Three disasters, one cause: profit
POSTED BY: SignyM
UPDATED: Monday, June 14, 2010 21:15
VIEWED: 6422
PAGE 5 of 8
Mike: I don't use Windows or Apple. I was hoping a straight html command would work... apparently not! But thanks for the suggestion.
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DT: I think we mostly agree on what causes starvation, we're just talking about the proportions. I'm thinking 50/50, you're thinking 90/10. In my book, that's pretty close.
WULF, I'm especially interested in your reply to: You are sadly mistaken about the so-called "free market" and I suggest that you read some economic history and theory. Look at this from the businessman's POV: The PRIMARY drive of the capitalist is to ELIMINATE COMPETITION by driving competitors out of business and gaining market share.... hopefully (from his or her POV) total market dominance. In addition, due to economies of scale* (*cheaper to produce a thousand widgets per item than it is to produce one) a company which is somewhat larger has an intrinsic advantage over others in the same sector. Vertical and horizontal monopolies are much more efficient than their individually-controlled counterparts. So small-business capitalism contains fundamental, intrinsic, impossible-to-root-out drivers impelling it towards big-business corporatism and monopolism. That already happened, Wulf. It occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s even when our government was small. It happens without government help. Also, for the record: I WAS AND CONTINUE TO BE AGAINST GOVERNMENT BAILOUTS AND AGAINST MANDATED PRIVATE INSURANCE. Why you keep misrepresenting me is... ???? I mean, really... WTF???? Get with the program! If you're going to argue with me, argue with ME, not with the voices in your head! And FINALLY... As for "cutting off their oxygen"... BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Go ahead! Stop buying oil products. Get off the grid. Don't buy either Microsoft OR Apple. Stop using money. Be my guest! Feel free to do all that! How far have you gotten with cutting off their oxygen, btw?
MOOSE, and in YOUR reply to You're being illogical. On the one hand, you say that industry is golden. On the other hand, you blame to government for being too business-friendly. And- finally- you toss in an off-the-wall conspiracy in which somehow government is NOT stepping in to save industry from its own worse excesses... in order to discredit industry. My head is spinning! What ARE you saying? So... what ARE you saying?
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Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
The Social Welfare states in southern Europe are finding that they can't support their social programs on the taxes they collect from the capitalists.
While other European social welfare states still have higher social mobility and GDP per capita than the US. Hows keeping up with the public debt going for the capitalist united states?
The one that had to be vastly expanded to save Capitalism I mean.
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If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows.
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Quote:And the "World Cup" is stupid too.
Originally posted by citizen:Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
The Social Welfare states in southern Europe are finding that they can't support their social programs on the taxes they collect from the capitalists.
While other European social welfare states still have higher social mobility and GDP per capita than the US. Hows keeping up with the public debt going for the capitalist united states?
The one that had to be vastly expanded to save Capitalism I mean.
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If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows.
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Quote:
Originally posted by whozit:
And the "World Cup" is stupid too.
And England is lousy at it, we've not won since the 60's! You Yanks are good at that World Series thing though, you win every year I hear.
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If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows.
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Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
While other European social welfare states still have higher social mobility and GDP per capita than the US.
First, few European social welfare states have higher GDP per capita that the U.S. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_percap-economy-gdp-per-capit
a
Note that these stats are 2006, and I'd bet Iceland's GDP per capita has dropped a bit.
I'd appreciate a cite of social mobility by nation.
Also, the social welfare states of Europe depend on taxes paid by the capitalist enterprises and their employees to support their social welfare.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
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Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
Do you know what the difference between me and you is, Geezer? I see problems and think of ways to fix them.
So enlighten me. Better not be Socialism.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
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Quote:Why not? That would be a big improvement over what we've got now!
Better not be Socialism.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
First, few European social welfare states have higher GDP per capita that the U.S.
Doesn't have to be many. A few supports what I said, but well done for trying to dismiss what I just said by proving me right. Bravo.
Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
I'd appreciate a cite of social mobility by nation.
Quote:
Death of the American Dream
The strength and pride of America has traditionally been that it provides for a high level of social mobility. It is part of the “American Dream” in which the poorest of the poor can climb to the top of the social ladder in one generation. This dream has attracted millions of outsiders to the land of promise, away from old Europe, which was incapable of providing a future for the poor. The high social mobility has also worked as a “safety valve” that allows political acceptance of the high income inequality in the US. Finally, it has provided the basis for the extraordinary dynamics of the US economy. Developments of the last decades have shattered this American Dream. It now appears that many EU countries have created an environment in which it is significantly easier for the poor to climb the social ladder than it is in the US. Structural reforms will be necessary in the US if it wants to emulate the success of European countries in organising social mobility.
http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/338
Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
Also, the social welfare states of Europe depend on taxes paid by the capitalist enterprises and their employees to support their social welfare.
Which is pretty irrelevant to anything I posted, but if you feel the need to grasp at straws to defend capitalism feel free.
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If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows.
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