Does this make sense: Maybe both republicans and democrats are right?

[MongGrel]

I'll just golf clap and leave it there.


Bravo.

 

[cabri]

Great post and insight.

With exception of a couple of places where you let your biases show, it was an enjoyable read.

 

[justoh]

Nope. It doesn't.

 

[OverVolt]

Republicans have the solution but can't spot the problem.

Democrats can spot the problem but can't come up with solutions.

Essentially I think the republicans are right on this point alone "It seems to me that, fundamentally, a mentality of self-reliance and hard work is very useful if one wants to do well in society" but they are a rather old and senile bunch at this point and really don't understand the world anymore and so they go around blaming, well, anything, and it makes them sound crazy, but they're still right, IMO.

Democrats are better at understanding the world but aren't principled enough to really follow through on any REAL solutions. Always just pandering to whoever gets them votes.

Very very few I think will ever get it. You have to lean slightly to the right but fully understand the left and where they are coming from is the best way to solve all this shit going on. So few "get it" that its really not worth getting involved.

 

[OverVolt]

Assuming you're talking about U.S. economics, I believe there's significant reason to question whether or not the existing system actually encourages a mindset of self-reliance and hard work, or if it's even capable of doing so.

That's not actually it's purpose, after all. It's purpose is to generate maximum total wealth through efficient use of resources. That doesn't always align with rewarding hard work or self-reliance. Indeed, I'd wager it seldom does - other factors, including a huge dollop of simple luck - are more important.

Trust is really the most important commodity. Without trust we are just consuming wealth we generated decades ago. Employers don't trust their employees, stockholders don't trust the board of directors, banks don't trust small businesses, consumers don't trust big businesses, etc. Thats what ultimately leads to the destruction of so much wasted potential. All these unemployed young people who should be out there working, and all these boomers who should be retiring but they don't trust that, either.

Nobody is really investing in the future because they don't have alot of faith in it. Corporations are running skeleton crews and just accruing tons of cash. Stock buybacks and profit margins hitting all time highs are two examples. Apple had what, $100b? And nothing to really do with it.