>
Stock buybacks were illegal until 1982 and considered market manipulation and were also one of the major things Reagan did to put us on an even more extreme wealth disparity track besides the huge tax cuts for the rich and corporations. >

Reagan won the Republican nomination in the 1980 presidential election and went on to defeat incumbent Democratic president Jimmy Carter. Early in his presidency, Reagan implemented "Reaganomics".... >

It took all of eight years for Reagan to turn us from a creditor nation to a debtor nation, for a great example of how "successful" Reaganomics were. Bush Sr. was right when he called it "voodoo economics." >

Then Bush climbed on the bus and rode it all the way to the end. >

Well in all fairness, every president after Reagan did. >

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Clinton end his term with a surplus? >


Here's what most people don't know: The wealthy used to pay higher taxes to the government. Now the government pays the wealthy interest on their loans to finance a swelling debt that’s been caused largely by lower taxes on the wealthy.
A half century ago, American’s wealthy financed the federal government mainly through their tax payments. Tax rates on the wealthy were high: Under Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, they were over 90 percent. Even after all tax deductions, the wealthy typically paid half of their incomes in taxes. >


Tax rates on the wealthy were high: Under Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, they were over 90 percent. 

Marginal Tax rates. No one paid 90% of their entire income in taxes. >

Until you remove money from politics, it's not gonna happen. In fact, money allows foreign influence rather easily. >

this is the thing to remind republicans when they whinge about making America "great" again - what mostly made it great was a progressive tax that well-off americans didn't move heaven and earth to avoid paying and FDR's badly needed injection of socialism 
the notion that someone like trump (anathema to everything FDR wished for the US) could bring it about is roughly like hiring the cheapest prostitute you can find to help clear up your STD problem >

The “wealthy” are out of control. We have people like Bezos with more money than many countries, and CEOs are making disgusting amounts of money compared to their average employee. Our resources and wealth are being HOARDED by a small few. It’s not sustainable as a society. >

Something definitely needs to change. Be it how we allow corporations to structure, minimize tax liability and the rest. There are ways to do this within the framework of current law.
The political will to do it is simply lacking because the politicians are paid off. 
I am sure if someone actually ran on a ticket that exposed corporate greed and the price we all are paying they would win elections and start a movement.
The real challenge would be them actually receiving media coverage since that would be against their own interests. >


am sure if someone actually ran on a ticket that exposed corporate greed and the price we all are paying they would win elections and start a movement.

they've gotten so good at getting people to happily vote against their own interests I highly doubt this would happen >

And most news media is complicit in this effort. They don't want to talk about taxing the wealthy. >

The gop and the wealthy will happily bankrupt the entire country if it means more money for them. >

Republicans only care about debt and the budget when there's a Democrat in the Whitehouse. >

It makes a lot more sense to squeeze the money out of people who don't have any. They can't afford the accountants and lawyers and they especially can't afford to buy a senator to sneak in their special tax break. There's just the minor issue of selling off their children and redundant vital organs. >

Why would you want to reduce the debt of the federal government? That would shrink the economy and T-bills held by (for example) a pension fund are basically as liquid as holding actual $.
Tax the wealthy to pay for freaking trains. >

Bring back the Eisenhower rates. >

The rich found it cheaper to own politicians than to pay taxes. Newspapers report stories of rich buying politicians who in turn lower the rich taxes. Well then the rich buy up media and make sure taxing the rich is seen as a socialist plot instead of paying their fair share. The whole time spouting about making America great again and the time they think was the greatest was when the rick paid heavy taxes!