Comments on: Billionaires no longer rich enough to make Forbes list. http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:11:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Gregor Samsa http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087461 Gregor Samsa Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:37:08 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087461 <i>The smart ones save and invest. Comment by JT — September 21, 2007 @ 2:12 pm</i> That is assuming there is any money left to save and invest, after paying all the living expenses. As for the tax cuts, the standard of living for the average American hasn't increased -Bush's tax cuts notwithstanding. Which is ultimately what really matters: Access to health care, education, job security, retirement benefits, etc. Paying less in taxes, while paying more for private health care -with no job security, to boot- only comforts the fool among us. The smart ones save and invest.
Comment by JT — September 21, 2007 @ 2:12 pm

That is assuming there is any money left to save and invest, after paying all the living expenses.

As for the tax cuts, the standard of living for the average American hasn’t increased -Bush’s tax cuts notwithstanding. Which is ultimately what really matters: Access to health care, education, job security, retirement benefits, etc.

Paying less in taxes, while paying more for private health care -with no job security, to boot- only comforts the fool among us.

]]> By: Gregor Samsa http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087456 Gregor Samsa Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:32:31 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087456 I can fully understand why the Forbes-list types support the Bush administration, as it is advantageous for their own financial mega-interests, since a good business-friendly administration will always increase their wealth -no mater how large it is now. On the other side of the income scale, why the room temperature IQ trolls support everything Bush is still a mystery to me. Though I have the feeling I just answered my own question. I can fully understand why the Forbes-list types support the Bush administration, as it is advantageous for their own financial mega-interests, since a good business-friendly administration will always increase their wealth -no mater how large it is now.

On the other side of the income scale, why the room temperature IQ trolls support everything Bush is still a mystery to me.

Though I have the feeling I just answered my own question.

]]> By: Ret. Col. Jack Ripper http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087354 Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:50:09 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087354 JT: "I daresay that any person who actually earns an income and takes a hard look at their overall tax burden now versus before the Bush tax cuts cannot argue with a straightface that they pay more taxes now." I daresay????!!!!! What is this, English light opera? Listen, poindexter, more than a few studies show that the middle class is actually paying out more in taxes and fees, not less. Revenue responsibility has been shunted down to the states whenever possible and states are either going bankrupt, raising taxes or borrowing money. Energy is more expensive as is medical care, college expenses and housing. The purchasing power of the average working class person in America has gone DOWN since 2001. JT: “I daresay that any person who actually earns an income and takes a hard look at their overall tax burden now versus before the Bush tax cuts cannot argue with a straightface that they pay more taxes now.”

I daresay????!!!!! What is this, English light opera? Listen, poindexter, more than a few studies show that the middle class is actually paying out more in taxes and fees, not less. Revenue responsibility has been shunted down to the states whenever possible and states are either going bankrupt, raising taxes or borrowing money. Energy is more expensive as is medical care, college expenses and housing. The purchasing power of the average working class person in America has gone DOWN since 2001.

]]> By: Alejandro http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087096 Alejandro Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:50:12 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087096 The dollar is going going gone. The only thing propping up our economy was the fact that it was the world reserve currency. No longer. The Saudis are bailing. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/09/19/bcnsaudi119.xml <blockquote><em>Saudi Arabia has refused to cut interest rates in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve for the first time, signalling that the oil-rich Gulf kingdom is preparing to break the dollar currency peg in a move that risks setting off a stampede out of the dollar across the Middle East.</em></blockquote> This will be a chain reaction. The only reason a lot of countries keep loads of dollars is because China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia do. Once they start dumping it, the value drops, and more and more countries start to drop. Here it comes. Depression 2.0. The dollar is going going gone.

The only thing propping up our economy was the fact that it was the world reserve currency. No longer. The Saudis are bailing.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/09/19/bcnsaudi119.xml

Saudi Arabia has refused to cut interest rates in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve for the first time, signalling that the oil-rich Gulf kingdom is preparing to break the dollar currency peg in a move that risks setting off a stampede out of the dollar across the Middle East.

This will be a chain reaction. The only reason a lot of countries keep loads of dollars is because China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia do. Once they start dumping it, the value drops, and more and more countries start to drop.

Here it comes. Depression 2.0.

]]> By: Xisithrus http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087060 Xisithrus Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:33:22 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087060 It’s time to abolish the income tax anyway. Comment by Alejandro — September 21, 2007 There was no tax cut, it was a tax shift. Tax receipts have increased, if their was a tax cut tax receipts should have dropped, it didn't. It’s time to abolish the income tax anyway.
Comment by Alejandro — September 21, 2007

There was no tax cut, it was a tax shift. Tax receipts have increased, if their was a tax cut tax receipts should have dropped, it didn’t.

