Study: The Average Americans Opinion Regarding the Economical Issues in the US

[Sealed Shut]

Kind of a bizarre poll given a) is already a reality, the U.S. just its implements socialism in very inefficient ways, largely because it seems to fear the very concept.

"Socialism" isn't a black-or-white idea that is mass deployed, it exists on a sliding scale. If your government is spending on health care or has implemented progressive taxation in some form, it's already present.

When you have guys like Warren Buffett begging to be subject to higher taxes, it might be a good clue as to what should at least be considered.

If Warren Buffett REALLY wanted to give more money, he could just write a check to the IRS. There is no law stopping that. Fact is he doesn't want to give more or he would already. All he does is blow a lot of hot air.

---------- Post added 2012-12-03 at 09:37 AM ----------

California is a model of what a leftist-run economy looks like. Sky-high tax rates, a massive state budget deficit, a fiscal crisis, and really no way out of the mess.

^^ Can't wait to see how many of the 'wealthy' in California leave for Texas now that prop 30 passed

[SirRobin]

^^ Can't wait to see how many of the 'wealthy' in California leave for Texas now that prop 30 passed

They should go join McAffee in Belize. Hiding out together from the local police.

[Reeve]

I voted D. I'm cool with controlled socialism, but I don't think that means we need to take an antagonistic stance towards big business and business profit control.

[Rukentuts]

I voted D. I'm cool with controlled socialism, but I don't think that means we need to take an antagonistic stance towards big business and business profit control.

I voted B. Mostly because I'm worried a badly implemented 'A' will just reduce peoples' will to work for a living.

[Reeve]

If Warren Buffett REALLY wanted to give more money, he could just write a check to the IRS. There is no law stopping that. Fact is he doesn't want to give more or he would already. All he does is blow a lot of hot air.

---------- Post added 2012-12-03 at 09:37 AM ----------



^^ Can't wait to see how many of the 'wealthy' in California leave for Texas now that prop 30 passed

I already left California for Texas, but it had nothing to do with tax rates.

Honestly, I think wealthy people who live in CA don't do it because of the state's fiscal policy. They do it because it's a beautiful state, a wonderful place to live, with a strong university system spitting out quality employees for their companies, with good weather and lots of nature. I don't see a tax hike causing those people to leave en masse.

---------- Post added 2012-12-03 at 04:28 PM ----------

I voted B. Mostly because I'm worried a badly implemented 'A' will just reduce peoples' will to work for a living.

Yeah, B was better than A, mostly because A was vague and it's possible to take it too many bad directions, but I'd definitely like to see a few more socialistic things better implemented in the US, like a single payer healthcare system.

[Trunksee]

Voted C for a multitude of reasons. The US is in crisis because we are constantly spending more than we take in because we are to busy planning on how we can get more money. Out of the 200mil adults in this country 110 mil work in the private sector and pay taxes. 88mil collect from the taxes paid in for thier income. Whether it be government workers, unemplyment, welfare or social security. There isnt enough money to go around anymore. We need less spending and more working. Imo retirement needs to be uped to 75. If you have a legit reason to retire before then you can. You can only collect for as many years as you were in the work force. If you didnt pay in you should have. Stop scum from collecting in this country by locking out government assistance to all imigrants. If you want to come here they should bring the funding they need. We need to have a flat tax what you earn is your money not everyones.

We just cant keep on this path of government spending. If we scale back the government its less spending. Why we need federal, state and town government today baffles me with the ease of communication today.

Cut spending on border patrols by making imigrants not have a reason to come. We dont have the money to spend on anymore people. Cut back on the war on drugs. Make weed legal and tax the crap out of it. Make it illegal to grow your own just like moonshine. The ease of buying it will win over and we could clear some of the debt.

---------- Post added 2012-12-03 at 02:10 PM ----------

Just wanted to add one more big cut that none of the young people here are going to like. We need to reall scale back loans on education. There are a lot of jobs out there in trades that are being worked by former college kids in debt. An education does not i repeat does not mean a better life. The debt being saddle by the youth today is stupid. Kids need to told your dumb go to work not saddle them with debt before they figure it out. Even if you finish try and find a job. Most likely youll fid theres 300 people with the same qualifacations as you because everyone needs to go yo college in the world today.

