Is it even worth it?

[Kirk Moon]

How about 50% for everybody? (no deductions and no capital gains exemptions related to a business)
That way the "rich" will pay way more than anyone else and shelter nothing, the deficit will be solved immediately, and we can test that theory about tax rates and incentives on the entire working population. at least 48% of the population will of course be surprised to have a tax bill.

For the life of me, I've never understood how a progressive tax rate is fair, yet it not only is accepted, many want to raise the percentage of taxes those in brackets above them pay.

A flat rate income tax is actually VERY regressive.  This is the reason that no countries employ it.

A progressive tax rate is "fair" because the utility of an incremental dollar of income is not constant across incomes.  

Low income earners are struggling to meet the basic needs of life:  rent, food, utilities, transportation.  Every incremental dollar is extremely valuable to them and each additional earned dollar has a substantial impact on their basic quality of life.  

High income earners have the basics covered.  An incremental dollar to them is used for different purposes: savings, investments, "luxury" items.  These also have an impact on their quality of life, but I think most of us would agree that the impact is less than the same dollar in a low income household.  

Very high income earners (the 1% and up) are in a completely different universe.  Virtually every incremental dollar they earn is devoted to "optional" use:  increasing an already large net worth, buying more expensive luxury items (homes, cars, clothing, jewelry, private schooling, etc.), philanthropy, and the like.

Most tax experts agree that a progressive tax rate is both reasonable and fair and that a flat tax rate is intrinsically unfair to lower income earners.  Many high income earners agree, myself included.  

The main question to be answered is not whether to have a progressive tax rate or not, but HOW progressive.  This is a more or less subjective choice that we must make as a society.  How we as individuals make that choice depends to a large degree on our world view.  Those who feel that income is an accurate reflection of individual character and value seem to favor tax rates that are flat and minimal.  Those who feel that income is not rationally distributed (e.g. a trader at Goldman might make several $M/annum or a hedge fund manager might make $2B in a year using other people's money while a teacher or a nurse or a policeman might make $50K while working hard and providing a service that some might feel is of greater value to society) tend to favor an income tax that is more strongly progressive and that taxes away most income over an arbitrary upper value that most people might agree is FAR in excess of any legitimate need.  Where that limit is set is purely arbitrary and is a reflection on the values of the society as a whole.  

Your comment about the "48%" that "don't pay taxes" is also a reflection of an incomplete understanding of the existing tax structure.  What you mean to say is that 48% don't pay INCOME TAX.  Virtually everyone who is employed pays taxes.  Payroll taxes (Medicare, Social Security, SDI, etc.) sum to a total approximately equal to the total sum of income tax.  Everyone with a job who is not violating the law pays payroll taxes.  Do you have any idea of the income level of those who are not currently paying income taxes in the US?  76% of them are making less than $25K per year.  Are these people "freeloaders"?  I, personally, would not want to try to exist on $25K per year.  I doubt that you would either.  Ironically, 20,000 tax filers making over $200K per year and 1470 filers making over $1M a year paid no federal income tax in 2009.  If anyone is a "freeloader", I think these people might qualify.

We are in a tough situation in the US right now.  Rational thought must prevail.  Fairness is extremely important.  The well off in this country cannot afford to ignore the plight of the failing middle class and poor if they have any interest in maintaining their position in the future.  "Let them eat cake" is a bad long term strategy.

[Mark_F]

Then can you tell us how the money from offshore operations directs even more money to those at the top of American Society who reside within the United States ?  

That's a rather embarrassing post from you, Patrick.  I should have thought it was fairly obvious.

You're living in a dream world.  There is NO low tax rate on earned income.
Especially in states like NJ, NY, CT and others.

That's strange.  I could have sworn you postulate that high taxes discourage business and enterprise, and yet here you are living in a high tax jurisdiction.  Why haven't you decamped for a lower taxing state?  Why is so much business in the USA headquartered on the high-taxing East coast?

[Mike_Young]

This thread has made it clear to me which posters keep score when they play golf and which don't.

[Sam Morrow]

This thread has made it clear to me which posters keep score when they play golf and which don't.

Mike I'm poor and working class, if you charge me at Long Shadow you have no heart.

[Will Lozier]

By the way, if revenue isn't properly spent at private golf clubs, the haven of wealthy investment bankers, how is the government any worse?

"The haven of Weatlhy Investment Bankers" ?  
What dream world do you live in ?
Do you really believe that private golf clubs are populated with "wealthy investment bankers"  ?
Did you ever consider that they're populated by doctors, lawyers, dentists, small business owners, executives, and local merchants ?
 




So ALL of these well off folks can't efficiently allot the revenue of the clubs to which they belong?  It's not JUST the investment bankers to blame?...they are all poor with money?

