The 'Me-First, Screw You Crowd' Are No Longer Hiding Their Antics

Every American needs to read David Sirota's "Hostile Take Over" and "Uprising".

Something is in the air and it's spelled revolution. We need to kick Corporate America out of our politican's beds.

By David Sirota, Creators Syndicate. Posted August 10, 2009.
I know I should be mortified by the lobbyist-organized mobs of angry Brooks Brothers mannequins who are now making headlines by shutting down congressional town hall meetings. I know I should be despondent during this, the Khaki Pants Offensive in the Great American Health Care and Tax War. And yet, I'm euphorically repeating one word over and over again with a big grin on my face.

Finally.

Finally, there's no pretense. Finally, the Me-First, Screw-Everyone-Else Crowd's ugliest traits are there for all to behold.

The group's core gripe is summarized in a letter I received that denounces a proposed surtax on the wealthy and corporations to pay for universal health care:
"Until recently, my family was in the top 3 percent of wage earners," the affluent businessperson fumed in response to my July column on taxes. "We are in the group that pays close to 60 percent of this nation's taxes ... Think for a second how you would feel if you built a business and contributed more than your share to this country only to be treated like a pariah."

This sob story about the persecuted rich fuels today's "Tea Parties" -- and I'm sure you've heard some version of it in your community.

I'm also fairly certain that when many of you run into the Me-First, Screw-Everyone-Else Crowd, you don't feel like confronting the faux outrage. But on the off chance you do muster the masochistic impulse to engage, here's a guide to navigating the conversation:

What They Will Scream: We can't raise business taxes, because American businesses already pay excessively high taxes!

What You Should Say: Here's the smallest violin in the world playing for the businesses. The Government Accountability Office reports that most U.S. corporations pay zero federal income tax. Additionally, as even the Bush Treasury Department admitted, America's effective corporate tax rate is the third lowest in the industrialized world.

What They Will Scream: But the rich still "pay close to 60 percent of this nation's taxes!"

What You Should Say: Such statistics refer only to the federal income tax. When considering all of "this nation's taxes" including payroll, state and local levies, the top 5 percent pay just 38.5 percent of the taxes.

What They Will Scream: But 38.5 percent is disproportionately high! See? You've proved that the rich "contribute more than their share" of taxes!

What You Should Say: Actually, they are paying almost exactly "their share." According to the data, the wealthiest 5 percent of America pays 38.5 percent of the total taxes precisely because they make just about that share -- a whopping 36.5 percent! -- of total national income. Asking these folks to pay slightly more in taxes -- and still less than they did during the go-go 1990s -- is hardly extreme.
Stripped of facts, your conversation partner will soon turn to unscientific terrain, claiming it is immoral to "steal" and "redistribute" income via taxes. Of course, he will be specifically railing on "stealing" for stuff like health care, which he insists gets "redistributed" only to the undeserving and the "lazy" (a classic codeword for "minorities"). But he will also say it's OK that government sent trillions of dollars to Wall Streeters.

And that's when you should stop wasting your breath.

What you've discovered is that the Me-First, Screw-Everyone-Else Crowd isn't interested in fairness, empiricism or morality.

With 22,000 of their fellow countrymen dying annually for lack of health insurance and with Warren Buffett paying a lower effective tax rate than his secretary, the Me-First, Screw-Everyone-Else Crowd is merely using the argot of fairness, empiricism and morality to hide its real motive: selfish greed.

No argument, however rational, is going to cure these narcissists of that grotesque disease

David Sirota is telling it like it is.

America has been run By the corporations, of the corporations and for the corporations for a very long time.

Most people either don't want to see this or don't care. The latter are the sleepers in this reality we call the Matrix.

It's time to wake up and take our country back.

This is a call to arms.

Start researching "revolution".

and pick your enemy wisely.

It is the wealthy elite CEO's, the politicans that bed with them and make our laws all for corporate benefits at the expense of the common man and anyone that is their mindless "goon" (the king's guards) such as soldiers, the police and national guard.

Quote from David Sirota and his article The Tidal Wave Heading Straight for the Hall of Mirrors found here: www.huffingtonpost.com...

