It's all about oppurtunity...

[Japher]

a lot are interest only loans for 'x' number of years too, to give you time to get the buisness on it's feet.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Kidicious
If you hedge everything you will get a smaller return because you have lessened your exposure to risk.

True enough, and that's why I said you should be well diversified. Putting it all in risky ventures is not only risky, but pretty stupid. Plus, if you are going to get risky, you should spread the risk out, so if one element becomes worthless, your other risky ventures can make up for it. And then you need to balance it all off with some Non risk investment to maintain some capital incase of things like what happened after 911 when many people lost over half of their retirement funds.

[David Floyd]

I agree with you that someone shouldn't be forced to do anything, but that doesn't change that giving to those in need is the right thing to do, surely you don't disagree.

Which is exactly why I strongly support the social welfare system (forcing people to be good) being scrapped, and in its place having charities help the needy (allowing people to choose to be good).

[monkspider]

Like Albert, I've come from the bottom 10% income bracket, so I've seen poverty. Many of my friends are dead, or in prison. Poverty is something that I don't want anyone else to have to suffer through again. Many here have talked about investing, or opening small buisnesses. And there are all well and good, but the only thing that will ever bring true wealth is compassion. When people realize this, concepts like buisness will be seen as the anachronisms that they are.

[Japher]

David

[Dinner]

If you are born with the right genes you will succeed no matter what, some people no matter what will never be able to become lawyers, bankers etc because they simply lack the mental capacity.

I will agree that genetics can be a limiting factor (i.e. a retarded person won't ever become a nuclear physist) but genes don't mean you will "succeed no matter what". Watch the movie Gatica to see a good take on this.

[monkspider]

Originally posted by David Floyd


Which is exactly why I strongly support the social welfare system (forcing people to be good) being scrapped, and in its place having charities help the needy (allowing people to choose to be good).

Well, you won't be disappointed then.

Of course, this will only happen when people no longer need such institutions. In other words, you will have your libertarianism, but only when humanity evolves to a stage where the specific goal of libertarianism is to achieve a communist-like society.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by monkspider
When people realize this, concepts like buisness will be seen as the anachronisms that they are.

Business is where you get the money to put your compassion to a useful end. Without business you don't have the resources to help anyone.

[David Floyd]

Of course, this will only happen when people no longer need such institutions.

Great, so we can stop forcing people to be good when people no longer need to be forced?

Personally, I don't donate a single red nickel to a charity and I don't give money to people on the side of the road. You know why? I'm already taxed that money - I'm forced to give. If I wasn't being forced to support social welfare programs, and the like, I'd be much more likely to give to the truly needy.

As things are, my money is being mismanaged - but it isn't my fault. Blame the government.

[Dinner]

Sounds like David has rationalized himself a reason to just sit and do nothing. If you don't feel like giving money then give time.

[monkspider]

Originally posted by Oerdin


Business is where you get the money to put your compassion to a useful end. Without business you don't have the resources to help anyone.

For now, what you say is true to a large extent. But if buisnesses decieded to focus on the common good, rather than competing with each other, they wouldn't really be buisnesses, now would they?

[monkspider]

Originally posted by David Floyd


Great, so we can stop forcing people to be good when people no longer need to be forced?

In short, yes.
I know that might not be the answer you were looking for. But when humanity evolves to a state where it realizes it's purpose, then welfare institutions (and government in general) are no longer needed.

Personally, I don't donate a single red nickel to a charity and I don't give money to people on the side of the road. You know why? I'm already taxed that money - I'm forced to give. If I wasn't being forced to support social welfare programs, and the like, I'd be much more likely to give to the truly needy.

As things are, my money is being mismanaged - but it isn't my fault. Blame the government.

Well, I see your point. But eventually you'll realize that when the portion of your tax money that went to welfare obviously wasn't enough to help out the needy, that you should give twice, or thrice (or more!) whatever your taxes were to the needy. Of course you shouldn't be forced to do this, so don't worry.
It's just that eventually , you'll realize that this is the thing to do.

[:) Smiley]

What we need are more nonprofit organizations to step up and slowly take the role of businesses. Apolyton is an example of such a venture that is otherwise run as a business, but doesn't seek to make a profit.

There are other examples, such as nonprofit hospitals, etc. Many privately held companies also have other goals beyond just making money for its owner. It is the public corporation that tends to focus only on the bottom line.

[David Floyd]

Well, I see your point. But eventually you'll realize that when the portion of your tax money that went to welfare obviously wasn't enough to help out the needy, that you should give twice, or thrice (or more!) whatever your taxes were to the needy. Of course you shouldn't be forced to do this, so don't worry.
It's just that eventually , you'll realize that this is the thing to do.

Maybe, maybe not, but the point is that I would not have a problem doing this if I wasn't being taxed and having my money mismanaged by the federal government in the first place.

[:) Smiley]

Originally posted by Soul Survivor
What people have been ignoring so far is genetics......

If you are born with the right genes you will succeed no matter what, some people no matter what will never be able to become lawyers, bankers etc because they simply lack the mental capacity. The higher up you start the less intelligence you need to succeed. Luck of the draw...........

The genetics argument is BS when applied to intellectual pursuits (there is still justification in things such as sports). The human brain has a far larger capacity than the demands of all but a few jobs (the US presidency being one of them) so unless you're brain damaged from drug use or boozing during pregnancy (now why is that not a crime?) genetics aren't going to hold you back that much.