General Discussion

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)

134. The purpose of any economy is to allocate resources to maximize social happiness.

Sun Nov 30, 2014, 11:28 AM

Nov 2014

Do the TV broadcasts of the richest country on earth suggest their economy is fulfilling that purpose?

Does someone with skills and specialized knowledge deserve to earn more? Sure, and the job market assures that this will be the case - or at least until others acquire the skills to have the good job too.

It isn't an issue of high skill workers vs low skill workers. It's an issue of workers vs non workers (i.e. capital). Labor hasn't enjoyed any of the benefit of a growing economy for my entire adult life. It's not just time to change that, or bend the curve, but to invert it.

Capital gains, dividends and carried interest should be taxed at 70% and the proceeds used to fund social security, expand EITC and reduce the bottom three tax brackets.

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An open letter to America’s 1%: you had better hope violent protesters stay stupid. [View all] riqster Nov 2014 OP

K&R.... daleanime Nov 2014 #1

Thanks. riqster Nov 2014 #7

K&R. times 7.3 billion . olddots Nov 2014 #2

I just hope I live long enough to see some actual justice in this country, someday maybe eh NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #3

Agreed. Liberals know better. riqster Nov 2014 #6

Liberals can't drive high-end cars? WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #76

LOL Liberals driving Ferraris makes you sick? WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #74

How many starving children Stryst Nov 2014 #104

Again, what price range is acceptable to you? Have you signed a vow of poverty? WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #145

His and hers, two ferraris, neither of them driven hardly at all but had to have his and hers NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #106

The problem of poverty goes well beyond... WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #146

I was wrong they are Bentley's, dont know how expensive those are... NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #149

I have been extremely surprised that rioting or vandalism has not taken place at rich homes and jwirr Nov 2014 #4

My theory is that divide and conquer is working for the nonce. riqster Nov 2014 #10

I'm not even a little surprised cali Nov 2014 #12

Yes, of course if you are thinking rioters. I was thinking angry individuals. We have had a lot of jwirr Nov 2014 #16

That none of the Enron guys ... SomeGuyInEagan Nov 2014 #81

And since then we have seen the Enronization of the entire economy. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #90

It *is* amazing, and could very well start happening at any time, pretty much. nt AverageJoe90 Nov 2014 #26

Kind of gorilla warfare. jwirr Nov 2014 #27

Gorilla warfare? Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #52

Planet of the Apes? riqster Nov 2014 #65

God knows. I stole it from somewhere online. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #82

Thanks for posting. Food for serious thought. - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #5

This is something my brother....... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #8

We have the ability to reach people. We can and must plant seeds. riqster Nov 2014 #75

Yep, we surely must plant the seeds.... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #105

Everytime they burn a small mom and pop business. redstatebluegirl Nov 2014 #9

Yup. So they need to focus that anger in the right direction. riqster Nov 2014 #21

the 1% damn well knows they're protected cali Nov 2014 #11

Distraction only works for so long. riqster Nov 2014 #24

Eeyup. hifiguy Nov 2014 #28

not unless they're starving. The vast majority of Americans cali Nov 2014 #35

we've never had anything like the bread and circuses extant today cali Nov 2014 #32

Which will come in the next 40 years with Climate Change. Because the 1%. Tommymac Nov 2014 #86

Oh yeah good plan... SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #13

It's a prediction, not a plan. I hope the 1% get a clue in time. riqster Nov 2014 #20

Eventually it will happen. hifiguy Nov 2014 #14

They better wake up. CNN just interviewed one of the leaders of the protests in StL mall.... jillan Nov 2014 #15

Little signs of life. riqster Nov 2014 #18

what? picture? link? NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #56

Didn't know which one you wanted a link for - so here is both :) jillan Nov 2014 #58

Thanks, The Walton's are enemies of the human race....big time NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #59

Occupy Wall Street attempted to bring just that message to the 1%. Live and Learn Nov 2014 #17

Agreed. People have to believe in the system or it will fail. riqster Nov 2014 #19

