This is how the media is bought

[BigSexyCat]

https://www.mintpressnews.com/docum...as-given-319-million-to-media-outlets/278943/

It's always about the money. The oligarchs control everything you see and hear now.

 

[ganner918_rivals60369]

Media is literally bought, they're generally all either owned by publicly traded corporations or private ownership groups.

 

[SDC8888]

It's not just about the money.

 

[812scottj]

I’ve only been on earth for 51 years, but it seems to me that there some innate traits in humans…to love…to hate…to manipulate, and to worship. Throughout history, these things seem to sum us up as a society

 

[JumperJack]

Media is literally bought, they're generally all either owned by publicly traded corporations or private ownership groups.

Correct. But they also used to at least pretend to uphold standards of integrity.

 

[Deeeefense]

Looks like many if not most of these are public service or education oriented media that are non-profits which means they survive largely on donations. Some aren't. Not sure Gates is attempting to buy any influence here.

 

[CastleRubric]

generating a “hive mind” that’s not only tuned like an instrument but will also feature electronic manipulation of biological nervous systems - and fairly soon - merge humans with nanotechnology and perhaps a modified double helix dna (to triple helix and other manipulated changes)

seriously - i believe we’re on the cusp of all that and maybe more

 

[Deeeefense]

generating a “hive mind” that’s not only tuned like an instrument but will also feature electronic manipulation of biological nervous systems - and fairly soon - merge humans with nanotechnology and perhaps a modified double helix dna (to triple helix and other manipulated changes)

seriously - i believe we’re on the cusp of all that and maybe more

Bill Gates is the Borg! I knew it!

 

[chroix]

It is one of the ways that the media is manipulated. It’s also a great way to distract from the fact that you’re not paying your fair share of taxes at the same time.

 

[theoledog]

generating a “hive mind” that’s not only tuned like an instrument but will also feature electronic manipulation of biological nervous systems - and fairly soon - merge humans with nanotechnology and perhaps a modified double helix dna (to triple helix and other manipulated changes)

seriously - i believe we’re on the cusp of all that and maybe more

We could call it The Matrix

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

generating a “hive mind” that’s not only tuned like an instrument but will also feature electronic manipulation of biological nervous systems - and fairly soon - merge humans with nanotechnology and perhaps a modified double helix dna (to triple helix and other manipulated changes)

seriously - i believe we’re on the cusp of all that and maybe more

This song popped into my head as I read this post.

 

[Ron Mehico]

It is one of the ways that the media is manipulated. It’s also a great way to distract from the fact that you’re not paying your fair share of taxes at the same time.

Fair share of taxes is an insane thought process. This country started because of opposition to tax, and when tax was introduced in the 30’s it was 1% of income for the top 5%. Currently like 55% of people don’t even pay income tax because they don’t make enough money either. But now the wealthy are expected to pay 30% or whatever of their income so it’s “fair”? What? The whole concept of tax is ridiculous and now we’re acting like the government imposing a tax and someone want to pay as little as possible is a fundamental of morals now? Ridiculous.

 

[chroix]

Fair share of taxes is an insane thought process. This country started because of opposition to tax, and when tax was introduced in the 30’s it was 1% of income for the top 5%. Currently like 55% of people don’t even pay income tax because they don’t make enough money either. But now the wealthy are expected to pay 30% or whatever of their income so it’s “fair”? What? The whole concept of tax is ridiculous and now we’re acting like the government imposing a tax and someone want to pay as little as possible is a fundamental of morals now? Ridiculous.

I’m not making a moral judgement. Just stating facts. I don’t like taxes either but I really don’t like the idea that someone that makes a ton of money pays less than most middle class folks do proportionally. Bezos Musk all of them do the same thing. Hide billions and then make a hundred million dollar donation to your pet cause and get headlines.

As part of the 45% that does pay taxes I’d like for it to be consistently applied to all citizens.

 

[chroix]

And those billionaires use every bit of the infrastructure that those taxes fund to an extent no other individuals do right?

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

I have an idea. Why don't we talk about bad spending habits before we talk about increasing their allowance? Much as you would a child, that has shown a propensity to squander money, and has no respect for it.

Get THAT in order, and we can re-visit giving them more.

