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by Kshartle
Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:36 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

Libertarian666 wrote: Right on all counts. Excellent exposition!
Hey thanks. Maybe next time I can cut it in half and use simple examples to make it clearer. You're probably better at that. I just don't have the time to make it shorter  :D
by Kshartle
Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:42 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

the various types of stimulus programs, which stimulate consumption but not production. Doesn't it go both ways? People can only consume what has been produced, but greater consumption spurs greater production to meet the demand. Right? Aren't they symbiotic? It doesn't go both ways. Production cre...
by Kshartle
Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:46 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

the various types of stimulus programs, which stimulate consumption but not production. Geeeeze Tech, Everyday I have to explain how this works to you. Look, take all of your useless investments and sell them, they aren't doing anyone any good there. Take all that money and buy a bunch of T-shirts,...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:37 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

The trend is pretty clear. More men not working. While this would be great if all of those non-working men are guys who have achieved ERE and are reaping the benefits of automation-induced low prices, something tells me the answer involves a lot more monthly checks from Uncle Sam and a lot less inv...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:35 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

While I generally agree with your post, Kshartle, I don't think you quite understood my point. You're talking about productivity and production. I'm talking about jobs and income. Let's say 10% of the able-bodied adults are revealed to be basically be slow-witted, ignorant dullards who really are n...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:13 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

The central question of our economic age almost seems to be, "what happens when labor isn't actually very important anymore?" Then we'll have wonderful lives. We'll have all the stuff we want and barely have to work for it. Obviously this is a bit silly. We will always have unfulfilled desires. The...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:50 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

Hahaha. That was a joke fellas. Challenging PS's premise around why lack of scarcity of ideas is a valid reason to reject ideas as property. But K you're going to love this... I've just changed my mind. Intellectual property isn't really property.  I'll explain in a bit. I'm not being sarcastic. I ...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:19 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

Matter is not scarce.  Therefore anything consisting of matter is not property. You make a lot of intelligent posts but I have to say that is one of the stupidest assertions by an otherwise intelligent person that I think I have ever heard. Evidently you are new here. ahahahahahahahahahah I keeeed ...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:18 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

Started reading the article, can't finish, so bad. This guy says that rich people can't create as many jobs as poor people because and I quote "We rich people have been falsely persuaded by our schooling and the affirmation of society, and have convinced ourselves, that we are the main job creators....
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:51 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

The guy who wrote this article should buy a McDonalds franchise and up the wages to $15, along with full benefits and sick time, holidays, day care, college tuition etc. He should prove how it will work. He could call it the "Liberal Café". Now a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, fries and drink will be ...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:44 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

On Drudge I saw that this was also a day of fast food workers protesting for a minimum wage of $15/hour. Had to think about that for a moment. This would mean that a two-parent family could make a very decent life for themselves even though neither one of them possessed any marketable skills just b...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:40 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats
Replies: 104
Views: 44888

Re: The Pitchforks Are Coming For Us Plutocrats

I could support a higher minimum wage IF somehow taxes that go to welfare subsidies were reduced accordingly.  Get the government out of the middle with all the corresponding bureacracy waste.  It seems somewhat silly and really wrong to see a person in line at the supermarket checkout be short $2 ...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:34 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: USD Strength and the PP
Replies: 25
Views: 14419

Re: USD Strength and the PP

Apparently zero interest rates and money printing are not enough, so we're now incentivizing people to withdraw their money from the bank.  I'm shocked everyone in the EU is not cleaning out their accounts and stuffing it under the mattress at this point. Maybe they don't have very much savings  :'(
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:16 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

A lack of legitimate profit and an illegitimate loss are economic equivalents.  If I DESERVE to be rewarded for my work, but was not, a theft has occurred.  It's a theft of my time.  If I give a massage, and the person walks out without paying, is that not effectively theft?  It doesn't matter that...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:12 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Serious Prospect of Scottish Secession
Replies: 33
Views: 10605

Re: The Serious Prospect of Scottish Secession

Hey stone! I agree with this... that is, whether or not they have their own currency will be a huge deal.  And I would think they'd want their own. I would bet that 90% of their theoretical international trade would be conducted with the UK. A different currency is going to introduce a lot of compl...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:02 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

If EXERCISING my rights creates contradiction, it seems like you're saying that this means it wasn't a right. BINGO If I "homestead" property by putting a fence around it and farming it, I am claiming exclusive use (exercising my "right"), which usurps everyone else's natural right to go where they...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:43 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: USD Strength and the PP
Replies: 25
Views: 14419

Re: USD Strength and the PP

A strong $ is bad for U.S. firms that do business overseas like my beloved Pepsico, right? This makes me sad. It's good for firms that import raw materials and finished products to resell. Since the US is a net importer with Europe our trade deficit with them should drop. We might sell less but we ...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:38 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: USD Strength and the PP
Replies: 25
Views: 14419

Re: USD Strength and the PP

I wish there was a way to track the ups and downs of the real value of cash in the PP.  I am sitting here lamenting the drop in gold, but as you have stated similarly, if there was a way to capture the similar rise in the value of the dollar in my PP I would feel better. Instead, I see my PP gain g...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:35 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: USD Strength and the PP
Replies: 25
Views: 14419

Re: USD Strength and the PP

My expenses are paid in USD...whether I can purchase additional exports internationally at a lower cost is irrelevant to me. ;D It's relevent even if you don't know why. Other people around you can now buy more European stuff for less money. That lowers demand for competative US products and lowers...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:30 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

But that doesn't help me understand what IP is. :) It's a government enforced monopoly of an idea/concept :) You pay them a small fee and they promise to drag people into court and possbily rob them or kidnapp them if they profited from your idea or something very similar (even if they came up with...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:23 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

1) Ability to enforce a right without the help of government IS NOT a prerequisite to it being a right.  This is an invalid arguement.  The conclusion doesn't logically follow from the premises, as far as I can tell. 2) Theoretically, we would not need government to enforce IP.  Me with a gun, or s...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:13 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

K, It is not "deliberate" other than it appears that reality needs to be restated to you. Perhaps I'm forgetting that we in-fact closed the lid on this topic.  For now, it appears we still disagree.  You still appear to be saying that our ability to defend property is crucial to it even being prope...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:03 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Serious Prospect of Scottish Secession
Replies: 33
Views: 10605

Re: The Serious Prospect of Scottish Secession

The thing that spooks me about it is that the independence campaign don't seem to have bothered to think about what it means to have a sovereign currency or to lack one. They say that voting for independence will mean that Scotland can choose to reject austerity politics. That would be true IF they...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 3:49 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

An inability to ENFORCE a right does not mean it IS NOT a right.  A child of mine has the right to live, but he can't enforce it.  A little old lady has a right to her home, but if her neighborhood is populated by well-armed thugs, she will find trouble enforcing it. Morality exists on a different ...
by Kshartle
Thu Sep 04, 2014 3:41 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Intellectual Property
Replies: 48
Views: 15182

Re: Intellectual Property

Now here's the thing... I don't think anyone has a "right" to something they shouldn't have expected in the first place.  I'm a HB'er when it comes to that.  If you knew working for $100k would only yield you $60k after taxes, and you did the work, don't b!tch and moan. You chose to work for $60k. ...