Rep. Jim McDermott on redistribution of wealth and friends

[egervari]

This guy is unbelievable. He didn't know that the government he was serving was a constitutional republic.

I like this straw-man argument @2:44 where everyone loses their job and you only have a sales tax. How is this at all applicable to the discussion? When is it possible that everyone in the entire country would lose their job? :/

[mcduffiesteven]

I debated McDermott once, and mopped up the floor with him. Hetfeld did so better than me.

[VINNYMOR]

Very sick individual. Why do people vote for this fool?

[VINNYMOR]

"Not living as well as you might" because of collectivists tyrants like Mcdermott. Now he is leading an attack on GE not paying taxes without observing that all income is realized as dividends that are already taxed. He wants to double tax money that shouldn't even be taxed once. McDermott talks of educated people, but takes advantage of their ignorance. He is a sick man!

[dchamberss]

This congressman makes a good inital point... too bad he loses it on the constitution part. Not so smart after all, just results to the ends justify the means - totally moral bankruptcy.

[Camdenyardbird]

McDermott is just another American Marxist with a "(D)" after his name, who is nuttier than squirrel poop.

[mikeandlaurie1979]

Jan, I think you're incorrect.... politicians live very well while legally taking our money.

[independence4wales]

@theretromama It cant happen maybe, but people can get much closer to the optimum without government interference

[TreachMarkets]

"I would like to live in a society where I had a free lunch." And then he became a Democrat and went to Congress...

[rehabcounsel]

Don Rivers says,

McDermott appears to be afraid and/or biased in his approach to his community vs the white-privileged and corporate American community.

Since one area of my scientific expertise is "The Equitable Distribution of Wealth in America" I found this to be of interest and worthy of my use for a bias test. Rivers was correct. There was no solid mention of the cultural group negatively impacted the highest and the longest by this rather vital and important subject matter.

[grahamhammond]

I respect both sides of this argument.

[tgradyc]

my god ... Congressman McDermott is a very patient man to sit there and answer such rediculous an silly questions. He has MUCH MORE important things to do with his time.

[TheGroupeslc]

@tgradyc what is more important than individual rights??

[independence4wales]

@tgradyc More important things to do than justifying his professional beliefs to the people who pay his wages?

[moreforyourmoney]

We should leave the care of the poor and sick to the private sector, churches, etc. They will donate money, where needed, and create organizations independent of the government. It is not the government's responsibility to forcefully take someone else's property to give it to another (ie health care, welfare). Why do we think the government can do a better job than the people of America themselves?

Compulsory charity is not charity, it must be voluntary to be charity.

[Vsshooter]

Education has become the propaganda tool of the Progressive movemnt in this country AKA the Communist Party, AKA Democratic Party.

[heymisterderp]

Churches pass the basket around. And your job isn't to "run society", McDermott. Your job is to follow the Constitution and pass laws subject to Article 1 Section 8 or else go to jail for breaking the law.

[soundmoneyfan]

haha, nothing is more classic in this world than a congressman to say, "That makes no sense to talk of individuals." That is why we love our gov't!

[Jyoyo1]

Educate people vs educated people.

BIG difference.

"Can't solve our problems as individuals"?

mmmm... you mean

politicized and compromised groups can do a better job?

Seems to me, most of our problems are the RESULT of government interventions.

= Misallocations of resources & distortions.

If we pay more tax for bigger gov't that'll fix it.

[bigdogphoto]

Yes, another group think liberal who fails to acknowledge the constitution protects god given power for the individual not for the state.

[dickyduck9]

The civilized society he talks about is a lie. The 16th amendment was not ratified, the Internal Revenue code was never enacted into positive law, and the supreme court ruled over and over again that the tax was not legitimate as it was being enforced. This guy is a douche-bag liar.

[hooverdog1957]

They can't stand principle. They always have to escape the truth and spew their greater good collective viewpoint. People elect these fools because the majority are afraid to live as free men and women. They want something to fall back on as need to survive. Education, a job, a roof over ones head, health care are all now considered rights. Our life is what we make of it but most people are too immoral to not want to force others to help them if they fail or need help.

[alex3346]

Well said and I agree with you on all except your last point. I would argue that most people (although I admit to some) are not necessarily too immoral to not want to force others to help them if they fail, but rather are too unwise in the sense that several generations of Americans have been born into a welfare state, contribute nothing, gain everything and lack a fundamental understanding of where those gains came from which is to say at the expense of their friends and neighbors.

