kool-aid

The Alberton Papers, Vol. III, #XX
By Dick Darne 3-6-07
"So, what’s the deal, all this ‘free trade’ stuff. Seems no one wants to be shafted, but it just keeps on coming. What’s the matter with our elected officials, anyways?"asked Todd.
"Drinking the kool-aid is the simple answer, but there’s a lot more to it than that." answered Bill. "I’ve been around a long time and I remember when times were good, a lot of taxes would be collected. Of course, with a progressive tax, those who did well were taxed a little more. Those who did really well were taxed a little more yet. Those who became filthy rich, a lot more yet. Most never complained because they realized that the
system helped them, as did the hard working ones who did just ok. When times went bad, (usually called a recession), the taxes collected were spent, or we should say, invested in public works. Dams, highways, bridges, hospitals. Put people to work, making good wages, spending it, stimulating the economy, buying things we made right here in the good old USA, making profits, making people more prosperous and the rich richer, it worked well."
"But even if we were to do that now, we don’t make much of anything here anymore, do we?" said Johnny.
"From reading the WSJ, I have noticed that the whole system is headed into the chasm and the CEO’s are still making obscene compensation when they should be committing collective, ritual suicide" added Todd.
Gno leaned into the discussion: "This kind of ties into the ‘illegal immigrant’ problem. What’s the difference between snapping up the ‘always low prices’ made by foreigners paid a very low wage in a foreign land and enjoying cheap labor right here by foreigners? Heck, sometimes the don’t even get paid at all."
"Some say that we provide free services for illegals. Even if they have a stolen ss number, the money collected stays here. Income taxes are collected. Of course when they are really exploited, like under the table, someone else gains and it’s not the taxpayer." added Bill."
"But back to the ‘smiley-always-low-prices’, the taxpayers subsidize that too. We help feed their kids, care for them when sick, the employees, not the owners. Did you know that of the ten richest people in the world, five are Waltons, and I don’t mean John-boy. They literally never earned a thing on their own. They could well afford progressive taxation and still would never live long enough to spend what they would still have." said Todd.
"Suppose the bad guys invaded and won. Whose wealth would be taken? Whose heads would roll? Why should the common man pay for the forces to guarantee the rich their plunder? Welfare for the rich far exceeds the pittances paid out to the truly poor." said the Big feller with the Big arms. Padre was back . "Take a break, you guys have earned it. Hard work, this thinking. I shall return and I’ll bring my friend Nemi."
Stay tuned for the next arm gripping episode. Keep an open mind. dd