Vice President Joe Biden has regularly caused uproars with his off-the-cuff remarks and serial gaffs. However, his most interesting remarks are not gaffs but clear statements of his views on some subjects. This is particularly evident on issues of taxes. Biden has called previously for the redistribution of wealth and called higher taxes an act of patriotism. For many, he epitomizes the image of a tax-based liberal and this week he seems intent of ratcheting up that image. At a Black History Month event at his official residence, Biden called for a new “emancipation:” freeing money from the rich.
Biden told the group that “A lot of wealthy white and black people aren’t bad but they control 1 percent of the economy and this cannot stand . . . It’s not fair because the business experts are saying that concentration of wealth is stunting growth. So let’s do something that’s worthy of emancipation.”
Freeing the wealth of some of their money, Biden suggests, would help them as individuals: “What happened is not only did we move toward freeing black Americans but also the conscience of white Americans.”
Biden’s continued commitment to the idea of redistribution of wealth stands in contrast to the White House talking points. Many have argued that the White House is committed to redistribution through higher taxes. However, the White House has been careful to justify tax increases on specific program support. There is a conceptual difference (even if not much of a practical difference) in higher taxes for social welfare programs and higher taxes to redistribute wealth. The goal in the first case is improving the social net while the goal in the latter case is to achieve greater wealth equity.
The United States has never embraced the notion of wealth distribution as a primary goal, or even a secondary goal, of tax policy. Moreover, top earners probably disagree that they are in need of moral rehabilitation through taxation. The top one percent of earners in this country already pay a high percentage of taxes collected by the state and federal governments (though some question the fairness of this comparison). Many of us are concerned about the growing wealth disparity in this country and the world, including myself. I have written regularly about the widening gap. However, I am also leery of politicians who start to speak of taxes to redistribute wealth — particularly as a form of moral improvement.
Source: USA Today
These lobbyists make millions of dollars just being prostitutes. It’s time for a revolution.
Sandi, I the 1960’s I think the figure is ~20% of people in Congress went on to become lobbyists after leaving Congress. Now the figure is over 70%. A good book to help you understand the current culture of DC is This Town. It is fascinating and disgusting seeing how DC has become the richest city in the US. A city whose wealth is predicated on taking money from people who work, and redistributing to the wealthy and lazy.
Well, as for me, I worked from the time I was 15 until I was 60. I had many years in my profession, nursing, that was very fulfilling and I am proud that I lasted for 35 years in a profession some folks wouldn’t last a week in. My kids used to brag about their mom the nurse and would tell their friends some of the more lighthearted stories I would tell them about my patients. I’ve seen some unhappy, ill people who were abandoned by their families in the greatest time of need. I am so incredibly proud of my four children who grew up to be responsible, kind, wonderful caring people. One of my proudest moments was when I turned 50, my four adult kids took me to Hawaii. Happy is the person who has good children, nothing could match that happiness in life, except maybe grandchildren.
Sandi Hemming said…
I’d like to see a report on how much all politicians had before office and how much when they leave.
Me too. It’d be hilarious to say the least.
Nick Spinelli said…
Aridog, Great tribute for a man who works for a living…
Dwight is a man I respect and would do anything for if he asked. As he would me. It is mutual.
“Most millionaires are self-made . . .”
Way to completely disqualify yourself from anything like reasoned debate!
How much is “ole Joe” worth? Or where does he shelter his money? The attitude that you’d be rich if I wasn’t is just plain dumb! Some have trust funds (the Kennedy’s, earned by Joe, is still sending monthly checks to the whole clan).nif it wasn’t for Joe Kennedy, the whole bunch would probably need food stamps!
Most millionaires are self-made, which is where it all starts. I’d like to see a report on how much all politicians had before office and how much when they leave. I keep hearing you don’t get rich being in Congress. Baloney! I believe the Clinton’s probably weren’t worth much when they got to DC, but they were never broke! They just didn’t want to take any from off-shore accounts.
Some people have to bail their adult children out of financial troubles, time after time. I taught my children how to save their wages, how to spend wisely, how not to get into debt. I’m very proud my kids never had to come to me to bail them out of trouble. For a single mother I managed to help pay for my kids college tuition, they worked hard throughout college too.my kids have helped me out when I became very ill, no one could ask for better children.
