What political issue are you most passionate about?

[Fitness-Fanatic]

[ak667]

Generally interested in what I guess some might call "tax cuts for the rich", to tone down the progressive tax system especially in the US. And I'm not rich and would not be affected by such cuts for people suspecting me of being a scrooge, and it doesn't even affect me directly regardless since my concern is for the US and I'm in Japan.

My reasoning for this is to reduce corruption. Take Estonia which introduced a flat income tax (same flat tax rate for all citizens regardless of income). Economists predicted it would be an absolute disaster and hardly bring in any revenue, since they based their projections on economies with progressive tax systems. What they found instead was a ridiculous surprise: the government brought in more tax revenue than they knew what to do with.

The reason is that it eliminated corruption in the economy. No more cronyism, no more lobbying politicians for tax exemptions, no more exploiting loopholes or outright criminal tax evasion. Such a simple and flat system made everyone, rich or poor, happy to pay the tax and it made it difficult to avoid it. Further that low-tax experiment actually helped make Estonia one of the fastest growing economies in the world making it a hugely attractive site for investors and entrepreneurs. I'd like to see similar things happen in the US with jobs coming to the US rather than being exported overseas. I think it also aligns a lot with American ideals in a classic liberal sense.

[ak667]

There is one way this would might have impacted me in the past (it doesn't any longer since I have my own firm). I used to work for VFX companies doing R&D in Hollywood and many of them have shut down and moved their headquarters to Canada and overseas, partially because those other countries allow such businesses to be run at a much lower cost (and VFX production is an extremely costly and risky venture). I'd like to see the US economy becoming a magnet for such firms once more with lower tax and regulatory burdens. Otherwise all the innovation and tech might start to move across borders as has been the case overwhelmingly with VFX firms.

[ak667]

Other is affirmative action which also appears to impact my field a lot. Silicon Valley needs more skilled scientists and engineers in general -- who cares what skin color they have or what genitalia or what sexual orientation or whatever. I'll celebrate a cure for cancer; I don't care if it's coming from a transsexual Hispanic or a white male. This whole focus on forcing "diversity" is a ridiculous distraction from that as far as I can tell. I was fortunately in the industry when diversity officers weren't around to affect hiring policies so I can't tell how bad it has gotten, but it sounds really bad, and mostly I think it's the most blatant case of institutional racism or sexism or whatever. The goal should be to judge individuals, not lump them into collective superficial groups and penalize or handicap them based on their group association.

[curiousnorway]

- Pro-life movement
Why I'm Pro-Life & My Answers To Pro-Choice Arguments ↗

- Welfare and income inequality

[Anonymous]

Two things.

1. Brexit!

2. Theresa May's statement that she wants the UK to work for everyone. When will she start to put this into practice?

[Opinion Owner]

Thank you for MHO!

[CarpetDenim]

Gender politics tbh, I'm anti-feminism and anti-misandry. It's kind of the only political issue I have any interest at all in at this point.

[BlueCoyote]

Mmmh... I'd say it's a tie between climate change and income inequality.

[picturedrockshexagon]

If one person inputs more to society than another person, do you not believe they are worthy of getting more out of society?

[picturedrockshexagon]

Climate change, I'm with you, we only get one earth, and until we figure out how to terraform, which won't be for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. We should strive to keep it perfectly habitable for all of its creatures.(except mosquitoes of course, fuck mosquitoes, I don't care what would happen but by any means necessary, I'm okay with completely eradicating them)

[drwmstrs]

And Picturedrock, who decides who is worthy? Who decides what value that is worth? Who decides which inputs count which don't? Is it you? Is a nurse who makes little money but volunteers much of her time helping disabled veterans really worthy of less value than someone who had a rich father? Just curious...

[BlueCoyote]

@picturedrockshexagon
I don't know what you mean by input. A construction worker toils his back every single day. It's one of the toughest jobs in the world. Yet, they are paid like shit.
I believe that people who earn a lot should contribute a lot. And I know - because this has been scientifically proven - that more egalitarian societies are also more prosperous and healthier societies. The most prosperous era in American History were the "golden 50s", which came after FDR's large-scale social reforms and were defined by a strong, healthy middle class and an abundance of opportunities for regular people.

[picturedrockshexagon]

@drwmstrs (pictured rocks* look it up if you don't know.) The invisible hand decides. In capitalism, everything is based on trade, by dad has dozens of patents under his belt and makes well over $200k a year. His input are his power steering designs and solutions to problems you never knew you had and they have been implemented in hundreds of models of cars.

