3 ms·

I see very little downside in an extreme form of campaign finance reform where basically any interaction between industry and legislature is deemed briber and t

I see very little downside in an extreme form of campaign finance reform where basically any interaction between industry and legislature is deemed briber and treason and is a capital crime. I’ll also advocate for a punitive wealth tax: not to raise revenue (who cares) but to cripple billionaires who aspire to nation state power. 50 million seems like plenty to live in arbitrary luxury but not enough to buy policy. Seize everything above that.

benreesman 2y ago
Today this is a comment. It will become a proposal. Then it will become an ultimatum. What happens after that is unclear. War possibly.
0xDEAFBEAD 2y ago
>basically any interaction between industry and legislature If legislature doesn't talk to industry before regulating, expect lots of incompetent, ignorant, economy-crippling regulation. You don't have to change anything in the US if you want this. Just move to Germany. >cripple billionaires You might be able to persuade Trump of this, actually, if you sell it as increasing his power over the other billionaires. More seriously -- It sounds like you have a strong desire to live in an authoritarian country, where the state possesses unchallenged primacy over its citizens. I support your right to do that. There are many available to choose from. I'll bet if you do enough research, you can even identify an authoritarian country which also has crippling regulations. That should be perfect.
- benreesman 2y ago
  These talking points went mainstream around the time Reagan got elected, around the time stuff like the Laffer curve got taken seriously. The United States was mounting a vigorous defense against the Warsaw Pact in 1960, and again in 1970, and straight up through 1979 before Reagan was elected and we took the Laffer Curve straight off the back of a napkin and to the legislature. There is a way to run a participating democracy without a dystopian upwards wealth transfer, without unlimited political spending, without a catastrophic class segmentation that will lead to war. And we can do it all while opposing unbounded statism. It sounds like you’re doing well under the current system and trying to frame it like that makes a system good. Fuck you.
  - 0xDEAFBEAD 2y ago
    >Fuck you. This will be my last reply in this thread (unless you apologize). >These talking points went mainstream around the time Reagan got elected, around the time stuff like the Laffer curve got taken seriously. Unfashionable isn't the same as wrong. It's telling that you're responding by saying "this is why you're unfashionable", rather than "this is why you're wrong". >There is a way to run a participating democracy without a dystopian upwards wealth transfer, without unlimited political spending, without a catastrophic class segmentation that will lead to war. And we can do it all while opposing unbounded statism. Are you aware that median wages in the US are some of the highest in the world? https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-median-income?tab=table https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-median-income?tab=t... Regarding class divisions and political spending, you might find these links interesting: https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-doesnt-really-have-a-working https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-doesnt-really-have-a-w... https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/09/18/too-much-dark-money-in-almonds/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/09/18/too-much-dark-money-in... I actually care more about global inequality than inequality within the USA. I would sooner support effective foreign aid than welfare. But really -- It's not your specific policy ideas that disturb me, so much as your attitude. Your politics aren't the politics of benevolence or charity. They're the politics of envy, ego, bitterness, and resentment. That never ends well: https://iea.org.uk/publications/socialism-the-failed-idea-that-never-dies/ https://iea.org.uk/publications/socialism-the-failed-idea-th... >It sounds like you’re doing well under the current system and trying to frame it like that makes a system good. Currently surviving off of savings due to a chronic illness. I haven't had a good source of income for multiple years. My Medicaid coverage just renewed. I rent a room in an undesirable area. I don't have a car. I won't get a chance to see my family for Christmas. But you know what? I am "doing well". That's because "doing well" is more about your mentality than your material resources. I hope you get the support you need in that area. Merry Christmas.

benreesman 2y ago

Today this is a comment. It will become a proposal. Then it will become an ultimatum. What happens after that is unclear. War possibly.

0xDEAFBEAD 2y ago

>basically any interaction between industry and legislature If legislature doesn't talk to industry before regulating, expect lots of incompetent, ignorant, economy-crippling regulation. You don't have to change anything in the US if you want this. Just move to Germany. >cripple billionaires You might be able to persuade Trump of this, actually, if you sell it as increasing his power over the other billionaires. More seriously -- It sounds like you have a strong desire to live in an authoritarian country, where the state possesses unchallenged primacy over its citizens. I support your right to do that. There are many available to choose from. I'll bet if you do enough research, you can even identify an authoritarian country which also has crippling regulations. That should be perfect.

benreesman 2y ago
These talking points went mainstream around the time Reagan got elected, around the time stuff like the Laffer curve got taken seriously. The United States was mounting a vigorous defense against the Warsaw Pact in 1960, and again in 1970, and straight up through 1979 before Reagan was elected and we took the Laffer Curve straight off the back of a napkin and to the legislature. There is a way to run a participating democracy without a dystopian upwards wealth transfer, without unlimited political spending, without a catastrophic class segmentation that will lead to war. And we can do it all while opposing unbounded statism. It sounds like you’re doing well under the current system and trying to frame it like that makes a system good. Fuck you.
- 0xDEAFBEAD 2y ago
  >Fuck you. This will be my last reply in this thread (unless you apologize). >These talking points went mainstream around the time Reagan got elected, around the time stuff like the Laffer curve got taken seriously. Unfashionable isn't the same as wrong. It's telling that you're responding by saying "this is why you're unfashionable", rather than "this is why you're wrong". >There is a way to run a participating democracy without a dystopian upwards wealth transfer, without unlimited political spending, without a catastrophic class segmentation that will lead to war. And we can do it all while opposing unbounded statism. Are you aware that median wages in the US are some of the highest in the world? https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-median-income?tab=table https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-median-income?tab=t... Regarding class divisions and political spending, you might find these links interesting: https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-doesnt-really-have-a-working https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-doesnt-really-have-a-w... https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/09/18/too-much-dark-money-in-almonds/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/09/18/too-much-dark-money-in... I actually care more about global inequality than inequality within the USA. I would sooner support effective foreign aid than welfare. But really -- It's not your specific policy ideas that disturb me, so much as your attitude. Your politics aren't the politics of benevolence or charity. They're the politics of envy, ego, bitterness, and resentment. That never ends well: https://iea.org.uk/publications/socialism-the-failed-idea-that-never-dies/ https://iea.org.uk/publications/socialism-the-failed-idea-th... >It sounds like you’re doing well under the current system and trying to frame it like that makes a system good. Currently surviving off of savings due to a chronic illness. I haven't had a good source of income for multiple years. My Medicaid coverage just renewed. I rent a room in an undesirable area. I don't have a car. I won't get a chance to see my family for Christmas. But you know what? I am "doing well". That's because "doing well" is more about your mentality than your material resources. I hope you get the support you need in that area. Merry Christmas.