[Mike_Young]

This thread has made it clear to me which posters keep score when they play golf and which don't.

Mike I'm poor and working class, if you charge me at Long Shadow you have no heart.

You are a contemptible human being..shame on you Sam....don't you understand that life is not fair....I mean if all the little tigers and lions running around out in the nature scene were the same then there would be no little tigers and lions because some really bad ass shit bird would have come along and eaten them all...if I can't TRY to be the baddest tiger or little lion then I want to be the shit bird....
I listen to all of this left wing stuff and then I go and work in countries like Nicaragua where all the little dictators are saving the people and having the American movie stars praise them.  Yet a guy like Daniel Ortega who was the leader of the poor Sandinistas is now in love with capitalism and is buying and investing right and left...I say good for him...

[Kirk Moon]

Are you obtuse ?
What's low about a 65 % tax rate on earned income ?
You're living in a dream world.  There is NO low tax rate on earned income.
Especially in states like NJ, NY, CT and others.

Investment income should have a lower rate, especially when you consider that taxes have already been paid on that money.

I'm confused.  Where in the US is there a 65% tax on earned income?   The highest marginal federal tax rate at the present time is 35% and that rate only applies to earned income over ~$380K.  The effective federal tax rate is significantly lower than 35% (depending upon one's total taxable income.)  

Why on earth should investment income be excluded from taxation?  The notion that the money invested has "already been taxed" is ridiculous.  The taxation of investment income ONLY APPLIES to the income earned from the invested money.  The invested money itself is NOT TAXED.  Are you of the opinion that NEW income should not be taxed?  One could make a reasonable argument that investment income should be taxed at a HIGHER rate than earned income since there is arguably less "sweat equity" involved and since a loss of risk capital is deductible.

The notion that capital would flee to the far corners of the earth if capital gains were taxed at the same rate as earned income is ridiculously self serving.  If there is money to be made and the ROI is attractive, capital will be there regardless of the tax rate. Threatening to "take the money elsewhere" if the tax rates are altered is a hollow threat.  You know this as well as I do.  Capitalism isn't sentimental.  

[Sam Morrow]

This thread has made it clear to me which posters keep score when they play golf and which don't.

Mike I'm poor and working class, if you charge me at Long Shadow you have no heart.

You are a contemptible human being..shame on you Sam....don't you understand that life is not fair....I mean if all the little tigers and lions running around out in the nature scene were the same then there would be no little tigers and lions because some really bad ass shit bird would have come along and eaten them all...if I can't TRY to be the baddest tiger or little lion then I want to be the shit bird....
I listen to all of this left wing stuff and then I go and work in countries like Nicaragua where all the little dictators are saving the people and having the American movie stars praise them.  Yet a guy like Daniel Ortega who was the leader of the poor Sandinistas is now in love with capitalism and is buying and investing right and left...I say good for him...

No wonder you weren't considered for The Olympic course.

[Mike_Young]

Why on earth should investment income be excluded from taxation?  The notion that the money invested has "already been taxed" is ridiculous.  The taxation of investment income ONLY APPLIES to the income earned from the invested money.  The invested money itself is NOT TAXED.  Are you of the opinion that NEW income should not be taxed?  One could make a reasonable argument that investment income should be taxed at a HIGHER rate than earned income since there is arguably less "sweat equity" involved and since a loss of risk capital is deductible.

Moondog,
Do you not pay taxes on the money you invest?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Then can you tell us how the money from offshore operations directs even more money to those at the top of American Society who reside within the United States ?  

That's a rather embarrassing post from you, Patrick.  I should have thought it was fairly obvious.

It's not, so enlighten us

You're living in a dream world.  There is NO low tax rate on earned income.
Especially in states like NJ, NY, CT and others.

That's strange.  I could have sworn you postulate that high taxes discourage business and enterprise, and yet here you are living in a high tax jurisdiction. 

Then you swore incorrectly, I postulated that "higher" taxes would discourage business.

Why haven't you decamped for a lower taxing state? 

When my youngest goes to college in four years, I'll become a FL resident.
If I didn't have a child in school I would have left NJ long ago.

Why is so much business in the USA headquartered on the high-taxing East coast?

Because they started in those locations when tax rates weren't onerous.
Businesses have been and continue to flee NY, NJ and CT.
And, residents of those states are also fleeing in significant numbers.

The same dynamic occurred in California, the outflow of business and citizens is pronounced.

And worse, businesses are not gravitating to these states as start ups.

If you knew what you're talking about you'd understand the dire straits that NJ, NY and other states are in because of their reckless spending.

Why should I pay additional dollars to pay for the reckless actions of others

[Mike_Young]

This thread has made it clear to me which posters keep score when they play golf and which don't.

Mike I'm poor and working class, if you charge me at Long Shadow you have no heart.

