What really eats me up... Topic

YVW
11/26/2012 4:28 PM
11/26/2012 4:41 PM
How much of your earnings would it ever be moral for me to take for my needs (or to have the government in its benevolence do so)?  

This is the only part I have a real problem with. It's not a moral issue. Paying taxes is part of living in the US. If you are lucky enough to be in a high tax bracket then you've benefited greatly from the opportunities you've had here. As a society, we've decided to maintain a safety net. Taxing marginal dollars at 39.8% isn't any more or less moral than collecting 35% or 30% or 45%.
11/26/2012 4:55 PM
Yep.  An alias just jerking people around.  No belief system just an internet trolling method that's very successful.

I'm not sure who you're referring to here, but if it's me, you couldn't be further from the truth. You can tell by my profile how long I've been a member of this site and how many of the games I've played, which is enough by itself to know this isn't an alias but as real an identity as you can get here.

As for my beliefs, they are what I say they are. I absolutely believe in what I'm saying, and if I didn't, I wouldn't waste the time I have already wasted trying to educate people on economics and attempt (though I'm guessing unsuccessfully) to reverse their bias against socialism which is largely borne out of ignorance of both socialism itself and economics in general.
You've mostly refused to support your opinions with fact, but only with further opinions - as if those opinions are in and of themselves proof. 
When you manage to present a challenge to what I have to say, I'll defend it against that challenge. Until then, what I have to say stands for itself.
I would think one as far above the uneducated masses like us as you are could give us a clue as to what a fair share is or an idea of what tax rate  for the rich would be the best.
 
First, stop acting like you and those who agree with you are martyrs because you're losing the argument. It doesn't add anything to your side of the debate and is a waste of time.

Second, I already addressed those issues long ago. I'm not going to keep repeating things because you decided not to read it in the first place.
I would think someone as enlightened as you are would have ready and convincing answers.
I do and I gave them. Perhaps you should go read the thread.
if you want to "win a debate" in any fashion other than in your own mind, you should be willing to concede a point or two.
I have done so on the points which actually made any sense. Most of what has been said is ridiculous that there is no way I would concede to it. It would be like saying the earth is flat.
Your obvious disdain for people with wealth shows in your discriminatory language in dealing with them and it serves to discredit your point of view.
It does no such thing. My point of view is what it is and doesn't need to be justified by your interpretation of my language, which is based upon your own assumptions and is largely inaccurate to begin with.
What general incentives do you suppose work in each of the two competing theories? 
So you want an education on economics. I'll give you a simple nutshell.

In Capitalism, incentives are based upon private ownership, which in THEORY puts the rewards of hard work or the failings of laziness right in the hands of the worker.

In  proper Socialism, incentives are based upon shared ownership, which actually does put the rewards in the hands of the workers.
Why would socialist incentives work better than capitalist incentives (knowing that both systems likely share a fair number of these incentives)? 
Let's do an example to demonstrate:

Say John is a factory worker producing widgets for a company run by Simon.

In Capitalism, John's incentive to work hard is supposed to be that he will earn more when he works harder based upon private ownership theory. In reality, if John makes $10 per hour, he'll make that same $10 per hour whether he produces the required 100 widgets per hour or works harder and produces 110. Unless Simon notices his hard work over time, which may eventually happen but is entirely possible it will not, then he'll continue to make $10 no matter how hard he works. Meanwhile, Simon makes $20 per hour and doesn't do physical labor and has an easier life.

In Socialism, John's incentive to work hard is based upon the fact he shares ownership in the factory itself. It's success translates directly into his personal success, so when he works harder and makes 110 widgets per hour instead of 100, now he's adding to his own bottom line (and that of all his workers, who have the same incentive to work hard as he does). Now production increases overall, everyone makes more money, and John goes from $10 per hour to $12 and then eventually to $15 as the factory thrives. Simon, who initially made the same $10 as John, also now makes $15, but can better manage his employees because they are happier and have incentive to work harder they would never get by hoping he would notice their hard work and reward them in a capitalist system.



11/27/2012 8:45 AM
Einstein was quoted as saying "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.". How many times has socialism been tried? Nvm.... Einstein was probably an idiot like the rest of you guys.

And to bis' theory about private ownership in a capitalist society.... I find it humorous that my wife and I have employee stock purchase plans, annual profit sharing bonuses, and are paid salary + performance bonuses.... I'm pretty sure we work in a capitalist country last I checked and that we're incented by both our own contributions to the company and the company's overall well-being. Technically I have ownership (and a stake in the success) in quite a few companies.... now that I'm reviewing my equity portfolio. For a guy that talks a lot about incentivising (i.e. full time work) I'm shocked bis doesn't see the incentives to perform here.

Really though i'm not sure why you guys still argue with him... seems like a lot of wasted time... just read his drivel for 'entertainment only' purposes and have a good laugh at the fool being a fool.... jmo.
11/27/2012 11:17 PM (edited)
How many times has socialism been tried?

None, in its proper form within the correct structure, as I already pointed out.

Every economic system - including capitalism and socialism - must be set up properly with a correct structure in order to function at anything close to its maximum capabilities. Every system will fail if it isn't managed properly.

