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Tom Perkins' big idea: The rich should get more votes
- Thread starter Kevin
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entremet
Member
I'm not a hate the rich people type of guy, but man some of them are so out of touch.
The political system is already swayed in their benefit because its mostly rich people that run for office, with a few exceptions.
Moreover, as history tells, the rich people make the rules. It's already slanted. Yes income tax is progressive, but many loopholes exist to circumvent it and tax shelters are abound. And let's not even get into capital gains.
Additionally, rich people get high quality services due to how municipal funding works. Better schools, safer neighborhoods, etc. They can also afford to contract private companies for the rest, unlike normal folk.
Rich children don't necessarily have a high achievement ceiling, it's just their floor is much highers than poor children. Poverty and academic achievement are highly correlated.
Like I said, I don't begrudge the ultra wealthy. A lot do great work like Bill Gates, but many just come off as out of touch completely due to their comfortable little bubbles.
The political system is already swayed in their benefit because its mostly rich people that run for office, with a few exceptions.
Moreover, as history tells, the rich people make the rules. It's already slanted. Yes income tax is progressive, but many loopholes exist to circumvent it and tax shelters are abound. And let's not even get into capital gains.
Additionally, rich people get high quality services due to how municipal funding works. Better schools, safer neighborhoods, etc. They can also afford to contract private companies for the rest, unlike normal folk.
Rich children don't necessarily have a high achievement ceiling, it's just their floor is much highers than poor children. Poverty and academic achievement are highly correlated.
Like I said, I don't begrudge the ultra wealthy. A lot do great work like Bill Gates, but many just come off as out of touch completely due to their comfortable little bubbles.
gutter_trash
Banned
hahaahahaha these type of rich people are the type who would want to reinstate slavery
Yes, it's an old idea. Only the nobility voted for centuries here, then it was expanded to only land owners.
Hey I have a great idea too!
I think you're really on to something here. Seems so inefficient though. Can we get a motorized model with a conveyor belt first?
Can Crusher
Banned
I'm reading this kind of shit more and more often. Starting to smell like modern world Roman empire.
sixteen-bit
Member
Epic troll, right?
ElectricThunder
Member
How abhorrently disgusting---this idiot and those of his ilk are all greed/no fear.
There's a revolution coming. The rich better batten down the hatches. http://youtu.be/t9pUqGiF5pk?t=3m38s
Can Crusher
Banned
I think it's funny how these guys don't learn from history, they always live in their closed off view of the world.
Don't they understand that a relationship needs a certain level of reciprocity? What do they think it's going to happen if things keep heading in the direction they are heading right now? Money won't save them from millions of people who will one day wake up moved by a message, and these guys will turn into "0 value".
They should worry about the consequences their grand sons and daughters will face once the mob brings the pitchforks.
Don't they understand that a relationship needs a certain level of reciprocity? What do they think it's going to happen if things keep heading in the direction they are heading right now? Money won't save them from millions of people who will one day wake up moved by a message, and these guys will turn into "0 value".
They should worry about the consequences their grand sons and daughters will face once the mob brings the pitchforks.
close to the edge
Member
Well, that idea would certainly change the world in some way. Probably not for the better though.
massivekettle
Member
Not saying I agree with him, but I understand where he is coming from. You can argue that through his tax money, he contributes more to society than a guy who doesn't have a job and more importantly, does not pay taxes to the Government.
Why is it that they both have the same political power (1 vote), whilst one individual is clearly more important to the overall health of society than the other.
Again, want to reiterate that I do not agree with him at all. Just trying to understand his thinking process.
commanderpepper
Member
I searched Rhodesia, never thought anyone would implement this.
They already own the politicians, do they need the entire process? Would that make it fair?
So, does this mean that Arkansas gets the most votes now? That's cool, I guess.
MidgarBlowedUp
Member
I would say teachers contribute more to society than his taxes and many teachers don't make much over 30k. Also, the wealthy are not the job creators, that would be the entrepreneurs and the middle class.
FutureZombie
Banned
Actually, Adam Carolla suggested this system years ago, and it makes some sense. Now, it doesn't make sense that rich people get more votes on things like immigration or abortion, but on where their tax dollars are going? That seems fair.
Consider this scenario:
Tom Perkins and Self-righteous Gaffer are living together in an apartment. They go to the grocery store. Tom Perkins pays for 99% of the groceries and Self-righteous Gaffer pays for 1% of the groceries. Should Self-righteous Gaffer really get to choose 50% of the food? That doesn't seem fair.
Consider this scenario:
Tom Perkins and Self-righteous Gaffer are living together in an apartment. They go to the grocery store. Tom Perkins pays for 99% of the groceries and Self-righteous Gaffer pays for 1% of the groceries. Should Self-righteous Gaffer really get to choose 50% of the food? That doesn't seem fair.
This is actually a very popular sentiment in right wing circles. There are a lot of conservatives in favor of it.
His process is understandable but by that logic corporations should have votes and that is quite potentially the most disastrous thing I could imagine.
It's empty headed thinking, the kind that leads to things isolated leaderships recycling their kids into generations of government because they basically own everything.
Maninthemirror
Banned
Boy what is with the 1% and their supporters coming out of the wood works and making offensive remarks every day these past couple of weeks. What triggered this
I would love to see every individual dictate where their tax dollars went. It would be the fastest downfall of an empire in the modern times. Complete anarchy.
PhoenixDawn
Member
They pretty much already do with the way they've worked to push voter ID laws and other similar laws to prevent the less fortunate from registering and actually voting in elections.
spandexmonkey
Banned
Would be a return to nobility. Some of our founding fathers would be proud.
Goodbye social services.
Wouldn't the rich person who thinks he knows better and should have more rights be the one that is sanctimonious, not the GAFer who just wants his vote to count the same as his fellow citizens?
Not sure if sarcastic, but you've got it backwards.
Fenderputty
Banned
So he agree illegal aliens should vote?
ab.aeterno
Member
Thatsthejoke.jpg
Cameron122
Member
This sounds rather feudal lmao he can't be serious.
D
Deleted member 13876
Unconfirmed Member
Clearly they should have 90% of the votes in tax shelter countries then.
spectral_method
Banned
I would be perfectly fine if each tax bracket got you one more vote. In the grand scheme of things it won't do much as lower income people greatly outnumber higher income people. But that's just my opinion, feel free to hate.
Fenderputty
Banned
Somebody posted this for me the other day and I feel it's pretty apt here as well ...
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
Goldenroad
Member
Not in Canada. Not by a long shot. In that sense I agree with the first part of his sentiment, even if it's not directed towards Canada. I won't dignify the other part with a response. Having said that, the idea that corporations (ie. Small businesses) should also get a vote is not something I'm opposed to either, as a small business operator.
Really interesting read.
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