You are a contemptible human being..shame on you Sam....don't you understand that life is not fair....I mean if all the little tigers and lions running around out in the nature scene were the same then there would be no little tigers and lions because some really bad ass shit bird would have come along and eaten them all...if I can't TRY to be the baddest tiger or little lion then I want to be the shit bird....
I listen to all of this left wing stuff and then I go and work in countries like Nicaragua where all the little dictators are saving the people and having the American movie stars praise them.  Yet a guy like Daniel Ortega who was the leader of the poor Sandinistas is now in love with capitalism and is buying and investing right and left...I say good for him...

No wonder you weren't considered for The Olympic course.

Now you've really hurt my feelings.  I worked down there in the 80's....I don't think I would want to do it again....

[jeffwarne]

How about 50% for everybody? (no deductions and no capital gains exemptions related to a business)
That way the "rich" will pay way more than anyone else and shelter nothing, the deficit will be solved immediately, and we can test that theory about tax rates and incentives on the entire working population. at least 48% of the population will of course be surprised to have a tax bill.

For the life of me, I've never understood how a progressive tax rate is fair, yet it not only is accepted, many want to raise the percentage of taxes those in brackets above them pay.

A flat rate income tax is actually VERY regressive.  This is the reason that no countries employ it.

A progressive tax rate is "fair" because the utility of an incremental dollar of income is not constant across incomes.  

Low income earners are struggling to meet the basic needs of life:  rent, food, utilities, transportation.  Every incremental dollar is extremely valuable to them and each additional earned dollar has a substantial impact on their basic quality of life.  

High income earners have the basics covered.  An incremental dollar to them is used for different purposes: savings, investments, "luxury" items.  These also have an impact on their quality of life, but I think most of us would agree that the impact is less than the same dollar in a low income household.  

Very high income earners (the 1% and up) are in a completely different universe.  Virtually every incremental dollar they earn is devoted to "optional" use:  increasing an already large net worth, buying more expensive luxury items (homes, cars, clothing, jewelry, private schooling, etc.), philanthropy, and the like.

Most tax experts agree that a progressive tax rate is both reasonable and fair and that a flat tax rate is intrinsically unfair to lower income earners.  Many high income earners agree, myself included.  

The main question to be answered is not whether to have a progressive tax rate or not, but HOW progressive.  This is a more or less subjective choice that we must make as a society.  How we as individuals make that choice depends to a large degree on our world view.  Those who feel that income is an accurate reflection of individual character and value seem to favor tax rates that are flat and minimal.  Those who feel that income is not rationally distributed (e.g. a trader at Goldman might make several $M/annum or a hedge fund manager might make $2B in a year using other people's money while a teacher or a nurse or a policeman might make $50K while working hard and providing a service that some might feel is of greater value to society) tend to favor an income tax that is more strongly progressive and that taxes away most income over an arbitrary upper value that most people might agree is FAR in excess of any legitimate need.  Where that limit is set is purely arbitrary and is a reflection on the values of the society as a whole.  

Your comment about the "48%" that "don't pay taxes" is also a reflection of an incomplete understanding of the existing tax structure.  What you mean to say is that 48% don't pay INCOME TAX.  Virtually everyone who is employed pays taxes.  Payroll taxes (Medicare, Social Security, SDI, etc.) sum to a total approximately equal to the total sum of income tax.  Everyone with a job who is not violating the law pays payroll taxes.  Do you have any idea of the income level of those who are not currently paying income taxes in the US?  76% of them are making less than $25K per year.  Are these people "freeloaders"?  I, personally, would not want to try to exist on $25K per year.  I doubt that you would either.  Ironically, 20,000 tax filers making over $200K per year and 1470 filers making over $1M a year paid no federal income tax in 2009.  If anyone is a "freeloader", I think these people might qualify.

We are in a tough situation in the US right now.  Rational thought must prevail.  Fairness is extremely important.  The well off in this country cannot afford to ignore the plight of the failing middle class and poor if they have any interest in maintaining their position in the future.  "Let them eat cake" is a bad long term strategy.

Kirk,
Thank you for the thoughtful and informative response.
To be clear, I called no one a "freeloader"

The definition of rich is a VERY relative term(which does not index for cost of living in expensive areas), and perhaps the word "fairness" by our leaders when speaking about raising OTHER people's taxes is what I object to.
I understand that it may need to happen as revenues can only be collected from those able to pay them, and as you point out,a better sytem of eliminating loopholes needs to be employed.

Once upon a time in America people were INspired to become successful and admired those who already were(even as they themselves were struggling), lately it seems like the word is CONspire.

[Sam Morrow]

This thread has made it clear to me which posters keep score when they play golf and which don't.

Mike I'm poor and working class, if you charge me at Long Shadow you have no heart.

