2012 Elections- HOT TOPIC- Watch it!!! Respond!!!

[MeMyselfAndWhoKnowz]

I don't know what to say, your right, the rich have all the money and want more. But they're not going to give it up, t and they have all the power, so how could you stop them? I don't know.

[harveybacon]

@MeMyselfAndWhoKnowz you're right man. I guess it's futile.

[BrogdenRedneck]

we need to make laws for higher taxes on the rich instead of lower taxes, busch made the upper income tax cuts to benefit him and his family, if we raised taxes for upper class taxes and minimum wage we would see our economy and debt crisis resolved over a short period of time, i agree with this video 100%

[harveybacon]

Top 3% own more money and capitol and assets than the rest of us put together. I'm not wanting to take their money, but stop them from acquiring more of what would be our money! They've got enough. Let the rest of us have a whack at it.

[TainaAtheist1]

I agree with your suggestion that the United States need to put a cap on richism. Income disparity is un-American.

.

[gtscruggs]

money is distributed to the bankers and congress before all else. Thus, when money costs the leaset amount (when it is printed and priced according to inflation) the masses receive the end of the money stream. Thus costing more in interest for that item. Money is called in by the banks that originally got the loans from the FED and thus the credit hold on the masses continues...............

[dilostondiuqil]

there will be NO ELECTIONS,continue the LIES... GEORGE BUSH go along with your DICK (chenney) and GO TO WAR in IRAN and SYRIA...REDEEM YOURSELVES!!! include CHINA, NORTH KOREA and RUSSIA as well...save the MIGHTY USA from the wrongs you have done...send more young soldiers to their DEATHS!!! finish what you have started, dont just stop on IRAQ and afghanistan...go DESTROY your COUNTRY, and THE AMERICAN people will let it ALL SLIDE...hahahaha!!!! they will just forgive you...

[bdfwinn]

This is wack. Were it not for monetary incentives there would be no companies to work for & earn a wage. The minimum wage was intended for young folks just starting out in life not families who are provided for by uneducated unskilled workers. Sorry. The Fed. Govt. cannot set limits on salaries for anyone other than Fed. employees- its unConstitutional. But then again most Socialists care little for our sacred Constitution. RON PAUL SWEARS TO DEFEND AND UPHOLD IT! TEAPARTY07 Ron Paul 08

[Fluffdysis]

Yes, The federal gov't can set salaries. They can even freeze prices if they so desire. I mean, they are allowed to spy on you and arrest you as long as they call you a 'terrorist', so they can do whatev. they want. Minimum wage is designed so that companies, which would SCREW people, have to pay something for labor. Minimum wage is too low, reguardless.

[CatesBoy3]

Fed Income tax is unconstitutional, as well as half the stuff the President does. Most of the hot button issues during debates, the President himself has little to NO authority to do anything about from the Constitution. Of course, no on ever ASKS them in a public forum about this, so they keep on and on with it, duping the American people. Ron Paul would be a temporary saviour, and I'm voting for him... so should others. I hope he makes the ballot.

[daolao]

i believe barack obama will be the next president (or i hope haha). his plans for the united states sounds good :)

yes, this country was built on the basis of freedom. but if we have COMPLETE freedom, the u.s. would be chaos!! surely, there has to be some limits. there has to be a limit to EVERYTHING right?

[goose1077]

Everything we have in the country is because we allow people to get rich. Capping how rich people can get will only lead to more poverty. If you can't make money on an investment, why invest? If people don't invest, there are no jobs. Is that the utopia you are looking for?

[Sal1981]

The out-of-sync text with the voice got unbearably annoying.

[christinaistheuser]

Hi, this is Christinaistheuser. LISTEN TO ME. I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I KNOW THE SCAM OF THIS WAY OF LIFE. WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO TO WORK TO MAKE MONEY TO BUY FOOD WHEN FOOD GROWS OUT OF THE GROUND FOR FREE? HERES A SMALL SCOOP ON THE FUTURE: GEORGE BUSH WILL NOT FINISH HIS TERM IN OFFICE. I GUESS HE WILL BE IMPEACHED, BUT I CAN ONLY HOPE FOR ASSASSINATION. I'M NOT SURE WHEN HE WILL BE OUT, BUT I THINK ON 9-15-07. AND HILLARY WILL BE PRESIDENT NEXT.

