Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Southern Avenger - Extremism In The Defense Of Liberty

11 comments:

Chris said...

Sorry, but this video is based on an obvious skewing of the data: "30,000 for each man, woman, and child" does not compute. First, children do not pay taxes, and second the rich and corporations pay a bigger chunk. It is therefore NOT "30,000 for each man, woman, and child".

Josh said...

Yes, that is how averages work.

Chris said...

No, that is not how averages work. That is how this average works, because this average was created by adding together disparate groups and then dividing it into another sum. You can not do that.

Josh said...

Yes, this this is best way for individuals to understand the weight of the debt their governments has accumulated.

Chris said...

No, sorry, that is not how taxes work. The average American will not have to pay that much tax. It is a lie, pure and simple.

Josh said...

It is a lie to assume the average american will only be responsible for the portion of this debt by the amount of tax the government asks for them. There is no method to accurately calculate the actual financial burden placed on each individual by this debt and therefore the most honest way to communicate this burden is a straight average.

Chris said...

No, sorry, a straight average is also a lie. The average person pays, proportionally speaking, less taxes than the rich. That is how the taxation system works. Even if we had a flat tax system, the rich would still be paying more taxes, BECAUSE they make more.


Basic math.. Learn it.

Josh said...

Right, and as the rich pay more in taxes, they have less money to invest, they shift their capital out of the country, which means less jobs are created and there's higher unemployment. In any case, everyone suffers more than just what their current tax rate indicates.

In any case, Tax rates will have to sky-rocket in the US for everyone to cover their current liabilities in medicare, medicaide, and social security...so again...the current tax burden on the average individual, not really an accurate reflection of the pain they will suffer due to the amount of debt the country has accumulated.

Of course. This should be the least of our worries. What America should really be worrying about is the possible armed conflict that will occur when the US debt implodes.

Chris said...

"Right, and as the rich pay more in taxes, they have less money to invest, they shift their capital out of the country, which means less jobs are created and there's higher unemployment. In any case, everyone suffers more than just what their current tax rate indicates."

I thought we were talking about whether the stat was a good one or not, Josh? Why are you bringing up effects?

"In any case, Tax rates will have to sky-rocket in the US for everyone to cover their current liabilities in medicare, medicaide, and social security...so again...the current tax burden on the average individual, not really an accurate reflection of the pain they will suffer due to the amount of debt the country has accumulated."

You lost the argument, so now you feel the need to fearmonger about the future. Won't work with me, Bud.

"Of course. This should be the least of our worries. What America should really be worrying about is the possible armed conflict that will occur when the US debt implodes."

Horrible.


Again, the rich pay more taxes and hence a greater portion of the deficit per person. Therefore, the average that was quoted is WRONG.

Josh said...

Meh. I still do not consider it a skewing of data. Its an interpretation of the current national debt used to communicate the gravity of the situation. People understand that they don't directly owe someone $30,000. This is assumed. But the statistic allows the individual to better understand the amount owed.

Chris said...

It is clearly a skewing of the data used to scare people. It is a type of lying that fear-mongers use to fear-monger.