You are a contemptible human being..shame on you Sam....don't you understand that life is not fair....I mean if all the little tigers and lions running around out in the nature scene were the same then there would be no little tigers and lions because some really bad ass shit bird would have come along and eaten them all...if I can't TRY to be the baddest tiger or little lion then I want to be the shit bird....
I listen to all of this left wing stuff and then I go and work in countries like Nicaragua where all the little dictators are saving the people and having the American movie stars praise them.  Yet a guy like Daniel Ortega who was the leader of the poor Sandinistas is now in love with capitalism and is buying and investing right and left...I say good for him...

No wonder you weren't considered for The Olympic course.

Now you've really hurt my feelings.  I worked down there in the 80's....I don't think I would want to do it again....

Life ain't fair.

[Kirk Moon]

Moondog,
Do you not pay taxes on the money you invest?

Of couse.  And I'm not bitching about it either.  

I'm saying that investment income should DEFINITELY be taxed and probably should not be given favorable treatment compared to earned income.  

I hate to admit it but I actually feel a twinge of guilt when I make more money in a day from my investments than I do from my day job.

Call me crazy.  : )

[Dan_Callahan]

What you and many others don't understand is the following statement.

INVESTMENT IS NOT WITHOUT RISK.

If you don't reward that risk taking,,,,, no one will risk their capital.

Patrick,

I used to believe this.

But then a few years ago the rules were changed without warning. Absolute risk in the form of economic Darwinism was suddenly removed from the equation when the federal government started propping up corporate America.

Banks that took "risks" on crazy loans should have failed, but they didn't. In fact, many of them (most notably Goldman Sachs) emerged from the rubble of the US economy stronger than ever, despite the fact that in many cases, they were the cause of the devastation. The number of companies that took "risks" and lost but were then bailed out is sickening (see http://projects.propublica.org/bailout/list).

Risk is no longer what it once was. It's risk with a safety net. And somebody has to pay for that safety net. It may as well be those who have benefited by having their risk reduced.

[Mike_Young]

Moondog,
Do you not pay taxes on the money you invest?

I hate to admit it but I actually feel a twinge of guilt when I make more money in a day from my investments than I do from my day job.

Call me crazy.  : )

That's a bad trait to have....do like I do and give it to the local food bank...99% of every dollar you give them will go to the end user....you'll feel better and you get a write-off...for me it allows me to keep being a jerk and feel ok about it...

[Kirk Moon]

Kirk,
Thank you for the thoughtful and informative response.
To be clear, I called no one a "freeloader"

The definition of rich is a VERY relative term(which does not index for cost of living in expensive areas), and perhaps the word "fairness" by our leaders when speaking about raising OTHER people's taxes is what I object to.
I understand that it may need to happen as revenues can only be collected from those able to pay them, and as you point out,a better sytem of eliminating loopholes needs to be employed.

Once upon a time in America people were INspired to become successful and admired those who already were(even as they themselves were struggling), lately it seems like the word is CONspire.

My sense of things is that one of the biggest problems facing the US today is that there is no sense of "us".  I think people who feel a connection to their peers are usually willing to share and to sacrifice if need be for the common good.  Unfortunately, the US has evolved into a collection of small interest groups who don't feel much kinship with each other.  As a result, those who are successful feel less inclined to contribute to the overall welfare of the larger group, leading to a kind of balkanization of the country and a tendency for people (particularly those who have been more successful than others) to withdraw and look out for their own interests. 

I would love it if we could come together and find common purpose.  I think the US has an amazing amount of talent and energy and astounding resources at its disposal.  But I fear that tribalism is going to bring us all down despite our strengths. 

[Mike_Young]

 As a result, those who are successful feel less inclined to contribute to the overall welfare of the larger group, leading to a kind of balkanization of the country and a tendency for people (particularly those who have been more successful than others) to withdraw and look out for their own interests. 

I don't see that at all.  In my community the ones that do all the bitching rarely give like the more successful....and yet it makes them dislike the successful even more....everything in this thread comes down to whether you believe in Socialism or Capitalism....one will have to lose....

[jeffwarne]

Kirk,
Thank you for the thoughtful and informative response.
To be clear, I called no one a "freeloader"

The definition of rich is a VERY relative term(which does not index for cost of living in expensive areas), and perhaps the word "fairness" by our leaders when speaking about raising OTHER people's taxes is what I object to.
I understand that it may need to happen as revenues can only be collected from those able to pay them, and as you point out,a better sytem of eliminating loopholes needs to be employed.

Once upon a time in America people were INspired to become successful and admired those who already were(even as they themselves were struggling), lately it seems like the word is CONspire.