[Fluffdysis]

I agree with everything but the Hillary part.

[darlenmarlen]

Our economy will plunge without immigrants. How would small companies afford to keep afloat if they would have to do business with half as many workers. The problem is that Americans do not make enough money on jobs there left for them to do. Big cooperations have moved all jobs that require a college degree to China and India. Would a knowledgable high-school graduate ever care to clean toilets,take care of the elderly and work construction under harsh weather conditions?

[ItotallyAgreewithyou]

Innovation my friend. Sure you could have 16 immmigrants plow a field with mule drawn plows. But a tractor pulling a 16 spread plow is faster. The person with the skills to operate and service the tractor is worth the price of 16 immigrants (and he/she PAYS taxes). All you have to do is apply innovation to the bullcrap jobs you speak of. Ron Paul 2008

[darlenmarlen]

America was built on the basis of freedom and equal opportunity. There is no freedom when people are censored, monitored and afraid of their government. There is no equal opportunity if all the chances of entrepeneurship are taken away by the big cooperations who bribe the politicians and who give away the jobs to people of other countries. In China they have communism, in America we have a similar system, "cooperatism".

[darlenmarlen]

We must have free higher education system and a free health insurance system. Students should go through national exams and according to how well they score they should attend the corresponding educational institution.The most intelligent individuals should be leading this country, not the richest. People should not have to be in debt to their ears over an appendictomy and they should not have to spend a fortune for their insurance and for health care they do not actually need.

[anyusmoon1]

It's difficult to understand why you would be soliciting, via bulletin on YouTube pages, any Ron Paul supporters to support the socialistic scheme your video purports. Are you just trying to fine tune your own arguments or are you really trying to learn something about a constitutional republic?

[harveybacon]

Uh, if you don't want to see my bulletins, then don't accept my friend invitation. Thanks for the comments, though they don't make much sense to me...

If democracy works so well, then why does our president still do what HE wants with a disapproval rate of almost 70% of the U.S.?

[anyusmoon1]

Democracy DOESN'T work!!! That's why our founding fathers gave us a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. And right... Bush isn't doing the right thing which is why I'm am working my fingers to the bone to get Dr. Ron Paul elected to restore consitituional correctness to our fouled up system.

[anyusmoon1]

Harvey... let's kiss and make up, o.k.! I am not trying to be a beyotch here. I understand the difficulty for many Americans who simply cannot quite fit the jigsaw together and believe me when I tell you, that's NO ACCIDENT. The system is RIGGED to dumb down the entire country. You probably see a light glimmering in the distance with Ron paul but can't quite get your eyes adjusted yet... give it time and be patient :-) It will all come together. Let's keep the dialogue open, k? :-*

[harveybacon]

Unity08 . com is supposedly putting a candidate on the ballot in ALL 50 states. You can go there and vote and nominate people that you see fit for presidency. Seems more promising than this electoral college thing and bipartisan way we have been stuck in.

[harveybacon]

cbs4. com/ topstories/ local_story_055141357. h t m l

[libertylover1]

Start getting an education on how the government and the economy works. I would recommend you start listening to free talk live it is a podcast just google it.

[harveybacon]

Thanks, I couldn't possibly understand it, though. I seem to be an ignorant fool for thinking that the government could make any POSITIVE changes for the rest of us. I will just continue to pay doubled gas prices to the middle east, so that tycoons can keep filling their abyssal-like pockets. Thanks...

[anyusmoon1]

Ignorance is not a bad thing harveybacon, it is merely the state you are in prior to learning the facts. There's nothing wrong with it until you start trying to make claims which fly in the face of facts and stick to it continually without a care for any truth that comes your way. Our constitutional republic prohibits the fed gov from doling out monies and making policy against the written limitations imposed by the constitution.

