How The Rich Are Winning

[ichy]

Actually America is a profoundly poor country. Millions of Americans will have wasted their lives seeking acquiring or coveting wealth in the form of money. We will die having never lived.

LOL, another inane and meaningless point from Moonbeam.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Capitalism is a lot like gambling in some senses. In casinos, on display is the chance that you could win a million. You could become a millionaire overnight. One lucky pull of the slot machine, just one lucky pull, and you might never have to work again. Very tempting. So, every year, millions of luckless hopefuls pulls on the lever, time and time again, and every year, almost all of them leave with less than they started.

As it is in capitalism. Millions of americans believe that they have the chance to make their fortune. Every year, their lot gets worse and worse, "socialist" countries overtake them in standards of living, but still, they defend capitalism because it offers that elusive chance.

As the income gap widens, the number of Americans who actually made it big shrinks, while the reward for those who do increases. Despite the fact that most of you will never run a succesful business or be anywhere near the top 1%, you'll defend the system with your lives rather than give up your dreams. While thats admirable, the very same system that you want to use to make your fortune is determined to keep you where you are, so that those at the top can benefit. And its even tricked you into helping it do so.

 

[bamacre]

Capitalism is a lot like gambling in some senses. In casinos, on display is the chance that you could win a million. You could become a millionaire overnight. One lucky pull of the slot machine, just one lucky pull, and you might never have to work again. Very tempting. So, every year, millions of luckless hopefuls pulls on the lever, time and time again, and every year, almost all of them leave with less than they started.

LOL, this is just retarded.

 

[khon]

It's kinda funny really. Ask a conservative and he'll tell you that things used to better, and we should go back to those times.

Then you look at the way things used to be in those golden years and you find that they had much higher marginal tax rates and much lower income inequality.

So you go back to the conservative and ask him if that's what he wants to go back to ? You'd think the answer would be yes, but it's actually hell no, usually followed by some comment about you being a communist/socialist.

It's what you get when you base your ideology on nostalgia.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

yeah, lets enact more social programs and see how innovative and prosperous this country will be.
this country is already going to shit because so many are relying on welfare programs.

 

[Atreus21]

Perhaps if we'd stop bailing out big corporations...

 

[IndyColtsFan]

No. That's a special skill one needs to learn and acquire. Being dead serious.

Sorry, I'd rather have some dignity left. I've seen too many people promoted based on brown nosing rather than skill, and I'd prefer to get my promotions based off skill and reputation, not how much I can suck up.

Note that I am not saying you're necessarily wrong, either.

 

[child of wonder]

Capitalism is a lot like gambling in some senses. In casinos, on display is the chance that you could win a million. You could become a millionaire overnight. One lucky pull of the slot machine, just one lucky pull, and you might never have to work again. Very tempting. So, every year, millions of luckless hopefuls pulls on the lever, time and time again, and every year, almost all of them leave with less than they started.

As it is in capitalism. Millions of americans believe that they have the chance to make their fortune. Every year, their lot gets worse and worse, "socialist" countries overtake them in standards of living, but still, they defend capitalism because it offers that elusive chance.

As the income gap widens, the number of Americans who actually made it big shrinks, while the reward for those who do increases. Despite the fact that most of you will never run a succesful business or be anywhere near the top 1%, you'll defend the system with your lives rather than give up your dreams. While thats admirable, the very same system that you want to use to make your fortune is determined to keep you where you are, so that those at the top can benefit. And its even tricked you into helping it do so.

I would call that a reflection of human nature, not the economic system itself.

Any system will become corrupt because people are inherently corrupt or corruptible.

 

[Craig234]

yeah, lets enact more social programs and see how innovative and prosperous this country will be.
this country is already going to shit because so many are relying on welfare programs.

We have way too many parrots who don't think and just spout simple, false dogma.

Yes, our nation's economy is dominated and ruined by welfare, you cult member.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Despite the facts in the OP look at all the folks insisting on the contrary. Will someone please make a fact backfire meme? Just linking to the article doesn't have the same impact as a snarky .gif would, but it will have to do.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/

 

[child of wonder]

Sorry, I'd rather have some dignity left. I've seen too many people promoted based on brown nosing rather than skill, and I'd prefer to get my promotions based off skill and reputation, not how much I can suck up.

Note that I am not saying you're necessarily wrong, either.

Same.

I'd rather get where I want to go in life because of my talent and hard work, not because I'm good at blowing people in positions above me.

 

[flexy]

yeah, lets enact more social programs and see how innovative and prosperous this country will be.
this country is already going to shit because so many are relying on welfare programs.

You should come over to EU, you would get a shock. What grand "welfare" is there in the states?

And how does the spending on this "welfare" compare to other spendings, like military?

Give me a break. There might be many reasons why (in your opinion) this country is going to shit...but i DONT think its the spending on welfare

 

[highland145]

Somewhat true, Machiavelli wrote on this:

http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince06.htm

And the use of "force" in his writing: but when they can rely on themselves and use force, then they are rarely endangered.

This pertains to a military force. What would be the correlation in the business world? Intestinal fortitude, networking, charisma, ego...?

 

[Craig234]

I would call that a reflection of human nature, not the economic system itself.

