# Trump's Republican primary campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 3, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828 "2015-09-03T18:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/341 "2015-09-30T15:25:00Z")
The reason we have the estate tax is that you don’t do anything for it, you didn’t earn it, you never worked for it, and its just a luxury on top of what you could already do. With all the GOP rhetoric about lazy people and those who don’t work being leeches, the biggest leeches of all are those who inherited money and never had to work a day in their life. Forcing them to come into the job market and contribute is the best thing we can do for them ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/342 "2015-09-30T16:32:48Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Forcing them to come into the job market and contribute is the best thing we can do for them Absolutely! They clearly need some ‘tough love,’ as the conservatives call it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/343 "2015-09-30T16:49:28Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [url=[http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8833fe7d352d427b8717708646c7ddbf/trump-gives-putin-leadership](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8833fe7d352d427b8717708646c7ddbf/trump-gives-putin-leadership)] > > [QUOTE=Donald Trump] > Putin is a nicer person than I am. :eek: [/QUOTE] Well, aren’t we all? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/344 "2015-09-30T17:12:41Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > There was once an ancient king of Mesopotamia in Lagash called Urukagina. > > He not only proposed just about what Trump and the Republicans are now doing, that king made it real. He cut taxes, and made many reforms, something not heard of even in those early days. So he became popular with his people, but the problem was that many had not figured out what was the sensible amount of how deep tax cuts should be before the consequences got too problematic. Also, most city people were not warriors. > > What happened was that he king failed to get the support of the warrior classes, yes, those that also defended the city. > > So, he had no army available and with no money to raise one when the conquerors came, the king had to flee and the people were conquered and forced to pay the invaders, so a harsh lesson learned. And it is clear that many republicans just do not know history. > > I wonder now if Trump failed history because while he graduated he did it with no honors of any kind > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/business/dealbook/decades-old-questions-over-trumps-wealth-and-education.html?\_r=0](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/business/dealbook/decades-old-questions-over-trumps-wealth-and-education.html?_r=0) > [@CarnalK](#): > > Yeah I thought everyone learned about Urukagina’s ill planned tax reforms in grade 3. :rolleyes: > [@adaher](#): > > GIGO, while your argument is solid, your example is just… weird. I’m a history buff and I’ve never heard of that guy. ☹ Really, American education is on the decline . . . How can anyone get through 3rd Grade in this day and age without reading Larry Gonick’s [_Cartoon History of the Universe?_](http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-History-Universe-Volumes-1-7/dp/0385265204) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/345 "2015-09-30T17:26:04Z")
I went on a trip with some friends a while back and a few of them were Trump supporters. I was amazed. I asked them how they could support that buffoon. The answer was the typical “He’s telling it like it is. Not a politician.” I pointed out that Trump isn’t a real candidate. He just spouts generalizations. “He’s going to save Social Security.” No mention of how. He has no policy positions. They, of course, didn’t care. I got back from that trip to civilization, and low and behold Trump had put out his policy position on Immigration. I chuckled, and was surprised not to get any mocking text messages from my pro-Trump pals pointing out that he’d proved me wrong on that. He’s followed up that with positions on Guns and Taxes. Trump is a buffoon. I can’t imagine voting for the man. But I’ve got to say these positions are nearly perfect. The tax plan seems well thought out and on point. End the death tax. Simplify the tax code. Lower the corporate rate. His paper on guns was solid. The immigration plan would be perfect if you took out the silly part of making Mexico pay for the wall. I’ve got to say, I’m surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/346 "2015-09-30T17:31:23Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Not unless it’s cash. > > Property / Stocks / Family Heirlooms only become income if / when they are sold. > > Why not charge tax as some form of capital gains / income tax at the point when the inheritance is liquidated? Exactly. If you own something that’s worth a million dollars and you sell it, you may have to pay taxes on it. (Depending on what the tax rules are for it. Selling short term stocks is different than selling a house or a farm.) Eliminating the death tax doesn’t make things not taxable. If a person dies and their stock portfolio needs to be liquidated to pay heirs, then those taxes can still be paid as usual. That is a different thing than the tax that people currently have to pay above and beyond that, which is what so many people object to. Eliminating the death tax =/= eliminating all taxes that may need to be paid by a person’s estate when they die. I don’t know why this straw man always comes up on this subject since no one ever suggests that approach. Death shouldn’t be some special event that is free from all taxes. But it shouldn’t be a taxable event either. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/347 "2015-09-30T17:34:56Z")
