(05-05-2021 04:04 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 08:53 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 10:18 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 10:04 PM)scorpius Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 05:51 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  

You can't be that stupid.

Since when is being able to read considered stupid? What I wrote above was just a quote I copied after googling a description of the organization from multiple sources. Or how about this on wikipedia:

".. is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world,[5] holding $46.9 billion in assets.[3] The primary goals of the foundation are to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty across the world, and to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology in the U.S."

What part of this is "stupid"?!

(05-04-2021 06:59 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  I did not know that being philanthropic absolved you of any unpleasant personal characteristics?

They probably do give to a lot of good causes, but they are also using that to push their social agenda beliefs. They know better than you do after all, because they have more money than you

What social agenda beliefs? Be more specific? The fact they advocate a "science-based" approach to solving problems?! Is that what you have a problem with? He is a world renowned geek after-all who built one of the greatest American corporations. Yet somehow he is evil for giving his money away to help solve the worlds problems based on science?!

Gates estimated net worth is 130 plus billion. At 47 billion (and the Gates' didn't give all of the funds in the Gates Foundation) he's simply covering his tax liability with charitable contributions that give him a lot of free publicity. The tax rate on a billion is nearly half. I'm sure Banker could tell you exactly. So he'll write off business overhead which is tremendous, get some other deductions on deferred wealth, etc, and write a nice check to the Gates' Foundation to cover the rest. And he gets to do that while his employees have no such deductions, except for executives, and they all pay taxes, and high ones at that if they live and work on the West Coast. The super rich have been doing these kinds of things for nearly 200 years here and political party has nothing to do with it.

Yep. Billionaires don't view money as consumption; they view it as power.


The Gates Foundation has a $49 billion portfolio (as of 2019). It is the largest individual shareholder of Ecolab, Waste Management, Caterpillar, Canadian National Railway, and hold large stakes in other firms like UPS and FedEx.

Who controls the votes of the Gates Foundation? Bill Gates.

In 2019, the Gates Foundation earned $8.8 billion in dividends and capital gains. That was all tax-free. About $3 billion of that was reinvested, increasing Gates' voting power.

So the Foundation allows Gates (and eventually, his children) to maintain control of large swaths of corporate America without paying taxes.

I've also read that either he or the Foundation has been buying up huge swaths of land all over the U.S., purchasing huge farms/ranches when available. One thing no one can ever really make more of, real estate.

That would be through his partner in crime's organization. He and Buffet both have been buying up large swaths of previously held private land or businesses, or homes. And Berkshire Hathaway is in the Real Estate business everywhere! No doubt the foundation would avail itself of those investments.

(05-04-2021 05:51 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  

(05-03-2021 07:53 PM)scorpius Wrote:  

(05-03-2021 07:27 PM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  Either way I don’t trust either of these creeps....

The Gates Foundation is the most important and influential philanthropic entity in the world today, and that's how you feel about them?!

You can't be that stupid.

Wanna bet?

(05-05-2021 04:12 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 04:04 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 08:53 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 10:18 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 10:04 PM)scorpius Wrote:  Since when is being able to read considered stupid? What I wrote above was just a quote I copied after googling a description of the organization from multiple sources. Or how about this on wikipedia:

".. is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world,[5] holding $46.9 billion in assets.[3] The primary goals of the foundation are to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty across the world, and to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology in the U.S."

What part of this is "stupid"?!


What social agenda beliefs? Be more specific? The fact they advocate a "science-based" approach to solving problems?! Is that what you have a problem with? He is a world renowned geek after-all who built one of the greatest American corporations. Yet somehow he is evil for giving his money away to help solve the worlds problems based on science?!

Gates estimated net worth is 130 plus billion. At 47 billion (and the Gates' didn't give all of the funds in the Gates Foundation) he's simply covering his tax liability with charitable contributions that give him a lot of free publicity. The tax rate on a billion is nearly half. I'm sure Banker could tell you exactly. So he'll write off business overhead which is tremendous, get some other deductions on deferred wealth, etc, and write a nice check to the Gates' Foundation to cover the rest. And he gets to do that while his employees have no such deductions, except for executives, and they all pay taxes, and high ones at that if they live and work on the West Coast. The super rich have been doing these kinds of things for nearly 200 years here and political party has nothing to do with it.

Yep. Billionaires don't view money as consumption; they view it as power.


