Text 3499, 79 rader
Skriven 2006-07-07 13:42:00 av Robert E Starr JR (3972.babylon5)
Ärende: Re: Atheists: America's m
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* * * This message was from Josh Hill to rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.m * * *
         * * * and has been forwarded to you by Lord Time * * *         
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@REPLY: <jvCdndpuNJADSTvZnZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@comcast.com>
On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 20:54:48 -0500, "Dennis \(Icarus\)"
<ala_dir_diver@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>"Josh Hill" <usereplyto@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:rgvla29vu9i88d6c6n7bg18iqljbrsros8@4ax.com...
>> On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:26:43 -0700, Charlie Edmondson
>> <edmondson@ieee.org> wrote:
>>
>> >My basic point is that Josh has merely been exhibiting class envy,
>> >someone might be getting a free ride, and he didn't get one.
>>
>> Charlie, have you read my posts? The posts in which I stated clearly
>> that that is not true, that I am upper middle class and a preppie and
>> Ivy Leaguer who had a ride that was about as privileged as can be this
>> side of being a Rockefeller?
>>
>> >The point
>> >is that politicians have played him like a puppet, (Strainer!) and
>> >gotten him to support laws that really only apply to upper middle class
>> >and lower upper class folks, to control these upstarts and keep
>> >themselves in power.
>>
>> IOW, myself and most of the people I grew up with?
>>
>> >  The politicians are the ones that have the money
>> >(both parties!) and they will keep theirs, no matter what.  They just
>> >want to control others who might want to take it from them.
>>
>> Nice theory, but it breaks down when faced with reality. I might add
>> that most of those upper-middle and lower-upper and upper-upper class
>> friends and relations believe as I do, and like me would shake their
>> heads sadly that so many naive poor and middle-class Americans have
>> been taken for a ride by some of their less scrupulous counterparts,
>> generally greedy nouveau riche business types.
>
>So I take it they'll be giving away everthing except what'll keep 'em at,
>say, middle class level this year? ;-)

I'd say we're talking about relative degrees of generosity within the
bourgeoisie. And, really, I'm not opposed to the existence of a
bourgeoisie. The experience of socialist and in some cases social
democratic states suggests that a radical leveling of wealth would
have perverse consequences, including a reduction in economic output
that would overwhelm the beneficial effects of income redistribution.
Then too, competition between groups and cultures is important (and
was very vigorous in pre-agricultural societies -- fear of being eaten
by one's neighbors can be a pretty good motivator). Besides, from a
moral perspective I don't think that someone who slaves away for years
at medical school or works long hours at the office should receive no
more than a fellow who ignores his studies and spends all his time
hanging out on the street corner with his friends. Pre-agricultural
societies and small-scale communes didn't have this problem because
within a small group social pressure is usually enough to encourage
group members to do their share. In a larger group, alienation becomes
a problem, and people tend to shirk or to circumvent the rules by
resorting to black market activities.

-- 
Josh

"I love it when I'm around the country club, and I hear people talking about
the debilitating
effects of a welfare society. At the same time, they leave their kids a
lifetime and beyond
of food stamps. Instead of having a welfare officer, they have a trust officer.
And instead
of food stamps, they have stocks and bonds."

- Warren Buffett
                                                                              
--- SBBSecho 2.11-Win32
 * Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (1:14/400)