Putting people to work
The conservatives keep saying we can’t raise taxes, particularly on the wealthy, because they are ‘the job creators.’ It seems to make sense, but it is just not working. The rich are sitting on their money. ‘Trickle down’ economics does not work. My house needs work — carpet, paint, appliances and other updates. I’ve got two cars with a lot of miles on them. I could go on and on. Give me some money and I’ll put people to work. Local folks. Right now.
High and mighty
How is it that currently there are approximately 22 million illegal immigrants working in the U.S. and the current amount of unemployed (not working) United States citizens is approximately 22 million. I have heard and read that the illegal immigrants do jobs that U.S. citizens would not do? Remember the illegal immigrants are the ones holding the pay rate so low. Are we U.S. citizens that high and mighty that we pick and choose our job when we are begging for a job?
Waiting for access charge
All the readers’ comments and posters who seem to hate our local newspaper should go somewhere else with their comments, and do the rest of us a favor. I am waiting for the Dispatch to start charging for access to the online paper. That should do away with some of the people who post insults at local citizens all day.
Great schools for our money
Someone recently wrote in that they “support education” but are going to vote no on the levy referendum because they didn’t support the current administration. Voting no won’t change the administration, but will only increase class sizes and reduce opportunities for our children. This is not the way to “support education.” Supporting education requires hard work and money, not just catch phrases. It’s easy to bash administration, but the facts show our school district is more efficient than most others in Minnesota and that we get great schools for our money.
Where’s the common sense?
Brainerd schools seem to have a problem with criticism like the one who complained about the crowded dance. First of all, we all have the right to be heard no matter what form we use. It’s not the school’s decision. Secondly I had a face-to-face six years ago with the now principal about the area used for the dance being too crowded. Adults can’t chaperone when they can’t walk in between the students. Nothing was done. Why not use the gym for the dance? Where’s the common sense? We pay you big bucks for you to solve the problems you create.
Fire code violated?
This is regarding the homecoming dance. I believe kids will be kids and dancing is just dancing. If I was the parent I would be more concerned with the fact the school administrators packed 450 kids into such a small area as the high school commons.
False assumption
Concerning the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, I don’t think most people are against someone becoming wealthy. It’s the way some of them acquired their wealth. Some assume that all the wealthy got there by working hard which is a false assumption.
Looking to volunteer for the holidays
My husband and I are retired and don’t have any relatives in the Brainerd area. We are wondering if anyone knows of an organization or church that might need help serving meals at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas? Any input would be helpful.
Don’t call people lazy
To the person who wrote in that people are lazy, how dare you call people lazy just because we’re not wealthy? Some people are born into having wealth. Yes, and some people have worked very hard to become wealthy, but in this day and age, I know so many people who’ve been laid off and they can’t get a job no matter what; they’re going without so many things. They’re losing their homes. I’ve worked hard my whole life to have things. I’m not wealthy. I worked hard. I pay my bills. You’re very rude to be calling people lazy.
Congrats Huskies
After watching the Pillager Huskies beat Pine River-Backus on Friday night, I was disappointed to see a huge picture of a Pine River player and an article that had the losing coach saying more positive things about the Huskies than Coach Scearcy. Congrats, Pillager Huskies football team. Go get ‘em at the dome.
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words. To phone in a comment, call (218) 855-5888 and leave a message. To e-mail a comment, write to voxpop@brainerddispatch.com. Comments, which must meet the newspaper’s standards of fairness and good taste, may be edited for clarity, length and libel.
Comments (54)
Add commentdance
I'm glad that someone is concerned about the number of students "packed" into the BHS Commons area for a dance. I am hoping the same amount of concern is voiced about how many students are "packed" into a classroom. Of course it isn't as much fun to anonymously take shots at "that administrator" about real issues. Vote yes/yes on the upcoming referendum and be a real adult and give Andrea Rusk, BHS Principal, a call and discuss your concerns about overcrowding.
