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 : The Trump Presidency -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (3317)	12/23/2016 11:33:10 AM
From: neolib	1 Recommendation Recommended By James Seagrove Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 358044

Yeah, the poll tax was another approach. The question is do some approaches drive the system towards corruption and the benefit of the ruling class or can some systems drive it towards effective government of the masses. Ayn Rand and her acolytes were largely a reaction to Marxism as it was implemented in Russia. I grew up surrounded by people how worshiped her and her writings, and were convinced that every totalitarian government was doomed to failure. I used to collect op-eds from 10 years ago from the likes of Cato, Heritage, etc pontificating on the impending implosion of China, all because it lacked FREEDOM, which all men (and women??) must have to really reach their potential. Some of those op-eds even claimed China would never have a greater GDP than the USA for this very reason. Back then the cross-over was predicated out at 2030-2050 or so. I wish I had made a graph of how that cross-over prediction shrank vs time. Quite astonishing. The Acolytes now like to point out that China is really pretty capitalistic these days. Sure, but its still not a democracy, and the government still has hugely intrusive powers, including swiping property as needed for the state goals. Only a percent or so of the population controls the government.