Monday, November 14, 2011

Economics and Morality

Economics is premised on the assumption that people will act solely on their best interest. Morality is premised on individuals will act on another's best interest and benefit.

Capitalism works best when there is morality and sense of fairness among all. The reluctance of the top 1% to shoulder any significant burden in this country's effort to rebuild the economy and put people back to work is sickining. It is this display of indifference by the Republican's and the tea party that has ignited the country. Hence the morality issue, It's all about me. My taxes, My Wealth, My Way, it's not my fault your not rich, it's yours.

The responsibility to help rebuild the middle class, put people to work, is not my responsibility. Social morality exists no more in this 1% of the population.

In 1982 when the nation's unemployed was 11% where were the protesters then Jim? They were not there because they understood it was a shared experience and the gap between rich and middle class was a lot less.
Christianity which is the religion of choice of the Tea party (85%) seems to go out the window along with social morality (helping others).
The Tea Party is made up of working people, who see no others except themselves in the mirror. SAD! REALLY!

5 comments:

terry said...

Now the Republicans approve Waterboarding which is banned by the Geneva Conventions and signed by us that is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. It's unbelievable to me how far the that party will go to win an election and scare the public to win. This from the party that does not want to free lance the Constitution why when you will change the Geneva Conventions whenever you want. Is there any SHAME anymore.

Baxter said...

You know whats funny about the right wing, Terry? They love to bitch. I have known the Good Doc a good long while. Long enough, in fact, that relative taxes have gone down about 25% since we met. Does he complain about taxes any less? No. Not even 25% less? No! He and his crowd complain evermore.

If taxes were cut in half, would the plaintive whining go down? Only briefly, if at all. There would be leaders on the right that would complain that taxes are still way too high. They would make incongruous comparisons to the 18th century. Steve Forbes of flat tax fame refuses to say just how low taxes should ideally go. We all know, his answer will always be "lower", no matter the rate.

It's not morality or an objective standard for today's GOP. It is a religious belief in lower taxes no matter the circumstance or consequence. I do not expect this to change in my lifetime. I hope that the party will be reduced to a loud, discredited minority - much like the Reds in the former Soviet Union.

Jim G. said...

Morality is premised on individuals will act on another's best interest and benefit.

No it is not! Who says that morality is based on a J-C ethic? Why isn't morality based on excellence, self reliance? In fact, given your bitching about the rights religion as you attend church every day...who are you talk?

Capitalism works best when there is morality and sense of fairness among all. The reluctance of the top 1% to shoulder any significant burden in this country's effort to rebuild the economy and put people back to work is sickining.

Reluctant? Based on what? The "rich" provide the jobs and capitol to make our society work.

Just because you can rant, does not mean you should.

If taxes were cut in half, would the plaintive whining go down? Only briefly, if at all.

You complain about too little taxes as SPENDING increases. Taxes have not changed...in years...spending has...and what does your President want? More spending.


we are not "undertaxed"

Baxter said...

All the while you have been bitching, Jim, taxes have gone down. The top rate was reduced, capital gains taxes were nearly cut in half and the top rate on dividends was cut by two-thirds. That has all happened since I met you and began to hear those plaintive cries on the subject.

We are, in fact, significantly under-taxed. Tax rates were much higher under President Clinton - you remember - the one with the surpluses?

Baxter said...

It should be noted that with the tax policies of the George W Bush era currently remain in place and have brought federal revenue from 20%/GDP to 15%/GDP - a 60 year low. In that same span - the 2001 tax breaks to date - the national debt has effectively tripled.

Brilliant.