It seem to me that this thread + the Cheney thread is the reason why the Politics section of ye olde TFP gets the rep it does for sucking like a mega-charged Hoover vacuum. I find myself disagreeing with Ustwo quite frequently, and I think the questions that Roach is raising about the fundamental nature of economics, wealth distribution, and politics are all valid and interesting. But it seems that no one ever actually tries to discuss anything. I see nothing inherent in the thread title or what I perceive to be the intended purpose that should derail it this way. The same thing with Elphalba's Cheney questions. To wit, in this case:
Roach, surely someone with your positions has to have an opinion on whether or not a person's ability to generate wealth, in the current socio-political situation, should have an effect on the validity of their advice on economic policy. It seems like the sort of thing you could drop a dissertation on, no? The same thing was happening over in the Cheney thread last time I checked it, but from the other side.
It seems to me that people's dislike of each other is stifling the ability to have reasonable discussions. It seems to go both ways, and it's completely killing my ability to sit back and lurk and enjoy the debates/discussions. I don't really see the need to give a lot of relationship advice, so I guess I'll go troll for some hot fucking poontang
edit Ustwo : I'm sure there are some savy school teachers and firemen, and some who have made serious money. Most likely, not from teaching public school on $38 k /year, but there's always someone. I think that if you try to make the case that people pursue those occupations as primary vehicles to make $$$, youv'e got a difficult position. By choosing those professions, the majority of people are accepting a different value system than one that is centered around $$$. I completely agree that one should always live beneath their means. I think it's pretty clear that this lesson is not translating very well to our national economics.