Why is the level of discourse so much more intelligent in Democratic Debates

[Dos Equis]

I guess it makes a difference if one is inclined to feel animosity toward the wealthy regardless of how they achieved their wealth, which certainly does not describe me.

As for tax increases, which is really a whole other issue, my opinion is that everyone should be taxed the same, meaning the same percentage of their gross income, regardless of whether they are dead broke of incredibly rich. I believe this is known as a true flat tax. Like most folks, I take advantage of any deductions allowed me within the tax codes. With a true flat tax, there are no deductions, regardless of how rich or poor you are.

Believe it or not, there are many ways that people both honestly and dishonestly reduce their gross income which subsequently reduces their taxes. My stepdad was self-employed. Knowing that there was no way the government could track his income aside from looking at his lifestyle verses what he claimed to earn which would not have begun to support the lifestyle he, my mom and I enjoyed.

One of my best friends, a staunch Republican, owned her own business before she sold it and retired. She'd often complained about having to pay around $10,000 in quarterly taxes. It made me laugh. If she was paying $40,000 a year in taxes, imagine how much money she was making? It was really hard to feel sorry for her. Most of her work time consisted of schmoosing her clientele on the golf course, with expensive business lunches, or tickets to expensive venues. It "hard work" if you can get it. She is still a great friend, although her retirement isn't as flush as mine and I made nowhere near what she made when we worked. Funny how that works out sometimes.

What's wrong with your friend being upset about the government taking so much of her money?  Do you think she has less of an entitlement to her own money simply because she might earn more than the typical American? 

[Dos Equis]

Ya it's working perfectly

You can't possibly fathom improvements? to sit back and say the system is working is hilarious, it's great for progress, but we are actively destroying our home to make money, how retarded do you have to be?

Complete lack of foresight.

You initially said:  "capitalism doesn't work in it's current incarnation."  You didn't say it needs improvement.  Or that it was working perfectly.  I do agree that any system, including capitalism, could always improve, but to say it isn't working is silly. 

[TuHolmes]

You initially said:  "capitalism doesn't work in it's current incarnation."  You didn't say it needs improvement.  Or that it was working perfectly.  I do agree that any system, including capitalism, could always improve, but to say it isn't working is silly. 

There has never been a purely capitalist nation. So how can you say it's working?

I'm not against it, but to say it's working is false as there has never been any such thing.

[Necrosis]

You initially said:  "capitalism doesn't work in it's current incarnation."  You didn't say it needs improvement.  Or that it was working perfectly.  I do agree that any system, including capitalism, could always improve, but to say it isn't working is silly. 

Obviously change is implied if it's current incarnation is faulty, didn't think I needed to state that explicitly. Very odd thing to go on about.

Capitalism is not working, how could you suggst it is?

[Dos Equis]

There has never been a purely capitalist nation. So how can you say it's working?

I'm not against it, but to say it's working is false as there has never been any such thing.

What do you mean by "purely capitalist nation"?

Look around you.  There is a free market.  People have unlimited potential.  You can work wherever you want.  Start your own business.  Save.  Invest.  Own property.  To say it isn't working is false. 

[Dos Equis]

Obviously change is implied if it's current incarnation is faulty, didn't think I needed to state that explicitly. Very odd thing to go on about.

Capitalism is not working, how could you suggst it is?

Dude.  You said it isn't working, without qualification.  You realize there is a big difference between saying something doesn't work at all, and saying something needs improvement? 

See my previous post about how it's working. 

[TuHolmes]

What do you mean by "purely capitalist nation"?

Look around you.  There is a free market.  People have unlimited potential.  You can work wherever you want.  Start your own business.  Save.  Invest.  Own property.  To say it isn't working is false. 

There is no such thing... There is no "free market"

There are regulations and a host of other things.

There has NEVER... in the history of the world, been a society or nation that has had a purely capitalist economy.

[Dos Equis]

There is no such thing... There is no "free market"

There are regulations and a host of other things.

There has NEVER... in the history of the world, been a society or nation that has had a purely capitalist economy.

