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This (rather Randian) model of things is so contrived. Focus on the individual, their achievements, and personal wealth as untouchable property are half-truths,

by benched 13y ago

This (rather Randian) model of things is so contrived. Focus on the individual, their achievements, and personal wealth as untouchable property are half-truths, mythology, and contrivances. The economy is a collective thing. It's a network of people with money, goods, and services flowing between them. Serious wealth is and has always been primarily about one's positioning in the system, and only indirectly about their abilities or value delivered. Yes, presumably ability and achievement often have some influence on that positioning, but it's that mechanical fact of sitting in the thick part of the flow that matters when it comes to making a lot of money. (E.g. I get paid the same pretty much no matter what I do, while my blue-collar friends have to log hours and really work. Yeah, eventually I could potentially lose my job if I really do nothing, but in reality I can get away with doing very little - direct deposit still happens, because that's the system. I am so positioned with respect to the company's payroll system.) I don't see the problem with making changes at the systemic level to how the flow works (taxes, basic income), as well as making it easier for people to move around (which you addressed, re: education. e.g. returning college to affordability would be truly great).

iambateman 13y ago
At 100% tax, no one takes any risks. Big players contribute to the economy as a whole through capital investment and get a return on their investment's growth. To the extent that we tax them into a corner, we reduce their incentive to make capital investment. In the long term, we do not increase opportunity by reducing capital investment.
ahomescu1 13y ago
> This (rather Randian) model of things is so contrived. Focus on the individual, their achievements, and personal wealth as untouchable property are half-truths, mythology, and contrivances. > The economy is a collective thing. The economy is a collective of individuals, all of which must put in effort into making things work; people generally don't put in effort unless rewarded. For real-world examples of societies that put the collective above the individual, take a look at communist countries. Most of them failed, whereas the individualistic West still stands (I say this coming from Eastern Europe and seeing how much damage collectivism can do).

by benched 13y ago

iambateman 13y ago

At 100% tax, no one takes any risks. Big players contribute to the economy as a whole through capital investment and get a return on their investment's growth. To the extent that we tax them into a corner, we reduce their incentive to make capital investment. In the long term, we do not increase opportunity by reducing capital investment.

ahomescu1 13y ago

> This (rather Randian) model of things is so contrived. Focus on the individual, their achievements, and personal wealth as untouchable property are half-truths, mythology, and contrivances. > The economy is a collective thing. The economy is a collective of individuals, all of which must put in effort into making things work; people generally don't put in effort unless rewarded. For real-world examples of societies that put the collective above the individual, take a look at communist countries. Most of them failed, whereas the individualistic West still stands (I say this coming from Eastern Europe and seeing how much damage collectivism can do).