Today I got told that I am the...

[Dauphin]

at Kuci using "Sweetheart".

[Kuciwalker]

I know, I'm not usually so forward...

[KrazyHorse]

I'm sure we both agree that his net contribution to society greatly exceeds whatever the present tax code happens to wrest from him, but it's a good enough metric to get the point across, sure.

No, people get paid their marginal product (to a first approximation).

Therefore kuci's net contribution is what he pays in taxes less the marginal costs he imposes on government.

[KrazyHorse]

The only reason that the military MIGHT be different is that some people may be willing to accept lower pay through a sense of patriotism. My point was that we can estimate this effect by looking at the spread between comp for a merc vs pay for a regular soldier...

[Asher]

at Kuci using "Sweetheart".

It suddenly becomes obvious that he had so many gay roommates.

[Kuciwalker]

No, people get paid their marginal product (to a first approximation).

Therefore kuci's net contribution is what he pays in taxes less the marginal costs he imposes on government.

People don't always consume all of their earnings.

[KrazyHorse]

That is savings, and represents a claim on future consumption (unless you're talking about charitable donations, of course)

[MikeH]

That's spending to make you feel good. The same as hookers. Still consumption.

[Darius871]

Why spend the majority of your waking life doing something that doesn't hold any meaning for you?

Because in the vast majority of cases it's more a function of whatever happens to be available in one's area and available to one's skill set, experiences, and financial pressures than fully free choice (like you said, you've "been lucky to have the opportunity"). The fulfilling crap is few and far between, and more competitively sought out than you'd think, unless you happen to have a bankroll to do it yourself.

[Arrian]

If having a job with "meaning" is important, why not look into working for a charity? The pay probably isn't very good and I'm sure jobs are limited (especially now), but in theory at least you get the bonus of helping people and therefore feeling good about what you do each day.

I suspect you'd end up very disappointed by being a Marine. And then we'd end up with an older, even more bitter Albie who is trained at killing people. Pass, please.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Personally, I've never understood work to be anything other than "stuff they have to pay people to do." For the vast majority of people, that's the way it works. Deal with it, or don't. Whatever.

-Arrian

[Darius871]

No, people get paid their marginal product (to a first approximation).

Therefore kuci's net contribution is what he pays in taxes less the marginal costs he imposes on government.

Fair enough; unlike Alby I'll be the first to readily admit that I don't know the first damned thing about econ and that the critical period with which I might attain a useful amount of that knowledge is long since past. At least it's guaranteed to never come up in my life outside Poly.

[Darius871]

I'm sure jobs are limited (especially now)

^This. They have nowhere near enough of a budget and more than enough do-gooder volunteers to hire anybody without either a spectacular resume or a dose of nepotism.

[Darius871]

dp

[Dauphin]

Personally, I've never understood work to be anything other than "stuff they have to pay people to do." For the vast majority of people, that's the way it works. Deal with it, or don't. Whatever.

-Arrian

Happiness. Finding something you like doing, and getting someone to pay you for it.