Of course the market is regulated.  That doesn't prevent businesses from competing with each other.  That's what free market is all about. 

Do you know what pure capitalism is?  We obviously don't have pure capitalism. 

[TuHolmes]

Of course the market is regulated.  That doesn't prevent businesses from competing with each other.  That's what free market is all about. 

Do you know what pure capitalism is?  We obviously don't have pure capitalism. 

I do know what pure capitalism, hence why I stated it has NEVER occurred.

So my initial statement is still valid.

There has never been a purely capitalist nation. So how can you say it's working?

I'm not against it, but to say it's working is false as there has never been any such thing.

As pure capitalism has NEVER occurred, you can't say it's "working", because it doesn't exist.

[Dos Equis]

I do know what pure capitalism, hence why I stated it has NEVER occurred.

So my initial statement is still valid.

As pure capitalism has NEVER occurred, you can't say it's "working", because it doesn't exist.

We were not talking about pure capitalism. 

[Necrosis]

Dude.  You said it isn't working, without qualification.  You realize there is a big difference between saying something doesn't work at all, and saying something needs improvement? 

See my previous post about how it's working. 

It's implied, that's obvious, current incarnation indicates there are other incarnations that are possible. There is a large IQ difference between us, we are having issues communicating.

Define how it's "working"?

It does make perfect sense, capitalism causes competition which ultimately motivates our species. However, it has a shitty end game, a plutocracy, the evidence of one is right in front of you.

There is a different law for the rich and powerful, capitalism (profit, money first motives) create this. Sure the standard of living is great here, but what about the places being raped and mined for resources by companies solely due to how much money they have. The earth is a finite resource, everyone wanting everything will lead to ruin and those with wealth can dictate politics which is absurd.

We won't survive another 100 years of the current system, we are seeing purposeful disinformation spread regarding potential catastrophe on a global scale, all for more money. Wealth invariably ends up in the hands of the few, the problem with this is that instead of lifting others up to help build, they keep others down, there is no altruism in capitalism, business is business. Human first policies, humanity first policies need to be the focus, who cares about your wealth or mine, in 100 years you will be dust, humanity not individuals needs to progress.

In a hundred years we may have achieved supraluminal travel, in that context it seems petty to argue over gay rights and other bullshit driven by money (aka lobbyists).

[Dos Equis]

It's implied, that's obvious, current incarnation indicates there are other incarnations that are possible. There is a large IQ difference between us, we are having issues communicating.

Define how it's "working"?

It does make perfect sense, capitalism causes competition which ultimately motivates our species. However, it has a shitty end game, a plutocracy, the evidence of one is right in front of you.

There is a different law for the rich and powerful, capitalism (profit, money first motives) create this. Sure the standard of living is great here, but what about the places being raped and mined for resources by companies solely due to how much money they have. The earth is a finite resource, everyone wanting everything will lead to ruin and those with wealth can dictate politics which is absurd.

We won't survive another 100 years of the current system, we are seeing purposeful disinformation spread regarding potential catastrophe on a global scale, all for more money. Wealth invariably ends up in the hands of the few, the problem with this is that instead of lifting others up to help build, they keep others down, there is no altruism in capitalism, business is business. Human first policies, humanity first policies need to be the focus, who cares about your wealth or mine, in 100 years you will be dust, humanity not individuals needs to progress.

In a hundred years we may have achieved supraluminal travel, in that context it seems petty to argue over gay rights and other bullshit driven by money (aka lobbyists).

Yes, there are very distinct differences between us.  Me = understand the English language, try and avoid overstatements, live in the greatest country on planet earth, an American.  You = Canadian.  

I understand you struggle with how to express yourself.  Here is one example from this same thread:

Once you get into the 140's of iq silly ambitions, lies and other bullshit are  non-existent, truth is usually all that matters, geniuses won't subvert, ever.

This is a categorical statement that people with an IQ over 140 never lie.  Anyone with a room temperature IQ, who isn't Canadian, however, understands that is not true.  Or maybe you think it's "implied" in your statement that people with an IQ over 140 do lie?  (Rhetorical question.)

