Posted on 11/23/2019 6:03:46 AM PST by Kaslin
Imagine two thieves about to rob a bank. Before they consummate the act, they discuss the ethics of what they are about to do. Is there some moral argument in favor of it? Is there a case against it?
It’s hard to imagine such a conversation. Then again, there aren’t very many bank robbers around these days.
There are, however, millions of people who believe in a different kind of theft. They think it’s OK for the government to steal your money and mine for their benefit. They think that’s more than OK. They refuse to vote for politicians who don’t promise thievery on a massive scale.
Where would we find a justification for doing what the Bible clearly says is wrong?
You won’t find it at progressive campaign rallies, which are beginning to resemble gladiatorial arenas in ancient Rome. I can just picture Emperor Sanders yelling to the crowd, “Should we spare the billionaire?” “No,” roar the toga-clad listeners, who in unison point their thumbs down.
But far away from the rabble rousers, is there a reasoned defense of what risks becoming a modern-day Hobbesian jungle?
For defending the indefensible, I find that New York Times columnist Paul Krugman can usually be counted on. The other day, he rose to the task and didn’t disappoint. I read Krugman to say there are five reasons why we should rob the rich.
They were just lucky. Wealth creation is often like a casino in Krugman’s view. Most people lose the money. But once in a while someone pulls the right slot machine lever and voilà! He’s got a bundle. But does he really deserve it?
When I look around the world at rich people, though, I don’t notice a lot of luck. Bill Gates built Microsoft. Steve Jobs built Apple. Sam Walton built Wal-Mart. Ross Perot built EDS. I could go on.
I suspect that all these people worked round the clock – at nights and on weekends – to achieve what they achieved; and they worked much harder than just about anyone you know.
The only gamble involved was taking the risk that they could meet our needs. And remember, if they don’t meet our needs they don’t get a dime. Luck doesn’t make people rich. You and I make people rich when we buy their products.
They probably stole it. Krugman dismisses fortunes in high tech by suggesting they “are modern versions of the monopoly spoils grabbed by old-fashioned robber barons.”
Hmmm. Last time I looked, Bill Gates wasn’t forcing anyone to use Microsoft Word. Jeff Bezos isn’t forcing me to buy from Amazon. Peter Thiel doesn’t point a gun at my head and demand that I use PayPal. Mark Zuckerman isn’t demanding that I use Facebook.
They were just lucky. Wealth creation is often like a casino in Krugman’s view. Most people lose the money. But once in a while someone pulls the right slot machine lever and voilà! He’s got a bundle. But does he really deserve it?
When I look around the world at rich people, though, I don’t notice a lot of luck. Bill Gates built Microsoft. Steve Jobs built Apple. Sam Walton built Wal-Mart. Ross Perot built EDS. I could go on.
I suspect that all these people worked round the clock – at nights and on weekends – to achieve what they achieved; and they worked much harder than just about anyone you know.
The only gamble involved was taking the risk that they could meet our needs. And remember, if they don’t meet our needs they don’t get a dime. Luck doesn’t make people rich. You and I make people rich when we buy their products.
They probably stole it. Krugman dismisses fortunes in high tech by suggesting they “are modern versions of the monopoly spoils grabbed by old-fashioned robber barons.”
Hmmm. Last time I looked, Bill Gates wasn’t forcing anyone to use Microsoft Word. Jeff Bezos isn’t forcing me to buy from Amazon. Peter Thiel doesn’t point a gun at my head and demand that I use PayPal. Mark Zuckerman isn’t demanding that I use Facebook.
How does the slave owner maximize his profit? Economists tell us he will exploit his slaves until the last dollar spent on their upkeep is equal to the last dollar of income their work produces.
Hard to believe, but this is exactly what Paul Krugman would like to do to rich people – at least as far as the tax system is concerned.
What tax rate should rich people pay? According to Krugman it should be the rate that maximizes what they fork over for the rest of us. If the tax rate were 100%, the rich wouldn’t work at all. So, Krugman acknowledges you have to give them some of what they produce. He guesses the ideal rate is 90%.
In order for a highly successful person to earn a dime, he would have to produce 90 cents for everybody else.
They shouldn’t even exist. Krugman at times suggests that rich people could be a cash cow for the rest of us. At other times, he seems to agree with Bernie Sanders: we would be better off if they didn’t exist at all. Elizabeth Warren’s own economic advisors say that if her wealth tax had been in effect starting in 1982, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg and Warren Buffett would have lost most of their fortunes by now.
