General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Tax Deductions are a HUGE form of welfare, and the richest people are getting the most welfare [View all]Sarah Ibarruri
(21,043 posts)doing charity and making bad decisions when engaging in activities with their excess money. Charity is either charity or it's a money-making proposition that takes money from our country, and the same should apply to all investments.
I think the U.S. govt should be there to protect us from destitution, homelessness, hunger, law and order, fight real crime (not drug-taking alone), should provide healthcare to all (since for-profit insurance corporations have are unwilling and unable to provide healthcare to all), maintain our country's education, crush criminal corporations, ensure that our foods, medicines, air and water are safe, provide for poor seniors, our country's infrastructure upkeep, enforce rules that ensure the healthy well-being of citizens, and provide defense (though how much defense we really need is debatable since we're pretty much geographically isolated.
I don't think it's there to provide us with a cushion for our excess money and profits should we make bad decisions. At some point, those with excess money need to be responsible with their excess money, and not behave like kindergarten toddlers who want daddy-govt to bail them out if their decisions don't pan out.