Inequality and the USA: A nation in denial?

Padawanbater2

Padawanbater2

Well-Known Member
Senate Votes 79-18 To Advance a Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United

"Section 1. To advance democratic self-government and political equality, and to protect the integrity of government and the electoral process, Congress and the States may regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.

Section 2. Congress and the States shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and may distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.

Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom of the press."


Now to the house. Lets see how many Republicans want to vote against the most important issue of our time in an election year...
 
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NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Antidisestablishmentarian said:
Here, some food is taxed and others aren't.

Buy some apples and a steak at the grocery store and it's tax free. Buy a hungry man meal at the same store, and it is taxed.
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Yeah, my state does the same thing. I think it is because most states make the distinction between "good" food and "bad" food, because taxation is not only used so that government gets money to spend, taxes are also used to modify behavior.

Want more people to buy homes? Make all the interest payments tax deductible.

Want people to eat less junk food, pre-prepared food? Tax it.

Want to persuade people not to invest in certain precious metals? Tax the profits at 4 times the rate of capital gains.

Want people to hold stocks for at least a calendar year? Tax any gains for short term holdings at 3 times the normal rate.

Always remember that the power to tax is the power to destroy, hence why churches are not taxed.
 
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NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Padawanbater2 said:
S

"Section 1. To advance democratic self-government and political equality
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Wouldn't that part be unconstitutional?

SECTION 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
 
Padawanbater2

Padawanbater2

Well-Known Member
NoDrama said:
Wouldn't that part be unconstitutional?

SECTION 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
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How is democracy unconstitutional?
 
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NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Padawanbater2 said:
A government by, of, and for the people is unconstitutional?
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What does the Gettysburg address have to do with a Democratic government?

Democracy is rule by omnipotent majority, 2 wolves and 1 sheep voting on whats for dinner.

A Republic protects an individual as having unalienable rights, its purpose is to control the majority.

Use the definitions of these words as the framers knew them, not some modern Chomskyesque revision.
 
Padawanbater2

Padawanbater2

Well-Known Member
NoDrama said:
What does the Gettysburg address have to do with a Democratic government?

Democracy is rule by omnipotent majority, 2 wolves and 1 sheep voting on whats for dinner.

A Republic protects an individual as having unalienable rights, its purpose is to control the majority.

Use the definitions of these words as the framers knew them, not some modern Chomskyesque revision.
Click to expand...

Democracy - government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Democratic Republic - a form of government embodying democratic principles and where a monarch is not the head of state


What we have is a "Representative Republic" aka. indirect democracy


How is that unconstitutional?
 
Antidisestablishmentarian

Antidisestablishmentarian

Well-Known Member
NoDrama said:
Yeah, my state does the same thing. I think it is because most states make the distinction between "good" food and "bad" food, because taxation is not only used so that government gets money to spend, taxes are also used to modify behavior.

Want more people to buy homes? Make all the interest payments tax deductible.

Want people to eat less junk food, pre-prepared food? Tax it.

Want to persuade people not to invest in certain precious metals? Tax the profits at 4 times the rate of capital gains.

Want people to hold stocks for at least a calendar year? Tax any gains for short term holdings at 3 times the normal rate.

Always remember that the power to tax is the power to destroy, hence why churches are not taxed.
Click to expand...
Ours seems to be fresh vs not.

Produce, meat(not deli), staples like sugar, flour not taxed.

Any food that is prepared is taxed.
 
Padawanbater2

Padawanbater2

Well-Known Member
List of 'Nay' votes and 'Not Voting' marks;

Murkowski (R-AK), Not Voting
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
Risch (R-ID), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Paul (R-KY), Nay
Blunt (R-MO), Not Voting
Gillibrand (D-NY), Not Voting
Portman (R-OH), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Toomey (R-PA), Nay
Scott (R-SC), Nay
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Cruz (R-TX), Nay
Lee (R-UT), Nay
Johnson (R-WI), Nay
Barrasso (R-WY), Nay
Enzi (R-WY), Nay

Interesting...

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00259
 
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NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Padawanbater2 said:
Democracy - government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Democratic Republic - a form of government embodying democratic principles and where a monarch is not the head of state

What we have is a "Representative Republic" aka. indirect democracy

How is that unconstitutional?
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Reading compensation problems?

NoDrama said:
What does the Gettysburg address have to do with a Democratic government?

Democracy is rule by omnipotent majority, 2 wolves and 1 sheep voting on whats for dinner.

A Republic protects an individual as having unalienable rights, its purpose is to control the majority.

Use the definitions of these words as the framers knew them, not some modern Chomskyesque revision.
Click to expand...
 
ginwilly

ginwilly

Well-Known Member
NoDrama said:
Yeah, the more processing the more taxes.
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Yet another corn tax in this country to pay for our ethanol. I buy non-ethanol for my bikes and yard equipment, why is it so much more expensive?

It's hard to buy food anymore without some sort of corn filler in it.

I blame those damn corn farmers ;)
 
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