Conservative economist Ben Stein: taxes are too low - Polidicks

[IMG]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/fox_ff_stein_taxes_121018c-615x345.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]Conservative economist Ben Stein on Thursday seemed to know that he had wandered off message when he joked that the hosts of Fox & Friends might murder him for saying that it was not possible to balance the budget without raising taxes. “I hate to say this on Fox — and I hope I’ll be allowed to leave here alive — but I don’t think there is anyway we can cut spending enough to make a meaningful difference,” Stein told the three shocked co-hosts. “We going to have to raise taxes on very rich people, people with incomes of like say, 2, 3 million a year and up, and then slowly move it down.” “You do not think Washington just has a spending problem?” Steve Doocy wondered. “I do not think they just have a spending problem,” Stein explained. “I think they also have a too-low taxes problem. And while all due respect to Fox, whom I love like brothers and sisters, the taxes are too low.” The economist noted that even more revenue could have been brought in during President George W. Bush’s presidency if taxes had not been cut. “The evidence is that there is no connection between the level of taxation and the level of economic activity,” he pointed out. “The biggest growth we’ve ever had in this country was roughly 1941 to roughly 1973, that was the best years we ever had and those were years of much, much higher taxes than we have now, during war time and during peace time. So, the economy can grow very fast, even with much higher taxes. And we’re going to have to do something.” “Taxes were like 70, 80 percent!” Doocy exclaimed. “I know,” Stein agreed. “And yet, we were very prosperous, we were extremely prosperous. I mean, the highest rate was in the 90s during parts of the 50s and, yet, we were very prosperous.”[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/18/ben-stein-jokes-that-fox-news-might-kill-him-for-telling-them-taxes-are-too-low/[/url] video in source and yes, this is the same guy who played Ferris Bueller's teacher (Bueller...? Bueller...? Bueller?) and does the voice for the boring Pixie guy in Fairly Odd Parents

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zyjLyBp64[/media] [editline]19th October 2012[/editline] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-IVC0Dk_rQ[/media]

[QUOTE]The economist noted that even more revenue could have been brought in during President George W. Bush’s presidency if taxes had not been cut. [/QUOTE] ding ding ding

[QUOTE=The Baconator;38097768]ding ding ding[/QUOTE] Well duh, who would argue against that? Tax cuts are argued for on the basis of their ability to increase GDP, not government revenue. There are two solutions here, cut government spending or raise taxes. At this point tax hikes seem more viable so long as crowding out from further government spending doesn't become a concern.

Taxes are really low in the US.

I didn't know ben stein was an economist a befitting role for his monotone voice

[QUOTE=Kalibos;38098122]I didn't know ben stein was an economist a befitting role for his monotone voice[/QUOTE] You didn't think he was just that guy who ran around whacking squirrels with a giant inflatable hammer in an insurance commercial, did you?

[quote]“I think they also have a too-low taxes problem. And while all due respect to Fox, whom I love like brothers and sisters, the taxes are too low.”[/quote] why is Fox News still considered a news channel?

[QUOTE=thisispain;38098170]why is Fox News still considered a news channel?[/QUOTE] Its filed under entertainment.

Does anyone remember that game show he had for awhile?

Let's just start world war 3 for no reason. See what happened in the last 2 world wars? The economy was strengthened by manufacturing, and technology got a much needed kick in the pants. [QUOTE=OvB;38098185]Does anyone remember that game show he had for awhile?[/QUOTE] Win Ben Stein's Money? Shit, I used to watch that on Comedy Central when I was like... 6 or 7.

Pretty sensible words for a Conservative, though they're no less valid. In a time when people are suffering and dying, it's not right to not pay taxes and keep the wealth circulating. Also, in terms of budget cuts, I can think of one pretty major one that is almost impossible to budge; stop the fucking Crusade. Too much money is being allocated to the American military, and a fair few manufactured tanks are gathering dust as a big old money sink; if America scales back heavily on the insane amount of military spending, a good big of government money could be reallocated to better things.

Good thought there; too bad Ben Stein is a nutter when it comes to everything else. I leave you with the worst excuse for a documentary [B]ever[/B]: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expelled:_No_Intelligence_Allowed[/url]

[QUOTE=MaddaCheeb;38098149]You didn't think he was just that guy who ran around whacking squirrels with a giant inflatable hammer in an insurance commercial, did you?[/QUOTE] I mostly remember him from win ben stein's money and his miniscule role in Casper [editline]19th October 2012[/editline] also, the mask

How is he an economist? He's got a law degree.

[QUOTE=sp00ks;38098866]How is he an economist? He's got a law degree.[/QUOTE] People aren't necessarily locked into the disciplines they studied in school.

Yeah, but I don't think he's ever actually done anything that would really classify him as an economist.

[QUOTE=thisispain;38098170]why is Fox News still considered a news channel?[/QUOTE] It isn't, because if it was they would have quite a few lawsuits on their hands. That's why it's legally filed under "entertainment"

[QUOTE=rilez;38098274]Good thought there; too bad Ben Stein is a nutter when it comes to everything else. I leave you with the worst excuse for a documentary [B]ever[/B]: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expelled:_No_Intelligence_Allowed[/url][/QUOTE] Economist, lawyer, children's cartoon voice actor, nutty creationist. Truly a renaissance man.

omg ben stein said something smart for once?????

[QUOTE=Dr. Fishtastic;38100330]omg ben stein said something smart for once?????[/QUOTE] broken clock, etc.

[QUOTE=Strider*;38097869]Well duh, who would argue against that? Tax cuts are argued for on the basis of their ability to increase GDP, not government revenue. There are two solutions here, cut government spending or raise taxes. At this point tax hikes seem more viable so long as crowding out from further government spending doesn't become a concern.[/QUOTE] that better not be an exclusive or we really have to do both and people need to suck that up

[QUOTE=The Baconator;38097768]ding ding ding[/QUOTE] What do you want hector

CLEAR EEEEEYEEEES any time this man's face appears I say this

[QUOTE=En Ex;38099088]People aren't necessarily locked into the disciplines they studied in school.[/QUOTE] Well, right, but he has no education on the subject and has nothing published worth reading. He's an "economist" in the sense that we are all economists. [URL="http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Ben_Steinery"]"Ben Steinery" is a term for bullshit-made-up-about-econ.[/URL] [QUOTE=sp00ks;38098866]How is he an economist? He's got a law degree.[/QUOTE] He technically has a degree in economics. He also clearly shouldn't, because he's vehemently anti-science.

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;38101717]He's an "economist" in the sense that we are all economists.[/QUOTE] I'm an economist?

[QUOTE=Patriarch;38101746]I'm an economist?[/QUOTE] These days, any asshole with an opinion on economics is an economist. If you're an asshole and have an opinion on economics, then congratulations!

[QUOTE=The Baconator;38097768]ding ding ding[/QUOTE] Look at me, Hector.

can't take Ben Stein seriously after Expelled

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;38105658]can't take Ben Stein seriously after Expelled[/QUOTE] That movie was worse than Bill Mahrs Religulous, and that's a fucking accomplishment.