Comments on: The $250,000 Focal Point http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/ The Sweet Release of Reason Tue, 22 May 2012 20:28:45 +0000 hourly 1 By: uknowbetter http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22555 uknowbetter Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:11:48 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22555 The initiation of force or fraud is nearly always wrong. Defending yourself with force against force is not wrong.<br><br>The right answer is to take a gun and stick it against someone's head who is minding their own business? I think you might need to look up the word 'right'. The initiation of force or fraud is nearly always wrong. Defending yourself with force against force is not wrong.

The right answer is to take a gun and stick it against someone's head who is minding their own business? I think you might need to look up the word 'right'.

]]> By: Decline and Fall http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22554 Decline and Fall Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:54:08 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22554 Sure it's use of force. But who says that force is always evil? If there are things that nearly everyone agrees the government should provide (police, military, etc.), then force, <i>qua force</i>, is not absolutely evil. Some things are so important that the only right answer is to force people to pay for them. Thus, the battle is, as it always has been and always will be in the real world, not one of principle but one of compromise and weighing of costs vs. benefits. Sure it's use of force. But who says that force is always evil? If there are things that nearly everyone agrees the government should provide (police, military, etc.), then force, qua force, is not absolutely evil. Some things are so important that the only right answer is to force people to pay for them. Thus, the battle is, as it always has been and always will be in the real world, not one of principle but one of compromise and weighing of costs vs. benefits.

]]> By: uknowbetter http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22553 uknowbetter Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:11:48 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22553 The initiation of force or fraud is nearly always wrong. Defending yourself with force against force is not wrong.<br><br>The right answer is to take a gun and stick it against someone's head who is minding their own business? I think you might need to look up the word 'right'. The initiation of force or fraud is nearly always wrong. Defending yourself with force against force is not wrong.

The right answer is to take a gun and stick it against someone's head who is minding their own business? I think you might need to look up the word 'right'.

]]> By: Decline and Fall http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22552 Decline and Fall Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:54:08 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22552 Sure it's use of force. But who says that force is always evil? If there are things that nearly everyone agrees the government should provide (police, military, etc.), then force, <i>qua force</i>, is not absolutely evil. Some things are so important that the only right answer is to force people to pay for them. Thus, the battle is, as it always has been and always will be in the real world, not one of principle but one of compromise and weighing of costs vs. benefits. Sure it's use of force. But who says that force is always evil? If there are things that nearly everyone agrees the government should provide (police, military, etc.), then force, qua force, is not absolutely evil. Some things are so important that the only right answer is to force people to pay for them. Thus, the battle is, as it always has been and always will be in the real world, not one of principle but one of compromise and weighing of costs vs. benefits.

]]> By: Joe R. http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22551 Joe R. Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:01:09 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22551 1) "If" is the key word. But "if" we don't raise taxes, then there's no class warfare.<br><br>2) It's not just the action of raising taxes, it's the rhetoric behind it. It's the difference between outlawing sawed-off shotguns, and outlawing sawed-off shotguns because only inbred redneck hillbillies use them. 1) “If” is the key word. But “if” we don't raise taxes, then there's no class warfare.

2) It's not just the action of raising taxes, it's the rhetoric behind it. It's the difference between outlawing sawed-off shotguns, and outlawing sawed-off shotguns because only inbred redneck hillbillies use them.

]]> By: Joe R. http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22550 Joe R. Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:52:56 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22550 If you don't like my anti-tax attitude, you can go to Sweden or something and start PAYING taxes.<br><br>Why does this argument only cut one-way? People like you are the mirror image of the Minutemen, lining up at the border to reject people who aren't like you. If you don't like my anti-tax attitude, you can go to Sweden or something and start PAYING taxes.

Why does this argument only cut one-way? People like you are the mirror image of the Minutemen, lining up at the border to reject people who aren't like you.

]]> By: Will Wilkinson http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22549 Will Wilkinson Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:48:58 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22549 The "works for a non-profit" side. The “works for a non-profit” side.

]]> By: Solar Hero http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22548 Solar Hero Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:28:15 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22548 Which side are you on, Will? <br>Which side are you on? Which side are you on, Will?
Which side are you on?

