 Quote:
Originally Posted by samclem
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.
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Very well said Samclem, I could not have put it any better. I guess that we can agree to disagree on some things. No harm, and no foul there, part of what makes america a great place to live. I was laid off in the past, and was out of work for a long time. My net worth was ~3k. And in approximately 10 years, I have doubled my original salary, and improved my networth considerably. Did people help me out along the way? Sure they did.... but I always paid for that help in one way or another. A mechanic cuts me a break on an expensive bill, but he gets my continued business in the future for it. A company takes a chance on hiring me, and they are returned in kind with high quality work. I pay taxes that go for the roads, schools, libraries etc. I would be hard pressed to think of a situation in the last 10 years where I have gotten anything that was truly "free", or nothing was ever expected in return. You can even look at favors between friends as a payment and a debt. Someone does a good turn for you, if you respect that person, you will feel the need to repay that kindness at some point in the future. I do not expect any others to pay my way, it is just not my style of doing things.
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