Regarding capitalism, if you are now talking about "pure capitalism," that is a red herring, because we don't have pure capitalism in this country.  We have a highly regulated marketplace.  But it is a successful free market.  

And what do you mean by "we" won't survive?  You don't live in the United States.  Is this you living vicariously through Americans thriving in the greatest country on earth?  

Regarding what works in our great country, as I said earlier in the thread:

Look around you.  There is a free market.  People have unlimited potential.  You can work wherever you want.  Start your own business.  Save.  Invest.  Own property.  To say it isn't working is false.  

You don't have those things in Canada.  You work for the government.  They take what you earn and redistribute it to the rest of your fellow Canadians.  Maybe you are having trouble separating what happens in your country from the United States.  It's understandable.

[TuHolmes]

We were not talking about pure capitalism. 

Then why talk about capitalism if it's not actually capitalism?

[Dos Equis]

Then why talk about capitalism if it's not actually capitalism?

I'm not talking about pure capitalism, which does not exist in this country.  I'm not sure pure capitalism exists anywhere?  I never brought it up. 

The form of capitalism we have in this country works.  That was/is my point. 

[TuHolmes]

I'm not talking about pure capitalism, which does not exist in this country.  I'm not sure pure capitalism exists anywhere?  I never brought it up. 

The form of capitalism we have in this country works.  That was/is my point. 

But we don't have capitalism.

We have a mixed economy.

We don't have a "form of capitalism". Capitalism is one thing... completely free market. That is not what the US has.

As I stated. Capitalism doesn't exist and never actually has. It is a theoretical economic environment that has never been put to practice in the history of mankind.

[Dos Equis]

But we don't have capitalism.

We have a mixed economy.

We don't have a "form of capitalism". Capitalism is one thing... completely free market. That is not what the US has.

As I stated. Capitalism doesn't exist and never actually has. It is a theoretical economic environment that has never been put to practice in the history of mankind.

I disagree.  We do indeed have capitalism, but not pure capitalism.  We don't live in a socialist country, yet. 

[TuHolmes]

I disagree.  We do indeed have capitalism, but not pure capitalism.  We don't live in a socialist country, yet. 

Well, I understand that economics isn't your forte, but according to economics, we are in a mixed economy, not a capitalist one and not a socialist one.

You can have something in between. It's not just A or B.

[Dos Equis]

Well, I understand that economics isn't your forte, but according to economics, we are in a mixed economy, not a capitalist one and not a socialist one.

You can have something in between. It's not just A or B.

Economics definitely isn't your forte. 

[240 is Back]

Economics definitely isn't your forte. 

[TuHolmes]

Economics definitely isn't your forte. 

Apparently it's better than yours though.

Since you know... I'm factually accurate about this, and you are not.

[Dos Equis]

Apparently it's better than yours though.

Since you know... I'm factually accurate about this, and you are not.

Funny.   

All you did was set up a straw man and knock it down.  Good job. 

[TuHolmes]

Funny.   

All you did was set up a straw man and knock it down.  Good job. 

No, I showed where you are incorrect in regards to definitions, but that's pretty common.

[Dos Equis]

No, I showed where you are incorrect in regards to definitions, but that's pretty common.

Actually you started harping about "pure capitalism," which I never brought up.  But it's common for you to fuss about silly things. 

[TuHolmes]

Actually you started harping about "pure capitalism," which I never brought up.  But it's common for you to fuss about silly things. 

It's just capitalism... I said pure capitalism as a focus on the fact that no country in the history of the world has ever truly been a capitalist economy.

I don't consider being factual, "silly", but then again, being factual is not exactly high on your list of priorities.

[Dos Equis]

It's just capitalism... I said pure capitalism as a focus on the fact that no country in the history of the world has ever truly been a capitalist economy.

I don't consider being factual, "silly", but then again, being factual is not exactly high on your list of priorities.

You said pure capitalism to distinguish it from the form of capitalism that exists in this country.  Or least that's if you were trying to be smart about. 

This is so stupid.  lol  Ok.  I'm done.