Yes. If you're not wealthy
Yes. If you're not wealthy then you must be lazy or too stupid to make good decisions according to one political party.
What they won't be able to answer is if it's possible for America to have 300 million wealthy people.
Fish - No, it's not. There
Fish - No, it's not. There will always be those with more, and some with less. Only the means, mean, median income will change, and those with less will always want more.
"Give me some money"
Doesn't this statement from the Vox popper above, pretty much say it all?
Vote no,no
It has been proven that 20 or 30 in a classroom makes little difference. Those that want to learn will, and those that don't will get a government job!
Conflicted
Wolfg1 stated ""Give me some money"
Doesn't this statement from the Vox popper above, pretty much say it all?"
Although I agree that the government should not just be handing out money to people, I think the point of his/her letter was that trickle down economics does not work and he/she is exactly right.
I'm not entirely sure why the Republican party blames President Obama for our current unemployment numbers when they refer to the wealthy in this country as the "job creators"? I've heard the arguement that they are unsure of what will happen w/ their taxes but that is untrue as recently pointed out by a nonpartisan fact or fiction team that used survey results from Business owners to verify that statement to be false...just another talking point by the GOP. If the GOP calls the wealthy "job creators" than it is the wealthy that are failing to reduce unemployment, not the govt.
The person's letter to the Dispatch is basically saying that people who live pay check to pay check (maybe stashing some away for retirement) actually spend their money. Which creates demand and creates jobs. The "job creators" in this country are you and I. Joe the plumber (can't believe I referenced that guy), Sally the teacher, Timmy the car sales man, etc. We spend our income...the wealthy hoard it.
Let me follow that up by saying it is the right of the wealthy to do whatever the heck they want with their money...after all, it is theirs! But, this economy needs some of that money circulated back into the economy so it can be spent again, and again, and again...until it makes it's way back to the wealthy again (at least its been used a few times now). A higher tax rate is needed to extract that money from the wealthy so it can be used again, extracting it from middle to lower class citizens only results in less spending and since we are the job creators that will make things even worse.
I could go on and on here but the bottom line is trickle down economics is the biggest lie ever sold to the citizens of the U.S. and as John Stewart said, "The wealthy keep getting richer while the rest of us wait to be trickled on".
"Give me some money"
The mantra of the "Occupy Movement"! And in answer to the person complaining that someone said they were lazy because they are not wealthy, maybe is what they meant was laying around in a park whining that life's not fair is not the way to build wealth. Then there is the idiot who wants to charge an access fee for viewing this paper. Bring it on. It will turn into another class warfare for those of us who can afford the fee and those who cannot, but then again they can go to "Tay" and tell them they are "poverty bound" and could he leave his momma's basement long enough to help!
full of malarkey, rrpr
That is so much malarkey. Raising the class size from 20 to 30 invites a multitude of problems, least of which is that it sucks the oxygen right out of the air. When people spout such statistics, I would like to remind them that churches can barely find teachers to handle classrooms of 10 or less. Let's see, raising the class size by 50% should warrant a salary increase of 50% to the teacher. Still unmanageable. 50% more paperwork at night.
"....Let me follow that up by
"....Let me follow that up by saying it is the right of the wealthy to do whatever the heck they want with their money...after all, it is theirs...."
Then...
"....A higher tax rate is needed to extract that money from the wealthy so it can be used again...."
You can't have it both ways ROM.
"....and as John Stewart...."
Getting your talking points from John Stewart pretty much says it all. Finally, where's your source for the "survey" that you mention? I have a small business and guess what...I'm not hiring a single person because of the uncertainty. Would I like to? Absolutly, I have enough demand to justify it, but I'm not going to hire at the expense of my business.
wolfies selective quote misleads
"Give me some money and I’ll put people to work. Local folks. Right now." is the whole quote.