[harveybacon]

Thanks so much for your inspirational words. I am in fact in college right now. That is my plan to educate myself. I am taking care of my family, but do get bogged down in the fact that I have to go into Debt to make a living. Thanks.

[anyusmoon1]

Believe it or not... most every American is in debt, whether for education, purchasing property real and chattel, taxes, and a myriad of other things. Even IVY LEAGUE schools are spitting out ill-informed graduates, so please don't take my comment as sarcastic, it wasn't, it is a tragedy that our education system denies the constitution and teaches abortive and seditious versions- dang near everything BUT the facts.

[harveybacon]

The teachers are a bunch of extreme Liberals, that want to tell me how to think, hinder my real interests, and turn my attention away from the issues. I am learning more from that fact, but education is crucial. I take what I can get! It's just a State College, but that is all I need to get what I want. I will have a degree and be able to play with the big dogs a little easier.

[RonPaul4Vida]

Very interesting. Have you ever heard of the Federal Reserve?

[harveybacon]

If lobbyists and politicians have so much money to play with trying to keep cigarettes legal, then one could assume that you could go work for their company and make tons, right? Well what the reality is in that situation, hard workers making cigarettes, and somehow the senate is getting the spare change?!!

[harveybacon]

That is an example of what I AM talking about. Raise the wages of those people working FOR the machine.

Not the people who already have so much-they DON'T need a raise. That's not how they should decide on votes either...

[tlafountains]

well people dont have to work for anyone....this is America we can start anything we want and work for ourselves....for the time being its still a free country!

[harveybacon]

I don't like the tax proposals. I don't want them to tax you any more, if anything- less.

I am starting my own business. I just want my employees to make more than $8 an hour when I hire. I want lower incomes to be for part time workers and teens, not 40 year old construction workers with experience!

[anyusmoon1]

If you want your employees to make more than $8 p/hr than pay them more! What's stopping you? You think there's a law against you paying more than the min wage?

I'm rather surprised to hear a businessman wanting government interference of any kind.

[Fluffdysis]

It takes money and an education. When the top 1% denies the lower 99% those basics needs, then how are they supposed to rise up and overcome?

[harveybacon]

@tlafountains can anyone tell me that they have done this since this comment was made 3 years ago? I know I haven't! haha

[tlafountains]

They dont need a raise? What because they worked hard, climbed the and became wealthy? because they worked hard they dont NEED a raise? Anyone in American can make it...we dont need the government ta

[harveybacon]

tlafountains wrote me:

"Earned is earned.....the point is I earn it!!!!! so i spend it on ME! I work for it! Its not up to the government to decide where my money goes....if someone is poor has 7 kids and smokes crack, i dont want them to get my money, if an illegal needs medical attention and uses my dime i dont like it! Redistribution of wealth to create an equal playing field is not the American way....."

[tlafountains]

WOW, this guy is a socialist idiot! How about you mover to another country, one that does not reward you for getting an education climbing the latter and making something of yourself! Yeah lets all me on an equal playing field here take MORE of MY earned money! go out and make it!

[harveybacon]

I have an education, and am even furthering it. The problem isn't education, or is it? I am not suggesting that I take any of your money, but damn you sound like an ass when you defend your precious dollars like a child with candy. I have money, and I damn sure work for it. I guess, not everyone with a couple Extra dollars in their pockets can understand the problems the lower class are undergoing. I hope you the best Fountains.

[harveybacon]

And I have to point out how you left HARD out of the phase "earned money"

[harveybacon]

Sorry you couldn't post your comment, but it is wrong. I am not saying anything about taking your money and giving it to crack-heads! I said in my video that welfare is not working, so where are you getting this fear from? You sound scared...

[tlafountains]

Scared sure! Scared that our government is digging deeper and deeper into my pocket! you start getting 35-40 of your pay taken and giving it out to someone who wont go et it them selves! sure im scared that soon they will take 50% then 60% then 70......

