"why don't you just take 79 slices (instead of 80)?" THAT'S SOCIALISM!! lol laughed my ass off. that is so American. I'm American but you gotta admit that we are that ridiculously stupid
Back when Bill Maher used to give a shit about this type of thing. He never makes great points like this any more. Maybe he’s been super wealthy for far too long. Bill has completely lost touch… I love old clips like this because it reminds me of why I watched Bill and followed his work for 25 years. These days, I barely tune in.
".....the thing about a pinata is that it doesn't open on it's own. You've got to beat it with a stick!" Man, that's classic. Bill should have his face printed on money.
When the wealth gap is that great, it leads to slavery... Only in Communist America, the word of a 4th graders is worth more than people with college or high school diploma...
Being Rich is not a bad thing in itself. I think, the meaning of the pyramidal shape has been perverted. Being at the top and rich should mean having more responsibility for and to others, not to be heartless and think one is separate and special. Like a lighthouse, the rich should represent a guiding light to safety and well being, of others and society. No rich person became rich in a void. They always owe it more or less to others. From their genes to the idea that was taken one step forward in the mind by that contribution from an assistant, friend, family member, etc, the fortunate rich always need and needed others. If anything, one can argue that the selfish and heartless rich are the scroungers of the masses, as they are the ones that take off the population, environment and do not give enough back compared to what they received.
***** Actually your first sentence is false. Even today, the jobs that require only simple, single minded tasks are rapidly being automatized, so gradually the lowest paying jobs are being taken over by robots and computers, leaving only supervising jobs, that require expertize in the subject. Now there are virtually no hand painted cars for example, they are painted by an automated system that will do it a million times more precisely than a human being would and much, much cheaper. So I don't know where this world is heading in the job department, but there definitely won't always be a menial role in society unless one day a ceo will be considered one.
there are three ways of becoming rich. 1st you do like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates or the guys from Facebook and google and create something from nothing. In that case you create also wealth for everyone. The second way is basically to steal legally the money that are already around from other's pockets and put into yourself pockets like wall street does. the 3th one is a son of a rich guy who has never experienced what being poor means, who recieve a BMW or a Ferrari at his 16th birthday and simply exploit their parents fortune, like Paris Hilton. The first guy you can hope is a genius but morally can be "like you" so you can hope that once he is rich he will remember what being you means and care about you. The second guy is just a motherfucker sharks who kill everyone he finds on his way to fullfillment. If you think that this type of guys once become rich will start to care about others you're screwed. The third guy can't simply empathize with the people cause he has no experience, like you for example throw away half of your food when you don't like it not considering that somewhere in the world there is someone who is starving and that would kill for that food. So basically the idea that rich people have some sort of responsability towards the community is something in your head, not in theirs. They are the one that for becoming more rich have started to produce everything in china leaving million of people in their country without jobs and killing their economy. But they have now more money than before so they are more happy than ever.
+Cyr Uay Scarcity is a fact because all resources are limited. But do we produce enough to fulfill our needs? Yes, that and then some. What do you mean about the money structured society? Why do you think it's false?
The past 3 months I have been doing a ton of research on the growing wealth gap. In 2015 former president Jimmy Carter said the U.S. Is an 'Oligarchy With Unlimited Political Bribery'. What a lot of people don't realize is that we didn't go from a Democracy to Oligarchy on specific date or year. About 30 years ago the the top 1% owned 7% of the total wealth. Today the top 1% own 40% of the total wealth in the United States of America. The Oligarchy has existed for a very long time. It is just much more powerful today.
The fact that people seemed to be so surprised about the pizza slice analogy shows that they never paused for a minute to grasp the problematic situation they are in. Keep grassing, human cattle.