The Gates Foundation has a $49 billion portfolio (as of 2019). It is the largest individual shareholder of Ecolab, Waste Management, Caterpillar, Canadian National Railway, and hold large stakes in other firms like UPS and FedEx.

Who controls the votes of the Gates Foundation? Bill Gates.

In 2019, the Gates Foundation earned $8.8 billion in dividends and capital gains. That was all tax-free. About $3 billion of that was reinvested, increasing Gates' voting power.

So the Foundation allows Gates (and eventually, his children) to maintain control of large swaths of corporate America without paying taxes.

I've also read that either he or the Foundation has been buying up huge swaths of land all over the U.S., purchasing huge farms/ranches when available. One thing no one can ever really make more of, real estate.

That would be through his partner in crime's organization. He and Buffet both have been buying up large swaths of previously held private land or businesses, or homes. And Berkshire Hathaway is in the Real Estate business everywhere! No doubt the foundation would avail itself of those investments.

Well well well. Isnt this interesting.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...Gates.html

Chinese interpreter, 36, who works for Bill and Melina Gates Foundation denies vicious rumors that she is the reason for the couple's $130B split


Whoda think it.

(05-05-2021 08:45 PM)shere khan Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 04:12 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 04:04 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 08:53 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(05-04-2021 10:18 PM)JRsec Wrote:  Gates estimated net worth is 130 plus billion. At 47 billion (and the Gates' didn't give all of the funds in the Gates Foundation) he's simply covering his tax liability with charitable contributions that give him a lot of free publicity. The tax rate on a billion is nearly half. I'm sure Banker could tell you exactly. So he'll write off business overhead which is tremendous, get some other deductions on deferred wealth, etc, and write a nice check to the Gates' Foundation to cover the rest. And he gets to do that while his employees have no such deductions, except for executives, and they all pay taxes, and high ones at that if they live and work on the West Coast. The super rich have been doing these kinds of things for nearly 200 years here and political party has nothing to do with it.

Yep. Billionaires don't view money as consumption; they view it as power.


The Gates Foundation has a $49 billion portfolio (as of 2019). It is the largest individual shareholder of Ecolab, Waste Management, Caterpillar, Canadian National Railway, and hold large stakes in other firms like UPS and FedEx.

Who controls the votes of the Gates Foundation? Bill Gates.

In 2019, the Gates Foundation earned $8.8 billion in dividends and capital gains. That was all tax-free. About $3 billion of that was reinvested, increasing Gates' voting power.

So the Foundation allows Gates (and eventually, his children) to maintain control of large swaths of corporate America without paying taxes.

I've also read that either he or the Foundation has been buying up huge swaths of land all over the U.S., purchasing huge farms/ranches when available. One thing no one can ever really make more of, real estate.

That would be through his partner in crime's organization. He and Buffet both have been buying up large swaths of previously held private land or businesses, or homes. And Berkshire Hathaway is in the Real Estate business everywhere! No doubt the foundation would avail itself of those investments.

Well well well. Isnt this interesting.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...Gates.html

Chinese interpreter, 36, who works for Bill and Melina Gates Foundation denies vicious rumors that she is the reason for the couple's $130B split


Whoda think it.

Not bad looking. Velvet Jones is a alive and well in China selling his book, "Be a Ho!". I'll still give it to Buffet though, only Becky Quick was allowed to interview him for a while. I'd say he wanted more than a cheeseburger every day. Looks like Gates wants his Egg Roll in his sushi.

(05-05-2021 09:04 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 08:45 PM)shere khan Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 04:12 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 04:04 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 08:53 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Yep. Billionaires don't view money as consumption; they view it as power.


The Gates Foundation has a $49 billion portfolio (as of 2019). It is the largest individual shareholder of Ecolab, Waste Management, Caterpillar, Canadian National Railway, and hold large stakes in other firms like UPS and FedEx.

Who controls the votes of the Gates Foundation? Bill Gates.

In 2019, the Gates Foundation earned $8.8 billion in dividends and capital gains. That was all tax-free. About $3 billion of that was reinvested, increasing Gates' voting power.

So the Foundation allows Gates (and eventually, his children) to maintain control of large swaths of corporate America without paying taxes.

I've also read that either he or the Foundation has been buying up huge swaths of land all over the U.S., purchasing huge farms/ranches when available. One thing no one can ever really make more of, real estate.