[picturedrockshexagon]

That is his input, he makes something that helps other people, it goes through the middle men of his company and the factories that create his ideas and designs and get to the people who buy a the vehicles. He makes money because he makes money for everyone else (besides the car buyer) gives the factory workers a job to do, the employees under him jobs to do, the employees over him jobs to do, and the person who who buys the car gets a car with reliable, safe power steering that is able to dampen 100% of vibration, etc. I'm not going further into detail because you could find out who he is if I did that. But he has a large I put to society, and so he gets a large amount of money in return. I make smoothies. Smoothies aren't important at all, it's just something people buy on a hot summer day and it's easy to train anyone to do my job. I barely help a fraction of the people my dad helps, and in much less important ways, that's why I make $10 an hour and he makes $100 an hour.

[drwmstrs]

Lmao. K

[picturedrockshexagon]

Well, you clearly don't know shit about economics, and have no way to defend your childish ideas of just giving everyone all the money. So yeah, this was fun, i could prove in every way how I'm right and you're wrong and you still wouldn't change your mind because you're a closed minded little shit who would rather like to themselves about the world around them, than adapt to the world around them in order to help make it a better place for everyone.

[drwmstrs]

Your response to a hypothetical question was to talk about someone you know.

[drwmstrs]

And I had a childish response.

[picturedrockshexagon]

I chose to give you an example because I know what he puts in and what he puts out. This "law" if you will, works the same for everyone. Do you think you get disproportionately less or more for what you put in compared to everyone else? Can you think of any good examples of people who dont get back what they put in?

[picturedrockshexagon]

This is a very simple thing and it's why capitalism has something good to offer to anyone who can offer something good to others,

[drwmstrs]

Go back to my original question. This is why I posed the question of the underpaid nurse and the rich kid. You gave zero response to that, yet those examples clearly exist in this society. But since you want to ignore that, here's another: Does Logan Paul offer more good to the world than your father? I doubt that very much, however capitalism and society has chosen to reward him with orders of magnitude more "value" than your father. Is that a fair system? How about a company that pays workers overseas pennies on the dollar to manufacture Dialysis Equipment? That equipment saves lives, thus indirectly those workers are saving lives. In your system shouldn't they be paid more fairly?

[picturedrockshexagon]

You can't measure good, but he offers more money to more people. Not in the way you seem to think. He makes money by advertisements. He uses his know personality and public figure head to get people to look at ads. Those ads are what allow companies to do some much needed marketing in order to allow people to be aware of their products. Yes. He helps people. I know very little about him other than a lot of people hate him, but he does in fact bring something very helpful to the table, a massive audience that a person or group of people can attempt to sell their products to. Companies that pay oversea workers pennies a day only do that because they are replacable. To the invisible hand, they are worthless. Since they have no skill or anything to offer, they get very little in return. Pretty soon we'll just automate their jobs so people can stop complaining about them only making pennies a day because they'll have started to death without those pennies.

[picturedrockshexagon]

Back to Logan Paul and my father, Logan Paul makes more people more money, it's as simple as that. What my dad does may be much more respectable, but that doesn't mean he isn't putting more on capitalism's table than Logan Paul.

[picturedrockshexagon]

Also, vollunteering is irrelevant. Everyone vollunteers, well, most everyone. It is a voluntary action that you take knowing that you won't get anything in return. What makes vollunteers such great people is that they don't want anything in return, it's just the helping that brings them joy, they aren't seeking a reward, so they do not get one, which is something they are aware of when they sign up. If we paid vollunteers, they would just be employees bruh..

[picturedrockshexagon]

And now we get to the rich kid... And I didn't mean to miss what you said I ignored, I just wasn't pulled in to the condo enough to actually read what you were saying yet. Okay. Rich kid. He is rewarded by his dad for doing nothing. How is this right? Because his dad worked his ass if for that money and all he wants is to give his kids the most comfortable lives imaginable. That's what I would do for my kids. That's what my parents did for me. Yes I make smoothies, but do you actually think I pay for my car, apartment, phone bill, college etc? All my dad has ever wanted to do was give me a comfortable and easy life. Why do you have a problem with that? Would you not want that for your own children?