]]> By: Xisithrus http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087055 Xisithrus Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:31:44 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087055 The problem is usury. Money cannot make money nor should it be able to do so. Today money can be created on a hard drive with nothing to back it up. The problem is usury. Money cannot make money nor should it be able to do so. Today money can be created on a hard drive with nothing to back it up.

]]> By: Alejandro http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087048 Alejandro Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:27:56 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087048 <blockquote>I daresay that any person who actually earns an income and takes a hard look at their overall tax burden now versus before the Bush tax cuts cannot argue with a straightface that they pay more taxes now.</blockquote> I paid more in income taxes in 2006 than I did in 2000 and I only made $2k more that year. I never saw any cut in my income taxes ever. In fact, some of the credits I could get back then I can't get now. Thanks. It's time to abolish the income tax anyway.

I daresay that any person who actually earns an income and takes a hard look at their overall tax burden now versus before the Bush tax cuts cannot argue with a straightface that they pay more taxes now.

I paid more in income taxes in 2006 than I did in 2000 and I only made $2k more that year. I never saw any cut in my income taxes ever. In fact, some of the credits I could get back then I can’t get now. Thanks.

It’s time to abolish the income tax anyway.

]]> By: Alejandro http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087039 Alejandro Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:23:36 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087039 But it's mainly because the dollar is worthless nowadays. $1 billion is like $1 million 30 years ago. Maybe not that extreme, but it's getting there. You keep hearing about a record stock market, but that's because the dollar is plummeting. Hell, the Canadian dollar just passed the US dollar for the first time in history. But it’s mainly because the dollar is worthless nowadays. $1 billion is like $1 million 30 years ago. Maybe not that extreme, but it’s getting there.

You keep hearing about a record stock market, but that’s because the dollar is plummeting. Hell, the Canadian dollar just passed the US dollar for the first time in history.

]]> By: Wilco http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087019 Wilco Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:06:06 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087019 bob h, you shouldn't trash someone's grammer that puts your own grammar in question! =) bob h,
you shouldn’t trash someone’s grammer that puts your own grammar in question!
=)

]]> By: Squegeeboo http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087007 Squegeeboo Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:57:48 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087007 Johnny Swank <em>Bad Grammar=Republican Vote?</em> Oy mate, I am a republican voter, and I have bad grammar. That's why I posted that. Because in my previous post, that actually addressed the education issue, I had a whole bunch of punctuation and your/you're kinda errors. <em> The owners over there at Google, the liberal billionaire ones, I don’t see them giving it all back and living like 60,000 a year average Americans</em> They do give to charity, and are very generous to their employees, and now that the've hit it big, they are salaried for 1 dollar a year, no bonus, nothing, just that and their stocks from going public, if I remeber correctly. Johnny Swank
Bad Grammar=Republican Vote?

Oy mate, I am a republican voter, and I have bad grammar. That’s why I posted that. Because in my previous post, that actually addressed the education issue, I had a whole bunch of punctuation and your/you’re kinda errors.

The owners over there at Google, the liberal billionaire ones, I don’t see them giving it all back and living like 60,000 a year average Americans
They do give to charity, and are very generous to their employees, and now that the’ve hit it big, they are salaried for 1 dollar a year, no bonus, nothing, just that and their stocks from going public, if I remeber correctly.

]]> By: Squegeeboo http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087004 Squegeeboo Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:55:33 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087004 katy <em>do plan to EVER get married, start a family? …</em> Sure, but I don't need a car till I have a family, so why pay out the extra money now? <em> you are not a troll… you are a progressive citizen in the making… :-)</em> Shhhh, the RNC will pull my card. TripMaster Monkey <em>I’ve got my suspicions…</em> That means I've got to try and ride the fence even harder. katy
do plan to EVER get married, start a family? …
Sure, but I don’t need a car till I have a family, so why pay out the extra money now?

you are not a troll… you are a progressive citizen in the making…
:-)
Shhhh, the RNC will pull my card.

TripMaster Monkey
I’ve got my suspicions…
That means I’ve got to try and ride the fence even harder.

]]> By: Buckie Boy http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4087000 Buckie Boy Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:51:36 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4087000 Johnny Johnny Johnny, if you noticed we are slamming all of them for not contributing more to their employees. Does it hurt them to give their employees an extra dollar an hour? Does it hurt them to give their employees better health insurance? Does it hurt them to give? No, it doesn't, and just how much wealth is too much? It about the inequality, corporate profits trumps mankind, is the problem mind set of the rich. My wife and I make plenty, but I have rentals and those people are poor and don't get paid enough nor do they get enough health insurance if any at all. I have kept the rent the same for 6 years (in Seattle too) just to help them out. I let them work for rent too. Give them clothes, tools, and food when I can. I have a daughter going to Mount Holyoke so I am cash strapped now too (3,661.50 a month). So I guess I do more than most billionares do. (on a % basis) Ignore the "it" Buck Fush Johnny Johnny Johnny, if you noticed we are slamming all of them for not contributing more to their employees. Does it hurt them to give their employees an extra dollar an hour? Does it hurt them to give their employees better health insurance? Does it hurt them to give? No, it doesn’t, and just how much wealth is too much?
It about the inequality, corporate profits trumps mankind, is the problem mind set of the rich.
My wife and I make plenty, but I have rentals and those people are poor and don’t get paid enough nor do they get enough health insurance if any at all. I have kept the rent the same for 6 years (in Seattle too) just to help them out. I let them work for rent too. Give them clothes, tools, and food when I can. I have a daughter going to Mount Holyoke so I am cash strapped now too (3,661.50 a month).
So I guess I do more than most billionares do. (on a % basis)