David, Private businesses hire investigators to investigate fraud. The govt., particularly SS, do little investigation of fraud. It is rampant. But, even for people who are legit, and most folks are legit, doing some volunteer work would be good for them. Kudos for the help you give people. I don’t care how disabled someone is, there’s something they can do. Get them out of their house, apartment, and connected to people. Giving people an opportunity to gain some self esteem is what religion is all about. I see the venom thrown @ you. It makes me cringe, David.
There are people in professions that work very hard, there are other professions in which one can sit on their fat derrière and eat Cheetos. Hard work, lol.
Ignorance is sad. IF people are truly disabled they are be unable to work. Why would a 62 year old not be working if that person is able to? I think the worst slackers are the first ones to disparage those who are truly disabled. Some people perhaps were denied for SSDI because they were truly NOT disabled and couldn’t pass the stringent requirements and documentation.
SS Disability, w/ the accompanying Medicare, has soared under Obama. So, you gotta feed the beast. I have no doubt I could have qualified for disability. But, I was taught to work for a living. You suck it up, and work. That was the way most everyone thought, until the gravy train started. The thing is, people who are able to work, but collect govt. money, are usually profoundly unhappy people. Work is good for the soul. It makes you feel worthwhile. We should make people who get govt. money do work w/ the disabled, elderly, veterans, etc.
Nick Spinelli wrote: “The thing is, people who are able to work, but collect govt. money, are usually profoundly unhappy people. Work is good for the soul. It makes you feel worthwhile. We should make people who get govt. money do work w/ the disabled, elderly, veterans, etc.”
Bingo! You are absolutely right.
A lot of them have mental issues and can’t work steady on their own. But if they had someone come by to pick them up for work, or brought them work to their home or on the computer, and held their hand, they could work just fine. Then others are just flat out lazy and need the work condition to motivate them to work. Then some just need the chance. I’ve had people volunteer work for me that were on disability. They would work 20 or 30 hours a week for me and loved it. It made them feel good about themselves. I even printed up business cards for them (they were working for the Homeless Network, getting people involved in helping the poor). It gave them a great feeling of self worth. Why isn’t the government giving them this kind of opportunity instead of just handing out free money?
Darren Smith
The idea of distributing wealth from the one class to the other classes seems to always involve the middleman of the government: which then takes it all.
Yes, and maybe if we repealed the a16th and 17th amendment we would get a more representative government in line with our problems and we could tax according to the states needs instead of federal. This would be a gradient change like the change on interest during Reagan’s time on Credit Cards.
That is, the States could figure out their own income taxes according to their needs and not have the Federal Government Collect it. There could still Be a Federal Social Security Program and the Monies could go to the Government via the State. Kind of more pro active hands on.
Insofar as redistributing wealth accept for the retired and very needy I don’t think that is necessary
It’s just an Idea any better ones are welcome 😉
That’s why it sticks.
Name dropping is tacky.
We all know he is just Biden’n his time, and because of him we now also learn that no amount of progressive taxation can be too progressive for a fascist.
The upside to the farcical experience of Joe Biden is we now have less than two years remaining to endure the dullard plagiarist.
on 1, February 26, 2015 at 1:19 pmJim22
Inga (Annie) – “No disability checks or social security for all the moochers! No siree! Make ‘em work until they fall down dead,”
Sounds like a good plan. I’ve been living that way for my whole adult life.
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on 1, February 26, 2015 at 2:59 pmJim22
Inga (Annie) – “Jim,
Well if that’s how you really feel, tell your elderly parents that you’ll take care of them and that they should refuse their SS and Medicare. Put your principles where your mouth is, so to speak.”
Nope, forced into paying into those redistribution schemes so I have no problem taking from them. So let’s see, I work my whole adult life and get property stolen from me every paycheck and then you want me to forfeit what was stolen from me so that people who were lazy and lived off of others can have it. Try again.
*************************
Here you go. In black and white.
“You make no logical sense. Try again.”
The perpetual reading on her Magic 8 Ball.
Annie, How am I speaking out of both sides of my mouth? You make no logical sense. Try again.
Dare any of us denounce Biden as unpatriotic?