In addition, the 1980-2008 period is exactly when things went wrong. Deregulation, wage stagnation despite high profits for the top, tax cuts that focus on the supply side, banking schemes that becomes legal through lobbying congress, campaign finances that becomes more and more out of control favoring the increasingly ultra rich. It took about 20-30 years to tear down what was built to protect consumer and keep the demand at a healthy level, and here we are today.
why are some people here accusing him of being part of the 1%? he's nowhere near that status... this shows exactly how much you guys don't know about the 1% and their wealth. He's rich, sure, but not 1% rich.
He is well and truly in the one percent. Forbes claims that the average wealth of the top 1% is $8.4 million. He is rich, but not owning an NFL team rich.
Lmao you are so delusional. To be in the top 1% in the US, you have to make around $400k per year. You guys talk about the 1% like they’re all yacht owners. I think what you MEAN is .01%.
Archon ish are you seriously that dense? It’s amazing how confident of you are while being so misinformed. Bill Maher’s net worth is 100 million and the net worth of the bottom of the 1 percent is 8.4 million. He’s probably in the 0.1 percent. That’s why he’s shit now
Because of the 1 thing capitalists or right-wingers are scared shitless of. Every rich fuck out there has become rich at the cost and over the backs of the population. She's scared: the people would truly grab the power, and strip every rich fuck of all that wealth taken from the population, and redistribute it evenly back over the complete population again. Why do you think right-wingers in your country have always framed the word or idea of socialism as a horrible concept. Because the money which was taken from the population would be redistributed and empower and enrich the complete population again. She doesn't care that much for the population.
What people need to understand is that capitalism at its core is socialist too. It just took a different aproach to Marxism. However, the goal of both is still to make as many people as possible "wealthy".
Clint Ronnow Capitalism may not be a system of government but to a lot of people it's a fucking religion. And like most religious people, they'll fight anything that could endanger their belief, no matter if the criticism is reasonable or not. Also, where did I imply Capitalism is a form of government?
And that's relevant....because?? So in order to point out the inequity in this country you have to be poor? What's the cut off point? How much money can you have and still be able make the point?
Erik Baran It doesn't matter where I draw the line. Where does Bill draw the line? He's the multi-multi-millionaire bitching about there being too much financial success. That makes him a hilarious hypocrite. How much does Bill think is too much? Is he not past it?
Be the change you want to see in the world, for one The only thing we can do is spread the message as much as possible.. and unite. We need to see ourselves as one in order to bring down the tyrants. There is no changing it from the inside, the system protects it's own corruption
simply the fact that we all have to earn less for the global crisis but in turn the richest gain more in comparison already proves something is terribly wrong.
Bill Maher has had many moments of genius but this, surely, beats them all. If there's one, four-minute video that every person in the Western World should see, it has to be this one.
BLUES DRIVER Google: Thomas Sowell, the brilliant American economist and learn some truth about socialism and its complete failure. Do you really believe that the 1% take the money from the poor THAT DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY ? LOL !
The pizza analogy contains two fatal flaws: 1. The person who took 80 paid for 100. They actually probably paid for 160 because the effective tax rate on the rich with corporate tax is roughly 50%. 2. People aren't "saying" or "asking" how about you just take 79? The state is pointing a gun at the man who paid for 160 and putting him in a cage if he does not take just 79.
I wasn't saying the middleclass and poor should pay more taxes. I was saying the rich and super rich should pay more. The middleclass and poor are the ones who should be paying much less taxes. Nobody should have to struggle with money. Especially not in a country like America.
There are tens of millions of people in America and around the world who work very hard but make little money. And there are many rich persons who don't work hard and have an easy life of luxury.
The average Norwegian makes almost $90k/yr. My cousin, an apprentice makes about $60k/yr. The worst jobs in this country gives you $45k/yr. We also get free health care and education. I rest my case.
I don't pride myself on anything & am no expert. He basically said that I don't know what I am talking about because I read books on the subject which means that I don't have an original thought about the subject since all my knowledge comes from books instead of self reflection on my own experience & what I see with my own eyes & therefore shouldn't be taken seriously.
