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Why shouldn’t a country be selfish? Isn’t that the point of a country: to promote the interests of the citizens of that country? It’s selfish that France doesn’

Why shouldn’t a country be selfish? Isn’t that the point of a country: to promote the interests of the citizens of that country? It’s selfish that France doesn’t send me free Champagne. “Selfishness,” or in other words “self-interest” is what drives markets to efficiency. Minimum tax rate agreements are the same thing as a price floor — and have similar effects. It’s essentially a subsidy for high tax countries. How is it the fault of Ireland that France has a higher tax rate? Why should the Irish pay out of their pocket to bolster the treasury of France? What’s in it for Ireland?

wolverine876 5y ago
> Why shouldn’t a country be selfish? Why shouldn't everyone be selfish? Because other people matter, and because if people work together and cooperate, which includes making some sacrifices, then everyone gets better results in the long run. > Isn’t that the point of a country: to promote the interests of the citizens of that country? That's one view (nationalism, if I'm using the term correctly), but certainly not the only one. There are higher purposes than one's personal interests.
- refurb 5y ago
  Being selfish and cooperation are not exclusive.
- AlexTWithBeard 5y ago
  We can say that people should not be selfish all the time. That will not change a simple fact: people ARE selfish. Yes, generally people do want to help those in need - usually in exchange for some respect and karma improvement. The "give the money and fuck off with your advice" approach won't cause much compassion.
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    > We can say that people should not be selfish all the time. That will not change a simple fact: people ARE selfish. People are selfish and generous, angry and compassionate, courageous and scared. None of those things are more fundamental than the other. We are biologically the same as the saints and sinners, as the people who burned witches at the stake and the ones who risked their lives to save others. You can choose the best or worst angels of your nature; we each can. It's perverse to claim, against all evidence, that we are defined only by the worst in us. To take away our free will and choice. And for what? To provide an argument for a political movement?
shkkmo 5y ago
> What’s in it for Ireland? Participation in the global economy.
8note 5y ago
I would say because those countries have benefits from free trade? An equivalent would be for high tax those countries to put very high tariffs on tax havens
Gustomaximus 5y ago
> Why shouldn’t a country be selfish? As a broad term should should be self interested absolutely. In this regard it needs ot be recognised as selfish for little good reason and potentially very bad ones for the greater system. There clearly is a short term value in dropping tax rates for countries like Ireland, but medium/long term this means is other countries follow their rates down, so there is little long term advantage and your broking the system in chasing said advantage for a nation. > Why should the Irish pay out of their pocket to bolster the treasury of France? This is the core of the problem, Ireland is taking revenue from France. Im not sure if you aware of things like the 'Double Irish' (google if you dont as its core part of the problem) but profits being made in a country like France are artificially transferred to a low tax country so France doesn't get the tax they should on profits in their own country. This is in itself a ethical issue but if you like capitalism how long do you think there will be open international trade if this system continues and if corporate tax rates continue to drop? Countries will increasingly be unwilling to allow open global trade if they cant run their country to the rules they wish, this in itself should worry anyone that believe global trade is a good thing.

wolverine876 5y ago

> Why shouldn’t a country be selfish? Why shouldn't everyone be selfish? Because other people matter, and because if people work together and cooperate, which includes making some sacrifices, then everyone gets better results in the long run. > Isn’t that the point of a country: to promote the interests of the citizens of that country? That's one view (nationalism, if I'm using the term correctly), but certainly not the only one. There are higher purposes than one's personal interests.

refurb 5y ago
Being selfish and cooperation are not exclusive.
AlexTWithBeard 5y ago
We can say that people should not be selfish all the time. That will not change a simple fact: people ARE selfish. Yes, generally people do want to help those in need - usually in exchange for some respect and karma improvement. The "give the money and fuck off with your advice" approach won't cause much compassion.
- wolverine876 5y ago
  > We can say that people should not be selfish all the time. That will not change a simple fact: people ARE selfish. People are selfish and generous, angry and compassionate, courageous and scared. None of those things are more fundamental than the other. We are biologically the same as the saints and sinners, as the people who burned witches at the stake and the ones who risked their lives to save others. You can choose the best or worst angels of your nature; we each can. It's perverse to claim, against all evidence, that we are defined only by the worst in us. To take away our free will and choice. And for what? To provide an argument for a political movement?

shkkmo 5y ago

> What’s in it for Ireland? Participation in the global economy.

8note 5y ago

I would say because those countries have benefits from free trade? An equivalent would be for high tax those countries to put very high tariffs on tax havens

Gustomaximus 5y ago

> Why shouldn’t a country be selfish? As a broad term should should be self interested absolutely. In this regard it needs ot be recognised as selfish for little good reason and potentially very bad ones for the greater system. There clearly is a short term value in dropping tax rates for countries like Ireland, but medium/long term this means is other countries follow their rates down, so there is little long term advantage and your broking the system in chasing said advantage for a nation. > Why should the Irish pay out of their pocket to bolster the treasury of France? This is the core of the problem, Ireland is taking revenue from France. Im not sure if you aware of things like the 'Double Irish' (google if you dont as its core part of the problem) but profits being made in a country like France are artificially transferred to a low tax country so France doesn't get the tax they should on profits in their own country. This is in itself a ethical issue but if you like capitalism how long do you think there will be open international trade if this system continues and if corporate tax rates continue to drop? Countries will increasingly be unwilling to allow open global trade if they cant run their country to the rules they wish, this in itself should worry anyone that believe global trade is a good thing.