So people only do good things for money, not simply becasue they are right? That's like the Christians who say the only reason they don't rape children is because they fear god. Sick.
So people only do good things for money, not simply becasue they are right? That's like the Christians who say the only reason they don't rape children is because they fear god. Sick.
SP33Demon
Lifer
- Jun 22, 2001
- 27,928
- 142
- 106
Unless you are a communist it doesn't take a genius to realize that a country modeled after Fidel Castro's belief system isn't going to work. They are a modern day Cuba in the making, do you subscribe to communism? You love to champion the poor and disadvantaged so much that you're willing to believe that Chavez is helping the poor even in an article that also admits his government is haphazard and limited.
Last, all of my friend's families still live there and aren't exactly "wealthy". They have to send money home to their families every month to help out. Just because one person out of a family decides to better themselves by going to work in a better country doesn't mean they're "wealthier". Your assumptions about what you *THINK* you know are dead wrong, and you should think before you post. I would take the word of my friends who lived in that country for most of their lives over some wannabe socialist (maybe too harsh but you are ALL about wealth redistribution to people who don't deserve it) on the internet any day of the week. Furthermore, you want to discuss "valid criticisms" of Chavez? What are the valid criticisms of his idol, Fidel Castro? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why Cuba = EPIC FAIL and why Venezuelans are heading in the same direction. Do you want me to fill up your entire screen with links about why Cuba is failing?
sp33demon you have to realize craig234 entered this forum defending chavez citing articles from a newpaper devoted to partisan coverage of the United States Communist Party.
Stock brokers start off at what? $0 - $30k base + comm. I would guess median is like $55k.
A theoretical physicist? Probably makes $200k+ salary, book royalties, consulting fees. I bet the top ones are millionaires by the time they are in their 50s and 60s. I don't know one stockbroker that makes that much.
SP33Demon
Lifer
- Jun 22, 2001
- 27,928
- 142
- 106
Not surprising. Just makes me wonder how anyone can think Chavez/Fidel Castro's systems work in any way, shape, or form. Of course there is a minority who will subscribe to their policies but that is primarily out of fear, ignorance, or both. Dictatorships and communism never have worked and never will. Maybe Craig will move to Venezuela if he loves Chavez?
Very good point and to add to that everyone has something they are good at, but the marketability of those talents is not equal. You can be very good at something but there is either no market for what you are good at or you just aren't good at making money with/from your talents.
Now the problem comes in when people just try and do the bare minimum to get by and if our society is full of these kinds of people then we as a society will not grow or progress as quickly as we could.
I personally don't think everyone should make the same amount of money, but the variations we are seeing today are too much and we are now on the other side of the coin. People do w/e they can for short-term personal gains and could careless about anyone else or the future of society as a whole. We need to find a happy middle ground for incentives to work and be productive, but not encourage or enable the short-term personal gains at the expense of everything and everyone else.
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: Lothar
Yes, but the poor were able to afford bread, milk, and eggs before Chavez came to power. Now they can't.
Venezuela's inflation was 31 percent last year, the highest in the region.
Unless Chavez is giving the poor a "31%" increase in income every year(which he isn't), anyone with more than 2 brain cells to rub together will understand that Chavez isn't providing them with anything.
Hugo Chavez's nationalization spree and price freeze on products hasn't achieved anything and only made things worse for the ordinary people. The "few hundred families" you mentioned will still be able to afford to eat, the poor wouldn't.
Socialists like Chavez, Castro, and many others bemoan the capitalist emphasis on profit and growth, and focus on distributing wealth instead. This would be fine if wealth appeared out of nowhere, and all governments had to do was distribute it. But if the wealth had to be produced first, markets do it much better.
Market capitalism beats Bolivarian socialism.
The latest decree from Hugo Chavez to banks:
"Give loans at 15% interest or be nationalized"
Loan money at 15% when inflation is 31%?
Well, you can argue various things about Venezuela. I wouldn't say that Chavez has shown the competence I'd like to see or had as much as effect as I'd like, but there's plenty of good to say about his efforts for the poor, even while they can largely be explained by the oil revenue increases.
And here's a commentary comparing Colombia and Venezuela:
Instead of using a corrupt country like Colombia as a basis for comparison, find me a commentary comparing Venezuela to Chile and tell me which one comes out ahead.
I respectfully disagree with your statement that "I would say that people act in bad ways when they have no choices." You ALWAYS have a choice when it comes to breaking the law or not.