“It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.” ― Adam Smith
You missed the point about PAYING THE EMPLOYEES. Employees are underpaid overall. This is the person who deserves "any of it." And most of us are employees of someone, and we deserve a livable wage for our work. And those of us who own our own businesses would be better off if the 99% of America actually made enough money to come visit our business. Bigger picture... try to see it. And NO he didn't build the pizzeria, grow the ingredients, make the pizza, or deliver it.
Did you forget what we were arguing about?? I never disputed that tax breaks exist but they are small compared to the benefits from using cheaper Chinese labor. Why are European countries in China? They don't benefit from US tax loopholes. They are there for the cheap labor just like we are. The deductions for US companies is just the cherry on top
It's not about agreement, it's about truthfulness and deception for the purpose of getting a point across or making people agree with you - which is what he does here. (oh, I just realized who I was responding to)
No one ever said anything about "forced integration." Why is giving someone else rights, taking yours away? If you want to have white kids then go ahead. No one is stopping you, that's great. I'm not really sure what you're against?
The problem with that is the rich rarely ever "earn" their money. It is often earned through inheritance or through back-breaking labor from other people.
What Bill Maher is saying is that since the 1980 (actually probably since 1970), the rich are taken an ever increasing cut of the new incomes. Middle class incomes are stagnant, poor class is actually negative increasing while the top 1% incomes are exponentially growing. I am an engineer (middle class) and I see my salary barely competing with inflation. While my company CEO takes salary increase in the 30% when he is alreay making 20million+ a year. I see something wrong with that.
I don't think rich people are the problem Bill is pointing out, rather the extremely wealthy, and he is not part of that club by a long shot. There are probably close to a hundred CEOs who make more in one year than what Bill has amassed in his entire 30+ year career, I've heard 23 million is his net worth. Taking that into consideration, there must be thousands probably earning 20 times or more than what Bill makes in 1 year, others make over a hundred times his salary, that's really the issue here I think.
Yea, he paints any rich person same he paints Greenspan and all sort of politically connected. Maybe he should focus on removing the vicious link between politics and economy/rich people.
I can tell you that if me and my group stopped working, the company would produce nothing. I understand there is a hierarchy, and some people SHOULD make more than others, but the pie has to be divided in a more FAIR way. This is not happening now and that should be changed. The modus operandum of CEOs nowadays is this: close plants, fire a bunch of people to reduce cost, see the stock price jump because of my ideas, and get a nice year end bonus. I don't want a handout, just a fair salary.
you know what makes bill seem the most believable? he's speaking out against his own financial interests, somehow it seems more genuine when that happens. not many politicians could make that claim, especially on one side.
People making $250,000 a year shouldn't be paying the same tax amount as someone making $50,000,000 a year. That is my only problem they try to lump all the rich together.
The bit about lack of visibility is true for privately held companies, but not for public ones. You can see exactly how much a public company is making by going to the company's website and navigating to the investor relations page. In the annual report you can even look up how much the top five officers were able to squeeze out of their friends on the board.
People who work hard at school never end up poor unless they put their efforts in a useless subject which employers value less. An equal tax is a proportional tax, not stealing all the money from the rich. If there were no rich people who would set up businesses to provide jobs to plebs.
Exactly right. The only thing to add is that the already rich are also likely to take the money to an overseas fund, so that they don't even have to pay (the laughably low capital gains) tax on their money.
When I checked a minute ago, roughly the same proportion was spent on pensions, and the same proportion on Medicare/Medicaid. Personally, I'd support abolishing pensions, so that'd save a bit. I've never said inequality is bad. I've suggested that less inequality is better, and that giving people more equal opportunity is better. I gave you the name of a book regarding inequality/standard of living. Although now you mention it, why is inequality so wonderful?
Saying crap like "giving tax incentives for companies to make more capital investment doesn't create jobs and increase prosperity for working people" is like saying "reducing the price on clothes doesn't make people want to buy more clothes." People who don't understand how economic incentives work really shouldn't vote.
