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December 17, 2010 at 11:28 AM #642200December 17, 2010 at 11:48 AM #641106
CoronitaParticipant[quote=surveyor]flu, not sure your /sarcasm is off but here goes:
“The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.
http://american.com/archive/2010/december/human-nature-and-capitalism/%5B/quote%5D
My sarcasm is on in an off way… But thanks for your post. It is an interesting read.
But lol… Look at the prevailing “entitlement”…
“WASHINGTON (AP) — After business executives had their turn at the White House, President Barack Obama is giving a shot to union leaders fuming over the tax bill he intended to sign a few hours after Friday’s meeting.The deal with congressional Republicans included a union-sought extension of jobless benefits, but passage came “at a terrible price,” said the AFL-CIO president’s Richard Trumka.
Trumka criticized the extension of Bush-era tax rates for the highest wage-earners, arguing that money could have been used to invest in the creation of jobs.”
Union jobs? Oh my….
Here we go again… “Us versus them” arguments all over. Everyone trying to spend other people’s moeny……Hey union leaders, if you want to create more jobs, how about cutting some of the pensions??? :)…Nevermind, I’m withdrawing that statement.
Funny how everyone has a great idea on how to make the economy better…But even more funny the expectation is someone else to pay the bills to do it.
Oh well, at least we have some balance in the government now….Disillusioned FLU…
December 17, 2010 at 11:48 AM #641178CoronitaParticipant[quote=surveyor]flu, not sure your /sarcasm is off but here goes:
“The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.
http://american.com/archive/2010/december/human-nature-and-capitalism/%5B/quote%5D
My sarcasm is on in an off way… But thanks for your post. It is an interesting read.
But lol… Look at the prevailing “entitlement”…
“WASHINGTON (AP) — After business executives had their turn at the White House, President Barack Obama is giving a shot to union leaders fuming over the tax bill he intended to sign a few hours after Friday’s meeting.The deal with congressional Republicans included a union-sought extension of jobless benefits, but passage came “at a terrible price,” said the AFL-CIO president’s Richard Trumka.
Trumka criticized the extension of Bush-era tax rates for the highest wage-earners, arguing that money could have been used to invest in the creation of jobs.”
Union jobs? Oh my….
Here we go again… “Us versus them” arguments all over. Everyone trying to spend other people’s moeny……Hey union leaders, if you want to create more jobs, how about cutting some of the pensions??? :)…Nevermind, I’m withdrawing that statement.
Funny how everyone has a great idea on how to make the economy better…But even more funny the expectation is someone else to pay the bills to do it.
Oh well, at least we have some balance in the government now….Disillusioned FLU…
December 17, 2010 at 11:48 AM #641758CoronitaParticipant[quote=surveyor]flu, not sure your /sarcasm is off but here goes:
“The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.
http://american.com/archive/2010/december/human-nature-and-capitalism/%5B/quote%5D
My sarcasm is on in an off way… But thanks for your post. It is an interesting read.
But lol… Look at the prevailing “entitlement”…
“WASHINGTON (AP) — After business executives had their turn at the White House, President Barack Obama is giving a shot to union leaders fuming over the tax bill he intended to sign a few hours after Friday’s meeting.The deal with congressional Republicans included a union-sought extension of jobless benefits, but passage came “at a terrible price,” said the AFL-CIO president’s Richard Trumka.
Trumka criticized the extension of Bush-era tax rates for the highest wage-earners, arguing that money could have been used to invest in the creation of jobs.”
Union jobs? Oh my….
Here we go again… “Us versus them” arguments all over. Everyone trying to spend other people’s moeny……Hey union leaders, if you want to create more jobs, how about cutting some of the pensions??? :)…Nevermind, I’m withdrawing that statement.
Funny how everyone has a great idea on how to make the economy better…But even more funny the expectation is someone else to pay the bills to do it.
Oh well, at least we have some balance in the government now….Disillusioned FLU…
December 17, 2010 at 11:48 AM #641896CoronitaParticipant[quote=surveyor]flu, not sure your /sarcasm is off but here goes:
“The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.
http://american.com/archive/2010/december/human-nature-and-capitalism/%5B/quote%5D
My sarcasm is on in an off way… But thanks for your post. It is an interesting read.
But lol… Look at the prevailing “entitlement”…
“WASHINGTON (AP) — After business executives had their turn at the White House, President Barack Obama is giving a shot to union leaders fuming over the tax bill he intended to sign a few hours after Friday’s meeting.The deal with congressional Republicans included a union-sought extension of jobless benefits, but passage came “at a terrible price,” said the AFL-CIO president’s Richard Trumka.
