Comments on: Politics and Personal Financial Planning

By: Bobbie Munroe

Bobbie Munroe — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:32:04 +0000

Rick, I don’t always agree with you (and was frankly delighted to see that I’m not alone). But we MUST talk about politics. We MUST try to understand different points of few. And we MUST try to move forward on the many things that we (if not our Congressman and Senators) can agree on. Sticking our head in the sand is not an option. Just yesterday I wrote Rep Senator Lindsey Grahman of SC and thanked him for at least trying to move the conversation to the middle and declining to disagree with everything the “other side” says…something I require from BOTH sides. So bring on the discussion and with respect and caring perhaps we can learn how best to move forward.

By: Margie Zugich

Margie Zugich — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:59:16 +0000

Thank you, Richard T. for your very reasonable comments. “Freedom” is in the eye of the beholder. I would like to be free from fear of corporate and Wall Street greed without having to divest from participating in the capitalist system. If that means more government intervention, bring it on!

By: richard trachtman

richard trachtman — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:03:53 +0000

Rick,
Where did you get that wonderful cartoon? Is it in the public domain? Do you have any others – maybe one of a sad man with his pockets inside out to show they are empty?

With regard to your article, I’m afraid that I have a very different view than you, or those who replied before me. Of course money is related to politics but I think it is the values behind some of your ideas that offend some of your readers. I have heard a lot of talk about class warfare and it seems that you and some others are squarely on one side, when a more balanced, thoughtful (and I think saner) approach by both sides would be somewhere in the middle.

Redistribution of wealth does not invariably result in loss of freedom as a cost of greater benefits.Government regulation does not necessarily result in less freedom. Our financial meltdown was, in part, the result of failure to regulate, and the result of this failure was – and will continue to be – a lot less financial freedom for may of us.

And it is not a case of capitalism vs. socialism. When I was in graduate school I received government support to be able to afford tuition and books. That was socialist, but it gave me the freedom to pursue my studies and also benefited society by enabling me to provide mental health services to thousands of individuals – some rich and some poor – sometimes in public clinics and sometimes in private practice. If I now have a high income should I, having been helped out in the past, not be willing to contribute a bit more now that our nation needs the tax revenue?

My Social Security may be socialist, but it increases my ability to live more freely in old age without detracting much from others. At the same time my capitalist investments in the stock and bond markets help me live better than I could do on Social Security alone, for which I am grateful. Both sources of my income increase my purchasing power and, therefore, probably help to stimulate some entrepreneurship. The issues are not black or white or red or blue.

When governments tax and spend money the intention, at least theoretically, is to support the common good. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it does not. If some of us who can afford to pay a bit more in taxes are called on to do that, we should at least think discriminately about what the taxes are to be used for, and whether the use will benefit our nation and improve all of our abilities to enjoy our freedoms as a result.

By: Scott Sime

Scott Sime — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:45:44 +0000

Dittos! We are in the midst of a “Political Awakening” (may be an idea for a new Book or Web site) in this country. Entitlement mentality and ignorance of history may lead us further down the path to Socialism. I have no desire to emulate Socialist governments because I have no desire to live in a second rate country! It defies logic that anyone might want to destroy the very system that created the strongest military to defend freedom, the highest standard of living, and unrivaled opportunity in a short 236+ years. Don’t stop educating us!

By: Mike Haubrich

Mike Haubrich — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:01:15 +0000

Great article. I could not have said it better.

By: Ron W

Ron W — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:25:53 +0000

Well said. We must not lose sight of the underpinnings of what affects our finances and the decisions we need to make given the current circumstances. Thank you for being brave enough to say so.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:18:28 +0000

Your thoughts/writings mirror what I just read in Sarah Palin’s book. Some good ideas – can we actually go back to being self-sufficient and responsible? I wonder.