By saying socialism will fail based only upon your view that it has failed when it was set up to fail, you aren't looking at how economic systems really function. It would be like putting together the worst football players you could find and then when they lose every game you claim it is impossible for anyone to win at football.
I find it humorous that my wife and I have employee stock purchase plans, annual profit sharing bonuses, and are paid salary + performance bonuses.... I'm pretty sure we work in a capitalist country last I checked and that we're incented by both our own contributions to the company and the company's overall well-being.

Sure, you work in a capitalist society, but those incentives are SOCIALIST incentives, or based on socialist principles.

However, I am an advocate of complete socialist workforce environments, where everyone makes the same wage and it is entirely based upon how well the company is doing. Everyone is an EQUAL owner in the company or organization and therefore has every reason in the world to ensure it succeeds as much as possible.

I'm just guessing here, but where you and your wife work, you probably don't own an equal share of the company with everyone else, and I'm guessing you probably don't earn an equal wage or salary either.
Technically I have ownership (and a stake in the success) in quite a few companies.... now that I'm reviewing my equity portfolio. For a guy that talks a lot about incentivising (i.e. full time work) I'm shocked bis doesn't see the incentives to perform here.
There are incentives, but they aren't as powerful as they could be, for you or for your co-workers (and particularly for co-workers who earn less than you or have less of these incentives than you do).

I'm also against large scale investing. Every dollar invested is a dollar that isn't spent at the consumer level, and that ultimately hurts the economy. Most investors thing they are helping the economy, but they're only helping compared with putting the money in a sock drawer or under a mattress. Consumer spending drives the economy, and every dollar you invest is one you aren't spending as a consumer. I'm not against saving some or investing some, but I think many people (including especially the incredibly wealthy) invest far too much and spend too little of their money.
Really though i'm not sure why you guys still argue with him... seems like a lot of wasted time... just read his drivel for 'entertainment only' purposes and have a good laugh at the fool being a fool.
It's funny that you say this, because much of the reason I continue to post here is for my entertainment purposes. A small part of me would like to believe some of you are open minded enough to actually be educated on economics and economic systems, but I highly doubt that based on some of the responses such as this one right here.

I try to learn from every experience, and when someone clearly displays knowledge of a topic or situation which is superior to my own, I try to at least consider what they have to say even if I disagree. I would suggest some of you could benefit from doing the same.




11/28/2012 8:49 AM
11/28/2012 12:19 PM
Will you ever stop trying to make yourself out to be some kind of martyr?

I suppose not. Certain people can't stand it when someone who disagrees with them has the knowledge and ability to defend what they have to say, so this is how they try to fight back. They are the martyr and the other person doesn't have knowledge but is arrogant.

There are two problems with this approach:

1. Knowledge doesn't equal arrogance.

2. Even if it did, attacking the person doesn't do anything to defend your side of the argument.
11/28/2012 2:41 PM
11/28/2012 3:07 PM
I get it now. Your posting of these things is the same as you waving a white flag and giving up on your argument.

After all, it's not like you're actually posting anything of substance to go with it, so a surrender must be your intent. I'm glad to see you are apparently able to amuse yourself despite the defeat you suffered in this debate.

11/28/2012 3:18 PM
11/28/2012 3:33 PM
Biz, I'll try just one more time.

You admit that your form of Socialism hasn't been tried anywhere at any time.

Yet you're touting it definitively as the best answer. 

And yet you don't think you're being arrogant.
11/28/2012 5:35 PM
In the spirit of bistiza's "correct structure" of a Socialist economic implementation, I'm proud to anounce that I have put together a flawless plan for repelling an extraterrestrial attack on the planet Earth.

I have an extensive background in understanding and dealing with extraterrestrials, but I'm not going to tell you how I came to this knowledge because it's none of your ******* business, and none of you have shown to me that your inferior minds would be able to understand the nuances of my plan.  I'm also not going to divulge any specifics about my plan because, again, nobody here is capable of comprehending the details.

I suspect that others may have given some thought to how to best repel an extraterrestrial attack on our planet, but it's quite obvious to me that nobody else can develop a plan that matches the perfection of my plan.

This may come across as arrogance, but it really isn't.  It's just fact.  I'm smarter than you.  Deal with it, much in the same way that you deal with wallowing in the ignorance of the rest of your meaningless little lives.

11/28/2012 10:03 PM
Lol.... you hit the nail on the head. ^^^
11/29/2012 4:24 AM
Posted by tecwrg on 11/28/2012 10:03:00 PM (view original):
In the spirit of bistiza's "correct structure" of a Socialist economic implementation, I'm proud to anounce that I have put together a flawless plan for repelling an extraterrestrial attack on the planet Earth.

I have an extensive background in understanding and dealing with extraterrestrials, but I'm not going to tell you how I came to this knowledge because it's none of your ******* business, and none of you have shown to me that your inferior minds would be able to understand the nuances of my plan.  I'm also not going to divulge any specifics about my plan because, again, nobody here is capable of comprehending the details.

I suspect that others may have given some thought to how to best repel an extraterrestrial attack on our planet, but it's quite obvious to me that nobody else can develop a plan that matches the perfection of my plan.

This may come across as arrogance, but it really isn't.  It's just fact.  I'm smarter than you.  Deal with it, much in the same way that you deal with wallowing in the ignorance of the rest of your meaningless little lives.

You forgot to claim that you've "won" any debates on the subject, based on your own criteria for "winning".
11/29/2012 10:32 AM
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