Forum Overview :: Motherfucking News
 
Re: Fine by ydrt 05/04/2003, 2:07am PDT
Senor Barborito wrote:

FABIO wrote:

Senor Barborito wrote:


Of course it does nobody any harm the Bill Gates is wealthy, that much is obvious. But if his wealth was reduced 99% and that 99% redistributed to working Americans below the poverty line relative to how far below the poverty line they are, he'd still have half a billion dollars and millions of people who cannot otherwise support themselves despite contributing to society would be able to do so. Stripped of example: it does nobody anybody harm for one to be rich, but it does many good for one to be substantially less rich.


Everyone who has taken intro to Economics is laughing at you.


I've taken into to econ. I'm not laughing. Perhaps you'd care to explain why you are?

--SB


Unless you instigate some sort of social modification program along with your wealth distribution, what becomes the incentive to make wealth and do well any more? In the long run you'd wind up with a huge black market and a lot more commercial and industrial corruption.

Let's say we have a group of three people, INC, ydrt, and George Broussard. Let's also say that right now INC makes seven delicious apple pies every day and ydrt and tubby only make one each day. This plainly is not fair, so Chairman Barborito comes along taking four of INC's pies and gives two to me and Broussard. INC is now pissed the fuck off and decides that if he's only going to get three pies anyway, he's only going to make three and spend the rest of the day trolling internet forums. CB is bewildered but still determined to make certain that tubs and I get our fair share of pie and now everyone is down to 1 2/3 of a pie. Now if we cut off the experiment here we can see that we have two people happier than before and one less happy so the situation appears to be better. The only problem is that this spiral of laziness will likely continue to descend the entire pie-eating community into famine, especially if Georgie figures out that he might be able to get some pie even if he doesn't make any pies of his own.

Can you argue that such a situation (or one very similar to it) wouldn't happen if you take a whole lot of the rich people's bling bling? Is it any wonder that it's the super-rich who spend the most on tax accountants? Obviously not everyone is as evil or lazy as INC or George Broussard, but I think this example points the way toward how a large degree of wealth distribution creates more problems than it solves.

Secondly, I'd like to challenge your assumption that the many would be that much better off with the extra wealth. Once you get past having decent living conditions and medical treatment are rich people really that much happier? I for one think universal health care should be a program we institute in some minimal level here in the U.S., but that's a different discussion.

Don't get me wrong, I think that unions, environmental and other public and special interest groups have a huge place in our society. The role of the business sector is primarily to earn the most profit over the short run. The role of the government (being prodded by the unions and environmentalists) is to make sure that outside short-term and long-term consequences of reaching those profits are either paid for or taken into consideration.
PREVIOUS NEXT REPLY QUOTE
 
