republicans have been the ones to step back? Why, in the interests of a stable government, shouldn’t the Democrats scale back on spending? Why shouldn’t we cave to terrorist demands? Why, in the interests of peace, shouldn’t we roll over and take what we know is a terrible idea? The republicans took an essential _bookkeeping_ issue which has never been politicized to this degree and played chicken with it to further a political agenda which any economist could tell you is a horrible idea for an economy in a recession. > [@](#): > > In an earlier post, the claim was made that Republican policies weakened science. When it comes as a shocker when a republican candidate comes out in acceptance of the theory of evolution, when most of them claim that man-made climate change is a hoax… _Yeah, they weaken science_. I wasn’t referring to policies; I was referring to politicians. > [@](#): > > In this argument, you seem to be ascribing scientific certainty to matters that are not susceptible to scientific certainty. Was your concept of science taught by schools using Republican policies? “Scientific certainty”? The vast majority of climate scientists all agree that man-made global warming, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is a major cause of the current climate change and weather extremism. You cannot find more scientists to support creationism/ID than you can find _biologists named Steve_. These are things that are confirmed to beyond reasonable doubt. At the very least, the theory of evolution has earned its place next to atomic theory, germ theory, and the theory of gravity. To claim otherwise is retarded. Climate science is getting there. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Because the Republicans are the ones who picked the fight over raising the debt ceiling. Concerned about the deficit? Want to get a handle on government spending? Done reasonably, I’m all for it. Best of luck getting your ideas adopted. But it doesn’t need to be done this way; don’t hold up necessary bookkeeping in a tantrum to get your own way. This. Completely this. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/49 "2011-08-22T20:37:41Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > In other words, they’re using their “power” to keep the government from taking more of the money they’ve earned and giving it to you, and so you’re having to “struggle” along trying to make ends meet based on your own value in the marketplace. > > Because, you know, the amount of money they have doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to your ability to earn money yourself. You can earn every bit as much as you’re able, and the money they have doesn’t prevent you from doing that. > > So the only way you are being harmed (or having to “struggle”) is because the government isn’t giving you more of their money. > > How you people can look yourselves in the mirror is a thing of amazement to me. > **[I Hate Taxes](https://katemorrisonwrites.com/2011/05/11/botox-starbucks-and-flat-screen-tv%E2%80%99s/)** > > Appeared in April 2011 Funny Times It’s tax season again and I feel angry and ripped off.  I hate to pay my taxes.   I only have three kids in public schools and although I have 5 library books rig… I really think you should read this article. SA, the fact of the matter is, we live in America. EVERYONE benefits from the government-offered roads, schools, regulations, and protection. The richest have more to lose and more to offer, so they give more. The poor need help to get by, and _are the cogs that keep our economy running_, so we help them survive. This is part of what makes America great. This really is not a hard concept. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/50 "2011-08-22T20:40:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > In my case, because I look a lot like George Clooney, only better. Thanks for asking! Well, yeah, that’d be reason enough. 😃 But just think, if you looked like him you could find a wealthy woman to sponge off of instead of generic rich people. > [@Bosstone](#): > > Believe in that just world with all of your heart, little conservative. I know how much you need it to be true. And would you care to point out to this little conservative just where he happens to be wrong? The only possible way you could be “harmed” by the amount of money that wealthy people have is by not being able to lay your hands on some of it yourself. Other than that, the money they have plays no role whatsoever in your life or your own financial prospects. You can create your own wealth; they are not “soaking it all up” and leaving none for you. If you want money, then do what they did and go out and learn/risk/invest/earn it. Otherwise, be content with the life you have fashioned for yourself by choosing to live a less challenging way of life, and stop pretending that the difference between what they have and what you have is somehow “unfair”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/51 "2011-08-22T20:42:47Z")
Nah. You’re not worth the time. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/52 "2011-08-22T20:57:34Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > [I Hate Taxes | The Colorful Columnist](http://katemorrisonwrites.com/2011/05/11/botox-starbucks-and-flat-screen-tv%E2%80%99s/) > > I really think you should read this article. > > SA, the fact of the matter is, we live in America. EVERYONE benefits from the government-offered roads, schools, regulations, and protection. The richest have more to lose and more to offer, so they give more. The poor need help to get by, and _are the cogs that keep our economy running_, so we help them survive. This is part of what makes America great. This really is not a hard concept. I think you’ll find that most people, including the wealthy, have no problem with paying taxes to fund roads and bridges and schools and the military. These are areas where everyone benefits and where in my opinion everyone should chip in through taxes. My problem is twofold: One, the idea of income redistribution, whereby the govenment takes money from one group of people in order to give it to another group of people; and two, the fictitious idea that there is only so much money to go around and that wealth held by some equals less for others. Money is not finite - it is _created_! The fact that the nation’s wealthiest people hold 90% of the wealth or whatever is meaningless in terms of how much money an individual can make himself, and it’s not unfair in any way that those people have the money they have. They got it by virtue of offering goods and services that people were willing to let go of some of their own money in order to obtain. Come up with goods and services and that people are willing to pay for and you can get rich too. Or do the 9-to-5 thing as an employee and live the kind of life that it provides. It’s all up to you. But remember, the money that J.P. Gottrocks has isn’t depriving you or anyone else of a single cent. