Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Johannes Pilch who wrote (487666)	11/5/2003 6:47:38 PM
From: Don Hurst	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

You make more sense when you do your idiot talk bit. Oops...sorry...that is what you were doing.

To: Johannes Pilch who wrote (487666)	11/6/2003 12:46:10 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

"The point is, if I acquire lots of wealth honestly and you have absolutely nothing, I have done nothing wrong and owe you nothing at all." >>> Never said you did. It seems we ALL 'owe' taxes to the government. "Only because the government gives us goods in exchange. That is called "trade." Outside of trade, no one owes anyone a farthing - even if the whole world is starving to death." >>> The government gives us national defense. They give us the laws and enforcement of same that produce a civil society --- without which there could be no market economy. Without a justice system, there is no 'there' there. Some go further than just that obligation... and believe in the moral imperative of leaving their country a better place than they found it. "And this is religious crap." >>> No, it is merely talking about morality in society --- which can be quite separate from 'religion'. "The fact is, many other people validly think that by acquiring wealth, they are indeed leaving the country a better place than they found it." >>> Many people think that... sometimes it's even true, ceuterus paribus! "For example, I may legitimately think that as I acquire wealth and keep it from you, I may protect the country from your penchant to take wealth and fund the murder of children and "art" that insults the moral convictions I esteem. I am actually doing a better thing than what I think would happen had you more of my money. Quite legitimate." >>> Eh???????? Just how, exactly, was I supposed to be 'getting wealth from you?' I don't even know you, and we have no business relationship... but if we did I would expect to be paid for my services or goods, according to the terms of any contract we might have. Should you default, the justice system would be my recourse. >>> And "I" am "funding" neither Art, nor Abortions. If our 'government' (national, state, or local) is, with your tax money, and you disagree... than you can always express your political opinion and attempt to get the government's policies changed... or you can avail yourself of your freedom and depart this country for some place you find more agreeable --- your choice. Or, I suppose, you could refuse to pay taxes and go to jail. Again, your choice... and the same choice that I and all other citizens have: to be a member of this nation, or not. I believe that would meet the definition of a sick society though [if 1% of people owned everything] "You may think this, but the 1% may well not. Your opinion certainly does not trump theirs in any objective sense." >>> Hey, it's a mostly free world --- everyone is entitled to their opinion... it's just that I can think of no human society in all of human history that has ever been able to exist or survive where 1% of the population owned 100% of all national wealth. (I would regard that situation as inherently UNSTABLE!) It is unlikely Democracy would exist anymore under those conditions of Plutocracy. "Democracy may well exist." >>> About as likely - under those conditions - as ice is on Venus. (See my previous comment.) "Even so, no one has a right to remove the inalienable rights of others simply to protect some crappy notion you have of "Democracy." Democracy does not depend upon my having to give anyone a single dime." >>> What 'inalienable right' have I ever called for the 'removal of'? Answer: NONE! >>> You are preaching to yourself here... not to me, and not in response to any statement I've made.