Any system will become corrupt because people are inherently corrupt or corruptible.

IMO, that's not what 'corruption' is about that's relevant. A *system* is corrupt, by allowing 'corrupt' behavior, one group to exploit another. It's not about individual people.

Not 'any system' will become corrupt. Some systems are less 'corrupt', allowing less 'corruption of one group getting more than it should at the expense of others', than others.

For example, removing all government penalties for financial companies on the theory that 'if they misbehave, their reputation will suffer and that's more than enough to keep them from doing wrong without the government doing anything' - the sort of nonsense Libertarians are infamous for - is a more 'corrupt system' than the current one, with regulation to protect the public/consumer and punish wrongdoing, somewhat.

 

[Brigandier]

The rich are only winning if the goal in life is to have the most money.

 

[spidey07]

Sorry, I'd rather have some dignity left. I've seen too many people promoted based on brown nosing rather than skill, and I'd prefer to get my promotions based off skill and reputation, not how much I can suck up.

Note that I am not saying you're necessarily wrong, either.

I'll keep my dignity and ethics to my personal life. Career and work is all just one big game and one just needs to learn how to play it. Perception is reality and projecting and managing the perception is part of the game.

 

[child of wonder]

IMO, that's not what 'corruption' is about that's relevant. A *system* is corrupt, by allowing 'corrupt' behavior, one group to exploit another. It's not about individual people.

Not 'any system' will become corrupt. Some systems are less 'corrupt', allowing less 'corruption of one group getting more than it should at the expense of others', than others.

For example, removing all government penalties for financial companies on the theory that 'if they misbehave, their reputation will suffer and that's more than enough to keep them from doing wrong without the government doing anything' - the sort of nonsense Libertarians are infamous for - is a more 'corrupt system' than the current one, with regulation to protect the public/consumer and punish wrongdoing, somewhat.

In your example, what if the leader's of financial companies did behave? Then is the system the opposite of corrupt?

The system itself is amoral and impartial. The people involved in that system decide whether corruption exists or not. A system can be designed to combat or prevent corruption, but people always find a way around it.

Is Communism corrupt? No, the ideology of Communism is not corrupt. It has the interests of the people at its core. However, as we've seen time and time again, Communism doesn't work because despite its best intentions, the people in control find a way to manipulate the system to service their needs at the expense of others.

 

[Pens1566]

I'll keep my dignity and ethics to my personal life. Career and work is all just one big game and one just needs to learn how to play it. Perception is reality and projecting and managing the perception is part of the game.

Sucks for you around here then ...

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'll keep my dignity and ethics to my personal life. Career and work is all just one big game and one just needs to learn how to play it. Perception is reality and projecting and managing the perception is part of the game.

You are, of course, 100% correct. That is what is sad about the workplace.

My philosophy is that if I want to make the big bucks, I need to do my own thing. Maybe one day, I'll figure out what that thing is.

 

[Patranus]

If only it were that simple.

Unfortunately, success is as much about luck as it is hard work and talent.

And that attitude by "poor people" is why they will remain "poor".

 

[IndyColtsFan]

And that attitude by "poor people" is why they will remain "poor".

I'm not poor, but I acknowledge that in addition to a lot of hard work and talent, I've had some luck along the way that helped move me forward.

 

[Atreus21]

Why is it that we bail out these massive corporations and complain when their CEOs make a fortune?

 

[Brigandier]

I'll keep my dignity and ethics to my personal life. Career and work is all just one big game and one just needs to learn how to play it. Perception is reality and projecting and managing the perception is part of the game.

How would you explain that to your ten year old self, your children?If your ethics and dignity end at the door, you're a crappy role model. Kind of sucks that you are, productive people like you are usually deserving of praise.

 

[JS80]

Capitalism is a lot like gambling in some senses. In casinos, on display is the chance that you could win a million. You could become a millionaire overnight. One lucky pull of the slot machine, just one lucky pull, and you might never have to work again. Very tempting. So, every year, millions of luckless hopefuls pulls on the lever, time and time again, and every year, almost all of them leave with less than they started.

As it is in capitalism. Millions of americans believe that they have the chance to make their fortune. Every year, their lot gets worse and worse, "socialist" countries overtake them in standards of living, but still, they defend capitalism because it offers that elusive chance.

As the income gap widens, the number of Americans who actually made it big shrinks, while the reward for those who do increases. Despite the fact that most of you will never run a succesful business or be anywhere near the top 1%, you'll defend the system with your lives rather than give up your dreams. While thats admirable, the very same system that you want to use to make your fortune is determined to keep you where you are, so that those at the top can benefit. And its even tricked you into helping it do so.

LOL I guess Socialism and Communism aren't gambling because you already know the end result - 100% chance you will lose.

 

[spidey07]

I'm not poor, but I acknowledge that in addition to a lot of hard work and talent, I've had some luck along the way that helped move me forward.

My point is that luck isn't required. Opportunity comes to everybody and different times (that is what some call luck). But having the skills or wisdom to recognize that opportunity is knocking and one should do something about it are what separates the successful attitude and the attitude that will forever hold one back (all while they blame somebody or something else for their failure).

But that is what makes this country so great. Every single person has the opportunity to great riches in life if they want to go get it.