Capitalists and other Psychopaths

[Hector Valdez]

The thing is that if rich people get money, they're not going to start businesses with that money. Why? Because people start businesses in order to make money. And rich people are already rich. What the fuck they need to produce goods for? They already have money and wealth, right?

Therein lies my point. The upper crust only invests in an economy so long as the upper crust still desires goods and services and improvement in themselves, thus generating improvement in the lower classes as a side effect. One the upper crust becomes satisfied with what they have, they no longer effect society in a positive way, and therefore should be replaced by some other, hungrier, section of society.

Why does this so seldom happen? Because if you're rich, you tend to enact laws that keep you rich and reduce competition. That's why. Bloody bastards. 

[fester30]

There's a group of people who quit their jobs to travel and receive handouts.  They're called the first followers of Christ.  Jesus and his following were communist in a way.  But they also lived on the welfare of Jesus making fish and bread multiply.  They also benefited from his free health care plan.  So yeah, Christians should be the communists, and may be disposed to except for the Soviet Union.  The atheist Soviet Union had a reigning "Communist Party" so in reaction we had to be the good, Christian, capitalist nation... everything the USSR was not.  If anybody should be capitalists it should be the evil atheists who have no idea of right or wrong and no conscience about their fellow human beings, and should be more than prepared to step on their fellow man to get to the top of the chain, right?

[Crow]

There's a group of people who quit their jobs to travel and receive handouts.  They're called the first followers of Christ.  Jesus and his following were communist in a way.  But they also lived on the welfare of Jesus making fish and bread multiply.  They also benefited from his free health care plan.  So yeah, Christians should be the communists, and may be disposed to except for the Soviet Union.  The atheist Soviet Union had a reigning "Communist Party" so in reaction we had to be the good, Christian, capitalist nation... everything the USSR was not.  If anybody should be capitalists it should be the evil atheists who have no idea of right or wrong and no conscience about their fellow human beings, and should be more than prepared to step on their fellow man to get to the top of the chain, right?

What I have always found interesting is that the communist manifesto (which everyone should read as its really short and debunks a lot of propaganda) and the teachings of the bible(s) have far more in common than the bible(s) do with capitalism. But also from reading the communist manifesto you realise that Lenin didn't really understand the book or didn't agree with it in its entiretyand created a bastardised version, then Stalin created a bastardised version from Lenin's. Mao's was just a total mess and wasn't until Deng Xiaoping managed to sort out the shit storm that a more accurate form of communism was formed in reflection of the original source material. 

[ThinkAnarchy]

The thing is that if rich people get money, they're not going to start businesses with that money. Why? Because people start businesses in order to make money. And rich people are already rich. What the fuck they need to produce goods for? They already have money and wealth, right?

No, people create money to make more money. Bill Gates didn't sell Microsoft after making his first few million. Steve Jobs worked until he was too unhealthy to continue working. Many sell there companies and become venture capitalists, essentially helping start many new businesses. Hell, even Opera, who hasn't produced a single product I like and is one of the richest women in the world, keeps finding more ways to make more money. Her show goes off the air and she creates an entire crappy network, O magazine, etc.

Therein lies my point. The upper crust only invests in an economy so long as the upper crust still desires goods and services and improvement in themselves, thus generating improvement in the lower classes as a side effect. One the upper crust becomes satisfied with what they have, they no longer effect society in a positive way, and therefore should be replaced by some other, hungrier, section of society.

Starting businesses is not the only way to "invest in an economy." The rich constantly want things, just like the middle class and poor does. Many, when they have the money, create more jobs through the luxury spending. Valets, maids, tutors, nannies, personal chefs, landscapers, pool cleaners, carpenters, car detailers, boat cleaners, boat storage, marinas, personal trainers, interior designers, party planners, etc.

Why does this so seldom happen? Because if you're rich, you tend to enact laws that keep you rich and reduce competition. That's why. Bloody bastards. 

I agree with this statement. The problem is more because of government than capitalism. What most people think is capitalism is really crony capitalism. No one, including businesses, should get special treatment from the government. Without these laws, it would be much easier for the poor to start and open businesses, giving them a much better chance to rise from poverty. Instead, this system has created a system that makes it too expensive and onerous to start a business unless you are already rich. Not to mention protectionist guilds that protect a job field from competition; requiring law school instead of simply passing the bar, test for flower arrangement in at least one state, certification requirements for interior design, etc.

Here is a great new video from Institute for Justice about licensing requirements.
http://www.ij.org/license-to-work-release-5-8-12

All of this is allowed to happen because the government has the ability to allow it.

[Crow]

No, people create money to make more money. Bill Gates didn't sell Microsoft after making his first few million. Steve Jobs worked until he was too unhealthy to continue working.

Bad choice of examples but I get your point and agree with it. It was the attitude of using wealth to create that was the Victorian eras legacy. The government has absolutely no power in forcing this to happen again, if they do force it big business will move else where, the main solution is to turn this type of activity into a pissing contest and then the truly wealthy may start engaging in the creation again but this also requires imagination.