Taxes, are by definition a re-distribution of wealth, which makes much of the bluster about it now sound silly on closer inspection.

Progressive taxation aids fairness. It can help prevent legacy wealth and allows those who have benefited most from America’s system to pay more to the country whose population and resources have helped to enable their success.

A capitalist system is essential, but one of the consequences is that some people will become fantastically wealthy (think Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, neither of whom object to progressive taxation). Regardless of whether these fewer and fewer people deserve the money or are unfairly punished by progressive taxes, the result is that the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few allows a plutocracy to dictate how that money is spent. The collected taxes better serve their interests than the interests of the population. Progressive taxation then helps maintain equity among citizens and allows free market capitalism to remain viable.

On a State level, consider the State of Alaska. Alaskans pay $5400 a year in taxes per person, but it gets $14000 in taxes per person. Alaska would be even less developed than it is today if they did not recieve that re-distribution of wealth, but only the $5400 back that they collect in taxes. So much for that oil wealth.

I believe it was Oliver Wendel Holmes who said “I don’t mind paying taxes. With it I buy civilization.”

Haven’t seen Lady in the Water. Jordan also recommends it.

Have you seen “Lady in the Water” yet? If you like fairytales (like me) then I think you’d dig it.

If The Happening was really intended to be a “B” movie, that makes it interesting. An enormous factor in a film’s acceptance or rejection by the audience depends upon their expectations or preconceived notions going into the film.