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- Nov 18, 2016
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Freedom
I am so free I can't even get out of my own house right now. I am not sure I can handle any more freedom.
Freedom
What you think is "greed" is capitalism at its best. It works when no other economic system does. If you are lazy, it won't work for you. That would be my diagnosis of your problem with the US.
Capitalism is like the gas pedal on your car. But just because a car needs a gas pedal to work does not mean it doesn't need a brake pedal or a steering wheel.
Many Americans have been so impressed by the power of the gas pedal that they have forgotten about the idea of social safety nets or the importance of a decent set of regulations and laws by a competent government.
"Social Safety nets" are neither a brake pedal , nor a steering wheel. Economics 101 will give the answer. Ever hear of Adam Smith? The Invisible Hand?
My guess is you only see liberal government as the only competent government. From my view, nothing could be farther than the truth. A liberal government is more like a police parking boot.
"Social Safety nets" are neither a brake pedal , nor a steering wheel. Economics 101 will give the answer. Ever hear of Adam Smith? The Invisible Hand?
My guess is you only see liberal government as the only competent government. From my view, nothing could be farther than the truth. A liberal government is more like a police parking boot.
Adam Smith was writing at the dawn of the industrial revolution. He did not foresee the rise of monopolists, robber barons, and the ever-increasing exploitation of child labor until some laws and regulations were put in place.
There is a reason ALL developed economies in the world today are mixed economies, ie, they have gas and brake pedals. Long and painful experience over the last 2 centuries has shown that the invisible hand is also blind and can hurt a lot of people if left completely without supervision. It is not a all-powerful, all-wise deity to deliver justice and prosperity to all if just left unchecked. All these developed and developing economies around the world are mixed economies not because they have not read Adam Smith and are ignorant of the power of free markets and the concept of "the invisible hand".
What's your one word to describe the US?
Mine is "greedy."
More 'free' than most but still constrained too much by corporate greed.
Lost? Nah. The only people that are truly lost are those that wont see where they are and where they need to go. Willfully.Divided comes to mind....but lost is as good a word as any.
So you are now a classical liberal. The less we have of controls, the better off we are. I NEVER said "no controls" which is the position you lefties want the righties to take.
What's your one word to describe the US?
Blessed
"Social Safety nets" are neither a brake pedal , nor a steering wheel. Economics 101 will give the answer. Ever hear of Adam Smith? The Invisible Hand?
My guess is you only see liberal government as the only competent government. From my view, nothing could be farther than the truth. A liberal government is more like a police parking boot.
If one is a true political liberal, they would want as little government involvement at all. Adam Smith has a pretty good handle on capitalism and the free market. The way our country was in it's infancy, the church was the center of the community, and that was the "safety net". What people mistakenly call "corporate greed", is usually some type of scam or gaming of the system. There are laws that should keep it in check, but doesn't always do a satisfactory job. I consider myself a classic liberal.
What you think is "greed" is capitalism at its best. It works when no other economic system does. If you are lazy, it won't work for you. That would be my diagnosis of your problem with the US.