Do you think government is capable of remedy all your ills ?

@whowasthatmaskedman your taxes....don't your taxes pay for that ?

@revenant If people paid enough tax, Yes it would. It used to be that way when the $US was backed by gold. But since them Americans have been spending like a drunken sailor on leave and not taxing people enough. Who to tax is not the issue. But someone has to pay sooner or later..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman the US tax code has needed fixing for decades. To have billionaires pay lower taxes tuan hourly employees in s disgraceful. To have someone many rewarded for cheating on their taxes, truly criminal. The recent congressional legislation calls for expansion of IRS employees in an attempt not to go after the little guy, that is pure crap, but to be able to audit more of those who pay little or no taxes.

@whowasthatmaskedman taxes will never be enough. Taxes will eventually end up in some people's deep pockets or funds distributed elsewhere.

@revenant not if fairness prevails, but, the new radical right doesn't seem to understand that.

@samueltyler2 in all fairness..neither does the radical left

@samueltyler2 You are preaching to the choir here. No government should spend more than it takes in tax..Under there is a specific reason, Like a war or national emergency, WW2 was largely funded by War Bonds, and lend lease agreements. Britain went through years of Austerity and rationing post war to pay America off.😷

@revenant I agree thats how it is.. But that isnt how it should be.. and it is within the laws of man to prevent it..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman Man has been trying to do his best for a long time now

@revenant No argument here. But someone will always want more.. There is a good reason for farm subsidies.. Food security. But they also mean that farmers dont have to compete in the real world, so they dont..And similar protections from competetion are everywhere in business..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman all occur because of lobbying money!

@whowasthatmaskedman farmers are a hot subject at the moment. They certainly feel their work is not being recognised and valued.

@samueltyler2 Yes..But the result over time is that international business learns to be competitive, where America for instance , doesnt.. And suddenly all the business ship their work overseas. Apple, Nike. Harley Davidson..In spite of the subsidies, it costs too much to produce locally. In the end, you have to learn to compete or become isolated.😷

@revenant And quite so.. But other countries have evolved to modernize production in the way American farmers have not had to..Look at individual protections for butter V alternative spreads...Toxin levels in peanuts. Hormone and antibiotics in Livestock. The whole food chain is littered with bent standards..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman it is as complicated subject, but take a look at the taxes those who can shipping the work overseas avoid. They make out like bandits paying lower wages overseas, then avoid paying taxes on their profits here in the US. The first income is then disproportionately channeled to upper management of such firms.

I know it may sound like I am supporting socialism or communism, but if the upper management took lower "draws," the difference can go a long way to paying for production in the US! I always ask myself, how much money do those big CEOs really need, how much do they deserve?

@whowasthatmaskedman they seem to be pressured to produce more for a lesser cost. Quantity over quality.

@samueltyler2 You understand the situation. But there is more. Shareholders want dividends and high share prices.. And directors have a built in duty to provide the best possible result under law.. They to NOT have a similar duty to act in the best interests of the client, or the nation. So thats the level you need to start changing things at.
Back in the 50s and 60s the American government was run with an implicit social contract to protect the average person and provide for their needs and to look after the environment, largely through taxing those who could afford to pay for it. But in the 70s this all changed, due to a report accepted into the Republican side of Politics.😷
[media=https://youtu.be/bbbgfnpJN9w]

@revenant Thats a more complex question, but China is now the cheap manufacturere than Japan used to be.. Now look at Toyota...😷

@whowasthatmaskedman It is a more complicated question that it seems at first alright. India or Indonesia might replace China..who knows.

@whowasthatmaskedman i absolutely agree. Growing up in the 40s and 50s my natural inclination is to help others, insure the general welfare. I was taught that the declaration of Independence intended that direction in the US. I read enough of the federalist papers to have that belief supported. I will not blame any one pets n or party, but it saddens me to see society move away for m that "noble" approach.

@samueltyler2 I wish I could say that the American example had not made inroads here. Fortunately not many. But they are here and they are ugly..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman here is where?

@samueltyler2 🇦🇺

@whowasthatmaskedman I just checked out your about me.