You have exactly the same ways to avoid/deduct tax as they do. The only difference is there "avoidance/deductions" are more because they have more to be taxed on. The "rich" are the ones who pay more in taxes so that those who are not as rich as they are do not have to pay more.
In answer to the original question, no, I don't think everyone should be paid the same.
I, and I believe most everyone here, works hard for the pay that they receive. I worked with some people who were paid the same thing I was even though they did nothing to earn the pay they received. It did nothing but frustrate me that I worked hard everyday yet they received the same pay for, literally, doing nothing.
When I quit and I had my exit interview I told them why I was leaving I was told that I wasn't compassionate enough to understand the other people's situation. Last I heard, the company was out of business and I have doubled my salary.
Free market economics decide what my skills/talents are worth and I feel that I am paid accordingly. Luckily I have a supervisor that has been very clear as to what I need to do if I want to earn more. Knowing that, the choice is now mine to make as to whether or not I want to do the additional work to receive the additional salary. Keeping in mind that if I do the extra work I must sacrifice some of my time with my wife and children.
Just my two cents.
I, and I believe most everyone here, works hard for the pay that they receive. I worked with some people who were paid the same thing I was even though they did nothing to earn the pay they received. It did nothing but frustrate me that I worked hard everyday yet they received the same pay for, literally, doing nothing.
When I quit and I had my exit interview I told them why I was leaving I was told that I wasn't compassionate enough to understand the other people's situation. Last I heard, the company was out of business and I have doubled my salary.
Free market economics decide what my skills/talents are worth and I feel that I am paid accordingly. Luckily I have a supervisor that has been very clear as to what I need to do if I want to earn more. Knowing that, the choice is now mine to make as to whether or not I want to do the additional work to receive the additional salary. Keeping in mind that if I do the extra work I must sacrifice some of my time with my wife and children.
Just my two cents.
Are you kidding? http://www.azcentral.com/ent/c...723parishilton-CR.html
Her inheritance: ~$46m
Her sources of income
The simple life: $15m a year while it was running
Other movies, TV shows, etc
perfume and jewelery collection: $1.8m each in 2007 alone
Appearances: $18.7m
Music album, trademarks, sex tape, other royalties
As much as it's trendy to call her a "dumb blonde" she's the one with the last laugh. She has done a great job marketing herself.
Nemesis 1
Lifer
- Dec 30, 2006
- 11,366
- 2
- 0
In the kind of world we live in. The shear size of population. How we live . The idea has to be changed. O boy. best thing I can think of is the economy of the federation in star trek. There is no money . All are equal, rank detremined by achievement but but all have = opertunity for advancement . All share same social setting . When I say rank = position.
This is only logical path.
This is only logical path.
Siddhartha
Lifer
- Oct 17, 1999
- 12,505
- 3
- 81
Ignorance, is bliss they say, and you show much ignorance.
First, the tax avoidance schemes available to the rich are not available to others. It has nothing to do with using the same schemes, but just putting more into them. The schemes have very high buy-ins. For many, large investment firms target the customers - those with massive income - and design the schemes only for those people.
There's a reason why the government estimates that 99% of wage income is taxed, with the very efficient,automated reporting, but only 70% of income closer to the top.
You really need to go read books by David Cay Johnston and get informed before you post more false information.
Second, you also make the math-ignorant argument about 'the rich paying more taxes', which always ignores the fact that if the rich take a lot more income, and pay a moderate amount more taxes, they 'pay more taxes' but come out ahead with even more income. It ignores the fact that that argument allows for the rich to take any amount of the nation's income - as long as they 'pay more taxes than others'. It's a nonsensical, misleading position on economic justice and wealth distribution. It's propaganda for the rich.
You shouldn't, when it's for the right reasons. You should, when it's not - when it's excessive and reduces productivity, when it's for corrupt power, etc.
I don't have a problem with Wal-Mart making big profits from useful innovation. I do have a problem with Wal-Mart making big profits that hurt the nation far more than help it - paid for by low-paid workers and blocking their unionizing, paid for with cheap Chinese labor undermining the US's industries, paid for by near-monopoly allowing extortion from suppliers, paid for with the corruption of local governments giving them massive tax breaks and subsidies not allowed to other merchants, at the expense of small businesses.
I can sell you cheaper items tomorrow, and get rich - just let me ignore laws on child labor, minimum wages, worker protections, environmental protections, and such.
You should have a problem with someone 'earning more money' in some situations.
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