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meloshouldgo
Posts: 26565
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1/14/2017  11:12 AM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  11:24 AM
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

That video shows the core reason why so many people no longer trust democrats. They have put their own self interest ahead of their voters for too long. Democrats like that guy fight fr our rights only when corporate special interests are not being jeopardized, these lying two faced scum is why I hate the party.

The bolded part just reaffirms what I have been posting here for the last year now. Wages are going down if you factor in the inflation, all the while corporations are raking in profits hand over fist. This is the ultimate proof of trickle down being complete horse$hit. And all I can say to the Trump supporters is you've seen nothing yet on that specific score. If you make less than 170K a year, you just got screwed. The "effective" corporate tax rate in the US is among the lowest when compared to developed countries. And election after election the right wing electorate turns out to vote for more tax breaks for people who will happily take their jobs and move them to China. This ultimately is the paradox of democracy. It's counter intuitive and almost always against self interest.

I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only try to make them think - Socrates
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nixluva
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1/14/2017  11:51 AM
meloshouldgo wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

That video shows the core reason why so many people no longer trust democrats. They have put their own self interest ahead of their voters for too long. Democrats like that guy fight fr our rights only when corporate special interests are not being jeopardized, these lying two faced scum is why I hate the party.

The bolded part just reaffirms what I have been posting here for the last year now. Wages are going down if you factor in the inflation, all the while corporations are raking in profits hand over fist. This is the ultimate proof of trickle down being complete horse$hit. And all I can say to the Trump supporters is you've seen nothing yet on that specific score. If you make less than 170K a year, you just got screwed. The "effective" corporate tax rate in the US is among the lowest when compared to developed countries. And election after election the right wing electorate turns out to vote for more tax breaks for people who will happily take their jobs and move them to China. This ultimately is the paradox of democracy. It's counter intuitive and almost always against self interest.

I don't blame all Dems for some of the issues you talk about. The system has been built over decades to be uneven. Big Business and the Rich have rigged it just right for them and they're more organized and of course well funded. That's hard to overcome.

Plus Bernie knows how things work and should've known the constituencies he was gonna need in order to win. I don't believe he originally expected to have so much support and that he never thought he'd be so close to winning and wasn't fully prepared to do the things needed to actually win it all.

meloshouldgo
Posts: 26565
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Joined: 5/3/2014
Member: #5801

1/14/2017  12:21 PM
nixluva wrote:
meloshouldgo wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

That video shows the core reason why so many people no longer trust democrats. They have put their own self interest ahead of their voters for too long. Democrats like that guy fight fr our rights only when corporate special interests are not being jeopardized, these lying two faced scum is why I hate the party.

The bolded part just reaffirms what I have been posting here for the last year now. Wages are going down if you factor in the inflation, all the while corporations are raking in profits hand over fist. This is the ultimate proof of trickle down being complete horse$hit. And all I can say to the Trump supporters is you've seen nothing yet on that specific score. If you make less than 170K a year, you just got screwed. The "effective" corporate tax rate in the US is among the lowest when compared to developed countries. And election after election the right wing electorate turns out to vote for more tax breaks for people who will happily take their jobs and move them to China. This ultimately is the paradox of democracy. It's counter intuitive and almost always against self interest.

I don't blame all Dems for some of the issues you talk about. The system has been built over decades to be uneven. Big Business and the Rich have rigged it just right for them and they're more organized and of course well funded. That's hard to overcome.

Plus Bernie knows how things work and should've known the constituencies he was gonna need in order to win. I don't believe he originally expected to have so much support and that he never thought he'd be so close to winning and wasn't fully prepared to do the things needed to actually win it all.

What I posted has nothing to do with Bernie not getting elected. I am not making these comments based on emotions, these observations are backjed up with hard data.

If you don't blame them you should. Centrists Democrats have done more damage to the American Middle Class than any other type of political wing or movement, bar none. They have made speeches and lined their pockets with corporate money while pretending to defend our interests. Kudos to the republicans for at least holding true to what they believe in. I don't agree with any of their positions but I don't fault them on being self serving hypocrites. They are self serving in a different context but they are open and belligerent about it. Centrist democrats for the most part are a lying, cheating bunch of scumbags. Now that doesn't mean all of them are like that. Obama for one stood head and shoulders above a lot of US presidents and wasn't motivated by power or self interest. But I can't say the same for the Clintons. And to think this centrist filth will try to get complete two faced @$$holes like Corey Booker nominated for President makes my blood boil.

I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only try to make them think - Socrates
martin
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1/14/2017  2:05 PM
BRIGGS wrote:
djsunyc wrote:john lewis and maxine walters got gangsta blood today...

