Breaking: 3 Richest Americans Now Own More Wealth Than Bottom 50%

Discussion in 'Current Events' started by resisting arrest, Nov 9, 2017.

  1. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    Ummm I think he was just accusing you of using circular logic, not being a theist per se
     
  2. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    If I'm wealthy then I have the aid of the state and I WILL use it to it's full extent.
     
  3. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    The people. Yay democracy!
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2017
  4. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    If you're in a certain market then you will strive to keep others out. You do that by lobbying (donating millions of dollars to) government officials to enact policy that favors you and hurts your (present and future) competition.
     
  5. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    Isn't the state awesome, with it's violence and coercion? So you're against the state, I take it?
     
  6. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    Kode was right, you are naive.
     
  7. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    The people elect representatives.

    Do you disagree?
     
  8. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    I think changes are definitely called for but no I'm not an anarchist.
     
  9. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    Me neither. I just observe that the state causes every problem we have.
     
  10. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    Let me ask you this, you've been following along here, why would corporations spend so much money lobbying politicians?
     
  11. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    Because the state has power and they want to influence how that power is exercised.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2017
  12. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    No he was saying I quote the bible which I don't and it made him look foolish.
     
  13. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    That's just your market and you do it by producing a better product at a better value. But I asked

    Why on earth would the wealthy with all their money invested in companies trying to produce income not want other people to become wealthy? How would that make them more wealthy. They need other wealthy people to hire people and put them to work making money so they can buy their products. They need that other capital formation to expand the economy so they can expand their assets and businesses. It always amazes me how people trying to talk economics come to the conclusion a few rich people want everyone else to be poor because it somehow enhances and grows their own wealth.
     
  14. Kode

    Kode Well-Known Member

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    You, then, have succumbed to the consumer mentality. You took the bait. You believed the hype.
     
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  15. Kode

    Kode Well-Known Member

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    Why would the state do that?
     
  16. TedintheShed

    TedintheShed Banned

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    The politicians own the wealthy, as they have the monopoly of force. The wealthy simply play the game they are allowed.
     
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  17. Kode

    Kode Well-Known Member

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    Why did Skil and Milwaukie tool makers produce more shoddy products, then, after they had basically owned the market with high quality, reliable power tools? Why did Subaru, Jeep, and Land Rover, ––three auto makers known for producing quality, reliable, affordable products, ––suddenly switch to making products that top the list for recalls and reported problems per 100 miles? Why did the maker of EpiPen raise the price of their product, after many years, from about $8 each to several hundred dollars each with no improvement in the product.

    Clearly your idealized capitalist textbook perspective is lacking validity.


    So you believe the growing trend in outrageous wealth disparity is harmful to the wealthy? And you want us to believe anything you say? LOL!!!!

    BTW, Roy Moore just lost. YIPEE!!!!
     
  18. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

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    Apple is another good example of a company that is very adept at benefiting from intellectual property laws.
     
  19. Professor Peabody

    Professor Peabody Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Please give us real world examples with link that aren't kook blogs.
     
  20. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I would like to discuss this point further.

    When you say that the wealthy are constantly trying to suppress others from becoming wealthy, in what format? How do they try to do this?
     
  21. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Agreed.

    I am not sure why people make the claim that the wealthy are trying to keep others done. I think this plays into the victimization mentality, because in practicality, this would serve no purpose.

    In fact, most wealthy people realize that a vibrant economy, filled with other people with lots of money, results in more opportunity for them to gain wealth.

    Owning a business in a dead economy is not going to make anybody wealthy. Wealthy people WANT everybody else to have income growth, because thats what enables them to gain more wealth.
     
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  22. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Sounds like you have a government problem, not a wealth problem.

    I agree with this perspective to some degree. Like most things, the problems our economy and society must overcome have a root in the government.

    Fix government, fix the issue.
     
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  23. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    What is inherently wrong with consumerism?
     
  24. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    That didn't prevent anybody else from entering the market and offering reliable tools at an affordable price. That is what makes the free market great. When a consumer and manufacturer realize that a gap exists, they fill the gap and simultaneously generate additional wealth.

    I don't think the auto industry is your best example. It is one of the most competitive, resulting in the best built, longest lasting automobiles history has known.

    If these couple of manufacturers didn't keep up with the trend, then that is their problem, and the consumer will speak by not buying their product.

    Price gouging. This is where government is supposed to step in and prevent monopolies and consumer protections.

    I disagree. Your perspective fails to identify that our economy is as strong and innovative as it is, because the free market allows individuals through corporations to fill market gaps.

    There is a reason the US is responsible for some much innovation, product development, R&D, and technological improvements. Moreso than the rest of the world combined.

    You just fail to find the commonality which is capitalism that promotes these things, instead focusing on selective market hostage situations and anti-trust cases in order to rally against all of capitalism.

    The facts are in the pudd'in. We are what we are, and our economy is what it is, because of the free market opportunity to freely align production with demand.


    I don't think the wealth gap has any bearing on.... anything.

    People will always be engaged in some wealth disparity. Always has, always will.

    You have yet to prove why the wealth gap matters to anybody. Somebody being poor has very little bearing on me, as does somebody being wealthy.
     
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  25. AKS

    AKS Banned

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    It is completely a government problem. Term limits and eliminating donations would go a long way towards fixing the problem but the powerful and wealthy elites would never allow this to happen. Doing so would hinder their ability enact policy to restrict competition.
     
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