Raising social involvement, self awareness and self improvement topics, because our communities are the sum of our personal beliefs, behaviors, action or inaction. Only "we" can improve our family, work place, school, city, country, etc.
Hiram, As noted above, the poor often get more back in money and services than they pay in taxes. In essence they live in our wonderful country for free. (ie no payment for gov't...)
The Wilf family does not own the stadium. So actually the Wilf's and the NFL paid a half billion dollars of the cost for our MN stadium.
Or do you think the Wilf's can sell the building if they wish?
As noted above, the poor often get more back in money and services than they pay in taxes
So do the rich. That's the deal with taxes. But taxes are much more of a burden on the poor than they are on the rich.
The Wilf family controls the stadium. That's one thing ownership can mean, especially for rich people. If the Vikings left the stadium, it would have no value and it would be torn down.
Hiram, The government does not create wealth, therefore some get more than they pay and some pay more than they get. And since the poor pay little, they are net recipients.
This is not good or bad, it is just math.
Owner: "a person who owns something : one who has the legal or rightful title to something : one to whom property belongs..."
Depends on how you define government and wealth. When the government participated in the building of the Vikings Stadium, they made the Wilfs a great deal wealthier.
In finance, ownership can mean something different. It is quite possible to own something in a financial or economic sense even if you don't telepathically have title. Trusts are like that.
No, sports stadiums are torn down when they lose their team. That's why Metropolitcan Stadium, the Met Center, the Metrodome, Texas Stadium and a variety of other facilities no longer exist. Memorial Stadium. These are single use facilities, and have no value when they are no longer are used.
I have heard this thing about government creating wealth, and I wonder how anyone could possibly believe it. It is so utterly contrary to our most basic experiences of how wealth exists.
Do people who believe government who cannot create wealth, believe government cannot destroy wealth either? In fact it can do both. It does both all the time.
If you are building a housing development, the houses increase in value if the government builds a school nearby. The Wilfs are vastly wealthier than they used to be because the government helped build them a stadium. Lake places go up in value when the government builds roads allowing you to get to them. The stock of an aerospace company goes up when they get a big government contract.
As much as I like to consider the other side of arguments, the notion that government activity doesn't affect wealth is borderline incomprehensible to me. It's much more the case that government does a lot of stuff others down't want to do because it would interfere with profits.
"government does not create wealth, therefore some get more than they pay and some pay more than they get"
To build the school, other people were taxed. To build the road, other people were taxed. To pay the contract, other people were taxed. To build the stadium, other people were taxed.
The government does a lot of good things for our society and sometimes they do help individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc. However it is almost always at the expense of other individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc.
Now the question is how much "wealth transfer" and of what type do we citizens want to support?
Though I enjoyed watching the game on TV last night, I certainly would not have voted to build that beautiful stadium. Just as I would not vote to keep giving money to poor people who do not choose to work hard to improve their situation. (ie education, work, etc)
Capitalism has a problem. The fact is there is lots of neat stuff out there worth creating and having which we wouldn't create and have under a purely capitalistic system. That's because capitalists aren't able to figure out a way of making a profit from them, or for various political, economic and social reasons, capitalism is incapable of producing them.
"The government does a lot of good things for our society and sometimes they do help individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc. However it is almost always at the expense of other individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc."
The idea that building schools or roads comes "at the expense" of others is really perverse.
Hiram, I am agree that a lot of the government spending is good. (ie roads, schools, bridges, safe drinking water, etc)
Sean, To me denying a simple reality is worse.
An expenditure like the SW Transit Corridor means that a LOT of money will need to be collected from citizens, companies and communities all over the country in order to benefit some people in the SW Burbs.
Now whether that is a good / bad choice is a different topic.
"An expenditure like the SW Transit Corridor means that a LOT of money will need to be collected from citizens, companies and communities all over the country in order to benefit some people in the SW Burbs."
And it will likely spur Billions in development along the corridor, much like the Green Line did in St. Paul. So...the government again creates more wealth than what is taken from those "other people" to build the rail line.
