National House democrat to introduce 1000% tax on so-called assault rifles

[bradsteen]

How about we tax their use of communications platforms and media outlets by 1000% instead?

 

[OldBroad44]

Don't forget to add "politicians" are volunteer positions and will not be compensated, they are to foot the bill for their own medical, and retirement as well.

Where politicians or government officials are volunteers or underpaid, bribery becomes an ordinary required part of every transaction, including LE. And everything slows down because bribes have to be negotiated. And the poor hard working shop keeper may be unable to expand or renovate because the bribes may be too high. It can be much harder to get from rags to riches than in a land were officials are paid adequately. Basically, corruption is universal.

 

[3MTA3]

Old thread, but the same thing appears to have just been re-introduced in the last day or so.
1000% tax, plus some other Marxist fun.

Bill at congress.gov:
H.R.5135

Letter in which 110 Democrats signed demanding gun control legislation, dated 08-03-2023:
Rep Mike Thompson PDF

Fox News article 08-05-2023:
Assault Weapons/Mag Tax

It's just pandering. Zero chance in the house and even if it became law SCOTUS would strike it down.

To leverage it for our advantage simply point out that this law allows only wealthy (white) people access these weapons for the defense of them and their families. Naturally, the poor and disenfranchised are on their own.

As usual.

They get their fences, walls, armed security and preferential police response while we have to cower in fear.

As always.

 

[American123]

Where politicians or government officials are volunteers or underpaid, bribery becomes an ordinary required part of every transaction, including LE. And everything slows down because bribes have to be negotiated. And the poor hard working shop keeper may be unable to expand or renovate because the bribes may be too high. It can be much harder to get from rags to riches than in a land were officials are paid adequately. Basically, corruption is universal.

The phrase "underpaid" is a whole bunch of BS. It's called greed. It doesn't matter how much people make if they will never be content with whatever that number is. Hence why you have politicians making multiple times the average wage of their constituents and they still want more.

 

[OldBroad44]

The point I'm trying to make is if the officials are unpaid or paid too little to survive on, all of them will be massively corrupt. And the corruption is accepted and essential to the government running at all. Officials don't even need to pretend to be honest. Ordinary citizens have no recourse.

If officials are paid enough for an ordinary family to survive on, some will still be massively corrupt, but some will be only modestly corrupt, and some will even be honest. And the corruption is considered dishonest and a sin against the state. Even those whose greed knows no limits tend to be at least somewhat restrained by fear of being caught and stripped of wealth or imprisoned. Or taken out of power.

 

[monkeybutler]

The point I'm trying to make is if the officials are unpaid or paid too little to survive on, all of them will be massively corrupt.

I don't buy this at all. It is the same logic that was used when ISIS was forming and some rushed to expain that those boys needed better life opportunities - presumably provided by some external actor - to escape the temptation of radicalism and violence.

 

[bradsteen]

Politicians go into politics for power. Money will come their way as a part of the process, but it's secondary to the pursuit of power. They may have altruistic aims, but power corrupts, and it's a rare person who gets into a position of power and chooses not to leverage it to their benefit in some way. This is why term limits are essential. Wish the founders would have thought of that, as there is no way in hell our elected officials will voluntarily limit their own power.

 

[eustace_stelio]

I don't buy this at all. It is the same logic that was used when ISIS was forming and some rushed to expain that those boys needed better life opportunities - presumably provided by some external actor - to escape the temptation of radicalism and violence.

I don't buy it either. Just look at how many Senate, Representatives or many other political office holders were millionaires before even running for office.

The reason so many people run for public offices is because they know they can leverage the positions to gain more wealth or influence which in turns leads to more money.

 

[GrayGoose]

How about a 1000% tax on dildos.

 

[monkeybutler]

How about a 1000% tax on dildos.

Wow, way to take one for the team man.

 

[GrayGoose]

Wow, way to take one for the team man.

Don't worry, if you like your dildo, you can keep your dildo.

 

[monkeybutler]

Don't worry, if you like your dildo, you can keep your dildo.

That must be reassuring to you.

 

[GrayGoose]

That must be reassuring to you.

Yours?

 

[monkeybutler]

 

[3MTA3]

How about a 1000% tax on dildos.

Washington DC politicians and lobbyists alone could pay off the national debit.