4 ms·

Exactly, this is where he lost me. The pitch is incredibly naive. If the latest presidential election in the US has taught us anything it should be that middle

Exactly, this is where he lost me. The pitch is incredibly naive. If the latest presidential election in the US has taught us anything it should be that middle class people with stagnating wages couldn’t care less about the troubles of the worlds poor.

geggam 8y ago
Pretty sure you can say that about most folks. We tend to run on the selfish side as a species.
emodendroket 8y ago
The argument is kind of two-pronged and would involve wealth transfers from the rich to the middle and lower class. Heard anyone railing about elites lately?
- bequanna 8y ago
  It just won't work. The middle class doesn't see themselves as net beneficiaries in wealth transfers, so you have to completely rewire their thinking. Also, roughly 50% of the country isn't interested in any additional taxation, period. They don't care if you try to tell them how they will benefit because they see themselves as the aspiring rich. Finally, the goal is of this policy is to increase taxation of the top x%. The same people with armies of lobbyists and the majority of politicians (GOP or DFL) already in their pockets. Good luck.
  - dragonwriter 8y ago
    > (GOP or DFL) Unless you are specifically talking about Minnesota state politics, the two major parties are not the Republican Party (nickname “Grand Ole Party”, or GOP for short) and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL for short.)
  - emodendroket 8y ago
    > Finally, the goal is of this policy is to increase taxation of the top x%. The same people with armies of lobbyists and the majority of politicians (GOP or DFL) already in their pockets. Good luck. Well "nothing can ever get better" doesn't sound like much of a winner either.
    - mrguyorama 8y ago
      Basically, any forward looking plan is on hold until people get off their butts and actually vote democrat/notGOP on voting day. Until certain portions of the ruling class lose their positions, they hold enough power to prevent anything from hurting them
      - emodendroket 8y ago
        I think this gets it backwards. If you want people to turn out and vote for Democrats, or anyone else, you have to offer them a program they can mobilize around and support.

geggam 8y ago

Pretty sure you can say that about most folks. We tend to run on the selfish side as a species.

emodendroket 8y ago

The argument is kind of two-pronged and would involve wealth transfers from the rich to the middle and lower class. Heard anyone railing about elites lately?

bequanna 8y ago
It just won't work. The middle class doesn't see themselves as net beneficiaries in wealth transfers, so you have to completely rewire their thinking. Also, roughly 50% of the country isn't interested in any additional taxation, period. They don't care if you try to tell them how they will benefit because they see themselves as the aspiring rich. Finally, the goal is of this policy is to increase taxation of the top x%. The same people with armies of lobbyists and the majority of politicians (GOP or DFL) already in their pockets. Good luck.
- dragonwriter 8y ago
  > (GOP or DFL) Unless you are specifically talking about Minnesota state politics, the two major parties are not the Republican Party (nickname “Grand Ole Party”, or GOP for short) and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL for short.)
- emodendroket 8y ago
  > Finally, the goal is of this policy is to increase taxation of the top x%. The same people with armies of lobbyists and the majority of politicians (GOP or DFL) already in their pockets. Good luck. Well "nothing can ever get better" doesn't sound like much of a winner either.
  - mrguyorama 8y ago
    Basically, any forward looking plan is on hold until people get off their butts and actually vote democrat/notGOP on voting day. Until certain portions of the ruling class lose their positions, they hold enough power to prevent anything from hurting them
    - emodendroket 8y ago
      I think this gets it backwards. If you want people to turn out and vote for Democrats, or anyone else, you have to offer them a program they can mobilize around and support.