[Sealed Shut]

I already left California for Texas, but it had nothing to do with tax rates.

Honestly, I think wealthy people who live in CA don't do it because of the state's fiscal policy. They do it because it's a beautiful state, a wonderful place to live, with a strong university system spitting out quality employees for their companies, with good weather and lots of nature. I don't see a tax hike causing those people to leave en masse.

Normally, i'd agree with this, but prop 30 is such a huge jump in tax rate....

[Laize]

Normally, i'd agree with this, but prop 30 is such a huge jump in tax rate....

California is shit broke. There's no solution for them BUT to raise taxes.

California and NJ are cautionary tales for allowing public unions "collective bargaining" rights as opposed to legislating their pay.

[soulcrusher]

California is shit broke. There's no solution for them BUT to raise taxes.

California and NJ are cautionary tales for allowing public unions "collective bargaining" rights as opposed to legislating their pay.

or theyre great examples of what happens if you give tax breaks to your rich friends.

[Sialanne]

And seeing as the Eurozone recently fell back into a recession, I don't quite think their system is working.

The right answer is C. Let the free market do it's job. The US Federal Reserve is illegal (monetary policy is the job of congress) and not working. Bernanke has created each bubble (housing and mortgage bubbles) and both have popped and caused drastic drops in the economy. On top of that the US government has too many regulations. The US government taxes far too much and spends even more than what the steal from the people. The $17 Trillion isn't the scary part; the $227 Trillion worth of interest that those loans will accrue is scary, and our generations and those of our children and our children's children will being paying for these mistakes.

So does socialism work? No. Does the current US system work? Hell no. Does Keynesian economics work? NO! And Bernanke is a student of the Keynesian philosophy and has failed over and over again. The Austrian school of free market economics seems to work as the school has predicted every bubble and following failure of the economy. Free Market/Laissez Faire is the way to.

And whoever said the free market leads to monopolies is silly.

This is correct.

[Bergtau]

Yeah, but without impetus from the public, that's unlikely to happen. So self regulatory groups do just enough to keep the majority of the public happy so they don't go rocking the boat.

Stuff happens all the time without public backing and stuff is also attempted despite public opposition.

Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that the this kind of self-regulation is directly related to government interference.

[Riidii]

or theyre great examples of what happens if you give tax breaks to your rich friends.

You can't be serious.

You honestly think that's the problem? Those two states have some of the highest taxes in the country.

[Spoiler]

I voted B. It was not too long ago that America had a very strong economy with a budget surplus, and we didn't get there through Socialism or complete free market capitalism.

[Laize]

or theyre great examples of what happens if you give tax breaks to your rich friends.

Actually the biggest problem they've had is the ridiculous amounts spent on public unions.

That kind of spending is to be expected when "collective bargaining" involves more or less telling an appointed official how many tax dollars you want and them just giving it to you.

[artemishunter1]

I will support complete communism with a superpower computer at its head. Its repairing and governence also beign done by lesser robots. Think skynet without killing part. Basicly everything that we ever need to do being done by self automated robots and a powerful supercomputer making the decisions.

[Laize]

I will support complete communism with a superpower computer at its head. Its repairing and governence also beign done by lesser robots. Think skynet without killing part. Basicly everything that we ever need to do being done by self automated robots and a powerful supercomputer making the decisions.

So we'll be subjugated by a manmade device?

Do not want.

[Sialanne]

I will support complete communism with a superpower computer at its head. Its repairing and governence also beign done by lesser robots. Think skynet without killing part. Basicly everything that we ever need to do being done by self automated robots and a powerful supercomputer making the decisions.

Do you think Skynet was created with the killing part in mind? Read the short story "I have no Mouth, and I must Scream" by Harlan Ellison for some idea of how that works out.