You Didn't Do It Somebody Else Did

oldtime · Jul 20, 2012

no kidding, if you read Das Kapital, there is nothing in there about how to start a business, but there is plenty in there about what to do with the money once the business gets going

they don't know how to start General Motors, but they know how to save it

I don't know how you made all of your money, but now that you have it, some of it belongs to me

If it wasn't for people like me who are too scared to take risks, you wouldn't have anybody to work for you that are willing to give up all freedom in exchange for security.

achilles28 · Jul 20, 2012

There's a grain of truth to it. Globalization and reiterative speculative bubbles/busts destroyed much of the American middle class. The Federal Reserve said the average American family lost 40% (FORTY PERCENT) of it's wealth, in the last 5 years. Basically, living standards were rolled back 20 years. The ranks of discontents are swelling and malease is bubbling to the top. Marxism is making a comeback. Scary.

Mav88 · Jul 20, 2012

I don't understand why some of these dull-witted righties don't comprehend the concept that societal infrastructure (government) allows the individuals to trade and profit within it.

Just try to make money in your business without roads, the internet, police, educated employees and a monetary system. Individual businesses are not going to do those things on their own.

One really has to wonder how stupid one has to be to not understand this.

On a related note, why is it that the stupidest people are most often right wingers? Not all them are, but whenever someone is clearly whacked or just plain dumb they are almost always a rabid righty. The evidence for this can be seem right here in this forum.

ok future let's try asking a better question assuming your religion is true. If the government god gives us all this wonderful infrastructure, and we are one big collective of equal parts, then why do so damn many people fail? If government is providing so much how can it be even possible?

The soviet union ought to be doing quite well.

Mav88 · Jul 20, 2012

no kidding, if you read Das Kapital, there is nothing in there about how to start a business, but there is plenty in there about what to do with the money once the business gets going

they don't know how to start General Motors, but they know how to save it

I don't know how you made all of your money, but now that you have it, some of it belongs to me

If it wasn't for people like me who are too scared to take risks, you wouldn't have anybody to work for you that are willing to give up all freedom in exchange for security.

well said.

After the unqualified failure of Marxism, the socialists decided instead to let the creative capitalists do their thing, then take the money at the end. Works great for them. Obama said don't think you are smarter, he's right- who is smarter?

the other tactic here is to conflate infrastructure, which benefits everyone and is a puny part of the federal budget, with income redistribution so as to justify the latter and more of it.

Illum · Jul 20, 2012

He is simply talking to his base. And he is correct, they didn't build anything, and they need more money.

Ricter · Jul 20, 2012

Quote from oldtime:

all I am asking is, who is this "Somebody Else" the president talks about? Apparently, they built a bridge. I'm pretty sure I could have built a better bridge if

Maybe you could have, but you wouldn't have, and now you don't need to do it yourself, we all chipped in and got 'er done.

Free Thinker · Jul 20, 2012

Quote from oldtime:

I realize the republicans are real dickheads and take everything out of context,

are you trying to give an example?

futurecurrents · Jul 20, 2012

Quote from oldtime:

and who pays for all those roads?

otherwise, thank you for "allowing" us to trade and profit.

that is most kind of you.

If there's anything we can ever do to repay you, just let us know.

Sigh.

I'm NOT saying it is ONLY the government. It is BOTH the actions of the individuals and of the structure that we have agreed to create for us to operate in.

Is that really that difficult to understand? It's like you guys have a mental block or something.

Try sailing a square-rigger without a captain and see how far you get.

oldtime · Jul 20, 2012

Quote from futurecurrents:

Sigh.

I'm NOT saying it is ONLY the government. It is BOTH the actions of the individuals and of the structure that we have agreed to create for us to operate in.

Is that really that difficult to understand? It's like you guys have a mental block or something.

Try sailing a square-rigger without a captain and see how far you get.

try sailing it with no wind

the point is, there is no "somebody else"

like the man said, we all chipped in and built the bridge, but "somebody else" didn't do it

Corportations are people my friend

But when corporations start taking on an evil personality of their own it is cause for concern

Same thing goes for government

And when you start referring to government as "somebody else", it kind of alieanates those of us who at the very least pay for it.

Grandluxe · Jul 20, 2012