He's right. Put some of the wealth of this nation that has been "redistributed" to the wealthy back into the pockets of the REAL Job Creators and we'll see the economy sputter back to life. Until that happens we'll continue on the downward spiral as the hoarders crouch around their pile of money.
Signed. A Job Creator.
the comment is
"I know so many people who’ve been laid off and they can’t get a job no matter what"
Guess what, there are plenty of jobs in North Dakota. If someone wanted to get a job, as several of my friends have, they would go to North Dakota and work in the oil fields. And if the oil fields are not for you, there are other jobs out there. McDonalds is paying $20 per hour for their workers.
That is just one area of the US that is still looking for more work force. If you are really wanting a job, its pretty simple to pack up and move. Thats what I did and why I am in Brainerd.
fish what jobs you create?
Your ideals crush job creation. What you want done with taxes will have a trickle down effect that will kill not only jobs at the largest businesses, but also the smaller businesses that are out there by the demand of parts, services, etc made by those largest businesses.
Getagrip
You can have it both ways...50,000,000 dollars taxed at 39% instead of 35%. Let's see how that works.
39% would be a tax of 19,500,000. They still have over 30 million to do whatever they want with.
35% would be a tax of 17,500,000. They have over 32 million to do whatever they want with.
Hence, we have extracted money for the good of the whole US and they still have over 30 million dollars to survive on and spend however they want.
And I am looking for that fact or fiction article. It was shortly after the GOP tea party debate in September and I'm still looking for it.
Fish....it doesn't matter
Fish....it doesn't matter what the quote is. The fact still remains; the essence of the statement is "give me money".
As a small business owner, I say...."I don't need someone elses money......just get out of my way." The "give me money" mantra of the left kills jobs. With the amount of taxes I pay each year, I could hire one full-time employee and one-part time employee at a decent salary. Instead, I use it to write a check to the State and Federal Government each year. Heavy regulation and fees that I get hammered with every year also has a negative affect on my decision hire people. THAT'S REALITY.
By the way fish.....how many people have you hired in the past year? Past two years? Or are you just content to take "other peoples money"?
raising the class size should warrant a salary increase
Can we use that logic in both directions?
Run on....so you want the
Run on....so you want the govenerment to play molevolent income distribution despot? Why stop at 39%? Why not 50%, 60%, 85% or what the heck go for 100%? As a matter of fact, then I say let the governement tax you at what; 25%, 40%, 80%, 100%?
How did you or the government determine that 39% is fair? Or do you just feel that some people have too much and you should take some of it? "Give me money" right?
Getagrip
Try to think macro instead of micro...what is good for the nation not just the super wealthy or the super poor. The U.S. cannot sustain itself under this current distribution of wealth...that being the wealthy have everything and the poor have next to nothing and the middle class scrapes by and continues to shrink (to the poor side)!
Is it a little unethical to "take" from the rich? Yes, but if it isn't put back into the system the U.S. will not be the place it is now or 10 years ago. Protests (possibly violence) will continue and escalate. You may continue to get yours...you may also lose yours...but what good is it to "get yours" if the US is just a fragment of it's former self?
dont forget state tax
add on another 7.85% on the rich in Minnesota, so now they are at 46.85%, is that fair?
Why not just take it all? Heck with it. We dont need job creators, we just need a government that spreads the wealth around the country.
You poor libtards cant grasp the concept of earning your own money.
Please explain to me how the rich are taking money away from me. The last time I checked, I have a job because of rich people.
Everything I ever learned in macro shows taxing more is bad. Unless you are thinking Keynesian policies, then you are really out in left field
"We spend our income...the
"We spend our income...the wealthy hoard it."
What do you think they do? Stuff it in their mattress?
They reinvest it. Right now, a lot is sitting in the bank, instead of in the stock market, corporate bonds, R&D, and business expansion due to uncertainty regarding regulations, taxes, Obamacare, etc. Maybe once there is some solid leadership from the oval office, things will stabilize and this money will come back into the economy.
