Mike Weir

Dartmouth ‘22

[david friedberg @friedberg]

why not just raise income tax rates?

because your real intent is not to just “provide healthcare”.

you’re masking that you are proposing the creation of, for the first time in the 250 years of this American republic, an organized government seizure of private property from citizens.

you’re calling it a “wealth tax” or a “billionaires tax” or “millionaires tax” or whatever nom du jour polls well. but at the end of the day, it’s the seizure of private property from citizens by the government. citizens that earned money, paid their fair taxes on those earnings (53% if they live in California) and are now being told they need to hand over after-tax assets because the government has failed to provide promised services with the revenue it’s collected, and are now re-casting their own failure to be a socio-economic inequity that must be justly resolved... a slippery slope that has never gone anywhere good (see economic effects in USSR, Cuba, Venezuela, France and Norway wealth tax etc.)

the American founders fled tyranny in Europe and this amazing nation was populated by immigrants (myself and your parents) from around the world not just looking for a “better life” but for a place where they could have freedom from tyrannical governments that can take what they want from private citizens. a great nation borne of property rights, the rule of law, and endowed freedoms to believe, speak, or act. these principles led to the greatest run of innovations, successes, and widespread increase in prosperity, for all citizens, ever seen.

the citizens, the individuals, not the institutions, delivered this progress. those who invented, who toiled, who bled, who sacrificed, who took risk and persevered, who led, and who changed the world, are not charlatans, kleptocrats, or oligarchs. they’re what made us all better off. prosperity is a measure of america’s success, not its failure.

it is your principle that is so offensive, as evidenced by the broad disdain for your flippant flirtation with the darkest of human fantasy - socialism. you and other neo-socialists have led so many of us to reflect on America’s history and what it is becoming. that now leads so many to consider, so unnecessarily, leaving their homes for a place where everyone stands up to shout down the principle you suggest. because if your ideas are now considered moderate, it’s clear this titanic is sinking.

that a “simple tax” of taking assets that have been earned, through toil and tribulation, rightly taxed, and preserved, should now be unjustly seized, is your solution to a problem of obvious government mismanagement and outright fraud, tells us that your true motivation lies not in giving people healthcare but in cutting down success and deleting the system of prosperity and opportunity for all.

i don’t care, and neither should anyone else, what the sum total market value of a private citizens private assets might be. it is none of my business and should be none of yours. because, again, once you open that pandora’s box, we might as well study Lord of the Flies … there is literally nothing stopping 51% of citizens demanding that their government go out and seize 100% of the private property of the 49%.

want to give healthcare to people in need? do your job and fix healthcare. make it affordable. want to be lazy about it? then do your job lazily and raise income taxes.

want to take private property from private citizens who have paid their fair share of taxes and legally earned their property, then honestly declare that it is envy, not inequity, that you strive to resolve…

[Dan Cottrell @Dan_Cottrell]

Tight #RSAvsNZL

[Manchester United @ManUtd]

Welcome 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, @Cristiano 🔴

#MUFC | #Ronaldo

[Canterbury @canterburyNZ]

#WIN a @lionsofficial squad signed Test Jersey! 🦁

Get your hands on this epic piece of memorabilia for #SA21. How to enter...

1️⃣ FOLLOW @canterburynz
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Competition closes at midnight on 18/07/21. T&Cs at https://t.co/fKQnMzE9Ft #MadeFromAll

[Dan Power @dan_power15]

2029 WRWC and 2031 MRWC would be game changing for Rugby in North America. https://t.co/7PBr3IEuer

[California Legion @CalLegion]

A #ThrowbackThursday to the 1st-ever 2020 MLR Collegiate Draft w/ local San Diego talent, Patrick Madden.

@patrickxmadden made his starting debut vs. @NEFreeJacks. Hear him chat about his experience being in the MLR Draft & now getting mentorship from our 2021 squad.💪💥

[World Rugby @WorldRugby]

🎙 "Are you KIDDING me?!"

The best tries from week six of @usmlr are no joke 🏉

[Major League Rugby @usmlr]

The MLR Player of the Week is Mason Koch of the @gilgronis!

Already known for his signature handlebar mustache, this week Mason stood out even more with 2 tries, 15/15 in tackles, and helping Austin win the #TexasCup presented by @karbachbrewing!

📸 Matthew Bradford

[Alex Magleby @AlexMagleby]

Hat tip cpt @joshlarsen_4 & team 1st win of 2021. @CoachRyanMartin’s 1st Free Jacks win 👊🏽🔥

🧱🧱🧱

[Dartmouth Men's Rugby @dartmouthrugby]

Best of luck to the Big Green in the big league @usmlr kickoff today:

Nate Brakeley ‘12 @rugbyunitedny 6PM
@OliverEngelhart ‘18 @NEFreeJacks 630PM
@koch_mason32 ‘20 @Gilgronis 8PM

*times ET

📺 schedule below

[Buffalo Wild Wings @BWWings]

Everyone who retweets this gets free wings if the game goes to overtime.

[Dartmouth Men's Rugby @dartmouthrugby]

👏🏼 Captain Skow leading the way!

[SA Rugby magazine @SARugbymag]

Pablo Matera: ‘We just wanted to make our country proud!’

[Rugby on TNT Sports @rugbyontnt]

Rugby, it's different ❤️

#ChampionsCupFinal

[Life of a Philly Fan @PhillyFanLife]

Eagles down at least 4 receivers on Sunday?

[Friday Beers @Friday_Beers]

In honor of the Prem returning tomorrow, a tribute to legends past and present. Cheeky pre-kickoff pints at the local on Saturday absolutely qualify as Friday Beers. Enjoy lads 🤝

[Super Rugby NZ @SuperRugbyNZ]

🔥 Laumape with the step and PACE! What a start from @HurricanesRugby.

Get amongst this on @SkySportNZ

#HURvBLU

[Dartmouth Men's Rugby @dartmouthrugby]

On June 13th, Dartmouth’s own Mason Koch ‘20 was selected by the Austin Gilgronis in the second round of the inaugural Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft. Out of over 400 players who entered the draft pool, Koch was one of 24 players selected nationwide...

[Major League Rugby @usmlr]

Dreams became reality tonight. Welcome to the first ever MLR Draft class! ⁣
⁣
#RoadToRugby #MLR2021