And it's difficult to continue to believe in a system........ socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #132

Absolutely right. riqster Nov 2014 #133

I am pretty sure that the 1% are aware of this, sadoldgirl Nov 2014 #22

I'm afraid they've learned that violence against protesters has worked as well. world wide wally Nov 2014 #31

That was my first thought too BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #78

Maybe they will create an ebola outbreak. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #91

As we have seen BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #114

Never happen. Because . . . OldRedneck Nov 2014 #23

I watched the beginning of the 1992 riots in South Central LA from the third story of a building JDPriestly Nov 2014 #25

+1 Enthusiast Nov 2014 #92

That reminds me of somebody: bvar22 Nov 2014 #148

Never happen, children are brainwashed early in life. Rex Nov 2014 #29

exactly. it's hopelessly naive to think that a) it will happen, and b) that the 1% cali Nov 2014 #34

People need to hold on to something, even if it is false hope. Rex Nov 2014 #37

I have noticed that the ad monster has followed kids online... Moostache Nov 2014 #61

Bleak but on point. riqster Nov 2014 #71

If you have given up, why are you posting on an activist site? riqster Nov 2014 #42

say what? because I disagree with YOU? grab a clue. and I think Mr. B& C is a moron. cali Nov 2014 #87

No, because you said: "exactly. it's hopelessly naive to think that a) it will happen and riqster Nov 2014 #125

No Justice, no profits azmom Nov 2014 #30

A good start. riqster Nov 2014 #49

And probably caused 200 store employees to get sent home for the day Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #89

That's the silliest blog post of his yet. aikoaiko Nov 2014 #33

I'm not familiar with him, delete_bush Nov 2014 #150

Reminds me of the phrase randr Nov 2014 #36

Yup. It is why we need greater separation of church and state. riqster Nov 2014 #43

One percenters are aware. Hence private security companies armed to the teeth, kairos12 Nov 2014 #38

Firepower is a good thing. To an extent. riqster Nov 2014 #48

As Long As Americans Are Clueless - The 1% Won't Change - They Don't Have To cantbeserious Nov 2014 #39

Well, we have to spread the word. riqster Nov 2014 #44

Fully Agree - Until More Awaken - Nothing Will Change cantbeserious Nov 2014 #51

better cut education some more,.... lastlib Nov 2014 #40

The more fools they. riqster Nov 2014 #45

This is a little Jamaal510 Nov 2014 #41

If there had not been fires in Ferguson, the media would have said the protestors accepted defeat Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #46

Yep. The media are part of the problem. riqster Nov 2014 #47

And corporations are pieces of the solution. Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #50

Hey, those bits of corporate flotsam and jetsam are people too, my friend. riqster Nov 2014 #63

If you split up corporate property, is it 3/4 of a person? Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #70

I am thinking instead of 0.75 we go smaller. riqster Nov 2014 #72

You know, hostile takeovers of corporate property are quite time-consuming Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #77

My granddaughter watches MLP. They are magical. riqster Nov 2014 #80

I'll take that as an incitement to throw things :) Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #83

I've been known to post a pony or two myself hifiguy Nov 2014 #115

:) /) Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #118

Looting and vandalizing is neither small d or large D Democratic./NT DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2014 #53

Never said it was. I described it as a result of Teapubbie policies. riqster Nov 2014 #66

Excellent rant! Bohemianwriter Nov 2014 #54

Gotta love Mencken. riqster Nov 2014 #68

I remember in 2008/2009 here in Ct they were scared shitless when..... Bonhomme Richard Nov 2014 #55

I think we will stay "stupid" zentrum Nov 2014 #57

We can help by providing accurate information. riqster Nov 2014 #73

You all know the history of the OP...right? nt U4ikLefty Nov 2014 #60

I know these silly blog posts get zero traction at his own site... WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #79

