Intrusive advertising is THE cornerstone of capitalism...

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Richard Dennis

Ankesh,

THAT is the argument you want to make?

That people are happier with less freedom, less money, and more government?

Do you really believe that?

If so ... wow.

Hi Richard and everyone,

These "socialistic" type systems generally transfer wealth from richer people to poorer people...

So the richer types are generally unhappy with them (and often flee the country - the "tax exiles"). A lot of rich Europeans move to Monaco, for example, which has no income tax. Apparently, 84% of the population of Monaco is made of up of wealthy foreigners, most of whom are probably there to escape the high taxes of their home country.

(It is easier to become a "tax exile" if your income is from a business, though it's harder if your income is from a job.)

However, some poorer people may be happy with this approach - as they have the government looking after them. I think the main danger is that this can foster a "dependent" mentality - as Goofy sang in a cartoon, "Oh, the world owes me a livin'!"

That's a bad (and personally destructive) attitude to have!

It's easy to get unemployment benefits where I live (Australia), and I've known people who have been living off of unemployment benefits for decades, in some cases.

I've seen what happens - it often creates a "dependency" mindset. You don't "have" to actually do anything - because every couple weeks or so, the government gives you more money. That actually saps your creativity and resolve.

Why work hard to create new things and come up with new ideas, when you don't have to? These people are also often unhappy, in my observation - because creativity and being independent are two of life's pleasures!

One lady I used to know a little spent all day watching TV and eating junk food. That was her life. Collecting unemployment benefits every couple weeks, and the rest of her time was spent watching TV, and eating junk food. She made absolutely no positive contribution to society. And she was unhappy - but of course, it was somehow everybody else's fault, not hers. When I see a person like that, I think - what a sad, sad life.

Anyway, this "dependency" mindset is a big danger to be aware of!

(For the record, I've never received unemployment benefits - which is a choice I made, when I saw how destructive the "dependency mindset" could be. Whenever I've gotten myself in a hole, I've always figured I'd do my best to use my own resources to get myself out of it!)

Best wishes,

Dien