[harveybacon]

@tlafountains just to hit back on this topic, it is not YOUR money I want. I want to keep the money I make. I don't want you to be greedy and take it from me for "overdraft" fees or some fee that was imosed on me for living in said neighborhood. Could you actually tell me that you make more than you need and you are proud of the fact that others suffer when said "rich" people are still happy to take their last bit of savings? GREED is what I'm talking about. STOP IT! THAT is American.

[Xehanort1]

do u ppl really think china and other contries r comunist, if they were they wouldnt have all the extremely rich and extremely poor with no middle class

[antiwar100]

You need to look at the real problem for why people are poor. It is the government. If you limit the government's power, and take away the government feeding tube, the business will have to compete and deliver wanted goods and services to people. If they don't they are bankrupt. So do you want to enhance the power of government? This will allow them to give more of our money away to corporations. Who is going to check their power? Government is the problem. Wake up liberals!!

[harveybacon]

@antiwar100 this is true! I don't want them to have as much money as they have. I think we could probably agree that they have more power than they do good. I think Americans deserve to all have the same chances that the "American Dream" our ancestors came here for! Take away Govt. Power AND corporate power BY taking a cap and putting it on their salaries! Then we automatically level the field some! I DON'T WANT to be a Wage Slave.

[synamatiq]

The policies that the BABY-BOOMERS/politicians enforce are jacking everything up, along with the lack of financial education among the common man. Yeah some of the rules benefit the rich, but also the rich get richer because they have financial gameplans, & no what to do with their fiscal possessions.

[OfficalConspirator]

Move to China or Cuba.

[harveybacon]

Yeah, so I can make less. That's very intelligent. Thanks.

[OfficalConspirator]

You are talking about communism, dumb ass. If that's what you want, move to a communist country.

Don't try to change us.

[hans1193]

Yeah people who create companies and rise up the ranks don't deserve to make money. What you want is communism, which has worked out soooo well whenever it's been attempted.

[harveybacon]

I AM NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD FOR THEIR MONEY DON'T DESERVE IT!!! I am simply saying that SOME people make far more money than they could EVER need. That is absurd, when their are very hard-working people who will never be able to own a house. Just because you are smart enough to work the system, does not mean that you deserve to be the only one to own property! Comment on that, please.

[hans1193]

As much as it disgusts you, societies that allow people to make more money than they could ever "need" have generally had the highest standard of living for the people. Yes, people like in poverty in the U.S., but keep in mind that even those at the absolute BOTTOM of American society still live better than literally 95% of the world. Propaganda like this does nothing but take credibility away from those who are truly working for the cause of social justice.

[ueberRegenbogen]

95% of the world are homeless?

[hans1193]

Would a homeless person in the US be better or worse off if they traded places with an African chosen at random?

[harveybacon]

Sorry, I don't think that that has anything to do with the topic. We don't have to start off as a third-world country. We are already one of the Top nations in the World. Why do we even HAVE homeless, because they choose to not work. That has nothing to do with this topic. Please stay on point. Thanks!

[ueberRegenbogen]

Sorry if it's off-topic. But "those at the absolute BOTTOM of American society still live better than literally 95% of the world" is a carelessly composed remark. It states that 95% of the world are in a worse living situation than those in the worst situations in the US--which would be homeless and worse. Hopefully, this is incorrect. :)

[harveybacon]

As people have had opportunity in the past, they seem to seal up the cracks that they slipped through as they go. There is less and less "opportunity" as the people that figure out how to make it try to stop anyone from following in their path. Too much competition for that greenback!

[harveybacon]

Check out my YouTube-Harveybacon page for informative videos and debates. You decide who has the PEOPLE in mind, and who is out for Glory. I appreciate everyone's input! Keep the comments rolling!! Share links with your friends!

[foraneagle2]

Hey, I'm guessing you've heard of Republican candidate Ron Paul who is basically a libertarian and espouses views similar to those that you seem to hold.

I recommend checking out his recent Q&A session at Kansas City Uptown Theater (youtube it) or really any of his videos. Or you can cut straight to his views at ronpaullibrary dot org.

