The equation for the poor is almost exactly inverted. Since the poor are inclined to spend all of their money pretty much all of the time, they need no special incentive. High tax rates on the poor are actually punitive and contribute very little. Likewise, cutting services to the poor may restrict their opportunities to grow and develop into the higher economic classes, which has impacts on the country’s future.

One last issue is that of tax evasion. Any country needs to be relatively good at tracking income and determining if particular people are effectively cheating the tax system. With bad precedents and bad cultural programming you may end up with a society full of tax dodgers. Two aspects that help avoid this are (1) a simple and easily understood tax code with relatively few exemptions and loopholes, and (2) high government competence with clear leadership and shared priorities. Easier said than done, of course.

If that message doesn’t belong on TED, then what does?

Well, it has to be moderated by the need to pretend that arsonists aren’t any better or worse than firefighters, so to speak.

” Let’s try to make things better by not allowing people to advance ideas that are demonstrably harmful. ”

If that message doesn’t belong on TED, then what does?

sigh…

There has to be a good middle ground between characterizing a group, and pointing out that a group has a larger proportion of people who make certain economic assumptions. Like it or not his man thesis has a partisan component. To pretend otherwise is the same as trying to pretend that science education problems are not related to issues within Christianity. I’m hearing lots of excuses here…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html

So worth the read.

TED is about ideas worth spreading. And this talk is about combating an idea that is widespread and doing real damage. This is a great talk, and something that needed saying 15 years ago.

But…but…but…but RETHUGLI-FEE-FEES!

POOW WIDDLE FEE FEES!

TED is about ideas worth spreading. And this talk is about combating an idea that is widespread and doing real damage. This is a great talk, and something that needed saying 15 years ago.

Democrats want every woman to have an abortion and Republicans don’t challenge them on this! (False and inflammatory representation of the position)
vs
Democrats want every woman to have a choice. (Better representation of position, still false claim about support)
vs
Pro-choice individuals want every woman to have a choice. (Oh look, a non partisan statement of fact)

?If taxes on the riches go up, job creation will go down. This idea is an article of faith by Republicans and is seldom challenged by Democrats. (False and inflammatory representation of the position)

vs

Republicans believe that economic incentives should be given to suppliers to encourage production of goods and this will lead to economic growth. (Better representation of position, still false claim about support)

vs

Supply side economic proponents believe that economic incentives should be given to suppliers to encourage production of goods and this will lead to economic growth. (Oh look, a non-partisan statement of fact)