What is not obvious is how this scale of extravagant consumption translates into the political conversation. The Anthony Pritzker fortune (LA pile below) that contributes to the LA home that appears as a New Age institute in the video, that includes a bowling alley and a toy store, what is the point of view? Because we can? Note that the Anthony Pritzker fortune in part is devoted to the Obama re-elect. What does it mean that POTUS Obama preaches the millionaire surtax and that the "millionaires and billionaires" must pay "their fair share?" White House Budget for 2013 counts on taxing the super rich, but because there are not enough of them even with surtax rates, this means taxing the families and small businesses who earn well below seven figures, and sometime who earn below $250,000. This is draining the lake again in order to keep the creek flowing to the Federally created artificial wetlands (the Welfare Wetlands, everyone in Dismal Swamp). What Ronald Reagan knew (Arthur Laffer and crew, called the Supply Siders) is that permanent tax cuts for everyone, across all categories, gives energy to grow the economy in all directions. This is fundamental Milton Friedman: every dollar that government takes out of the economy tends to inhibit investment, expansion, risk-taking, consumption, even more focused Federal decisions. The Obama administration is committed to the notion that the Federal and State governments have solutions that must be paid for by taxes on the prosperous. The conflict is fundamental and simple. My guess is that the Titanic houses in the above video are an expression of wealth that does not fear the progressive tax schemes. Likely the assets are constructed like Romney's, off-shore IRAs, in tax free bonds from everywhere, in vehicles that defer income: the usual tax code gymnastics available to the uber-ubers, and good for them. They didn't make the world: they just deal with their version of the puzzles of class and cash.
The Anthony Pritzker home in Los Angeles is a 49,300-square-foot building designed by an architecture firm in Paris.
Every dollar a "wealthy" person, or for that matter a "poor" person spends makes someone a profit, and gives someone a job. Judging by our economic situation people are not spending money. Taxing it will not get them spending. The goal should be to reduce that, broaden the tax base, and reduce spending at the federal level on what has been exposed to be absolute crap. Enough.
April 25, 2011
Dear President Obama,
I’ve long held the notion that you could screw up a gravity toilet. Considering the primary force that effects the evacuation of waste is gravity that is an exceedingly difficult thing to do. Yet, as recent events have demonstrated I think I may have been understating your apparent and growing incompetence. There are days that I’m convinced that you were promised a bonus if you can collapse the US Dollar, and a double, if you create the conditions for an Islamic Caliphate to be born. I still can’t get the question out of me head: Why you are running so soon? The election, if you allow it to happen, is 18 months away.
My theory is that you have not convinced the political class that you can win. So as of your announcement you are in the process of a “test campaign.” A dry run of you will. Even before a Libyan bombing mission, even with a liberal democrat as President with the middle name Hussein, the pilots practice on a simulator to make sure they hit their marks. So why not pull out the greek columns for some more nauseating “I’m-Un-American-And-The-Rich-Suck” speeches so you can prove to your backers what suckers the liberal left truly is constructed out of? I mean they paid upwards of $60,000 to sing you a song to your face which proudly proclaimed that they have no place to go but you. I guess hooking up the battery cables to Ted Kennedy is out of the question. My guess is you’ll do this until October of 2011 then it will be “go no go time” for your challengers Hillary Clinton and Evan Bahy. If your poll numbers are in the low 30’s or the 20’s you are done for. Because if there is one thing your real handlers know it is who to bet on and when to place that bet.
I’m confident that the American people are ready to pull the ejection handle before you can bomb the American psyche with another piece or expansion of the welfare state. We even hired a guy to weave your parachute with a hammer and sickle on it so when you float down on “your peeps,” Eric Holders words not mine, you’ll land safe and sound. Though if I were in your shoes I would be ready for some rough stuff because in those countries they do not have a Constitution or a Bill of Rights or any thing resembling a rule of law. So you may think you have landed in paradise, but you know what happens when you call some place paradise. You can kiss it goodbye. Makes you wonder why liberal democrats work so hard at destroying what so many have suffered so much for.
Not me though. I’m no rocket scientist, but I know a pile of steaming excrement when I see it, and I certainly know enough not to step in it.
Respectfully,
Joe Doakes
Here's how the mansions of the wealthy ought to enter into the political conversation: The Republican candidate ought to show pictures of mansions and say "The American Dream is to someday live like this. You may not make it quite this far, but it's something to shoot for. Vote Republican and we'll facilitate your quest for the Dream. Vote for Obama and watch as he tries to tear down all we as Americans have built for the last 200 years."
Why does it always have to be "steaming" excrement? How about some of the nice, dry, sun-bleached variety? My first wife used to call me "viejo cerote asoleado" when I would do something to piss her off.
More house porn:
http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/10-of-the-most-romantic-and-expensive-homes/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl8|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D134672#photo-20
Regarding the above picture of the house that looks like a land-locked Love Boat; if those are solar panels on the roof it's even funnier! Could it be a refurbished Noah's Ark?
@Paul, some assuage their guilt by slapping a few solar panels on the roof. I believe California gives tax incentives.
Wasn't buying LA tear downs one of the root causes to cause the housing crisis? Mitt's teardown in LA is a prime example.
Maybe I'm missing some tongue-in-cheek here, but I'd like to ask: Am I the only one here who thinks there's absolutely nothing "obscene" or wrong with owning a mansion? As elaborate and fancy and big as you can afford? And being proud of it?
Are you all just going along with the class warfare because you want to seem like kindler, gentler conservatives? Or do you really think there's such a thing as conspicuous consumption? I think if conservatives have actually bought into the class warfare idea, then we might as well just close down the site and throw in the towel, cause we've already lost.
I sense people rolling their eyes and saying "Oh, come on, Lou", but I want an answer on this. Where do you stand?
I'll go out on a limb, Lou. I was just kidding around. I see nothing wrong with success, and nothing wrong with expressing that success. I was actually making fun of the obvious class envy/warfare that expressions of success evoke, and the jackass politicians that love to take advantage of it, all the while secretly currying favor from the very ones they love to give the finger to.
P.S. Those homes look like average homes along Travis Lake outside Austin to me. I would just hate the upkeep.
Got it. And, is that what JB is doing, too?
So, liberals don't mention the a-word (abortion) when they're touting the benefits of Planned Parenthood, and conservatives don't mention the w-word (wealth) when they're touting the benefits of voting Republican.
Except that if you tout the benefits of voting Republican without mentioning the w-word you end up not saying a damned thing!
Whoever lives across the street from Nancy Pelosi has "Bitchfront" property.