[BlueCoyote]

@picturedrockshexagon
I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding here. I don't believe @drwmstrs or anyone else has a problem with your dad offering you a comfortable life. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, what IS wrong - because it's morally outrageous, socially dangerous and economically destructive - is the fact that the Walton family, six human beings, literally own the same amount of wealth as HALF OF AMERICA COMBINED. In no universe can this possibly be considered normal. And thinking that these people, or Mark Zuckerberg, or Bill Gates, or Paris Hilton simply worked 10 million times harder than your average teacher or secretary or plumber or doctor would be beyond ridiculous.

I'm not a communist. I don't believe everyone should own or earn the exact same amount of money. I have no issue with some socio-economic discrepancy between rich and poor. The question is, how big this discrepancy should be. I wanna show you some charts:

[BlueCoyote]

These charts are from a large-scale Princeton study.
First, this is what Americans WISHED economic distribution was like:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZMwtyS0iBPM/hqdefault.jpg
As you can see, there is still inequality. There are rich people and poor people. But what's noticeable is that there is a huge, strong middle-class (around 80%-90%). Also, while economic discrepancy does exist, it is very much okay. It's big enough to have competition at play but certainly not immoral.

Next, this is what Americans BELIEVE inequality to be like:
static.businessinsider.com/.../image.jpg
This one is already quite extreme but it's NOWHERE near what things are really like.

This is what inequality in America is actually:
amp.businessinsider.com/.../...200000a-750-375.jpg

In other words: Americans have no idea how bad it really is. The US is an feudalist oligarchy, where 95% of the population owns near-to-nothing.

[BlueCoyote]

Now, like I said, I'm not a communist and I don't hate rich people. I simply believe that it is fair (and healthy) for a society to expect rich people to pay a decent share. Now, by "rich" I'm not primarily talking about people like your dad. In fact, I would file him under "upper middle class". By "rich", I mean multi-millionaires and billionaires.

I'm a social democrat (in America usually referred to as democratic socialist). That means I believe in a hybrid economic system. The free market is a great option for things like cars, video games or beauty products. However, I don't believe fundamental conditions to lead a happy, prosperous life - education, healthcare etc. - should be a privilege that you only get if your dad has a big wallet.
I believe that by investing in education for instance, you invest in the future of your society. America has been neglecting this for decades now and it's starting to come back bite you in the ass. Because guess what, other countries won't (cont.)

[BlueCoyote]

wait. They're not just educating their millionaire kids at expensive private universities. In countries like mine, everyone who is smart and works for it gets a top-notch education for practically free, regardless of their social class. This creates a huge pool of talents. Now, my country Switzerland is a small place but China is heavily investing in education and science now. Guess where the scientists and their patents from tomorrow will come from? And at the same time, the anti-science Trump administration has now created such a hostile environment that American scientists have began fleeing to Europe in masses.

This is not just economically shortsighted, it's also detrimental to the American spirit. Look at annual rankings of overall happiness and life quality. It's always the same countries that are on top (and none of them is the US). They have understood something that already FDR knew: if you help people to prosper and succeed, that tends to make them happy.

[picturedrockshexagon]

And literally why the actual fuck do you care how much more money someone has than you?

[picturedrockshexagon]

Okay so we will never find common ground. I believe infinite success should be an option. I don't believe in forcing anyone to do anything for anyone else. That's fucking slavery. I personally think it's outrageous that our tax is over 4%. And I'm a-okay with Paris Hilton bring rich because it doesn't hurt me.

[BlueCoyote]

@picturedrockshexagon
Actually, it does hurt you.
The amount of money in any given economy is finite. That's why it gets compared to a pizza pie sometimes. If you are at a party with 100 guests and 1 guy eats the whole thing by himself, that means everyone else only gets crumbs.
I don't believe this is fair. In fact, I file it under "duh" that this isn't fair. Asking that guy to leave other people a bit more than crumbs is certainly not too much to ask for.

But like I said, there's not just a moral level to this, there's also an economic and social level to it. For example if you've got a society where 90% are basically slaves to their billionaire overlords and possessionless peasants, who do you think is going to buy all those products that the billionaires make? If Joe is already bankrupt from his medical bills, you really think he's going to buy himself a new car or a new TV?
In other words, inequality HURTS an economy because it brings it to a standstill.

[BlueCoyote]

This basically what Piketty (the French economist) showed in his book. And it's also what we know historically from experience. For example in the 1950s, America had a very strong, healthy middle class. There were still some rich people but the overall wealth was much more fairly distributed. This meant that people had money in their pockets to spend. And that's the major reason why America was able to boom in those years - because consumerism was possible.