Trumka criticized the extension of Bush-era tax rates for the highest wage-earners, arguing that money could have been used to invest in the creation of jobs.”
Union jobs? Oh my….
Here we go again… “Us versus them” arguments all over. Everyone trying to spend other people’s moeny……Hey union leaders, if you want to create more jobs, how about cutting some of the pensions??? :)…Nevermind, I’m withdrawing that statement.
Funny how everyone has a great idea on how to make the economy better…But even more funny the expectation is someone else to pay the bills to do it.
Oh well, at least we have some balance in the government now….Disillusioned FLU…
December 17, 2010 at 11:48 AM #642215CoronitaParticipant[quote=surveyor]flu, not sure your /sarcasm is off but here goes:
“The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.
http://american.com/archive/2010/december/human-nature-and-capitalism/%5B/quote%5D
My sarcasm is on in an off way… But thanks for your post. It is an interesting read.
But lol… Look at the prevailing “entitlement”…
“WASHINGTON (AP) — After business executives had their turn at the White House, President Barack Obama is giving a shot to union leaders fuming over the tax bill he intended to sign a few hours after Friday’s meeting.The deal with congressional Republicans included a union-sought extension of jobless benefits, but passage came “at a terrible price,” said the AFL-CIO president’s Richard Trumka.
Trumka criticized the extension of Bush-era tax rates for the highest wage-earners, arguing that money could have been used to invest in the creation of jobs.”
Union jobs? Oh my….
Here we go again… “Us versus them” arguments all over. Everyone trying to spend other people’s moeny……Hey union leaders, if you want to create more jobs, how about cutting some of the pensions??? :)…Nevermind, I’m withdrawing that statement.
Funny how everyone has a great idea on how to make the economy better…But even more funny the expectation is someone else to pay the bills to do it.
Oh well, at least we have some balance in the government now….Disillusioned FLU…
December 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM #641116Anonymous
Guest[quote]Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
Man, that’s a thick slathering of philosophy – even got some Donne in there.
But back to the tedium of practical matters:
How exactly do we balance the federal budget?
The revenue isn’t there. One reason is because tax rates are lower than they have been in decades
(so much for the slippery slope argument that taxes will always go up…History hasn’t proven anybody wrong in this thread.)
Cut spending, you say? Tell me exactly what we can cut that will be enough to balance the budget. Use numbers. (betcha can’t do it!)
BTW, Adam Smith believed in progressive tax rates, and had quite a bit else to say about taxes that was quite contrary to the rants of our modern-day “tea party” types.
December 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM #641188Guest[quote]Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
Man, that’s a thick slathering of philosophy – even got some Donne in there.
But back to the tedium of practical matters:
How exactly do we balance the federal budget?
The revenue isn’t there. One reason is because tax rates are lower than they have been in decades
(so much for the slippery slope argument that taxes will always go up…History hasn’t proven anybody wrong in this thread.)
Cut spending, you say? Tell me exactly what we can cut that will be enough to balance the budget. Use numbers. (betcha can’t do it!)
BTW, Adam Smith believed in progressive tax rates, and had quite a bit else to say about taxes that was quite contrary to the rants of our modern-day “tea party” types.
December 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM #641768Guest[quote]Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
Man, that’s a thick slathering of philosophy – even got some Donne in there.
But back to the tedium of practical matters:
How exactly do we balance the federal budget?
The revenue isn’t there. One reason is because tax rates are lower than they have been in decades
(so much for the slippery slope argument that taxes will always go up…History hasn’t proven anybody wrong in this thread.)
Cut spending, you say? Tell me exactly what we can cut that will be enough to balance the budget. Use numbers. (betcha can’t do it!)
BTW, Adam Smith believed in progressive tax rates, and had quite a bit else to say about taxes that was quite contrary to the rants of our modern-day “tea party” types.
December 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM #641906Guest[quote]Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
Man, that’s a thick slathering of philosophy – even got some Donne in there.
But back to the tedium of practical matters:
How exactly do we balance the federal budget?
The revenue isn’t there. One reason is because tax rates are lower than they have been in decades
(so much for the slippery slope argument that taxes will always go up…History hasn’t proven anybody wrong in this thread.)
Cut spending, you say? Tell me exactly what we can cut that will be enough to balance the budget. Use numbers. (betcha can’t do it!)
BTW, Adam Smith believed in progressive tax rates, and had quite a bit else to say about taxes that was quite contrary to the rants of our modern-day “tea party” types.
December 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM #642225Guest[quote]Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
Man, that’s a thick slathering of philosophy – even got some Donne in there.
But back to the tedium of practical matters:
How exactly do we balance the federal budget?