What you see here, folks, is that all of it - the elections, the public policies, the future of the country - is one big joke to the people in power, and they are willing to lie, cheat and distort anything to protect the integrity of that joke they are so happily enjoying. They don't want anyone asking questions of them. They don't want anyone thinking they have a right to use democracy to change things. They are fat and happy and putting the pedal to the metal in their sleek sports car on the great American highway overpass - and anyone who tries to slow them down, run them off the road or make them just glance at the blight below gets the big, road-raged middle finger.

Now go to dodadoom's threads and star and flag the amazing video this person has pointed us to called "The Four Stages of Revolution"

Link here: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Good video here describing the four stages of revolution:

Every American needs to see this to understand more of what has been going on.

It's time to wake up and take back our country.

It's time for real change.

Not blind alligence.

Bill Moyers on Bill Maher - War in Afghanistan and Obama's Presidency

Some folks DO get it........

I'm in the "me first, screw you" crowed, and I love it.

I've completely lost my hope that Americans will ever educate themselves, or do anything productive or intelligent in their lives. 60% of Americans do not believe in evolution. 66% of Americans can not name the three branches of government. 60% believe the Noah's ark story is true -- and the entire earth flooded; while 64% believe Moses really parted the red sea.

So, should I expend time and energy helping or worrying about these idiots? Not even a single moment out of the day, week, or year. They are on their own, and the worse things get for them, the happier I am.

reply to post by ofhumandescent



Bull poop. I work hard for everything I have. No socialist is going to come and tell me to give it to the masses.

I can't think of anything else to add here. More socialistic nonsense as far as I'm concerned.

Originally posted by mikerussellus
reply to post by ofhumandescent

 

Bull poop. I work hard for everything I have. No socialist is going to come and tell me to give it to the masses.

I can't think of anything else to add here. More socialistic nonsense as far as I'm concerned.

Hi.

*waves*

I see you on here a lot. I, too, work hard for everything I have. I grew up in a poor, urban environment. I made it to Ivy League schools. I have nice things. Other than my parents, no one handed me anything in this life. I earned it all myself.

In general, I'm very blessed.

However, I don't understand the fear and outrage from really good folks like you over the "possibility" that someone will come take what you have and deliver it to the masses. I mean...you must know that this already happened.

It has happened and it's not the masses that got it. Your tax dollars last fall (--before Barak) were doled out and redistributed to corporations. The redistribution of wealth did occur to the benefit of those who already "had" as opposed to those that "have not".

Isn't that socialism for the rich?

Why then is a really decent individual like yourself (I love the kid stories) so opposed to the poor getting your money and not the CEO's of corporations who are hoarding it and not creating new jobs, and not giving American's a break?

What new jobs were created when they bailed out these companies?

Your money went to helping the rich stay rich. Meanwhile, I had two friends who were laid off (married) at various times through the year. Their $24K in savings went to paying bills during their layoff. Their 401K was lost during the collapse last fall. They've looked for jobs since. The husband got a new job and was laid off again when the company was bought out, and hadn't made enough savings in the few weeks he was at the job to pay off any bills. She took a part-time job that made her only $300 a month above unemployment and lost her the unemployment benefits. Neither of them have health care anymore because COBRA was $1500 a month, and now they have a child with potentially swine flu (probably regular flu) and facing hospital bills.

You don't think that they deserve to be helped as much if not more than these corporations do?

It's not about working hard. They worked hard. They do work hard. Its about job loss and a collapsing economy.

I work in non-profit so I see this all the time. I have a hundred stories like this, of decent people who can't catch a break. Yes, there are lazy people, but this economy shows no mercy to anyone--even the hard workers.

This economic snafu is like a ravenous beast, it is coming back around and those that don't get bitten will count themselves blessed.

BTW, not judging you. I really am not. You have this positive ...um...aura? That's why I was asking you these questions as opposed to some other people who seem less...open. Just curious and trying to understand. Really, really want to know.

reply to post by A Fortiori


The idea of giving to someone less fortunate is not abhorent to me.

My wife and I give to St. Judes Childrens Hospital every year. We used to tithe when we worked at a catholic hospital. Every year I help build houses for the Christmas in July programs.

But it stops becoming a charity when you are TOLD to give.

Do I like all the taxes we have now? No!

Did I like it a year ago? Heck no!

So, more taxes, more "forced" volunteerism, more nonsense about the poor from this administration is not going to help.

Obama wants to exclude the charitable contributions portion of taxes.

Biden released his contributions last year. My wife and I gave more than he did, and we make less.