That would be through his partner in crime's organization. He and Buffet both have been buying up large swaths of previously held private land or businesses, or homes. And Berkshire Hathaway is in the Real Estate business everywhere! No doubt the foundation would avail itself of those investments.

Well well well. Isnt this interesting.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...Gates.html

Chinese interpreter, 36, who works for Bill and Melina Gates Foundation denies vicious rumors that she is the reason for the couple's $130B split


Whoda think it.

Not bad looking. Velvet Jones is a alive and well in China selling his book, "Be a Ho!". I'll still give it to Buffet though, only Becky Quick was allowed to interview him for a while. I'd say he wanted more than a cheeseburger every day. Looks like Gates wants his Egg Roll in his sushi.

Nothing to see here. Swalwell sleeps with a spy. Feinstein driver, spy. Zucks wife, McConnells wife, Hunter, well, where to start.... the list goes on and on.



All just coincidence. Small world afterall.

(05-05-2021 09:25 AM)Eagleaidaholic Wrote:  And never pay an individual dime in income tax as he doesn't receive income from the foundation. Every expense in his life comes out of the foundation. Homes, boats, meals you name it. (See Clinton Foundation) Amazing how uneducated Leftists are about $$$. Guess that's why they are Leftists.

(05-05-2021 09:33 AM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  Thank you!

Idiots think he is doing such great work giving so much money to ”charity”. They don’t realize it reduces his lifestyle exactly ZERO. He never could spend it all anyway. I do not worship nor give praise to Bill Gates. He is not an example of selflessness and thinking of others.

I remember a story from a book I once read about giving. While the rich beat their chest and proclaim to be righteous while giving a very small portion of their wealth to charity, the real righteous was the poor widow who gave all she had.

BTW, as for as Gates and his success as a businessman, no one would ever say that he was fabulously successful but why do the progressives not hate him? He could have paid his employees more, right? Why didn’t the janitors and runners and mailroom workers get rich right along with him? Why didn’t he share more of his profit with the little guy? Just wondering how you progressives choose your heroes.

Sounds like the issue with Gates isn't so much his political leanings as much as the fact he can avoid taxes. Right? If I'm wrong, tell me. But that's what just about everyone is complaining about. Which is ironic given the fact Biden wants to crack down on this.

Trump let go of almost all tax enforcement on the rich. So it's predicted up to $7 trillion over the next decade will not be collected. Biden plans to hire back all those IRS agents and claw trillions of this back. This is a positive right? I mean given all your hatred for Bill Gates and how the rich don't pay taxes right?

It's just so ironic how brainwashed some supposed conservatives are, they don't realize how truly liberal they are when they start talking about specific issues.

Do you not realize the reason the rich can avoid taxes so easily is because that's the #1 priority for the Republican party? Everything else is a side show to that. If you truly are upset about the rich taking advantage of us, WHY do you vote for a party that enables this happen?!

Because you fear "socialism"?! What is socialism to you? Just something "evil"? Social security is evil? Medicare is evil? Universal healthcare is evil? Ending poverty is evil? Civil rights is evil? DEMOCRACY is evil?! SERIOUSLY?! This is what you have been brainwashed to believe. Enough is enough. You only have yourselves to blame for why there is so much unjust unreasonable inequality in this country.

(05-06-2021 01:34 AM)scorpius Wrote:  What is socialism to you? Just something "evil"? Social security is evil? Medicare is evil? Universal healthcare is evil? Ending poverty is evil? Civil rights is evil? DEMOCRACY is evil?! SERIOUSLY?! This is what you have been brainwashed to believe. Enough is enough. You only have yourselves to blame for why there is so much unjust unreasonable inequality in this country.

Socialism is gov’t-sponsored theft, with a proven track record of eventually impoverishing everyone other than those in charge.

Socialism is a society that justifies itself primarily on envy.

Socialism punishes success and rewards failure - - so long as the countless masses of failed humans willingly line up like compliant sheep to get their rationed handouts.

Socialism is the false prophet of the ignorant - - of which you, scorpius, seem strangely eager to prove.

What a sad little man (or woman) (or whatever) you insist on presenting yourself to be on this forum. I wish I thought it only an act of trolling, and that you are not truly this ignorant in your daily life.

(05-06-2021 01:34 AM)scorpius Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 09:25 AM)Eagleaidaholic Wrote:  And never pay an individual dime in income tax as he doesn't receive income from the foundation. Every expense in his life comes out of the foundation. Homes, boats, meals you name it. (See Clinton Foundation) Amazing how uneducated Leftists are about $$$. Guess that's why they are Leftists.