I am agree that a lot of the government spending is good. (ie roads, schools, bridges, safe drinking water, etc)
Do you agree that communities that have those things as appropriate are worth more than communities that don't. Would you pay more for a house that has safe drinking water than an otherwise similarly situated house that doesn't?
"An expenditure like the SW Transit Corridor means that a LOT of money will need to be collected from citizens, companies and communities all over the country in order to benefit some people in the SW Burbs."
On the contrary, SWLRT will provide significant utility to Minneapolis-area commuters who will be able to get transit service to SW suburban areas with lots of jobs that are poorly served by buses today.
And even the bigger roads are paid for by local tax payers. (ie city, county, etc)
And I think that's the trick. It's an instance of defining the problem away, basically that if it enhances values, creates wealth, that it isn't the government that's doing it. This is why I don't like logic, it's so easy to fool around with the premises to make the conclusion turn out right.
Sean, I work ~2 blocks from the metro transit park and ride garage. It seems there are a lot of buses doing a wonderful job.
Hiram, As I have noted before, governments are necessary and can do good. But I have yet to see a government hand out money that did not come from another tax payer's wallet.
But I have yet to see a government hand out money that did not come from another tax payer's wallet.
The issue for me here is whether government creates wealth. I think it obviously can. Building a school near a housing development increases the value of the development far in excess of the cost of the school.
The further question is, what is a government? In a democracy or a Republic it's the people banding together to accomplish certain aims. It's us acting together.
Then have you come to support that we banded together to build that shiny new stadium for our benefit...
I think we did. People wanted pro football. It's perfectly possible to disagree with that decision and there are reasonable grounds to disagree with it, but that was the decision we made. The right to free speech doesn't include a right to be agreed with.
Children today do have to pay off the national debt. On the other hand, they didn't have to fight in WW II.
ReplyDelete--Hiram
The born in the 1920's did not give us this massive debt...
ReplyDeleteIt was those born after 1940... And I don't think any of them fought in WWII either.
The children born today won't pay for all the stuff they get.
ReplyDeleteNational debt isn't a big issue for me. If it were a big issue, we wouldn't have given ourself the largest tax cut in history.
--Hiram
Of course we would keep giving our selves tax cuts while increasing spending...
ReplyDeleteUs modern Americas want to pay less and get more, especially if we can stick some else with the bill...
Kind of the opposite of Thanksgiving / Gratitude.
And most importantly... The kids are not voters...
ReplyDeleteSo the politicians don't care...
Of course we would keep giving our selves tax cuts while increasing spending...
ReplyDeleteIf we want reduce spending, we need to reduce the things we spend money on.
--Hiram
Yes. However as I said...
ReplyDeleteCurrent selfish recipients aren”t going to support that as long as someone else is paying or going to pay the bill.
I suppose that helps to explain why tax evader Trump is so willing to run up the debt.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's poor people who are hurt by taxes. They are the one's who struggle to pay their tax bills.
--Hiram
That is why they pay few except sales, sin and fica taxes.
ReplyDeleteAnd many receive more back in the form of Medicaid, EITC, welfare, CTC, etc
Poor people pay a lot in taxes. And they struggle to pay their taxes. They burden poor people in ways they don't burden the rich.
ReplyDelete--HIram
The Wilf family was given a half billion dollars to build their stadium. That would pay for a lot of Medicaid.
ReplyDelete--Hiram
Hiram,
ReplyDeleteAs noted above, the poor often get more back in money and services than they pay in taxes. In essence they live in our wonderful country for free. (ie no payment for gov't...)
The Wilf family does not own the stadium. So actually the Wilf's and the NFL paid a half billion dollars of the cost for our MN stadium.
Or do you think the Wilf's can sell the building if they wish?
As noted above, the poor often get more back in money and services than they pay in taxes
ReplyDeleteSo do the rich. That's the deal with taxes. But taxes are much more of a burden on the poor than they are on the rich.
The Wilf family controls the stadium. That's one thing ownership can mean, especially for rich people. If the Vikings left the stadium, it would have no value and it would be torn down.