This administration is all about giving, as long as it's not "their" money. They will give mine, yours, everybody elses.

Of course, that is just my humble opinion. . . .

reply to post by mikerussellus


Love St. Judes! One of the best charities around.

I don't mean charity, per say. I'm asking why you are specifically opposed to what you consider the redistribution of wealth by Obama that would potentially (if it ever really happened) benefit the poor, and not the redistribution of wealth that keeps occurring yearly in subsidies and bailouts to the rich. More money has gone to people making over $200K a year than has gone into the social service program.

Moreover, the positive benefit of this Health Care Bill (the only positive benefit that I can see) is that this CF (when you use acronyms is that still cursing?) will create new jobs because it is a mega-sized project that will require IT professionals, health care professionals, administrative help, programmatic help, etc. Though it seems like health care for the poor or lazy at the expense of our tax dollars it will drive new industry.

I just see all the rich getting rewarded with my hard earned money when they caused all these problems to begin, and my thoughts are if it has to be taken from me then I'd rather someone new get it with the potential to spend it in ways that will grow the economy.

Originally posted by Kaytagg
I'm in the "me first, screw you" crowed, and I love it.

I've completely lost my hope that Americans will ever educate themselves, or do anything productive or intelligent in their lives. 60% of Americans do not believe in evolution. 66% of Americans can not name the three branches of government. 60% believe the Noah's ark story is true -- and the entire earth flooded; while 64% believe Moses really parted the red sea.

So, should I expend time and energy helping or worrying about these idiots? Not even a single moment out of the day, week, or year. They are on their own, and the worse things get for them, the happier I am.

You have just successfully argued that the American educational
system is hopelessly broken and I agree. With more money to
hire better and more teachers, children might actually have a
chance to get an education in this country. I mean All kids and
not just those of the rich WHO CAN AFFORD TUTORS AND TUITION
FOR COLLEGE.

As a working artist I have never made much
money but my kids got good enough grades to get full college
scholarships. Had they not busted their adolescent butts they
never would have been able to do what the children of rich do
without even having to try.

Originally posted by A Fortiori
reply to post by mikerussellus

 

Love St. Judes! One of the best charities around.

Can't beat it. Helping children from around the world. AND helping parents too. I could go on but. . .

I don't mean charity, per say. I'm asking why you are specifically opposed to what you consider the redistribution of wealth by Obama that would potentially (if it ever really happened) benefit the poor, and not the redistribution of wealth that keeps occurring yearly in subsidies and bailouts to the rich. More money has gone to people making over $200K a year than has gone into the social service program.

It won't benefit the poor. In my mind it's a way to keep the poor, poor.
More money may have gone to people making over 200K but these are the same people that own businesses, these are the people who hire the poor. Obama doesn't want to help the poor. Where would his base be then? He wants to keep as many poor possible, even increase the population.

Moreover, the positive benefit of this Health Care Bill (the only positive benefit that I can see) is that this CF (when you use acronyms is that still cursing?) will create new jobs because it is a mega-sized project that will require IT professionals, health care professionals, administrative help, programmatic help, etc. Though it seems like health care for the poor or lazy at the expense of our tax dollars it will drive new industry.

It won't create new jobs. As a matter of fact, it would cost jobs. And decrease any money that you might make if you work in the field. Unless you mean the swelling of the government rolls. If it were an honest bill, it would include tort reform, states would be allowed to compete across state lines. This is just a power grab.

I just see all the rich getting rewarded with my hard earned money when they caused all these problems to begin, and my thoughts are if it has to be taken from me then I'd rather someone new get it with the potential to spend it in ways that will grow the economy.

I don't see the rich being the problem as much as I see the government being the cause of it. Government doesn't create wealth. Jobs/industry/capitalism does. And increasing government will do nothing but shrink the rich, increase the poor (unemployment at 9.7% now)and leave the rest of us in the middle in an ever decreasing pool of wealth or oppourtunity.

reply to post by Asktheanimals

We spend more money per child on education than any other developed nation on the planet. It's not money we need but a school reform that would go back to teaching the three R's. Not how to masterbate, and why Larry has three mommies!

edit to correct my spelling, I guess they didn't spend enough on me

[edit on 5-9-2009 by mikerussellus]

This is the deal, it is all about you, it isn't about a collective or any of that other nonsense. The only person that is going to help you is you. Once you get yourself taken care of then you can start to think about helping other people.

