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I think you make an implicit claim by citing these numbers that taxing those 400 specific Americans more is not the solution to solving problems related to the

by pen2l 11y ago

I think you make an implicit claim by citing these numbers that taxing those 400 specific Americans more is not the solution to solving problems related to the state not having enough money. But isn't there an argument to be made that when these ultra-rich are stripped of their billions, they are less likely to spend money trying to do things to bend laws to their benefit? If Koch brothers / Soros did not have the billions they do, they'd spend a lot less gaming the system, thereby the larger population of non-rich having greater power in the system, in essence ensuring better democracy, do you agree?

rayiner 11y ago
I don't think that spending in attempts of gaming the system really amount to much: http://freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaign-spending-influence-the-election-a-freakonomics-quorum/ http://freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaign-sp.... I think we have exactly the government one would expect from taking account of the demographics of voters. 2/3 of voters in midterm federal elections are 45+ and the median voter in municipal elections is pushing 60: https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2015/07/tracking-turnout-older-voters-overwhelm-mayoral-elections-st-paul-and-other-c https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2015/07/tracking-tur.... Given the demographics, I have a hard time seeing what exactly would be different if the rich had less power. I mean, are we going to raise taxes to make health care free for younger people, when the median voter is going to be eligible for Medicare in a few years anyway? And is it really rich people lobbying for more surveillance and resisting decriminalization of drugs, or is it my mother?
- ryandrake 11y ago
  > And is it really rich people lobbying for more surveillance and resisting decriminalization of drugs, or is it my mother? While your mother may be voting for such policies, she is likely not lobbying for them (or writing them). The companies and high net worth individuals who have a financial stake in these policies are the ones doing that. Every piece of legislation that exists benefits a rich person in some way.
  - rayiner 11y ago
    If voters oppose, say, drug decriminalization,[1] who cares if rich people who might benefit from the drug war lobby to keep the existing laws? [1] Which they do by a huge margin, with the sole exception of marijuana: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/drug-legalization-poll_n_5162357.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/drug-legalization-p....

by pen2l 11y ago

rayiner 11y ago

I don't think that spending in attempts of gaming the system really amount to much: http://freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaign-spending-influence-the-election-a-freakonomics-quorum/ http://freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaign-sp.... I think we have exactly the government one would expect from taking account of the demographics of voters. 2/3 of voters in midterm federal elections are 45+ and the median voter in municipal elections is pushing 60: https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2015/07/tracking-turnout-older-voters-overwhelm-mayoral-elections-st-paul-and-other-c https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2015/07/tracking-tur.... Given the demographics, I have a hard time seeing what exactly would be different if the rich had less power. I mean, are we going to raise taxes to make health care free for younger people, when the median voter is going to be eligible for Medicare in a few years anyway? And is it really rich people lobbying for more surveillance and resisting decriminalization of drugs, or is it my mother?

ryandrake 11y ago
> And is it really rich people lobbying for more surveillance and resisting decriminalization of drugs, or is it my mother? While your mother may be voting for such policies, she is likely not lobbying for them (or writing them). The companies and high net worth individuals who have a financial stake in these policies are the ones doing that. Every piece of legislation that exists benefits a rich person in some way.
- rayiner 11y ago
  If voters oppose, say, drug decriminalization,[1] who cares if rich people who might benefit from the drug war lobby to keep the existing laws? [1] Which they do by a huge margin, with the sole exception of marijuana: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/drug-legalization-poll_n_5162357.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/drug-legalization-p....