Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Wealth Redistribution and a Moral Imperative

Amaras · 10-15-2008, 05:49 PM

Baraka, I commend you on your patience and tolerance.
This was quite a lively debate, with some intelligent discourse from all over the political spectrum.
I majored in Economics, minored in Philosophy, but didn't finish.
So I know that I don't know enough to state, with certitude, what the name of this or that style of system is.
My point of view is:
-Our schools, roads, defensive forces, hospitals/health care (I'm Canadian) were produced by pooling resources.
Those are beneficial to, and used by, nearly all of the Nation.
The degree to which we pool said resources, and who pays what, always is, and should be, discussed.
Adam Smith's main contribution to the modern economy, in The Wealth of Nations, was the idea of
specialization. I'll produce wool which you turn into spun yarn, which he turns into sweaters, or whatever.

I think that "invisible hand" of market forces thing has turned into a mantra, with a cult-ish devotion similar
to that of any of Marxism's one-liners.

Pure Capitalism is Darwinian, and brutal. Pure Communism is impossible, because human self interest is
too strong to allow those with access to the decision making process to be objective. Also, we humans do
like more pretty baubles for better performance than our peers, don't we?

So where do I reside between those two extremes? Somewhere to the left. I like the idea of a social net
to help out those who are in need. Does it become ingrained in some? Yes. But I'm willing to foot the
bill for what I believe, considering the whole, to be a fraction of those who use social assistance.

Simply put, I believe we are in this boat together, like it or not. I'll pull my oar, and help you with yours
if need be. Why? So someone might do the same for me when I'm in need.

We could try to define morality, as in "Does an objective (read: absolute) code of morality exist?"

The word imperative seems to engender a defensive reaction in some, as in, impelled morals will be
used to compel others.

Just some thoughts....

10-15-2008, 05:49 PM	#61 (permalink)
Amaras Junkie Location: At my daughter's beck and call.	Baraka, I commend you on your patience and tolerance. This was quite a lively debate, with some intelligent discourse from all over the political spectrum. I majored in Economics, minored in Philosophy, but didn't finish. So I know that I don't know enough to state, with certitude, what the name of this or that style of system is. My point of view is: -Our schools, roads, defensive forces, hospitals/health care (I'm Canadian) were produced by pooling resources. Those are beneficial to, and used by, nearly all of the Nation. The degree to which we pool said resources, and who pays what, always is, and should be, discussed. Adam Smith's main contribution to the modern economy, in The Wealth of Nations, was the idea of specialization. I'll produce wool which you turn into spun yarn, which he turns into sweaters, or whatever. I think that "invisible hand" of market forces thing has turned into a mantra, with a cult-ish devotion similar to that of any of Marxism's one-liners. Pure Capitalism is Darwinian, and brutal. Pure Communism is impossible, because human self interest is too strong to allow those with access to the decision making process to be objective. Also, we humans do like more pretty baubles for better performance than our peers, don't we? So where do I reside between those two extremes? Somewhere to the left. I like the idea of a social net to help out those who are in need. Does it become ingrained in some? Yes. But I'm willing to foot the bill for what I believe, considering the whole, to be a fraction of those who use social assistance. Simply put, I believe we are in this boat together, like it or not. I'll pull my oar, and help you with yours if need be. Why? So someone might do the same for me when I'm in need. We could try to define morality, as in "Does an objective (read: absolute) code of morality exist?" The word imperative seems to engender a defensive reaction in some, as in, impelled morals will be used to compel others. Just some thoughts.... __________________ Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state. -Noam Chomsky Love is a verb, not a noun. -My Mom The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later. -Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928 Last edited by Amaras; 10-15-2008 at 05:53 PM..