Why are the rich so staunchly defended on YA?

Question

One can cite the vast disparity of wealth in the U.S. (the greatest since the Great Depression). One can point out the positive economic effects of a progressive tax structure, comparing the U.S. economy over the past 8 years to the economy under the Clinton or Eisenhower administration. One can make the argument that the economic and material well being of the poor and middle classes bear directly on the health of the economy as a whole, or any number of other cogent arguments and the responses are always the same: a never ending barrage of the same Milton Friedman, supply side, trickle down, free market b.s. that has taken the U.S. to the brink of another Great Depression with a smattering of fear mongering about what the powerful rich will do to the powerless poor and middle classes if we dare to raise their taxes, as if the rich haven't already moved all our manufacturing overseas and created a slave labor class in the U.S. Who are these YA respodents? Rich people? Sycophants?

Answer 1

That is a big problem...the wealth disparity in this country is growing, and the middle class could soon very well be the poor class.  I understand what rich people do with their money...they invest it.  But what percent of their investments are even in America?  There is no confidence in the USD right now...rich people want to make more money, if that means going overseas with their dollars to do it, they will.  That's the problem I have with McCain's tax policy...it will just continue to make the middle class, the most vital class in the economy, to fall further behind.  The economy will continue to slump if the 20-45,000 income homes continue to do so, too.

Answer 2

You sound angry to me too.  I can guarantee you that the wealthy pay a higher percentage of taxes than the middle or lower classes...after all, my friend....it wasn't the wealthy who objected to a flat tax, it was the lower classes.  

I know a lot of upper class folks that would love a flat tax...it just is not factual that the wealthy pay a lower percentage of taxes than others.  They wish!! c.

Answer 3

I think it's because the Republicans/ Conservatives on here who aren't rich are hoping that IF the rich ever take over the country (like they haven't already) those Republicans/ Conservatives who aren't rich will be made their lap-dogs and be fed table scraps. They'll be GOPuppets even more than they are now.

Answer 4

I believe that there are two possibilities for why the rich are so staunchly defended here. Possible, but less likely is that there is a concerted, organized effort on the part of the conservatives to influence public opinion using public forums such as this one. (Why not? They seem to have everything covered on TV, radio, supermarket, etc.)

More probable, however, is that the non-rich have allowed themselves to become convinced to support policies that are simply NOT in their best interests. Thomas Frank wrote a clear-headed article on this subject in the April, 2004 issue of Harper's, which might interest you if you can get hold of it. The word 'liberal' is  treated as if it were worse than a swear in the media all the time, to say nothing of the term 'socialist', and many who are neither liberal nor socialist are qualified as such solely in order to discredit them. And regular, salt-of-the-earth working stiffs fall for it!

Labour, said an ordinary observer (who today would be classified as a wise man), is the basis of all wealth. Too bad the labourer has forgotten that, and is not only willing to work three jobs at minimum only to see his house foreclosed on after a winter of paying through-the-roof prices for heat while the oil companies make record profits, and the owners of the chains where (s)he works retire to bathe in one of their swimming pools at one of the estates they'll be leaving their spoiled and pampered offspring (who often achieve fame and glory by doing absolutely nothing of merit), but actually supports the system that made it happen.

Answer 5

I honestly think that it is an ism....racism...sexism...richism...becau... the only reason you don't like them is because they are rich.  That seems discriminatory to me...I am serious.  jmo.

Answer 6

You sound bitter.  Without the rich to hand over so much to the social programs that the "labor challenged" live off...who would pay....you...

We are the ONLY country that rewards laziness and lack of incentive...I don't see where the "rich" are rewarded for anything...I wish you could tell me and my accountant about all those breaks I get. thanks.

Answer 7

disparity of wealth?  it is the American dream that one can achieve wealth with hard work and dedication.  why do liberal decry wealth when the majority of them have accumulated their fortunes with talent and abilities that all hope to achieve.

the wealthy make considerable donations in their 'give back' attitudes but some begin to feel guilty by their accumulation of wealth.

i am not for 'redistribution' of money in America.  why should the poor be rewarded for chosing to learn no skills and to drop out of the education process.

here in America, a pumber can make more than a Doctor...he just has to learn his skill and start his own business, why should he be penalized for his ability to proved for himself and achieve what we all hope to attain.

in America, all are offer an education, skills can be learn in high school, vo-tech schools, etc, and student loans and grants are avaible based on income.

your purposals would tax and penalize those who have worked hard....why.

would you have us become another EU were so many are on the 'dole' that they are facing economic crisis...i don't.

if the government become Robin Hood you will see businesses flee oversears to a more friendly tax benefits and jobs would disappear quickly with them.  we have already seen this since unions made unrealistic demands for workers.  there should have been a meeting in the middle.

many buinseess run on a very slim profit margin.  the small business own makes up the majority of jobs in the USA.  this would make many go out of business.

it is complex but penalizing the 'evil' rich, and i am not one of them, is not the solution.

Answer 8

Is it a crime to be rich?  I'm not rich, but one day I hope to become so, and I'd like to know that right is still protected if and when I get there.  Wasn't it the American dream for one to acquire their own wealth and live a free life?  What happened to that?  Do we romanticize the dreamers when they are in the lower or middle class, and then treat them with scorn when they achieve that objective?

Answer 9

I asked the same question once of a very hard working but very poor woman who was a devout Republican.  She said she supported Republicans because if she ever became rich, she wanted to be able to keep it.

She makes her living caring for two elderly men who live on social security, a government program.

She never got rich.

For some people the hope that they will be rich, and then can be greedy about it, is the highest aspiration they have.

Thats sad.