tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post1920623514650622506..comments2024-03-28T15:24:53.579-04:00Comments on Rational Nation USA: Recommended Reading, Thomas Piketty’s best-selling new book, “Capital in the Twenty-First Century”...Les Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-65236769809403567792014-04-26T18:47:18.223-04:002014-04-26T18:47:18.223-04:00I know Jerry, just had to state what was at one ti...I know Jerry, just had to state what was at one time understood. You of course are correct in regards to present day republicans.<br /><br />Compromise, as difficult as it can be for both sides at times, is really the only way an evolving and civil society can effectively function. Few things are etched in stone.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-63893248900471197822014-04-26T18:34:51.712-04:002014-04-26T18:34:51.712-04:00Thanks Will.I know how damn hard it can be at time...Thanks Will.I know how damn hard it can be at times, belive me, I know.<br /><br />Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-65690535283604606892014-04-26T17:44:23.659-04:002014-04-26T17:44:23.659-04:00I apologize, Les. From now on when one of these pe...I apologize, Les. From now on when one of these people talks down to me (in this instance it was this that pissed me off; "One word of advice: If you are serious about this discussion, i.e. serious about bridging the partisan divide, now is the time to put aside labels, talking and stalking points, and mutual finger-pointing, and keep an open mind"), I will simply ignore them and try my best to stay on topic.............P.S. Please read the Tyler Cowen rebuttal to this Picketty fellow. He carves him up (civilly though) rather significantly, I think.Will "take no prisoners" Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315659209094683602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-64033788816842749072014-04-26T16:31:00.475-04:002014-04-26T16:31:00.475-04:00When I say conservative I am talking about today&#...When I say conservative I am talking about today's republican positions, generally considered conservative.Jerry Critterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870618647449723147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-90350701968972496182014-04-26T15:30:35.353-04:002014-04-26T15:30:35.353-04:00No Jerry, what you described and attributed to con...No Jerry, what you described and attributed to conservatives is really what a reactionary is. A conservative in the conventional sense is a person who prefers slow gradual change but is not adverse to positive change change. Change simply for the sake of change is of course foolish and I assume reasonable progressives are as adverse to that as are reasonable conservatives.are.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-22136770736449385762014-04-26T15:15:44.189-04:002014-04-26T15:15:44.189-04:00It seems to me that generally progressives propose...It seems to me that generally progressives propose changes that are new and are attempts to move things forward. Conservatives propose changes to go back to the ways things were...generally.Jerry Critterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870618647449723147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-42850013156731401672014-04-26T14:34:25.992-04:002014-04-26T14:34:25.992-04:00You forgot about number "3)" Les. ;)
J...You forgot about number "3)" Les. ;)<br /><br />JMJ Jersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-73255220634643767682014-04-26T13:39:09.331-04:002014-04-26T13:39:09.331-04:00You jmj have ABSOLUTELY NO clue as to what I dism...You jmj have ABSOLUTELY NO clue as to what I dismiss out of hand. But by ALL means continue deluding yourself that you do. Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-36189463002297979162014-04-26T12:03:05.529-04:002014-04-26T12:03:05.529-04:00No, I'm not for Soviet Communism, or any Commu...No, I'm not for Soviet Communism, or any Communism. I am simply for a government that backs contractual obligations and makes and enforces rules of the road so we don't have Mad Max capitalism run amok.<br /><br />You can dismiss progressives out of hand, if you like, but remember - most all the great strides in American history were progressive endeavors.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-2366401224309798802014-04-26T05:34:37.889-04:002014-04-26T05:34:37.889-04:00Realizing there is something to be learned from ev...Realizing there is something to be learned from everyone does not require you to accept another's views or premise in total, or even in part. But unless a person keeps a active mind they are stunting their own growth. I use s example Dervish Sanders, enough said? And yet, on the other hand, ole Derv with his beating dead horses, social response pages and parody blogs has paid us the highest compliment. <br /><br />It is pretty obvious the political wars will continue, as the have throughout time. The worst may be yet to come. Or maybe we've seen the worst. I suppose it depends on ones historical perspective.<br /><br />It's late, I'm beginning to ramble, and so I take my leave.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-76540028201570827472014-04-26T05:05:58.055-04:002014-04-26T05:05:58.055-04:00Will, central casting? I see the point you are mak...Will, central casting? I see the point you are makong, sadly it is true. It is also true then there is another central casting which stands in opposition. Or to use less confrontational terminology serves as a counter balance. Take away this dynamic and I'm not sure where we might find ourselves, but it may very well resemble the old USSR, Red China, Nazi Germany, or some other variant of the totalitarian, tyrannical, and maniacal tendencies of some humans seeking absolute control over others because they after all know best.<br /><br />Isn't it getting all so tedious?<br /><br />I've been accused of many things by (O)CT(O)PUS, and without going into detail suffice to say we've had more disagreements by far than we've had agreements. I suspect that will continue to be so.<br /><br />Yet, without allowing the progressive liberal juggernaut to "reform" me I realize there is value in liberal thinking, and merely reinforces my advocacy for Classical Liberalism.<br /><br />Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-30220067677523515072014-04-26T00:25:48.274-04:002014-04-26T00:25:48.274-04:00And this, a fairly devastating rebuttal - http://w...And this, a fairly devastating rebuttal - http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141218/tyler-cowen/capital-punishment#cid=soc-twitter-at-review-capital_punishment-000000Will "take no prisoners" Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315659209094683602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-69018853736136518212014-04-25T23:34:22.931-04:002014-04-25T23:34:22.931-04:00Unsolicited and accusatory ("talking and stal...Unsolicited and accusatory ("talking and stalking - hey, he can rhyme! - points", "mutual finger-pointing", inferring that I have a closed mind - ME, a person who has voted 5 times for an Independent for President, 3 times for a Democrat, and twice for a Republican) advice/platitudes/sophomoric term paper crap (quick, let me throw some Durkheim at you, or some Goffman). Thanks but no thanks.......Where do you find these people, Les? They're straight out of central casting. Will "take no prisoners" Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315659209094683602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-21561111061694413552014-04-25T18:06:41.096-04:002014-04-25T18:06:41.096-04:00Thanks BB Idaho. Since I've been under the vwe...Thanks BB Idaho. Since I've been under the vweather for going on five days I'll have plenty of time to check it out.