100% absolute devicive

whatever Russian influence had in this election( which I doubt was much) absolutely paired in comparisons to Hollywood aggressive direct attempt to sway the election on a daily powerful way-- not even close. It was disgusting obvious and IMHO an abuse of the media. I find it disgusting that people can't be on the same team once everything has come yo a fair and democratic solution. I haven't seen such crybabies true soft people in my life. I fail to see where Trump committed such horrible acts or that he has spewed a majority of Americans in a negative light. We can't do the mature thing and let him have a chance-- no we need to be vindictive and righteous . Give it a break you wannabes you really are starting to make me want to vomit

open your eyes man

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Moonangie
Posts: 24765
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1/14/2017  2:38 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  2:39 PM
martin wrote:
BRIGGS wrote:
djsunyc wrote:john lewis and maxine walters got gangsta blood today...

100% absolute devicive

whatever Russian influence had in this election( which I doubt was much) absolutely paired in comparisons to Hollywood aggressive direct attempt to sway the election on a daily powerful way-- not even close. It was disgusting obvious and IMHO an abuse of the media. I find it disgusting that people can't be on the same team once everything has come yo a fair and democratic solution. I haven't seen such crybabies true soft people in my life. I fail to see where Trump committed such horrible acts or that he has spewed a majority of Americans in a negative light. We can't do the mature thing and let him have a chance-- no we need to be vindictive and righteous . Give it a break you wannabes you really are starting to make me want to vomit

open your eyes man

Disgusting BRIGGS? Really?

Trump should be considered illegitimate for SO MANY reasons, from bias to cronyism to nepotism to self-dealing to outright corruption to incompetence to sexism/racism/xenophobia/homophobia...and on and on. But Lewis' comment was about the election more than about Trump the clown.

In terms of your statement regarding the media (and Hollywood "elites), the shift to bias happened after the introduction of cable news. Now it's expected that cultural elites on both sides do what they can to influence outcomes. But that is NOT true of the FBI and certainly has no equivalency to foreign spy agencies using illegal methods to smear one side. That is illegal and treasonous. Comey is now a political operative for Trump. How disgusting is THAT! Un-****ing-believable. And YOU support this shyte?

On basketball you're so much smarter than this post. Here you sound like a Trumpian moron. Sorry, calling it the way I see it.

holfresh
Posts: 38679
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Member: #1081

1/14/2017  5:48 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  7:08 PM
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

The issue just isn't that simple...A lot of these Phama companies are in New Jersey..The are the original makers of these drugs that are now being knocked off as generics in places like Canada and a lot of European Countries...There are no laws in many countries preventing that..So are Corey Booker and Bob Menendez, both from New Jersey, going to allow a Canadian company to lay waste to a Company in his constituency who employs people and pays massive taxes in New Jersey??..You have to be nuts to do that...Bernie Sanders protects the gun lobby in his hood, doesn't he???

djsunyc
Posts: 44929
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1/14/2017  5:57 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  5:59 PM
BRIGGS wrote:
djsunyc wrote:john lewis and maxine walters got gangsta blood today...

100% absolute devicive

whatever Russian influence had in this election( which I doubt was much) absolutely paired in comparisons to Hollywood aggressive direct attempt to sway the election on a daily powerful way-- not even close. It was disgusting obvious and IMHO an abuse of the media. I find it disgusting that people can't be on the same team once everything has come yo a fair and democratic solution. I haven't seen such crybabies true soft people in my life. I fail to see where Trump committed such horrible acts or that he has spewed a majority of Americans in a negative light. We can't do the mature thing and let him have a chance-- no we need to be vindictive and righteous . Give it a break you wannabes you really are starting to make me want to vomit

he's being treated the same way he treats others.

your response is VERY discouraging to read...but i can see why you would relate to him and why you voted for him.

arkrud
Posts: 32217
Alba Posts: 7
Joined: 8/31/2005
Member: #995
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1/14/2017  7:08 PM
meloshouldgo wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

That video shows the core reason why so many people no longer trust democrats. They have put their own self interest ahead of their voters for too long. Democrats like that guy fight fr our rights only when corporate special interests are not being jeopardized, these lying two faced scum is why I hate the party.

The bolded part just reaffirms what I have been posting here for the last year now. Wages are going down if you factor in the inflation, all the while corporations are raking in profits hand over fist. This is the ultimate proof of trickle down being complete horse$hit. And all I can say to the Trump supporters is you've seen nothing yet on that specific score. If you make less than 170K a year, you just got screwed. The "effective" corporate tax rate in the US is among the lowest when compared to developed countries. And election after election the right wing electorate turns out to vote for more tax breaks for people who will happily take their jobs and move them to China. This ultimately is the paradox of democracy. It's counter intuitive and almost always against self interest.

