Is profit different from unfair tax? Part 2

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by The Andy-Man
kid won't let it rest will he.

You atleast have to find his stamina admirable.

Absolutely.

If there's a forum equivalent to a palooka, it's Kid.

(name works for that, too.)

[Adam Smith]

And The Winner Is...

Kidicous:

I can see you have put a lot of time into these threads, and I have to admire you for that.

For doggedly defending an absurd argument,
In the face of overwhelming numerical opposition,
(Not to mention all established economic theory,
and a fair bit of common sense),
For enduring grevious rhetorical and logical wounds,
and, above all, for coming back for more,
I hereby invest you as the first member of Apolyton's Order of the Black Knight.

This award comes with a picture suitable for use as your own personal avatar.
Wear this award with pride.
You have certainly earned it.

[JohnT]

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by JohnT

ditto

[Flubber]

Isn't this dead yet ??


kid

I made my arguments in the last thread-- I still feel violated at Blockbuster exploiting me by daring to RENT me a movie.

Seriously-- renting any number of items for which you have a short term need only makes sense. It would be incredibly wasteful for everyone to have their own lawn roller, moving van or large truck. fence postholedigger, rototiller, copy of very movie we want to see, tuxedo, large hall for weddings, arena or sports facility.

Is your answer that the state pay for all these, taxing people to provide non-necessities to others ??

[Velociryx]

Kid, your beef is (and correct me if I'm wrong) ANY attempt by another individual to gain or retain a portion of your sum-total productivity.

Such attempts are, per your definition, exploitive.

Understand this: the ONLY way that your system could possibly function without exploitation, would be for every man, woman, and child, to be his/her own, completely self-sufficient economic machine. That is to say, each person would have to own all the tools and equipment to build his own home, have all the skills to do all the wiring and plumbing, grow all his own food, make all his own clothing, and make any and all electronic devices he/she wished to own, because you see, ANY TIME that anyone charges you for these things, what are they doing but robbing you of a portion of your productivity? Doesn't matter if you're getting something in exchange for that piece of your productivity, the fact that they're demanding it at all is exploitive, right?

And yet flip it around....are you not robbing them if you simply expect them to GIVE you something they created with their labor?

Ahhhh, but that doesn't count, because your world view is purely centered on YOU. And whatever takes a portion of YOUR productivity is exploitation....but it's somehow magically NOT exploitation if you get something for nothing at someone else's expense.

You don't want to have to work for it, because you'd rather spend that time complaining about how "the man" is out to get you, and it is that very attitude that will forever keep you down, not the actions of those who are supposedly nefariously out to get you.

Work for it. It's good for you.

-=Vel=-

[Dauphin]

I would make an argument pointing out where Kid is wrong, but seeing as he hasn't responded to any of my direct questions I will save my keyboard the wasted effort.

All I have to say is, I don't understand why Kid feels that all his effort should be paid back, whilst the effort or help that he receives from others in completing his work is to be completely unrewarded. That is the central point I can not comprehend. Not to mention his reasoning on everything else appears based on false dilemas or non-sequitas.

[yavoon]

I'm going to answer yes, they are different.

[Kuciwalker]

Whoohoo! I think we've driven him off!

Best thing is, now the mods won't notice if we spam it up to 500 posts... it wouldn't look any different

(NOTE TO MODS: skywalker does not endorse spam. spam is bad. spam causes cancer)

[Velociryx]

Big C, quite simply because your work doesn't matter. As long as Kid's not being exploited, all is well. If you let him exploit you, that's your problem, see?

-=Vel=-

[Kuciwalker]

Vel - I don't think he's listening any more

[Velociryx]

I don't think he was ever listening....just repeating the same tired, worn out mantra that has no basis in fact or reality over and over and over......and over and over and over again.

And we, the faithful supporters of the real world, keep trying to get him to open his eyes....to no avail, of course.

-=Vel=-

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Velociryx
Big C, quite simply because your work doesn't matter. As long as Kid's not being exploited, all is well. If you let him exploit you, that's your problem, see?

-=Vel=-

I bet if MarkG ever charged for membership and posting rights that Kid would consider it exploitation. Its alright at the moment though as it is we who are exploiting Markos.

[Velociryx]

Now you're getting it! Isn't it a GRAND theory!?

-=Vel=-

[Dauphin]

So according to Kid exploitation is defined as "The request of a vendor to be payed for goods or services".