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Originally Posted by P_Funk
What is success? And what is a failure to succeed? You speak in general terms and assume that they fit nicely into your logic. But really what determines success? The richest people in the world are almost exclusively those who inherited vast bodies of wealth and continue to expand them without effort because they have the right to take the bulk of the profits and use those profits to expand into more wealth. As Letum said the hardest working don't get nearly the value of their work. The Value Added of a single person's work is completely disproportionate to the wage he receives. When the economy goes sour, largely due to those who have wealth getting greedy and pushing the market too hard so that supply exceeds demand, the first thing to go down is wages. Those that did their jobs lose most because those that have so much don't want to stop making so much.
I also noticed that nobody bothered to answer Letum's statement, instead enjoying the moral superiority of taking shots at Hillary.
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Absolute hogwash. Read this:
http://www.forbes.com/2001/06/21/top15billionaires.html
With the exception of the Saudi Prince, these people are providing global goods and services at an astronomical rate. And they've expanded or acheived greater success through nominal economic expansion. Maybe you have an HP desktop or a Dell. Is Michael Dell evil to you? Are the shareholders of HP evil to you for getting returns on their investments? How about MS shareholders? Are you jealous? Of course, you have the disease called "wealth envy". So you don't get how real wealth is gained, earned, or how risk capital can be turned into profits. And how that is actually good for a nations economy.
BTW, who should assign the value of someone's work? Remember, you nor the government owns jobs in the private sector. The employer does. And every employer I've come into contact with has paid the fair market value for the work done, and for the cost of living in the area lived in. If the employer does not pay a wage commensurate with a competitive wage, he won't be able to cover the positions. The reason why low skilled occupations, like burger flipper, meat packer, and such don't make as much is because the market is saturated with low skilled people looking for those types of jobs. And the turn over is rather high in those occupations. That's also why higher skilled jobs, and higher education will usually result in a higher net worth.
BTW, I used to be a "have not" myself. I'm now pretty well off. And I'm a "person of color"
. How did I do it in such a so-called "unjust" society?!?!?! Bottom line, if people don't bust their butt's, they simply will not acheive success. In a free society, you make choices. Some choices make you poor. Like making babies you can't afford. Or dropping out of school and partying. Or choosing to engage in criminal activity. Or just settling for whatever comes your way, rather than pursuing something that can bring better rewards. You'll only go as high as your work, investment, time, energy, choices, persistence, and innovation take you. And you are free to pursue or not pursue higher goals for yourself. But if you don't pursue higher goals, you only have yourself to blame. Likewise, if you choose poorly like the examples above, you only should look in the mirror for the culprit. Personal freedom, personal responsibility, and good decision making are a part of living in a free nation. If you can't handle it, Chavez is having his little revolution in Venezuela. Please move there. Because whining here won't get you what you want. Because people in "Red" revolution societies usually are or become destitute, oppressed, and unhappy, they will usually do anything to escape their marxist "paradise". I don't know why some in the free world refuse to learn that lesson.
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Originally Posted by The Wosman
People, including myself, work hard for what we have and I will be damned if I am going to let Hillary in or Charlie Rangel walk in and take it and decide how to spend it.
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Well Said!
Count me in as someone who has worked too hard to allow these hacks to confiscate my property to give to those who refuse to take care of themselves. I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes to take care of infrastructure, military, national R & D like space research, and such. But I'm sick of paying for things that grown adults should be doing for themselves.