Boy, i gotta say Stewart really put Jim on defense a lot here. May not agree with everything Stewart said, he is definitely a very left leaning moderate type, which couldn't have been made more clear when he said that he felt having corps and free enterprise handle regulation and people helping people, would be a reversion to the 1900s. This is where he doesn't agree with RP.
I found the part interesting about the gov receiving more revenue with TAXES being LOWERED too, which didn't occur much within the last 100 years. I guess it could be possible, but a surplus of some kind would need to accrued, which would take place with major cuts first, obviously. Taxes could then be lowered, as well as payroll tax cuts being repealed (at whatever rates they came up with that are deemed appropriate) and it could work. The problem is the spending is out of control along with inflation too, so the government just becomes a damn langolier of sorts, gobbling everything up in its path.
I don't like a flat tax, but it all depends on what kind of flat tax. I like more of a FLAT PERCENTAGE TAX (sliding scale type of deal), meaning you pay a certain % of what you make, and that amount would be an equal chunk when compared to the guy making 3million, and the guy making 30k. Slapping on some flat number that 'seems' fair does more damage to the middle class and poor, then it will ever do to to the millionaires, hence John's point that they are 'doing just fine' and even better than 40 years ago.
Jon's point about the 'UNITED' STATES too, makes sense as well. After all, a Union is a form of a collective model (no different with the USSR in that way), and with the constitution thrown in and BoR, that is where the freedom factor comes in. Hence, LEFT and RIGHT. Regulation and government oversight is ALWAYS necessary, it just all depends on WHO is doing the regulating, and WHAT they are regulating. The problem is we have nothing but vile crooks who do nothing but lie, cheat and steal and piss money into the sands of countries overseas where we have no business being, as well as squandering money off to special interests and the lobbyists who line their pockets, and THAT, is what needs to be gutted once and for all. Like Jon said, he doesnt want gov GONE, he just wants a BETTER one. Michael Ruppert once said, was in his book actually, that have you ever seen a person say in any country, 'My gov is great, they take care of me and our people so well, we never complain at all, everything's just fine and managed in the best way possible!' Heh, good luck finding anyone who feels that way, which goes to show, PEOPLE fuck government up. Hell, even communism can work, if the right people were running it, i mean, true blue, HONEST, and MORAL people running the show.
The pilgrims actually were living in a quasi-communist society and did ok for awhile, until people started getting annoyed that others werent doing their part, and got sick and tired of toiling and having to share the wealth with those who got lazy. No sense in busting your ass for someone who is getting the same reward as you and does nothing at all to get it lol.
I gotta say though, Jon is really a smart guy, and really debated well with Jim here. He puts Bill O'Fkhead to shame and that is why Bill picks on him so much and deep down, is probably bitter about Jon's thumb having more brain cells than his entire head contains.
