I think the good government of our country should continue to confiscate and control everything. I am on the side of our great leader. I believe that 100% of our monies/assets should be strictly watched over and controlled by our government. Our leader should be able to force us to labor, then give back to us what he sees fit! Oh.....wait a sec.....No, no.....For some strange reason, I was thinking this thread was about Venezuela. My bad. F**K the government. What I make/own belongs to me; not those thugs in Washington.
What Hydroblunt and Allen both bring is that businesses have options, they can close down shop and search areas of better profitability. In the global marketplace you're going to have politicians try to attract jobs any way possible. Hydroblunt also talks about small businesses keeping the town alive. You mean people never leave dying economies? They do, their duty is first themselves, then their family, then their friends, then their community then their country. The internet, globalisation will make us more interdependent on our neighbors. That's how communities form, some animals are solitary while others travel in small bands essential for survival. The problem is, are we ready for globalisation? Is our economic system mature enough? Billions of people live in poverty, that's billions of people willing to be exploited for pennies before we have a 'community'. Let's not even talk about national sovereignty, do we want it gone? I wonder if our world would be better or worse off without corporations. Are they inhumane? I'm thinking about the early days of civilization right now, why did people go from living in caves to forming towns, provinces and then countries? Then in the dark ages, why did individual castles form into countries with time? Was it beneficial? The logical next step is one unified world, and maybe the answer to this dilemma lies in our past.
Let's not make absurd arguments out of this, I think anyone who lives in a neighborhood with old family businesses understands what I am talking about. Only thing corporation cares about is profit, while the small family business is part of the community. If you think that family businesses do not keep their doors open and take pain during a downturn, because they feel a social duty to their community, you are heavily mistaken. In turn, the people do try to support their local economy. Obviously there is a threshhold. Meanwhile the corporation will close doors just so that the CEO can get a bigger bonus. That's why there is so little loyalty. Also, don't forget, the goals of the two are different. Corporation has a duty to keep growing profits. If there is no real potential and stagnant growth, they will close shop or never even open it. The family business is making a lifestyle choice to operate as a business. One is about perpetual growth, the other is about sustainability.
"The idea of a national consumption tax replacing the income tax has more and more appeal to me. So long of course as basics such as groceries, utilities, etc. are exempted (there could be caps in some instances) to protect those in the lowest economic strata, who would then actually benefit from such a tax structure." Like that would happen. The only thing time you won't see groceries and energy costs included are in the inflation reports. --------------------------------------------------- Nietzsche "Morality is herd instinct in the individual"
Correlation is not causation. Marriage destroys the fortunes of men more than anything else. Doesnt sound very beneficial to me.
You seem to overlook some of the main arguments made when divorce settlements are reached. It can be argued that many successful men would not have been as successful without their wives. For some of the other arguments try reading this: http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9218127 The assertion that "Those who marry 'till death do us part' end up, on average, four times richer than those who never marry." may give you pause.
"It can be argued" does not equal FACT. How do you know those men would not have ended up as successful or even more successful? You dont. Its not proveable. Now let me give you a fact. Guys who get divorced tend to get raped in court and their assets obliterated. Kinda evens things out. Now read this quote from the article: "Those who marry âtill death do us partâ end up, on average, four times richer than those who never marry. This is partly because marriage provides economies of scaleâtwo can live more cheaply than one" Thank you captain obvious. I have the same benefits by living in a commited relationship with my female significant other, but unlike the married guy, I wont have my assets taken away from me if the relationship ever ends. Best of both worlds. I get the economies of scale without the risk of divorce. Score! Go read the wives and wealth thread, marriage is old news, a stupid idea for men. No need to repeat the obvious here.
Yes! Liberation for men. As Engles said: marriage is just a long-term contract for prostitution. I'd rather spend the money on more call girls.
It kind of begs the question though is the woman you are with willing to accept your current arrangement indefinitely? You can always say that when the time comes you can always move on to another but there are always tradeoffs. Same thing in a marriage of course but as in most things the risks are usually commensurate with the rewards.
Sounds good, but I'll let you call this lady to let her know that her check will be cut back: http://dl2.roywoodjr.com/Roy Wood Jr-Barbras Check DIRTY.mp3