 

[CastleRubric]

I have an idea. Why don't we talk about bad spending habits before we talk about increasing their allowance? Much as you would a child, that has shown a propensity to squander money, and has no respect for it.

Get THAT in order, and we can re-visit giving them more.

i like you a great deal for a total stranger
somehow i feel like i know u though, airman

 

[Ron Mehico]

I’m not making a moral judgement. Just stating facts. I don’t like taxes either but I really don’t like the idea that someone that makes a ton of money pays less than most middle class folks do proportionally. Bezos Musk all of them do the same thing. Hide billions and then make a hundred million dollar donation to your pet cause and get headlines.

As part of the 45% that does pay taxes I’d like for it to be consistently applied to all citizens.

How much do you pay in taxes annually? If the answer is none of your business/too much/more than I’d like then why don’t you apply that to your fellow man? Why advocate for more people to be f’d by the government so they can inefficiently waste billions on a new military aircraft they don’t even end up producing or on a broken school system? Why not question the person that’s imposing anti-American demands and screwing everyone - the government. Why not advocate that we all should pay less taxes, and not be a foot soldier demanding the government get more money so it’s “fair”. It’s a ridiculous attitude that screws all of us. You thinking successful people should pay more so things are “fair” is insane. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills, is it not insanity? What the hell country do we live in??

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

And just who do you think pays "corporate taxes', I can assure you, it is NOT the corporation.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

Axe the Federal Income Tax, and go with a straight sales tax on new goods and services (above a pre-determined threshold so that basic living expenses are not taxed)

No tax returns, no cheating, no hassle. AND, you have a say in how much you DO or DON'T pay.

And make the Federal government "live with what they get'. Like the rest of us.

 

[chroix]

How much do you pay in taxes annually? If the answer is none of your business/too much/more than I’d like then why don’t you apply that to your fellow man? Why advocate for more people to be f’d by the government so they can inefficiently waste billions on a new military aircraft they don’t even end up producing or on a broken school system? Why not question the person that’s imposing anti-American demands and screwing everyone - the government. Why not advocate that we all should pay less taxes, and not be a foot soldier demanding the government get more money so it’s “fair”. It’s a ridiculous attitude that screws all of us. You thinking successful people should pay more so things are “fair” is insane. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills, is it not insanity? What the hell country do we live in??

I understand your position and agree with big chunks of it. I agree that we should all pay less but you also have to agree that someone that makes millions a year should not pay less than someone who makes $60k a year.

 

[Century Cat]

"Fair share" always makes me laugh / cringe. Complete weaselly politispeak that can be manipulated depending on circumstances.

Next time someone mentions "fair share", ask what percentage is "fair". OK, if that percentage is "fair", will they agree to never raise the rate again? That would not be "fair", would it?

 

[chroix]

You all like driving on roads right? Or are we just going open range? I’m fine with whatever. Just give me a rule book and I’ll figure it out.

 

[Ron Mehico]

I understand your position and agree with big chunks of it. I agree that we should all pay less but you also have to agree that someone that makes millions a year should not pay less than someone who makes $60k a year.

How much would you like someone that makes 1 million per year to give to the government so that all our lives are better and this is a better country to live in?

 

[Ron Mehico]

You all like driving on roads right? Or are we just going open range? I’m fine with whatever. Just give me a rule book and I’ll figure it out.

Currently someone that makes 60,000 a year pays 12,000 in federal income tax, whereas someone that makes 1 million would pay 334,000. Seems pretty fair? We should tax those rich people more to make things more fair imo

 

[CrittendenWildcat]

"Fair share" always makes me laugh / cringe. Complete weaselly politispeak that can be manipulated depending on circumstances.

You mean like Bernie pivoting to attack "billionaires" instead of "millionaires" as he did prior to he himself becoming a millionaire?

 

[chroix]

Currently someone that makes 60,000 a year pays 12,000 in federal income tax, whereas someone that makes 1 million would pay 334,000. Seems pretty fair? We should tax those rich people more to make things more fair imo

Find me someone that makes a million a year that is paying $300k in taxes. You know it doesn’t break down like that. But to answer you question I think 10% flat tax for federal and 2% for state makes sense.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Find me someone that makes a million a year that is paying $300k in taxes. You know it doesn’t break down like that. But to answer you question I think 10% flat tax for federal and 2% for state makes sense.