(05-05-2021 09:33 AM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  Thank you!

Idiots think he is doing such great work giving so much money to ”charity”. They don’t realize it reduces his lifestyle exactly ZERO. He never could spend it all anyway. I do not worship nor give praise to Bill Gates. He is not an example of selflessness and thinking of others.

I remember a story from a book I once read about giving. While the rich beat their chest and proclaim to be righteous while giving a very small portion of their wealth to charity, the real righteous was the poor widow who gave all she had.

BTW, as for as Gates and his success as a businessman, no one would ever say that he was fabulously successful but why do the progressives not hate him? He could have paid his employees more, right? Why didn’t the janitors and runners and mailroom workers get rich right along with him? Why didn’t he share more of his profit with the little guy? Just wondering how you progressives choose your heroes.

Sounds like the issue with Gates isn't so much his political leanings as much as the fact he can avoid taxes. Right? If I'm wrong, tell me. But that's what just about everyone is complaining about. Which is ironic given the fact Biden wants to crack down on this.

Trump let go of almost all tax enforcement on the rich. So it's predicted up to $7 trillion over the next decade will not be collected. Biden plans to hire back all those IRS agents and claw trillions of this back. This is a positive right? I mean given all your hatred for Bill Gates and how the rich don't pay taxes right?

It's just so ironic how brainwashed some supposed conservatives are, they don't realize how truly liberal they are when they start talking about specific issues.

Do you not realize the reason the rich can avoid taxes so easily is because that's the #1 priority for the Republican party? Everything else is a side show to that. If you truly are upset about the rich taking advantage of us, WHY do you vote for a party that enables this happen?!

Because you fear "socialism"?! What is socialism to you? Just something "evil"? Social security is evil? Medicare is evil? Universal healthcare is evil? Ending poverty is evil? Civil rights is evil? DEMOCRACY is evil?! SERIOUSLY?! This is what you have been brainwashed to believe. Enough is enough. You only have yourselves to blame for why there is so much unjust unreasonable inequality in this country.

We found the first to bend the knee.

There will always be inequality.

(05-06-2021 01:34 AM)scorpius Wrote:  Sounds like the issue with Gates isn't so much his political leanings as much as the fact he can avoid taxes. Right? If I'm wrong, tell me. But that's what just about everyone is complaining about. Which is ironic given the fact Biden wants to crack down on this.

You're wrong. As usual.

And noting Biden is doing will crack down on Gates.

Quote:Trump let go of almost all tax enforcement on the rich. So it's predicted up to $7 trillion over the next decade will not be collected. Biden plans to hire back all those IRS agents and claw trillions of this back. This is a positive right? I mean given all your hatred for Bill Gates and how the rich don't pay taxes right?
It's just so ironic how brainwashed some supposed conservatives are, they don't realize how truly liberal they are when they start talking about specific issues.
Do you not realize the reason the rich can avoid taxes so easily is because that's the #1 priority for the Republican party? Everything else is a side show to that. If you truly are upset about the rich taking advantage of us, WHY do you vote for a party that enables this happen?!

The reason the "rich" can avoid USA taxes so easily is the other countries do not have such a "stick it to the rich" tax philosophy, and they can easily move income to lower tax jurisdictions. And unlike 50-60-70 years ago, there is now a proliferation of such lower tax jurisdictions. Before Trump, every single other developed country in the world was a lower tax jurisdiction for corporations. With Biden's proposed tax increases, that would again become the case.

Quote:Because you fear "socialism"?! What is socialism to you? Just something "evil"? Social security is evil? Medicare is evil? Universal healthcare is evil? Ending poverty is evil? Civil rights is evil? DEMOCRACY is evil?! SERIOUSLY?! This is what you have been brainwashed to believe. Enough is enough. You only have yourselves to blame for why there is so much unjust unreasonable inequality in this country.

I don't fear socialism, I loathe it. Socialism is different from capitalism with a safety net. Western Europe is capitalism with a safety net. Socialism is Venezuela. The difference between socialism and capitalism with a safety net comes when the effort to redistribute income and wealth becomes the primary objective.

