Gingrich says he's considering presidential run

[giblets]

Technically, if there is any cost at all, opportunity cost is the only cost at all, since we benefit from taxation.

Taxation has an opportunity cost, so I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean.

[Al B. Sure!]

Why are your so boring?

I won't be boring when I get to blow things the hell up and kill bad guys

[-Jrabbit]

Opportunity cost is the only cost at all, since we benefit from taxation.

Good one, Kid.

[Kidlicious]

[Kidlicious]

Taxation has an opportunity cost, so I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean.

Then you don't understand what an opportunity cost is. Just because something has an opportunity cost doesn't mean that there is no benefit from it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I won't be boring when I get to blow things the hell up and kill bad guys

Sounds more boring than going out and having a fun time.

[Al B. Sure!]

Then you don't understand what an opportunity cost is. Just because something has an opportunity cost doesn't mean that there is no benefit from it.

opportunity cost is the benefit foregone by choosing one of different, mutually exclusive alternatives.

I'd hope that in someone's benefit calculus, they would consider the benefit foregone of a possible alternative minus the benefit gained from their decision. And if that leaves them with a negative value, they made a boo boo (I realize we have pedantic idiots here. Benefit foregone as a negative plus the benefit gained. If that leaves them with a negative number, they made a boo boo.)

[giblets]

Then you don't understand what an opportunity cost is. Just because something has an opportunity cost doesn't mean that there is no benefit from it.

If you're saying that government spending is often worth its opportunity cost, then you're stating the obvious. But I think saying "taxation is beneficial" is a strange way to put it.

[Kidlicious]

If you're saying that government spending is often worth its opportunity cost, then you're stating the obvious. But I think saying "taxation is beneficial" is a strange way to put it.

The first thing you said doesn't make any sense. If you think you're making sense out of it, you're not, and that's not what I'm saying. "Taxation is beneficial" is obvious. It pays the bills.

[The Mad Monk]

He has no chance of winning so I'm all for it.

The Zibber disagrees.

That is all.

[Hauldren Collider]

Then you don't understand what an opportunity cost is. Just because something has an opportunity cost doesn't mean that there is no benefit from it.

I'm sorry, what? Opportunity cost is always a cost. Taxation has both direct AND opportunity cost, and government services (and the ensuing monopoly) have enormous, nearly incalculable opportunity costs.

[Kidlicious]

Taxation has both direct AND opportunity cost.

Nothing in that statement says that there aren't benefits to taxation. What in the world could be wrong with you, that you can't understand that?

[Kidlicious]

Also, taxation does not always have an opportunity cost. Econ lesson over.

[Hauldren Collider]

Nothing in that statement says that there aren't benefits to taxation. What in the world could be wrong with you, that you can't understand that?

NET cost is different from cost, you ******. But taxes are all cost--GOVERNMENT SERVICES have benefits that offset the costs. Moron.

ALL economic activity has opportunity cost. Again, moron. You are always sacrificing the ability to do something else when you do anything. Whether the benefits outweigh the costs are HOW YOU DECIDE WHAT TO CHOOSE.

[giblets]

The first thing you said doesn't make any sense. If you think you're making sense out of it, you're not, and that's not what I'm saying. "Taxation is beneficial" is obvious. It pays the bills.

"the bills" have an opportunity cost because the government has to tax or borrow to pay for them, and both of those things have opportunity costs. Now if taxation has a smaller opportunity cost than borrowing, then in that sense it's beneficial, but that's obvious.