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Technology Stocks : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dennis who wrote (50364)	7/9/1998 1:54:00 PM
From: freeus	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

****off topic re government Ah a budding Libertarian. I'm always looking for those. Our government has indeed held us down by converting a free market capitalist country into a welfare-socialist one with communist tendencies. Not only does the government hold us and companies back, it taxes us too much** . Our tax rates have increased in multiples since the 60's especially since the code has been gerrymandered so much that few things are now deductible (that used to be) and the middle class is now considered rich as far as taxation. Watch out for the new version of the Alternative Minimum Tax. And did you know that few other industrialized countries tax capital gains???? Freeus

To: Dennis who wrote (50364)	7/9/1998 2:42:00 PM
From: Chuzzlewit	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 176387

OT In defense of the economic role of government Dennis, now imagine how much would be in your retirement account if government were cut back. Now imagine what the result would be to the educational system if the people who hate government had their way. Would you even have a job? There's an interesting story recounted in MacPherson's excellent book "Battle Cry of Freedom". He tells of a group of visiting British industrialists coming to the US and studying mass production methods which were unknown in England at the time. They visited the Springfield musket works, and were amazed at seeing young people making high quality muskets. In England this was a skill handed down from father to son and required going through an apprenticeship. But then, Britons could not read. In the US (at least in Northern industrialized cities) there was free education through the 8th grade. So workers came into factories knowing how to read and write. That allowed them to read manuals and learn very rapidly compared to the English apprenticeship system. Do you know that in this country roads were once private. Rapid economic expansion requires direct public investment in infrastructures like roads and postal systems and indirect investments in others through tax subsidies. When you compare the US to economies throughout the world that have very low tax rates and minimal to no infrastructure spending you see the results. The rich (of which there are very very few) get richer, and the poor languish. Finally, government safety nets were responsible to a great extent in creating a large middle class, and it is the existence of that large middle class that drives the economic engine. The bottom line is that nobody likes to pay taxes. The problem, it seems to me, is that we forget that taxes are really community purchases of goods and services: like roads, and schools and unemployment insurance. Some years ago when the Republican "Contract with America" had considerable sway the NY Times ran a series of articles on where spending could be cut. The conclusion was that after you eliminated what it considered to be obvious boondoggles (like tax subsidies to beekeepers and some other agricultural subsidies, etc) and some debatable social engineering programs (various welfare programs) that very little money could be saved without cutting into the muscle of government function. Here's an example of what I'm talking about. Public health is often cited as an example of unnecessary government expenditure. But the question is not raised as to the economic benefits of having those programs. For example, the wealthy benefit by having the poor treated for diseases like tuberculosis. Do we want the USDA to be less diligent in preventing tainted foods to come to market? I will now relinquish my soapbox TTFN, CTC

To: Dennis who wrote (50364)	7/9/1998 3:09:00 PM
From: kemble s. matter	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 176387

Dennis, Hi!!! Thanks for the kind words....but, really you should be thanking all of the Dell thread and most of all....Michael.....IMO we have basically followed his words...I for one have literally held them close to my chest these past two and a half years....early one we found out that the things he said come true...oooh...but, then he " deceives" us by UNDERESTIMATING...<<gg>> Our TSA money at the school is invested by me through a broker into Mutual funds...boy, do I ever wish I could buy individual stocks...but, I do hold a fairly large position in one fund that has Dell as it's #1 weighted equity... I really don't know how to handle these past two days...right now I have one of my closest friends sitting next to me....he is just one of the numerous people who has bought Dell because of my obnoxious behavior...he thinks he's famous since he was the cook on the CNN Dell barbecue...we only invited him because he is a cop in town and that way if we get out of hand...well...you get the point....he invested a small amount last year after he proposed and got engaged....now, here is a guy who is willing to put Dell ahead of his marriage plans....wow...will he be able to afford an incredible honeymoon! Best, Kemble