How many of you are really prepared for the Dog Eat Dog society you relish and preach on this site?

reply to post by KyrieEleison


So now I'm a 'kicked and beaten dog"? If I feel kicked and beaten, I have no problem walking away, to find something more appealing. Done it before and I'll do it again, if warranted.

But I hear to many lumping ALL corporations and industries into one basket, when it comes to the denigration of them. Just as many hear others lump ALL welfare recipients together.

Theft is theft, whether thru welfare fraud and abuse, or corporate manipulations. Deal with it on a more individual basis, don't lump everyone under one roof.

Can't remember who brought it up, but about tax breaks/deductions. We all have the same tax breaks available to us, depending on your filing status. Individual income, joint filing, small business or large corporation, those breaks are available to all. Probably why the IRS tax code is so huge, to spell out all the variables. REFORM IT.

I'd be for a flat tax. X%, across the board, no deductions.

reply to post by 2ndthought


Your viewpoint is in the minority on this thread, and if it didn't apply to you there was no need to get defensive.

The ones who it does apply to know who they are.

doesn't anyone hear think that all the doom and gloom being vomited up on this site, is being written by people that want our country to fail? those that would love to see the U.S. turn into some wretched wasteland of civil war and anarchy? these are the people that constantly tell us how bad it is, but never offering a positive and productive way to function for the benefit of the majority of Americans? criticism is needed, but it must contain viable solutions, rather than childish 2-year-old temper tantrums.

reply to post by jimmyx


One proposed solution just mentioned was to meter out justice equally regardless of financial standing.

I don't think those kinds of people will just go gently into that goodnight without stirring up a rebellion or collapse of the system - especially not the Randian doom porn fans.

Originally posted by 2ndthought
reply to post by KyrieEleison

 

So now I'm a 'kicked and beaten dog"? If I feel kicked and beaten, I have no problem walking away, to find something more appealing. Done it before and I'll do it again, if warranted.

But I hear to many lumping ALL corporations and industries into one basket, when it comes to the denigration of them. Just as many hear others lump ALL welfare recipients together.

Theft is theft, whether thru welfare fraud and abuse, or corporate manipulations. Deal with it on a more individual basis, don't lump everyone under one roof.

Can't remember who brought it up, but about tax breaks/deductions. We all have the same tax breaks available to us, depending on your filing status. Individual income, joint filing, small business or large corporation, those breaks are available to all. Probably why the IRS tax code is so huge, to spell out all the variables. REFORM IT.

I'd be for a flat tax. X%, across the board, no deductions.

we all have the same tax breaks and deductions??????

www.bankrate.com...
www.huffingtonpost.com...
crooksandliars.com...
www.businessweek.com...

the wealthy are on welfare, being paid for on the backs of workers, but you won't find that on a FOX NEWS ALERT

reply to post by Bone75


You and I will just have to agree to disagree. I don't see your world of people just tripping thru the daisies going 'lalalala'. You don't understand my viewpoint that, without having to work for your rewards, people will eventually grow fat and lazy to the point of extinction.

Another thought. There are so very many that receive their entire sustenance, thru various welfare programs, now. How many projects have they finished? How many have they even started? Where's the 'innovation' from these people that are already pretty much living within the concepts of your world. Without welfare, yet still having ALL of their needs met, will they suddenly become the next Thomas Edison or Alexander Bell. The next Mark Zuckerberg or Beethoven?

In a sense, it's already proven that people, with all of their needs met, are not prone to accomplish much. Not saying that they ALL languish in obscurity, but most seem to, as we don't have great achievements coming from them.

Originally posted by 2ndthought

But I hear to many lumping ALL corporations and industries into one basket, when it comes to the denigration of them. Just as many hear others lump ALL welfare recipients together.

The backbone of any corporation is efficiency. Once they go public, they are obligated to grow by cutting costs and increasing profits. Business is cold and you will only have a job as long as you're needed. My model takes the negative aspects of being laid off and turns them into positives.

I'd be for a flat tax. X%, across the board, no deductions.

Ah, so your solution is to put a band-aid on a tumor.

reply to post by jimmyx


Jimmy. You want those breaks and deductions? Work hard and put yourself in their tax bracket. Their 'class' if you will. Once there, you will have available to you the exact same breaks.

Or... Stay where you are, and enjoy the breaks that others around you enjoy, within your 'class'.

My one and only break? The standard deduction that every individual wage earner receives, within this income group. Again, I'm not complaining. Thru my choices in life, this is where I am. Thru your choices, you are where you are. The wealthy made choices that allowed them to be where they are. Don't begrudge them their place. Some were born to it, and now skate along. Some tho, worked for it. Why are they being condemned for their work?

