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 The One-Percenters by Mike Rowe Independence Day, 2016 John’s a farmer in Hopewell, New Jersey. Like many working farmers, John feeds lots of Americans who have no idea where their food comes from. But unlike many of his peers, John is not struggling to make a living. He’s prospering. In fact, John is downright rich. So too is Frank. Frank made his money doing whatever it is international businessmen do. Something to do with The Mercantile Exchange. He was born in Wales and educated in the very best schools. After becoming a legal citizen of this country, he made an absolute fortune. Now he employs more people than he can keep track of. And then there’s Richard. Richard is one of the wealthiest lawyers in America. He studied law at Princeton – which his ancestors helped build. Now he sits on the bench of The New Jersey Supreme Court, where his reputation as a jurist earns him the respect of politicians on both sides of the aisle. Not long ago, John, Frank, and Richard sat down with dozens of other wealthy Americans at a private Men’s Club in Philadelphia to discuss, among other things, the future of our country and the current tax code. Not only do these men believe their taxes are far too high – they feel their money is being squandered by America’s leaders. They’re also offended – deeply offended – by the continual assertion that they are not paying their “fair share.” John, Frank, and Richard, listen attentively as a number of powerful men address the group. They talk with great passion about the need to elect a leader who will stop dividing the country. So the men draft a manifesto outlying their frustrations, and announce their refusal to stop paying taxes to an administration they believe to be corrupt. John, Frank, and Richard each sign the manifesto, along with everyone else in the room. Then, they send it off to the largest media outlets in the country and head home, to and wait and see what happens next. Well, they don’t have to wait long. In the halls of power, America’s leaders are livid. “How can these wealthy men who have enjoyed so much good fortune complain about paying a little extra for the good of their country? Do these elitists seriously think they could have prospered without the governments help? Maybe it’s time to teach these guys a lesson?” And so they do. When Frank arrives at his mansion in New York, it’s been thoroughly looted. Armed troops occupy his estate, and confiscate everything of value – including his wife. She’s locked up for three months with little food or water, and not even provided a change of clothes. She dies not long after her release. Frank is crushed with despair. John doesn’t fare much better. Troops have occupied his farm in Hopewell. John learns the Occupiers have orders to execute him. Recently widowed with 13 children, John goes on the run, moving from place to place under cover of darkness, and living on the lamb for the better part of a year. Eventually, the stress kills him. Richard’s wealth and status make him an even bigger target. Armed men barge into his home, and drag him from bed in the middle of the night. He’s locked up, starved, and tortured. Richard survives his incarceration, but never recovers. His vast fortune is stolen, and he spends his final days utterly dependent on the kindness of friends. John Hart. Francis Lewis. Richard Stockton. If their names are unfamiliar, it’s probably because they’ve been overshadowed by other men who signed the same manifesto. Men like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. In total – 56 men – some more famous than others – whose names are now preserved for posterity on the bottom of that troublesome document that so enraged The Occupiers in The Red Coats. Unlike most revolutions, ours didn’t start with an angry mob armed with pitchforks and guillotines and nothing to lose. That was France. Our revolution started because fifty-six wealthy men with everything to lose – put everything on the line – for a country that didn’t even exist yet. The Internet is full of exaggerated accounts of what happened to the original signers, and that’s a shame. Because the truth of what really happened back in that exclusive Men’s Club in Philadelphia – also known as The 2nd Continental Congress – is remarkable enough with no embellishment. These 56 men – these one-percenters of 1776 – could have easily paid whatever new tax was being demanded by their King. They could have easily lived out their lives in comfortable peace. But they didn’t. They chose liberty over safety. When they signed that troublesome manifesto, they weren’t just declaring their independence – they were signing their own death warrant. And when they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, they weren’t just making a promise to The King of England, or to each other, or to the rest of their fellow colonists – They were making a promise to you and me. And they kept it. Two hundred forty years later, as the hotdogs plump up on the grill, and the fireworks explode overhead, their promise – and their courage – are still worth remembering. And celebrating. Anyway, That’s The Way I Heard It… (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST) (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST)
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Mar 21, 2018 17:24
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you made 2 mike rowe threads. stop
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Mar 21, 2018 17:32
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gary oldmans diary posted:you made 2 mike rowe threads. stop ok
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Mar 21, 2018 17:52
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So he doesn't actually say anything about wealth or taxes despite those two words occurring a hundred times?
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Mar 21, 2018 17:56
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I think loving garbage is Mike Rowe.
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Mar 21, 2018 17:57
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A stirring tribute to some great men from yesteryear. Thank you Mike
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Mar 21, 2018 17:58
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So what I'm getting from this is we need to drag the wealthy out of their homes and use their wealth for the betterment of the country. Also we shouldn't pay taxes set by the wealthy elite who run the country. Seems like a good story to me.
