05-14-2008, 05:53 PM
Quote:Hi,
Yeah. So what? Your assumption is flawed. It is basically the assumption that (small 'c') communism is based on and we've all seen how well that works. In a market economy, the value of an item (and a person's time *is* an item) is no more, no less, than what two people (the buyer and the seller) agree to trade for that item. Which is why you can get a meal at McDonald's for about $5 while there are restaurants that will put you back $1000 or more for dinner for two. Is it fair? No, it isn't. But anyone stupid enough to base their world view on 'fair' should test the fairness of gravity from a tall building. On the way down, explain to the ground why it's hardness is unfair.
Yes, education. As soon as you take a real course in economics, and realize how a market works, and why an outlier rate of one in thirty thousand is acceptable, that soon you will see that there was no problem except in your mind.
--Pete
Pete, I am not talking about a simple capitalism vs communism thing....(I tried it before). Your explanation might be suitable to a 5 year old but I am very much aware of these things.
First I need to point out that your market economy isn't a real market economy there are many many trade restrictions etc. and other governmental 'input', the only difference compared to e.g. Venezuela is that in the case of the US and other western countries these things favor the rich instead of the normal people. (this just to point out that your hallelujah market economy 101 is not working like you think it is).
I am not complaining about some people making more money than others.
My point (question) is a different one however. How can a species survive if we create society that makes it more interesting from a personal standpoint to do something that is useless, just because you make loads of money (i'm exaggerating a bit to make my point clear, entertainment has use of course) instead of doing useful things.