Lawrence O'Donnell: Americans Aren't Rugged Individualists - They're Socialists
Last November, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell proudly declared himself a socialist on national television.
On Wednesday, "The Last Word" host took this a huge step further saying the whole idea that Americans are rugged individualists is an illusion because they're all really socialists (video follows with transcript and commentary):
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: From our first days as a nation, we have put our faith in free markets and free enterprise as the engine of America's wealth and prosperity. More than citizens of any other country, we are rugged individualists, a self-reliant people, with a healthy skepticism of too much government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: This is an illusion, of course. We are not the rugged individualists we think we are. After getting an education paid for by the government, if we live long enough, we all get retirement income from the government and health care paid for by the government. That is a very healthy dose of good old-fashioned socialism, but we remain the country that pretends to hate socialism. Homeowners and the entire real estate industry float on a massive government subsidy written into the tax code called the mortgage deduction. The federal government gives millionaires and billionaires tens of thousands of dollars a year to pay, $50,000, to pay for their housing, a subsidy that none of them need, and yet our rugged individualist self-image continues.
Honestly, this has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.
First off, for the roughly 50 percent of the nation that pays taxes, nothing that we "receive" from the federal or state government is given to us. My parents paid federal, state, local, and property taxes that went for my public education, much as I've done for my children.
As for the Social Security and Medicare benefits I may some day receive, I will have at that point paid into the system since I was 18-years-old, and, depending upon when I retire and eventually pass away, could very possibly have paid in more than I received not including a simple rate of growth applied to my contributions.
For the percentage of our population that are much like myself in this regard, whatever they have and/or will receive from federal and state governments is a payback of what's been deducted from their income without their permission or - in some cases - approval.
As for mortgage interest deductability being a subsidy, one really has to wonder what Lawrence learned at Harvard because tax deductions aren't subsidies. Even the liberal Wikipedia knows that:
A subsidy (also known as a subvention) is a form of financial assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry (e.g., as a result of continuous unprofitable operations) or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor (as in the case of a wage subsidy). Examples are subsidies to encourage the sale of exports; subsidies on some foods to keep down the cost of living, especially in urban areas; and subsidies to encourage the expansion of farm production and achieve self-reliance in food production.
A tax deduction is not a form of financial assistance paid to you by the government. Instead, it is a means by which you get to pay less taxes and therefore keep more of -- are you listening, Lawrence? - your money.
But this is a common mistake by liberals that are really socialists, for they don't understand that the government doesn't actually have any money except for what it takes from the citizenry, borrows or prints.
What it taxes is ours, and any current or future statutes in the IRS code that allow us to keep more is neither a subsidy nor a gift.
As it pertains to mortgage interest, if the Left wants to see this tepid recovery fall on its face quickly, they should eliminate this deductability and watch housing prices and the home construction industry collapse even further sending us right back into a recession.
Maybe that's what a socialist like O'Donnell wants. Then there will be more folks trading in their rugged individualism for handouts from those that still believe in such a thing.
Never let a good crisis go to waste, right?
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
Frankly, I don't know which is more idiotic...
Submitted by gopcongress on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:13am.
Which excerpt was more stupid? Barack Obama sounding like Ronaldus Magnus, or Larry O'Donnell sounding like, well, the REAL Barack Obama??
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
My thoughts exactly!!!! I
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 1:00am.
My thoughts exactly!!!! I doubt if even the libs could sit there and actually BELIEVE that Boy Blunder is being serious about that whole statement............when he as PROVEN that his view of American is the exact OPPOSITE!!!!
As far as O'Donnel goes...............hey Larry, speak for yourself, you pathetic wimp!!! There are a LOT of us out here who are 'freedom-fighters', 'patriots', 'reliable', 'dependable', 'responsible', and try our hardest to get through this life WITHOUT expecting some dimwits who are NOT qualified to hold our dirty socks to help us get through this life!!!!
Believe him?!?
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 10:51am.
Hell, Killa, he looked like he was going to throw up just having to SAY the words! Go back and look at him. He looks like a college freshman trying to keep down one too many beers.
As for Larry saying "we are all socialists," speak for yourself, you commie bastard.
I could survive quite well, thank you, if every dime I get from the government stopped coming today, and so could a great deal of people in this country. We would work it out, and we'd start by sending a hell of a lot less TO the government.
I've already paid for years for what I am supposed to "get" from the government, but I would forfeit every penny of it if i could cut my taxes by 75%.
... and I don't care if Paul Ryan does look like Eddie Munster all grown up, I like his style and hope he shoves his budget straight up Bambi's shoot.
→ Lawrence O'Donnell
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:14am.
Lawrence, you need to get out of the bath houses more often.
Is that neon pink toenail polish? NTTAWWT
WTF... Just like Cockroaches
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:14am.
........but they turn the lights on and don't run away.
roflmao
C'mon now, who gave you the
Submitted by ant on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:43am.