I'll tell you another way how it hurts you directly. For the past 40 years or so, the US government has given one tax cut after the other to uber-rich billionaires. Naturally, this money will be missed somewhere else. Trump just ripped 1.5 Trillion dollar hole into the the deficit with his tax cuts for the rich. Guess who is going to pick up the slack for this. It won't be Paris Hilton. It'll be people like you. Average folks.

[picturedrockshexagon]

Are you dumb or did you just fall econ. I know that sounds mean but I'm being serious. You actually think saved money is just locked up in a chest and buried in the backyard? I can't believe I have to take the time to explain this to you Jesus Christ dude.

[picturedrockshexagon]

Rich people invest most and keep some in the bank. Their money is constantly being used to help other people start and grow businesses, and accomplish new goals and ideas. The amount of money in your bank account is t how much you have, it's how much the bank owes you. I literally can't believe you're 29, these are just the basics you learn in high school, seriously wtf dude. Your money in the bank is either invested by the bank, or loaned out to other people. This causes inflation moreso than printing money even, but it allows the same money to be simultaneously in the pockets of 2 people. Their money is all of ours too, ts used by all of us. They keep resources up for people who would struggle without investors and loans

[picturedrockshexagon]

And to your second message, I DONT WANT IR NEED THEIR MONEY THROUGH THEM BEING TAXED. Have you ever driven on a toll road? Have you heard of mercenaries? Those are just a couple examples of how the free market creates much more competitive and BETTER things than government because they have to be profitable. They have to work hard and use their finite amount of money in ways that keep us coming back for more. The government can do whatever it wants with our money, and it does.

[BlueCoyote]

@picturedrockshexagon
Yes, the biggest part of rich people's wealth actually remains unused. It is on their checking account or it is locked up in real estate, bonds etc. None of this helps regular people.

Also, you insult me and call me dumb but you're the one regurgitating hackneyed Any Rand talking points. Like I said, the evidence speaks for itself. I believe in Social Democracy because I know it works.
In my country Switzerland or in Scandinavian countries, our roads, bridges and tunnels aren't crumbling. Our water pipes aren't contaminated with lead. Our medical systems offer top services to anyone for very little money. Our universities select according to merit, not money. I get 6 weeks paid vacation time. I get one of the best public transport systems in the world for little money. I have lived in the US and know what it's like there.

The social democracies beat America's ass in pretty much every single category, that's just a fact and you can easily google it.

[BlueCoyote]

I know Americans love to think they are number one but in reality, there's only three things you are number one at: number of incarcerated people per capita, defense spending and number of adults who believe angels are real.

[BlueCoyote]

Yes, I have heard of mercenaries. Black water has committed some horrific war crimes in Iraq and were never prosecuted for it.

Anyway, I won't talk to you any more if you're being so aggressive.

[picturedrockshexagon]

Abortion. Can't stand to watch innocent people die. It's taken more life's than Hitler took, even more than Stalin took. It needs to stop. More and more people are turning gay and though they get on my nerves, that could possibly be a natural population control.

[curiousnorway]

Agree. Good to see more people showing empathy for innocent children.

[greencarpet]

I hate politicians, lying bastards, make promises to sucker you into voteing for them then do fuck all to help the little people who put them there in the first place. They fidle their expenses and award contracts to big firms, then when they leave office they get directorships paying ten million a year, anyone can see it's a kick back, did you read about that Lib Dem MP shaging a Russian spy, I wish I was an MP then sexy Russian bints would shag me, I'd betray my country for a leg over.

[Matt57]

Probably Gun Rights, as responsible recreational shooting is my favorite hobby. In fact, I'm actually making a PowerPoint Presentation about it right now. I'm a level-headed and responsible person that prefers the more diplomatic and non-violent route when it comes to conflict, but that doesn't mean I don't get a big smile from slingin' lead and getting that whiff of gunpowder from the rifle chamber with each shot.

[Matt57]

Also individual liberty in general is pretty important to me as well.

[Jjpayne]

I'm most passionate about keeping people together. I find that a lot of times politics cause division. I like people to come together. And not to disagree. I think however the concept of freedom of speech is very important.

[Kaylathefaerie]

Political issues having to do with the treatment of undocumented immigrants in the country, especially at the border. And the overreaching power of ICE.

[WalterRadio]

Taxes. Everyone should pay the same rate on the same kind of income with no deductions, exemptions, credits, or status differences.