(05-06-2021 01:34 AM)scorpius Wrote:  

(05-05-2021 09:25 AM)Eagleaidaholic Wrote:  And never pay an individual dime in income tax as he doesn't receive income from the foundation. Every expense in his life comes out of the foundation. Homes, boats, meals you name it. (See Clinton Foundation) Amazing how uneducated Leftists are about $$$. Guess that's why they are Leftists.

(05-05-2021 09:33 AM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  Thank you!

Idiots think he is doing such great work giving so much money to ”charity”. They don’t realize it reduces his lifestyle exactly ZERO. He never could spend it all anyway. I do not worship nor give praise to Bill Gates. He is not an example of selflessness and thinking of others.

I remember a story from a book I once read about giving. While the rich beat their chest and proclaim to be righteous while giving a very small portion of their wealth to charity, the real righteous was the poor widow who gave all she had.

BTW, as for as Gates and his success as a businessman, no one would ever say that he was fabulously successful but why do the progressives not hate him? He could have paid his employees more, right? Why didn’t the janitors and runners and mailroom workers get rich right along with him? Why didn’t he share more of his profit with the little guy? Just wondering how you progressives choose your heroes.

Sounds like the issue with Gates isn't so much his political leanings as much as the fact he can avoid taxes. Right? If I'm wrong, tell me. But that's what just about everyone is complaining about. Which is ironic given the fact Biden wants to crack down on this.

Trump let go of almost all tax enforcement on the rich. So it's predicted up to $7 trillion over the next decade will not be collected. Biden plans to hire back all those IRS agents and claw trillions of this back. This is a positive right? I mean given all your hatred for Bill Gates and how the rich don't pay taxes right?

It's just so ironic how brainwashed some supposed conservatives are, they don't realize how truly liberal they are when they start talking about specific issues.

Do you not realize the reason the rich can avoid taxes so easily is because that's the #1 priority for the Republican party? Everything else is a side show to that. If you truly are upset about the rich taking advantage of us, WHY do you vote for a party that enables this happen?!

Because you fear "socialism"?! What is socialism to you? Just something "evil"? Social security is evil? Medicare is evil? Universal healthcare is evil? Ending poverty is evil? Civil rights is evil? DEMOCRACY is evil?! SERIOUSLY?! This is what you have been brainwashed to believe. Enough is enough. You only have yourselves to blame for why there is so much unjust unreasonable inequality in this country.

You obviously do not know how much a trillion dollars is. Therefore you should be ignored as an ignorant fool.

Quote:According to The Daily Beast, in September 2013 billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda allegedly met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in New York City, prompting anger from Melinda, who reportedly told her husband she was furious and uncomfortable with his association with Epstein.

That meeting allegedly occurred on the same day the couple accepted the Lasker Bloomberg Public Service Award at the Pierre Hotel.

That was reportedly not the first time Gates had met Epstein; the Daily Beast pointed out: “As The New York Times reported, starting in 2011, Gates met with Epstein on numerous occasions. This was three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl in Florida; by then, accusations that Epstein exploited girls and young women were widely reported in the press.”

The Times also noted that Gates had met Epstein at various times between 2011 to 2013 and Epstein attempted to solicit donations for a charitable fund. “In 2013, Gates also took a ride on Epstein’s private jet (christened by tabloids as the Lolita Express), from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Palm Beach, Florida, according to flight records reviewed by the Times,” The Daily Beast added.

CNBC reported in 2019, “Epstein’s discussions with Gates included at least one meeting, which took place in New York in 2013, while Gates was still Microsoft’s chairman.”

Gates said in 2019, “I met him. I didn’t have any business relationship or friendship with him. I didn’t go to New Mexico or Florida or Palm Beach or any of that. There were people around him who were saying, ‘Hey, if you want to raise money for global health and get more philanthropy, he knows a lot of rich people.’ Every meeting where I was with him were meetings with men. I was never at any parties or anything like that. He never donated any money to anything that I know about.”

“Gates’ friendship with Epstein—who for years was accused of molesting scores of underage girls—still haunts Melinda, according to friends of the couple who spoke to The Daily Beast,” The Daily Beast added.

According to the Times, Boris Nikolic, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and a “former adviser to Gates who was mysteriously named a backup executor in Epstein’s last will and testament,” acted as an intermediary between Gates and Epstein; the Times also named Melanie Walker, “who worked at the Gates foundation and served as a science advisor to Epstein.”

“A person close to Walker told The Daily Beast she did not attend nor help set up any meetings between Gates and Epstein. Nikolic did not return multiple requests for comment,” The Daily Beast reported.