Cannot agree more.
Democracy as political system never worked and will never work.
The only system which was and is successful is elitism.
Democrats and Republicans are both representing the power of elites... People who poses majority of wealth in US.
The whole political system is no more that a show to make this fact plausible for the masses.
The real power is based on law which have to be above all to protect elites from self-destruction.
This is the essence of Republic. It emerged from the Empires who failed to stabilize masses.
More elaborated system was needed to move forward as elites became bigger (not fraction of % but 1-2% of society).

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet
holfresh
Posts: 38679
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Joined: 1/14/2006
Member: #1081

1/14/2017  7:19 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  8:36 PM
arkrud wrote:
meloshouldgo wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

That video shows the core reason why so many people no longer trust democrats. They have put their own self interest ahead of their voters for too long. Democrats like that guy fight fr our rights only when corporate special interests are not being jeopardized, these lying two faced scum is why I hate the party.

The bolded part just reaffirms what I have been posting here for the last year now. Wages are going down if you factor in the inflation, all the while corporations are raking in profits hand over fist. This is the ultimate proof of trickle down being complete horse$hit. And all I can say to the Trump supporters is you've seen nothing yet on that specific score. If you make less than 170K a year, you just got screwed. The "effective" corporate tax rate in the US is among the lowest when compared to developed countries. And election after election the right wing electorate turns out to vote for more tax breaks for people who will happily take their jobs and move them to China. This ultimately is the paradox of democracy. It's counter intuitive and almost always against self interest.

Cannot agree more.
Democracy as political system never worked and will never work.
The only system which was and is successful is elitism.
Democrats and Republicans are both representing the power of elites... People who poses majority of wealth in US.
The whole political system is no more that a show to make this fact plausible for the masses.
The real power is based on law which have to be above all to protect elites from self-destruction.
This is the essence of Republic. It emerged from the Empires who failed to stabilize masses.
More elaborated system was needed to move forward as elites became bigger (not fraction of % but 1-2% of society).

Those two sentences has two different definitions of success which makes you argument disingenuous...You are saying Democracy isn't a success because equality for all haven't been achieved...Success can't be measured by the ""perfect""..For perfection can never be achieved, we are humans with many faults..That's why you hear Obama say a lot of times, "as we strive for a more perfect Union"..

Elitism isn't a legally practiced system of governance...It's what occurs at the height of corruption..

Democracy works better when everyone has a piece of the pie...When wages are higher for the middle class, the economy simple works better, and that's proven...

newyorknewyork
Posts: 30119
Alba Posts: 1
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1/14/2017  7:49 PM
holfresh wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

The issue just isn't that simple...A lot of these Phama companies are in New Jersey..The are the original makers of these drugs that are now being knocked off as generics in places like Canada and a lot of European Countries...There are no laws in many countries preventing that..So are Corey Booker and Bob Menendez, both from New Jersey, going to allow a Canadian company to lay waste to a Company in his constituency who employs people and pays massive taxes in New Jersey??..You have to be nuts to do that...Bernie Sanders protects the gun lobby in his hood, doesn't he???

The reason for the push of imported drugs is due to pricing. The general conciseness of the public is that its not affordable and are paying way to much. So they created this desire from the public due to their pricing which created Bernie's possible solution of imports. The public unlike corporations aren't trying to just manipulate the laws and the system strictly for profit but out of necessity. Also how did these Pharma companies get the funding to research and develop these drugs? And also why were only the ppl who personally profited off of Pharma vote no if its not logical. Yet there were Republicans who are notorious for being pro big business and way less caring about the American public willing to vote yes.

https://vote.nba.com/en Vote for your Knicks.
djsunyc
Posts: 44929
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1/14/2017  8:03 PM
whenever trump is talking to or about a black person, he always talks about CRIME CRIME CRIME INNER CITIES INNER CITIES CRIME.

so on kellyanne's advice, i looked at his heart and it's not racist. unfortunately his fingers and mouth are :(

holfresh
Posts: 38679
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Member: #1081

1/14/2017  8:18 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  8:40 PM
newyorknewyork wrote:
holfresh wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

The issue just isn't that simple...A lot of these Phama companies are in New Jersey..The are the original makers of these drugs that are now being knocked off as generics in places like Canada and a lot of European Countries...There are no laws in many countries preventing that..So are Corey Booker and Bob Menendez, both from New Jersey, going to allow a Canadian company to lay waste to a Company in his constituency who employs people and pays massive taxes in New Jersey??..You have to be nuts to do that...Bernie Sanders protects the gun lobby in his hood, doesn't he???