]]> By: uknowbetter http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22547 uknowbetter Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:06:18 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22547 lol. Taxation is immoral. That doesn't mean there are forms that are less immoral than others.<br><br>My life belongs to me and not to thee. lol. Taxation is immoral. That doesn't mean there are forms that are less immoral than others.

My life belongs to me and not to thee.

]]> By: uknowbetter http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22546 uknowbetter Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:03:03 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22546 The principle is the use of force. I have very little issue with government projects that are paid for through voluntary contributions or user fees.<br><br>You basically are sticking a gun in my face and demanding I pay for things because you think they are good. Well, isn't that special? How is that different, in principle, from sticking a gun in a woman's face and demanding she have sex with me because I think that is good?<br><br>Force is force, no matter how you dress it up, and how many people you have in your gang. The principle is the use of force. I have very little issue with government projects that are paid for through voluntary contributions or user fees.

You basically are sticking a gun in my face and demanding I pay for things because you think they are good. Well, isn't that special? How is that different, in principle, from sticking a gun in a woman's face and demanding she have sex with me because I think that is good?

Force is force, no matter how you dress it up, and how many people you have in your gang.

]]> By: Dave http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22545 Dave Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:04:30 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22545 Ha! I'd like to see someone try that these days. The effect would be roughly equivalent to banning women from working in professional careers. Ha! I'd like to see someone try that these days. The effect would be roughly equivalent to banning women from working in professional careers.

]]> By: DR http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22544 DR Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:23:04 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22544 Actually, it's NOT just people over $250 000. Those middle class tax breaks apply to everyone. You have to make >more< than $250 000 for the increase to cancel out the decrease.<br><br>Also, people with higher incomes take advantage of more deductions. Like the charity thing, or the housing thing.<br><br>Most importantly there's the (still) lower rate on capital gains income. Which is the kind of income that most people making >more< actually earn. Actually, it's NOT just people over $250 000. Those middle class tax breaks apply to everyone. You have to make >more< than $250 000 for the increase to cancel out the decrease.

Also, people with higher incomes take advantage of more deductions. Like the charity thing, or the housing thing.

Most importantly there's the (still) lower rate on capital gains income. Which is the kind of income that most people making >more< actually earn.

]]> By: DMonteith http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22543 DMonteith Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:28:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22543 uknowbetter has no right to a flat part of my life!!!11!!1one!! Get out of my country!!1!eleven!!1! Wolverines!!!!!<br><br>Right? uknowbetter has no right to a flat part of my life!!!11!!1one!! Get out of my country!!1!eleven!!1! Wolverines!!!!!

Right?

]]> By: Ryan http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22542 Ryan Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:02:15 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22542 Actually, I take part of that back. I want to indicate up front that I dispute your premise. Tax policy has little to nothing to do with justice. So any level of taxation is neither just nor unjust. It's what we use the money to do that can be evaluated in those terms. Actually, I take part of that back. I want to indicate up front that I dispute your premise. Tax policy has little to nothing to do with justice. So any level of taxation is neither just nor unjust. It's what we use the money to do that can be evaluated in those terms.

]]> By: Ryan http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/03/05/the-250000-focal-point/#comment-22541 Ryan Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:00:08 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=3071#comment-22541 No, of course not. But read this uknowbetter's comments. The large majority of the electorate seems to agree that taxes are in some sense immoral and that we are violating some deep principle by daring to actually pay for the things we want done.<br><br>I'm pretty sure that very people think the State *may not* do whatever the hell pleases the Congress. Most of us agree that the State *should not* do many things, but we aren't actually having a debate about that. We're having nonsense pissing contests about who is or isn't a socialist or exactly how low we should set things like the eeeeeeeeeeevil corporate income tax instead of actually discussing what our government needs to do and exactly how we think they're going to pay for it. No, of course not. But read this uknowbetter's comments. The large majority of the electorate seems to agree that taxes are in some sense immoral and that we are violating some deep principle by daring to actually pay for the things we want done.

I'm pretty sure that very people think the State *may not* do whatever the hell pleases the Congress. Most of us agree that the State *should not* do many things, but we aren't actually having a debate about that. We're having nonsense pissing contests about who is or isn't a socialist or exactly how low we should set things like the eeeeeeeeeeevil corporate income tax instead of actually discussing what our government needs to do and exactly how we think they're going to pay for it.

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