Hi Platonist Guitar Cowboy
I was trying to make a point with liberals,
to whom greed is essentially financial exploitation of another.
Making profits is greed to many of them.
My point is that that is what capitalism can involve,
although not always. The basis of capitalism is
enlightened self-interest. Enlightened in the
sense that the transaction will not backfire on you.
The understanding s that everybody profits if
the transaction is for their own interest.
They get the goods, you get the money.
[Roger Clough], [rclo...@verizon.net]
12/26/2012
"The one thing a woman looks for in a man is to be needed." - "Ethan Frome", by
Edith Wharton
- Receiving the following content -
From: Platonist Guitar Cowboy
Receiver: everything-list
Time: 2012-12-25, 14:43:55
Subject: Re: why greed is good.
Hi Roger,
I am convinced that this is off-topic but I'll change that by framing the
current mediatized rhetoric of conservative Christians of the last 20 years in
US as a TOE, or an epistemology within a TOE, so make that choice; and if you
would indulge me you can read on.
Imho right versus left is a false framing of problems and priorities.
But if greed is universally good, then so are thieves driven by the same.
I doubt Christian god and especially his son's incarnation, whose birth is just
being celebrated, would agree.
I do consider it fascinating how many people that label themselves
"conservative" in the US also proclaim to be serious Christians.
>From Bible:
1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes
his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, ?f you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.?
Mark 12: 41-44
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into
the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and
put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples
to him and said to them, ?ruly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more
than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all
contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in
everything she had, all she had to live on.?
Luke 3: 10-11
And the crowds asked him, ?hat then shall we do?? And he answered them, ?hoever
has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do
likewise.?
Mathew 6: 24-25
?o one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve
God and money. ?herefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what
you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
I admit to not reading the Bible often enough to have deep insight on the
Christian underpinnings of so much thought and rhetoric that circulates and
influences western policy making and conceptions of ethics (What do cowboys
read, huh?). But I will venture the bet, that the above quotes are not cherry
picked and reflect somewhat accurately one significant aspect of Jesus'
messages.
For me, the combination of these positions, does not bode well for TOE binding
those two ways of thinking.
PGC
On Tue, Dec 25, 2012 at 3:46 PM, Roger Clough wrote:
Hi meekerdb
Some economists argue that the wealthy invest their money,
creating capital for creating businesses, hiring workers,
and generally enriching the economy. ?(The poor don't
save money for others to use.)
So greed is good for the country.
[Roger Clough], [rclo...@verizon.net]
12/25/2012
"Forever is a long time, especially near the end." -Woody Allen
- Receiving the following content -
From: meekerdb
Receiver: Barrett Meeker,Art Shaffman,Bill Stermer,Dan Foster,Gennifer home,Ed
Gravlin,Hugh Kramer,Jim Wilkinson,Kirsten Meeker,Lara gmail,Mae Meeker,Marsha
home,Mark Morgan,Mike Kory,Terry & Lucy home,Tom Blattel
Time: 2012-12-24, 14:56:25
Subject: Re: clearing up the confusion on the fairness index
I was not confused. I think a good argument can be made from simple fairness;
that income (and wealth) should be more evenly distributed. ?ut even this chart
doesn't fully illustrate the problem. ?f all those households simply spent
their money on goods and services and investments the inequality would be
fairly benign. ?ut at the high end, there is so much disposable income
available that the very rich also spend it on influencing public policy (aka
buying legislation). ?o paraphrase Al Capone: You can get a lot further with a
vote and 10M$ than you can with a vote alone.
On 12/24/2012 8:48 AM, Roger wrote:
Hi meekerdb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_inequ