WE ARE NOT THE 53%

We did not pay Federal income tax when we were too young, too old, or too poor. When we lost our job, our home, or got sick.

We aren't "freeloaders." We kept working. We just wanted a fair chance.

Some of us fought our way into the middle class. But we didn't do it alone.

The government gave us tax money for our kids, for our education, for our mortgages.

The government gave us veterans benefits for education, retirement, and lifetime healthcare.

NONE of us have always paid income tax.

But ALL of us have been helped by a society that keeps the rules fair and helps its citizens succeed.

We will not "suck it up."
We are not the 53%.
We are Americans.

29th October 2011

Photo with 2 notes

Flyer thrown from the Chicago Board of Trade: We are Wall Street. It’s our job to make money. Whether it’s a commodity, stock, bond, or some hypothetical piece of fake paper, it doesn’t matter. We would trade baseball cards if it were profitable. I didn’t hear America complaining when the market was roaring to 14,000 and everyone’s 401k doubled every 3 years. Just like gambling, its not a problem until you lose. I’ve never heard of anyone going to Gamblers Anonymous because they won too much in Vegas. Collateralized Debt Obligations are not work. They are gambling. They are hypothetical pieces of fake paper, bought with your mortgage, with your 401k, with your pension, with your business loan, with your kid’s college fund. AIG, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Countrywide, Washington Mutual, Indymac, Fannie Mae, Wachovia, Ameriquest… Goldman Sachs. They took your money. The money that you worked for. The money you trusted them to save and invest. And they gambled it away. If a plumber robbed your house, they would have to pay. If a mechanic stole your car, they would have pay. When brokers and bankers stole your money, they did not pay. Instead, they were given huge bonuses. Bonuses paid for with your taxes. Now that they stand publicly accused of their betrayal, they are not remorseful. They are not contrite in the face of their total failure. Now, they threaten to come for you. This is what is known as a sociopath. Flyer thrown from the Chicago Board of Trade:
We are Wall Street. It’s our job to make money. Whether it’s a commodity, stock, bond, or some hypothetical piece of fake paper, it doesn’t matter. We would trade baseball cards if it were profitable. I didn’t hear America complaining when the market was roaring to 14,000 and everyone’s 401k doubled every 3 years. Just like gambling, its not a problem until you lose. I’ve never heard of anyone going to Gamblers Anonymous because they won too much in Vegas.

Collateralized Debt Obligations are not work. They are gambling. They are hypothetical pieces of fake paper, bought with your mortgage, with your 401k, with your pension, with your business loan, with your kid’s college fund.

AIG, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Countrywide, Washington Mutual, Indymac, Fannie Mae, Wachovia, Ameriquest… Goldman Sachs.

They took your money. The money that you worked for. The money you trusted them to save and invest. And they gambled it away.

If a plumber robbed your house, they would have to pay.

If a mechanic stole your car, they would have pay.

When brokers and bankers stole your money, they did not pay. Instead, they were given huge bonuses. Bonuses paid for with your taxes.

Now that they stand publicly accused of their betrayal, they are not remorseful. They are not contrite in the face of their total failure. Now, they threaten to come for you.

This is what is known as a sociopath.

29th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 5 notes

If you worked minimum wage jobs while supporting a family, you did not pay Federal income tax. You were not the 53%. Do you believe you should have been forced to pay more in taxes?

If you worked minimum wage jobs while supporting a family, you did not pay Federal income tax. You were not the 53%.

Do you believe you should have been forced to pay more in taxes?

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 11 notes

You did not pay for your special ed classes. We did. Your fellow taxpayers. You are not institutionalized. You are not homeless. Because the government helped you. And now you’re a broker for J.P. Morgan Chase. Which means that you only have a job right now because the Federal government bailed out your corrupt corporation. That point bears repeating. YOU HAVE A JOB RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BAILED OUT YOUR CORRUPT CORPORATION. You have taken the charity of American taxpayers and repaid us by helping destroy our economy. How proud you must feel.

You did not pay for your special ed classes. We did. Your fellow taxpayers.

You are not institutionalized. You are not homeless. Because the government helped you.

And now you’re a broker for J.P. Morgan Chase. Which means that you only have a job right now because the Federal government bailed out your corrupt corporation.


That point bears repeating.


YOU HAVE A JOB RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BAILED OUT YOUR CORRUPT CORPORATION.

You have taken the charity of American taxpayers and repaid us by helping destroy our economy.

