Re: Question for John McAdams

On Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 7:37:55 AM UTC-5, John Corbett wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 11:21:26 PM UTC-4, Bud wrote: 
> > On Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 11:23:19 AM UTC-4, John Corbett wrote: 
> > > On Monday, March 15, 2021 at 7:02:51 PM UTC-4, Glenn V. wrote: 
> > > > On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 4:41:23 AM UTC+1, John Corbett wrote: 
> > > > > On Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 2:51:24 PM UTC-5, Bud wrote: 
> > > > > > On Friday, March 12, 2021 at 8:01:56 AM UTC-5, Chuck Schuyler wrote: 
> > > > > > > On Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 6:10:37 PM UTC-6, ajohnstone wrote: 
> > > > > > > > Loathe as i am about entering a one-to-one debate but i just have to 
> > > > > > > > mention the disingenuous use of polls by John McAdams where he 
> > > > > > > > cherry-picked one statistic to misrepresent its findings. 
> > > > > > > > >>>You mean like defunding the police? A majority of blacks oppose that: 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >>> https://news.gallup.com/poll/316571/black-americans-police-retain-local-presence.aspx 
> > > > > > > > The Gallop poll did not ask a question about defunding the police. 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > The Right like to misinterpret defund the police to mean disband and 
> > > > > > > > dismantle. Not even BLM advocate such. 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Indeed previous polls show only 22% of Black Americans favor abolishing 
> > > > > > > > police departments. However, the vast majority believe reform is needed, 
> > > > > > > > with upward of 90% favoring specific reforms aimed at improving police 
> > > > > > > > relations with the communities they serve and preventing or punishing 
> > > > > > > > abusive police behavior. 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > BLM supporters suggest that city and State financing for law and order is 
> > > > > > > > overly generous (much like military and defense spending, i might add) and 
> > > > > > > > that takes much needed local budget allocation away from the many social 
> > > > > > > > support services which also contribute to lower crime levels. 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Defund simply means reducing and redistributing police department budgets. 
> > > > > > > Baloney. In Minneapolis, where I live, the City Council UNANIMOUSLY voted 
> > > > > > > to DISBAND the police department. 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/06/12/minneapolis-city-council-unanimously-votes-to-replace-police-with-community-led-model/?sh=736afcf71a52 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > The Minneapolis City Council President even claimed that fears of 
> > > > > > > DISBANDING the police came from a "place of privilege," and of course, she 
> > > > > > > meant White privilege, the all-encompassing boogeyman: 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > https://www.nationalreview.com/news/minneapolis-city-council-president-claims-fear-of-dismantling-police-comes-from-a-place-of-privilege/ 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Of course, this is batshit crazy and the Communists that run the city 
> > > > > > > government here have had to walk back their idiocy. 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Regardless, with the manpower reduction in the Minneapolis police 
> > > > > > > department, the crime rate in Minneapolis has skyrocketed this past year, 
> > > > > > > and the victims are predominately black. Thanks, Woke Supremacists. 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-violent-crimes-soared-in-2020-amid-pandemic-protests/600019989/ 
> > > > > > The same here in Philly. Ultra liberal mayor, ultra liberal DA, surge in 
> > > > > > crime. George Floyds die daily, not significant if someone who looks like 
> > > > > > him takes his life. It is almost certain that the more a city`s government 
> > > > > > turns progressive the more crime surges, but you will never see that study 
> > > > > > done by ajohnstone`s leftist think tank studies. 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I didn`t realize you were in ground zero, Chuck. I linked to this 
> > > > > > article in a different post a little while back... 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > https://www.aol.com/news/minneapolis-prepares-potential-unrest-ahead-110046142.html 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > A few excerpts were interesting... 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > "“Absolutely not. There’s still a lot of raw emotion and 
> > > > > > trauma that people are experiencing,” Elder said, acknowledging 
> > > > > > the protests and pandemic contributed to an increase in crime, noting that 
> > > > > > homicides rose from 48 in 2019 to 84 last year." 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Notice they always give an excuse why (based on gut feelings, I guess) 
> > > > > > of "protests and pandemic". Not that they did everything in their power to 
> > > > > > prevent police from doing their jobs, killing moral of the police as well 
> > > > > > as defunding them. 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Also this... 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > "“No outsiders allowed,” McDade-Davis said. “On 
> > > > > > one hand, residents stood up for themselves and banded together by 
> > > > > > blocking off access to a memorial dedicated to Floyd’s legacy. 
> > > > > > However, the neighborhood has become ripe for stickups.” 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Amazing that an area that isn`t policed is ripe for stickups. ajohnstone`s "community policing" in action. 
> > > > > > > > It's estimated that over $115 billion is spent on policing nationwide 
> > > > > > > We need to spend more. 
> > > > > > How much of that is overtime for this political "unrest"? I remember a 
> > > > > > few weeks after the Boston Marathon bombing we had an annual bike race 
> > > > > > event, and the police presence was off the hook because of what happened 
> > > > > > in Boston. Likely tens of millions of dollars in increased security across 
> > > > > > the country because of the actions of two scumbags, probably still to this 
> > > > > > day. 
> > > > > > > > every year. In 2019, NYC allocated $6 billion to its police department 
> > > > > > > > — a budget that exceeded more than that of the health department, 
> > > > > > > > homeless services, youth and community development, and workforce 
> > > > > > > > development combined. 
> > > > > > > Spend more. 
> > > > > > > In Minneapolis, 35 percent of the city budget is 
> > > > > > > > for police. 
> > > > > > > Spend more. 
> > > > > > > Oakland, Calif. $242.5 million policing costs. over 40% of the 
> > > > > > > > total city's spending. 
> > > > > > > Spend more. 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > The evidence that promoting community support services reduces crime is 
> > > > > > > > set out in this analysis 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/VThwp5JSFz7eNKF5GkxW/full 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > The very same poll you quote also reflects the lack of trust in the 
> > > > > > > > policing of African American communities. 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > "...Fewer than one in five Black Americans feel very confident that the 
> > > > > > > > police in their area would treat them with courtesy and respect [compared 
> > > > > > > > to over half of white Americans]...When factoring in those who are at 
> > > > > > > > least somewhat confident that the police would treat them well, a majority 
> > > > > > > > of Black Americans (61%) are generally confident, but this is still below 
> > > > > > > > ...91% of White Americans..." 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > That is one big gap. 
> > > > > > > Then stop teaching black kids in school to distrust the police. Stop 
> > > > > > > promoting welfare programs that reward fatherless homes. Stop teaching 
> > > > > > > kids here that they live in the most racist society in history, when they 
> > > > > > > live in the EXACT opposite. Stop trying to raise the minimum wage which 
> > > > > > > cuts out inner city teens from job opportunities and kills entry level 
> > > > > > > jobs. 
> > > > > > Never happen, the Democrats benefit politically by having an angry black 
> > > > > > segment of society. They have no interest in actually saying what the 
> > > > > > problems are, let alone trying to solve them, the status quo is fine with 
> > > > > > them. 
> > > > > Democrats depend on maintaining a permanent underclass because they can 
> > > > > count on getting 90% of that vote. Their worst fear is that some of their 
> > > > > programs might actually work and lift those people out of poverty. That 
> > > > > would make them more likely to vote Republican. I don't think they really 
> > > > > need to worry about any of their programs working. It seems highly 
> > > > > unlikely. 
> > > > Incredible. You really believe this? What an astounding load of 
> > > > gobbledybgook. While the D's, like the R's, certainly have far to much 
> > > > appreciation vs those who give them their bribes, the G's are far worse. 
> > > > At least the D's try, the GOP are swindling the American working class 
> > > > into believing they are their voters, their folks. Which is almost 
> > > > likeable to Trumps Big Lie. The GOP pushed through 2 trillions in tax cuts 
> > > > for the top 1%, while they all voted aginst Bidens Covid relief. Now 
> > > > that's a party that supports the American working class, right? 
> > > Now the Biden administration wants to pay for the stimulus by raising 
> > > taxes. Great idea. Hand out "free" money and then take more of people's 
> > > money through taxes. Is this a great country, or what? 
> > > 
> > > Government cannot create wealth. If it could, why hand out just a measly 
> > > $1400. Why not give everybody a million? Government can only give the 
> > > people what it has first taken from them. 
> > They used to say "Robbing Peter to pay Paul". This is robbing Paul to 
> > pay Paul.
> In this particular case, it actually is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Not 
> everyone is getting "free money". Only those below a certain income level 
> will. Not everyone is going to get their taxes raised. Biden said during 
> the campaign that he would not raise taxes on anyone making less than 
> $400K. We know what campaign promises are worth but let's say he actually 
> holds to that. That means the people who are going to get their taxes 
> raised are the same people who didn't get the "free money". It thus 
> becomes just a wealth redistribution scam. Sadly, the people who benefit 
> from this have no conscience about this legalized thievery. If you or I 
> were to rob a rich person at gunpoint and give the money to a poor person, 
> we would go to jail. But somehow it becomes OK for the government to do 
> it. 
> 
> People also fail to realize when this legalized thievery takes place it 
> becomes a drag on the economy. When the people with the capital get 
> overtaxed, they are less apt to invest in growth. Our economy stagnated 
> from the last few years of the Bush administration through all eight years 
> of the Obama administration. When Trump pushed through his tax cuts, the 
> economy exploded with both job and wage growth not seen in decades. As JFK 
> observed, a rising tide raises all boats. The Democrats would rather pit 
> one class against another. They have convinced low information voters that 
> they can only get ahead if we sock it to the wealthy.