The reason for the push of imported drugs is due to pricing. The general conciseness of the public is that its not affordable and are paying way to much. So they created this desire from the public due to their pricing which created Bernie's possible solution of imports. The public unlike corporations aren't trying to just manipulate the laws and the system strictly for profit but out of necessity. Also how did these Pharma companies get the funding to research and develop these drugs? And also why were only the ppl who personally profited off of Pharma vote no if its not logical. Yet there were Republicans who are notorious for being pro big business and way less caring about the American public willing to vote yes.

You have to be able to see both side of the situation and work on an amicable solution...You can't really allow overseas companies to flood the market with drugs they actually stole the recipes from American companies because the public wants it cheaper...Sure drug prices are over priced..But the other way doesn't make it right either...You cant allow a Chinese maker to remake iPhones and sell it to the public because they demand a cheaper prices...I know drugs are more important..If you remove the incentive and profit motive to do research and development then no one will make these drugs...And the government don't help on all drugs..

About a decade ago, whenever there was an earthquakes in Russia, hundreds of buildings would collapse...Why?, no competition to make materials safe and better, to have sound foundations and building materials..Do you really want to take incentive and competition away from drug companies??..Socialism works well as long as there are capitalist countries like to US to steal drug recipes from...That goes for China too..

And Senators aren't suppose to protect Companies and people working in their constituencies...They won't have jobs for long...And how come Bernie don't fold on gun reform???

meloanyk
Posts: 20768
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1/14/2017  8:40 PM
djsunyc wrote:whenever trump is talking to or about a black person, he always talks about CRIME CRIME CRIME INNER CITIES INNER CITIES CRIME.

so on kellyanne's advice, i looked at his heart and it's not racist. unfortunately his fingers and mouth are :(

Is he still Anti-Semitic?

arkrud
Posts: 32217
Alba Posts: 7
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Member: #995
USA
1/14/2017  10:19 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  10:19 PM
holfresh wrote:
arkrud wrote:
meloshouldgo wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:

Americans get ripped off in pharmaceuticals, ripped off in insurance, ripped off in wages, and basically ripped off as a consumer for any product out. But people struggle because "they are lazy & entitled".

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/corporate-betrayal-america-ripping-public-running-profits

Belittling Us Instead Of Paying Us Back

Instead of paying for their decades of government-supported growth, corporations have nearly stopped paying taxes, leaving payroll deductions and individual income taxes as the main sources of federal revenue.

From 2003 to 2011 total corporate profits more than doubled from $900 billion to almost $2 trillion, but the corporate income tax rate dropped by more than half, from 22.5% to 10%.

On top of this, the most profitable corporations get the biggest subsidies. The Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in welfare assistance to financial institutions and corporations. According to U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice, 280 top-earning Fortune 500 companies, which together paid only half of the maximum 35 percent corporate tax rate, received $223 billion in tax subsidies.

What have they been doing with their windfall profits? Anywhere from $2.2 trillion to$3.4 trillion in cash is being held by non-financial corporations, who have chosen to fatten stockholders rather than invest in new production facilities and the employees needed to make them functional. Worse yet, as reported by The Nation, Market Watch, and Business Insider, they've been steadily cutting jobs in order to 'streamline' their operations.

For the employees who remain, average real wages were $17.42 in 2007, down from $19.34 in 1972 (based on 2007 dollars). Wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low.

An Added Insult -- Profits Declared Overseas, But Not in the U.S.

Multinational corporations use the vacuous argument of an excessive U.S. tax rate to defend their tax avoidance, although in reality the U.S. has the third-lowest rate of tax revenue per GDP among all OECD countries.

The biggest tax avoiders are not content to just shirk their tax responsibilities. To sustain the image of profitmaking for their investors, many of them claim hefty worldwide incomes while reporting little or no income in the United States. Pfizer, for example, just declared their fifth straight annual loss in the U.S., despite a five-year income total of over $50 billion.

A review of SEC data reveals more chicanery. In the last two years Citigroup reported $27.8 billion in foreign income, but a $5 billion loss in the United States. Exxon credits the U.S. for 1/3 of its revenue and 40% of its assets, but only 15% of its income. Apple has 2/3 of its employees in the U.S. but claims only 1/3 of its profits as U.S. income.