I won’t go into details but it certainly happens. I love how magically everyone that makes a million or up has found a super easy fool proof way to avoid paying taxes. Maybe instead of 300k they’ve found a way to “only” pay 180k. But you acting like they pay less than 12k or at least 10 times what someone that makes 60k does like in your earlier post is absolute ridiculousness used to push an insane agenda.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

Or, like I said; don't DO income tax at all. (which some think is unconstitutional in the first place, and I think I agree with them)

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

And every single expense in life impacts the rich less it does the middle class. That's life. At the end of the day, the millionaire is paying the same gross tax burden as 15 to 17 60,000'ers (going by what's been tossed around in this thread)

You want to know the first thing that goes when you raise taxes on the wealthy? The majority of charitable giving in this country. Which sux, because you're guaranteed to get a much closer dollar to dollar benefit from that than you're ever going to get from the government.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

And, unlike the government, most charities can be audited.

 

[chroix]

I won’t go into details but it certainly happens. I love how magically everyone that makes a million or up has found a super easy fool proof way to avoid paying taxes. Maybe instead of 300k they’ve found a way to “only” pay 180k. But you acting like they pay less than 12k or at least 10 times what someone that makes 60k does like in your earlier post is absolute ridiculousness used to push an insane agenda.

I get your point about the millionaire paying 10x what someone earning 60k does. But when you see things like Elon Musk paying $0 in federal income tax in 2018 does that not bother you? Does that seem like he might be avoiding paying his fair share? Or do you just think tax is inherently bad and any avoidance is justified?

In 2007, Jeff Bezos, then a multibillionaire and now the world’s richest man, did not pay a penny in federal income taxes. He achieved the feat again in 2011. In 2018, Tesla founder Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, also paid no federal income taxes.

Michael Bloomberg managed to do the same in recent years. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn did it twice. George Soros paid no federal income tax three years in a row.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

But think of all the payroll taxes that those companies generate through creating jobs.

It's a fair trade IMO.

 

[chroix]

Appreciate the respectful discussion and clearly stated positions. Lots to think about.

 

[Hank Camacho_rivals115797]

WTF happened to the American Dream of trying to get rich rather than using the government to steal from them?

We are absolutely f***ed if the Chinese invade because we've become the biggest fops in history.

 

[CrittendenWildcat]

But think of all the payroll taxes that those companies generate through creating jobs.

It's a fair trade IMO.

Also keep in mind we are not talking about Tesla, or Amazon, we are talking about these individuals and their personal income taxes. Tesla paid $58m in income taxes in 2018. And Elon Musk paid $445m in income taxes between 2014 and 2018, so 2018 was obviously an anomaly.

 

[SDC8888]

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

Who pays this much, and who doesn't pay enough etc. is just a spurious argument to distract us from the important questions: Just WiTF are we GETTING for all of this money, and can we get more for less?

 

[JumperJack]

I’m not making a moral judgement. Just stating facts. I don’t like taxes either but I really don’t like the idea that someone that makes a ton of money pays less than most middle class folks do proportionally. Bezos Musk all of them do the same thing. Hide billions and then make a hundred million dollar donation to your pet cause and get headlines.

As part of the 45% that does pay taxes I’d like for it to be consistently applied to all citizens.

You are focused on the wrong thing. While I agree that guys like that should pay more, that’s 1) a dangerous theory because it’s really nothing more than envy and it can be applied to “regular” people, and 2) we don’t have a revenue problem, we have an outlandish spending problem.

 

[ganner918_rivals60369]

Currently someone that makes 60,000 a year pays 12,000 in federal income tax, whereas someone that makes 1 million would pay 334,000. Seems pretty fair? We should tax those rich people more to make things more fair imo

The problem is that the super wealthy aren't getting much of their money in the form of earned income subject to income tax. And we treat income from capital preferentially to income from labor.

 

[Hank Camacho_rivals115797]

The problem is that the super wealthy aren't getting much of their money in the form of earned income subject to income tax. And we treat income from capital preferentially to income from labor.

Why is that a problem? Do you have an IRA? Do you want the dividends and growth taxed every year?