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[Mictlantecuhtli]

I think this goes here.

Since I posted this in the election topic;

Nonpartisan Tax Report Withdrawn After G.O.P. Protest

TL; DR Congressional Research Service released a study this September, GOP is staunchly against it and pressures the organization to recede the report. What is the report about?

The report received wide notice from media outlets and liberal and conservative policy analysts when it was released on Sept. 14. It examined the historical fluctuations of the top income tax rates and the rates on capital gains since World War II, and concluded that those fluctuations did not appear to affect the nation’s economic growth.

“The reduction in the top tax rates appears to be uncorrelated with saving, investment and productivity growth. The top tax rates appear to have little or no relation to the size of the economic pie,” the report said. “However, the top tax rate reductions appear to be associated with the increasing concentration of income at the top of the income distribution.”

How [lower] top tax rates have no notable effect, at all, on economic growth.

I think you know why the GOP basically forced it back into the dark.

Here's the report, it's actually pretty dead on.

The results of the analysis suggest that changes over the past 65 years in the top marginal tax rate and the top capital gains tax rate do not appear correlated with economic growth. The reduction in the top tax rates appears to be uncorrelated with saving, investment, and productivity growth. The top tax rates appear to have little or no relation to the size of the economic pie. However, the top tax rate reductions appear to be associated with the increasing concentration of income at the top of the income distribution.

As measured by IRS data, the share of income accruing to the top 0.1% of U.S. families increased from 4.2% in 1945 to 12.3% by 2007 before falling to 9.2% due to the 2007-2009 recession. At the same time, the average tax rate paid by the top 0.1% fell from over 50% in 1945 to about 25% in 2009. Tax policy could have a relation to how the economic pie is sliced—lower top tax rates may be associated with greater income disparities.

[SalmonGod]

This is a good one...

[Svarte Troner]

This is a good one...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

What a douche. Never liked his shitty pizza anyway. There would always be a few stray peppers on my side of the pie (plain or pepperoni).

[Nadaka]

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/378070/free-speech-man-arrested-for-burning-poppy-photo

A UK  man burns a poppy flower and posts the video on facebook. He is arrested on suspicion of malicious communication.

[Euld]

The UK seriously has a law against grossly offensive things?  I'm surprised anyone thought passing a law to ban offensive anything was a good idea.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

The UK is not very good at free speech, as far as the western world goes.

[scriver]

What makes burning a poppy bad anyway? I don't understand the symbolism.

"What was the point of winning either World War if, in 2012, someone can be casually arrested by @kent_police for burning a poppy?"

I also just need everybody to know how much I rolled my eyes at this, since nobody is around to see it and all.

[Leafsnail]

In theory, but it's been co-opted pretty severely by the "unthinkingly support the wars we're currently engaged in" brigade.  It's difficult to call it a symbol of peace anymore.

The law he was arrested on is possibly the most poorly written and abusable law ever created.  Virtually anyone who has ever posted on the internet could be arrested under it.

[MonkeyHead]

I think the law in question relates to inciting hatred, though I am not fully sure of the exact details.

Whilst I might not agree with the sentiment or action in question as it could easily be seen as insensetive, badly timed and only carried out for shock value, the individual in question clearly has a right to voice thier opinion. It is unfortunate that the manner in wihch they have carried out thier protest will generate more debate than the point they are trying to make.

[scriver]

the poppy is supposed to commemorate the soldiers that died in world war one (not sure if it extends into two)

Ah, I suppose that makes the quote about the world wars a bit less random. I retract half of the eyes I rolled at it.

Yeah, it was a very dickish thing to do, but the whole point of free speech is just because it's dickish, we don't stop people saying it.

...No. I don't think this was arrestworthy either, but freedom of speech is not, nor was it ever, about the right to be a Dick. It's about the right to oppose the government and other authorities without fear of repercussions.

I'm sorry if I'm taking your words too serious. I'm in a very moody mood right now and not the best at reading textual-feeling-hints, but I understand you could have been... Whatever the word for joking-around-edness is. Just think it needed to be said anyway.

[kaijyuu]

Yeah, it was a very dickish thing to do, but the whole point of free speech is just because it's dickish, we don't stop people saying it.

Not really. You have the right to communicate ideas to others, but remember words can do far more than that. You don't really have the right to harm people with words. Harassment isn't the only way to do that either; "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a bullshit saying.

[Strife26]

Yeah, it was a very dickish thing to do, but the whole point of free speech is just because it's dickish, we don't stop people saying it.

Not really. You have the right to communicate ideas to others, but remember words can do far more than that. You don't really have the right to harm people with words. Harassment isn't the only way to do that either; "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a bullshit saying.

No, I'd argue that the right to be a dick is pretty important to freedom of speech. Because if you're going to just enshrine it as "right to communicate ideas" then you're putting a litmus test on speech having to be communicative. There's a right to be rude and to be nonsensical if I want, as long as I'm not harming someone else.

[kaijyuu]

No, I'd argue that the right to be a dick is pretty important to freedom of speech. Because if you're going to just enshrine it as "right to communicate ideas" then you're putting a litmus test on speech having to be communicative. There's a right to be rude and to be nonsensical if I want, as long as I'm not harming someone else.

No matter what you're going to come down to arguing what's hurting someone and what isn't (not to mention the standard arguments whether hurting them is worth it for some greater good). That's a fair discussion to have, but I dunno if it fits in this particular thread

[Strife26]

Yeah, I know. Just my little few cents on burning symbols. Back on topic, then.



Soooo . . . have we considered a line of fox holes and concertina wire on Wall street? Seems like it might be a better option.

[Darvi]

I'm surprised to see you suggest that.