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>The problem is greed and selfish pursuit of wealth by certain kinds of people who see that as a worthwhile purpose for their life. Well, isn't it the essence

>The problem is greed and selfish pursuit of wealth by certain kinds of people who see that as a worthwhile purpose for their life. Well, isn't it the essence of capitalism and free markets? Isn't it how the deeply individualist Western democracies work - let people follow their greed and ambition, but surround them with legal fences, milk them for taxes, and use the collected taxes for the common good. It's like operating a nuclear reactor. Give it too much freedom and it will blow up and poison everything around. Restrain it too much, and it's output will quickly drop. The current social model isn't perfect, but no better social model has been invented so far.

minerjoe 6y ago
I would argue that, depending on your value sytem, many better social models have been invented and flourished for thousands of years. They didn't value property or money nor care to commit genocide to further expansion and hence were basically wiped out. Just because the psycopathic murderers won does not make their world view a "better social model".
- dgudkov 6y ago
  Not going to argue, just curious what social models of the past you consider as better ones?
  - minerjoe 6y ago
    I would consider the tribal gift economies of many of the American Indian tribes as "better". Moraly, ecologically, and spiritually. Minimal ecological damage and some would argue, me included, that they operated more as stewards improving much of the land they lived on. They cherished and took care of their elders. They worked a hell of a lot less hours than we do. And here's the kicker, they valued listening, honesty and respect. Can you even imagine living in such a society?
baddox 6y ago
> let people follow their greed and ambition, but surround them with legal fences It’s a shame they didn’t think of the obvious loophole that some people get so wealthy that they can use their wealth to influence those “fences.”

minerjoe 6y ago

I would argue that, depending on your value sytem, many better social models have been invented and flourished for thousands of years. They didn't value property or money nor care to commit genocide to further expansion and hence were basically wiped out. Just because the psycopathic murderers won does not make their world view a "better social model".

dgudkov 6y ago
Not going to argue, just curious what social models of the past you consider as better ones?
- minerjoe 6y ago
  I would consider the tribal gift economies of many of the American Indian tribes as "better". Moraly, ecologically, and spiritually. Minimal ecological damage and some would argue, me included, that they operated more as stewards improving much of the land they lived on. They cherished and took care of their elders. They worked a hell of a lot less hours than we do. And here's the kicker, they valued listening, honesty and respect. Can you even imagine living in such a society?

baddox 6y ago

> let people follow their greed and ambition, but surround them with legal fences It’s a shame they didn’t think of the obvious loophole that some people get so wealthy that they can use their wealth to influence those “fences.”