# Stupid liberal idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 42
**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:** [September 10, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/821 "2012-09-10T02:47:55Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Those aren’t the ones being taxed so heavily that they wonder if they can afford it. If we find something that’s really important for the government to pay for, would you be in favor of shifting the burden upwards a bit? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/822 "2012-09-10T04:06:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > If we find something that’s really important for the government to pay for, would you be in favor of shifting the burden upwards a bit? Upwards from where? Are you of the opinion that I am rich and don’t want to pay my share of taxes? I’m not - we are middle class and drowning. Besides, what would you consider to be “really important” that the government had to pay for? ---
**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:** [September 10, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/823 "2012-09-10T04:43:29Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Upwards from where? Upwards from where it is now. You know, the present. > [@](#): > > Are you of the opinion that I am rich and don’t want to pay my share of taxes? I’m not - we are middle class and drowning. I didn’t have the faintest idea if you were rich or not. That wasn’t what I was asking. > [@](#): > > Besides, what would you consider to be “really important” that the government had to pay for? Well, that would be another debate, certainly. But if such a thing, or things, could be found, would you support shifting the tax burden to fall more heavily on higher income earners? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/824 "2012-09-10T05:04:08Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > would you support shifting the tax burden to fall more heavily on higher income earners? This is the only thing that is sort of clear. If you mean do I support shifting the tax burden more heavily onto, say, those who make $500,000 and above, yes I do. Is that what you meant by “upwards”? Up the income ladder? ---
**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:** [September 10, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/825 "2012-09-10T05:19:26Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Is that what you meant by “upwards”? Up the income ladder? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/826 "2012-09-10T05:42:41Z")
If you can’t afford your tax bill then you’re living outside of your means. Consider downsizing your property holdings or eliminating non-essentials like cable or internet. The rest of us can’t be expected to prop you up when you’re incapable of making sound financial decisions. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/827 "2012-09-10T05:43:38Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Yes. I have no problem at all with the rich folks taking on their fair share of the tax burden again, and cannot really understand why you would think otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/828 "2012-09-10T05:52:51Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > If you can’t afford your tax bill then you’re living outside of your means. Consider downsizing your property holdings or eliminating non-essentials like cable or internet. The rest of us can’t be expected to prop you up when you’re incapable of making sound financial decisions. If you are speaking to me, I have no idea why you would think any of this is true. My whole point is that the average person is not living within their means, and they need to start doing it. When I lost my job, we cut way back so our expenses would equal the downsized income. Then my husband lost his job and I cut back again. Other than our mortgage and utilities, we have almost no bills. “Property holdings”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/829 "2012-09-10T07:32:52Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > I don’t share your - what? - opinion? drive? I think the phrase you’re reaching for there is “basic human decency.” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/830 "2012-09-10T08:05:48Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > no one needs to see my cottage cheese ass! I do. I really, really do. Come on. I dare you. Prove you’re an actual human being. ETA: Pants on, please. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/831 "2012-09-10T08:25:10Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > I have no problem at all with the rich folks taking on their fair share of the tax burden again, and cannot really understand why you would think otherwise? The fact that your vitriol is directed against the political view to increase taxes on rich, and that you seem to support the very political views that are destroying America’s middle class. (Cheer up, it isn’t just you. GOP rhetoric relies on confusion and exploiting ignorance.) ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/832 "2012-09-10T09:48:57Z")
> [@Inner Stickler](#): > > **Consider downsizing your** property holdings or eliminating non-essentials like cable or **internet**. My emphasis. > [@curlcoat](#): > > we are middle class and drowning. > [@curlcoat](#): > > Those aren’t the ones being taxed so heavily that they wonder if they can afford it. If you’re paying more taxes than you can afford (as a result of your investment portfolio being taxed as income without an actual sale being made, or perhaps huge property tax with no source of income), then eliminating your internet bill should be your first priority. Consider pursuing it immediately. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/833 "2012-09-10T10:03:30Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > I have no problem at all with the rich folks taking on their fair share of the tax burden again, and cannot really understand why you would think otherwise? This statement: > [@curlcoat](#): > > No, what you are actually doing when you vote to support another program is placing a heavy tax burden on those who are increasingly unable to afford it, to support people that you have decided are deserving. did not appear to leave room for the possibility that the burden could be shifted to those who are able to afford it. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/834 "2012-09-10T14:01:41Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Your knee-jerk response is that every last person out there who is unemployed, or lost their house in the crash, or raising their kids on EBD must have ended up there thru no fault of their own. I never said that, nor even implied that. I simply mentioned that those people exist. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/835 "2012-09-10T14:40:20Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > If you are speaking to me, I have no idea why you would think any of this is true. My whole point is that the average person is not living within their means, and they need to start doing it. When I lost my job, we cut way back so our expenses would equal the downsized income. Then my husband lost his job and I cut back again. Other than our mortgage and utilities, we have almost no bills. > > “Property holdings”? 😕 Again, I repeat, if you are still drowning in taxes, you haven’t cut back far enough. It’s not our fault you chose to live somewhere with a property tax rate you can’t afford. Move elsewhere or shut up about it. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/836 "2012-09-10T20:35:01Z")
Here’s one: [Maryland Congressional candidate committed voter fraud](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-politics/post/maryland-democrat-quits-congressional-race-amid-vote-fraud-allegations/2012/09/10/d0ff9b1e-fb73-11e1-b2af-1f7d12fe907a_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_buzz). From the article, it looks like she was registered and voted both in Florida and Maryland. I don’t know if she’s liberal, but she’s a Democrat anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/837 "2012-09-11T00:55:03Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Well, it’s a stupid liberal idea that strangers should be forced to be responsible for those who cannot be bothered to be responsible for themselves… > [@Chimera](#): > > I sure hope you don’t consider yourself a Christian (or Jew, or Muslim, or really any religion, or much of a Human for that matter…) The operative word in his statement was FORCED. I agree with him on that. Charity is voluntary. When it isn’t, it becomes taxation and welfare. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/838 "2012-09-11T02:07:39Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The operative word in his statement was FORCED. I agree with him on that. Charity is voluntary. When it isn’t, it becomes taxation and welfare. Caring about the poor above taxation and welfare is the Christian thing to do, conservativism is your actual religion. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, Jesus had zero problem with taxation. ZILCH. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/839 "2012-09-11T02:10:32Z")
Soldiers took his clothes. Death tax. Don’t recall any Scripture about Jesus appearing to the soldiers and asking for them back. Too bad, that would have been cool. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/840 "2012-09-11T02:41:47Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The operative word in his statement was FORCED. I agree with him on that. Charity is voluntary. When it isn’t, it becomes taxation and welfare. Well, they had to make taxation mandatory. You see, there are a whole lot of people out there who _say_ that they would give to others, who _say_ that charity is the way to go, but when it comes right down to it, they are selfish greedy bastards who give nothing to anybody. Of course, they would be happy to take advantage of the benefits that accrue to society because _others_ are giving. These greedy bastards are why we have to make this mandatory; there are too many greedy bastard free-riders out there who have no intention of giving to others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=43)