That video shows the core reason why so many people no longer trust democrats. They have put their own self interest ahead of their voters for too long. Democrats like that guy fight fr our rights only when corporate special interests are not being jeopardized, these lying two faced scum is why I hate the party.

The bolded part just reaffirms what I have been posting here for the last year now. Wages are going down if you factor in the inflation, all the while corporations are raking in profits hand over fist. This is the ultimate proof of trickle down being complete horse$hit. And all I can say to the Trump supporters is you've seen nothing yet on that specific score. If you make less than 170K a year, you just got screwed. The "effective" corporate tax rate in the US is among the lowest when compared to developed countries. And election after election the right wing electorate turns out to vote for more tax breaks for people who will happily take their jobs and move them to China. This ultimately is the paradox of democracy. It's counter intuitive and almost always against self interest.

Cannot agree more.
Democracy as political system never worked and will never work.
The only system which was and is successful is elitism.
Democrats and Republicans are both representing the power of elites... People who poses majority of wealth in US.
The whole political system is no more that a show to make this fact plausible for the masses.
The real power is based on law which have to be above all to protect elites from self-destruction.
This is the essence of Republic. It emerged from the Empires who failed to stabilize masses.
More elaborated system was needed to move forward as elites became bigger (not fraction of % but 1-2% of society).

Those two sentences has two different definitions of success which makes you argument disingenuous...You are saying Democracy isn't a success because equality for all haven't been achieved...Success can't be measured by the ""perfect""..For perfection can never be achieved, we are humans with many faults..That's why you hear Obama say a lot of times, "as we strive for a more perfect Union"..

Elitism isn't a legally practiced system of governance...It's what occurs at the height of corruption..

Democracy works better when everyone has a piece of the pie...When wages are higher for the middle class, the economy simple works better, and that's proven...

Where this Democracy is working? Except of fiction books there is no place and no time.
The world run based on probabilities and probability of Democracy to exist is very low.
But people like to think they are in control of the events while they cannot even control their own mind.
Funny creatures...

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet
holfresh
Posts: 38679
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1/14/2017  11:10 PM
Trump's first foreign trip is to meet Putin of course..Supposedly with weeks..Why wait so long?
gunsnewing
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Member: #215
USA
1/14/2017  11:38 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/14/2017  11:39 PM
holfresh wrote:Trump's first foreign trip is to meet Putin of course..Supposedly with weeks..Why wait so long?

Good.

What is your basis for not trying to smooth this out with another foreign power house?

Oh Nevermind. The mainstream media, not the incoming administration, is dictating to you how we should handle foreign relations. Got it.

holfresh
Posts: 38679
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Joined: 1/14/2006
Member: #1081

1/14/2017  11:47 PM    LAST EDITED: 1/15/2017  12:03 AM
gunsnewing wrote:
holfresh wrote:Trump's first foreign trip is to meet Putin of course..Supposedly with weeks..Why wait so long?

Good.

What is your basis for not trying to smooth this out with another foreign power house?

Oh Nevermind. The mainstream media, not the incoming administration, is dictating to you how we should handle foreign relations. Got it.

Shooting down a passenger jet over Ukraine, Genocide in Syria/Aleppo, Invasion Ukraine/Crimea, Killing political opponents globally and possibly in the US..hacking US elections..Threatening to take over Lithuania and Latvia, NATO countries and moving military units which looks like he will try..Other than that it like Canada..Cold..

nixluva
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1/15/2017  12:09 AM    LAST EDITED: 1/15/2017  12:10 AM
gunsnewing wrote:
holfresh wrote:Trump's first foreign trip is to meet Putin of course..Supposedly with weeks..Why wait so long?

Good.

What is your basis for not trying to smooth this out with another foreign power house?

Oh Nevermind. The mainstream media, not the incoming administration, is dictating to you how we should handle foreign relations. Got it.

The U.S. already tried to be on better terms with Russia. They proceeded to act up and at this point don't deserve to be treated like an equal partner. What have they done for Trump to be treating the Russians like they've been good actors on the world stage??? He's a F'n stooge for Putin and anyone who is going to simply ignore all of the bad signs from Trump's refusal to say anything negative about Putin is a FOOL. Open your F'n eyes!!! There's something really wrong about Trump and Putin.

Allanfan20
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1/15/2017  12:29 AM
http://www.ecowatch.com/big-oil-drill-national-parks-2188885054.html

I'm going to blow a gasket over this trashbag.

“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘Would an idiot do that?’ and if they would, I do NOT do that thing.”- Dwight Schrute
gunsnewing
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USA
1/15/2017  1:33 AM
lol
OT: Politics Thread

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