Ben Stein Has Done The Math. Breaks The Rule Of Telling The Truth On Fox News

[Playinghardball]

The economist has spoken. It’s time to raise some taxes.


Found on Lefteous Indignation’s Facebook page/MoveOn.org

[JaneyVee]

1. When the GOP loses that sheep you know the flock is in disarray.

[budkin]

2. Bueller... Bueller... Fox... Fox

[brooklynite]

3. Actualy, I think he said this a month or two ago.

[Schema Thing]

6. He's been saying this for years, actually.

[BlueStreak]

4. It is called "giving up the sleeves off his vest"

It is complete bullshit. The top marginal tax is completely irrelevant because none of the rich pay any significant taxes at that rate. Raise that to 99% and it wouldn't affect any of the 0.1%

Here's what DOES affect them and you notice that neither Ben Stein nor Barack Obama is talking about any of these things:

a) Setting the cap gains rate back to 20% where it was under Clinton, or better yet, putting it back to the same rate as earned income, just as Reagen had it -- that was one of the tax increases Reagen pushed for.

b) Move dividend taxes back to the earned income rate, as they were under Clinton.

c) Get rid of billionaire's loopholes like carried interest that allows them to launder their income under the special low cap gains rate.

d) Do something about all the Enron-style fake corporate structures and offshore tricks used to hide income from taxation altogether.

Nobody is talking about these things. They are all talking about the bullshit top marginal rate that makes no difference at all. They are all selling us out, including Obama.

[Wounded Bear]

11. While I wouldn't go so far as to call it complete bullshit....

Your points are well taken. All of those things would go far in raising revenue from the top 1%.

But I'd still raise the rates.

[BlueStreak]

19. Raising the bogus rate is the ONLY thing anybody is talking about. They are playing us for fools.

When the cameras are turned off, Obama and Boehner pop open a 5th of scotch are yuk it up about how stupid the public is.

[MNBrewer]

5. Ben Stein is NOT an economist.

He's a lawyer, "actor", and writer, but not an economist. Just because he's talking here about money doesn't make him one.

[Enrique]

7. you're right

I always thought he was an economist for some reason. Maybe because everyone calls him one. But I just checked quickly and you're right he's not.

[sarisataka]

8. He did major in economics

and graduated with honors before law school. True he is not nor ever has been an economist per se.

[struggle4progress]

10. Picky picky picky! He did play an economist in Ferris Bueller's Day Off!

What more could Republicans possibly need, in order to take his economic thoughts seriously?

[Wounded Bear]

12. Uhh, really?

I thought he played a teacher or school administrator.



I think his "economist" cred comes from that old TV show "Win Ben Stein's Money." That and his numerous appearances on talk TV talking about economics.

[struggle4progress]

13. Boring Economics Teacher

[Wounded Bear]

16. I guess I thought of him as a history teacher....

We didn't have Economics in HS where I graduated. At least I don't remember it.

[RepublicansRZombies]

15. Maybe not, but he is the best thing the GOP has going, apparently the smartest in the bunch

The only one capable of using logic and common sense.

He must be wondering to himself, 'I'm not really an economist, how is it I am the smartest guy around?'

Because you don't have to be an economist to use basic logic and common sense, but the politicians and corporate media have their heads so far up their asses, they think we are just as stupid as they are.

Why would we let the most corrupt disgusting corporate media ever lead this discussion, and allow they most hated Congress ever...to make policy decisions that the rest of us must suffer and die under?

WE have to realize we are ALL smarter than the corporate media and idiot politicians and start acting like it.

WE the PEOPLE need to take back our power.

[Wounded Bear]

17. Like Bill Clinton said, It ain't calculus, it's arithmetic...

[hrmjustin]

9. Did he get out alive?

[Marr]

14. There should be a name for moments like that. When an "expert" suddenly becomes

"naive" or "uninformed".

I've noticed it happens all the time in ideological environments, to anyone who acknowledges that the emperor is naked.

[nilram]

18. And the look on his face, like he wants to run!

Though I know that's a frame that the graphic artist chose, it does tell a story.