The Business of Government is to Promote Happiness or Business?

[dblack]

How do you mean? They're different things. How would you be comparing them?

As classical factors of production.

Isn't labor deserving of more rights than land and capital?

People have rights, to perform labor, to own land and capital.

 

[georgephillip]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

Social Security?

 

[bripat9643]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

Social Security?

If you call being robbed a "service." Any private firm would be more than happy to take 15% of your income then give it back to you 35 years later with a 2% return.

 

[georgephillip]

People have rights, to perform labor, to own land and capital.

True, but that's not what I'm trying to say.

1. An economic term to describe the inputs that are used in the production of goods or services in the attempt to make an economic profit. The factors of production include land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship."

Should the capitalist be allowed to treat labor as just another factor of production in the pursuit of economic profit?

Google

 

[georgephillip]

If you call being robbed a "service." Any private firm would be more than happy to take 15% of your income then give it back to you 35 years later with a 2% return

Why hasn't one done so?

 

[georgephillip]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

National defense?

 

[bripat9643]

If you call being robbed a "service." Any private firm would be more than happy to take 15% of your income then give it back to you 35 years later with a 2% return

Why hasn't one done so?

Robbery is illegal for everyone but the government.

 

[dblack]

People have rights, to perform labor, to own land and capital.

True, but that's not what I'm trying to say.

1. An economic term to describe the inputs that are used in the production of goods or services in the attempt to make an economic profit. The factors of production include land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship."

Should the capitalist be allowed to treat labor as just another factor of production in the pursuit of economic profit?

Google

Sure. People should be allowed to trade labor or property however they see fit.

 

[bripat9643]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

National defense?

That's also illegal for anyone but the government.

How do you call a government service "cheaper" when the government prevents anyone from providing it?

 

[georgephillip]

ure. People should be allowed to trade labor or property however they see fit.

Yet the relative bargaining position between capitalist and worker is far from equal; if workers object to the capitalists' offer, they starve while the capitalist is allowed to exploit another laborer even one on the opposite side of the planet; government would seem to have a role in addressing that inherent bias in the interest of the Greatest Happiness principle.

 

[rightwinger]

The purpose of the government is to do what needs doing

If you had to choose...

???

Why not a combination of both?

The collective power of government can allow us services at much lower rates than we could get on our own. It is the power of belonging to a society
In our day to day lives....might as well leave us alone

Why not mix poison with your cereal? That's the pragmatic solution to breakfast, isn't it?

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

The inability to compromise is what is destroying conservatism today

How has government provide roads worked out. How would you like to pay a private owner on ever road you drive on?
How would you like to contract for private security if you need police protection?
How about paying private companies to see if your food is safe?

 

[bripat9643]

The purpose of the government is to do what needs doing

If you had to choose...

???

Why not a combination of both?

The collective power of government can allow us services at much lower rates than we could get on our own. It is the power of belonging to a society
In our day to day lives....might as well leave us alone

Why not mix poison with your cereal? That's the pragmatic solution to breakfast, isn't it?

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

The inability to compromise is what is destroying conservatism today

Nope. Constant compromising with evil (liberalism) is how this country fell as low as it is now.

 

[regent]

The purpose of the government is to do what needs doing

If you had to choose...

???

Why not a combination of both?

The collective power of government can allow us services at much lower rates than we could get on our own. It is the power of belonging to a society
In our day to day lives....might as well leave us alone

Why not mix poison with your cereal? That's the pragmatic solution to breakfast, isn't it?

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

The inability to compromise is what is destroying conservatism today

Nope. Constant compromising with evil (liberalism) is how this country fell as low as it is now.

Liberalism created America, and America continues to be following liberalism, too fast for some too slow for others.

 

[zeke]

Nope. Constant compromising with evil (liberalism) is how this country fell as low as it is now.

Dude. Sometimes I don't think we live in the same country. Don't you ever wonder how it is that you live a miserable, hate filled life and you support Republicans for the most part. And you have a lot of company on this message board who also live miserable hate filled lives and they to are Repubs.

But the ones that are seemingly pretty happy and successful with some money in their pockets are the ones you call Democrats. Me included.

Maybe you ought to try believing something else beside what you believe. Cause the shit you've been swallowing has made you sick. If you aren't successful with some money, in this country, that's on you dude.

 

[dblack]

ure. People should be allowed to trade labor or property however they see fit.

Yet the relative bargaining position between capitalist and worker is far from equal;

Doesn't that depend on the capitalist, and the worker, in question?

if workers object to the capitalists' offer, they starve while the capitalist is allowed to exploit another laborer even one on the opposite side of the planet;

Neither of these outcomes is a given, and it often goes the other way - the capitalist loses their capital and the worker finds a better job.

... government would seem to have a role in addressing that inherent bias in the interest of the Greatest Happiness principle.

I don't think it should, even if we do adopt happiness as a government goal. We, as a society, grant people different levels of bargaining power on purpose. Low skilled workers have little control over major economic decisions because we don't want them to have that kind of control. Likewise, in a predominantly free market, powerful capitalists have more economic power because we want it that way, because we give them our money.

Again, if it's collusion between government and business you want to eliminate, you'll find many ready allies among libertarians and conservatives. But the idea that inequalities in economic power is an inherently bad thing doesn't add up. It can be quite a good thing for society and often enhances the happiness of the people more than any mandated government program.

 

[jasonnfree]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

Social Security?

If you call being robbed a "service." Any private firm would be more than happy to take 15% of your income then give it back to you 35 years later with a 2% return.

And if that firm went out of business? This is what makes government programs a better investment.

 

[Kosh]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

Social Security?

If you call being robbed a "service." Any private firm would be more than happy to take 15% of your income then give it back to you 35 years later with a 2% return.

And if that firm went out of business? This is what makes government programs a better investment.

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality..

 

[Kosh]

Nope. Constant compromising with evil (liberalism) is how this country fell as low as it is now.

Dude. Sometimes I don't think we live in the same country. Don't you ever wonder how it is that you live a miserable, hate filled life and you support Republicans for the most part. And you have a lot of company on this message board who also live miserable hate filled lives and they to are Repubs.

But the ones that are seemingly pretty happy and successful with some money in their pockets are the ones you call Democrats. Me included.

Maybe you ought to try believing something else beside what you believe. Cause the shit you've been swallowing has made you sick. If you aren't successful with some money, in this country, that's on you dude.

Look at the far left hate filled racist drone that makes ironic comments..

 

[rightwinger]

Nope. Constant compromising with evil (liberalism) is how this country fell as low as it is now.

Dude. Sometimes I don't think we live in the same country. Don't you ever wonder how it is that you live a miserable, hate filled life and you support Republicans for the most part. And you have a lot of company on this message board who also live miserable hate filled lives and they to are Repubs.

But the ones that are seemingly pretty happy and successful with some money in their pockets are the ones you call Democrats. Me included.

Maybe you ought to try believing something else beside what you believe. Cause the shit you've been swallowing has made you sick. If you aren't successful with some money, in this country, that's on you dude.

Why would you expect a self professed anarchist to be happy?

 

[bripat9643]

The government has never provided any service cheaper than private enterprise.

Social Security?

If you call being robbed a "service." Any private firm would be more than happy to take 15% of your income then give it back to you 35 years later with a 2% return.

And if that firm went out of business? This is what makes government programs a better investment.

Your IRA doesn't go out of business. On the other hand, government changes SS all the time. It as reduced benefits and increased the taxes to pay for it.