18 CEOs Called Out By Bernie Sanders

Whenever I read this stuff while at the same time hearing people, in particular right wing radio and faux news, blame our economic problems on the poor and "lazy takers" on welfare, I'm always reminded of this wonderful quote:

"They keep the lower and middle classes fighting with each other while they run off with all the money." -George Carlin

originally posted by: Reflection
Whenever I read this stuff while at the same time hearing people, in particular right wing radio and faux news, blame our economic problems on the poor and "lazy takers" on welfare, I'm always reminded of this wonderful quote:

"They keep the lower and middle classes fighting with each other while they run off with all the money." -George Carlin

I'm blaming enthusiastic "takers" in office and their monopolist cronies.

I suppose I should blame folks like you too for making it all possible by not paying attention but, that would be inculpatory and none of us really knew just how bad the bill of goods we were sold actually was.

a reply to: jacobe001

Have you read many of my posts on ATS about fixing America? You're preaching to the choir here... I've been calling for national protectionism, high tariffs on imported foreign made goods, ending tax breaks for companies that off shore, and elimination of international free trade since I joined ATS...

That's part of the problem... Has Bernie Sanders ever advocated national protectionist policies? Not that I've seen, at least not with respect to ensuring America returns to the top of the productivity ladder. He also supports a lot of the regulations, like a $15/hr minimum wage, that will destroy the remaining fragments of America's manufacturing sectors without strict national protectionist policies.

Bernie is a dreamer, not a problem solver and sure as hell not the answer middle and upper middle class America needs. But go ahead, keep poking the remaining tax PAYERS in America until we shrug and damn all the subsidized straight to hell.

a reply to: mOjOm

What part of "top 1% pays 45% of taxes while 48% of America pays negative net taxes" equates to the wealthy being the ones not paying their "fair share?"

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: mOjOm

What part of "top 1% pays 45% of taxes while 48% of America pays negative net taxes" equates to the wealthy being the ones not paying their "fair share?"

Because they're not paying their fair share to their employees. How on earth is anyone supposed to meet their very basic needs and pay taxes if they're not making anywhere close to $15 per hour?

a reply to: greencmp

Don't we know more now than we did in 2007? And has it gotten better?

No, it's gotten worse. More tax havens and jobs overseas. Business as usual.

The reason the government officials and their cronies can do what they do is because there's a large enough portion of the population being mislead by the media that they watch and listen to everyday. If there was legitimate news in this country then it might be a different story. But instead we have a bunch of modest income earners upset with under paid people on welfare instead of the CEOs hoarding all the money and stashing it overseas.

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: mOjOm

What part of "top 1% pays 45% of taxes while 48% of America pays negative net taxes" equates to the wealthy being the ones not paying their "fair share?"

I'm talking about the corporations paying negative tax rates. What are you talking about???

Why does it surprise anyone that the richest people and corporations in the world write and pass legislation/tax code to keep them rich?

The "average American" can't write new tax code and have it put into law to benefit them. Only the people with the most resources, influence, money and power can create and amend tax code. Of course the people making the rules are going to make them beneficial to themselves.

Our laws are written by the least among us...with the sole purpose of benefiting those people. If you had the ability to pay for laws and legislation, would you not want to make sure the ones you are paying for benefit you? You certainly wouldn't pay to pass laws that hurt your power structure and financial stability.

originally posted by: mOjOm

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: mOjOm

What part of "top 1% pays 45% of taxes while 48% of America pays negative net taxes" equates to the wealthy being the ones not paying their "fair share?"

I'm talking about the corporations paying negative tax rates. What are you talking about???

I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume he's talking about the money and percentages they claim to the public "on the books" after the tax havens and other loopholes and tricks their million dollar accountants/lawyers set up for them.

originally posted by: Reflection
Because they're not paying their fair share to their employees. How on earth is anyone supposed to meet their very basic needs and pay taxes if they're not making anywhere close to $15 per hour?

...and this is why I say No Bernie. If it looks like a socialist and quacks like a socialist... it's probably a socialist.

Corporations in this country get away with so much #. Scary part? Some people think it's "ok."

originally posted by: burdman30ott6

originally posted by: Reflection
Because they're not paying their fair share to their employees. How on earth is anyone supposed to meet their very basic needs and pay taxes if they're not making anywhere close to $15 per hour?

...and this is why I say No Bernie. If it looks like a socialist and quacks like a socialist... it's probably a socialist.

Ok, so you're playing the oversimplified and misleading socialist card, but you still didn't answer the question..

originally posted by: Reflection

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: mOjOm

What part of "top 1% pays 45% of taxes while 48% of America pays negative net taxes" equates to the wealthy being the ones not paying their "fair share?"

Because they're not paying their fair share to their employees. How on earth is anyone supposed to meet their very basic needs and pay taxes if they're not making anywhere close to $15 per hour?