My sense of things is that one of the biggest problems facing the US today is that there is no sense of "us".  I think people who feel a connection to their peers are usually willing to share and to sacrifice if need be for the common good.  Unfortunately, the US has evolved into a collection of small interest groups who don't feel much kinship with each other.  As a result, those who are successful feel less inclined to contribute to the overall welfare of the larger group, leading to a kind of balkanization of the country and a tendency for people (particularly those who have been more successful than others) to withdraw and look out for their own interests. 

I would love it if we could come together and find common purpose.  I think the US has an amazing amount of talent and energy and astounding resources at its disposal.  But I fear that tribalism is going to bring us all down despite our strengths. 

We'll have a better chance at coming together when we elect a leader who doesn't vocally pit one class against each other and addresses us all as Americans, not as exploiters and victims.
I'm not sure I see one coming in the next cycle either,but I'm ready for some hope and change.
Many of the class he targets want to be part of the solution ,but don't respond well to the negative tone and politics as usual.

[Kirk Moon]

That's a bad trait to have....do like I do and give it to the local food bank...99% of every dollar you give them will go to the end user....you'll feel better and you get a write-off...for me it allows me to keep being a jerk and feel ok about it...

No shit. : )  I do something equivalent.  (Although I try to keep the jerk stuff to a minimum.)

Being generous and "fair" is basically the insurance that the fortunate should (but don't always) take out in order to have a clean conscience.  I think this is the basic philosophy underlying the existence of the "limousine liberal".  I'm all for it.  Providing safety nets.  Making sure that the middle class is alive and well.  Not trying to maximize my own well being at the expense of others.  To a certain extent, it's all self serving.  But it makes it easier to sleep at night.

[Kirk Moon]

I don't see that at all.  In my community the ones that do all the bitching rarely give like the more successful....and yet it makes them dislike the successful even more....everything in this thread comes down to whether you believe in Socialism or Capitalism....one will have to lose....

It isn't either/or you know.  How about "enlightened capitalism" or "capitalism with a heart"?   

I think most of us here believe that the capitalist system is capable of generating "the most good for the most people", but in its pure and unfettered state is can be incredibly brutal and heartless and even grossly unfair.  Marxism didn't evolve out of a vacuum. 

Intelligently regulated capitalism that strives for a reasonable balance between reward for success and protection for those who are less successful strikes me as the system that has the best chance for creating a highly functional society.  The devil is in the details. 

[V. Kmetz]

Randy T,

Thank you so very much Randy.  I've received about a dozen IM from others regarding "There's a Hole in Every Fence" and your post was only matched by my 90 minute conversation with TEP, who feels similarly as you and the other well-wishers do.  Now that I'm done with my Graduate thesis (a poetry collection almost 200 million light years away from Golf about an entirely different topic) I can't wait to return
to and edit, expand and adorn "TaHiEF" with four more short memoir essays, a section of poetry (about golf this time), a few instructionals about the trade of Caddying, and a section about architecture.  My favorite Golf book of all-time is Herbert Warren Wind's "The Complete Golfer" and the work you have seen was the beginning of making my own self-styled compendium of that ilk.  You're dead-on right about my LOVE for caddying and being around Golf; I told TEP (as I've told anyone around me for years and years) that if I had a great fortune bestowed upon me, there is absolutely no doubt that I would still caddie on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the occasional mid-week Member-Guest and the odd Met tournament here or there...until my legs or back or heart gave out.  Your message reminds me to share a follow up on the subject of the third story, "Bantam Buddy of the Golden Loop," Raymond "Buddy" Sertner.  As I left Brae Burn for Siwanoy for 5 years and then got the caddiemasters job in CT, where I worked for 12 years, and then returned to school (undergrad for two years) I hadn't seen or heard from Buddy (and he from me) in almost 20 years.  Old bugger started a NEw business on Long Island at age 86...his grandson's best friend happened to Google him and that story came up...at first they were incredulous and thought "It can't be" - who wrote a story about your grandfather...it's so out of the blue...but then Buddy saw it and tracked me down (took him months as he had no context). Well, he finally did in January 09 and we met at the Rye Ridge Deli for coffee; he just broke down and cried when I walked in the coffee shop as did I.  We had the best re-union I think I could ever inagine. I've only been able to visit him once since then, but he is owed at visit and your post reminds me of how delighted I was to do that, even if would never see the ligth of day.  comments liek yours and the other messagers and TEP inspire me with confidence that even though I may not have two nickels to rub together EVER, I still can give people a good day and fill up the quickly passing air with something that will be valuable.  Thank you again so much!

Mac...I'll give you the answer to the 65m Question tomorrow night, I have been at school for 16 hours right now and must go home

Jeff K  My lawyer friend has a funny notation about the flat tax, when people tell him it's "fair for both you and for me"  He says, OK, how about 100%?  That way it';s fair for you and me too.  Humor almost aside, I think a 99% flat tax would really reveal who has got what and what the cards are really like.

