Peter Schiff: Majority Doesn't "Have A Right To Steal My Money Just Because They Voted For It"

Real Clear Politics ^ | December 10, 2012 | Peter Schiff

[george76]

First of all, I'm in the top two percent. Right now, I'm paying 45% of my total income in income taxes, both to the state of Connecticut and to the federal government, and if you take the 3% Medicare tax. After the tax hikes go into effect next year, more than half -- more than half of my total income is going to go to the government.

You tell me, what's fair about that when medieval serfs pay 25%, I'm paying half? I don't care what the majority voted to do, they don't have a right to steal my money just because they vote for it.

[mosaicwolf]

A flat tax system means less votes for the rats. Think about it.

[MrB]

Most sheeperals cringe at that reality as well.
They don’t want to believe that they are threatening deadly force in order to “do good”.
They just want to feel good about themselves for “helping people”, even though they are doing nothing but voting and advocating.

They’ll even deny that deadly force is threatened.
I’ll walk them down a scenario that will end with an agent of the government shooting a citizen for non-compliance.
Their usual response to this is “if he’d just complied, he wouldn’t have been shot”, and they don’t get that they’ve just proven the point.
My response to that is “the government could have stopped trying to make him comply at some point as well.”

[showme_the_Glory]

"Rub their noses in the pile of crap they create...."

Sorry but the MSM will never let that happen. We will get our noses rubbed in it. White males, tea party folks, conservatives, working people, etc.

[Eagle of Liberty]

The “rich” happen to have a function in the private sector, and that of course is to put excess capital at risk.

There seems to be a problem with what is going on in Washington with this "Rich" debate. You know darn well that those "Representatives" in Washington, yes those RICH people in Washington, are NOT going to change the rules to cause themselves any economic harm, but those are THE PEOPLE who escape much of these debates every time!

IMO, these debates purposely set up straw men to distract the lazy reader.

[hal ogen]

It would only be “fair”...

[Vaduz]

I don’t think they worry about that they have mastered the art of jimmying votes,note 1960 and 2012.
Russia went to a 15% flat tax system and it is working out just fine.
Europe is dumping it’s old socialism system and yet Obama&Co are going to it.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Make them use actual numbers.

Agreed. And then we need to talk about where the REAL wealth is held in this country and by who. And then we need to discuss how increasing income tax percentages does not really even go after those that the 99%ers despise.

The other item we need to have some serious discussions on is the topic of Hypocrisy! Here you have a President and a Party that desires more revenue for whatever they want that revenue for, yet last year, they reduced the payroll tax rate? That is THE instrument for funding SS. How about The House says, "Okay, you want more revenue? Here is what WE think needs more revenue. We think that the SS program needs more revenue, so we will pass a bill that removes the cap for SS funding and that is our bill."

[Jude in WV]

Added to Federal and State income tax is:
Local Income tax
Real estate & Personal Property tax
Tax on utilities
Sales tax
Federal excise taxes
surcharges on insurance
fire fees

The middle class gets to keep much less than half of their income.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Centuries ago a philosopher wrote "democracy cannot succeed because as soon as the populace learns that it can vote itself money it will begin to collapse.

IOW, one particular Party decided to do away with being the "adults" in the room and set their goal on becoming Rulers of the democracy and promised goodies to all who kept them in power.

[Myrddin]

There are some people who would have no problem stealing your money. Turn the argument. Ask if it is OK for you to steal money from the person you're questioning. Ramp it up as before. Push the outrage button. Let that person understand the sting of theft instead of trying to tweak a guilty heart string that may not exist.

[Tzimisce]

I guess the top 2% shouldn’t have given money and support to Obama and his liberal horde....

[gop4lyf]

I have said for years that too many people are eligible to vote. Even if there were no voter fraud at all, my educated, rational vote gets canceled out by someone who only votes for whoever looks like them, or whoever promises to give them the most of MY money.

[Adder]

Thats going to happen anyway. Besides the pubbies will definitely cave because zero couldn’t care less. The dumbles couldn’t care less about anyone except themselves. So the pubbies should quit making it worse because they will NOT stand firm and refuse to deal. [because what the msm will say about them etc...]I am sensing a pattern. They COULD pass thier bill and make the dems own its defeat while they go home for Christmas and the cliff happens and they get blamed. As it stands now they will be humilated into voting for the higher rates with the promise of curbing entitlements and other spending at a “later” which will never come.

The dumbles are already showing their hand that this tax increase won’t satisfy them at all [see Howie Dean’s comments.]Its not the last bite of the rate apple despite their pious posturing. And then all the zerocare taxes hit.

What fun that will be.

IF pubbies think a little bit they can pick up many Senate seats in ‘14 and keep the house and make nothing happen until the kenyan is gone.

Just my opine...

[IamConservative]

After the tax hikes go into effect next year, more than half -- more than half of my total income is going to go to the government.

As grotesque as that statement is on it's own merits, lets not forget sales tax, fuel taxes, etc. In total, I'd say the scale tips more like 60-65% for Peter when you add all the nickels and dimes together.

[newnhdad]

I’m not sure where these people are living but in this country, we elected a man that promised top take more money from “rich” individuals and give it to loafers that will vote for them again next time. It’s the new America. All aboard the gravy train.

Elections have consequences.

[Lancey Howard]

[MrB]

Depends on the sheeperal in question.
Most of them derive their righteousness by their advocacy.
They want to think of themselves as “a good person” and don’t want to be called a thief.

So, in the majority of situations, my angle would be better,
but there would be the fringe cases of folks that have no problem stealing from others, but wouldn’t want to be stolen from.

[Trod Upon]

Put yourself in the place of someone making $20k-40k per year; $250k looks pretty damn close to “rich” under those circumstances. A person who makes in one year what you would have to work for a decade to get is definitely not on the same plane of existence with you, even if they’re not Bill Gates. The contrast between living for ten years on $250k vs $2.5 million is pretty stark. It all depends on where you are in the spectrum. To somebody making $500k+ per year, $250k might look rather modest, but the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Americans earn far less than either figure, so playing with semantics isn’t a winner. It doesn’t matter whether someone is “rich” or “poor.” What matters is that free people should not be forcibly divested of the fruits of their labor.

[ridesthemiles]

I tell people that they are welcome to donate any $$$ they have to whatever cause they believe in.....
BUT- They are NOT allowed to dictate what I sill support with taxes—such as Abortion & Gay Marriage.

[MrB]

You see, that’s the problem with the free market method of distributing wealth,
folks like you and me end up with wealth we’re “not smart enough” to use to support the “right” things.