Ignore the “it”

Buck Fush

]]> By: DRxJ http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086988 DRxJ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:40:38 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086988 Johnny Swank, after reading your first 3 sentences, I have one question: Are you part of the uneducated vote? Johnny Swank, after reading your first 3 sentences, I have one question:

Are you part of the uneducated vote?

]]> By: katy http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086980 katy Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:35:02 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086980 <em>Every little bit helps. - Squegeeboo @ 3:04 pm</em> made your mom proud! <em>I no longer have gas, car maintenance, or auto-insurance. -@ 3:20 pm</em> do plan to EVER get married, start a family? ... <em>@ 3:29 pm </em> you are not a troll... you are a progressive citizen in the making... :-) Every little bit helps. – Squegeeboo @ 3:04 pm

made your mom proud!

I no longer have gas, car maintenance, or auto-insurance. -@ 3:20 pm

do plan to EVER get married, start a family? …

@ 3:29 pm

you are not a troll… you are a progressive citizen in the making…
:-)

]]> By: TripMaster Monkey http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086975 TripMaster Monkey Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:32:18 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086975 Squegeeboo sez: <blockquote><em>Have you figured out which kind I am yet?</em></blockquote> I've got my suspicions... Squegeeboo sez:

Have you figured out which kind I am yet?

I’ve got my suspicions…

]]> By: Squegeeboo http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086969 Squegeeboo Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:29:16 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086969 TripMaster Monkey <em>This is hilarious. It’s impossible to tell the parody trolls from the real trolls in this thread. ^_^</em> Have you figured out which kind I am yet? TripMaster Monkey
This is hilarious. It’s impossible to tell the parody trolls from the real trolls in this thread. ^_^

Have you figured out which kind I am yet?

]]> By: Buckie Boy http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086963 Buckie Boy Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:26:17 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086963 Squegeeboo - bad part was, he drove off the road on to a Byke Path to hit me. 8-O Squegeeboo – bad part was, he drove off the road on to a Byke Path to hit me. 8-O

]]> By: TripMaster Monkey http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086958 TripMaster Monkey Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:23:18 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086958 This is hilarious. It's impossible to tell the parody trolls from the real trolls in this thread. <b>^_^</b> This is hilarious. It’s impossible to tell the parody trolls from the real trolls in this thread. ^_^

]]> By: bilbobaggins http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086957 bilbobaggins Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:21:17 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086957 <em>41 - I think a lot of us have seen our tax cuts disappear into our gas tanks - should we take a poll? Comment by tombaker </em> Also, a lot of us have seen our tax cuts disappear into the lack of a raise for the last six years or increased health care costs. 41 – I think a lot of us have seen our tax cuts disappear into our gas tanks – should we take a poll?

Comment by tombaker

Also, a lot of us have seen our tax cuts disappear into the lack of a raise for the last six years or increased health care costs.

]]> By: Squegeeboo http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/comment-page-2/#comment-4086954 Squegeeboo Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:20:07 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/21/billionaires-no-longer-rich-enough-to-make-forbes-list/#comment-4086954 tombaker <em>but you do have to acknowledge it’s a drop-in-the-bucket solution, and even if you’re not spending your so-called tax break on gas, you are spending it on everything else that has risen in cost over the last 6 years.</em> True, it is going to increased costs in other areas. But unlike my friends, as you noted, I no longer have gas, car maintenance, or auto-insurance. Buckie Boy <em>I used to byke everyday to work - till I got hit by a car</em> Sorry to hear that, still waiting for my first bad crash. But even accounting for car-bike accidents, most studies put biking as healthier than driving, due to all the hidden benefits. tombaker
but you do have to acknowledge it’s a drop-in-the-bucket solution, and even if you’re not spending your so-called tax break on gas, you are spending it on everything else that has risen in cost over the last 6 years.
True, it is going to increased costs in other areas. But unlike my friends, as you noted, I no longer have gas, car maintenance, or auto-insurance.

Buckie Boy
I used to byke everyday to work – till I got hit by a car
Sorry to hear that, still waiting for my first bad crash. But even accounting for car-bike accidents, most studies put biking as healthier than driving, due to all the hidden benefits.

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