Don Mahaffey: ownED Apple, not own.  The only Apple I own now is the granny smiths that the chairman of the dept left here in the writing lab.

cheers

vk

[Mark Ringsmuth]

I am truly disheartened by this thread. There seems to be no end to the ugliness in public discourse.  We can no longer discuss important civic issues (e.g., income inequality, social injustice, etc.) without adopting intractible positions and ascribing the worst characteristics to the other side.  When the tone deteriorates quickly, as it so often does, there is a need by some to "double down" on the insanity to prove how serious they are.

As I read through the comments, I wondered how this site would be altered by the vitriol. How can people have friendly conversations about gca when they have spewed so much venom?  More importantly, how does America not only survive, but thrive given the mindset of so many of us? 

A start may be to follow the example of Mr. Paul, whom I have never met.  He seems to understand that whole turn the other cheek thing.

[Kirk Moon]

We'll have a better chance at coming together when we elect a leader who doesn't vocally pit one class against each other and addresses us all as Americans, not as exploiters and victims.
I'm not sure I see one coming in the next cycle either,but I'm ready for some hope and change.
Many of the class he targets want to be part of the solution ,but don't respond well to the negative tone and politics as usual.

I think what you say is basically true.  It would be good if we could find a leader who could straddle the chasm that now exists between conservatives and "liberals" (I am of the opinion that the number of "liberals" in the US is quite small and that most people labeled as "liberals" by conservatives are actually centrists by historical and international standards.) 

But I think our political system has been poisoned by a complex array of factors.

The political system has been profoundly compromised by the influence of money.  The Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court will almost certainly be recorded in history as one of the worst decisions since Dred Scott.  But that decision is just a small part of a much larger problem.

Our population is not very well educated nor well informed about things important to maintaining a democracy.  A democracy doesn't work with an uniformed electorate.  They are too easily manipulated by cynical forces that prey upon their ignorance and fears. The founding fathers were worried about this when they drafted the Constitution.  I think they would be disappointed with what we have become.

Our society has fragmented into many special interest groups and there is a diminished sense of community and shared purpose in the US at the present time.  Fragmented societies do not work particularly well.  Human nature is VERY strongly tribal.  If we do not see our country as "one tribe" we don't really have a country.  I think we may have reached that point.  If so, our future is clouded.

Much of our population has developed a discouraging degree of cynicism and distrust of previously accepted institutions:  government, the legal system, science, economics, medicine, academics, the creative arts.  People with little or no knowledge now feel free to casually reject the opinions of highly regarded members of these institutions with hardly a second thought.  Questioning authority is a good thing.  But one must be reasonably well informed to do so in a legitimate manner.  Much rejection of authority these days comes from people who are manifestly unqualified to be doing so. 

We no longer share a common "fact base".  People with political agendas that are not supported by previously accepted sources of unbiased information have created new "information sources" that generate "facts" that support their belief structures.  As a result, we are no longer arguing over policy choices based on a common set of "facts".  We don't even agree on what the facts are.  This is an untenable situation.  You can't argue policy if you don't agree on the basic underlying facts of the situation.

Etc. Etc. Etc. 

Sorry to be so down about all of this, but I feel as though I am watching the US (and to a certain extent, the rest of the world) descend into a new Dark Ages where superstition and emotion rule over logic and common sense. 

I don't know if any leader is capable of bridging the gap.  I happen to think that Obama is a reasonable and well intentioned but rather inexperienced leader who has not lived up to his promise.  But I think he is as honest a politician can be these days.  I think Romney is a rather sad example of an individual who is willing to sell his soul in order to attain his desired prize: the Presidency.  I don't like people who are willing to compromise their integrity for personal gain.  So I, too, would love to see a transcendant politician who could bridge the gap and bring us together.  I am not sure if one exists.  

I look at the situation in the US today and have come to the conclusion that the system is "not fair".  The successful are rewarded to a greater degree than I believe is necessary to create sufficient incentive for them to strive for success (and I am probably one of them, although not at the highest level.)  The average are struggling.  The poor are not well cared for despite our great wealth.  I think we need to make some significant adjustments to our system if all of us are to have a successful future. 

[V. Kmetz]

Mac,

I went and did it for like the 1000th time in my life, I overworked stuff at/for school right into insomnia.

Ok, so I've got 65 million after the ferryman, right?

