Business Owners Are People Too

Individual Liberty wrote:

There's a troubling theme in this thread. People on both sides of the debate seem to think that the government should be primarily concerned with protecting small business only. But the government's job is to protect the rights of ALL businesses, including big businesses. Republicans aren't standing up for the rights of big business because they're afraid of being labeled as being "for the rich" by the distortionists of the left. But I refuse to pander to their malice. Corporate billionaires have the same moral right to keep the fruits of their labor as small business owners.

American is in debt. Someone has to pay.

And still this country should provide BASIC HUMAN NEEDS to all of its residents. PEOPLE DIE b/c they don't have adequate health care. That just isn't right. People in America shouldn't starve to death. Or die from lack of medical care. But they do.

So who should pay? People with REAL money. And these taxes are just a drop in the bucket for them, anyway. And as many ppl have pointed out, rich people and big businesses reap the rewards of living/doing business in a prosperous country, so they should not be surprised that there is a cost associated with that privilege.

The bottom line is that the richest should pay the most. But they don't. They are GREEDY. Plain and simple. You don't get rich without greed. I have yet to see an example of a rich person who is not greedy in my lifetime, except maybe some extraordinary doctors. But in biz you need greed. I'm sure there are exceptions but the general rule is that you must be greedy to get rich. And then you should become a Republican to protect your money from the commoners.

All people are greedy. “Greed” is nothing more than self-interest, which is the principle that drives all human action. Human nature is selfish, and man survives and pursues his happiness by acting in his self-interest. There is no arbitrary point at which earning a living ceases to be noble and becomes excessive and evil. The more successful you are the better.

Your suffering is matters nothing to anyone outside of your own circle. The goal of life is to be happy, not to suffer or to be concerned with suffering. The rich, like everyone else, have a right to enjoy their lives even if some people suffer. They have no moral imperative to sacrifice their wealth or happiness for the sake of your suffering.

When you say that you're concerned about small business owners and people with pre-existing conditions, what you really mean is that you're concerned about YOURSELF. You want better access to health insurance for your own benefit, and the extent of your generosity is that you're willing to give others the privilege of paying for it. That's greed of the worst sort: greed not restrained by respect for the rights of others, i.e. parasitism.

Actually my biggest concern is for my extended family, which we cannot afford to support, although we have sacrified a lot over our lifetimes to give as much to them as we could.

My immediate family is fine even without health insurance. although I strongly believe that health insurance is something that should be accessible to all Americans. DEATH shouldn't come more easily to some than others based on means alone.

The point is that rich people have more than plenty and they always still want more. People who do not have enough for basic needs should get help. There is a big difference between wanting for basic needs and the greed of the rich. BIG.

[quote]proud liberal wrote:

[quote]the f***ing idiots wrote:

We are against the rich b/c they are a bunch of greedy bastards.

And it is 1000% laughable that I am "feigning" concern for small business owners and ppl with pre-existing conditions since I personally own a small biz and have pre-existing conditions that have prevented us from purchasing either individual or company health insurance.

The suffering of "such people" has been MY suffering and/or my family's suffering. I speak from the heart and a lifetime of observation and experience.

_____________________________________________________________

Oh please. You are a sophomore poli sci major with a Che T-shirt that smells like like clove cigarettes and patchouli.

You'll either snap out of it when you get a real job or you'll spend the rest of your life on a college campus. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but please, dude, you are no business owner.

This bores me.

the f***ing idiots wrote:

All people are greedy. “Greed” is nothing more than self-interest, which is the principle that drives all human action. Human nature is selfish, and man survives and pursues his happiness by acting in his self-interest. There is no arbitrary point at which earning a living ceases to be noble and becomes excessive and evil. The more successful you are the better.

Well there is a point where people cease to give a sh!t about money. Look at Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Really, at a billion, I think you're more interested in your company or your idea succeeding than how much money you're going to make from it.

Greed is a pretty specific characteristic trait...and not a good one, IMO. "excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves"

Say what you want about Warren, but he runs his company (and his personal wealth) in the most tax-efficient way possible.

UsedToBeKnowItAll wrote:

Well there is a point where people cease to give a sh!t about money. Look at Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Really, at a billion, I think you're more interested in your company or your idea succeeding than how much money you're going to make from it.

Greed is a pretty specific characteristic trait...and not a good one, IMO. "excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves"

People like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet live to work, and invest most of their money in their work. Their productivity is the noblest possible use of their money, not a gluttonous indulgence.

Your concept of greed relies on your own arbitrary judgment of how much money others need and deserve. You have the nerve to call someone else "greedy" based on how much money YOU want them to have, and fail to sense the contradiction there - that you are only subordinating someone else's desires to your own, while at the same time demonizing the person whose money you want to appropriate for being selfish.

My concept came from a dictionary. What do others "need" and "deserve". What we "need" is pretty obvious. What we "deserve" is pretty arbitrary.

