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The average Joe doesn’t make the laws. The wealthy class do. Consider for a moment whether Elon Musk and his millions financing elections or Rupert Murdoch and

The average Joe doesn’t make the laws. The wealthy class do. Consider for a moment whether Elon Musk and his millions financing elections or Rupert Murdoch and his media empire have the same influence over the political process and you or I. The power imbalance seems obvious to me. You mention that wealthy people support property tax because it harms their competitors even though it harms themselves. I haven’t heard that one before. Why wouldn’t elites just write laws that benefit themselves and hurt others instead? This explanation for property tax seems incomplete to me.

9rx 1y ago
> Consider for a moment whether Elon Musk and his millions financing elections Yeah, and look where that got him. He got to play pretend politician for a short while, but soon realized that it wasn't going to get him anywhere. Everything he wanted to change — including eliminating IP laws, as it happens — failed and it wasn't long before he ran away crying. Trump is a stronger example of someone who is successfully, at least to some degree, usurping power from the Average Joe. However, I am not sure you have made a good case for his wealth being behind it. Hitler (Godwin's law, yeah, yeah) seized power away from Average Joe in a similar fashion while he was rather poor. But Trump is an unusual case anyway. His behaviour is quite unlike what has been seen in the past (in the USA). It is not like being wealthy is a new invention. > Why wouldn’t elites just write laws that benefit themselves and hurt others instead? Exactly! If the wealthy had all the power, why wouldn't they just enact laws that say they get everything and everyone else must become their slaves? Why beat around the bush with all kinds of stupid half-measures? The reason is because the silly half-measures come from Average Joes trying to improve things, but to not compromise their personal situation (e.g. harming their job) in the process. > This explanation for property tax seems incomplete to me. Sure. I'll let you know when my series of textbooks on the subject is finished. But, there is only so much room in an HN comment.

9rx 1y ago

> Consider for a moment whether Elon Musk and his millions financing elections Yeah, and look where that got him. He got to play pretend politician for a short while, but soon realized that it wasn't going to get him anywhere. Everything he wanted to change — including eliminating IP laws, as it happens — failed and it wasn't long before he ran away crying. Trump is a stronger example of someone who is successfully, at least to some degree, usurping power from the Average Joe. However, I am not sure you have made a good case for his wealth being behind it. Hitler (Godwin's law, yeah, yeah) seized power away from Average Joe in a similar fashion while he was rather poor. But Trump is an unusual case anyway. His behaviour is quite unlike what has been seen in the past (in the USA). It is not like being wealthy is a new invention. > Why wouldn’t elites just write laws that benefit themselves and hurt others instead? Exactly! If the wealthy had all the power, why wouldn't they just enact laws that say they get everything and everyone else must become their slaves? Why beat around the bush with all kinds of stupid half-measures? The reason is because the silly half-measures come from Average Joes trying to improve things, but to not compromise their personal situation (e.g. harming their job) in the process. > This explanation for property tax seems incomplete to me. Sure. I'll let you know when my series of textbooks on the subject is finished. But, there is only so much room in an HN comment.