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!!!!! by Mischief Maker 05/02/2003, 10:48am PDT NEW
    KICK. FUCKING. ASS. NT by Senor Barborito 05/02/2003, 10:49am PDT NEW
    Anyone got login info for the LA Times? NT by laudablepuss 05/02/2003, 11:08am PDT NEW
        Shadowyfigure NT by xxxxxxxxxxxx 05/02/2003, 11:42am PDT NEW
        poenews/poenews (nt) by Chillum 05/02/2003, 12:14pm PDT NEW
    Mmm by I need clarification 05/02/2003, 4:30pm PDT NEW
        Read it again by Fullofkittens 05/02/2003, 5:12pm PDT NEW
            Re: Read it again by I need clarification 05/02/2003, 5:42pm PDT NEW
                Note to self by FoK 05/02/2003, 5:47pm PDT NEW
    Charming... by Lizard_King 05/02/2003, 7:59pm PDT NEW
        Re: Charming... by Mischief Maker 05/03/2003, 10:32am PDT NEW
        Also, by Mischief Maker 05/03/2003, 10:42am PDT NEW
            Re: Also, by Lizard_King 05/03/2003, 12:32pm PDT NEW
                That makes a lot of sense, actually by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 1:10pm PDT NEW
                    Fixed third link by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 1:11pm PDT NEW
                    Re: That makes a lot of sense, actually by Lizard_King 05/03/2003, 2:56pm PDT NEW
                        You're forgetting the very, very obvious by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 3:21pm PDT NEW
                            Re: You're forgetting the very, very obvious by Lufteufel 05/03/2003, 5:41pm PDT NEW
                                *ahem* by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 6:00pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: *ahem* by Moab 05/03/2003, 6:25pm PDT NEW
                                        No by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 6:45pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: No by Moab 05/03/2003, 6:50pm PDT NEW
                            Re: You're forgetting the very, very obvious by Lizard_King 05/03/2003, 7:01pm PDT NEW
                                Re: You're forgetting the very, very obvious by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 8:23pm PDT NEW
                                    Missed your final section, fixed response here - by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 8:50pm PDT NEW
                                        Re: Missed your final section, fixed response here - by Lizard_King 05/03/2003, 11:53pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: Missed your final section, fixed response here - by GRENDEL 05/04/2003, 1:18am PDT NEW
                                                Re: Missed your final section, fixed response here - by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 2:01am PDT NEW
                                                    You fags should never have banned Vag. NT by Someone who feels different today 05/04/2003, 2:20am PDT NEW
                                                        I now have no idea what the hell is going on. NT by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 2:33am PDT NEW
                                                        Fag NT by ydrt 05/04/2003, 2:45am PDT NEW
                                                        Re: You fags should never have banned Vag. by Moab 05/04/2003, 2:49am PDT NEW
                                                            I see... by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 3:03am PDT NEW
                                                                Re: I see... by Moab 05/04/2003, 3:09am PDT NEW
                                                                    Re: I see... by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 12:57pm PDT NEW
                                                                        Re: I see... by FABIO 05/04/2003, 1:23pm PDT NEW
                                                                            My mistake then...attribute it to egocentrism or something. NT by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 1:44pm PDT NEW
                                                            I WANT YOU, MOAB. COME TO ME NAKED. NT by GRENDEL 05/05/2003, 6:55am PDT NEW
                                                                Re: I WANT YOU, MOAB. COME TO ME NAKED. by M|H 05/06/2003, 11:01am PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Missed your final section, fixed response here - by GRENDEL 05/05/2003, 6:54am PDT NEW
                                                        Re: Missed your final section, fixed response here - by De Sade 05/05/2003, 9:16pm PDT NEW
                                                        FIND THE FUCKING CAPS LOCK KEY ASSHOLE NT by Bill Dungsroman 05/06/2003, 11:12am PDT NEW
                                            Re: Missed your final section, fixed response here - by Senor Barborito 05/04/2003, 3:51pm PDT NEW
                                                Yo, Lizard - where's my response, man? Seriously 'waiting for player', here. NT by Senor Barborito 05/05/2003, 2:23pm PDT NEW
                                                    You'll have to give me at least another 24 hours... by Lizard_King 05/05/2003, 9:45pm PDT NEW
                                                GO SNIPER! by Diotallevi 05/05/2003, 11:19pm PDT NEW
                                                    GAY SNIFF! by Meaner of Eating 05/06/2003, 1:33am PDT NEW
                                                This is one long motherfucker... by Lizard_King 05/07/2003, 2:06am PDT NEW
                                                    Let me know when this post comes out in paperback. (NT) by Fussbett 05/07/2003, 2:34am PDT NEW
                                                        It is the nature of the beast... (NT) by Lizard_King 05/07/2003, 2:48am PDT NEW
                                                    Just the opinion of a bystander . . . by laudablepuss 05/07/2003, 1:30pm PDT NEW
                                                    Re: This is one long motherfucker... by GRENDEL 05/07/2003, 10:38pm PDT NEW
                                                        Re: This is one long motherfucker... by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 2:39pm PDT NEW
                                                            A thougth comes when 'it' wants, not when 'I' want by F Nietzsche 05/08/2003, 3:45pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: This is one last motherfucker... by GRENDEL 05/08/2003, 11:42pm PDT NEW
                                            According to nature by F Nietzsche 05/04/2003, 4:57pm PDT NEW