First of all, I want to dispense with 95% of this real quick, before the year is out (practically).  I want to get back to normal anonymity as soon as possible and also some of the specific people I need to address don't have a great deal of time left, so there's another point of urgency

1.  I know that anything I want to do is going to require an attorney and an accountant; thank god I know trustworthy people, good people who I grew up with - so I'd put each of them on 2.5 million retainers (x2) = 5 million

down to 60M

2.  I'd pay off mine and my significant other's school debts, fix up this blighted broken down house, and upgrade my S.Other's car from a 1993 Volvo to something in this century.  Even with some other stabilizing factors I can't tabulate now, this all won't come to more than $150-$200K

down to 59.8M

3.  Let's get cooking...My single greatest fantasy for a good fortune of wealth is to play Santa Claus/Don Corelone to the numerous people in my life.  I literally can think of 350 names...men and women, children and adults, caddies and comrades for whom some ble$$ing would be the great alleviation for their lives.  I'd have a party at the public park, a BBQ and clambake-type thing, a few miles from my house and after the day went by and everyone was full and toasty from feasting, I'd go to all the tables with a trusted assistant (because I would be drunk) and ask "Whaddya need?" 8K, 12K, 15K, 20K, 40K?  If it's a debt(s), tell me who to pay and I'll pay it - even a bookie, because I know those people -- but if it's just an insurance treasury to ward off uncertain times, you got it--up to 20K. Many of my friends are comfortable and will be happy to have the party alone - they still get a door prize of $2500.  Because I would probably expand and expand that list of 350, I'm going to say there will be at least 600 people on it by the date...figuring an average gift of $20K (I have no way of knowing) we're talking $12.8 million, so ...

47 million

4.  I'll need to have a second "winter" party to accomodate those who I forgot or experience trouble in the interim (or those coming back for seconds), so figure another 200 people @ 20K apiece = $4M, so...

43 million left.

5.  I'll probably forget something, let's get rid of $3 million more, so...

40 million left

6.  There are a ton of people in the university community, professors and administrators who could stand support either for their own study, program enrichment, supplies, and the like.  Plus all undergrad writing majors - as of this date-- and my fellow MFAers could stand to have all or a portion of their debt wiped clean.  Between them (about 125 students total) and the needs for the MFA program and professors we're talking about 8 million dollars. As I would like to fund two, male and female, sophomore year scholarships from now until 20 years after my death for Writing students specializing in Poetry -- there goes another 2M, 10M total for the school so

30 million left...

7.  I haven;t gotten any smarter since I had 43 million and I'll probably be a sucker for individual causes and injustices I see along the way, but figure another 2 million evaporated somewhere, so...

28 million left...

8.  I myself, upon re-entering school got a Westchester Golf Assoc Caddie Scholarship to finish undergraduate studies (5K), so I want to reward them for the good they have done with that program for 60 years, so 1.5 M for them, and 1 million to the Evans Scholarship which is the other most reputable one I know.  Brian Mahoney is the new Tournament Director of the MGA, replacing the amazing Gene Westmoreland a few years ago.  One of the many ways Brian cut his teeth to earn that position (one of the most important in the Met) was to minister the Caddie Academies that are run every spring at four or five sites in the Met area (I used to be an instructor in the first few years of the program until my tenure as a caddiemaster was over and April became a busy school month for me.  Brian will get $500K from me to continue that good work. I'd actually like to run that program, but BM is too good and I'd f' it up.

25M left.

9. My only sibling, an older brother Mark, was born with profound mental retardation due to birth defect of cerebral palsy.  He is deaf, dumb, blind and has severe scoleosis atrophy.  I have seen him less than 100x in my 44 year old life. He has lived in a Staten Island Hospital all his life (he was once a client of the infamous Willowbrook facility, that was exposed for monstrous torture in the early 70s by a young Geraldo Rivera) As my mother is entering her 70s, and has lived in FL for 23 years and is a widower, she naturally wants to be close to this child, who has been a private sadness and an inspirational mercy to her for 50 years.  If it could be done in safety and with appropriate transport, I'd like to get him down to her in a medical facility close to her home in Daytona.  If it couldn't be done then, I would certainly see to her ease and frequency of travel and lodging so she could visit NY more frequently. It goes without saying that this effort could burn the rest of the treasury and I wouldn't care, but it wouldn't.  It would probably take no more than $3 million to do until her days were over and I was his sole family member/representative.

22 Million left.

10.  It should also go without saying that my small remaining family on both sides can shoot the moon with me.  But they wouldn't; they probably want to go on a family cruise for like $699 a person (my mother would still haggle with Carnival even though her son has millions) Assuming soem relatives would come out of the woodwork in said process, I'm going to call it a million on the nose and so...

21 million left.

11. Despite my intentions and trying to exercise forethought, I'm still an ass with too much money on my hands so deduct another 1M and we've got...

20 million left.