The left and their media acolytes have so demonized the issue of taxes and 
tax cuts and who pays their "fair share" of taxes that it's impossible to 
have an honest conversation about the topic.

The power to tax is also the power to control. and destroy The FAIREST tax 
system is also a system where--regardless of tax RATES--all Americans feel 
the system works without unduly favoring one group over another. The way 
to DO this, in my opinion, is to eliminate all deductions in the code and 
flatten the rate. Exempt the first "X" in income from Federal taxation and 
tax everything beyond that at a certain percentage, no deductions.

Nearly every Republican would go along with something like this. Dems? 
Nah. It's about control with Dems. Doling out tax breaks for starting wind 
farms or buying an electric car or other pet issues is part of why the tax 
code is so complex.

On a related issue regarding the capital gains tax, I remember some years 
ago candidate Obama being confronted with the facts that a LOWER capital 
gains tax cut actually RAISED more money for the treasury because 
investors saw an opportunity to sell the asset being taxed at a lower rate 
and deploying the gains into other money making, entrepreneurial ventures. 
Obama could only stammer that the higher rate was "fairer" even though the 
treasury benefited less, which tells you a little about the mindset of the 
left. Dems would rather punish than raise the money.

Glenn and ajohnstone would rather run with the narrative that tax cuts go 
to the "greedy one-percent" for example. I'll bet Glenn and AJ also 
believe women make 78 cents on the dollar for every dollar a man makes.