Millionaires, Billionaires Own 79% of America's Wealth

Discussion in 'Latest US & World News' started by Horhey, Sep 29, 2020.

  1. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    Again, who determines what others need? What’s the universal formula for determining need?
     
  2. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    1) The world is full of options and opportunities. The 'system' has no say in any of it, other than in terms of rules and regulations pertaining to income and business. If you're an individual who absolutely cannot foresee anything but working a minimum wage job, then start young and buy your first cheap investment property while still living at home. Buy another one every few years, and by the time you're 40 you'll easily have enough income to stop work altogether. And your assets will have been paid for by tenants (which they like to do, so it's a mutually beneficial relationship). This is just one example which puts the lie to your claim that everything is hopelessly rigged. That's the reality - anything else is excuses.

    2) Sorry, but that's patently untrue. Financial security has nothing to do with intelligence. It's a function of self-discipline and determination.

    3) Many business succeed. And just as many start off with not much in the way of working capital. Even if a bit of working capital is needed, 'the system' isn't stopping kids from working their behind off while living at home rent free, and saving 90% of what they earn for a few years. If kids aren't doing that, it's because they don't want to do it.
    .
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2020
  3. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    There is only one universal formula, and it's food and shelter.

    You will never get First Worlders to agree to that, though. Too far gone, we are :)
     
  4. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    Yes, the average First Worlder thinks they're entitled to everything, while the poor Third Worlder gets nothing. I see your point.
     
  5. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    So. As long as one has enough food to survive and enough shelter to protect them, that’s enough?
     
  6. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    Most people believe that they are entitled to what they earn.
     
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  7. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    Let's not. Let's look at the cause.

    The cause is failure to adapt to a changing economy. Yes, there will always be casualties during times of change, but since that's inevitable it shouldn't be a part of this conversation. Let's focus on what everyone else is doing to adapt to the new state of things.

    The Irish left Ireland when things went bad. Those who owned video shops got out when technology moved on. Blacksmiths aren't common anymore. Etc etc etc. Times and conditions will ALWAYS change, it's on us to adapt - or perish.
     
  8. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    I'm saying it's the only universal measure (because it's difficult to obtain even that for many of the world's peoples).

    My point is that those who claim to be all about no borders, socialism, equality etc, must use that as their measure - for THEMSELVES. If they're not doing so, they're total fakes and liars. Guess which they are?
     
  9. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    Exactly. My beef is with those who believe themselves entitled to unearned fruits just by dint of existing.
     
  10. bringiton

    bringiton Well-Known Member

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    Need is a physical fact. What people deserve is justice: rewards commensurate with contributions, costs commensurate with deprivations.
    Everyone has the responsibility to see that justice is done.
     
  11. bringiton

    bringiton Well-Known Member

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    That depends on whether they accumulated it by increasing total wealth, or just by transferring wealth from others to themselves. Effectively all great accumulations of wealth are obtained by the latter method:

    "Behind every great fortune there is a great crime." -- H de Balzac
     
  12. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    People deserve that which they earn. Children deserve things. who determines what “contributions” are worthy of reward?

    How is this related to justice?
     
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  13. One Mind

    One Mind Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Those people are so few they don't deserve your attention..

    I am not concerned about a minority of irresponsible people that are mentally inferior except a modern civ, society, would not allow them to suffer and die because they are inferior or aged or sick or disabled.

    I am concerned about what people like my competitors do. Exploiting workers because they can!

    I paid living wages for 40 years while all of my competitors paid barely above min wage.. My beliefs are based on those 40 years in business. The cost? I kept a fair amount of income so my employees could earn a living wage.

    So don't piss on my leg, claiming it's just raining! Not you personally but all who defend these greedy bastards, Claiming its just capitalism.
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2020
  14. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    Outside of armed robbery, the 'others' must first agree to give their wealth to the transferee. In which case your argument is with 'others', for setting up that relationship in the first place, and for perpetuating it via their freely made daily choices.

    The parasite will only thrive as long as the host permits it.
     
  15. Bassman

    Bassman Banned

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    According to the Left: "From each according to their ability, to each according to their need"-Sound familiar?
     
  16. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    1) You want to bet? I'm not even talking about the welfare slacker, I'm talking about every Progressive type who believes that some people are entitled to perfect housing (IOW their own private residence, in a location of their choice), perfect safety, perfect freedom of choice, and protection from all slight and insult. At the same time they're more than happy for working rubes to suffer with much less than the above, to fund the above. And the worst of it is they can't even tell you who qualifies for the Super Entitlement. They haven't even thought about it that far. It's almost solely an emotive posture.

    2) The genuinely impoverished - when it's through no fault of their own - should always be supported by Govt where no family exists. And of course family should always be the first option.
     
  17. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    Not many liberals or leftists will willing to address that honestly.
     
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  18. bringiton

    bringiton Well-Known Member

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    No, because the transferee already owns their rights. They must pay him full market value just for permission to work, to shop, to access public services and infrastructure, etc. -- i.e., to exist.
    They didn't set it up. It was imposed on them by force. You are just makin' $#!+ up again.
    They don't freely choose to be forced onto the treadmill that powers the escalator the privileged ride up at their leisure. A "choice" between either toiling on the treadmill to raise up the privileged or fall off the back of it is not "freely made," and I will thank you to remember it.
    Clever parasites have ways of tricking the host into thinking they are part -- even a vital part -- of the host's own body. As we see exemplified here in this forum every single day.
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2020
  19. bringiton

    bringiton Well-Known Member

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    It's more that parents owe their children at least as much as their own parents gave to them.
    Everyone who makes a judgment about how valuable goods and services produced by others are to them.
    Justice is rewards commensurate with contributions and costs commensurate with deprivations.
     
  20. Have at it

    Have at it Banned

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    Tying your own shoes is starting to sound complicated to you
     
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  21. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    Justice isn’t about how much one earns or doesn’t earn.

    Your other comments are just platitudes.
     
  22. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    Can someone translate that so a rational person can understand it.
     
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  23. bringiton

    bringiton Well-Known Member

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    Part of it is.
    No, they are identifications of relevant facts. You just have to contrive some way of not knowing those facts, because you have already realized that they prove your beliefs are false.
     
  24. bringiton

    bringiton Well-Known Member

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    It is perfectly clear to any rational person. That may be your clue.
     
  25. Tahuyaman

    Tahuyaman Well-Known Member

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    I don’t communicate in platitudes and clichés. I actually kind of admire those who do.
     

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