As a previously poor person, more poor people need to realize where they stand tax-wise, and that they are the beneficiaries of tax increases. But also, tax the fucking rich! The 50's had 91% tax on the highest tax bracket. That's what made the golden days that conservatives want to return to so golden.
this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2026
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While I definitely agree that the wealthy should be paying more in taxes, this isn't an especially accurate take.
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There were way more deductions available. Basically, nobody ever paid any taxes at such a high rate.
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The primary reason for the post-war "golden age" that MAGA waxes nostalgia about is because almost the entire manufacturing sector of most European countries was wiped out. By comparison, the US was almost fully intact, and had a massive new base of workers trained in manufacturing. We went from a nation of farmers to a nation of city-dwelling industrialists almost overnight.
I don't see how we could ever get back to the 50s - 60s era of growth and security again, but overhauling taxation and more union representation could probably at least wind us back a few decades.
The wealthiest person in America in the 1950s was JP Getty.
His worth was about $1 billion. Which would equate to $13.86 billion today.
- There were way more deductions available. Basically, nobody ever paid any taxes at such a high rate.
Ok, maybe, I’d be interested in seeing a source on this, but what qualified them for those deductions? Dumping huge sums of money back into the country and the community? There was a time the wealthy built libraries and parks and voluntarily gave some back.
- The primary reason for the post-war "golden age" that MAGA waxes nostalgia about is because almost the entire manufacturing sector of most European countries was wiped out. By comparison, the US was almost fully intact, and had a massive new base of workers trained in manufacturing. We went from a nation of farmers to a nation of city-dwelling industrialists almost overnight.
Not at all accurate. Yes, much manufacturing has left because it’s cheaper to off shore it to developing nations, but America isn’t less prosperous now. That prosperity has just been consolidated to the top 1% more and more.
Ok, maybe, I’d be interested in seeing a source on this
It's really easy to find if you actually wanted to verify, rather than just disingenuously cast doubt. Planet Money has done podcasts episodes on it.
Not at all accurate
Entirely accurate. We were the manufacturing center for much of the world until Europe was able to build back, which was badly hampered by foolish austerity measures. This is literally the reason why America had such a phenomenal post-war boom and an explosion of the middle class.
but America isn’t less prosperous now. That prosperity has just been consolidated to the top 1%
Gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with the loss of manufacturing jobs, disappearing union representation, and subsequent devaluation of labor?
You're identifying symptoms, not causes. Write less and read more.
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That’s what made the golden days that conservatives want to return to so golden.
Stop it. If those conservatives could read they'd be very upset.
My friend buys a new helmet every time his visor gets scratched. On the plus side, I get his old helmet.
You must have quite the helmet collection
In New Zealand, it is legally required that you replace the set if you are replacing one. This is so that you always have two matching sets. For example, if the tread is too low on the rear left, you have to get both rear tyres replaced if you want to be able to pass the next warrant.
Lol meanwhile I have a neighbor who's been driving with his spare tire "donut" for almost a year now.
What if the old tires are 8 and you just want to replace 1 new that's usually 10? Seems silly because the only damage they can do is with a differential, lsd or xfer case and that would have to be 4/32 or more difference with extended use.
In the US, if you have a puncture on the edge you're not allowed to repair it and the legal limit is 2. 4/32 is the recommended tire size difference for awd or on the drive axles to change tires and they have to be the same brand, but not legally required.
2/32 is rediculous for the legal limit though, should be 4.
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Plug for Discount Tire. I've seen people come in with a flat on a good tire and they offer to patch it for free. Also had them work with me when I couldn't afford all four tires and was just going to get two in the front, they did some discounting and stuff and for a little more than the two tire cost gave me four. Caveat - it could be just the few stores I've been in, management can make or break any place, no matter how good the product or employees are.
I try to do business with mom and pop shops as much as possible. All the local mom and pop tire shops have been bought out over the years and become trash.
I went back to DT after a 20+ year hiatus and found their service, pricing, and willingness to work with me delightful.
For example my car uses a very specific tire and I got a flat on the side wall. They just happened to keep a set from a previous driver in near new condition to replace that one tire for labor only until the very specific tire could be brought in 3 weeks later!
Then they discounted the original labor off the new tire purchase price.
My only beef with discount tire is their anti-weed policy for their employees.
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When it's time to replace I usually go with Walmart. I buy whatever tire is on rollback online, ship to atore, and they put it on. Their autocenter has the cheapest rate for putting on tires.
Last time I paid $45 a tire and $11 for installation.
Yes it's Walmart, but I'm broke and this is like $100 cheaper than the next option
I'm not judging you but If you can afford it you should go elsewhere. Walmart tires are absolute shit. I say this having worked in their tire shop and several other places. We had people coming in with defects and broken belts daily where it was a rare occurrence everywhere else I worked. They also didn't do anything to ensure the people working on cars weren't dumbasses. I had to fix A LOT of shit they broke.
I bought a set of five Nokian all-weather light truck tires on closeout at Walmart for under $300. A set of more desirable all-terrains would have run me $1k and are probably now around $1500. The tires have been great.
Pay attention to the brand and reviews, not the store.
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Juuuunk yard tires are the best. Someone out there totaled their car and the tires that survived are sitting there waiting for you to find. The guy who has em doesnt want em. He wants the shelf for more valuable stuff.
Happy hunting.
Junk yards in general are great. Just pick up spares of literally anything you need
I really wish junkyards would be more of a thing here.
Where is "here"?
If it's anywhere in Europe, you can get shit delivered from ovoko/rrr. Have used them to get parts from Latvia and Lithuania that I couldn't find in Estonia (specific color doors so I wouldn't have to paint). It's like Amazon for used car parts, minus the whole taking over the world thing.
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Meanwhile, at my house: 
Japan has a class of light car (you can get them to go 140 kph/85 mph but the engine doesn't appreciate it) and everything about them is cheap. A set of 4 tires (not the rims) is ~¥18000 (currently about $110 USD or $150 before the yen started tanking).
Fortunately we made this illegal in the US and we're working on banning E-bikes under the guise of protecting kids.
under the guise of protecting kids.
Looks through the White House window, confusingly
They don't need e-bikes on a small island
For many AWD cars you have to replace them all as the new tire is bigger as it has all its tread and screws w/ the transmission.
I hate it as an AWD car operator...
I’ve read that you can often buy a single replacement and they’ll “shave” it down to match the tread of the existing tires.
With the unfortunate result being that your new tire is now just as worn as your other three tires. Not an issue if the flat is relatively new, but it get worse the older your other three tires are.
I don't have awd, so I usually just replace two tires and get em rotated as needed instead. It feels like the best middle ground available to me.
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Depending on context that could be good advice. However tires are especially insanely expensive now so I get not taking that advice even if you can technically afford it.
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My mom lives in a retirement community, and some people have some real money. She was at the pool, and one couple was saying they needed to buy a new car because they had a flat tire, and they were told they needed all four. They didn't know how to buy 4 tires, so they decided to buy a new car instead.
I had a manager who told me that he and his wife both bought new cars every year. He said this while lecturing me for requesting time to take my car to the shop.
When I said I couldn't afford a new car, his response was that he and his wife saved so much in repair bills, they couldn't afford not to.
I mean, that's kinda true?
If you drive sub 1000€ shit boxes its literally cheaper to sell them to export once the TÜV runs out than to get them into an acceptable state
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For an all time AWD system like what Subaru offers, you will need to do this if the replacement tire is worn, or shave it to match.
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All that replacing is a little tiring
This is how it feels talking to my sister and brother-in-law.
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