I suppose things could be worse. Prometheus, who made civilization possible by capturing fire, was chained to a stone and eaten by vultures. But keep that to yourself. We don’t want to give the progressives any more ideas.
They think it is their right.
It used be called a workers’ paradise, with the understanding that everyone will work. Now, it is just gimedat. When I hear the gullible talk about socialism, I ask “and what do I get?” “I am one of those who will put more in than I will get out” (here is the truth, we all will).
If you remember the motto of all liberals “With my guilt and your gelt, we can do anything”, the lunacy and injustice of the Left is understandable.
Respect for private property began to deteriorate when we started calling handouts “entitlements”. The term implies a moral right to take from others and justifies theft.
In favor: altruism: if altruism is a virtue then it is even better to force people to sacrifice if it benefits others. (the more sacrifice the better)
Against: altruism is anti-life. Life requires the gaining and keeping of values. Sacrifice of values is incompatible with continuation of life.
They (leftists) also suffer from delusions that they are the smartest people in the room. They actually believe they know best for the rest of us. I know, laughable right? Their desire to control money they didn’t earn is simply one manifestation of these delusions. They think they know best how to use/invest resources such as money. In short, leftists are on a self-aggrandizing power trip.
Elect them, and you'll Work, while they Party.
Any want, act or behavior, past, present and definitely those in the heat of the moment, can be rationalized away. Not a problem.
For example, our totally justified tax code is legalized discrimination based upon jealousy, laziness and greed.
Thou shalt not steal ... BUT ... if “the government” does it for you, that’s perfectly cool.
Socialism Is Legal Plunder - Bastiat 1801-1850
http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html
We are being plundered and looted.
Rules for changing a limited republican government into an unlimited hereditary one.
6. But the grand nostrum will be a public debt,...
http://home.hiwaay.net/~becraft/FRENEAUbanking.html
The Marxists and Mohammedans are carving up this turkey for Thanksgiving and not giving thanks.
Liberty(right Rush?)/Freedom/Individuals/Christianity paid a heavy price to get into The Collectivist’s Cup. It battled down the backstretch but broke down in the far turn (they shoot horses don’t they?). Down the stretch it was Marx vs. Mohammed. At the wire it was Mohammed by a head.
Brings back good memories of the ‘60’s and the upcoming holiday season. I don’t remember one single family get together of ours during that time when any discussion of politics went on. None of the hand wringing and “woe is me” that is happening today. We visited, we ate, we drank “adult beverages”, we played cards, we had great fun and no one went home discouraged about the state of the world OR our country. Sure we laughed at the Berkeley loons in the street protesting the Vietnam war but we didn’t let them spoil our holidays. We probably even gave our governor RR an “atta boy” for standing up to the pukes but that was our limit.
Every election is more or less an advance auction on stolen goods. - H. L. Mencken
New tagline.
Not all families are the same. I grew up in the 50s. Fulton Lewis Jr was the benchmark of news for our family. We would discuss Taft and Ike (my parents leaned Taft). We would laugh and Adlai and Estes Kefaufer and the Southern Democrat Hick Senators and Governors.
Fear of a nuclear attack was everywhere. In public school we hid under our school desks in practice drills for a nuclear attack, as if hiding under an open desk would protect us from anything. In Christian school we didn’t do that.
5In public high school Jr and Sr years 59-61 the English, History, World government teachers were all far left... to the left of Bernie. One English teacher could be described as left libertarian. The other 3 left Fidel Castro. The football coach was Centrist Scoop Jackson. The math teacher was conservative Christian. It was a very political environment.
I was born during the depression and graduated high school in 1954 and married in 1955. We never had to hide under our desks and never did know when that became the thing to do.
Politics WAS NEVER DISCUSSED in our house - we were a farm family. The only thing I remember was my dad pretty much cussing out John L. Lewis on a daily basis and I never did know why or really care. Our parents would drive to town to vote and I grew up never knowing who they voted for - EVER! I remember when FDR died and there was mild jubilation around the supper table so I came to my own conclusion later on in life about where they were on politics but at the time I didn’t care. I really don’t remember who they got their news from - I know the radio was on most all day and evening.
My father died real young and the topic never came up with my mother later in life either. In school we were made to sit in the auditorium and listen to the Army hearings - why - I never had a clue. Did anyone care? NO....
The family time on holidays that I wrote about was after I was married. Too much fun to get bogged down in politics as I recall...
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