[BenkaiDebussy]

@hooverdog1957

I believe in stuff like education/health care as a right because I'm a decent person and realize that life isn't fair. Because life isn't fair, we should do as much as we can as a society to help out those who are less fortunate.

"Life is what you make of it" - tell that to someone who gets cancer or is born into an abusive family. Not everyone can become a doctor or lawyer, and a good society is one that tries to provide for all its citizens, not just its wealthy.

[hooverdog1957]

So you believe in stealing. If you don't than why is it alright for the state to steal. The state can steal because you believe in the greater good at the expense of the individual. The individual should remain supreme otherwise there really is not freedom. Collectivism is morally wrong because it says it is alright for the state to steal from the individual. Stealing is stealing no excuse just because the mob says it is ok!

[Vsshooter]

@BenkaiDebussy

It is called "Charity" and that is private money. So just open up your wallet and get started with the redistribution of your wealth!

[BenkaiDebussy]

It's been shown time and again that voluntary charity is not nearly enough to help people in need. It would be great if it was, but that's not reality. Saying that people would give enough freely to supply everyone in need with food, shelter, and healthcare is just as crazy as the people who think Communism would work.

[TheGroupeslc]

@BenkaiDebussy why would you need others to provide you with these things? Why can't you get them yourself? It'd this type of Nanny mentality that has made welfare so rampant...

[independence4wales]

@BenkaiDebussy "Voluntary charity is not nearly enough to help people in need" - state your source

[TheTopBloke]

It's odd how, in all these videos, no one can simply admit to their ideology. It's as if they have to hide their ideology in order to hide their agenda. What's so wrong about saying, hey, yes, I believe the government should redistribute wealth through taxation.

[rock90123]

THAT'S WHAT TAXATION IS!! The founding fathers WANTED the government to build a military, build roads, provide libraries, mail, etc.

If you really want to live in a libertarian society go to somalia.

[Idefaulttofreedom]

What? That's not what the founding fathers wanted (read the Constitution or the Federalist papers.) ...and somalia is not libertarian.

[rock90123]

You are an idiot who has never read the Constitution.

google it. Article 1 Section 8:

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

[bossnine]

Agreed, but does one of the debts include overused welfare?

[arslp]

To support the $700,000 Social Security training at Arizona resort in June 2009. 1 of 1000's of instances the founding fathers would NOT have approved.

[arslp]

If you really want to live where government tells you when to go wet and the government takes everything you make, move to China.

The founding fathers did NOT believe in unlimited power but checks and balances. They also fought HUGE taxes, did they not? Remember the TEA PARTY??????? Yeah, Tea Party!!!!

[TheTopBloke]

@rock90123 That's just dumb.

[libertarianjury]

@8:20 "That makes no sense to talk of individuals."

The fact that a man in uniform does it makes it OK. LOL

[Mozzzoo]

9:10 -> Whoa! Jan, do you really think it's ok for somebody to provide a service to you and force you to pay for it, whether you've asked for it or not? Can a baker stick a gun to my head and say "Buy my this bread I've baked for you for 50 cents or I'll shoot you"? If not, why would people in the police, the courts, the military, road maintenance etc be allowed to do this?

[Mozzzoo]

These videos will make great material for future generations to see how insane, dishonest, cowardly, and utterly morally corrupt people used to be :)

[ALittleBitPregnant]

**"Taxes are a result of the democratic process"**

I have this politicians ever considered the immorality of such a statement? They always use this lie about police, fire and education to raise taxes and keep themselves in power. They are so Machiavellian in their dishonesty.

[janhelfeld]

The Congressman prefers to have friends that are not reluctant to forcefully extract money from him as opposed to friends that would respect his property. Also, a Contradiction: You can live well if there is forceful redistribution of wealth; and you cant live well. You think this is intelligent?

[JuSdAt]

the 'intelligent' part I was referring to was about 'charisma' but that could be something you're born with. It just seems that there aren't many liberals that posses that characteristic.

Maybe with the growth of the internet and more freedom anyd movement of information, more liberal thinking characters will be heard.

Anyway, good look on the videos and quest for truth, look forward to more.

[independence4wales]

@janhelfeld Love the videos. People/an organisation taking your money without your consent and/or against your will, thats robbery, plain and simple.

[JuSdAt]

I actually like Mcdermott in this interview. He's got that wise, old clinton glint in his eye where he knows exactly the immorality of the system but he chooses to be a part of it anyway.

His charisma got him where he is. I think he's more intelligent than people give him credit for.

His the type of person that would do well out of any system, even an anarchic one.

