Sinfonian Rocks The Tea Party

[filkertom]

Sinfonian, a regular commenter on Eschaton, got to the open mic at a teabag party in Pensacola, FL yesterday:

Comments

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful.

[awfulhorrid.livejournal.com]

What? No! Don't bring facts into the protest!

And despite irrefutable logic and facts

[capplor.livejournal.com]

There were still (some) boos & catcalls at the end. I hope some minds could react.

Re: And despite irrefutable logic and facts

[darthparadox.livejournal.com]

Like someone over on DK pointed out, this is a crowd with a keyword-based ideology. Tax hikes, Democrats, and the government are bad; tax cuts, Republicans, and the military are good. Nevermind the fact that the military is run by the government, and supported by taxes; they don't think about that deeply enough for cognitive dissonance to set in.

[regalpewter.livejournal.com]

I watched the Atlanta rally and when the speaker said that the democrats sux, there were some cheers. He then said the republicans sux too, the cheers grew even louder.
This in a non partisan issue; when the top 10% of wage earners pay 72% of the revenue, and the bottom 60% of the taxpayers pay less than 6% of taxes, something must change.
Add to this a feeling of disenfanchisement among the people, both under the last several administrations and continuing under this one, there is a danger to our republic.
YIS,
WRI

The poor have all the money in the world!!!

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

when the top 10% of wage earners pay 72% of the revenue, and the bottom 60% of the taxpayers pay less than 6% of taxes, something must change.

And in what country does THAT happen?

CENT ONE: When the richest 10% obtain 72% of the income, it seems fair to me for them to pay 72% of the taxes.

Also, the top 10% of wage earners is not the same as the richest 10%, and do not pay 72% of the taxes. The richest Americans do not earn wages, but obtain their income in the form of dividends, interest, capital gains, rent and inheritances, most of which are taxed at lower rates than income from earning wages.

CENT TWO: The myth that "poor people don't pay any taxes" is conservative fiction spread by people who are either lying outright or who have their heads so high in the clouds of privilege that they don't think about sales taxes, property taxes, payroll taxes or social security taxes. Rich people who do not receive paychecks do not even pay payroll taxes, and pay a much LOWER part of their income in sales taxes than the bottom 60%.

Re: The poor have all the money in the world!!!

[catnip13.livejournal.com]

Yeah that.

Except that the 10% in question don't make 72% of the GDP, they make more like 90% of it. And pay 72% of the taxes? Um, yeah, that's not fair to someone.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Add to this a feeling of disenfanchisement among the people, both under the last several administrations and continuing under this one, there is a danger to our republic.

In your case being... ?

[regalpewter.livejournal.com]

On many of the issues facing our country, the people no longer feel that what our representatives are doing matches what we would have them do. We live in a country where we have allowed our representatives pass laws that affect us but not themselves.
YIS,
WRI

[fionn320.livejournal.com]

Under President Eisenhower, the top tax rate on the wealthiest 400 people in the US was over 90%. With tax shelters and other legitimate loopholes, the effective tax rate on those folks was around 50%. Today, the wealthiest 400 people in the US pay less than 19%. Factoring in government subsidies and tax incentives, the biggest corporations pay even less than that. Yes, something must change.

[his-spiffyness.livejournal.com]

Here's some video from the Cleavland rally.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=308_1239855121

[fmh.livejournal.com]

Wow. The overwhelming ignorance of the protesters was amazing, ignorance and confusion, half of them had no idea what they were protesting. It was just an anti-obama rally in their eyes.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Didn't sound like they much liked that dose of reality...

[jblaque.livejournal.com]

He got booed for speaking the simple truth.

Swell.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

It amazes me that they never realized that the taxes we paid this year were from LAST year's tax rates and income. That means they were BUSH'S tax rates. Blaming Obama for the taxes this year it pure ignorance.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Ignorance is bliss. These folks must be very happy.

My suggestion: next time you label anyone in your blog as a "conservative" follow it with "terrorist" or "gay porn star" or both.

Example: Rush Limbaugh, conservative terrorist gay porn star, said today, "Blah blah blah."

Could be kinda cool if it caught on.

I must be ignorant too, 'cause I'm real happy right now.

[jss]

Speaking on behalf of the entire gay and lesbian community, no thanks: We don't want 'em.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Well, if what I hear is right, you probably have about 10% of them already.

But, OK, point taken - terrorist porn star would work fine.

Or maybe terrorist porn star lobotomist.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of people who are angry about the spending from both sides of Washington. I'm one of those people who was angry about the out of control spending that President Bush enabled. However I also don't like all the spending that the current administration wants to do.

The discussion needs to be had and we have to get beyond the name calling in order to have it, because I'm pretty sure that most people feel the same way. Keep taxes reasonable, or better yet overhaul the whole system into a 10% flat tax, no exceptions, no loopholes, no hiding your money overseas. Everyone pays the same percentage because we're all equal under the law.

After that keep sending tightly under control and prosecute medicare, medicaid and social security fraud in order to keep people honest. With the right combination of flat tax, controled spending, and the people keeping a watchful eye on things would prove to be a resounding success. At least in my opinion.

[regalpewter.livejournal.com]

Agreed, and you have said pretty much what I feel about the whole thing and am in agreement with you.
YIS,
WRI

[seanmonster.livejournal.com]

That took some guts. Kudos to him!

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

Fantastic!! I love it when truth is told to the sheeple. Maybe someday they will stop all audtioning for the part of the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz, since they all seam to live by the song If I Only Had A Brain.