Democrats' tax bill moves toward vote in US Senate

[Gaspar]

No. As far as I know there's only one accepted meaning of the word "is," although there may be colloquial uses I'm not aware of. The word "voluntary" has quite a few different definitions.

Please enlighten us to the meanings that deviate from free choice.  Apparently I need to update my dictionary.

[guido911]

Perhaps you should look up the word "voluntary" in an early 1900s dictionary.

Don't have one, but thank goodness we have you around here sine you apparently know the definition from that time period. However, since neither Reid, when he made the statement, and I were not living in the early 1900s, I kinda doubt he was using that definition. Do yourself a favor before you embarrass yourself further. Look at the video again, Reid attempts to change the subject several times in order to dodge the question, that being that payment of taxes is not voluntary and is instead mandatory under pain of penalty or incarceration. Period. The notion that payment of taxes is "voluntary" simply because a person can choose the method in which they pay taxes (in order to avoid punishment) is is so absurd and disingenuous that the fact that you bought into it speaks volumes as to your credibility. 

[nathanm]

Don't have one, but thank goodness we have you around here sine you apparently know the definition from that time period. However, since neither Reid, when he made the statement, and I were not living in the early 1900s, I kinda doubt he was using that definition. Do yourself a favor before you embarrass yourself further. Look at the video again, Reid attempts to change the subject several times in order to dodge the question, that being that payment of taxes is not voluntary and is instead mandatory under pain of penalty or incarceration. Period. The notion that payment of taxes is "voluntary" simply because a person can choose the method in which they pay taxes (in order to avoid punishment) is is so absurd and disingenuous that the fact that you bought into it speaks volumes as to your credibility. 

When the income tax originated in this country, it was called the "voluntary income tax." Face it, your smear was baseless.

[guido911]

When the income tax originated in this country, it was called the "voluntary income tax." Face it, your smear was baseless.

Oh well, since it was "called" that, I guess that makes it so. So I guess "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and our invasion was hugely successful since we did free the Iraqi people from Hussein (meh, what WMDs).

[Conan71]

I hear the distinct scraping sound of moving goal posts.

[nathanm]

I hear the distinct scraping sound of moving goal posts.

My goal posts haven't moved, thanks. I've said all along that Reid's usage was correct. It is correct. Not common, but correct.

[Gaspar]

My goal posts haven't moved, thanks. I've said all along that Reid's usage was correct. It is correct. Not common, but correct.

If you built a dictionary on all of the words that Congress used to give legitimacy to the legislation they originate, no word would have meaning.

You bring up a great point.  George Orwell once said "If thought corrupt language, language can corrupt thought."  Politics is very good at using words as weapons, and politicians do this in many ways.  The victims are usually the young and the stupid.

Nomenclature can make a very evil concept seem relatively inert or even attractive.  I see this a lot with young people fresh out of school, willing to adopt political philosophies because the language used sounds so diverse and inclusive.

We all use words to our advantage.  After all, they are tools.  I think good men value the meaning of words.  Evil men change that meaning to fit their agenda.

Words be nimble, words be quick,
Words resemble walking sticks,
Plant them and they will grow,
Watch them as they waver so. - Jim Morrison

[nathanm]

I think good men value the meaning of words.  Evil men change that meaning to fit their agenda.

What you're not getting is that the "voluntary income tax" is not a change in the meaning of the word "voluntary." The word was used with that specific meaning prior to the income tax. That it is now an obscure meaning does not change that fact.

[Gaspar]

What you're not getting is that the "voluntary income tax" is not a change in the meaning of the word "voluntary." The word was used with that specific meaning prior to the income tax. That it is now an obscure meaning does not change that fact.

Exactly, so there's no need to use it.  I haven't heard a politician in the last 20 years invoke the whole name of that bill in speaking except to get a laugh.  Everyone simply calls it "income tax." 

Invoking the name "voluntary income tax" today, is as or more insulting than it was in 1913.

I do get your point Nate.  I just think you should call a spade a spade, even if the government wants to call it a progressive metallic economic stimulus device.

[Conan71]

What you're not getting is that the "voluntary income tax" is not a change in the meaning of the word "voluntary." The word was used with that specific meaning prior to the income tax. That it is now an obscure meaning does not change that fact.

Why pray-tell would he use an archaic connotation of the word in contemporary discourse?

You sure go to great lengths to defend total morons.

[Red Arrow]

Nathan must have a program that is taking a really long time to compile, or whatever it would do that gives him time to research things that most of us don't have the time to do.

[nathanm]

Nathan must have a program that is taking a really long time to compile, or whatever it would do that gives him time to research things that most of us don't have the time to do.

Looking up a word in a dictionary takes about 5 seconds. The power of computers, my friend.

[Red Arrow]

Looking up a word in a dictionary takes about 5 seconds. The power of computers, my friend.

You've done a lot more "looking up" than a few words in an on-line dictionary.  I don't always agree with your analysis though.