Nothing for something no more exists than does something for nothing.
Somebody is paying the freight.
Even if somebody gives you something for "free," it is not really free, not only literally, but in all the other ways that makes the recipients of free stuff dependent. — synthesis
So you have no trouble with asserting such, but you have trouble with considering that man can do damage to the planet?People can do whatever they like. There are some who are incredible generous, but what's this have to do with my assertion that the main thing going on in this world (especially collectively) is scamming to steal other folks labor value? — synthesis
Yes, and this asymmetry has to somehow be considered good and moral, good.I can't quite put a finger on it but there must exist an asymmetry in the exchange between, say, buyer and seller, for such a thing as profit to be real. — TheMadFool
Yes, and this asymmetry has to somehow be considered good and moral, good. — baker
"Greed is good."How exactly, may I ask? — TheMadFool
"Greed is good." — baker
Nothing for something no more exists than does something for nothing.
Somebody is paying the freight.
Even if somebody gives you something for "free," it is not really free, not only literally, but in all the other ways that makes the recipients of free stuff dependent.
— synthesis
How do people get rich? I can't quite put a finger on it but there must exist an asymmetry in the exchange between, say, buyer and seller, for such a thing as profit to be real. — TheMadFool
People can do whatever they like. There are some who are incredible generous, but what's this have to do with my assertion that the main thing going on in this world (especially collectively) is scamming to steal other folks labor value?
— synthesis
So you have no trouble with asserting such, but you have trouble with considering that man can do damage to the planet? — baker
Now, I am anything but anti-capitalism (it being the least ugly shirt on the rack), but beyond the economic system itself, look at the lengths people go to defraud other folks. We currently live in an era where there are absolutely no limits to the creativity of the professional class of liars, cheats, thieves, and scammers. — synthesis
But why should one of inferior skill profit the same as one of superior skill? Shouldn’t greater skill be rewarded by greater profit? — Todd Martin
This sort of economic system would certainly hold a lot of self-satisfaction, and encourage individual enterprise...
...but it would also be very, very lonely...not to mention primitive. — Todd Martin
I live in a country where there is less government than there was up to some 20 years ago.How about getting rid of corporations and 90% of the government. That might be a good start! — synthesis
Now for one of many possible reasons—maybe he had to move to a smaller apartment in which the table wouldn’t fit; maybe he inherited a better table and had no room for the one he bought; maybe his wife didn’t like it and told him to get rid of it—the man who bought the table sets it out beside the street in front of his house and puts a “for free” sign on it, and I, who need a table, come along and see it, load it onto the back of my pickup and take it home. — Todd Martin
was saying that it seems like (most) people will do just about anything to obtain something for nothing (and the great majority of it is perfectly legal). — synthesis
Minimising work is often a key driver of human behaviour - I suspect we are hard wired for shortcuts. This seems to be the wellspring of most technology. We are a time saving, effort saving species. Given that you have defined a problem or situation, do you have some suggestions towards a solution? — Tom Storm
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