You might be surprised at how well free markets and limited government are able to deal with major issues.

Peace.

[harveybacon]

I have seen some of his stuff on YouTube, here. I believe he seems to be a good candidate. I want to see how YouTube effects the polls. Seeing that the corporate monsters don't have so much control over it. Smaller government and more civilian voting could turn the tides. We need someone who represents the little guy, not Oil Companies and such!

[4951WEDDEL]

The only fair tax is a flat tax that is paid by everyone. Why should you pay a great amount of your earnings simply because you make more money? If everyone paid the same percentage of their income for the services of government, people would demand smaller government.

[harveybacon]

Smaller Government is a key in changing the way our country functions!

[4951WEDDEL]

I agree, but I doubt we would agree on how to make that happen.

[lenaw70]

You know, you would care how the poor are treated in this country and not be so greedy if something really crappy happened to you personally. I am so sick of hearing this "MINE MINE MINE!" mentality. What is wrong with the well off that they feel so full of greed?

[4951WEDDEL]

I care about the poor and have worked with them for decades. I have had "crappy" stuff happen in my life, but I don't blame the "rich" or the government. People need to take responsibility for themselves.

[harveybacon]

Nobody is "blaming" anybody. There is simply a gross inequality to the economy. There are things that CAN be done about it. Thanks for your comments!

[4951WEDDEL]

The only inequality in our economy is the desire of individuals to make the most of the opportunities.

[lenaw70]

Obviously you have ZERO clue what kinds of "CRAPPY" stuff I am referring to. What if you are not in the position to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF? WHAT IF...you became disabled. Funny how so many can simply "say" to take responsibility for yourself, but never been down that road to have a clue.

[4951WEDDEL]

Obviously you are looking for excuses. I know people who are disabled and STILL make a good living because they have taken responsibility for themselves. In America, we have a social safety net that provides for people who are truly in need. However too many people want everything in life handed to them. That is socialism.

[yungnani]

Try checking out Dennis Kucinich.

He agrees with equitable profit for everyone.

You cn go to kucinich dot us and go to Issues> Economic/Financial Issues to find out more.

[harveybacon]

Thanks! I will try and check out all the candidates views on the subject. Most of them just reply to me about how the taxation works. They don't seem to get the jist of what I am saying. But I keep trying!

[yungnani]

That's great!

Kucinich and Gravel< I believe are Truly for A Government for the people and by the people. They don't get much of a Chance to be Heard in the Media because candidates who get are shown by the Media are basically supported by the Elite.. who I believe just want power and money.. which I believe to be corporate greed.

[4951WEDDEL]

Kucinich is a communist. "From each according to their ability, to each according to their need." It has never work anywhere.

[yungnani]

I don't understand, I have never looked at his views in that way. What policies he has planned, supports a communist way of governing?

[4951WEDDEL]

"He agrees with equitable profit for everyone."

Communism

[yungnani]

Oh ok. I'm sorry I used some incorrect wording. I just know that he wants everyone to have a fair pay and decrease unemployment in our country.

[4951WEDDEL]

What makes you think people are not paid fairly? We have such a low unemployment rate now it is considered virutally FULL EMPLOYMENT.

[lenaw70]

The unemployment rate is lower now because those stats are based on number of people receiving unemployment comp. What is happening is they are losing their comp. and therefor makes the numbers look lower. Thats all.

[4951WEDDEL]

No, the rate is actually very low. Those who want a job can get a job.

[lenaw70]

Got a data source for that?

[lenaw70]

OH and btw...$7 an hour is NOT livable wage. Paid fairly? CEOs get paid six digit incomes while my husband used to build their houses with extreme skill and made no more then $15 an hour EVER. AND that line of work killed his back and his liveliness. AND we never had a chance at home ownership. This while he was a skilled carpenter and I worked in medical office. Didnt even come close.

[4951WEDDEL]

15$ an hour! Wow, I have never made that much and I have my own home. I even went to college, and paid for that myself. If you think CEO are overpaid, then become one. We pay professional athletes MILLIONS of dollars to play a sport but the decisions of a CEO might determine the fate of ten of thousands of people, from workers to shareholders.

