It isn't fair that some people can pay for Amazon prime and some cannot. Perhaps those who can afford prime should pay for those who cannot or chose not to do so.


My spouse worked for Amazon for several years and we became wealthy as a direct result of Amazon's compensation. A friend of ours made $11 million one year at Amazon, and my spouse's boss makes several million a year from Amazon stock.


man! I'm jealous! I hope you paid your taxes


But did your share your wealth with non-prime members and plumbers (you know, did you pay taxes)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet I can count numerous Africans, Indians and Chinese who are waiting for their number to come up to immigrate here. We wont miss a couple of gringos without work ethic who have given up on making this country great.

See, I'd argue that gross inequality is a big problem, and by trying to fight this trend (which has escalated in the past several decades), I'm doing my part to make this country great.

Anonymous wrote:I bet I can count numerous Africans, Indians and Chinese who are waiting for their number to come up to immigrate here. We wont miss a couple of gringos without work ethic who have given up on making this country great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NPR did a great story on the wealth of white families vs. black families. (The typical white family has 20 times the wealth of the median black family. That's the largest gap in 25 years.)

OP claims that 90% of the wealthy worked hard for their $$, but there are subtle ways in which the wealthy (frequently white) have an advantage:

"Study after study shows that white families are more likely than blacks and Hispanics to enjoy certain economic advantages — even when their incomes are similar. Often it's the subtle things: help from Mom and Dad with a down payment on a home or college tuition, or a tax break on money passed from one generation to the next."

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/15/140428359/making-it-in-the-u-s-more-than-just-hard-work

(And for what it's worth, I'm white and relatively privileged, but at least I can admit the existence of the privileged.)

So now you want racial taxation? Take from white families and give to blacks?

Not PP, but really? Your idea of adding to the discourse was to contribute that ridiculous piece of bigoted idiocy? Thanks so much, Fox News is that way -->

1st PP, I hear you -- acknowledging the existence of cultural capital (as Bourdieu called it) is the first step to realizing we don't live in a true meritocracy. The next step is figuring out how to even the playing field so that those born less "lucky" can still achieve equal success with equal effort. Not through the impoverished ideas of idiots like the PP who responded to you, but through education (and cultural education), and through programs that identify the markers of success and develop them in lower class people to give them a chance to fulfill their potential.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:18, really? STFU? Seriously? I've been to Brazilian favelas and Kenyan kiberas, I've seen the wealthy barricaded behind barbed wire and cement walls. I will gladly pay more in taxes to live in a more equitable society.

And if you've really been to those societies you'll realize that only in America can some1 come from the bottom and make it to the top. Our system is built on using your own talents. In Kenya a few families have it all and the rest live like paupers, in Brazil you better be of European descent. Again America is the greatest country in the world. Look at the immigrants that show up on our shores and "make it". Year after year, check out your local university you'll see them as TAs or researchers working so hard.

I'd take Switzerland and Finland over Brazil, Kenya, *or* the United States anyday. There are other choices besides Brazil or the United States, more equitable choices.

Switzerland huh? Only for the white. See you may enjoy Switzerland , but its a small closed homogeneous society that doesn't allow immigration. Have a great time. I'll take Jupiter Fl.

Do you really think our society's inequality stems from our diversity or our immigration laws? It is impossible to prevent greedy powerful people in a diverse country from stealing all the wealth for themselves (and making sure to only study in school things that will allow them to steal ... Harvard used to have a much much smaller fraction of its graduates go into investment banking) (and I'm not denying that stealing is hard work. It is very hard work and often in this country requires a fancy degree and long hours. But that doesn't mean it is not stealing). You think investment bankers and others in this country feel free to steal and look down on people who do labor for a living because most of these people are of a different race? and those in Switzerland do not feel this freedom because the people that actually assemble their watches and chocolate look like them?

PLease follow your own logic. You said you'd rather take CH over the USA. And I said I'd rather take the US because we're a large open society (the most open in the world) and one where I know that I don't have to grow up white to achieve even a middle class status. The only people who say "I'd rather live in ..." are middle to upper class whites that don't realize that for all its faults America is the best country in the world for people of all colors not just one color. ANd if you don't believe me ask a black child in your beloved France how it feels to grow up there.

The US is a unique country with unique blessings. However, it is not the best country in the world for all people. There are a number of nice countries, each with its own blessings and faults. While it is true that, if you have dark skin, America may be the best you can get (because basically the entire world screws you if you have dark skin), for other people, they could live better elsewhere. And I guess what I should have said is "I'd rather live in a country whose wealth was more uniformly distributed, like Switzerland and Finland, than in one with very unequal income distribution. I think that we don't have to accept very unequal wealth distribution as the price of more equitable treatment of people with dark skin.