For me, I make a middle-wage, ok, perhaps upper-wage income. But the thing is, I don't care if I get more. My coworker and I talk about this all the time. We will accept and appreciate raises, but we like our jobs, and are happy that we can afford for our families, quite comfortably, with our salaries. In my opinion, liking your job is worth more than your compensation. To a point. If I got paid $5/hr, I'd find another living. But greed, is when you're in my position and you want to double it...without double your production. (read the definition again).

That's when it's unhealthy.

Do you really believe this? Self-interest drives all human action? Have you never seen anyone do anything that was not selfishly in their own self-interest?

Cool. Because I'm pretty sure I can make a great living hunting down the elderly, killing them, and taking their stuff. There are a lot of big old houses out in the suburbs where no one would find out for days...

Once again-- this is really cool. Because once I kill enough old people and take all their stuff, I'm going to put the money in the bank and move to a place like Thailand where I'll use the interest to keep myself in a drug-induced daze for the next 30-40 years. I'll be completely happy.

And I have the right to enjoy my drug-induced daze even if a few old farts get wiped...

Wait a second-- now you are saying that there is a limit on the "greed is good" thing? But you just said that the only thing that mattered was my own self-interest and my own success? Who care what that does to other's rights?

sold2u wrote:

Oh please. You are a sophomore poli sci major with a Che T-shirt that smells like like clove cigarettes and patchouli.

You'll either snap out of it when you get a real job or you'll spend the rest of your life on a college campus. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but please, dude, you are no business owner.

Well, sorry, wrong. My spouse and I own a small biz. Like it or not. And we aren't nearly young. Oh, yeah, and I'm not a dude.

So your assumptions are as wrong as your politics, which is nothing new from Republicans.

proud liberal wrote:

Well, sorry, wrong. My spouse and I own a small biz. Like it or not. And we aren't nearly young. Oh, yeah, and I'm not a dude.

So your assumptions are as wrong as your politics, which is nothing new from Republicans.

You are just a mad, bigoted person who is driven by hate. Nothing less, nothing more.

Another funny assumption.

I volunteer 10 hours per week helping poor people. What do you do to HELP?

I'm guessing nothing.

proud liberal wrote:

Another funny assumption.

I volunteer 10 hours per week helping poor people. What do you do to HELP?

I'm guessing nothing.

I am sure you do.

Guess who else volunteered every week? John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

Want to know what I do? I fund Habitat 4 Humanity houses here in town. I have funded 4 to date. I also started a grant for small business in our downtown district. We have helped over a dozen small businesses revitalize our downtown section. I do a lot for the Arts as well, but I bet that disgusts you.

You have nothing to stand on but hate. It is actually quite sad. I feel bad for you.

C'mon Really wrote:

I am sure you do.

Guess who else volunteered every week? John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

Want to know what I do? I fund Habitat 4 Humanity houses here in town. I have funded 4 to date. I also started a grant for small business in our downtown district. We have helped over a dozen small businesses revitalize our downtown section. I do a lot for the Arts as well, but I bet that disgusts you.

You have nothing to stand on but hate. It is actually quite sad. I feel bad for you.

OOOOooooooooooooooooh Snap!!

I'd just like to note the appearance of the word "hate" again on this thread.

C'mon Really wrote:

I am sure you do.

Guess who else volunteered every week? John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

Want to know what I do? I fund Habitat 4 Humanity houses here in town. I have funded 4 to date. I also started a grant for small business in our downtown district. We have helped over a dozen small businesses revitalize our downtown section. I do a lot for the Arts as well, but I bet that disgusts you.

You have nothing to stand on but hate. It is actually quite sad. I feel bad for you.

Though somewhat enjoyable to see you winning this battle, it is not one that will ever end. She is a troll. She will ignore any point you make and say that the rich are evil because they didn't get their taxes raised. Stop feeding the troll.

Big deal. That just means you wrote a check, which takes about two seconds, and I'm guessing is a VERY small part of your net worth. I have spent TIME a lot of TIME helping a lot of people.

That's yet another trait of rich people. They write a few checks to charity and think that what they and other rich people have collectively determined to give is enough to meet the needs--ergo the government shouldn't give more--even though true needs still are very far from being met.

Arts mean nothing when people are hungry, homeless, and/or lacking basic human needs like medical care, and therefore DYING. I don't feel anything either way about the arts--except that buying arts in general are yet another domain of the rich.

proud liberal wrote:

Big deal. That just means you wrote a check, which takes about two seconds, and I'm guessing is a VERY small part of your net worth. I have spent TIME a lot of TIME helping a lot of people.

That's yet another trait of rich people. They write a few checks to charity and think that what they and other rich people have collectively determined to give is enough to meet the needs--ergo the government shouldn't give more--even though true needs still are very far from being met.

Arts mean nothing when people are hungry, homeless, and/or lacking basic human needs like medical care, and therefore DYING. I don't feel anything either way about the arts--except that buying arts in general are yet another domain of the rich.

Hahahaha. Okay, now it is obvious that you are a troll. It was fun while it lasted.