[Ford Prefect]

Originally posted by Bobboau


well, why don't I spend my cash on the things I want and other people spend the cash on the things that they want, that way at least the government spending would be representative of the wants of the population.

Because the money you pay in taxes is less than you would pay if you had to buy services yourself, and to a single mother who has to choose between eating dinner and taking prescription medication, that makes a difference.

you know I honestly would be far less mad with haveing a huge chunck of my money taken away if I had some sort of budgetary oversight, I would almost consiter that far. if you simply made the procedure for redistributeing to what you wanted over the default an opption, the vast majority of people would not be bothered to change from the default.

I believe that's called voting for a political candidate who shares your fiscal philosophy.

[Bobboau]

but none do.

[Ford Prefect]

Well, I guess that's the snag in the democratic process, isn't it?

[Bobboau]

only our variation of it.
we could fix it, the method I sugest would help to that end.

[Ford Prefect]

I believe you're putting the cart before the horse. I suggested that your idea for budgetary oversight already exists in the form of voting. You vote for politicians who want to allocate resources to the things you feel are important. If there aren't any such candidates, you're always free to become an activist.

[mikhael]

Originally posted by Kosh
Yeah there is something wrong with being greedy. It's called Enron, and Arthur Anderson, and Global Crossing, and Worldcom, and Marth Stewart, and Adelphia amoung others.

What was wrong with all the people you listed is not "greed" but stupidity.

Intelligently greedy people acquire in secure ways. These people acquired their money (or sought to avoid the loss of money) in risky ways (cheating generally).

Don't confuse greed with stupidity.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by mikhael


My point is that you can't take responsibility for the illness, but you can take responsibility for the treatment.

I really do agree with you, though, Aldo, as I was trying to explain to Kosh above. I doubt he'll get it though.

Isn't paying tax taking responsibility if said taxes pay for your healthcare, though?

[Kazan]

aldo_14: indeed it is.  And people would pay less in health insurance if the government did it intelligently then they would individually because the increase in negotiating power combined of the 'individuals' combined with the decreased overall risk to the insurance companies

We also have to get a handle on the otherside of the equasion: the exhorbitant [sp?] prices hospitals and pharmeceutical companies charge because they can get away with it.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally posted by mikhael

What was wrong with all the people you listed is not "greed" but stupidity.

Intelligently greedy people acquire in secure ways. These people acquired their money (or sought to avoid the loss of money) in risky ways (cheating generally).

Don't confuse greed with stupidity.

These were rich people who decided to commit serious felonies and rob other people of their life savings so they could become even richer. The fact that it was stupid only increases the sheer scope of their greed. Greed doesn't keep going until it reaches the edge of the law, then say, "Woah there! Time to reign it in!" It will carry you wherever the spoils are.

[mikhael]

I don't know. I'm a greedy ass bastard, but I don't break laws to further my greed. It's simple logic: breaking laws incurs loss in terms of time, money and production. Taking a slower path helps to maximise profit over time.

Aldo, you are the only one who seems to have a clue.

[karajorma]

Problem with greed is that it's like power. It can corrupt quite easily.

[mikhael]

I can let meat spoil. Does that mean unspoilt meat is bad?

[Bobboau]

only if your an idoit, what wouls a greedy person want, 100 million dolars for the rest of there lives or 110 million for two years followed by fifteen years of prison and supseqent poverty?

[karajorma]

Originally posted by mikhael
I can let meat spoil. Does that mean unspoilt meat is bad?

Of course not. But to use your analogy I can let meat spoil. That means that if I don't want that to occur I need to take steps to prevent that.

[mikhael]

Naturally. And thus, greed is good, as long as the greedy take steps to not let themselves become stupid. Like Bob said, I'd rather have a hundred million to spend in freedom, than a hundred ten million that get me put in jail. I like being free to spend my money.

[Ford Prefect]

I don't claim to understand the kind of greed that landed those people in jail, but considering how common it is for rich people to endeavor to become richer, and with such tenacity, I have to believe that it's a compelling force.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by mikhael
Naturally. And thus, greed is good, as long as the greedy take steps to not let themselves become stupid. Like Bob said, I'd rather have a hundred million to spend in freedom, than a hundred ten million that get me put in jail. I like being free to spend my money.

I agree but my point is that like power the more money you have the more it corrupts you. Not a single person Kosh mentioned actually needed the money.

And they were only the ones who got caught. Bill Gates, richest man in the world risked having his company broken up due to his greedy, monopolistic practices.

Greed is good but you can have too much of a good thing.

[Kosh]

Greed is good but you can have too much of a good thing.

Absolutely.

And they were only the ones who got caught. Bill Gates, richest man in the world risked having his company broken up due to his greedy, monopolistic practices.

Question: What do you call 50,000 nerds playing monopoly?

Answer: Microsoft

I believe that people should find a balance between greed and kindness towards others. This way you can have the best of both worlds.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally posted by Kosh
I believe that people should find a balance between greed and kindness towards others. This way you can have the best of both worlds.

That's what I thought too, and I was just about to go out and tell the whole world, when I discovered that we've been trying that since Day 1.

[aldo_14]

NB:  bit late perhaps, but this is an interesting comparison; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/business_comparing_welfare_states/html/1.stm