If you hurry you can still make your flight:

Depart Tue, Sep 27 IAD to GVA – nonstop 7h 57m
This flight leaves on Tuesday and arrives on Wednesday.
United – Flight 974 7h 57m
Take-off Tue 5:58p IAD Washington, DC
Landing Wed 7:55a GVA Geneva, Switzerland

The non-stop to Geneva is my favorite

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The US is a unique country with unique blessings. However, it is not the best country in the world for all people. There are a number of nice countries, each with its own blessings and faults. While it is true that, if you have dark skin, America may be the best you can get (because basically the entire world screws you if you have dark skin), for other people, they could live better elsewhere. And I guess what I should have said is "I'd rather live in a country whose wealth was more uniformly distributed, like Switzerland and Finland, than in one with very unequal income distribution. I think that we don't have to accept very unequal wealth distribution as the price of more equitable treatment of people with dark skin.

If you hurry you can still make your flight:

Depart Tue, Sep 27 IAD to GVA – nonstop 7h 57m
This flight leaves on Tuesday and arrives on Wednesday.
United – Flight 974 7h 57m
Take-off Tue 5:58p IAD Washington, DC
Landing Wed 7:55a GVA Geneva, Switzerland

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:18, really? STFU? Seriously? I've been to Brazilian favelas and Kenyan kiberas, I've seen the wealthy barricaded behind barbed wire and cement walls. I will gladly pay more in taxes to live in a more equitable society.

And if you've really been to those societies you'll realize that only in America can some1 come from the bottom and make it to the top. Our system is built on using your own talents. In Kenya a few families have it all and the rest live like paupers, in Brazil you better be of European descent. Again America is the greatest country in the world. Look at the immigrants that show up on our shores and "make it". Year after year, check out your local university you'll see them as TAs or researchers working so hard.

I'd take Switzerland and Finland over Brazil, Kenya, *or* the United States anyday. There are other choices besides Brazil or the United States, more equitable choices.

Switzerland huh? Only for the white. See you may enjoy Switzerland , but its a small closed homogeneous society that doesn't allow immigration. Have a great time. I'll take Jupiter Fl.

Do you really think our society's inequality stems from our diversity or our immigration laws? It is impossible to prevent greedy powerful people in a diverse country from stealing all the wealth for themselves (and making sure to only study in school things that will allow them to steal ... Harvard used to have a much much smaller fraction of its graduates go into investment banking) (and I'm not denying that stealing is hard work. It is very hard work and often in this country requires a fancy degree and long hours. But that doesn't mean it is not stealing). You think investment bankers and others in this country feel free to steal and look down on people who do labor for a living because most of these people are of a different race? and those in Switzerland do not feel this freedom because the people that actually assemble their watches and chocolate look like them?

PLease follow your own logic. You said you'd rather take CH over the USA. And I said I'd rather take the US because we're a large open society (the most open in the world) and one where I know that I don't have to grow up white to achieve even a middle class status. The only people who say "I'd rather live in ..." are middle to upper class whites that don't realize that for all its faults America is the best country in the world for people of all colors not just one color. ANd if you don't believe me ask a black child in your beloved France how it feels to grow up there.

The US is a unique country with unique blessings. However, it is not the best country in the world for all people. There are a number of nice countries, each with its own blessings and faults. While it is true that, if you have dark skin, America may be the best you can get (because basically the entire world screws you if you have dark skin), for other people, they could live better elsewhere. And I guess what I should have said is "I'd rather live in a country whose wealth was more uniformly distributed, like Switzerland and Finland, than in one with very unequal income distribution. I think that we don't have to accept very unequal wealth distribution as the price of more equitable treatment of people with dark skin.

If you hurry you can still make your flight:

Depart Tue, Sep 27 IAD to GVA – nonstop 7h 57m
This flight leaves on Tuesday and arrives on Wednesday.
United – Flight 974 7h 57m
Take-off Tue 5:58p IAD Washington, DC
Landing Wed 7:55a GVA Geneva, Switzerland

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:18, really? STFU? Seriously? I've been to Brazilian favelas and Kenyan kiberas, I've seen the wealthy barricaded behind barbed wire and cement walls. I will gladly pay more in taxes to live in a more equitable society.