The revenue isn’t there. One reason is because tax rates are lower than they have been in decades
(so much for the slippery slope argument that taxes will always go up…History hasn’t proven anybody wrong in this thread.)
Cut spending, you say? Tell me exactly what we can cut that will be enough to balance the budget. Use numbers. (betcha can’t do it!)
BTW, Adam Smith believed in progressive tax rates, and had quite a bit else to say about taxes that was quite contrary to the rants of our modern-day “tea party” types.
December 17, 2010 at 12:07 PM #641121permabear
Participant[quote=surveyor]”The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
FTFY
I think it’s pretty clear that a large percentage of very wealthy people in the US have derived their wealth by screwing over other people, and robbing publicly-funded institutions like education and social security via government-backed bailouts, taxes, and loopholes that favor the rich over the middle class.
The US will soon be dead-last in education, social support, vacation time, equal rights. We’re all pretending if we still think we’re a “first world” country at this point. Hell, even with technologies we invented like the internet, other countries are blowing by us by using – guess what – public funds to run huge sections of infrastructure.
Look at our rating for internet access:
Here’s another one. That’s right, Latvia is ahead of us:
http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1538368~c655b533c91ea717854ff853f68cc5ce/Latvia.jpg
Meanwhile we can’t even fix potholes most of the time, because we have the least-progressive tax structure of any developed nation.
December 17, 2010 at 12:07 PM #641193Participant[quote=surveyor]”The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
FTFY
I think it’s pretty clear that a large percentage of very wealthy people in the US have derived their wealth by screwing over other people, and robbing publicly-funded institutions like education and social security via government-backed bailouts, taxes, and loopholes that favor the rich over the middle class.
The US will soon be dead-last in education, social support, vacation time, equal rights. We’re all pretending if we still think we’re a “first world” country at this point. Hell, even with technologies we invented like the internet, other countries are blowing by us by using – guess what – public funds to run huge sections of infrastructure.
Look at our rating for internet access:
Here’s another one. That’s right, Latvia is ahead of us:
http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1538368~c655b533c91ea717854ff853f68cc5ce/Latvia.jpg
Meanwhile we can’t even fix potholes most of the time, because we have the least-progressive tax structure of any developed nation.
December 17, 2010 at 12:07 PM #641773Participant[quote=surveyor]”The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
FTFY
I think it’s pretty clear that a large percentage of very wealthy people in the US have derived their wealth by screwing over other people, and robbing publicly-funded institutions like education and social security via government-backed bailouts, taxes, and loopholes that favor the rich over the middle class.
The US will soon be dead-last in education, social support, vacation time, equal rights. We’re all pretending if we still think we’re a “first world” country at this point. Hell, even with technologies we invented like the internet, other countries are blowing by us by using – guess what – public funds to run huge sections of infrastructure.
Look at our rating for internet access:
Here’s another one. That’s right, Latvia is ahead of us:
http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1538368~c655b533c91ea717854ff853f68cc5ce/Latvia.jpg
Meanwhile we can’t even fix potholes most of the time, because we have the least-progressive tax structure of any developed nation.
December 17, 2010 at 12:07 PM #641911Participant[quote=surveyor]”The American founders believed, and capitalism rests on the belief, that people are driven by “self-interest” and the desire to better our condition. Self-interest is not necessarily bad; in fact, Smith believed, and capitalism presupposes, that the general welfare depends on allowing an individual to pursue his self-interest “as long as he does not violate the laws of justice.” When a person acts in his own interest, “he frequently promotes [the interest] of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. ”7
Here it is important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest—unlike selfishness—will often lead one to commit acts of altruism; rightly understood, it knows that no man is an island, that we are part of a larger community, and that what is good for others is good for us. To put it another way: Pursuing our own good can advance the common good. Even more, advancing the common good can advance our own good.[/quote]
FTFY
I think it’s pretty clear that a large percentage of very wealthy people in the US have derived their wealth by screwing over other people, and robbing publicly-funded institutions like education and social security via government-backed bailouts, taxes, and loopholes that favor the rich over the middle class.
The US will soon be dead-last in education, social support, vacation time, equal rights. We’re all pretending if we still think we’re a “first world” country at this point. Hell, even with technologies we invented like the internet, other countries are blowing by us by using – guess what – public funds to run huge sections of infrastructure.
Look at our rating for internet access:
Here’s another one. That’s right, Latvia is ahead of us:
http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1538368~c655b533c91ea717854ff853f68cc5ce/Latvia.jpg
Meanwhile we can’t even fix potholes most of the time, because we have the least-progressive tax structure of any developed nation.
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