That's true, but there were also "conservatives" who railed against the bourgeoisie from a standpoint that seems a bit different than the one that socialists and communists would eventually take. — Erik
There is no way that these differences can be overcome peacefully. It's simply impossible. — Agustino
Of course, ideally, a "merger" between the two would be great. Adopting some of the social conservatism from the Right, and combining it with some of the more humane economic policies of the Left. But I have doubts if it will actually happen peacefully. — Agustino
It's gone, you know. Conservatism I mean, as a force in our politics, society or culture. Sadly, I would say. It's been suborned as a political force, as our politicians will do whatever is necessary, appeal to whomever they need to, merely to remain where they are if not take some other position in the hierarchy. Actual conservatism requires adherence to principles, and they have none. Socially and culturally it's been replaced by unthinking allegiance to certain shibboleths relating to patriotism, religion, sexual conduct, nationalism, money, and a very narrow view of what it is to be American. — Ciceronianus the White
Never mind a job with the company, large wads of cash will do nicely. — Bitter Crank
Yes, those damned conservatives who inveigh against consumerism and wanton consumption complicate things. Sometimes what they are against is the vulgar consumerism of people who shop at Walmart. I suspect they prefer people who buy their goods at Design Within Reach (mid century modern types) or prefer Ethan Allen (solid elegance). — Bitter Crank
Some would argue that fascists have indeed appropriated some of their anti-modern positions — Erik
A statistical analysis tells us precious little about why the 10-year survival rate for businesses is around 30%. It also doesn't tell us what makes for a successful business. There are serial entrepreneurs out there, people who start business after business, and they build several successful companies. So it's a skill, just like anything else, a skill that can be learned. The first time you ride a bicycle you will fall and get hurt, but soon you will learn. It's the same thing here.US data from 1994-2015 shows that the typical survival rate for a new business drops precipitously within the first five years to 55% likelihood of survival. By year 10 it's around 30%, and these survival rates don't say anything about profit rates, so the owner could just be making ends meet. — Maw
It is risky, but so is the alternative. I remember the story of Bill Bartmann when he was $1 million in personal debt after a bankruptcy. And he was saying that you can't pay back $1 million working a job, that is ridiculous, so the only alternative for him was to start a business.Starting a business while in debt, without a supporting network is highly risky, and lacks stability. — Maw
USD equivalent.what currency you are using — Maw
Little money compared to US wages.Guests give money as well (typically $75 - $125 depending on how close you are with the couple) — Maw
Very expensive. A lot more expensive than here. Here a good wedding is around $4-5K. Luxurious one can be in the $25K-40K, but then so would the gifts (presumably, if you will organise such a wedding, the guests will also have $$) ;)costs between $25K - $40K — Maw
I don't think this is right. As I said, here during communism sex for teenagers was quite rare. Sure, some sex will be happening, but more important than that is the culture that surrounds it.Teenagers have sex. No one is going to stop that. — Maw
I don't buy that. It is sufficient to give a cursory glance to Hollywood and pop culture to see that sexual promiscuity is marketed and advertised like crazy. To say that you are not experiencing moral depravity in America because of sex seems hardly conceivable. All the daily sex scandals with celebrities, etc.I can't speak to what occurs in Eastern Europe but we aren't experiencing moral depravity simple in America at least because of sex. — Maw
I don't buy that. It is sufficient to give a cursory glance to Hollywood and pop culture to see that sexual promiscuity is marketed and advertised like crazy. To say that you are not experiencing moral depravity in America because of sex seems hardly conceivable. All the daily sex scandals with celebrities, etc. — Agustino
A statistical analysis tells us precious little about why the 10-year survival rate for businesses is around 30%. It also doesn't tell us what makes for a successful business — Agustino
It is risky, but so is the alternative. I remember the story of Bill Bartmann when he was $1 million in personal debt after a bankruptcy. And he was saying that you can't pay back $1 million working a job, that is ridiculous, so the only alternative for him was to start a business. — Agustino
I don't buy that. It is sufficient to give a cursory glance to Hollywood and pop culture to see that sexual promiscuity is marketed and advertised like crazy. To say that you are not experiencing moral depravity in America because of sex seems hardly conceivable. All the daily sex scandals with celebrities, etc. — Agustino
Well, when you finish University, you pretty much know nothing about anything when it comes to money-making. Might as well learn how to earn for yourself.Exactly, so without knowing why only 30% of businesses survive, why would that be the default recommendation to young people whose backgrounds, experience, and network you know nothing about? — Maw
That depends, you can run your business such as it's basically a one-man operation. It works in the service industry at least. That's what I did for a long time actually. Personally, I was still making a lot better than I would have otherwise. And the interesting thing is that I know that I can always make money, I don't need anything or anyone else. Even if my business fails as I try to grow it, that's not an issue for me anymore, I will always be able to go back to earning as an individual contractor. And what's more, I also know that I can learn pretty much any useful activity and make money out of it, because that's what I've done. I need no university degree, no certification, no nothing. There is, in a funny way, no better security than this.If I were starting a family, and wanted to spend time with them, starting a business would not be in my best interest. It's not a comparable recommendation to a waged salary. — Maw
Starting a business is risky, but remaining a salaried employee for a very long time is also risky (I would even say MORE risky). The risk may not feel the same, since, as a salaried employee, the risk is spread over a much longer period of time, whereas the risk of a business is concentrated in a shorter time frame.I'm astounded that you, a self-proclaimed entrepreneur, have paid so little attention to the obvious risks of starting a business. But then again, you rarely give thought to anything, so I guess I'm not that surprised. — Maw
Well, Bartmann did pay his $1 million dollar debt back after his company succeeded.The strongest takeaway from this story is don't start a business while in debt. — Maw
I would disagree, it damages your capacity to bond with your partner and the degree of intimacy you can achieve. Now there are gradations. Having multiple long-term partners due to failed relationships and some such is bad, but not as bad as promiscuity for example.Having multiple consenting sex partners isn't "morally depraved" regardless of your inane, toxic, puritanical views — Maw
Yes, but why is sexual satisfaction such a scarce commodity? Isn't it precisely because it's not really possible to achieve sexual satisfaction through promiscuity and the like? Afterall, merely having sex doesn't mean that the sex will be satisfying. Sexual satisfaction is difficult to achieve precisely because of the overabundance of sex, and its mismanagement.Sex still works for selling products because actual sexual satisfaction is still a scarce commodity. — Bitter Crank
Are you sure that 99% of the population can tell the difference? I would think it's the other way around, only 1% of the population can tell the difference."Celebrities" are in many cases nothing more than circus acts. 99% of the population can tell the difference between a clown and any given member of the audience, — Bitter Crank
If we did an experiment, and Brad Pitt walked up to a randomly picked woman on the street, and asked her for sex, out of 10 women, how many do you reckon would say no in the US of A? Or Angelina Jolie walked up to 10 men and asked them for sex... how many you reckon would say no there? — Agustino
No, I said you should investigate why only 30% of businesses survive more than 10 years. You have done no such thing, and by your own admission, you are ignorant of it. And yes, my business may close in 7 years say. But in those 7 years I may have earned hundreds of thousands that I took out of it. In your books, that counts as a failure (survived less than 10 years), but not in mine. There are quite a few such situations actually.Dude you used an example size of one, a businessman who succeeded in starting a company while in debt, as a justifiable reason for others to pursue starting a business, regardless of the fact that the vast majority of new businesses end up failing. — Maw
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.