Re: Ending CC Requires Ending Capitalism
Posted: Thu 04 Apr 2019, 08:49:45
Cog wrote:Never met a Democrat yet who didn't want to increase taxes on something or somebody. Must be some sort of prerequisite to be a Democrat. Course they love more government and more government requires more taxes. God forbid that anyone could engage in commerce or consumption without a tax on it.
I’m not for or against raising taxes, there is probably a justification for tax adjustment.
OTOH if you think about it buying useless crap you don’t need it much like a voluntary tax. Just to pick on a ridiculious example why would a sane person buy pre-ripped $80 jeans when you can get perfectly fine jeans for $30? Sure it’s a nod to “style” but for too many of those folks sporting “stylish pre-ripped”jeans their personal style would be better improved by not wolfing down that second Big Mac with cheese and bacon.
Let’s face it, humans aren’t very smart and allow media advertising to make most of their decisions.
But look on the bright side, we do sometimes show glimmers of individual thought. Think about the Trump election, despite being outspend over 2:1 in advertising and having the media full on trumpeting how Hillary was gonna have a blow out, Trump won. It’s a great example of how someone can appeal to folks directly. It may be an ugly example but it’s a clear one, Madison Ave. is influential but not omnipotent.
Before we worry about modifying taxes to fix the problem we should have a conversation with the American Public about what the problem is. We don’t all have to agree in great detail, just get into the ballpark that allows us to move forward.
Poling indicates that most of the public believe AGW is an issue. The problem is how do we do something about it that makes sense. Now if we combine it with other issues where there are common solutions you can make a convincing case.
We have a trade deficit.
We have large governmental debt.
We have excessive individual debt.
We have lost manufacturing.
China et al are releasing much pollution.
Folks in the USA are commuting sucide at a high rate and doing excessive drugs.
SOLUTION:
Change our focus from buying crap to be happy to finding happiness in our circle.
Stop buying trivial imported goods, buy quality clothing, make stuff last.
Trade deficits goes down. Shipping pollution goes down. Infrastructure lasts longer.
We pay off personal debts, have more money for retirement.
Bring manufacturing home, make quality goods, in a clean manner.
Less crap being produced reduces stress on resources.
More folks in the USA have decent jobs, less debt, are more hopeful, less suicide, less drug use.