It's Starting To Look Like Romney Has A Dirty Tax Secret

[clistensprechen]

I'm not buying that, guys--simply because conservatives have been putting much labor and money and daydreaming into creating a business utopia. Sorry, but they have, and a business utopia isn't achievable.

[wbcoleman]

I'm not buying that, guys--simply because conservatives have been putting much labor and money and daydreaming into creating a business utopia. Sorry, but they have, and a business utopia isn't achievable.

You never read The Wealth of Nations, did you?

[clistensprechen]

I've read "The Incredible Bread Machine". What's utopian is believing that the entire universe is based on one book.

Or two, with the other book being by Ayn Rand.  :duck:

[wbcoleman]

I've read "The Incredible Bread Machine". What's utopian is believing that the entire universe is based on one book.

Or two, with the other book being by Ayn Rand.  :duck:

Adam Smith:

"People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty or justice. But though the law cannot hinder people of the same trade from sometimes assembling together, it ought to do nothing to facilitate such assemblies; much less to render them necessary."

[Ted S]

I'm not buying that, guys--simply because conservatives have been putting much labor and money and daydreaming into creating a business utopia. Sorry, but they have, and a business utopia isn't achievable.

What does a business utopia looks like?  Give me some specifics.

[clistensprechen]

I'm not buying that, guys--simply because conservatives have been putting much labor and money and daydreaming into creating a business utopia. Sorry, but they have, and a business utopia isn't achievable.

What does a business utopia looks like?  Give me some specifics.

When the right wing comes up with any, I'll let you know.

[kentay]

The conservatives who keep spouting that conservative ideals are ideal for the country are right-ists, not to mention Tea Party types who think that Dubya's Republicans are liberals.

That's not right Clara. I don't think that humans are capable of creating a Utopia.  I simply think that traditional conservatism is much preferable to modern liberalism.  It brings a higher quality of life to a greater number of people.  Clearly some people are better off when other people run their lives but most aren't.

[Ted S]

When the right wing comes up with any, I'll let you know.

You brushed that one aside with the deft of a politician Clara.

My business Utopia would looks like this:

1. Businesses that provide products that people want for prices people are willing to pay, succeed; businesses that don't, fail.
2. Businessmen that sell using fraudulent tactics are prosecuted.
3. Government subsidizes no businesses.
4. Government doesn't grant any business or industry special favors using the tax code.
5. Government doesn't punish any business or industry using the tax code.

There's more but this is a start.

[kentay]

The conservatives who keep spouting that conservative ideals are ideal for the country are right-ists, not to mention Tea Party types who think that Dubya's Republicans are liberals.

That's not right Clara. I don't think that humans are capable of creating a Utopia.  I simply think that traditional conservatism is much preferable to modern liberalism.  It brings a higher quality of life to a greater number of people.  Clearly some people are better off when other people run their lives but most aren't.

Sorry Ted its not what you think, because facts make you look like you're brain dead. kentay

[Ted S]

Sorry Ted its not what you think, because facts make you look like you're brain dead. kentay

The devil is in the details Kentay.  I think the operative word is relative.

All of these countries have relative child poverty rates below 7%.

In the USA we have a much wider gap between the highest wage earners and the lowest wage earners.  Some make $7.00 an hour and some make $1,000 per hour. This happens because not everybody has the same talent, drive and abilities.

In countries that value equality over liberty, the income gap is much narrower.  The income gap is narrower because socialist policies force equal outcome.  For instance their hourly rate may vary between $0.50 per hour to $8.00 per hour.  A much narrower gap but you will notice that the standard of living is less for everyone and real upward mobility isn't possible.

The bottom line is that your chart from Think Progress most likely measures the lowest quintile against the highest quintile within the same country.  If instead it were to measure the quality of life of the lowest quintile in the USA against the quality of life of the lowest quintile in those other countries, the USA would score much higher.

Or put another way, some guy might be prisoner of the week on his cell block, but when measured against regular people, he probably won't make the cut.

[kentay]

Sorry Ted its not what you think, because facts make you look like you're brain dead. kentay

The devil is in the details Kentay.  I think the operative word is relative.

Ted, since you and I are the only ones posting here who say we are Christian men, and we try to follow Christ teachings. Do any of the following Verses mean anything to you? kentay

Matthew 12:35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

Matthew 25:31-41  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats:

33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

[Woody]

In a country with the first amendment and that bars religious litmus test exactly why are the teachings of Jesus relevant to the election?  Particularly if you are one who for a decade has decried the politicization of the religious right?

[Ted S]

Kentay, I know you want to engage me in a religious manner but I don't feel qualified.  As Obama likes to say, that's above my pay grade.

All I will say is this; I believe that Christianity compels me (Ted) to help those who cannot help themselves but that does not include forcibly taking from some to give to others. I am told to encourage others to give for the common good but not force them to contribute with a promise of imprisonment if they fail to follow my desires.

[wbcoleman]

In a country with the first amendment and that bars religious litmus test exactly why are the teachings of Jesus relevant to the election?  Particularly if you are one who for a decade has decried the politicization of the religious right?

When DID kentay convert himself into a Christian fundamentalist?

[kentay]

In a country with the first amendment and that bars religious litmus test exactly why are the teachings of Jesus relevant to the election?  Particularly if you are one who for a decade has decried the politicization of the religious right?

When DID kentay convert himself into a Christian fundamentalist?

I don't belong to any organized religion, because they are to authoritarian for me to follow their interpretations of my Bible. Just like some Orthodox Jews do in your faith. The only one I try my best to follow is the teachings of Christ and the Sermon on the Mount. kentay