[Mikey_Ramone]

That the communism in this country will collapse. Some day one day. They fuck up with us the locals they're gonna pay for that. No freedom of speech and shit.

[anon4us]

Wheather national socialism is really a bad concept I get the Germans took it took an extreme in ww2 but think about the principle of it

[pitzi]

Israeli/Arab conflict. I'm pro Israel

Also gun rights... and I'm passionate about being pro life lol

[wingattebaby16]

Income taxes. Should be a straight 10%. No deductions no loop holes. Everyone pays the same %

[WalterRadio]

For it to be a straight 10%, a whole lot of transfer payments will have to end. (I'm all for that).

[SaltyBooze]

the whole capitalism vs communism debate. specially cuz its meaningless, and both systems are fucked up.

[AynonOMouse]

Men's rights when it comes to family/children/custody/abortion/support.

[Natalie11299]

Illegal immigration and immigration laws, taxes, stronger border control

[BlahBlehBluh]

None. I'm devoid of passion for anything. I think it's a biological trait I have.

[some_onee]

Banning GMO extracted food.
Legalization of marijuana.
Gay rights.

[johnieohm]

War on science, like i am not stupid but the scientific method proves most of science right, not talking about pseudoscience

[tartaarsaus]

Israel by a million miles. I do prefer discussing other topics though because discussing Israel almost always results in a truly idiotic discussion

[hawke4me]

The Second Amendment. It's the one Amendment that gaurantees and protects the rest. If it falls, the rest are likely to fall easier.
Also illegal immigration. There are so many reasons why we need to control our borders.

[jimmijo1954]

The horribly ineffective immigration policies of the USA.

[DennisBishop]

Death in all its forms. Abortion, death penalty, war, police shootings, etc I'm for it all. Makes my commute a lot quicker right after a shooting.

[colonthree]

Stopping illegal (and tightening legal) immigration

[colonthree]

Actually I misread the question- i think that's the most important. My most passionate topic is halting US foreign intervention

[torwulf]

Male upbringing. It's deeply flawed in today's society

[NumbAndUnchanging]

The prison system and its effectiveness on rehabilitation

[monkeynutts]

Environment, National security, education, economy, social welfare, crime, and beer drinking.

[Anonymous]

Right now my biggest issue is Turkey's arrogance towards Greece, Europian Union and my country.

[alienexe]

Climate change, carbon tax, education , stem cell research

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Not into politics, but a country's wealth and prosperity is most important in my opinion.

[Whatthefluff]

Gun control
LGBTQ+ rights
Education system

[ShortCircuit]

(Income) taxation, or ideally, the lack thereof.

[Bananaman177]

Violent overthrow of the Deep State.

[Patrickjv]

Industrial policy and immigration

[Marinepilot]

Womans Right to Choose.

[dano65]

Anything in the U. S. Bill of Rights.

[FabulousRiis]

Political correctness and abortion.

[apachestuff]

The fact we still have religion

[call_me_scar]

Getting money out of politics or Medicare 4 all

[grega239]

Feminism, sjws and their kind

[Tom_1910]

How to solve global warming

[asksthem]

Pineapple on pizza

[MIKIBURGOS]

Education is the root of everything

[the_sinner]

None

I just hate the term.

[Sarcastro]

Second Amendment

[deputydillon]

The freedom of speech

[Lieseeker]

Sarah palin. I feel passion for her.

[TadCurious]

Immigration

[Prankster13]

Abortion and sexism.

[britpop]

Austerity

[juicyjessie]

Right on, sis!

[jimmijo1954]

@Britpop- are you talking about authoritarianism?

[BlueCoyote]

@jimmijo1954
I believe she said 'austerity'.

[jimmijo1954]

@BlueCoyote- I can read, thank you. I know what she said- but I’m asking her , not you. If you can speak on her behalf you should say that- otherwise it’s none of your concern.

[Johnnytopside]

Justice/Law

[Kiran04]

Second amendment.

[pizzalovershouse]

none for me

[HornetsFanAllDay]

peace

[HornetsFanAllDay]

and a stable life for all people of the world, especially in the war / daesh / isis ridden Mosul, Iraq 🙌

[xxxx9i]

brexit!

[TsubasaCorrupted]

Women's rights

[RumEro]

Hate politicians

[LuWe22]

Animal rights

[kill_me_with_witt]

Laissez faire

[talltom94]

Brexit and equality

[BronzedAdonis]

gay rights

[wtf_is_going_on1998]

Abortion