How proud you must feel.

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 10 notes

In college, you were NOT the 53%. Do you believe you should have been forced to pay more taxes while you were an impoverished student? While you we’re working two jobs as a student, You took money from other taxpayers for your educational expenses. You took money from other taxpayers when we paid for America’s infrastructure for you. You are taking money from other taxpayers for your children in the Earned Income Tax Credit. You are taking money from other taxpayers for the interest on your mortgage. You are not a victim. Because other taxpayers have helped you your whole life. You’re welcome.

In college, you were NOT the 53%.

Do you believe you should have been forced to pay more taxes while you were an impoverished student?

While you we’re working two jobs as a student, You took money from other taxpayers for your educational expenses. You took money from other taxpayers when we paid for America’s infrastructure for you. You are taking money from other taxpayers for your children in the Earned Income Tax Credit. You are taking money from other taxpayers for the interest on your mortgage.

You are not a victim. Because other taxpayers have helped you your whole life.

You’re welcome.

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 16 notes

As an American taxpayer, you are entitled to the security of a well-defended country. You are entitled to bridges that do not collapse beneath you. You are entitled to water that does not poison you. You are entitled to meat that does not kill you. You are entitled to protection from epidemic disease. You are entitled to protection from criminals and terrorists. You are entitled to drivable roads and walkable sidewalks. You are entitled to a justice system to protect you from theft and fraud. You are entitled to protection of your personal property. You are entitled to basic medical care when you are disabled. You are entitled to an education for your children. Soon, you will be entitled to Medicare and Social Security so that when you are unable to work, you will have a basic level of support. You take all of this from us, your fellow taxpayers. You have not thanked us for all that we have given you, all the ways we have helped you succeed. But we are Americans. So we give it freely to you, and say — you’re welcome.

As an American taxpayer, you are entitled to the security of a well-defended country.

You are entitled to bridges that do not collapse beneath you.

You are entitled to water that does not poison you.

You are entitled to meat that does not kill you.

You are entitled to protection from epidemic disease.

You are entitled to protection from criminals and terrorists.

You are entitled to drivable roads and walkable sidewalks.

You are entitled to a justice system to protect you from theft and fraud.

You are entitled to protection of your personal property.

You are entitled to basic medical care when you are disabled.

You are entitled to an education for your children.

Soon, you will be entitled to Medicare and Social Security so that when you are unable to work, you will have a basic level of support.

You take all of this from us, your fellow taxpayers. You have not thanked us for all that we have given you, all the ways we have helped you succeed.

But we are Americans. So we give it freely to you, and say — you’re welcome.

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 17 notes

Stockholm Syndrome — a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness. Why are you forced to work extra hours for no extra pay, while you eat canned beans for dinner? Who benefits from your unpaid labor? Why do you never ask yourself these questions?

Stockholm Syndrome — a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness.
Why are you forced to work extra hours for no extra pay, while you eat canned beans for dinner? Who benefits from your unpaid labor? Why do you never ask yourself these questions?

Tagged: stockholm_syndrome

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 8 notes

You’re unemployed so you don’t pay Federal income tax. Lucky you! Do you believe unemployed people like you should have to pay more taxes?

You’re unemployed so you don’t pay Federal income tax. Lucky you!

Do you believe unemployed people like you should have to pay more taxes?

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 9 notes

You “didn’t like” the professional workforce, so you joined the Federal government’s workforce. You were given Federal government training, Federal government educational assistance, and Federal government heathcare. You owe your success to Socialism. You’re welcome!

You “didn’t like” the professional workforce, so you joined the Federal government’s workforce. You were given Federal government training, Federal government educational assistance, and Federal government heathcare.

You owe your success to Socialism.

You’re welcome!

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 13 notes

You are writing smug slogans in your notebook. We are pushing forward with the work that needs to be done.

You are writing smug slogans in your notebook.

We are pushing forward with the work that needs to be done.

28th October 2011

Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 5 notes

Unpaid interns do not pay federal income tax — we paid it for you. If you are going to school full time, your loan repayment is deferred — we are paying for you. You are not the 53%. But for the help you receive from America’s taxpayers — you’re welcome!

Unpaid interns do not pay federal income tax — we paid it for you.

If you are going to school full time, your loan repayment is deferred — we are paying for you.

You are not the 53%.

But for the help you receive from America’s taxpayers — you’re welcome!