That old canard.

[meus_ovatio]

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:

Comments

[underlankers]

Ah, but you see, the poor having enough to live on is evil socialism and un-American. Poor people eating cat food is real American values. Rich people making megabucks while poor people eat catfood? Well, if it was good enough for J.P. Morgan it's good enough for the Religious Right.

[404]

Let them eat Cheetos.

[kylinrouge]

Whenever I hear stuff about simplifying the tax code, it's like an easy way of well, not doing anything. Where are the bills in Congress that propose this measure? I don't follow Congress, just popular news feeds like Reddit or whatever, but it would be a big enough deal to be in the news if this was going on.

It just seems like all talk to me. They will discuss a million ways to do it but never implement anything.

Whereas, adjusting % numbers on tax rates is an instant job. Done. That's why they go for the tax code stuff, because they can obscure their real agenda much easier in the bureaucratic stasis.

[anosognosia]

Yes, raising the rate of the tax people aren't paying sounds like a no brainer.

[anosognosia]

The taxpayers footing the bill?

Er, this borrowed and printed money actually, so that needs a correction:

The children, grand-children and great-grand children of the taxpayers?

Aw, fuck em, they can't vote right now anyway.

[anosognosia]

"ceo's and shareholders are taxpayers too."

Haha, good point! Let's not worry about the tax burden created by irresponsible economic policies, those benefiting from the policies are taxpayers too! Brilliant!

"but what? you're worried about your kids and grandkids now after you've already dumped $14 trillion and growing debt on them?"

Nope, the future for my descendants is looking great. Relatively sober economic policies ftw.

[ccr1138]

Taxpayers have a right to control the pay of those in their employ (public sector). The market controls the pay of private sector workers, and the government should have no say. Is executive pay obscene? Yes. Is it the government's business? No. We should simply reform the tax code to make sure they pay their fair share, which they are not doing now.

[meus_ovatio]

People have a right to control compensation of public sector employees within an ascribed set of rights-based boundaries, yes. It would be illegal for the voting populace to decide to pay government workers less than minimum wage, for instance. The current Wisconsin controversy is about whether or not private individuals retain their private rights of bargaining when working for the government.

It is an important question: do you have rights based only on whom you happen to work for?

[meus_ovatio]

I mean, honestly, I don't think that you believe that people's rights are subject to popular determination, correct?

[ccr1138]

Um, no.

Are you saying it's a fundamental RIGHT to get paid whatever you want?