Thats the problem with liberals, not enough people with charisma or persuassion to educate the masses with truth.

[rantventrant]

McDermott is a good sport at least

[janhelfeld]

Yes.

[prrolg]

These interviews expose how stupid our political leaders really are. Many of them would need minimum wage jobs to make an honest living if they were tossed out of government altogether.

[prrolg]

This guy thinks that taxes supporting the schools are educating the masses. What a liar he is.

[independence4wales]

@prrolg Assuming the governement education system does educate, he is saying government education is the best option. I would like him to name one government institution that competes with the private sector and does a better job

[pudgenet]

"Your definition of taxation is, it's forcefully extracted. They are not. They are the result of the democratic process."

WOW. The idea of the tyranny of the majority -- that is, the REASON WHY we have a republic -- is COMPLETELY foreign to him!

[erasedcitizen2008]

At 5:30 he reveils his true character, I believe he believes this.

[lohlabowla]

He came and talked to my medical school class trying to convince us how awesome his and hillary's single payer system would be for us. It was a terrible speech, contrived BS spin and made up info, and he wouldn't take questions from us. He supports CAIR, and hates America. Perfect Seattle liberal

[sapofgold]

This congressman really does believe education can only come through the government. Sounds like he is not very educated.

[chaseantarctica]

hah. sounds like mcdermott doesn't have such a good marriage

[blue42421]

Let's send him a school test from the mid-1800s. You aren't smarter than a 5th grader doesn't qualify for 19th century 5th grade education, which beats 20th century 12th grade education.

[JakeandElwoodBlues]

McDermott is a Communist.

[vchadl]

This guy is a moron. Look at that stupid look on his face. George Bush has twice the intellect as this clown.

[vivalabag]

Moment of truth:

"I would like to live in a society where there's a free lunch, I never had to give anything to make the society work."

Pretty much describes his life now as a government parasite living off the productive taxpayers.

[BRYAN351]

The bottom line of this interview is that Jan is an INDIVIDUALIST, and the congressman is a COLLECTIVIST.

Individualism vs. Collectivism is at the core of most political debates today. Collectivism proclaims that it's fine and dandy to trample the rights of the individual if it benefits the "collective" (which is simply other individuals).

Collectivism is a flawed, morally bankrupt philosophy that results in tyranny, mediocrity, poverty, and a world that sucks.

[francoamerican99]

You are EXACTLY right. Collectivism is brought on by people talking of "democracy". Fuck democracy. I want to live in a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.

[hooverdog1957]

Notice how he decries individualism. He has no idea that the founding fathers intended for the individual to be protected by government and not for the intention of collectivism.

[tesla921]

Mcdermott is a thief and is too stupid to know it. He lives off stolen money and has no problem with immorality. What a scumbag.

There is no education in public schools only state indoctrination.

[feeknocks]

each individual who can do whoever he or she wants as long as that individual does not infringe upon the rights of another can only benefit society.

capitalism is just pure nature

[francoamerican99]

your right, capitalism is a natural force. Government intervention ruins it.

[Nickelodeon2002]

"It makes no sense to talk of individuals"...lol...because we are the borg...you will be assimilated.

"of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?"

[buddjas1]

At least the Representative admitted that Medicare was a wealth transfer from young workers to old people.

Our only hope for freedom from the mob rule we have now is the system collapsing from its own weight. And we're well on our way.

[scdecade]

This guy is talking outing of his mudhole. He cannot or will not distinguish between his own personal opinion and the force majeur of the status quo. This sheep is not a man. He wants a free lunch; that's the best thing he can imagine. What a simple fool.

[billyjoeallen]

More special pleading. Armed robbery is ok when the government does it. Stealing is ok when the majority does it.

These morons think changing the name of something changes it's essential nature. Taxes are theft, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

Another good one, Jan.

[carcabe]

Is it okay to want to tax those who are better off? Is it okay to want to take from those who have more? It is honorable and righteous to covet your neighbors' goods? NO!! Never!!!

Leftist economics are total depravity. A successful economic system must be built on producing and earning and not covetousness and theft/redistribution.

[billyjoeallen]

There is a lot of truth to your statement, but the corporate types are not innocent either. Wealth attained through collusion with government is stolen loot and is illegitimate.

It's not a left/right issue. It's a statist/freedom issue.

[carcabe]

You are of course right. I never said nor intended to imply that it is okay for corporations to covet and steal their neighbors' wealth. As I said above "A successful economic system must be built on producing and earning and not covetousness and theft/redistribution".