C'mon now, who gave you the silly idea the money you work for is yours? Everything, including the air we breathe, is a gift and privilege granted to us by our beloved government. Get with the times, man. Or do we need to send you to the re-education camps?
Socialism Isn't What We Wanted
Submitted by Boil It Down on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 1:32am.
We are not socialists, socialism has been insidiously foisted upon us brick by brick behind our backs. Socialism exploited the unsuspecting parasites in our society by means of clever politicians buying their votes with taxpayer money. What we are, are Americans who haven't been vigilant in protecting our Constitution and Republic, which has lead ultimately to the predictable decline through socialism. There never has been nor will there ever be a successful socialist society. Socialism is what we're fighting to have removed from our government.
Explaining this to O'Donnell, however, is an exercise in futility, as he has often demonstrated his inability to comprehend the most basic of history concerning the destructive nature of socialism.
I disagree...
Submitted by ontheright on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 8:31am.
...the evil that is socialism / communism wasn't perpetrated on us behind our backs. Socialism / communism was foisted upon us right in front of our eyes as we sat idly and obediently by; while the progs told us society needed to become more PC. Then the progs told us we should give more than we already did to the less fortunate; our personal charity was not enough - we will need to take more money (tax) so WE can decide who to help, and how much. Then the progs told us that we should give certain races more access to private jobs. Then the progs told us that we need to take GOD out of public life, including schools. Then the progs told us don't worry about changes to the history books, this is the way things happened. Then the progs told us that we should not control our borders because our American way of life should be shared with everyone, equally without a second thought.
No, it wasn't done behind our backs...
oTr: All Good Points
Submitted by Boil It Down on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 3:22pm.
The confidence that socialism could never survive on our shores was a popular theme that proved wrong as we gave away one liberty after another. The progs were very good at convincing the population that it wasn't socialism we were accepting. It was done right before us and the illusionists among the progs deluded the masses. O'Donnell is just another illusionist doing the Obi-Wan mind trick, saying "you are socialists and this is what you wanted". -bidn-
"we have put our faith in free markets and free enterprise"
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 1:33am.
With the exception of the Internet ..... it's been a long time since I've seen a free market or free enterprise in America. So when ya hear that the system is broke.... remember that the system ain't a free market or free enterprise system that they are talk'n bout.
roflmao
sorry Noel
Submitted by OffTheLows on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 2:21am.
but what we pay in to entitlements is vastly less than what we give back assuming we live to retirement. I don't agree with O'Donnell on much of anything but it's a pretty apparent fact if you read polling that the majority of Americans want much more government than they are willing to pay for. The liberal response to this is to tax more, my response is to ask politicians to grow a spin and realize we need to cut entitlements that no longer fit the post Dr. telling the patient "I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do" era. In an era of global tax competitiveness, we aren't in the position to hike taxes, we have the highest corporate rate in the world. Cut taxes, cut entitlements, stop transferring the country's wealth to the least productive segment of our population while the potentially most productive sector cannot find jobs because we're non competitive with much of the rest of the world.
OTL
Submitted by Noel Sheppard on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 8:48am.
OTL,
Your math here is interesting. Are you suggesting that if I pay into Social Security and Medicare from 18 to 66 and then die without ever having received one penny from either program, I will have garnered more in benefits than I would have contributed? Please explain EXACTLY how that would be, I'm dying to hear this. ns
Surely 48 years of "Total Peace of Mind" has some value?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 8:54am.
;)
What math?
Submitted by ajkrik on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 10:09am.
He wasn't really using math, Noel. He was asserting something that a journalist like you could discover through some simple research via the Social Security administration. Does the average person receive more in benefits (inflation adjusted) than they contribute? If one believes a SS is a ponzi scheme then his assertion for the average person is probably correct.
The insidiousness of socialism is that people feel entitled. Do you feel entitled to Social Security? It has NEVER been a retirement program.
Government Money
Submitted by LaVallette on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 3:40am.
You guys just don't get it.
This guy and others of his ilk, namely all socialists, believe that taxation is not money you earn which the government then trips off you but money that you worked heard to earn on behalf of the government and therefore it has a right to it. Thus any benefits you get from the government is not from money you paid in in the first place but largesse from the government's own money.
At the risk of being redundant...
Submitted by Twig1976 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 4:06am.
At the risk of being redundant, let me repeat once again: O'Donnell is dumber than a bag of hammers.
That's insulting to hammers;
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 8:20am.
That's insulting to hammers; hammers serve a purpose and are useful after all.
Dingbat Larry thinks that Americans are socialists because he does not look past the cocoon of his workplace and friends. Useful idiot he is.
...and as useful as a bowling
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 9:21am.
...and as useful as a bowling bat.
Liberal Progressives Say Tax the Rich?
Submitted by Retired Geek on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 4:59am.
Liberal Progressives say there is "Plenty of Money" in the United States - all we have to do is "Tax the Rich" - there is no need to cut spending!
Lets examine one of the most expensive displays of Capitalism and Commercialism in the United States - the 'Super Bowl'.
