Comments | talk_politics: That old canard.

meus_ovatio in talk_politics

That old canard.

Apr 13, 2011 16:55

A random article became interesting because of the recent Wisconsin fight over public-sector compensation. UnitedHealth CEO makes 48.8 million.

This article sparks many interesting questions. They are:
( INTERESTING QUESTIONS FOR REAL! )

fraud, corporations, finance, tea party

Comments 99

anosognosia April 13 2011, 21:57:47 UTC

You try to keep a solid gold house on less than 40 million, I dare you.

meus_ovatio April 13 2011, 22:10:00 UTC

I don't even really care about the level of wealth involved at this point. Just raise taxes 2 or 3 percent or some measly figure, FFS.

anosognosia April 13 2011, 22:14:45 UTC

On corporations or on the upper tax bracket?

How about simplify the tax code and stop giving bankrupt companies public money they use to award bonuses?

meus_ovatio April 13 2011, 22:17:32 UTC

The upper income tax bracket. That way we won't get confused (quit laughing!) between executive compensation and corporate revenues.

How about simplify the tax code and stop giving bankrupt companies public money they use to award bonuses?
I'm just looking for a symbolic, moral victory here. I've given up on actually changing anything.

Thread 35

fizzyland April 13 2011, 22:09:33 UTC

The peasants are revolting!

/no, really they are

telemann April 13 2011, 22:10:05 UTC

They stink on ice :P

LOVE Mel Brooks ;)

pastorlenny April 13 2011, 22:13:54 UTC

It's half as much as he made in 2009. I think he is bearing a disproportionate share of the sacrifices we must all make.

meus_ovatio April 13 2011, 22:27:09 UTC

Yes, it is quite a terrible sacrifice to have to choose when and how you exercise your stock options.

fizzyland April 13 2011, 22:43:05 UTC

Today's skill-testing question: What is half of TooGodDamnMuch?

meus_ovatio April 13 2011, 22:44:45 UTC

Like I said earlier, this isn't so much about TooGodDamnMuch, it's about tax policy. They can make as much as they want, as long as they pay the piper. This is about a marginal difference in taxation, that's all. That is why it is so frustrating. Who knew that communism was now the act of raising taxes? I guess every government that ever existed is now a communist one.

Thread 6

telemann April 13 2011, 22:16:03 UTC

G.E. CEO makes a lot less for doing a lot more (as I'm sure he would say). But then his company didn't pay any domestic income taxes either. It's hard work slashing U.S. jobs after getting tax credits to create them!

meus_ovatio April 13 2011, 22:19:00 UTC

It's much harder to make money when you're in the business of making actual things. Insurance is just paper and services. Lots and lots and lots of paper, which you get to charge for. When you're selling nothing, you can price everything. It's called the middle-man way.

nevermind6794 April 14 2011, 06:03:05 UTC

To be fair, that's because they took massive losses the past couple of years. I don't think that's a good example.

In general, corporations really should be paying more taxes though.

fizzyland April 13 2011, 22:21:10 UTC

"Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes?

Yeah, me neither."