The Daily Beast quoted an “associate in the technology world who’s attended the same events as Epstein” saying, “If you ask Bill Gates, he’ll say, ‘Oh I had absolutely no idea he wasn’t up to anything of the highest moral character.’ But I seriously doubted Epstein’s moral character.” The “associate” added of Melinda’s reported dislike of Epstein that Epstein’s photos of former President Bill Clinton and the Pope were “really obnoxious, especially if you’re somebody like Melinda and hanging around with heads of state anyway. Then to have someone do this endless name-dropping…”

Gates reportedly emailed the Gates Foundation staff after first meeting Epstein, “His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing although it would not work for me.” Gates’ spokeswoman explained the email by attesting he “was referring only to the unique decor” and “Epstein’s habit of spontaneously bringing acquaintances in to meet Mr. Gates.”

The New Yorker reported that Epstein helped set up Gates’ $2 million donation to the lab, writing, “Epstein appeared to serve as an intermediary between the lab and other wealthy donors, soliciting millions of dollars in donations from individuals and organizations, including the technologist and philanthropist Bill Gates and the investor Leon Black. According to the records obtained by The New Yorker and accounts from current and former faculty and staff of the media lab, Epstein was credited with securing at least $7.5 million in donations for the lab, including two million dollars from Gates and $5.5 million from Black, gifts the e-mails describe as ‘directed’ by Epstein or made at his behest.”

Link

(05-06-2021 07:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I don't fear socialism, I loathe it. Socialism is different from capitalism with a safety net. Western Europe is capitalism with a safety net. Socialism is Venezuela. The difference between socialism and capitalism with a safety net comes when the effort to redistribute income and wealth becomes the primary objective.

Problem is the modern Republican party views "capitalism with a safety net" as SOCIALISM!!! They don't even want the safety net! I completely agree with your statement that when the effort to redistribute income and wealth is the primary objective it's socialism. But we are no where near that yet (broadly speaking) as long as there is so much poverty and so many without access to basic healthcare in this country.

But that doesn't hide the fact there are narrow isolated examples that are so extreme, I even consider to be socialism, such as

1) Universal free college and/or paying off student debt. The system needs reformed, but that's not the way to do it. Government sponsored scholarships to only the brightest 10% is reasonable.

2) Just about any kind of entitlement to anyone here illegally (except ER) I'd consider socialism.

3) Food stamps. Sure, anyone in poverty should have a universal basic right to food, but that doesn't mean it has to be anything more than meal shakes. (Yes, I'm serious) Anything above a soup kitchen (quite literally) is socialism in my opinion. Only time anyone should be "entitled" to cash for food is if a doctor states they are malnourished, have the test results to prove it and it's obviously due to not being able to easily make use of the shakes or soup kitchens. When those in "poverty" are usually the fattest, you KNOW there is a socialist problem when it comes to food.

Those are the 3 big ones that should prove I'm indeed a moderate.

I too tend to be onboard with capitalism plus a safety net. My concern with the republicans is that they are letting pass the opportunities to take conservative approaches to the safety net (Bismarck, Friedman, Boortz, and Linder would all clearly be considered conservatives by almost any reckoning) and as a result they are conceding the field to the socialist/communist wing of the democrats. It would be nice if there were some truly moderate democrats to hold the line, but they have either disappeared or capitulated.

(05-06-2021 01:34 AM)scorpius Wrote:  Do you not realize the reason the rich can avoid taxes so easily is because that's the #1 priority for the Republican party? Everything else is a side show to that. If you truly are upset about the rich taking advantage of us, WHY do you vote for a party that enables this happen?!

I didn't even have to look to know you're from Memphis...wow.

This is one of the most intellectually dishonest posts I've seen here. That or you are willfully ignorant.

I'm going to let this stew for a bit. You may see this statement again as it might find it's way into the Hall of Fame (See my signature)

(05-07-2021 11:10 PM)scorpius Wrote:  I completely agree with your statement that when the effort to redistribute income and wealth is the primary objective it's socialism. But we are no where near that yet (broadly speaking) as long as there is so much poverty and so many without access to basic healthcare in this country.

But here's the thing. Socialism always comes under the guise of eliminating poverty. But where has it actually succeeded in doing so? In fact, where has it failed to make poverty worse?