Originally posted by Bone75

Originally posted by 2ndthought

But I hear to many lumping ALL corporations and industries into one basket, when it comes to the denigration of them. Just as many hear others lump ALL welfare recipients together.

The backbone of any corporation is efficiency. Once they go public, they are obligated to grow by cutting costs and increasing profits. Business is cold and you will only have a job as long as you're needed. My model takes the negative aspects of being laid off and turns them into positives.

I'd be for a flat tax. X%, across the board, no deductions.

Ah, so your solution is to put a band-aid on a tumor.

edit on 2-6-2013 by Bone75 because: (no reason given)

So cutting costs is not a matter of efficiency? Increasing profits is not a product of efficiency?

You've taken the tack of 'damned of you do, damned if you don't' with anyone who questions your 'model'. As that's the case, I see no point in discussing it further.

Originally posted by 2ndthought

So cutting costs is not a matter of efficiency?

Of course it is, and that's why people are laid off by the thousands.

Increasing profits is not a product of efficiency?

Increasing profits for who? You? Those profits rise by raising prices as high as you're willing to pay(or charge on a credit card that is)and paying you as little as possible until you are no longer needed. Stone Cold Truth.
That type of efficiency leads to a need for unemployment and welfare, does it not?

You've taken the tack of 'damned of you do, damned if you don't' with anyone who questions your 'model'. As that's the case, I see no point in discussing it further.

Yeah right, you'll at least be back to read this comment. And I speak my mind by the way. Any preconceived illusions about my tactics or intentions are the result of your own errant thinking.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I look forward to feeding you one day.

Originally posted by babybunnies
I doubt many are.

Even on "doomsday preppers" tv show, when people practice their "bug out" scenarios, they get badly hurt and need medical attention from a hospital. There are several instances of this on the last season or two of this show, and these are people actively training for this.

Thanks for this comment. Because I don't subscribe to cable, I get most of my tv shows on DVD or the internet. As such, I don't always know when something new and interesting comes out-- and this one I was unaware of. Checked out an episode and it's quite interesting so far.



As to the OP: I think we need to consider more than one category, or level, of the Heartless and Wealthy. At least two categories (though practically speaking, far more divisions should exist): The mega-wealthy, and the merely well-off. I say "merely" well off, but what i mean here is more or less people who are not 1%ers.

Now, because there is a direct correlation between money and material capabilities, the mega wealthy will obviously have far more resources available in the event of disaster. The smart ones may even have their own bunkers / shelters etc etc. I predict these people, if prepared will do just fine. Moving down to the "merely" well off-- these people will also have greater resources than the "average joe" but to a more limited degree. If they are prepper-types, I'm sure they'll do okay. As for the ones who are not....


I do agree with the sub-textual premise of the OP. Many of the wealthy in today's society think they're the cream of the crop and the awesomest of the awesome. However, many of these people get by doing intellectual or business / financial related work-- which will have little value in a true TSHTF scenario. Furthermore, these people are used to a certain lifestyle, and many of them will not be used to struggle. On the other hand, many of the lower class-- likely with long memories of these fat-cats saying the poor shouldn't deserve to eat, and as a result, understandably potentially hostile toward the former-- will be far more used to actual struggle.

Of course, if the poor are just weak lazy sots as these people oft accuse-- I suppose that leaves the fat cats without much to worry about when the rule of law breaks down. Of course the reality is that this only represents a small portion of the population. Though I do agree-- a large proportion of western society is unprepared to lose all or even most of the comforts and conveniences that make their lives relatively easy.

reply to post by DZAG Wright


I have charisma and I'm one ruthless MF'er but I also know when to let others take the lead so I think I will be just fine.

Clearly there is a misconception about the homeless and the downtrodden...as if they are somehow defective. This lack of empathy is exactly how TPTB want you to think. We have all been lulled into this head in the sand, brainwashing, bull$h!t for decades now.

In a truly democratic and civilized society, spending money on crap would be replaced by a living income, a roof and enough food for every man, woman and child(pet too!).

And for you NeoCons who think that I am sputtering some Commie, Socialist drivel..... most people in N. America are only one or two paychecks away from being homeless (any google search will show you the stats.)

Some of you might remember me. I haven't been posting here regularly for a while.

That's because I've been very busy. Doing what, you might ask?

Exactly what the title of this thread asks: Preparing for the coming Dog-eat-Dog society. But its not one I "relish" or "preach." It's simply the way things are.

I'm getting there. Actually I started preparing a long time ago. Its only really this year that I've finally gotten close to exactly where I want to be: Me and my love, far from the maddening crowds.