Liberal Guilt...

[Anonymous]

I'm blown away by posters who said that they're wealthy and happy to pay higher taxes because they want to give to those less fortunate.

There's a streamlined, more effective way to do this people, and it's called CHARITY.

I love how Liberals think they're somehow better than Conservatives because they "care" more about people. If Liberals really cared, they'd take one look at big government spending and realize that it's just not working. Your hard-earned money isn't going to the people who need it most.

[jsteele]

Can you tell me which charity maintains the interstate highway system? Which charity will replace structurally unsound bridges?

I love how the conservative brain is hardwired to equate government spending with welfare. The money wasted on wars and unnecessary defense projects is never criticized. The number of good things done by government is never acknowledged.

Rich and poor Americans both benefit from a slew of government projects. I was amazed at the excellent snow removal I saw in both DC and Maryland yesterday. That wasn't done by a charity or some right winger deciding he would contribute to the effort. It was done by government using taxpayer money. I applaud the governments involved.

Editing to add: I forgot to mention. It's not "guilt", but something called "appreciation". Look it up.

[Anonymous]

I don't know any liberals whose acceptance of higher taxes is tied to their desire to help the less fortunate.

Unless by "less fortunate" you mean people who send their kids to public schools, or drive over bridges.

No, our hard-earned money ISN'T going to those who need it most. It's going to those who least need our attention, in the form of military occupation.

[Anonymous]

I've worked for state and local government for 20 years now. While government is inefficient in a lot of ways, it provides assistance in a more uniform matter than any charity. I wouldn't trust charities to not allow their prejudices to determine who gets what. Usually based on who is more "morally" deserving of the help.

I am absolutely for paying taxes. But I'm also for trying to make government more efficient.

[Anonymous]

As one of the posters who I think triggered this thread, I think you misunderstand the motives. First, as others have said, giving to the less fortunate is something we do do privately through various charitable and religioius contributions. I actually am something of a fiscal conservative in that I think we need to pay for what we spend (including war spending) something that has not happened for the past 8 years. I also think, however, that there is a lot of spending that is important and necessary to keep our nation sound. That includes highways, schools, universities, reasonable military spending, health insurance for children, medicare to take care of old sick people who've worked their whole lives, scientific research and many others.

The question for me then is given what we need to pay for, who should do most of the paying for it. If it is not paid for by my incredibly fortunate family by paying a higher marginal tax rate, it would have to be paid by other families who have less than us. So it's not that I want to pay it or that I feel guilty, I just think that as a matter of public policy and common sense fairness it makes more sense for folks like us to pay it rather than those who make less. And, as someone who lives with that amount of income (for which I am very grateful), I can tell you that if you make upwards of $500K as a family, you can absorb tens of thousands of dollars in additional taxes without any real impact on your life. That is just the reality, so those who are whining about having to pay more are just being babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've worked for state and local government for 20 years now. While government is inefficient in a lot of ways, it provides assistance in a more uniform matter than any charity. I wouldn't trust charities to not allow their prejudices to determine who gets what. Usually based on who is more "morally" deserving of the help.

I am absolutely for paying taxes. But I'm also for trying to make government more efficient.

I meant "manner."

[Anonymous]

"If Liberals really cared, they'd take one look at big government spending and realize that it's just not working. Your hard-earned money isn't going to the people who need it most. "

Are you completely unaware of how dear "W" turned a surplus into a deficit in one of the largest expansions of government? No our hard earned money wasn't going to people who need it for the last 8 years but defense and military contractors. I'd like to try using our hard earned money on something we can actually use like schools and roads.

As a liberal we give to charity and we don't mind paying higher taxes to provide healthcare to children or extend unemployment so families are not out on the street. The problem with charity only is that it only reaches a chosen segment and does nothing for core infrastructure or education.

[Anonymous]

Yawn. Smith College, freshman year, question was: how many of you think that the federal government should have a large role in shaping policy? How many of you think it should have a smaller or small role? Ms. _____, can you tell me why?

It wasn't that interesting then, and it's just so dull now. I have a really exciting idea: let's read and discuss The Federalist Papers.

[zumbamama]

If would gladly pay more taxes if I made quadruple what I make now. Perhaps then I could afford private insurance.

[Anonymous]

zumbamama wrote:If would gladly pay more taxes if I made quadruple what I make now. Perhaps then I could afford private insurance.

Would you also be willing to work 14-15 hours a day, weekends, and not take any vacation or sick days? Because that is what my husband does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

zumbamama wrote:If would gladly pay more taxes if I made quadruple what I make now. Perhaps then I could afford private insurance.

Would you also be willing to work 14-15 hours a day, weekends, and not take any vacation or sick days? Because that is what my husband does.

I'm not the PP you are responding to, but even if I worked two full time jobs in my field, I would only earn about $135,000. So if your husband earns more than that, I personally have a hard time feeling sorry for him and his long hours. If he doesn't like it, he's welcome to join my much less lucrative profession! And if I earned $200,000, I would be happy to pay a slightly higher tax rate on the extra income over $150,000. Well, no, not exacty happy -- no one wants to pay more money -- but I could see the logic and fairness of it.

[Anonymous]

I work 8 hour days and make 200k a year. I make what I make because I was given a ridiculously expensive education for which I knew I was destined by age 3. I was ranked 10 in a class of about 60 college bound highschoolers and about 240 kids who would not even hit community college. I did adequately in college, accomplished through about 5 hours of real studying a week. I have worked hard at times in my life but hardly the way my mom worked as a teacher. For me at least, this fat income is the result of good brains, great schools, and a modicum (but not more) of work ethic. And I lnow everyone around me at this income or above is about the same.

[Anonymous]

{yaaaawwwwwn}

[Anonymous]

Smith college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

zumbamama wrote:If would gladly pay more taxes if I made quadruple what I make now. Perhaps then I could afford private insurance.

Would you also be willing to work 14-15 hours a day, weekends, and not take any vacation or sick days? Because that is what my husband does.

I did that for nearly 20 years. And I am a liberal.