12. Probably my most valuable material possession is my wealth of Golf books.  I have always wanted to have a real Golf library, not one like the USGA mind you, but one at least in excess of any top-notch club I've ever worked, visited or read about.  Danbury CT is example one of what happens to a classic NE town when you add a Super Mall and a Highway Exit Boxstores...now the downtown area is a husk of what it was when I was a child.  Well, even 200 million is not going to fix that, but I would like to start the process by having a first rate Golf library seeded by my own collection in one of the many vacant, but architecturally interesting buildings remaining on Main Street.  I think I've got to buy one of the buildings to do it, as there is a handful of scumbag (yes, scumbag) property owners who refuse to work things out with the city to sell buildings and parcels at prices the city can offer (one of them is going to jail for 2nd degree man-slaughter for beating to death an evicted undocumented tenant) and so let downtown rot at a deductible business loss while they prosper in other commercial districts in the area.  I could never pay rent to such men and endorse this indolent and depressing behavior.  But I would place the library there.  Maybe nobody would come and the thing would crash after a few years, but I feel I would want to try to make one anachronistic "attraction" to downtown in excess of anything it has right now...I think I could see throwing $5 million after this quixotic dream, building, books and materials, staff and maintenance.  Perhaps other people would follow my lead, perhaps not but if it all washed, I'd donate the books to some worthy institution and call it a day.

15 million left.

13.  Foolishness... Mac and a few other know my single favorite place to play Golf is a scrubby nine hole course in Brookfield CT called "Sunset Hill Golf Club."  It is 2425 yards long and goes over goat hills and valley flats over what I think is 37 acres.  My first true "rounds" were played there in 1981. Sunset, once called Brookfield Golf Course, was actually "developed" by Gene Sarazen in the "Country Squire" period of his life in the late 30s/early 40s.  Back then, Brookfield was like Nome, Alaska to anybody south of White Plains, NY and Sarazen owned a dairy farm on Whisconier Hill Road - about 3/4s of a mile south of the Sunset property.  Walking north through the woods one day he came upon this rolling tract, still owned by the Urkiel family, and noticed that the farmer/owner had laid out some rudimentary holes with sticks - I mean we're talking St. Andrews circa 1750 stuff -- Sarazen got friendly with the man, improved the land further, and made a slightly better Golf use of the property. Up until after WW II I think, Sarazen and a few locals used to whack it around (like a practice course) over the Ol' Course (that's what me and my HS friends call it) until he no longer visited and gave up the Whisconier farm.  Urkiel improved it some over the years, through the 1960s and since then it has been almost the same.  The Urkiel's have never sold it and instead have leased it to various proprietor/green keepers throughout the last 40 years. It's impossible, ugly, scuffy, with dime-sized crazy slope greens and most serious golfers would puke, and it's a ghost town. You can play the nine in nearly 45 minutes as a two.  When I was a kid and Juniors were $2.50 (unlimited play) I once played 60 holes in a day.  Well anyways I would like to purchase it outright from the Urkiels (they are dying off I understand) and let the current operator stay.  He's a guy named Gary from Torrington and he and his daughter have made the greens magnificent.  When I say magnificent, I mean true - they can only be cut to a 7.5 at their fastest, but they are billiard smooth with wonderful turf.  Putting remains a true shot, not this shoulder movement of fear like CC greens.  Well, long story short I think I heard the Urkiel's entertained an offer of 1.5 million some years back, but it fell through, so I'm thinking it'll take 2.5 M or so to actually purchase it.  Because it is reviled and hidden in the middle of Brookfield, nobody plays it and any of the other proprietors have ended up packing their bags before too long and I'm definitely worried that a condo developer or estate developer will one day purchase it and there it goes forever.  I'd have to discuss operating expenses with Gary and what he needs to make a go of it, but I'm willing to chase this dream and offer a nice little piece of history for an initial purchase and expense investment of 5 million.  I don't want to do one thing, except keep the prices down so maybe another million has to be offered.  I would like to work in the 1000 sq ft "shop" a few days a week, play a little golf when its slow and go to the library now and again.  I might have a monthly outing for my friends during Golf season, maybe another million to do this for a few years.  call it 7m in toto...so I have...

8 million left.

Well, as the sun has come up and I have the first of my two classes to teach in two hours, I'll leave 8 million on the table and let any of you tell me what to do with it; I'm sure there's things I haven't thought of and things I could have done better, but I've tried to touch the lives of as many people as I can see around me, tried to preserve and endorse the people and places that have endorsed me and try to beat anxiety back with the good fortune Mac has theoretically laid at my feet.

Honestly, I'd take a real 65K right now; as opposed to what's behind curtain #1, #2 or #3.

cheers

vk

PS.  Mac, I haven't forgotten about SunRISE Hill, just down the street from Sunset; it would be the greatest nine holer on the planet, but I feel like the open-space/preserve zealots would burn down all 65M to wrest it for that use.  Maybe we can hit two lotteries?  Play 1, 8, 11, 13, 24 and 34 for me.