The sense of entitlement....it is a very poor basis for a political belief.

originally posted by: mOjOm

originally posted by: Reallyfolks
And what was right after that? Again you conviently leave out portions of what some one posts in order to jump to Sanders defense or to only address specific sentences. Are you amusing yourself???

So what??? I don't have to quote anything at all. I just do it for convenience, what difference does it make???

What do you do , push Sanders reform for what???? Public financing. Again are you amusing yourself?

Dude, you were talking about how he should work on campaign reform so I linked a couple things to his plan for it. Don't read them if you don't want to. I thought it pertained to the conversation but I guess you'd rather talk about your idea only. Didn't realize you were running for president.

No, I'm not finding much amusement at the moment.

Also not having a fit over any candidates running, certainly not one like trump or Sanders who have no chance of winning. Bush or Clinton, pick your poison.

They can win. I'm as cynical as anyone but to say they can't win is to admit defeat before you try anyway. With overwhelming support for a winner nobody could hide such and outcome.

They can't win, not in the current favor driven pay for play climate. In order to be deemed presentable to the people to compete for the final prize by the two parties you must have spent years in the favor system. The people who don't are better candidates, but being a better candidate is the reason you have no shot. It's a catch 22. Sanders and trump are amusing, as was someone like Perot or Ron Paul. Anyone who can throw a monkey in the wrench of the status quo always is. Support away. It's no different than me writing in, I refuse to support the status quo even if it means my vote won't matter

In the end you can have Clinton or Bush. Take your pick. In the favor driven system they are the only two corrupt and connected enough to do it.

Even if a miracle of all miracles happens, heavens and earth align and one makes it. The very same people who pull the strings still own congress, nothing that shakes the status quo will be allowed. But support away

a reply to: Reallyfolks

For the most part I agree, but I'm just not as absolute as you about it.

It's improbable but not impossible. If enough people would take a unified stand even the mighty status quo with all their money and influence will bend. But it would take a unified stance and a clear majority of people demanding an agreed upon outcome.

Right now we are all divided and mixed. Even if we see things the same way we wouldn't even know it because the media which people use for consensus could tell them different and they'd believe it. But let's say 90% of all votes were cast to one guy. That would be impossible to try and force it the other way. You couldn't just flip or skew some voting numbers without being noticed.

originally posted by: Reflection

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
a reply to: mOjOm

What part of "top 1% pays 45% of taxes while 48% of America pays negative net taxes" equates to the wealthy being the ones not paying their "fair share?"

Because they're not paying their fair share to their employees. How on earth is anyone supposed to meet their very basic needs and pay taxes if they're not making anywhere close to $15 per hour?

Maybe the employees would get more if the government stopped taking the first and best cut of everything?

If wages and profits were a beef cow, it's like the employees are complaining they never get any steak, but how can they when the business owner says, "This is my business I started, worked, bled and slaved to grow. I deserve some steak." So, the business owner takes some steak. Then the government says, "We are the government, and there are poor people who never get steak. We are going to take the rest of the steak to give to the poor." So the rest of the steak is taken for redistribution via taxes. That leaves the employees with so much hamburger.

a reply to: mOjOm

Right??

I'm so sick of the "it's never gonna happen" people. Because, yeah - if they refuse to even try, it won't.

originally posted by: mOjOm
a reply to: Reallyfolks

For the most part I agree, but I'm just not as absolute as you about it.

It's improbable but not impossible. If enough people would take a unified stand even the mighty status quo with all their money and influence will bend. But it would take a unified stance and a clear majority of people demanding an agreed upon outcome.

Right now we are all divided and mixed. Even if we see things the same way we wouldn't even know it because the media which people use for consensus could tell them different and they'd believe it. But let's say 90% of all votes were cast to one guy. That would be impossible to try and force it the other way. You couldn't just flip or skew some voting numbers without being noticed.

We seem to agree, but when's the last time 90% of the people agreed upon anything politically. Personal opinion and not conspiracy, the only real change will happen very quick and very violently. Just can't get enough people to work the acceptable route because of lack of agreement.Don't know if it will happen in my time or not.

I enjoy the Sanders and trump supporters honestly. We all seem to agree there is a problem. We just can't agree on the solution, you back Sanders, trump people back trump, I write in. There's a problem, we all know it. Can't agree. And even if we did, not sure it would be enough to over turn the grip the two parties have on the true believers. Fact is it sucks for all of us. Well for those seeing a problem anyway.

a reply to: ketsuko

Yeah, cause that's just the same as Jamie Dimon and Donald Trump.

That's what that is


NOT.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Exactly. The reason it won't happen is because people choose to lose by not trying.

That doesn't mean it's easy or that it will happen for sure. But to not try is to beat yourself.

If you were swimming in the ocean and you saw a shark swimming after you would you not still try and swim to safety even if it was unlikely that you would make it??? Would you just bob there in the water and say I'll never make it???