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Mar 21, 2018 18:05
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Ye olde times were cool.
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Mar 21, 2018 18:06
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Ball Sweat Pledge. LMAO.
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Mar 21, 2018 18:07
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A Fancy Hat posted:So what I'm getting from this is we need to drag the wealthy out of their homes and use their wealth for the betterment of the country. Also we shouldn't pay taxes set by the wealthy elite who run the country. Seems like a good story to me. You need to work on your reading comprehension. The lesson is that if you don't pay your taxes, the government will take your poo poo, kidnap your family and then probably kill you.
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Mar 21, 2018 18:43
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i very much enjoy a good old fashioned rss thread but with the twist that the story content is from 2016 also kudos to the op for writing 0 content of his own and just copying and pasting. really burning up that "new thread" button
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Mar 21, 2018 18:55
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Beefeater posted:I think loving garbage is Mike Rowe. Mike Rowe is loving garbage.
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Mar 21, 2018 19:00
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Spinster posted:Mike Rowe is loving garbage. Someone's gotta do it
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Mar 21, 2018 19:31
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Spinster posted:Mike Rowe is loving garbage. *looks at op's name, does the math* Checks out.
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Mar 21, 2018 19:34
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how many of those guys owned slaves
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Mar 21, 2018 19:40
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Spinster posted:Mike Rowe is loving garbage. cant argue w/that
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Mar 21, 2018 20:20
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My name Mike Rowe and I like a poop, very naice.
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Mar 21, 2018 20:25
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Mike Rowe is cool
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Mar 21, 2018 20:34
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Does that piece insinuate that the 1st guys wife was a thing of value?
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Mar 21, 2018 20:35
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Im going to destroy you op when I'm not phone posting
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Mar 21, 2018 20:38
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i highly doubt mike rowe wrote this, OP. go jack off to him cleaning a septic tank or whatever
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Mar 21, 2018 20:39
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gary oldmans diary posted:you made 2 mike rowe threads. stop
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Mar 21, 2018 20:47
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Ron Paul
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Mar 21, 2018 20:49
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Kak posted:Ron Paul
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Mar 21, 2018 20:51
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just skim the top 10% of wealth and put it directly into community programs to help parents be better parents and kids to fulfill their potential
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Mar 21, 2018 20:55
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BloodRed posted:just skim the top 10% of wealth and put it directly into community programs to help parents be better parents and kids to fulfill their potential Same but unironically
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Mar 21, 2018 20:57
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tax all income above 200,000 at 100%. who even needs 200,000 a year? jesus.
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Mar 21, 2018 20:58
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Here is my hot take Are you ready? Dirty Jobs was a good show to watch. I guess that's the extent of my opinion on Mike Rowe. Later guys, have fun in here but don't stay up too late
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Mar 21, 2018 21:01
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Wow, that was really dumb. I just dislike this Mike Rowe guy more and more.
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Mar 21, 2018 21:02
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Arrhythmia posted:tax all income above 200,000 at 100%. who even needs 200,000 a year? jesus. and we actually had funded a lot of programs back then. republicans pine for the glory days of 1960s but would never institute taxes we had back then to accomplish that lmfao
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Mar 21, 2018 21:05
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Kazak posted:Someone's gotta do it heh
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Mar 21, 2018 21:06
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get that OUT of my face posted:Ron Paul: "Ron Paul" - Ron Paul
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Mar 21, 2018 21:07
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1% of my bodyweight is testicles, of which Mike Rowe can lick
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Mar 21, 2018 21:08
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Xaris posted:1960s tax rate was 92% on the highest bracket for income at 200,000+ lol america is a 3rd world country
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Mar 21, 2018 21:08
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92% of anything over $200,000 is pretty high I think most people apart from the filthy rich would be happy with 40% of anything over $20,000,000 I mean, that still means you can buy a super yacht (think of how many highly skilled engineers it takes etc) but you are also indirectly funding breakfast and safer schools for the poors
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Mar 21, 2018 21:14
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BloodRed posted:92% of anything over $200,000 is pretty high no one should buy a super yacht.
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Mar 21, 2018 21:17
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wow gently caress this guy
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Mar 21, 2018 21:18
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This post convinced me that the founding fathers were the bad guys.
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Mar 21, 2018 21:24
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So what is former opera singer Mike Rowe saying? That 21st-century billionaires shouldn't be taxed because of something that 18th-century billionaires did?
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Mar 21, 2018 21:29
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Also LOL at a man who has made his living glorifying the Humble, Hearty Working Man writing a screed glorifying the moneyed elite.
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Mar 21, 2018 21:32
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