The "Class Warfare" Canard

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That depends. Do they want progressive taxation to finance infrastructure, defense, education, and economic security? Or do they want progressive taxation because they have somehow rationalized that they deserve more handouts from the government simply because they are poor and others aren't? The former is not class warfare and is motivated by civic responsibility even if their plan isn't sound, but the latter is class warfare no matter how they try to disguise it.

Well, that stat is based on the growing number of people making less and less, redefining "poverty" in America (if you qualify is a matter of income for your size household....some homes have a good income but enough people to qualify as "in poverty"), the expansion of welfare programs to include people who actually have some money (believe it or not, free meals for kids in school is a welfare program and you don't have to be that poor to get it...which is a shame considering the free meal program is intended for kids from families too poor to afford to pack them a lunch for school).

When I was a kid my family got food stamps...and it was not enough for all four of us to pack a lunch every day of the week for school. So we where on the free and reduced lunch program........and yeah I knew and still know that is welfare. If it had not existed I would have gone quite hungry at school.

And well if a growing number of people are making less and less, I would think there is a problem that needs adressing somewhere....and having 'some' money does not mean you have enough of it.

The lowering or stagnating income levels for Americans is a result of downsizing, outsourcing....the whole "global economy" scam shipping all the good paying manufacturing jobs to 3rd world nations and leaving those dislocated workers scrambling for new employment (but new jobs aren't being created). Most all dislocated workers wind up taking a new job with lower pay and benefits than where they last worked.

Yes it probably is.....and that would be a problem, but no one seems to want to do much about it.

Besides blaming Obama and librul big gubbermint.

Lies. That number was 47% last year. It has never once been over 50%. The peak level was 49% under George W Bush.


They still pay taxes. They still pay sales taxes and social security withholding, both of which are regressive taxes. And this is an idiotic, asinine assessment of the situation anyways. Obviously people who are benefited by social welfare programs are not paying for those programs. The whole point of those programs is that these people are not in a position where they can get by on their own.


And here we get into part of the motivation for your lying distortion of the numbers. More demonization of the poor. This is probably why you think arguments for progressive taxation are motivated by "class warfare" or "resentment." You're projecting.


Those two terms are not mutually exclusive. We are both a republic and a democracy. Learn real political theory rather than BS right-wing talking points.

Several people seem to have misread my statement, so I'll put out a blanket clarification in lieu of answering each individual post.

Merely arguing for progressive taxation is not "class warfare", using an emotional argument that relies on jealousy and envy instead to whip up ill will towards the better off in order to get people to resent their success is. It's arguing Nancy Grace style, get people worked up enough and they won't care what the facts are as long as the object of their ire is punished, or not in that case.

I agree. Its the methods used.