(March 11, 2016 at 9:26 pm)abaris Wrote:

(March 11, 2016 at 9:20 pm)paulpablo Wrote: Capitalism in a free market is made up of voluntary exchange, wage labour, private ownership of the means of production, so on and so on (snip).

And, do your really think, this applies to todays capitalism?

I always make a distinction between a free market and capitalism. The same way as I make a distinction between social democracy and socialism - or communism in it's worst case. Note the ism in all these words. In most cases it points to a system running unchecked. And that's never a good thing, since any given system isn't in the business of correcting itself.

There are different forms of capitalism, but it doesn't really affect the question I asked.  I'm just asking how does any form of capitalism make a difference to decisions made by private companies on who to hire?

(March 11, 2016 at 9:51 pm)paulpablo Wrote: There are different forms of capitalism, but it doesn't really affect the question I asked.  I'm just asking how does any form of capitalism make a difference to decisions made by private companies on who to hire?

In the absence of legislation, it makes a hell of a difference. It's the main reason why so many companies are outsourcing to low wages, low regulations countries. However, agreeing to them paying a pitance, won't keep anyone afloat in countries where living costs are high. And that's not even taking into account that paying a pitance isn't a temporary phase today. If they can get away with it, they keep the pay low.

It's a vicious circle, actually, since they all want to sell their products to western consumers. But the more they outsource and the less they pay, the less consumers are actually able to afford their products.

(March 11, 2016 at 5:39 pm)paulpablo Wrote:

(March 11, 2016 at 3:29 pm)abaris Wrote: The times when only good looking people could hope for being a successful actor/actress are over for a few decades by now. It has more to do with chance and coincidence. If only good looking people made it, Steve Buschemi wouldn't be a star and half the cast of Game of Thrones wouldn't keep their contracts.

There was never a time when only good looking people could hope to be a successful in acting.  Again that wasn't the point I'm making anyway. I was saying that people are born with attributes that subtract or add to their value all the time, Bill Gates isn't exceptional in that way.  The reason why these people have value is because of the freedom of choice other people have, being good looking is often an advantage when it comes to getting on TV, yes that's not the only way to get on TV, people can invest time in learning acting or be naturally gifted in acting or in being funny, whatever it is, it boils down to, it's people choosing what they want to see on TV what they want is what adds or subtracts value in the acting market place.  Putting everyone on an even level of value, as Kitan was suggesting, is taking away the freedom of people to choose what they think is more or less valuble.     It's either that or your going to allow people choose and distribute the money to what they put value in and then you steal off the people who have more and give it to those who have less.

No it isn't more or less valuable just different. It still remains that the bulk of any society are the workers, not those with the money or the power. It is really no different than sperm trying to get at an egg, the majority don't get to it. It isn't advocating everyone be poor or that people don't value different things, just that nobody is more important than anyone else. We are still in this together.

And bullshit, voting is not theft. If we only do what the rich say all the time then there is no point in having voting at all, just only have the rich vote. When we only allow rich power over an economy that is called a plutocracy.

In our current climate the rich are stealing from the rest of us. Corporate welfare are the taxes they dodge and the rest of us have to make up for. 

You have bought into old cold war bullshit.

(March 13, 2016 at 7:00 pm)Brian37 Wrote: nobody is more important than anyone else. We are still in this together.

That's bullshit. Some people are more important than others.

Quote:And bullshit, voting is not theft.

But you can vote for someone that will steal for you.

(March 13, 2016 at 7:20 pm)KUSA Wrote: That's bullshit. Some people are more important than others.

Their profession maybe. The people are replaceable.

(March 13, 2016 at 7:24 pm)abaris Wrote:

(March 13, 2016 at 7:20 pm)KUSA Wrote: That's bullshit. Some people are more important than others.

Their profession maybe. The people are replaceable.

Everybody is replaceable. That wasn't the argument. Some people are more important than others. It not their profession, it's the person.

(March 13, 2016 at 8:24 pm)KUSA Wrote:

(March 13, 2016 at 7:24 pm)abaris Wrote: Their profession maybe. The people are replaceable.

Everybody is replaceable. That wasn't the argument. Some people are more important than others. It not their profession, it's the person.

Well, that is disgusting and frightening if you are saying what I think you are saying.

(March 13, 2016 at 7:20 pm)KUSA Wrote:

(March 13, 2016 at 7:00 pm)Brian37 Wrote: nobody is more important than anyone else. We are still in this together.

That's bullshit. Some people are more important than others.

Quote:And bullshit, voting is not theft.

But you can vote for someone that will steal for you.

You accept evolution? If you do you'd know what a stupid statement that is. The ride ends for friend and foe alike, for rich and poor alike. It is more of a crap shoot than most people like to think. 

Now do I value different things than others, certainly. But nobody is the center of this planet or the universe.

Vote for someone who'd steal for you? That is what Corporate welfare is, the art of paying lawyers and lobbyists to write laws to protect your tax breaks the rest of us have to pay for. 

NO voting is NOT theft. That is as stupid as if a man told his stay at home wife she has no say because she doesn't pay the bills. I may not be rich but that most certainly DOES NOT  give the rich the right to dictate OUR laws. The difference between you and me is that I am not telling the rich to go away, you are still stuck on the bullshit notion that liberals want to end the private sector. NO we do have a say and we will vote. The rich are only one part of the economy but that does not mean they have dominion over all the laws WE live under.

But if you want to call voting theft, between an unemployed or poor person or middle class voter, and a billionaire, who can afford lawyers and lobbyists the most? Money equals power, and as long as humans seek power there has to be a check on that power, and voting extends to all classes, not just the rich.

(March 13, 2016 at 8:30 pm)Mermaid Wrote:

(March 13, 2016 at 8:24 pm)KUSA Wrote: Everybody is replaceable. That wasn't the argument. Some people are more important than others. It not their profession, it's the person.

Well, that is disgusting and frightening if you are saying what I think you are saying.

I don't think I'm as important as Einstein was.