General Discussion

OldBaldy1701E

(10,818 posts)

43. Programming, my friend... programming.

Fri Feb 20, 2026, 08:53 AM

Yesterday

They won, for all intents and purposes. We will not dare to challenge their social positions and that is because they spent decades programming us to believe that they were anointed by a supreme being. We also know deep down inside that this would affect everyone who has made strides in our society. That effort and positioning would no longer have the worth it once did. They see it as a bad thing.

I don't.

But, the programming worked. I suppose the first thing we need to address is that elephant in the room. Our society has been manipulated to the point of distortion, and, we don't care because we have been programmed to not see it.

Or, in some cases, to cheer it on.

You are correct. Stop giving them money.

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Scrivener7

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Highlight:

We Need to Talk About Rich People [View all] Haggard Celine Thursday OP

I've had the same thought. Nobody needs millions or billions of dollars in cash or properties to live a good life... wcmagumba Thursday #1

I agree. Haggard Celine Thursday #2

And get rid of stepped up basis TexasBushwhacker Thursday #6

They have it figured out, don't they? Haggard Celine Thursday #10

And all that hoarding of capital TexasBushwhacker Thursday #11

I think they're trying to fix the economy so that it runs on Haggard Celine Thursday #15

But that's not sustainable TexasBushwhacker Yesterday #16

Texas, you have an answer for me regarding how much stepped up basis you're willing to exclude? PeaceWave Yesterday #18

I think that's what we should shoot for. Haggard Celine Yesterday #19

That's what I wonder about too. AZJonnie Yesterday #35

I often wonder how many of the common people do not understand this- no wonder the rich don't want Stargazer99 Yesterday #37

ALL stepped up basis? Throwing the baby out with the bath water, isn't it? PeaceWave Thursday #12

Of course, and I have no problem with a spouse TexasBushwhacker Thursday #13

Okay, so you've already made an exception for a spouse. What about for children? And, how much? PeaceWave Thursday #14

Not only that, markodochartaigh Yesterday #29

Definitely a rigged system TexasBushwhacker 23 hrs ago #44

Let them earn (or steal) as much money as they want but Marie Marie Thursday #3

I think that's fair. Haggard Celine Thursday #5

Makes me sick! CountAllVotes Thursday #4

They think it all should be theirs. Haggard Celine Thursday #8

Line em up VanceFan Thursday #7

A health care system would be a nice start. Haggard Celine Thursday #9

Immigrants Aren't Stealing Your Jobs Mr.Bee Yesterday #17

He said he was going after criminals and Haggard Celine Yesterday #22

ICE is hiring the criminals. Thus the need for masks. travelingthrulife 23 hrs ago #45

And it isn't capitalism Figarosmom Yesterday #20

OP, I notice that you didn't define either "wealthy" or "rich." How do we know who to go after? PeaceWave Yesterday #21

Just like everything else, the government would have to decide Haggard Celine Yesterday #23

Eventually though, these kinds of suggestions must narrow down to a specific number... PeaceWave Yesterday #24

Well, any number is going to be Haggard Celine Yesterday #27

Without actual numbers regarding the taxation of wealth, the discussion collapses into vaguery... PeaceWave Yesterday #28

I don't know all the laws about Haggard Celine Yesterday #31

Found this book at the thriftstore Puppyjive Yesterday #25

Reagan broke the guardrails that prevented this. I don't think live love laugh Yesterday #26

On limiting how much people can accumulate canetoad Yesterday #30

I just want to take a lot of the power Haggard Celine Yesterday #32

Elon Musk canetoad Yesterday #33

Well said! Haggard Celine Yesterday #34

The most doable thing with the best bang for buck is to invalidate Citizens United and force public funding of elections AZJonnie Yesterday #36

It all goes back to that. And that goes back to the complete corruption of the Supreme Court under Roberts. Scrivener7 Yesterday #39

I was just thinking this morning that we didn't use to be so dependent on giant privately owned corporations. Scrivener7 Yesterday #38

Well said. Haggard Celine Yesterday #41

You want them taken down a notch? OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #40

Yes! AND stop giving them your money! I don't get why people won't do this. Scrivener7 Yesterday #42

Programming, my friend... programming. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #43

Yeesh. I hate that you're so right. Scrivener7 13 hrs ago #51

Message auto-removed Name removed 23 hrs ago #46

bye bye KS Toronado 23 hrs ago #47

And? BannonsLiver 23 hrs ago #48

Well, perhaps we can narrow the scope to wealth inequality TBF 23 hrs ago #49

It is immoral to have folks starving in the streets TBF 23 hrs ago #50