It will happen sooner or later. Brigid Nov 2014 #62

Castles made of sand will fall into the sea. Eventually. riqster Nov 2014 #64

I think that they (the .01%) have lost touch... jimlup Nov 2014 #67

Yes, the French Revolution will pale in comparison to any modern uprising. riqster Nov 2014 #69

I will rejoice when the Koch-ites get their just reward. Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #84

Those who are hurt the most lead the way. But changing the system will require Maineman Nov 2014 #85

the oppressed know much more about the powerful than the powerful know about the oppressed Android3.14 Nov 2014 #96

K&R DeSwiss Nov 2014 #88

Plus one! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #95

And then ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #93

That is possible. But not guaranteed. riqster Nov 2014 #128

True, but if history is to serve as a guide ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #139

Quite appropriate. riqster Nov 2014 #141

My point is ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #143

No argument there at all. riqster Nov 2014 #144

There it is Android3.14 Nov 2014 #94

Not all 1 per centers are Marie Antoinette or the Romanovs oberliner Nov 2014 #97

No it isn't a correlation, but hifiguy Nov 2014 #116

Point taken oberliner Nov 2014 #124

Your problem is your stuck with the 1% number Iamthetruth Nov 2014 #98

K & R +++ Thespian2 Nov 2014 #99

Amazing the numbers that dont vote Cryptoad Nov 2014 #100

Not that amazing when you consider.... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #135

Ahhh,,,, the demand for instant results..... Cryptoad Nov 2014 #138

I'm not going to argue that point..... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #140

I can't really argue with,,, Cryptoad Nov 2014 #142

But why would I want to protest the 1 pct? roamer65 Nov 2014 #101

Truth. riqster Nov 2014 #129

I generalay ignore these threads and don't spend much time on DU, anyhow but this hated for success DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #102

No, but the issue is mathematical Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #103

Folks should be compensated based on experience, skills, training bigwillq Nov 2014 #107

actually, you are not paid for your skill and talent. you are paid based on fulfilling a demand. DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #122

multiply any number by .01 and you have one percent. DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #123

The issue is, why does Mark Zuckerberg make so much? Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #151

I have little use for Facebook, myself. I created a profile years ago but never use it. DeadEyeDyck Dec 2014 #158

The problem is not that there will aways be a !%. olegramps Nov 2014 #108

I think the goal is to have the American working class be a "virtual middle-class" Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #120

You think this is about hating success? Really? navarth Nov 2014 #110

Do you have poverty? treestar Nov 2014 #112

Hey, PhD! When you say 'J.K. Rawlings' do you mean J.K. Rowling author of 'Harry Potter' Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #121

posting through a smartphone has its disadvantages DeadEyeDyck Dec 2014 #157

Fair point. Perhaps I overgeneralized. riqster Nov 2014 #130

The purpose of any economy is to allocate resources to maximize social happiness. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #134

All that "fancy book learning" and we get "hated for success". I'll skip over "generalay" Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2014 #153

actually, the entire 1% are not against society samsingh Nov 2014 #109

As long as the TV works there will not be change. navarth Nov 2014 #111

Why are our police increasingly militarized? Buzz505 Nov 2014 #113

It's part of the problem, yes. But there is always hope. I refuse to give up. riqster Nov 2014 #126

One of Osama bin Laden's stated goals was to bankrupt America. Initech Nov 2014 #117

Sadly, that's an example of evil overthinking things. Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #119

It reminds me of an argument between Malcolm X and Dr. King DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2014 #127

I understand Dr. King's point of view. And personally, I share it. riqster Nov 2014 #131

I think who pointed out that Dr. King and Malcolm X played "good cop bad cop" with LBJ said it best Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #152

I think we could say it played out that way, to an extent. riqster Dec 2014 #154

I think it was more an understanding the three of them had. Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #156

You have gotten a lot of trollish respones to this post. Speaking truth to power makes some nervous greatlaurel Nov 2014 #136

Thank you. It is not a new thought on my part, of course. riqster Nov 2014 #137

Send them the Fairy Tales malaise Nov 2014 #147

Deny the m$m the soundbite flobee1 Dec 2014 #155