Originally posted by: Rebel Rouser
Your age has little to do with the article and everything to do with you spouting off about how the world works for those of us who are actually a part of this great capitalist machine you seem to love so much. The article was... meh.
Maybe it was 'meh' because you are predisposed to disagree with it for whatever reason. I only pointed it out; I didn't write it, though I've felt the same way for a while and have been unable to put words to it.
You aren't making me look bad. You were makihg yourself look bad for patronizing and discrediting me based on my age. You think my own parents haven't gone through struggles? There were years where my mom had to rely on my grandparents for food money. And no, I've not had personal experience in such hardships, but I'm sure I will soon enough.
Apologies to most everyone else on this board.. I know I’m coming off as a bit heated, but I’ve heard too many of these Michael P. Keaton rants against people like Rik who are actually having to make real sacrifices to do the right things in life.
Your age has little to do with the article and everything to do with you spouting off about how the world works for those of us who are actually a part of this great capitalist machine you seem to love so much. The article was... meh.
Maybe it was 'meh' because you are predisposed to disagree with it for whatever reason. I only pointed it out; I didn't write it, though I've felt the same way for a while and have been unable to put words to it.
And I never said, "a government paycheck would be nice". But while we're on the subject, you seem to base all your anti-socialist views on the idea of "earning it".
I base my anti-socialist views on the facts that 1) pure Socialism has been proven unworkable many times, 2) it tends to spread poverty, not affluence.
But not today. Not anyday, because it is bunk. The only problem with capitalism in its current form is that government regulations go beyond what is neccesary to levels unheard of back in the days when candy bars cost a nickel.
And if I'm coming off as a jerk, it's because I’m directing it toward you personally. There's little I can do to make you look bad, as you're already doing that yourself.
I base my anti-socialist views on the facts that 1) pure Socialism has been proven unworkable many times, 2) it tends to spread poverty, not affluence.
Has it ever occurred to you that the vast majority of the world's wealth is held by a few individuals who never actually earned it? Inherited wealth for one...
SOMBODY earned it. Inherited wealth had to come from somewhere. And this stereotype is clearly not aplicable to everyone. Everheard of Bill Gates? What about Mike Jackson (president of EcoQuest, not the singer)?
Yeah, because the preservation of classic films is essential for human life. You are completley misconstruing my point. If everyone is equal, the lazy people will expect a free ride from those who would work. Those who do work are being shortchanged, and eventually become discontent. The more difficult virtues of Christianity aren't exactly popular among the populace.
My faith is not in the money. I simply have NO faith in the virtues of socialsim. Again and again it has been shown that it DOES NOT WORK. It requires totalitariansim to be inforced, and even then, it stifles creativity and makes the leaders rich fatcats while everyone else lives in squalor. Look at the socialist communes of early America. Look at the Soviet Union.
Someday I might sit down and post the basic math that proves that capitalism, at least in it’s current form, can’t work indefinitely, but not today.
SOMBODY earned it. Inherited wealth had to come from somewhere. And this stereotype is clearly not aplicable to everyone. Everheard of Bill Gates? What about Mike Jackson (president of EcoQuest, not the singer)?
...and the fact that mister CEO sitting up there with his pen ready to fire another hundred employees/close another factory/send jobs overseas in the interests of earning another few million isn't doing NEARLY as much "earning" as someone like my dad who's busted his ass his whole life working construction to feed his family.
I'm aware of that, and from the sounds of it, your dad is one of the good guys. Not everyone in every job is going to be wealthy, but that is by no means an excuse to take money from the rich and give it to the poor. And I'm sure in the long run your father is a better and happier man than any greedy CEO like the one you described.
I never said that at all. But persistent, life-long work is rarely done without a reward. You can't support yourself on doing things for nothing, and the 'good of mankind' or 'the state'.
Just tell that crap to all the folks in the Preservation Forums, cranking out those DVD transfers for us with self taught techniques. (For someone who espouses the virtues of Christianity, you certainly seem to place a lot of your faith in little green slips of paper.)
I'm aware of that, and from the sounds of it, your dad is one of the good guys. Not everyone in every job is going to be wealthy, but that is by no means an excuse to take money from the rich and give it to the poor. And I'm sure in the long run your father is a better and happier man than any greedy CEO like the one you described.
Are you seriously going to tell me that Mr. CEO has worked harder and went through more life struggles then my father? So don't give me that "earn it" bullshit unless I see Paris Hilton flipping burgers tomorrow.
Of course not. But I seriously doubt whoever started the company had it easy like Paris Hilton. Besides, Paris Hilton is a stupid twit and everyone knows it. But her grandfather DID earn the money to begin with.
You also seem to think that nobody will do anything above and beyond what is necessary without some sort of monetary gain… which is also bullshit.
Of course not. But I seriously doubt whoever started the company had it easy like Paris Hilton. Besides, Paris Hilton is a stupid twit and everyone knows it. But her grandfather DID earn the money to begin with.
You also seem to think that nobody will do anything above and beyond what is necessary without some sort of monetary gain… which is also bullshit.
I never said that at all. But persistent, life-long work is rarely done without a reward. You can't support yourself on doing things for nothing, and the 'good of mankind' or 'the state'.
Just tell that crap to all the folks in the Preservation Forums, cranking out those DVD transfers for us with self taught techniques. (For someone who espouses the virtues of Christianity, you certainly seem to place a lot of your faith in little green slips of paper.)
Yeah, because the preservation of classic films is essential for human life. You are completley misconstruing my point. If everyone is equal, the lazy people will expect a free ride from those who would work. Those who do work are being shortchanged, and eventually become discontent. The more difficult virtues of Christianity aren't exactly popular among the populace.
My faith is not in the money. I simply have NO faith in the virtues of socialsim. Again and again it has been shown that it DOES NOT WORK. It requires totalitariansim to be inforced, and even then, it stifles creativity and makes the leaders rich fatcats while everyone else lives in squalor. Look at the socialist communes of early America. Look at the Soviet Union.
Someday I might sit down and post the basic math that proves that capitalism, at least in it’s current form, can’t work indefinitely, but not today.
But not today. Not anyday, because it is bunk. The only problem with capitalism in its current form is that government regulations go beyond what is neccesary to levels unheard of back in the days when candy bars cost a nickel.
And if I'm coming off as a jerk, it's because I’m directing it toward you personally. There's little I can do to make you look bad, as you're already doing that yourself.
You aren't making me look bad. You were makihg yourself look bad for patronizing and discrediting me based on my age. You think my own parents haven't gone through struggles? There were years where my mom had to rely on my grandparents for food money. And no, I've not had personal experience in such hardships, but I'm sure I will soon enough.
Apologies to most everyone else on this board.. I know I’m coming off as a bit heated, but I’ve heard too many of these Michael P. Keaton rants against people like Rik who are actually having to make real sacrifices to do the right things in life.
'Cause clearly, you must apologize. You're the bigger man here. Right.
And Rik is my friend. You, on the other hand, are not. Rouser, I'm not ranting against Rik at all. I just disagreed with his assertion that Socialism could ever be a good system, and gave reasons why I think this way. Nobody was insulting anybody until you started.