The problem is that people think that the government should take money out of people checks to help people that are unwilling to help themselves. An example of this is the recent fiasco in NYC where they gave out 175 million dollars to people on welfare for those people to spend the money to get their kids school supplies and a most of the people were buying flat screen TV's, beer, cigarettes, drugs, etc. hardly any of the money was spent how it was supposed to be spent.

I will admit that it is really hard to earn a decent living in this country, but until the government gets its greedy hand out of my pocket and changes the policies to make it easier for me to succeed then things are going to continue to deteriorate.

The fact is you can't help people unless they want to help themselves. That is just the way it is, all this collectivist crap is sickening.

reply to post by mikerussellus


Like yourself, there are many who believe in giving. On both sides of this argument there are people who contribute to charity and generously. But Mandated charity is no charity at all, it is THEFT, and I'm glad there are others who see it.

[edit on 5-9-2009 by projectvxn]

reply to post by projectvxn


Truth!

Involuntary volunteering is slavery.
Involuntary donations are theft.

reply to post by mikerussellus



Pssst! *looks around* I hope people watching us disagree nicely choose to do the same.

*slaps hands together* Now back to the disagreement.

I agree that government being involved in industry has created the large, onerous, entitled corporate structure that we have now. Siding with one business over the next, subsidizing their friends, etc. But it's not just government, it's technology, too, and the landscape of mega, umbrella corporate clusters that drive out entrepreneurs.

There is no more Adam Smith. There is no pure capitalism. It is all socialized, if you will.

In theory, giving money to corporations should create more jobs. It hasn't. Technology backfilled jobs, and the stimulus went to their own debts. Most economic reports from Fox to CNN will tell you that this has been a jobless recovery. The people at the top will not extend themselves in this climate to hire, and to be honest...it is not in their best interest.

Therefore, I would like my tax dollars (the tax system is a joke) to go to where I think it would stimulate growth. To the average person. Some reckless people will buy with it, stimulating economic growth. Some more conservative will pay off bills (thus helping the folks at the top of the food chain). Other's may save, but it will also loosen the belt a little and help them spend more.

I disagree that the Health Care package will kill jobs. I've seen the talking heads on Fox News and checked into their background and they have a dog in this fight. The fact is that this will not successfully get off the ground for many years. You will have to hire so many people at each stage of iteration for a CF of this size that it will grow a new industry, government run, yes, but DOD does it all the time which is why VA is a state not in the hole due to their DOD contractors setting up camp there.

We've seen this model in the Defense industry. New programs mean contractors mean jobs mean cleanup mean decommissioning old systems means jobs, etc.

Do I like it? No, but we've seen it over and over again.

Tort reform? We need some tort reform, but not the type proposed by the insurance industry. We need a frivolous lawsuit penalty and leave it at that. Healthy women waking up with both breasts removed and a woman with cancer having her knee
opened up instead of a necessary mastectomy deserve their day in court, IMO.

Honestly, we've screwed the pooch. The days of healthy capitalism with the Mom and Pop company who cares about its employees and banks that give loans based on the content of a person's character are long gone (if they ever were). This is socialized capitalism which is exactly how big business likes it.

Still I'm glad we're having a healthy discussion with no bites! Thanks for that.

the Me-First, Screw-Everyone-Else Crowd's ugliest traits are there for all to behold.

Seems we have two groups the one above and the "steal from Paul and give it to Peter and his buddies so Peter and his buddies will pat me on the back and/or vote for me while I vilify the poor smuck paying for it when he complains.

I am getting real sick and tired of the we have to help the "tear jerker" with YOUR tax money crowd playing into the hands of the bankers. Ask the people in New Hampshire about it. The Socialist/Communists in Mass voted for all the tear jerk legislation, jacked the taxes sky high to pay for it and then said I AM not going to pay and moved to New Hampshire. Now they want to make New Hampshire into another Mass and the natives in New Hampshire want to kick their butts back down to Mass.

Do not bother to tell me what a mess capitalism has made. IT IS NOT Capitalism, not here or in the rest of the world. It hasn't been since 1913 in the USA and the 16th century in Europe. The Central banks run the show and they hate real capitalism (competition) and LOVE socialism, as long as they are the elite handing it out and collecting the interest and tax revenue.

What do I mean by Socialism playing into the hands of the Bankers?

