Top 50% of wealth OR income? By which standard, most of us on this list are rich.
n Nicholas S. Thompson Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology Clark University <http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/ From: Friam [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Merle Lefkoff Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 1:17 PM To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group Subject: Re: [FRIAM] right vs left Guys, It's honestly been "the other way" a lot. There was even a time not too long ago in the U.S. when our government made "rational" decisions about this issue. In the mid 1950s, you were taxed on everything you made over $400k at 92%. The bottom bracket was taxed at 22%. In 2012, you were taxed on everything you made over $380k at 35%. The bottom bracket, up to $17k, was taxed at 10%. There are a lot of variables that affect inequality that can be changed, and that's just one of the smaller ones. I like Gillian's question, so here's mine: What do you mean by "rich"? On Sat, Jan 11, 2014 at 12:54 PM, Merle Lefkoff <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: I'm at the bottom of a long thread here, but if it's not too late, the only person I've ever read who could really describe the Right and the Left in America was Joe Bageant in his book "Deer Hunting with Jesus". It was a big loss when he died recently, because he also had a great blog. On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 10:45 PM, Nick Thompson <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Marcus, I guess I don't follow. Perhaps others will clarify. Best, Nick Nicholas S. Thompson Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology Clark University <http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/ From: Friam [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ] On Behalf Of Marcus G. Daniels Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 10:10 PM To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [FRIAM] right vs left On 1/10/14, 6:28 PM, Nick Thompson wrote: (2) Second, given that understanding of what I agreed to, there ARE examples where the rich are not as dominant as the rich are in our current society. In fact, not long ago, we were such a society. For example (http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/03/27/outside-groups-spending-throu gh-roof) " Outside groups, including super PACs and nonprofit organizations, have spent almost four times more on the 2012 presidential campaign than comparable organizations spent at the same point in the 2008 cycle, an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings show." Your relativist argument (and evidence like above to support it), and also historical observations made on this list have falsified "He who has the gold rules." as literal proposition. Given that it is falsified, pop the stack to go back to the discussion of how to have an individual from the left and an individual from the right reconcile their views `rationally'. Why ought he who has the gold rule? Why should property rights be respected in all situations or even in any? Why should those that have resources influence legislation? Why should the law be considered anything more than a factor in risk and reward decisions? I'm happy to go down the merry road of nihilism with you. Bring your favorite things. I'll wear my cargo pants with lots of pockets. Oh, never mind that wrench I'm carrying. I heard someone was having car trouble over the horizon. Marcus ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com -- Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D. President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> mobile: (303) 859-5609 <tel:%28303%29%20859-5609> skype: merlelefkoff -- Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D. President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> mobile: (303) 859-5609 skype: merlelefkoff
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