And as far as your assertion that we are nowhere near that, we have one party (democrats) that are currently doing everything they can to reduce or eliminate that distance. They are trying to foist upon the USA a set of policies that will assure that the welfare plantation keeps the poor, particularly the poor of color, locked in poverty for generations. "Keep 'em dumb, keep 'em poor, keep 'em dependent on handouts, and you will keep 'em voting democrat for generations." That's what I mean when I say that democrats are the evil party.

And republicans are too busy blabbering about abortion and gay rights and stolen elections (that may or may not have been stolen, but proving such is almost impossible once the ballots are in the box) to provide real, tangible opposition. Here's where I get angry with republicans. After November 2020, the two most important and immediate concerns should have been to defend the two Georgia senate seats that went to runoffs. Everything they did should have been focused on keeping at least one (and preferably both) of those seats. Instead, they did just about everything they could to lose them, and in fact did lose them. That's what I mean when I say that republicans are the stupid party.

Stupid party versus evil party. Oh joy.

(05-06-2021 01:34 AM)scorpius Wrote:  Do you not realize the reason the rich can avoid taxes so easily is because that's the #1 priority for the Republican party? Everything else is a side show to that. If you truly are upset about the rich taking advantage of us, WHY do you vote for a party that enables this happen?!

Umm, don't look now, but the party that enables this to happen is the democrats. Democrats invented the welfare plantation, and are determined to keep it in place.

And on the other end of the spectrum, as far as the "rich" taking advantage of us, who put in place all the policies that enable that?

The rich may indeed take advantage of us but give the politicians a chance to take advantage of us and the misery is exponentially increased. The rich get that way in most cases by providing goods and services that people want. Politicians get rich by stealing other people’s stuff. Which you prefer?

(05-08-2021 07:21 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Stupid party versus evil party. Oh joy.

Both parties are stupid and evil in certain ways for different reasons. Since there are issues on both sides I agree and disagree with, for me it has and always will boil down to democratic stability. Principles like the separation of church and state provide the very foundation to our democracy. That was the very reason why "pilgrims" came here in the first place. But arguably, even more fundamental to that, is the basic right to vote and have it counted equally. The "We" in "We the People" is not truly "We" if it does not apply to all of us equally. And when it fails to do so, our democracy is at risk.

(05-08-2021 10:25 PM)scorpius Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 07:21 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Stupid party versus evil party. Oh joy.

Both parties are stupid and evil in certain ways for different reasons. Since there are issues on both sides I agree and disagree with, for me it has and always will boil down to democratic stability. Principles like the separation of church and state provide the very foundation to our democracy. That was the very reason why "pilgrims" came here in the first place. But arguably, even more fundamental to that, is the basic right to vote and have it counted equally. The "We" in "We the People" is not truly "We" if it does not apply to all of us equally. And when it fails to do so, our democracy is at risk.

Which is exactly the reason voting should be done in person with an ID. Where it is absolutely necessary for someone to vote by mail it should be done in a manner that minimizes the possibility of fraud. What we had in the last election was total chaos. If you don’t understand that you can’t understand “we the people”. Elections should be done in a way that each side of the political spectrum is satisfied it was done above board. Sending out ballots to every address in the country and then allowing ballot harvesting is totally absurd.

(05-08-2021 10:52 PM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 10:25 PM)scorpius Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 07:21 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Stupid party versus evil party. Oh joy.

Both parties are stupid and evil in certain ways for different reasons. Since there are issues on both sides I agree and disagree with, for me it has and always will boil down to democratic stability. Principles like the separation of church and state provide the very foundation to our democracy. That was the very reason why "pilgrims" came here in the first place. But arguably, even more fundamental to that, is the basic right to vote and have it counted equally. The "We" in "We the People" is not truly "We" if it does not apply to all of us equally. And when it fails to do so, our democracy is at risk.

Which is exactly the reason voting should be done in person with an ID. Where it is absolutely necessary for someone to vote by mail it should be done in a manner that minimizes the possibility of fraud. What we had in the last election was total chaos. If you don’t understand that you can’t understand “we the people”. Elections should be done in a way that each side of the political spectrum is satisfied it was done above board. Sending out ballots to every address in the country and then allowing ballot harvesting is totally absurd.

This should be a “checkmate” post, if we were following basic rules of logic.

Do you agree, scorpius? Or are you instead going to follow the progressive playbook of pretzel logic and pretend that the left’s perverting of free and fair elections is somehow justified?