Fish - How many jobs did you create on your farm? And I'm not talking minimum wage/part-time stuff, but real jobs with full benefits that provided a "liveable wage" as you like to call it.
Have a nice day guys
This is one of those things we'll just have to disagree on. I appreciate your view pts. (Wolf and Geta) but like so many things in politics there is little convincing the other side of stance that is already taken. Have a nice day and lets hope that regardless of what path it takes to get there the US continues to prosper.
I helped create jobs at the
I helped create jobs at the feed mill, the plumbing store, the well driller, the electric wire maker, the net maker, the auto dealer, the fish tank maker, the grocery store, the farm that grew my food, the union highway worker, and a thousand other jobs.
I spent my money instead of hoarding it in a bank or investing it overseas until the country spirals down enough to eliminate regulations that protect the public and our economy.
As far as the farm I was on track to create 2 full time jobs with benefits until DNR retaliation destroyed it.
The middle class is tired of
The middle class is tired of the class warfare that has shifted the gains of productivity to the wealthy and rigged the system in their favor.
"...Is it a little unethical
"...Is it a little unethical to "take" from the rich? Yes..."
So you support the govenrment continuing down a path that is considered unethical?
Points of the Socialist Party
Points of the Socialist Party of America's Platform.
- "We call for a steeply graduated income tax and a steeply graduated estate tax, and a maximum income of no more than ten times the minimum. We oppose regressive taxes such as payroll tax, sales tax, and property taxes."
- "We call for the restoration of the capital gains tax and luxury tax on a progressive, graduated scale."
Isn't this what you believe in Fish and consistely espouse. Isn't this exactly what you're advocating Run-on?
"Give me some money"
Some have taken this out of context. The writer (a friend) probably should have said, "If I had more money." The point is this: if the middle class have money they spend it.
And nobody is talking about taxing the rich into the poorhouse. Successful people deserve to enjoy their wealth and they should be able to spend it however they would like. But you still have to pay your fair share. Right now they are not. And 'trickle down' economics does not work.
If the middle class have and spend money everyone will be better off.
fair share
Do tell, what is the definition of Fair Share?
deleted
My post as it was not on point.
I am more a job creator
than most. No I don't hoard my money. I spend it in my mortgage payments to my condo in Maple Grove and my vacation home on the lake in Brainerd. I spent it buying my boat, and 2 cars, and the gas and maintenance involved. I spend it at the airport, the bus shuttle, and restaurants. I invest in stocks and bonds, which also create jobs. I could go on but this idea that the rich are sitting on massive amounts of money is ridiculous. Now what the uber rich are doing, I don't care, nor do I care what the middle income is doing, but I sure don't sit around and blame someone for my losses and gains. Fish, stop blaming the DNR for the fact that you didn't want to follow the rules, and lake, it is malarkey, not malarky! And research has concluded that it is not the number of students in the class, but the area of the classroom.
well, jeepers
Then let's put about 300 students in the gym with one teacher and really save money. Thanks for the spelling correction, however, I do wonder where you found your facts. I hope some teacher enlightens us.
volunteers for the holidays
Check with the American Legion Club in Brainerd. They serve a thanksgiving meal. The Elks used to serve the Christmas meal. The Sharing Bread Soup kitchen also serves on the holidays, they are also in Brainerd.
Stupid or Lazy and Broke
Just because your parents were too stupid to save up for your college education, and you weren't smart enough to get a grant and your too lazy to work two jobs to make up for it, doesn't mean you can't contribute.
I've seen your type get their free money on tax returns, go buy a nice new car payment, and lose it all 3 months later.
I used my own money I saved up to pay cash because I'm not stupid. I'm not even rich. No one deserves free money. Peroid. Not even the city for agreeing to house offenders in our city.
Everyone should pay the same % taxes on their income. Rich, poor, middle class, I don't care.
Vote yes on the school ref. Stop the stupid.