[samclem]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladelfina . . . Perhaps it's the 'official' nature of the mutual assistance that turns you off, but I don't see any way around that when you are talking about millions of people.

I think if you'd said this you would have captured my feelings: "perhaps it's the official, mandatory taking of the things you worked for (e.g. the product of your time, which can never be replaced) that turns you off."

But, as I said earlier, a little socialism and unfair confiscation is the price we pay to live in the world's most prosperous nation. Made prosperous by the efforts of individuals, each pursuing their individual goals for the betterment of us all. "Invisible hand" and all that rot.

"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest." Adam Smith

Taxes and regulation introduce friction and inefficiencies into this system. Some of that is unavoidable and even beneficial overall (just as brakes and clutches introduce friction into the workings of a car, which is a good thing). Taking resources from productive people and giving them to less productive people cannot be expected to produce an overall increase in productivity. Such redistribution may have other benefits (on the karmic balance sheet), but we should all realize that it makes us poorer as a society. I think the karmic balance sheet is boosted more by voluntary giving.