His tax plan is: we’ll cut taxes on the rich, upper middle-class, and poor, and we’ll pay for it by eliminating unspecified deductions, but definitely not the two biggest deductions. If you like that, you’ll love my plan for balancing the budget! First, I’m gonna spend a bunch of money on the military, social security, scientific research, and everything you care about. Then, I’ll raise revenues using a complex algorithm that you’ll absolutely love! You’ll get tired of all the winning! ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/348 "2015-09-30T17:37:19Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Trump is a buffoon. I can’t imagine voting for the man. Trump is a (deliberate) buffoon. I can easily imagine voting for the man. Unlike (probably) you, I don’t think my vote matters in the least. I mean not even a tiny little bit. The probability of my one vote actually changing the result of any federal election/primary is not close to zero, it _is_ zero. So why shouldn’t I at least have fun with it? Voting for a buffoon is a lot more fun than voting for a stuffed-shirt, robotic, ever so careful with what he says, every word vetted by focus groups, every “opinion” closely coordinated with polls, “regular” politician. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/349 "2015-09-30T17:39:56Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Death shouldn’t be some special event that is free from all taxes. But it shouldn’t be a taxable event either. I think it should be a taxable event – especially when it involves a large amount of money. If anything should be taxable, it’s the unearned dynastic transfer of wealth. Yes, if you die rich, your kids should get a lot of money, if that’s what you’d like. But so should the government, in my opinion. I think about 50% for estates above $5 mil is appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/350 "2015-09-30T17:39:58Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > If you like that, you’ll love my plan for balancing the budget! You’ll absolutely \*love \*it, I’m telling you. It’s the most fantastic plan in the history of mankind, and none of these other morons running could ever have thought of it. When you see it, you’re going to be amazed. _Amazed_! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/351 "2015-09-30T17:47:29Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Death shouldn’t be some special event that is free from all taxes. But it shouldn’t be a taxable event either. Why shouldn’t it be? Other than taxing stuff you want to actively discourage (e.g. smoking), what sort of tax has fewer adverse consequences, penalizes less good behavior? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/352 "2015-09-30T18:01:37Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Death shouldn’t be some special event that is free from all taxes. But it shouldn’t be a taxable event either. Well, which is it? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/353 "2015-09-30T18:01:41Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > The tax plan seems well thought out and on point. End the death tax. Simplify the tax code. Lower the corporate rate. Increase the debt by [10 TRILLION dollars.](http://taxfoundation.org/article/details-and-analysis-donald-trump-s-tax-plan) But at least he tells it like it is. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/354 "2015-09-30T18:11:40Z")
With most of the tax cuts going to the Job Creators. We’ve seen this movie before. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/355 "2015-09-30T18:17:09Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Voting for a buffoon is a lot more fun than voting for a stuffed-shirt, robotic, ever so careful with what he says, every word vetted by focus groups, every “opinion” closely coordinated with polls, “regular” politician. Because voting should be _fun!_ And if it isn’t entertaining, then why should people exercise their civic responsibilities? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/356 "2015-09-30T18:22:23Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Because voting should be _fun!_ And if it isn’t entertaining, then why should people exercise their civic responsibilities? I will repeat: unlike you, I don’t think my vote matters in the least. I mean not even a tiny little bit. The probability of my one vote actually changing the result of any federal election/primary is not close to zero, it _is_ zero. So why shouldn’t I at least have fun with it? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/357 "2015-09-30T18:55:17Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I will repeat: unlike you, I don’t think my vote matters in the least. I mean not even a tiny little bit. The probability of my one vote actually changing the result of any federal election/primary is not close to zero, it _is_ zero. So why shouldn’t I at least have fun with it? And this is why the GOP can’t be trusted with power right now. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/358 "2015-09-30T19:18:09Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I will repeat: unlike you, I don’t think my vote matters in the least. I mean not even a tiny little bit. The probability of my one vote actually changing the result of any federal election/primary is not close to zero, it _is_ zero. So why shouldn’t I at least have fun with it? Taken to the extreme, then nobody should vote because nobody’s vote counts. Yet somehow somebody has enough of these nothing votes to win. ---
**Author:** ![John\_D\_Adamo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@John\_D\_Adamo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_D_Adamo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/359 "2015-09-30T19:29:25Z")
Despite the media shamelessly parading the 1% NBC News poll and trying their hardest to knock Trump down, he just keeps winning. USA Today poll just released - [Trump 10% ahead of Carson.](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/09/30/suffolk-poll-republicans-trump-carson-fiorina/73035550/) I expect more attacks increasing in desperation at the next debate for sure. One thing’s for sure, Rubio/Bush are going to have to rethink their strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/360 "2015-09-30T19:30:52Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Taken to the extreme, then nobody should vote because nobody’s vote counts. Yet somehow somebody has enough of these nothing votes to win. Did I say “nobody should vote”? People should vote if they feel like it. Maybe they feel good voting for that particular candidate. Maybe because it’s fun to vote for Trump. Maybe because they can show their dedication to their boss’s favorite political cause. Maybe they’re trying to get into some very politically-oriented chick’s pants and voting together will get them laid. Maybe they have been brainwashed into thinking that their vote matters. There can be a myriad of reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=19)