Politicians pass a new bill, the treasury creates bonds to pay for it The Fed buys those bonds with money created out of nothing and volia new money is created and it "inflates" the money supply. Inflation is a hidden tax that hurts the poor the most, while helping banks and corporations who get the newly created money BEFORE all the prices go up. The Grace Commission found that 100% of our taxes goes to pay the interest on the money loaned to the government by the banks. Money those banks created out of thin air. The banks then can use the 1000 government bond to create a $100,000 mortgage - out of thin air again - and loan it out.

In ancient times usury was defined as interest on a loan, any interest on any loan. In modern times that has been redefined to mean excessive interest on a loan. Moderate interest seems logical to us in recognition of the fact that if we work hard for our money, we save it and surrender its use for a period of time being a sacrifice on our part and then loan it to somebody else for their venture, we're entitled to a reasonable return on that sacrifice. A reasonable interest rate is a concept that very few people have problems with, it seems logical and fair.

But what is this thing called excessive interest? Thomas Edison said, "People who will not turn a shovel-full of dirt on the project nor contribute a pound of materials will collect more money than will the people who will supply all the materials and do all the work." I wondered when I read that if Tom was exaggerating so I got my calculator out. I assumed that there was going to be a $100,000 house built. I assumed that $30,000 would have to go for land, architect's fees and permits and that kind of thing. $70,000 would go for the actual construction of the house, building materials and labor. I assumed that the buyer would go to the bank and put 20% down and then borrow the balance at 10% over 30 years. I punched in the numbers and discovered that the borrower will pay to the bank in interest $172,741 compared to $70,000 paid for the construction of the house. In other words, about 2 1/2 times as much money will be paid to the bank in interest than will be paid to those who provide all the labor and all the materials. And you may say to yourself, yes but that's fair, after all a 30 year loan is a long loan and people work for their money and sacrifice its use and loan it and so forth and deserve to be compensated. No. Not this money. Nobody worked for this money, nobody saved this money. There was no sacrifice of any kind for this money. This money was created out of nothing and I suggest that $172,741 interest on nothing is excessive!
www.bigeye.com...

reply to post by Kaytagg


Some interesting numbers...Would you like to collate the demise of morals, rise of corporate greed, eroding of civic/national/family pride both before and after Prayer was removed from school?

Anything can be manipulated to fulfill an agenda. For example, I could say nearly 60% of the vote went to Obama. And then claim it was due to the same ignorant people voting.

Or if you consider the percentage of god fearing Americans that pioneered across this country throughout the 1800's, faced far harsher lifestyles and environments than we do today were about 10,000 times more self-sufficient than we are today...perhaps believing in something higher than yourself has some merit afterall.

[edit on 5-9-2009 by Ahabstar]

reply to post by crimvelvet


Thomas Edison is one to talk. He totally screwed Tesla and all his hard work.

...but I hear ya.

It's AMAZING how liberals act like they are the champions of the constitution but yet they destroy it every election. The constitution protected peoples individual rights and treated everyone as being equal. In a constitutional government there is no such thing as progressive income taxes which punishes one person while rewarding the other. You can say what You want but it won't be the LIBERALS leading the next revolution but it will be people like me whom work overtime all the time to bring the beacon home.


I would also be considered in the ABOVE group that You so hate considering the fact that I make more than 2.5X the average income for my area on 15 dollars an hour. Some of us are getting tired of the progressive tax scheme that penalizes people for working harder. So act like You are the champion of the poor but I hate to tell You You are really the tool of the elite to suppress the middle class.

reply to post by jkm1864


Well, when you lead the revolution can you make it so that all we have is either a flat tax or sales tax?

Income tax rewards the rich and screws the middle.

Thanks for mentioning my thread OP!
I was wondering how long till the blame game started.
If you need to blame, blame yourselves for voting!
Anyone ever feel like they are being played?
The liberal, conservative, nazi, whatever ploy is getting real old.
There are the ultra rich who control all the wealth in the world,
and then there are you and I who work for them.
We ARE doomed...
We already shot ourselves in the foot, locked the keys and the
first aid kit (and the baby) in the suv and are bleeding profusely
but continue to blame someone else for it.
Can you sue yourself? Maybe thats an idea!

Good luck surviving in the land of greed, home of the 'fraid.
Just one tiny insignificant voiceless americant's pov of course.