Eisboch wrote:
Please ask Fred to pass me the light. I just don't get it.

Actually I think you do, but Fred probably never will.


.... Well, I do
understand your point of view, but have a hard time believing it has
anything to do with the real world.


My POV is totally centered in the real world, thanks.

For example, I was fortunate enough to somewhat achieve my goals in *spite*
of banks, schools, lawyers and all the federal, state and local ordnance
obstacles thrown in a small business's path over the years. Believe me,
they don't make it easy for anyone.


Of course not. It's only easy for people who have such a
big head start that they can coast... which ain't me fer sher.



Oh, yes, I'll admit I used roads and wrote and received checks to my
advantage. :-)


I guess that you employed people and entered into contracts,
and accepted payments, too. That last is kinda hard without
banks.

Now, this may help explain why I consdier my point of view
so very realistic...

How would you go about becoming rich on a desert island? And
what good would a huge pile of money do you there? (see,
this *is* boat related after all!)

It is only in relation to the rest of society that "rich"
matters, and it is only by using the functions of the rest
of society that "rich" is even possible.

A very large number of people work their ass off, and never
get rich. Sometimes it's because they are dumb, other times
because they have bad luck, others because they are in such
disadvantaged conditions that they cannot break out.

A large number of poor people hate the rich. If you take
this attitude far enough, you arrive at Bolshevism which is
merely destructive. Of course there is the corollary, that
rich people hate the poor. This can also be taken further
and say they *should* hate the poor (and carry out
legal/economic/social programs to punish them, which
requires politics) is every bit as destructive... and this
is the way the Republican Party seems to be going these
days... although the past few months it may be pulling back
from the brink.

In most times & places in the world, things were run by the
rich for their own benefit. This country is run by the rich,
with some benefits grudgingly handed out to lower levels of
society (some of which have really lifted up all, like
public education), and with the possiblity that a poor man
can become rich without necessarily becoming a shyster.

I don't really think I'm going to change anybody's mind
here, but I'm morally obligated to try. And it would be nice
if one or two people actually thought about it a little,
even if they fall back into the same rut they were in before.

DSK