[lenaw70]

Yah like CEOs of ENRON you mean? HA. No thanks. You are so right on about the athletes, they and celebrities are way overpaid too.  They only reason a CEO makes that kind of bank is if he finds loopholes to screw over someone else. I would rather die then be one of them.

[harveybacon]

And as they find the loophole, someone glues it shut behind them so that no one else can do it. Then they go and sell their "plan" for success!

[lenaw70]

Oh and about that $15 an hour. Try supporting a family of six on that and having contractors bend you over anytime they see fit for their wallet. If you never made $15 or more an hour, then where did you get that down for your house?

[yungnani]

The cost of living rose about 25% from 1997 (When the minimum wage was $5.15) until last year. I believe that the minimum wage should be rising together with the cost of living but has not. (eg. people still go without healthcare while profits are made by the government privatization).

[harveybacon]

exactly. If everything goes up and up, then why aren't wages. The average incomes in various locations around the country have NOT gone up hardly anything in the past five years, yet housing, gas, groceries have ALL gone up by leaps and bounds. There shouldn't even be a need for "minimum wage". People should be able to find a job that pays them, or look for another job that will pay well. We are limited anymore.

[4951WEDDEL]

You have to have a skill, talent, or specialized education if you want to make more money. A strong back is not worth as much today because we are not a labor intensive economy anymore.

[lenaw70]

Apparently, weddel thinks Wal-Mart jobs are the answer. Most jobs available are cleaning jobs, Wal-Mart jobs, back breaking jobs etc...and that is the other half of the unemployment coming down. WHOOPY!

[lenaw70]

Yes, harvey, my husband can understand your situation. He went to college after his back surgery to get a degree in computer networks, did great and couldnt find a job because he couldnt afford a BA instead of an assoc. degree. He went back to carpentry to support us and screwed his back up worse! Now he found a way to make SOME money while waiting two years for SSI to come through. He builds websites/databases....self taught btw.

[4951WEDDEL]

Few people actually work for the minimum wage. It is mostly for part-time and teenagers. If you want to make more then you need to be worth more to the company. You need a skill or an education or a talent. The company cannot simply pay you more money without raising it's prices.

[lenaw70]

The only skill in a corporation they want is for you to sell your soul to the devil. They EXPECT you to screw over anyone for the all mighty dollar. I am curious weddel, how old are you if you dont mind me asking?

[4951WEDDEL]

You have to have a skill, talent, or specialized education if you want to make more money. A strong back is not worth as much today because we are not a labor intensive economy anymore.

[harveybacon]

Exactly. I have been Double Certified in my business, and going to school for it right now. I make $12/hr. The problem is, I have two children. I could work tree jobs like immigrants do, but then my children have no father to look up to. That is another problem in society. I want to have a good life for my children.

[harveybacon]

So, I am going to get a BA, then try to start my own company. If I can get up enough CREDIT to... If you have bad credit, you are once again limited. "Strong back is not worth as much". You need good credit.

[lenaw70]

Thats not what I heard. He is saying since the elite have more money then they even know what to do with, and refuse to let go of a dime, there should be a cap. There is a gross display of elite vs poverty in this country that something should be done. So sad that the government would have to step in and force the elite to be human in the first place.

[4951WEDDEL]

What he is saying is simply let's take money away from people who have earned it and give to those who have NOT.

[harveybacon]

I am not saying to take ANY ONE's money away! There is a lot of money already in wealthy people's pockets, to the point that they never need to work again, or for that matter, receive any more money- EVER. I just want the money that is already in our country to flow more evenly throughout the people.

Thanks lenaw70!

~Robert G.

[4951WEDDEL]

The money "flows" to those who earn it. How much a person has does not matter.

[lenaw70]

Do you really think the elite wealthy "EARNED" their money. You are so in a bubble its not even funny. Some people never started out with money. For some, the "American Dream" is so far out of reach that poverty is the only future. THATS REAL LIFE. TRUST ME.