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-40321789283766708822014-04-25T17:16:56.908-04:002014-04-25T17:16:56.908-04:00A brief look at several reviews (left, right, cent...A brief look at several reviews (left, right, center,etc) of Picketty's book can be found at <a href="http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2014/04/over-at-the-washington-center-for-equitable-growth-the-daily-piketty-some-more-reviews-of-piketty.html" rel="nofollow">Brad DeLong's blog</a> . DeLong is an economics professor and Chair of the Political Economy dept. at Cal-Berkely (and sometimes succeeds in making the 'dismal science' sort of interesting)<br />BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388509941702241290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-84779663763038664552014-04-25T16:35:56.988-04:002014-04-25T16:35:56.988-04:001) What we have now, career politicians hasn't...1) What we have now, career politicians hasn't worked either.<br /><br />2) Didn't say government should be Run like a business. Reread what I wrote.<br /><br />3) IMNHO anything you, as well as most progressive, don't like has no merit right out of the chute.<br /><br />4) You evaded my question. In that evasion I shall discern your honest answer.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-4747565575455510002014-04-25T16:20:40.108-04:002014-04-25T16:20:40.108-04:00Oh, and those cities put out a lot more tax dollar...Oh, and those cities put out a lot more tax dollars for the country folk per payer than the other way around.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-26821012272904486962014-04-25T16:19:08.390-04:002014-04-25T16:19:08.390-04:00Okaaaay... Look, I don't see what term limits...Okaaaay... Look, I don't see what term limits does to help anything. And this notion that "government needs to be run like a business" makes no sense either. What business? You mean by some business standards? Does any business actually follow business standards?<br /><br />I see these as simplistic soundbite answers unsuited to complex problems.<br /><br />As for capitalism, it's all we have now, and we just have to be sure that the convenient interests of capital never take precedent over the fundamental interests of the people.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-53535136030065305022014-04-25T15:54:44.606-04:002014-04-25T15:54:44.606-04:00Just come out and say it, you are all for 100% sta...Just come out and say it, you are all for 100% state ownership of ALL property and a communist government apparatus not unlike the old USSR aren't you jmj?<br /><br />When ya got something intelligent to discus let me know.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-15482136040146491292014-04-25T15:40:28.405-04:002014-04-25T15:40:28.405-04:00You go with term limits and we'll have NOTHING...You go with term limits and we'll have NOTHING BUT corrupt bureaucrats. And if you can find me this glorious "honest business man" I'll put his name in with the Pope for beatification.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-90744163663037827762014-04-25T15:38:13.661-04:002014-04-25T15:38:13.661-04:00In the large cities, private businesses put out a ...In the large cities, private businesses put out a lot of money for development. Don't kid yourself. Those many great cities are what made this country an economic powerhouse and envy of the world. America was not built to it's great heights by country folk enjoying the fresh air of the country all day. God bless the country folk, but don't pretend you can run a whole nation with no one but them.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-28377233645521416332014-04-24T17:11:20.780-04:002014-04-24T17:11:20.780-04:00That sounds like a plan. Put more corrupt bureaucr...That sounds like a plan. Put more corrupt bureaucratic eyes on the already corrupt system so it will be... More Corrupt?<br /><br />No jmj with all due respect it is time for term limits and the electorate must elect honorable people and fire the dishonest after one term.<br /><br />Perhaps putting the apparatus of the federal buraucracy in the managerial hands of a businessman with IMPECCABLE honesty rather than political hacks would go a long way to solving corruption.<br /><br />Not all corporations are run by bastards.I know, I worked for one.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-15090847274536395402014-04-24T15:08:11.252-04:002014-04-24T15:08:11.252-04:00It's been my experience that the more localize...It's been my experience that the more localized government the more corrupt. For corruption to be avoided, you need as many eyes as possible on the levers of power.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-4386115263332194602014-04-24T14:07:40.979-04:002014-04-24T14:07:40.979-04:00Let me explain as it is my whole argument, who con...Let me explain as it is my whole argument, who controls how the money is spent is very important because if we are ever going to regain control of the spending we must control who decides how it is spent. As we have all seen, we do not control how our money is spent on the federal level because they don't fear us, the same is true of most statehouse, and truthfully for most local governments. We must change that model, we must make them accountable to us for every one of our dollars they spend regardless of source. My local government wants to keep growing and growing and providing more and more services (stated intention on several occasions), but where does all the money come from? They claim businesses, but who in there right mind would want to do business with people that just want to take their money? If business doesn't come, then it is the tax payer that foots the bill for these lofty dreams. But the fundamental question is why such lofty dreams? The become responsible for a bigger town, more money to line their pockets, etc. I for one say no. I say I am happy living in a low tax area with minimal services. I don't need a fiber optic web for the entire downtown area to attract business, save the money and let a private enterprise supply fiber optics to downtown businesses.Sandy Salthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11201515464176920513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-58958621857783248772014-04-24T12:55:08.298-04:002014-04-24T12:55:08.298-04:00If I may interject. Nothing in life is free. Someo...If I may interject. Nothing in life is free. Someone or a group of someones eventually must pay the tab. Consider this, in the end we all pay, one way or another, regardless of the path we ultimately take as a society.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.com