I work my ass off and have never been fired or laid off or claimed any injury. I worked my way through school. Walked the straight and narrow. I am talented and smart and spend money wisely. I work extra to make enough to live. and I can't make it. every month my bills get higher. every month my pay stays the same. And I make almost twice the national average? The only way we can compete is to be a third world country. The super rich will not be happy until we are that poor.
I don't think he does try to separate himself from the middle class. But that doesn't mean he can't point out that most of the rich are complete assholes when it comes to their economic plans. Sure he may not be one of "us" financially, but he sure is one of us mentally.
I am not referring to all rich people. A lot of rich people are just hardworking people like doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Rags to riches on the other hand doesn't happen very much. There are so many things trying to keep poor kids poor, lack of education being one of the biggest. You can't honestly say that there are very many rich people who started out very poor and without a proper education. All I'm saying is that I'd rather have millionaires with tax increases than low & middle classes
Every time i listen to my brain washed friends at work too much i come home and end up watching bill maher and george carlin for about 2 hours just to restore my sanity :D
"A business can not get one dollar out of my pocket unless I voluntarily give it to them.", unless you count oil subsidies, bank bail outs etc. Thats essentially businesses taking money out of your pocket, they just hide behind a veneer of government. Trust me, take away government and youll still have tax, itll be in the form of fees for roads, police, fire fighters etc.
I want to see a global society that is united under one banner: Humanity I want to see a system that protects the people and the planet as opposed to enabling the few to abuse the many and nature. My message is one of unity. We must realize that we have a common oppressor and we must unite to surpass and topple them. The end result could go a lot of ways, that's impossible to know, but the goal would be for a fair society that helps mankind focus on mind expansion and evolving further.
He doesn't hate rich people. The level of wealth he is talking about - the 400 richest people who have more wealth than 150,000,000 americans combined - is that of billionaires, not millionaires. He's not against wealth at all - he's against limitless, unregulated greed. He's not a 'socialist' - just pointing out how unjustly wealth is distributed. Simple.
Thomas Sowell just put out a new book, it's only 20 pages long and only costs $5.00. It's called "Trickle Down Theory and Tax Cuts for the Rich". I strongly suggest you get the book. I'd really like to hear what you think of it if you'll read it.
Actually, the rich guy paid for 50% of the pizza, but got 80% of it. Then he told tea partiers "Hey...I think that guy wants your slice." And by the way, that whole "47% don't pay taxes" meme has been disproven so many times in so many ways that it's not even worth recounting, especially in the limited number of characters allowed here.
Undercover Boss is schmaltzy and these precious expert bosses almost always fail miserably and get fired on the frontline.This really illustrates why every business should be run as a co-op.
I think you do not fully comprehend "hypocrisy". If I say "you should not smoke it is bad for you" when smoking I am not a hypocrite. I am a hypocrite when I say "You should do like me and not smoke" while I smoke in secret. Hypocrisy is acting or not acting opposite to what they say.
The banks were not forced. The banks caused to recession by giving loans with low, or no, interest the first years. 2 years later, when the interest goes up, bam, the lender can no longer afford his home. This is extremely irresponsible. Not just because of the recession, but because it destroys peoples’ lives.
I guess some social climbers who go from middle class to upper class remember where they came from, and can imagine easily coming from a lower class to middle class. It's calledc empathy and humility.
Actually, the liberal progressive idea is to save the economy by raising the progressive tax rate, and then use that money on roads, bridges, education, infrastructure, and things that we actually need. As opposed to tanks and munitions that, not only the Pentagon doesn't need, but that the Pentagon says that it doesn't WANT. And it DID work out for a very long time, until massive tax breaks and cuts caused the disparity we see today.