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/53 "2011-08-22T20:59:18Z")
> [@](#): > > …And would you care to point out to this little conservative just where he happens to be wrong? Well, first off, the “rich” have more political power than I do, they can buy a bigger microphone, they have political servants who cater to their needs. I may not necessarily insist that in a democracy, all citizens must have equal economic power, but I will insist that they all have equal political power: one person, one vote, that sort of thing. Second, your stance on earning falls apart instantly when compared to inherited wealth. There is no “challenge” to being born in the right bed of the right parents. Lastly, of course, the whole question of earning. How does one “earn” ten million dollars a year? Does a fireman earn it, dashing into a burning building to save your sorry ass? The teacher, who gives our children the tools to be good citizens? The doctor who makes house calls? Or the man who’s money makes him more money by the miracle of compounded interest? Is it the will of the Free Market, blessings and peace be upon it? If you won’t ask me to give up my power to an arbitrary and unjust government, why do you insist that the Free Market is somehow an improvement? Still, thats only three, so a better offering than your usual. Of course, its rather short… ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/54 "2011-08-22T20:59:29Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Nah. You’re not worth the time. Translation = Your points are well taken and I have no rebuttal. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/55 "2011-08-22T21:07:21Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Translation = Your points are well taken and I have no rebuttal. If you want to take it that way. You’ve shown time and again that you’re impervious to logic or discussion. There is simply no point in talking to you, it’s wasted effort. I should be charging you for my time right now, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/56 "2011-08-22T21:10:36Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, first off, the “rich” have more political power than I do, they can buy a bigger microphone, they have political servants who cater to their needs. I may not necessarily insist that in a democracy, all citizens must have equal economic power, but I will insist that they all have equal political power: one person, one vote, that sort of thing. That means nothing. All you’re saying is that the rich have the power to try to fight being taxed, and that there’s something wrong with that. So far as I know, no rich people are using their so-called power to make us buy things from them. So just how is it that their power is harming us…apart from keeping the government from giving us even more of what they’ve earned, that is? > [@elucidator](#): > > Second, your stance on earning falls apart instantly when comparted to inherited wealth. There is no “challenge” to being born in the right bed of the right parents. Inherited wealth, inshmerited wealth. So what? It was earned at some point and therefore it became the property of whoever earned it. It can be given away, passed along to heirs, or burned up in a huge bonfire. It’s none of your business, and none of your money. You have no more right to it than you do to an inherited house or car. It’s not yours to begin with, so you should have no say in what becomes of it. > [@elucidator](#): > > Lastly, of course, the whole question of earning. How does one “earn” ten million dollars a year? By providing goods and services that people are willing to pay enough for to generate that kind of income. Steve Jobs is pretty much the poster child for this. (Although ten billion a year is a tad much, don’t you think? Not even Jobs - nor Gates at his peak - earns that much.) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/57 "2011-08-22T21:11:13Z")
> [@Rekd](#): > > Speaking of tantrums, how about the Wi state thugs that walked out on their job? “Thugs” Do you know what that word means? Did those Representatives do anything violent or threatening? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/58 "2011-08-22T21:24:20Z")
**Starving Artist** , how much of the wealth of any individual do you feel is derived from his surrounding environment? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/59 "2011-08-22T21:32:45Z")
I think that the wealth of the wealthy is derived from the same surrounding environment that we all have access to. They have simply worked harder, risked more, and tackled harder challenges in order to squeeze more out of that environment. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639/60 "2011-08-22T21:45:04Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I think that the wealth of the wealthy is derived from the same surrounding environment that we all have access to. They have simply worked harder, risked more, and tackled harder challenges in order to squeeze more out of that environment. BWAHAHAHAHAHA That’s the funniest thing you’ve ever written on these boards! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-republican-party-for-incredibly-hypocrisy-regarding-taxes/593639.md?page=4)