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> Americans are taught that "all men are created equal." While they continually violate that idea in some aspects of life, in others they adhere to it. Boy, I

> Americans are taught that "all men are created equal." While they continually violate that idea in some aspects of life, in others they adhere to it. Boy, I wish more Americans understood that.

Alex3917 16y ago
More accurately, Americans mostly adhere to the notion that "all men are equal" when it serves the interests of the top 1%. Voting, the military, taxes, college admissions, etc.
- JoeAltmaier 16y ago
  I'm not so cynical. Voting is supposed to be available to all; the military is a valued opportunity for many young folks with limited means; taxes are sometimes regressive but do follow a curve; rural youth in my area are admitted to colleges by merit. So "the top 1%" is probably not accurate.
- yummyfajitas 16y ago
  Americans mostly adhere to the notion that "all men are equal" when it serves the interests of the top 1%....taxes... Really bad example. The US has the most progressive tax system of the entire OECD. The only countries that come close are Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands. http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27134.html http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27134.html Here is data on the top 1%. Specifically, they earn 20% of income in the US, but pay 38% of taxes. http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html I'm not sure why you believe the military gives preferences to the top 1%. As far as I'm aware, the military is strictly egalitarian (being based on fairly rigid performance criteria) with the sole exception of having racial and sexual preferences.
  - Alex3917 16y ago
    "I'm not sure why you believe the military gives preferences to the top 1%. As far as I'm aware, the military is strictly egalitarian..." And that egalitarianism is partly used to hide the fact that the people dying, losing limbs, suffering traumatic brain injuries, etc., aren't the ones who are making billions of dollars from the war.
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

> Americans are taught that "all men are created equal." While they continually violate that idea in some aspects of life, in others they adhere to it. Boy, I wish more Americans understood that.

Alex3917 16y ago

More accurately, Americans mostly adhere to the notion that "all men are equal" when it serves the interests of the top 1%. Voting, the military, taxes, college admissions, etc.

JoeAltmaier 16y ago
I'm not so cynical. Voting is supposed to be available to all; the military is a valued opportunity for many young folks with limited means; taxes are sometimes regressive but do follow a curve; rural youth in my area are admitted to colleges by merit. So "the top 1%" is probably not accurate.
yummyfajitas 16y ago
Americans mostly adhere to the notion that "all men are equal" when it serves the interests of the top 1%....taxes... Really bad example. The US has the most progressive tax system of the entire OECD. The only countries that come close are Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands. http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27134.html http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27134.html Here is data on the top 1%. Specifically, they earn 20% of income in the US, but pay 38% of taxes. http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html I'm not sure why you believe the military gives preferences to the top 1%. As far as I'm aware, the military is strictly egalitarian (being based on fairly rigid performance criteria) with the sole exception of having racial and sexual preferences.
- Alex3917 16y ago
  "I'm not sure why you believe the military gives preferences to the top 1%. As far as I'm aware, the military is strictly egalitarian..." And that egalitarianism is partly used to hide the fact that the people dying, losing limbs, suffering traumatic brain injuries, etc., aren't the ones who are making billions of dollars from the war.

deleted 16y ago

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