DISPARITY is irrelevant. You fail to see this. There is a DISPARITY in talent; some can sing & some can't. A DISPARITY in 1 man's height to another man's height. A DISPARITY is the ability to do math and become a CPA. What U want is for everyone to be equal and they're just not ever going to be. U want people to never have to struggle and that is also unrealistic. They will struggle, financially, emotionally, and physically. Most people start out struggling financially & work their way up.
In “Occupying Chairlifts” a simple rule tweak on inheritance ends up changing the direction and purpose of modern human life! Here’s a fair way to transition forward to where we’re rewarded for cooperating and creating instead of competing and conquering. It's something specific we can demand. If this isnt the best answer, at least we’re thinking about what might be. Are we really just this close to having it work right? Oh yeah, it's a Ski movie! “Occupying Chairlifts” on RU-vid!
If someone has so much money to spare, then why shouldn't they help the country by paying just a little bit more? I'm sure they won't miss having a few fewer luxuries. Meanwhile, there are people struggling to make enough money to afford food and shelter. As far as having more kids goes, what if someone gets pregnant that can't afford another kid? What are they suppose to do? And pay MORE taxes? It sounds like you want even more people to be starving in this country.
Sorry, meant to end it with "squeeze out of the shareholders while their friends on the board nod in agreement (in return for generous director's fees, also disclosed in the annual report and paid for by the shareholders). "
It's not hypocrisy if you're rich, being rich isn't a moral standard or belief. What would be hypocritical would be if he doesn't give to charity and doesn't advocate the 99% when he's off camera. He is a novelty in the realm of the rich.
I hope people out there who have children are bothering to find out how all this mess we're in is being presented(if at all) to your children in the public schools or if they're still learning about how George chopped down the cherry tree.Better yet teach your children-We think we got trouble? Watch what's waiting for the children.
You want historical evidence? Let's look at the depression. 1922-1929 tax rates go from 73% to 24%-the Great Depression starts. 1932-tax rates increase to 63% 1933-the rate of decline has almost stopped in it's tracks 1934-unemployment drops 3% and GNP increases by 7% in the first year 1935-GNP grows 8% more, unemployment on the decline 1936-tax rate raised to 79%- GNP grows a RECORD of 14.1% unemployment drops 4%. So you say that we should cut our tax rates even lower than a maximum of 35% eh?
Sources: Carroll and Colleagues, Moody Analytics, House and Senate Joint Committee on Taxation, Christian Keuschnigg and Soren Bo Nielsen. Just to name a few that have released info on this. I do not follow either party, there are things I like and dont like in both. Thats why I stay independent. Both sides are the same when it comes to spreading mis-information, its not just one or the other.
If you look at a country that does use your model of economy, approximately at least US would probably be your best shot. High privatization, and lowish taxes for western countries. Education is in the drain, health is crap (even though 16% of BNP is spend on health in US) and poverty is bigger than in any other modern western country. These are not the signs of good policies, especially when you think of how well the states was of in the 50's. It has gone speedily down hill.
Banks caused the 2008 recession b/c they were being pushed by the gov't to give sub-prime loans to ppl that couldn't otherwise qualify. So I ultimately fault the gov't. It's not all banks that are bad, it's the bankers that control the Federal Reserve. That is the root of most of our problems, imo.
It is likely that if someone pays $1000 a year it is because they are poor. If you want to allow people to take a risk and build a business they need money for it. Romney can get it from his parents, but someone who pays $1000 a year in income taxes isn't going to be able to get out of poverty without getting more than they paid back.
That's sweet. Tell that to the biology professor with a PhD and hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, a mortgage and a baby on the way.
What about someone who went through the financial crisis, lost their job which affected their credit, lost their home, people who played by the rules for years and all of a sudden their job was outsourced with many others so the fat cat in their company could pay someone a quarter of their salary in some third world country?
"America's wealthy isn't giving you money, they're taking it". So how does, assuming that Bill is a "rich" person, people's assumption of Bill as being wealthy make his arguments stronger?