[4951WEDDEL]

No, you are wrong. What's with the term "elite wealthy"? If someone has money because their parents worked hard and left it to them, that is their business.

[ueberRegenbogen]

The trouble with the elite is not their wealth, but that they tweak the system to make it difficult for others to rise. It is not possible for someone to become wealthier without someone else becoming less wealthy; so the very wealthy want to avoid at lot of new acts on the block.

It is currently near to impossible to significantly raise your financial status, without compromising your ethics. Honesty may, from an ethical standpoint, be the best polity; but it is the least lucrative.

[harveybacon]

Exactly what I am trying to say, is we need to bring Ethics back into the economy. If you follow simple ethical standards, then you can clearly see the problems in our nation's policy, government, and greed. We need more Hero's (per say) in office. We need people to make sacrifice of their status, to try to win back the People of America!

[hans1193]

The platitudes are all well and good, but what exactly do you suggest? I'm not even saying to go do anything about it... You've outlined your problem, now how do you suggest that your problem is rectified?

[harveybacon]

the first line says it all. thanks

[ueberRegenbogen]

Obtaining money by shitting the people who do the actual work out of it, is not earning. How many musicians live and die in abject poverty and pestilence, after some fat executives "earned" billions of dollars from what they wrote? Some of the great hits were written by people who got 20 bucks or so for their work, and that was it.

[lenaw70]

This man is the most true American politician out there. Back up that claim a little better before you go throwing allegations like that. I highly suggest you watch "Sicko" when it comes out but I figure you wont. Main stream media is just SO MUCH BETTER RIGHT?

[4951WEDDEL]

I would not watch that propaganda for love or money. Michael Moore is a jerk.

[lenaw70]

My point has been made.

[wtfomfg27]

Go to a hospital in Cuba when you get sick.  I'm sure you can get right into the ones in his movie.

Oh wait, no you can't, because you're not RICH like Castro and his regime. So, the poor get screwed there too. Don't believe nonsense.

[onlywhenprovoked]

the only sentence I had a hard time with was "while the minimum wage goes up and up". The Fed min wage hasen't been raised since 1996 last time I checked. The "poverty line" is defined at somewhere around 18.5 thousand a year, which comes out to around 14 per hour. If that's the poverty line, then that should be the min. wage. I liked your video otherwise.

[harveybacon]

Thanks. I live in Florida, and they raised the min wage here to 6.50 or so. But as it goes up, so do the costs of everyday items. Then you work your way up to $7 and they are going to raise it again. I guess it is different in different states, but so is the cost of living. When you make $14/hr. and the cost of living fits better around the $20, it makes it very hard. I feel like the gov. wants the lower class to live in the Ghetto, not have an equal opportunity. Thanks for the comments!

[onlywhenprovoked]

The fed min wage is still at something like 5.50 or so, where it was in 1996, allowing states to raise it individually. Of course they want us kept down as low as possible. Why do you think they moved all the factories to Mexico? They want slave labor and will keep pushing us until that's what we are.

[futurelight]

(contd.) Low cost keeps things practical and helps the US be more competative on the global market. Even though the current system seems unfair on the surface, we should approach change cautiously. If, in changing the system, foreign products become vastly chaper, it may result in American business collapse and less money for everyone. I'm not an economics expert, but I think we should approach this with caution.

[harveybacon]

Very good points, but there is already the high cost of using any "American-Made" products. That is in part, why the wages ARE so low. Wal-Mart use to be a good choice for giving your money back to an American company, so as to keep American jobs open, and successful.

[harveybacon]

Other than the overly publicized under-paid Wal-Mart employees, the money you spent on that $15 sweater goes overseas to a factory in China paying it's employees pennies. That is the same for the $100 sweater from Ralph Lauren! What is the profit doing? Sitting in an executives pocket... They should use it constructively!

Make new plans for economic reform with that excess. Use the wealth and power to educate our public. Create job. START SOMEWHERE. greed is not constructive.