                                                I often lack a sense of irony, or perhaps I'm just wilfully blind... by F. Nietzsche 05/06/2003, 2:11am PDT NEW
                                            Ab initio by Callow Sniper 05/05/2003, 6:43pm PDT NEW
                                                Re: Ab initio by laudablepuss 05/06/2003, 5:09pm PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Ab initio by Lizard_King 05/07/2003, 2:21am PDT NEW
                                                        Incorrect by laudablepuss 05/07/2003, 10:59am PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Incorrect by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 2:01pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Incorrect by niche 05/08/2003, 10:21pm PDT NEW
                                                                Pre-emptive strike by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 10:36pm PDT NEW
                                                                    Re: Pre-emptive strike by Callow Sniper 05/08/2003, 11:04pm PDT NEW
                                                                        Re: Pre-emptive strike by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 11:09pm PDT NEW
                                                        Why you are a fag. by Callow Sniper 05/07/2003, 3:35pm PDT NEW
                                                Re: Ab initio by Lizard_King 05/07/2003, 2:25am PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Ab initio by Callow Sniper 05/07/2003, 4:13pm PDT NEW
                                                        Re: Ab initio by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 2:16pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Ab initio by Randomizer 05/08/2003, 3:32pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Ab initio by Callow Sniper 05/08/2003, 7:12pm PDT NEW
                                                                Re: Ab initio redux by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 8:51pm PDT NEW
                                                                    Maybe because you take yourself way too seriously? NT by I'm just guessing here 05/08/2003, 9:35pm PDT NEW
                                                                        Possibly. Any other theories? NT by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 10:17pm PDT NEW
                                                                            Just facts, ma'am. NT by Joe Friday 05/08/2003, 10:19pm PDT NEW
                                                                                You've got a lot of repressed feelings, don't you, Friday? by Pep Streeback 05/08/2003, 10:33pm PDT NEW
                            Re: You're forgetting the very, very obvious by FABIO 05/03/2003, 7:31pm PDT NEW
                                Fine by Senor Barborito 05/03/2003, 8:24pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: Fine by ydrt 05/04/2003, 2:07am PDT NEW
                                        What he said by FABIO 05/04/2003, 3:39am PDT NEW
                                            Yeah, who needs social change when THE FUCKING LAWN'S NOT PATTERNED RIGHT!!! NT by Something Happened 05/04/2003, 12:22pm PDT NEW
                                                landscaping? you lost me there NT by FABIO 05/04/2003, 1:47pm PDT NEW
                                        Re: Fine by Senor Barborito 05/04/2003, 10:09am PDT NEW
                                            Psh! Economics is SOFT Science. For pussies. NT by Invest in Dot Coms! 05/04/2003, 12:15pm PDT NEW
                        Diotallevi? NT by MM 05/03/2003, 7:07pm PDT NEW
                            Mischief Maker? NT by FABIO 05/03/2003, 7:30pm PDT NEW
                                Stepto? NT by foogla 05/03/2003, 8:15pm PDT NEW
                                    Umberto? NT by the Eminem Haderach 05/04/2003, 2:08am PDT NEW
                                        Me? NT by K. Thor Jensen 05/06/2003, 5:25pm PDT NEW
                            Confusing NT response to some post way above? NT by Ed Cetera 05/04/2003, 2:00am PDT NEW
                            Nope by Diotallevi 05/05/2003, 11:16pm PDT NEW
                Re: Also, by I need clarification 05/03/2003, 5:14pm PDT NEW
                    Re: Also, by McGroot. 05/03/2003, 5:33pm PDT NEW
                        40 years: No Vietnam. NT by Fussbett 05/03/2003, 5:44pm PDT NEW
                        ?? by I need clarification 05/03/2003, 6:33pm PDT NEW
                            ...and my shoes? Aren't you going to mock my shoes? by McGroot 05/03/2003, 6:46pm PDT NEW
                    Re: Also, by Lufteufel 05/03/2003, 5:43pm PDT NEW
                    big deal by Lizard_King 05/03/2003, 8:01pm PDT NEW
                        Re: big deal by foogla 05/03/2003, 8:19pm PDT NEW
                            Re: big deal by Lizard_King 05/03/2003, 9:18pm PDT NEW
                                The fuck? by Chairman Mao 05/04/2003, 3:04am PDT NEW
                                    Re: The fuck? by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 12:09pm PDT NEW
                        INC is talking aboot California. Please stop the hatin' on me. NT by Canada 05/03/2003, 8:43pm PDT NEW
                            You're right. by Lizard_King 05/04/2003, 3:22pm PDT NEW
                                Dear Idiot: by I need clarification 05/05/2003, 12:57am PDT NEW
                                    Aiding and abetting: The United States hates civil liberties across the world! by Senor Barborito 05/05/2003, 1:24am PDT NEW
                                        Somebody's disinforming someone. by FoK 05/05/2003, 12:53pm PDT NEW
                                    OH! those beeeeuuuutiful peopaaahhh! by Star Seed 05/05/2003, 2:04am PDT NEW
                                        Way to lose an argument, Ari by I need clarification 05/05/2003, 12:41pm PDT NEW
                                    Dear Fucktard by Lizard_King 05/07/2003, 2:14am PDT NEW
                                        Three days' wait and that's all I get? by I need clarification 05/07/2003, 1:01pm PDT NEW
                                            re:Ex-Texan by I need clarification 05/07/2003, 1:55pm PDT NEW
                                                Florida, actually by I need clarification 05/07/2003, 3:16pm PDT NEW
                                            From me? Yeah. It's a fair assessment of the value of your contributions. NT by Lizard_King 05/08/2003, 2:42pm PDT NEW
 
powered by pointy