What are things that are good for you but not good for your country and vice versa?

Recent tax cuts.

The absurd tax deduction equal to 20% of my net self-employment income. This write-off, created by the 2017 tax act, won’t spur the economy or otherwise help the country; it’ll simply put more money in my own pocket at the expense of other taxpayers.

Certainly there are imbalances, and at the very top are the inequities of the tax codes. In fact, it may well be that the greatest factor in gauging actual financial genius lies in one’s ability to exploit those inequities.

Sending me or my kids off to fight their wars while those in power stay home and make the decisions that benefit them.

As Hermann Goering, one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party was quoted as saying: “Why, of course, the people don’t want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.”

And when it was pointed out that: “In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.”

Goerings response was: “Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”

As true today as it was 75 years ago.

Wow, that Goering guy should have contemplated seeking career in politics.

@Love_my_doggie I LOVE your attitude! People don’t seem to want to accept that the country needs taxes to function.

Seeing as I’m a middle-class, white dude who makes decent cabbage — most of what the right wants in place does not harm me directly, and may even benefit me. Plus, of course, I have the privledge of being an educated, white dude. I could get away with a lot if I wanted.

But ya know, I’m not a dick and care about other people.

When my husband and I were making good salaries and had an investment property the republican angle of low capital gains and lower taxes on the rich (I wasn’t rich, but we were in a highish tax bracket) was not where my conscience was.

I am in favor of an estate tax, and think the exemption should be MUCH lower. I’d even be ok with it affecting some of what I likely will inherit. Although, if it goes back to the $2 million mark I still would be getting “everything” because my parents don’t have an estate worth over $2million, but if they suddenly won the lottery, I’d be ok with the tax man getting some of the money when they pass away.

My husband is Hispanic, I am a woman, but I tend to be anti-quota and anti-affirmative action. I was all for it back when it was first put into place, and for many years, but now I think enough years have past that it’s time to chip away at some parts of it.

I am all for public education K-12 and paying taxes into the system to support it, and I don’t have any children. It’s partly selfish though. I truly believe an educated country makes a better place for me to live.

I think everyone should be able to pay for medical services tax free, not just people with more money who can afford HSA policies and HSA accounts.