Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- From: Rabid Weasel <lawson@NO20952SPAM+dayton.net>
- Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:53:31 GMT
On Fri, 01 Sep 2006 01:39:00 +0200, Jacob Andersen wrote:
Rabid Weasel skrev:
On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 22:01:03 +0200, Jacob Andersen wrote:
Rich people are rich not only because they manage their money better
(although most of them do). They are rich because they make more money
because they are smarter or have more drive, generally.
Honestly, it doesn't really take *that* much smarts. Drive... Yeah. I'll
agree with that. Add skills (which can be learned) to Drive and you've
got a winning combination.
Smarts, drive, skills whatever - people don't have the same amount of
it, and never will.
Like I said, it really doesn't take *that* much smarts, and "Drive" is
easy to get. Just make your life depend on it. Few people actually
*want* to starve.
I just believe in giving the weakest part of society MORE than they
"deserve". Not to bring them to the level of the wealthy. Just to make
their life reasonably comfortable.
I'm not advocating a "comfortable" life for people unwilling to do
anything to achieve that. I'll go as far as basic food, basic clothing,
and basic shelter, but what I think of as "basic" food, clothing, and
shelter means eating generic, cheap food, wearing "Keds" instead of
Reboks, and living in a communal shelter. Note that I specifically
exclude TV's, Video Games, etc.
This DOES have an upside, even to the rich (and the middle class)
Generally poor people cause a lot of problems for other parts of
society. (if you're Trav, you may substitute black for poor, and proceed
to call the rest of this nonsense)
I have my doubts as to how much "trouble" this avoids.
BTW. The fair tax also gives the poor "more than they deserve" with the
refund.
Yes. I know. Nothing's perfect.
I'm just contemplating whether the system as a whole will
provide enough revenue to fund the poorest people's freedom from
taxation. Are the rest taxed "enough"? Or will the fact that everything
that isn't spent is tax free cost too much? In the end it would, of
course, be a matter of which percentage was used and other such fiddlings.
Current research indicates that it would be more than enough.
It's not about rewarding people for bad choices, it's about helping and
protecting the people who are unable to make wise choices.
I guess we have a different definition of "unable." So far I've not met a
single person who wasn't mentally disabled who was physically and mentally
"unable" to make wise choices.
In your definition, what makes a person mentally disabled? You can be
addicted to gambling for example. Is that a mental disability to you?
I have a cousin who's mentally retarded. She has the capacity of a 4 year
old.
People "addicted" to gambling, sex, or most other purely behavioral issue
*usually* aren't mentally disabled.
And more to the point. In your opinion, what causes seemingly healthy
people to make such bad decisions that it tears apart their life? (or
does this never happen?)
Different things for different people. Often because they've not been
trained in how to make good decisions and have avoided learning for
various reasons.
Yes, they may have to learn new skills,
but that's what life is about.
Which skills?
Several. But they're well documented.
Do they know they need them?
I'm sure some are in denial. But that's their fault.
Is learning them actually available?
Readily. I can think of about 3 or 4 books off the top of my head, most
of which are available via Inter-Library Loan if they're not actually on
your local library shelves.
What we've got now is an
overly-complex political football that politicians tweak to buy votes and
garner "good will" much more than actually equitably collect taxes.
Well, the fair tax would be tweaked just the same. I doubt the people
making the website would get to decide.
It's up to the voters to keep them honest. (so I have some reservations
about how honest they'll be kept - nevertheless this is a good start)
Well, there *is* a book out now. Though whether or not you'd be willing
to buy it, living where you do... <shrug>
If it's a book by the advocates it's not likely. But it IS an
interesting idea. And there's been some debate locally (in Denmark) as
to whether a completely new system of taxation might be a good idea
(hasn't gained too much traction as of yet but I think it might at some
point)
_The Fair Tax_ by Lender and Boortz.
Peace favor your sword (IH),
Kirk
.
- References:
- Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- From: Rabid Weasel
- Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- From: Jacob Andersen
- Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- Prev by Date: Re: BUNDLE OF STICKS - MOVIE POTENTIAL!
- Next by Date: Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- Previous by thread: Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- Next by thread: Re: Evangelical professor tackles 'religious right'
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
