Helping the Super Rich at the Expense of the Super Poor

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@David of ID - It's not like there is a big daddy out there dishing out "Rewards & Punishments." Where do you guys get such ideas anyway? People talk about taxes as 'punishment' except when it comes to actual work for wages for some reason. On the other hand, if the 'work for wages' person happens to earn multimillions for being an employee their whole life leading up to that CEO position, somehow they're suddenly endowed (with that money somehow creating a glowing halo over their heads) as 'job creators.' These same mouthpieces don't understand that even people spending their unemployment checks or food stamp benefits ARE part of the economy and their spending means businesses who sell to them have to hire people. What's so hard to understand about that?
I particularly enjoyed thinking about the Koch Bros as whining thumb suckers looking for the government teat with those oil subsidies. The big whiz financial guys getting bailed out by all those little people aka taxpayers.
I've got a pretty long list of mega-buck moochers, but that just doesn't seem to stir your sense of indignation, I suppose. You'd probably respect them if they sucked off millions, but since they are just getting basic food and shelter they're despicable. I've always found that quite strange. I finally learned to chalk it up to money-worshipers.
And that's your idea of American values?

LA-CC of CA 2:02AM March 09, 2012

The article was great, just reporting the way it is...the comments are absurd, and not even remotely based in reality thick with generalizations. I would consider myself to highly educated having graduated from the University of Illinois, and going on to obtain 2 degrees post. However, I would like to share a story of my experience with government programs. Just after graduating from U of I, I contracted a virus which didn't kill me but left me severely handicapped with no doctor willing to tell me the odds of recovery. But this isn't a tale of woe, it Ph its about the mountain of proof I need to get despirately needed assistance. Unable to read, write, walk, or even shower without assistance, but mentally sound I did what I had to and applied for government assistance. My doctors signed all needed documentation, medical records sent only to be denied disability. They told me I had to go to one of THEIR doctors, which I did who also signed all needed paperwork saying that I was indeed handicapped. I was still denied. I finally was forced to hire a lawyer who then pocketed a third of my puny settlement, to prove I was indeed disabled. The amount of money was not much, really not even enough to cover my expenses fully and I was SO OBVIOUSLY handicapped. I was lucky I did get better and no longer needed assistance. I really don't understand why people don't get pissed of about their tax dollars funding an unwinnable war(the cost of which is up to $1 million per soldier!), oil and gas company subsidies (even though they are making record breaking profits), or other forms of corporate welfare (millionaire farmers, still getting $) but bitch and moan about giving a dime to someone who really needs it. Jesus believed we should help our neighbors, help the poor, the sick, the elderly, help those who (for whatever reason) cannot help themselves. Oh, and by the way you got it wrong about the kids in school who don't learn...haven't you heard, it's not THEIR FAULT, it's the TEACHER'S FAULT (hopefully you caught the sarcasm!).

mia of IL 8:02PM March 08, 2012

the column and the chart pretty much sums it up.i
in spite of a very slight down tick,the 1% have done very well for themselves during the economic down turn.the country needs to dump the bush tax cuts,and return to the rates that were in place under bill clinton.
it;s time that everyone got a fair shake.

bruce b of NV 1:30PM March 08, 2012

David, Reading that drivel - which I'm guessing you think is a coherent thought - made me want to hurl. What a vile load of trash, atop an excrement pile.
To sum up your comment, we should all bow down before rich people, as their trust funds mean they are our superiors. Blah blah, than you continue to whine about a lack "true men" and other such garbage.
Amazing that someone so unexceptional could complain about being pandered to.

Steve of AL 1:09PM March 08, 2012

Did Jesus also say being poor is "their fault?"
While there may be "many" people trying to game the system, I think you might agree that there are many more times that number of "true" men AND WOMEN trying to negotiate a living by his AND HER own efforts. Can you understand someone who is struggling when you suggest the worthy pursuits in life are staring contests with "adversity" and chasing trophies? I'd like to understand your reasons for focusing on "thumb suckers" instead of on economic conditions that may encourage unnecessary hardship for a great many number of people.
Anyways, thanks for bringing up some of your points in the article Chad.

Lloyd of 12:32PM March 08, 2012

David,
You could not of said it any plainer. I might add that Jesus said there will always be the poor with us.
They are the ones that don't pay attention in school and receive some education to be able to hold a job. That is not our fault. IT IS THEIRS!
Thank you for the great respose.

Dino of MN 11:38AM March 08, 2012

You reward those who deserve it rather than those who need it. In the same sense you give a trophy to first place finishers and not last place finishers.
It's called life and pandering for the unexceptional is pathetic.
I don't see the unemployed creating jobs.
I see the needy willing to exchange character, integrity, morality, values for government dependence.
It's high time that we stop ignoring the obvious. Suckling off government is or should be an act of last resort. Unfortunately, many American's expend their time, effort, and talents "working"/"gaming" the system rather than networking, creating, generating ideas, etc.
Rudyard Kipling penned, in his famous poem "IF", the following lines pertaining to what it takes to be a man:
" . . . Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, and lose, and start again at your beginings And never breathe a word about your loss; . . . "
What's needed and lacking in America, are true men who stare adversity in the eye without blinking. We have to many whinning, thumb suckers looking for the government teat.

david of ID 11:06AM March 08, 2012