Dorkington

He could always just say 'no comment'. Records are all that matters, Yolo. I'm tired of having excuses for close losses. Every year 'well if this one play, or this injury... we coulda been in!' Sorry it makes me cynical, I'll try to rein it in

I'd take our talent over the Eagles for the most part. And injury excuses only go so far. And I'm tired of McCoy talking about Chip.

So Denver is talking ****... definitely means the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl... great.

Chip beat Rex with a lesser talented team. And I don't even think Chip is anything special. So....

How come you guys don't hold male teachers who sexually harass, assault, and rape children in such high regard?

Well, I concede my opinion guys, definitely looks like I'm in the wrong here. Can anyone direct me to some educational text on what the right answer is for a country? What, if any taxes, and social programs should be allowed?

Ok, I think I covered the last questions. Now I'll shut up and listen, and maybe learn a thing or two from you fine folks. Cheers

More than enough. Unfortunately we don't use that wealth very efficiently, and end up with deficits and debts.

I understand the point you're trying to make, in equating mugging a woman and progressive taxation. I disagree with it, no matter what sort of faulty comparison you make.

Ideally, imo, both would be happening. Public education, public emergency services, public healthcare, and social safety nets provide a strong foundation for those who work hard to find success/move up the ladder. ****, I'm not supposed to participate anymore, sorry

I know I'm in the minority here with my beliefs, and frankly I actually like that this country has a lot of different opinions on things, even if it can get frustrating sometimes. We're pretty damned lucky to have the freedom of speech, and the power of the vote. Also, life is pretty swell on my end, so I'm not gonna get too worked up haha.

Sounds good to me

Again, I don't have voting representation. But even if I did, my representative is simply part of the vote in the law/budget making process.

A lot of folks determine all taxes to be 'punitive'. It's tough to come up with a number that is a consensus not a punishment.

If it were decided by our elected representatives, who we voted in, that Bill Gates' wife's purse should be stolen and given to the homeless, then I guess so be it. Though, I think that's a pretty messy way to apply wealth re-distribution for the sake of improving society as a whole. And there's our fundamental difference. I think people should be encouraged to work, and be productive. But I'm not about to subscribe a death sentence to those that don't want to work. I'm also not about to reward them with anything more than a bunk bed in a homeless shelter, and some pretty basic meals.

Ends justify the means. Again, I stop well short of the idea that everyone should have the same, and be rewarded equally for their work. But I also, at the same time, believe that we have enough collective wealth and resources that we can ensure a certain minimum standard of living. There is plenty of wiggle room in between the extremes of economies and politics to figure out the right balance.

I'm amused that FireChan edited the post today to say it was from another poster.

I've answered a couple of times already. My morals say that the people who choose not to work, still don't deserve to be homeless, and starving. Whatever minimal 'earnings' gets from government assistance isn't exactly the high life. All social safety nets, whether used by well meaning people, or not, are 'earned' on the backs of tax payers. In a progressive tax model, that means the backs of the rich.... who earn their money on the backs of the poor anyways. The circle of life, if you will.

A lot of interesting numbers in the polls at the link. Basically we hate all of our elected officials, and a surprising amount of people support an easier path to college education. Well, luckily for you, I don't have voting representation in Congress, so you'll be happy to know that my opinion is pretty worthless.

However, Fitz (bless his heart) would try to run over 18 defenders, and get his jaw knocked off in the process.

Like I said, I believe in the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, and that we have a social responsibility to pay taxes, especially as we earn more on the backs of the lower classes. So a tax rate of 52% fits *my* morals (which have been determined to be Un-American, now), if that's what's needed to have the social programs necessary to ensure a minimum standard of living in the US. I understand that I'm in the minority here.

It is indeed rare that a team sticks with a HC if they don't make the playoffs within a couple years. It's kinda nuts.

It's interesting how different people take it. As I've moved up in brackets, I've never felt punished for success. To me its just social responsibility to give more since I have more.

I'm a bit mixed on the 'morality' of taxes. I think they are a necessary 'evil' for a functioning society. Since I support social programs that support the poorer classes, it only makes sense that the money for it would need to come from the higher classes and/or larger businesses, since they're the ones that can afford it. Is that moral? In my book, yes. Not everyone is born with the same opportunity, not everyone is born with the same gifts, and not everyone makes the right choices. Compassion and empathy tell me that those people don't necessarily deserve to suffer, and that there should be a minimum standard of living provided. Personally, I have no problem with my taxes being a bit higher, if it means a family can feed themselves, or if a kid can go to college that otherwise couldn't. I firmly believe that when the lower classes are brought up and empowered, it makes for a better society overall. I also believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. So yes, 52% for over $10mil is fine by me, considering what it could potentially go towards. To be clear I don't believe there should be zero wage differential between different jobs, but I also don't think the current imbalance is sustainable.

What percentage do you consider to be moral?