loosecannon
Senior Member
- May 7, 2007
- 4,888
- 269
- 48
is this what is proposed by zero-sum? i've always assumed it was a judgment on the win-win disposition of transactions. in a perfect market or one which thrives for it, when you charge $5 for your widget and i buy it, i have traded up, and you have traded up. because we each got what we wanted for what we were willing to offer, this is sum-positive.
examining your slice of the economy, we've got to account for debt, credit and earning potential, assets and liabilities. with this look, the relationships between the 1% and the 99% is clearer. the 1% has all the loot, but are they obligated to make payroll on friday? granted that, are the 99% creditors? this can go on in granular detail, but it would entail a number of sum-positive relationships between the stark demographics in your slice. the interdependence is what leaves the ultimate character of the economy as win-win. even if there are parties who don't win as much, through their participation, they come out ahead in a given slice.
Payroll may never happen, debt may never be repaid, Friday may never happen (esp for some individuals) but today, the 1% definitely has all the loot.
The poor have forever been encouraged to await their reward in the future, perhaps in heaven after they die, but the rich are rich today.
The argument against the "limited pie" or zero sum economy are really just variations of that age old lie.