Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: Tariffs and bikes
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2025 21:30:12 -0500
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On 4/4/2025 9:03 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
> On 4/4/2025 12:26 PM, AMuzi wrote:
>>
>> You can have whatever opinion you like but not your own 
>> facts. 
> 
> Heck, I thought it was fashionable to have "alternative 
> facts" if you don't like the look of normal ones! Wasn't 
> that made clear during Trump version 1?
> 
>> USA has among the most steeply sloped tax regimes on 
>> earth, such that the top 1% of earners pay roughly half of 
>> all income tax.
>>
>> https://usafacts.org/articles/who-pays-the-most-income-tax/
> 
> The USA also has some of the highest income and wealth 
> disparity of developed nations. Granted, not as bad as many 
> small 3rd world countries - but I think we should not be 
> striving to emulate those.
> 
> https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/issues/economic- 
> justice/income-and-wealth-inequality/
> 
> I'd say that means our tax structure is still insufficiently 
> progressive.
> 
> And what should we be trying to achieve anyway? ISTM our 
> nation was founded on the idea of doing away with a 
> privileged class lording it over those purportedly of less 
> worth. Also the idea of everyone (well, as long as their 
> complexion wasn't too dark) getting an equal shot at 
> prosperity. If nothing else, those ideas, if implemented, 
> work toward keeping the masses content enough that they 
> don't literally rebel. Rebellions are messy, unpredictable, 
> and bad for bike shops.
> 
> We now have a new privileged class, one that can rake in 
> millions per year and pay lower rates than struggling middle 
> Americans, in part because of clever deductions. Remember 
> Leona Helmsley? "Taxes are for little people."
> 
> And of course, any money made over $170,000 per year is free 
> of Social Security duties. Because hey, one's third mega- 
> mansion is much more important than better food for the 
> family making $50,000 per year. Why should the ultra-rich 
> help to keep Social Security afloat?
> 
> 

The 'disparity' is a myth in that it counts only taxable 
earnings, ignoring that fully half the country pays no 
income tax.  Many of those receive 'negative tax' payments 
and in fact dos very well on relief, much better than many 
working people.

Regarding wealthy citizens, we do indeed have some inherited 
wealth but almost all the top earners are self made 
including an astonishingly large number of legal immigrants 
especially Indian, other Asian and notably Nigerians:

https://africanmind.org/statistical-portrait-of-nigerian-americans-accomplishments-paradoxes-and-misconceptions/

who seem to have learned to stay out of Poland Ohio and so 
do quite well here.

Your snarky racism comment is ridiculous.

https://www.britannica.com/money/Herman-Cain

https://www.the-sun.com/news/4916213/willie-wilson-how-became-millionaire/

Mr Wilson literally plowed fields behind a mule before 
taking his talents elsewhere.

Some black one-percenters (not the motorcycle type one 
percenters):

https://247wallst.com/income/2024/08/08/meet-the-wealthiest-black-americans/

Back to our mere millionaires:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/korihale/2022/10/25/millionaire-status-is-on-the-rise-with-52-million-people-joining-the-club/

There are 224 times more black millionaires in USA than the 
top 19 countries of Africa combined.

Go stick your racism somewhere else.



-- 
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971