• spaceghoti
    +5
    @Orestes910 -

    Enacting socialism would destroy our country economically? Companies would flee our shores? These are the sort of myths that continue to block progress. To counter them, let's look at what has been successful at creating the middle class in the past and what is currently working to protect the middle class in other industrialized nations.

    The economist and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich outlined twelve steps to restoring our economy and saving the middle class based on these lessons. They're worth taking the time to watch the videos or read the transcripts.

    http://robertreich.org/post/118372382285

    http://robertreich.org/post/118451954660

    http://robertreich.org/post/118958136170

    http://robertreich.org/post/119312658065

    http://robertreich.org/post/119531027110

    http://robertreich.org/post/119938747675

    http://robertreich.org/post/120107784670

    http://robertreich.org/post/120693077100

    http://robertreich.org/post/121116739240

    http://robertreich.org/post/121924725970

    http://robertreich.org/post/122118187155

    http://robertreich.org/post/122221596470

  • Orestes910
    +5
    @spaceghoti -

    It is not a myth that a corporation gives zero fucks about its host country. A corporation is not a person, it's a terminator whose goal is profit rather than the death of Sarah Connor. Every. Single. One. of those ideas appeal to me on a moral level, but I can't see them being successful on a practical level. Here is my only link to contribute:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/...whopping-amount-of-money-by-moving-to-canada/

    As long as we're the strongest economy in the world, we can get away with a lot. The post war period showed this in the surest fashion. When there is no where else to go to make money, a 90% tax rate is acceptable. The raw truth is that we're not the only game in town anymore, and the shipping of various things overseas (jobs, production, entire companies) is a reality we have to contend with now. As much as I want all those things listed and see the truth in his reasoning for why they will work, I just think that is a huuuuge dice roll to make. In 1950, I'd say fuck it, go all in. Now, there are just too many other markets available to start agitating our resident parasites that also happen to keep us in our tedious position as number #1

  • shiranaihito
    0
    @spaceghoti -

    Companies would flee our shores? These are the sort of myths that continue to block progress.

    Myths? What a load of bullshit.

    http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/10/seeking-lower-taxes-companies-flee-the-u-s/

    The corporate tax raises $250 billion per year, or 1.5% of GDP, which is one of the lowest tax revenues in the world. And, the U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate in the world. If that’s not enough, compliance costs are huge and the corporate tax is a job killer.

    U.S. corporate taxes also apply to world profits, not just profits earned in the U.S., which makes an inversion cost-effective for an American company operating abroad. Anyone who is watching these inversions happen and still believes that tax rates don’t matter is living in a parallel universe.

    Tell me, who wants to work when 100% of his income is taken away and he's an outright slave? That's right, no one. Now tell me, who wants to have 50% of his income taken away? That's right. NO ONE. We pay taxes because otherwise we go to jail. (Want to help The Poor®? -You could do that voluntarily too!)

    Now if you can choose between having ~40% of your profits taken away, and wasting lots of money on "compliance" and having say, ~15% of your profits taken away and not having to deal with bullshit regulations.. which option would any sane person choose?

  • spaceghoti
    +5
    @Orestes910 -

    The myth is that businesses will flee the country if they aren't coddled. We can raise taxes, strengthen regulations, support unions and all those other "socialist" activities that free-market activists swear will drive businesses away without hurting our economy. Both history and current events demonstrate that companies that do this will be in the extreme minority and will be more than offset by the benefits from such policies. Economies are driven by both supply and demand and right now demand is severely stifled. McDonalds isn't going to pick up their ball and take it home because we won't play by its rules. They'll adapt just like the twenty-two other times the allegedly economy-killing minimum wage was raised.

  • spaceghoti
    +5
    @shiranaihito -

    Myths? What a load of bullshit.

    And to support your argument you link to a propaganda site. Thank you for your contribution, but I have no interest in arguing your religious beliefs.

    • shiranaihito (edited 8 years ago)
      0
      @spaceghoti -

      And to support your argument you link to a propaganda site. Thank you for your contribution, but I have no interest in arguing your religious beliefs.

      Another load of bullshit. It's not a propaganda site just because you declare it one. Surely you must understand that much, at least?

      Look, you can actually check if the US has super high corporate taxes or not. I haven't checked, but I'm willing to take the article's word for it. I have read that they actually do tax worldwide profits too, which is just fucking insane, and onerous. The US has shitloads of regulations too.

      Considering that kind of stuff was what the article brought up as the reasons for why companies are leaving the US, it's obvious that it's not a propaganda article, but one that describes reality instead. In other words, you, Sir, are either full of shit or a complete idiot.