On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 18:43:15 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

"Dave Hall" wrote in message
.. .


Free market capitalism is natural. Socialism is not. Liberalism is
ultimately bound to fail. There will always be classes in society, no
matter now hard the left tries to artificially remove them.


1) You have a short memory. We've discussed this. You are not permitted to
use the word "socialism" unless you understand it. You do not understand it.
If you disagree with me, please explain socialism and how it applies to this
discussion.

I could give you the dictionary definition or the practical one. Which
one do you want? In either case, a system which artificially relocates
wealth from those who work for it to those who don't, is blatantly
unfair to those who work hard. It also promotes a sense of mediocrity,
as it remove incentives to better oneself. If one can make a living
wage as a street sweeper, why take on the additional responsibility
and stress of being a rocket scientist or CEO, if the rewards are not
that much greater?


2) There's nothing wrong with classes within society, as long as people are
free to choose their place.

That is precisely what we have. The problem is that many people's
class is the product of either poor choices or lack of ambition. Many
on the left feel that these people are victims, rather than
participants in their own situation, and that the rest of us should be
bound to "do something" about it.



If I'm happy laying bricks, and my lack of
stress leads my doctor to say I'm the healthiest man he's ever seen, that's
my choice. If, on the other hand, I can accept chaos and stress and choose
to be an emergency room doctor, that also my choice.

Then don't complain if you can't afford to live the same standard of
life that your CEO neighbor lives.


You are not aware of anyone suggesting that the salary of the ER doctor
should be lowered to the level of what the bricklayer is paid.

Not, actually just the opposite. Many of you on the left feel that the
bricklayer should be paid close to what the ER doctor is paid. Support
of unions is a prime example of promoting a disproportionate wage for
the intrinsic value of an un- or under skilled labor job.

We have had this discussion before. Only Mark Browne had the insight
to even address the other side.

You fell apart after the $10 Big Mac that would result if we paid fast
food workers a "Living wage".

Dave