Whoa.
Time out.
You can't hop into here and simply dictate that you aim to increase our taxes based on your sense of entitlement, and then say the topic doesn't warrant attention or lengthy discussion from the membership.
Not even.
I have to respond to every derail people bring up, rather than making my point, responding to pertinent questions, then retiring gracefully? Like I said, I have had my say, had a couple rounds of questions and answers, and now I would rather move on. Otherwise I will be stuck in this thread responding to the same comments about how I want to burn the constitution over and over until Ragnarok.
I'll humor you a bit though, because I am a nice guy.
It is disingenuous to say I want to raise your taxes based on my sense of entitlement.
1) I would not be the likely beneficiary of the services I am pushing for, I would be one of the tax payers. I am a middle-income adult with private insurance and my own private retirement package. I have never gone without gainful employment, I have always payed my taxes and been a 'good' citizen. I do not hate America, and I don't hate you, and I don't hate your ideals, and I am not a 'liberal' because I woke up one morning and thought it was a good idea. Besides the fact that political tests show again and again that I would best be labeled as a centrist anyway.
2) Many times I get this response that if I want to raise your taxes, I am stealing from you. Great, so we have two choices a) Tax nothing b) Only tax for the things you think are appropriate. You ignore the reality of politics by saying that if people want a system that runs contrary to your ideal, it is automatically a crime against humanity. If you really think it is your way or the highway, we cannot have any legitimate discussion on the matter. Then the only question is what are you going to do if democracy fails to return your desired result. Is that the discussion we are having, or can you admit that your ideal America is not the only possible option?
3) I don't support Libertarianism for the same reason I don't support Communism. Both assume an idealized human that will cooperate autonomously for the betterment of humanity. I think you need controlled capitalism. Capitalism is good because it helps generate wealth and gives humans an outlet for the instinctual desire to compete, and controlled because if you leave capitalism alone it degenerates into pure exploitation because of the same human nature. In small, like-minded groups either system can possibly lead to a near utopia, economically but they just don't scale. I would love it if Libertarianism could be empirically shown to work well at the level of a nation, but it has not and I suspect it will not. A nuclear armed superpower is not the appropriate place to test an idealistic model of governance.
4) I think healthcare, specifically, should be a government service. I think it is too important to leave it to the whim of monetary success. Will such a system be 100% perfect? Absolutely not. Is it better than dying because you are broke, or being financially ruined because you get hurt or sick? In my opinion, yes.
This discussion has been filled with me stating my opinion, explaining myself, then being called a constitution hating liberal criminal who wants to destroy everything you hold dear. I cannot have a discussion with that attitude, it is unproductive. Even your language in your request...'sense of entitlement' is loaded with spite.
As I said, I am not here to convert you. Some of you have rational reasons for being conservative, some of you are dogmatic about it. I have no illusions about convincing you I am correct, and would never try to force you into a discussion where I could 'prove' to you that I am right. Heck, I am even willing to concede that you may be right, because I don't pretend that I have all the answers, or my ideal government would lead us to a utopia.
I understand your opinion and your reasoning. I have written out my opinion and my reasoning in the best way I can. Now we can all a) reject b) accept c) analyze.
So do we end this and let people get on with their lives, or drag this out on and on without any benefit to either side?
(Edit, because I missed a word and it may have been confusing)