And if you've really been to those societies you'll realize that only in America can some1 come from the bottom and make it to the top. Our system is built on using your own talents. In Kenya a few families have it all and the rest live like paupers, in Brazil you better be of European descent. Again America is the greatest country in the world. Look at the immigrants that show up on our shores and "make it". Year after year, check out your local university you'll see them as TAs or researchers working so hard.

I'd take Switzerland and Finland over Brazil, Kenya, *or* the United States anyday. There are other choices besides Brazil or the United States, more equitable choices.

Switzerland huh? Only for the white. See you may enjoy Switzerland , but its a small closed homogeneous society that doesn't allow immigration. Have a great time. I'll take Jupiter Fl.

Do you really think our society's inequality stems from our diversity or our immigration laws? It is impossible to prevent greedy powerful people in a diverse country from stealing all the wealth for themselves (and making sure to only study in school things that will allow them to steal ... Harvard used to have a much much smaller fraction of its graduates go into investment banking) (and I'm not denying that stealing is hard work. It is very hard work and often in this country requires a fancy degree and long hours. But that doesn't mean it is not stealing). You think investment bankers and others in this country feel free to steal and look down on people who do labor for a living because most of these people are of a different race? and those in Switzerland do not feel this freedom because the people that actually assemble their watches and chocolate look like them?

PLease follow your own logic. You said you'd rather take CH over the USA. And I said I'd rather take the US because we're a large open society (the most open in the world) and one where I know that I don't have to grow up white to achieve even a middle class status. The only people who say "I'd rather live in ..." are middle to upper class whites that don't realize that for all its faults America is the best country in the world for people of all colors not just one color. ANd if you don't believe me ask a black child in your beloved France how it feels to grow up there.

The US is a unique country with unique blessings. However, it is not the best country in the world for all people. There are a number of nice countries, each with its own blessings and faults. While it is true that, if you have dark skin, America may be the best you can get (because basically the entire world screws you if you have dark skin), for other people, they could live better elsewhere. And I guess what I should have said is "I'd rather live in a country whose wealth was more uniformly distributed, like Switzerland and Finland, than in one with very unequal income distribution. I think that we don't have to accept very unequal wealth distribution as the price of more equitable treatment of people with dark skin.

Anonymous wrote:12:08 Ummmmm, I think the post you quoted was a joke.....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:18, really? STFU? Seriously? I've been to Brazilian favelas and Kenyan kiberas, I've seen the wealthy barricaded behind barbed wire and cement walls. I will gladly pay more in taxes to live in a more equitable society.

And if you've really been to those societies you'll realize that only in America can some1 come from the bottom and make it to the top. Our system is built on using your own talents. In Kenya a few families have it all and the rest live like paupers, in Brazil you better be of European descent. Again America is the greatest country in the world. Look at the immigrants that show up on our shores and "make it". Year after year, check out your local university you'll see them as TAs or researchers working so hard.

I'd take Switzerland and Finland over Brazil, Kenya, *or* the United States anyday. There are other choices besides Brazil or the United States, more equitable choices.

Switzerland huh? Only for the white. See you may enjoy Switzerland , but its a small closed homogeneous society that doesn't allow immigration. Have a great time. I'll take Jupiter Fl.

Do you really think our society's inequality stems from our diversity or our immigration laws? It is impossible to prevent greedy powerful people in a diverse country from stealing all the wealth for themselves (and making sure to only study in school things that will allow them to steal ... Harvard used to have a much much smaller fraction of its graduates go into investment banking) (and I'm not denying that stealing is hard work. It is very hard work and often in this country requires a fancy degree and long hours. But that doesn't mean it is not stealing). You think investment bankers and others in this country feel free to steal and look down on people who do labor for a living because most of these people are of a different race? and those in Switzerland do not feel this freedom because the people that actually assemble their watches and chocolate look like them?

PLease follow your own logic. You said you'd rather take CH over the USA. And I said I'd rather take the US because we're a large open society (the most open in the world) and one where I know that I don't have to grow up white to achieve even a middle class status. The only people who say "I'd rather live in ..." are middle to upper class whites that don't realize that for all its faults America is the best country in the world for people of all colors not just one color. ANd if you don't believe me ask a black child in your beloved France how it feels to grow up there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It isn't fair that some people can pay for Amazon prime and some cannot. Perhaps those who can afford prime should pay for those who cannot or chose not to do so.

My spouse worked for Amazon for several years and we became wealthy as a direct result of Amazon's compensation. A friend of ours made $11 million one year at Amazon, and my spouse's boss makes several million a year from Amazon stock.

man! I'm jealous! I hope you paid your taxes