The 2011 'Super bowl' netted 250 million dollars - enough money to fund Barack Obama's Insane spending for 36 minutes - if Barack Obama could 'Steal' all of the profits from all 45 'Super Bowls' - his theft would be about 5 billion dollars - enough money to fund Barack Obama's insane spending for 1/2 a Day.
http://thpatriots.blogspot.com/2011/03/bill-whittle-eat-rich.html
Insane Spending by Barack Obama
Submitted by Retired Geek on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 5:03am.
Barack Obama and Liberal Progressives cannot decide who the "Rich" are in the United States - Barack Obama usually states it is anyone who makes more than 250,000 dollars a Year, but Obama has stated other numbers like 75,000 and 90,000 dollars a Year.
According to IRS statistics there are 116 million households in the United States and 1.93% of those Households have incomes that exceed 250,000 dollars a Year.
The total amount of income above 250,000 dollars a Year is 1.412 Trillion Dollars - if Barack Obama 'Stole' 100% of the money of everyone exceeding 250,000 dollars a Year it would fund his insane spending for 139 Days.
http://thpatriots.blogspot.com/2011/03/bill-whittle-eat-rich.html
Putting the pip into squeak
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 6:28am.
Lawrence O'Donnell: ASS-HAT SHRUGGED...
But seeing O'Donnell IS a socialist then let him prove it. He disagrees with the current tax rates for rich people, like him, so HOW MUCH EXTRA DOES O'DONNELL hand over to the IRS?
We wanna know Larry. You are so outraged that people like you aren't "paying their fair share" (SIC) so how much are you voluntarily giving to the Federal government to spend on your behalf?
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
Speak for yourself...
Submitted by All American on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 6:45am.
You bed-wetting, limp-wristed, socialist pinko commie wimp !
Never thought I'd say it
Submitted by Ozconservative on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 6:57am.
But this guy is dumber than Bathtub Boy!!
Wow! That's no mean feat either!
Submitted by Mary Louise Turner on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 7:30am.
To be dumber than ol' Bathtub Boy and Crazy Eddie Schultz...now that takes some doing! Congratulations, Larry O'Donnell! You have won the prize for World's Dumbest Obama Lackey!
No, Dick...
Submitted by johnsonl on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 7:04am.
actually, that's what you should be saying to all the men in your life.
This little tactic is called projection. It's what liberals and psychotics use to justify a totally indefensible opinion, belief or behavior.
And we're broke
Submitted by KC Mulville on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 7:51am.
So much for socialism.
What a thing to wake up to
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 8:37am.
Americans and Socialists are two vastly different things. Hell, they are the opposite of each other, one represents freedom and the drive to fight for it, the other represents loss of freedom and under government(read: tyranny) control.
To paraphrase Dave's sig: America or Socialism, not both.
Lawrence O'Dumbass, I don't WANT to be coddled by the government. I don't WANT to be taken care of by the government. I want the government to follow the Constitution! If you like socialism so damn much and you keep using the First Amendment to crow about it, go to the frelling countries that have it! No one's stopping you!
God I can't stand these people!
-Jon
Too bad he can't be sued for
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 9:23am.
Too bad he can't be sued for defamation of the American people.
Tossed salad and scrambled WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Tomorama on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 9:24am.
Kelsey Grammar must not have smacked Niles Crane around enough while on the show..............
This effiminate little dweeb has never gotten his hands dirty and for him to not only say this, but to actually say it and be the prime time host on an american............................. network?
Beck was delusional and unhinged, bullshit, Beck actually loves this country and it's former ideals.
Now ruined by the likes of Niles and Obambi.
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF...
Submitted by Hologram5 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:12pm.
you pathetic excuse for a man. You are nothing but ignorant and irritating beyond all belief. I would love to stand in front of you and have you talk to me like you do about people like me. I would beat you within an inch of your sad little life and show you what it really is to be a man.
There's a brief scene in the
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:18pm.
There's a brief scene in the movie "Slap Shot" in which during a game, one of the Hanson brothers is skating past the opposing team's bench. The opposing team's players are all standing up looking over the board towards the goal that has been scored. The Hanson brother skates alongside them from the blindside with his stick's blade up hitting each of the players in the head.
That scene needs to be recreated often with the MSNBC lineup.
He's a wuss so he thinks
Submitted by Semus on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:30pm.
He's a wuss so he thinks everyone else must be.
Actually in a way he's right, we have had a lot of socialist philosophies embedded in our society by shady individuals with help from some damn fools who've managed to gain power and access by lying and deceiving . Once there after swearing to uphold the constitution, they, again by lying and deceiving proceed to dismantle the society and structures that formed the country to change it into something never intended. A society of doers change into a society of people with their hands out. Like the story "The Time Machine" people -some anyway- just became cattle unable or unwilling to provide for themselves. Their job was to take what was provided and be harvested every once in a while.
A funny thought I wonder what kind of country we'd have if the only people who immigrated here were O'Donnell type of people, a bunch of Eloi's running around chasing butterfly's, without any Morlocks around to er take care of them.