A divided nation

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishermccann

We all know of some haves who have never really worked for anything in their entire life, they are 3rd or 4th or 5th generation of haves, whose great grandfather invented some widget way back when, and they have lived off it for generations. Many-most times being rich is an accident of birth, not hard work.

---

That's where that theory comes right off the rails,though. Yes,some are born into financial dynasties,but,you still need to consider that having it is one thing. Keeping it is altogether different and takes guts,gumption,education and tons of talent to keep it viable. Are they really to be penalized because of it? I think NOT.

For most their accountant puts their dividend money in an account for them to spend. How about something like for any inheritance over 10 million, yes million, you pay a 90% inheritance tax, and no hiding the cash through tax loopholes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishermccann

We all know of some haves who have never really worked for anything in their entire life, they are 3rd or 4th or 5th generation of haves, whose great grandfather invented some widget way back when, and they have lived off it for generations. Many-most times being rich is an accident of birth, not hard work.

---

Fisher: how many people do you think this description would really apply to ?? Not very many I think. Most people in the "have" column have worked for it.

Willing to bet that at least 50% of people who own companies have family members working for them that will then have the company passed down to them.I wonder the % of people in university, who also had one or both parents that went to uni. (accident of birth). Going to university does give you a better chance at a higher paying career. Should someone from a poor family, (accident of birth), not have the same chance to go to university , graduate without debt, ( do you think rich kids pay back their parents?), and thus provide a better chance for their family to move up the economic ladder? It is sad in this day and age that a person with the smarts, can't go on to post secondary education because of lack of funds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishermccann

Willing to bet that at least 50% of people who own companies have family members working for them that will then have the company passed down to them.I wonder the % of people in university, who also had one or both parents that went to uni. (accident of birth). Going to university does give you a better chance at a higher paying career. Should someone from a poor family, (accident of birth), not have the same chance to go to university , graduate without debt and thus provide a better chance for their family to move up the economic ladder? It is sad in this day and age that a person with the smarts, can't go on to post secondary education because of lack of funds.

---

Yes,yes and yes and that's exactly the way the system should work. All socialists hate this adage,but,it's 100% true. "There's no such thing as a free lunch." If people with "smarts" want an education,they're "smart" enough to figure out how to pay for it t-h-e-m-s-e-l-v-e-s without whining and snivelling that they "didn't get the breaks in life". Stealing from those who have already "made it" to the top is just that ,theft,pure and simple. That's just life.

It is not stealing, but an equitable redistribution of funds, from those who have more than enough for generations, to those who do not have enough for now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishermccann

Willing to bet that at least 50% of people who own companies have family members working for them that will then have the company passed down to them.I wonder the % of people in university, who also had one or both parents that went to uni. (accident of birth). Going to university does give you a better chance at a higher paying career. Should someone from a poor family, (accident of birth), not have the same chance to go to university , graduate without debt, ( do you think rich kids pay back their parents?), and thus provide a better chance for their family to move up the economic ladder? It is sad in this day and age that a person with the smarts, can't go on to post secondary education because of lack of funds.

---

well - if I worked hard to start a company, build it up to something, employ people, pay corporate taxes and contribute to society, passing it down to my kids is my right. Period.

don't get me wrong I agree with helping people who need a leg up, but as Species said "separating the wheat from the chaff" is the hardest part, always has been and always will be. There are no magic solutions and putting the governments hand deeper into the pockets of those who have worked hard is not the answer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishermccann

Willing to bet that at least 50% of people who own companies have family members working for them that will then have the company passed down to them.I wonder the % of people in university, who also had one or both parents that went to uni. (accident of birth). Going to university does give you a better chance at a higher paying career. Should someone from a poor family, (accident of birth), not have the same chance to go to university , graduate without debt, ( do you think rich kids pay back their parents?), and thus provide a better chance for their family to move up the economic ladder? It is sad in this day and age that a person with the smarts, can't go on to post secondary education because of lack of funds.

---

fishermaccann,

I had the ability to go to university but I choose to go to Sir Sandford Fleming and live at home so when I came out of school I didn't have a boatload of debt. I never took a dime from my parents for my post secondary education not because my parents couldn't afford it (my dad worked at the motors and my mother was in administration) but because I felt if I did take any financial help, it would put a hardship on my siblings. I payed my own way by busting my hump priming tobacco in the summer and working at Taco Bell during school as well as working as a summer student in the motors when the opportunity presented itself (as well as being a member of the Hasty P's). This fabrication that if you are poor (or have limited finances), you need to go into massive debt for an education or to get a well paying job has to go because it simply isn't true. Education costs money. Whether you want to pay now or pay later is a choice.

Also, university doesn't give you a better chance at a higher paying career. I know for a fact when I started my career as a junior designer I was making more money than a junior engineer because the market needed more junior designers than engineers (the majority of my industry has been this way). The market decides a person's wages, not their education.

Dyth

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 73hunter

well - if I worked hard to start a company, build it up to something, employ people, pay corporate taxes and contribute to society, passing it down to my kids is my right. Period.

don't get me wrong I agree with helping people who need a leg up, but as Species said "separating the wheat from the chaff" is the hardest part, always has been and always will be. There are no magic solutions and putting the governments hand deeper into the pockets of those who have worked hard is not the answer.

---

Agreed, but what if it was your great- great- grandfather who did all the work, and you just happened to be a seed that took hold one day , do you have an inherent right to an extravagant life, while others eat dirt?

Dyth, come on, who do you think makes more on AVERAGE , a primary school graduate, a high school graduate, a collage graduate , a university graduate with a degree ? Of course there is always exceptions. The ticket out of poverty for most IS a higher education.