[futurelight]

(contd.) but redistributing that wealth is not simple. If the rich did have a salary cap, how would that money get redistributed to the poor? Would business managers be encouraged to pay their people more? Probably not. It's good business practice to keep costs down. On a personal scale, why buy a sweater from Ralph Lauren for $100, when you could buy one from Wal-Mart for $15? (contd.)

[futurelight]

Putting a cap on income flies in the face of decades of economic thinking. One of the reasons America is (or has been) so successful economically is because the promise of unlimited returns is a great motivator... people work hard and innovate to achieve it. I realize that the barrier between the classes seems more impassible every day; it seems like the rich have more money than they can spend, and all the excess is being withheld from the poor who would gladly spend it... (contd.)

[boratFAN999]

Well I completely agree with you. We need a change.

But what can we do? As you said, these who have got much money have got much power. But they don´t seem to want the system to be changed.

In my opinion, there is only one choice: We need to put someone into power whose aim is to lower the taxes and to limit the power of the government. Ron Paul is the only one who puts himself out for these things.

Please watch my channel vids if you haven´t already done it.

[harveybacon]

Some of the candidates seem to have a good hold on reality. If we can vote those that seem fit to office, then there is a chance that they will listen to the public, and forgo their personal ventures. This war has crumbled the economy, and where is Bush. Sitting pretty. Oil companies are still making more money. Then what was the point of the war. We could pay those prices for more progressive energies. Bush did create high-paying jobs, if you want to work in the Middle-East!

[4951WEDDEL]

What you are suggesting has already been tried and FAILED. It is called "Communism". You speak about the "rich" as if they were evil, and poor as if they are "hard-working". What we need is less government and more people taking responsibility for themselves.

[harveybacon]

I am hard-working, and considered poor, by the government.

I cannot get ahead without taking on mass amounts of debt, then if the economy works in my favor, I might be able to get ahead by the time I am 40. If the economy works against me, then the rich get richer, and I stay "poor".

I do not want communism! I want an economy that works for the Hard-Working!

[4951WEDDEL]

How does the economy work "against" you? The economy works the same for everyone. It is estimated that the economy will create ten million new millionaires will be created between 2006-2016. These are NEW millionaires. People who have worked hard and use their creativity.

[lenaw70]

You are incorrect. These "new millionaires" are offspring from the elite in the first place. How can you honestly say they worked hard when everyone knows they just came of age to receive daddy's trust fund. Give me a break.

[4951WEDDEL]

Wrong! These are NEW millionaries. People who have started their own businesses or created a new product or idea. We live in a nation with the greatest amount of opportunity in the world.

[lenaw70]

You know Weddel, it would be great if you could give me examples of these millionaires that made it ON THEIR OWN. There USED to be opportunity, yes. HOWEVER, that is not the case anymore. Corporations make damn sure of that. There is no more pats on the back for hard work. There is little small business that the corporations dont drowned.

[4951WEDDEL]

Sounds like you have invented every excuse in the book for your lot in life. Small business are being started everyday in this country. However that involves risks that most people are unwilling to take. If you want to go through life blaming the "rich" or corporations for your situation, that is your business.

[harveybacon]

I think that too many people want to TAX the "rich", though. That is no answer. The wealthy people ARE the government! They already have the money. What do they need to tax themselves for? They already have the power to change things. The government needs to change the ECONOMY to a checks and balances!

~~Please comment!~~

[harveybacon]

Progressive thinking! That's a good start. Maybe the government could just recognize that we are in need of reconstruction. The way people are suffering in our own country is appalling! The least the wealthy could do is to help to give the government some change. Money is power, but that leaves our country uneven. Too many people with money are very happy the way things work. We need change.

[ElCarcho]

As much as I agree, we will never have a cap on income in this country under this government. There should at the very least be a sliding scale(i think with a cap on top) where the highest paid people pay a 90% income tax. Some people make 50+ mil a year, tax 90% they still get 5! i could live the rest of my life on that and NEVER have to work again! Consolidation of wealth is a threat to democracy... none of this will happen though, not until we throw off our government and rebuild it!