--Hiram
Hiram,
ReplyDeleteThe government does not create wealth, therefore some get more than they pay and some pay more than they get. And since the poor pay little, they are net recipients.
This is not good or bad, it is just math.
Owner: "a person who owns something : one who has the legal or rightful title to something : one to whom property belongs..."
I am pretty sure we the people of MN could find some great uses for that wonderful building. I mean the Vikings only use it a very small portion of the year. :-)
The government does not create wealth,
ReplyDeleteDepends on how you define government and wealth. When the government participated in the building of the Vikings Stadium, they made the Wilfs a great deal wealthier.
In finance, ownership can mean something different. It is quite possible to own something in a financial or economic sense even if you don't telepathically have title. Trusts are like that.
No, sports stadiums are torn down when they lose their team. That's why Metropolitcan Stadium, the Met Center, the Metrodome, Texas Stadium and a variety of other facilities no longer exist. Memorial Stadium. These are single use facilities, and have no value when they are no longer are used.
--Hiram
I have heard this thing about government creating wealth, and I wonder how anyone could possibly believe it. It is so utterly contrary to our most basic experiences of how wealth exists.
ReplyDeleteDo people who believe government who cannot create wealth, believe government cannot destroy wealth either? In fact it can do both. It does both all the time.
--Hiram
Please elaborate...
ReplyDeleteIf you are building a housing development, the houses increase in value if the government builds a school nearby. The Wilfs are vastly wealthier than they used to be because the government helped build them a stadium. Lake places go up in value when the government builds roads allowing you to get to them. The stock of an aerospace company goes up when they get a big government contract.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I like to consider the other side of arguments, the notion that government activity doesn't affect wealth is borderline incomprehensible to me. It's much more the case that government does a lot of stuff others down't want to do because it would interfere with profits.
--Hiram
Hiram,
ReplyDeletePlease read what I said...
"government does not create wealth, therefore some get more than they pay and some pay more than they get"
To build the school, other people were taxed.
To build the road, other people were taxed.
To pay the contract, other people were taxed.
To build the stadium, other people were taxed.
The government does a lot of good things for our society and sometimes they do help individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc. However it is almost always at the expense of other individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc.
Now the question is how much "wealth transfer" and of what type do we citizens want to support?
Though I enjoyed watching the game on TV last night, I certainly would not have voted to build that beautiful stadium. Just as I would not vote to keep giving money to poor people who do not choose to work hard to improve their situation. (ie education, work, etc)
Capitalism has a problem. The fact is there is lots of neat stuff out there worth creating and having which we wouldn't create and have under a purely capitalistic system. That's because capitalists aren't able to figure out a way of making a profit from them, or for various political, economic and social reasons, capitalism is incapable of producing them.
ReplyDelete--Hiram
"The government does a lot of good things for our society and sometimes they do help individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc. However it is almost always at the expense of other individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc."
ReplyDeleteThe idea that building schools or roads comes "at the expense" of others is really perverse.
However it is almost always at the expense of other individuals, corporations, communities, cities, etc."
ReplyDeleteLots of things aren't free.
--Hiram
Hiram,
ReplyDeleteI am agree that a lot of the government spending is good. (ie roads, schools, bridges, safe drinking water, etc)
Sean,
To me denying a simple reality is worse.
An expenditure like the SW Transit Corridor means that a LOT of money will need to be collected from citizens, companies and communities all over the country in order to benefit some people in the SW Burbs.
Now whether that is a good / bad choice is a different topic.
"An expenditure like the SW Transit Corridor means that a LOT of money will need to be collected from citizens, companies and communities all over the country in order to benefit some people in the SW Burbs."
ReplyDeleteAnd it will likely spur Billions in development along the corridor, much like the Green Line did in St. Paul. So...the government again creates more wealth than what is taken from those "other people" to build the rail line.
Moose
I am agree that a lot of the government spending is good. (ie roads, schools, bridges, safe drinking water, etc)
ReplyDeleteDo you agree that communities that have those things as appropriate are worth more than communities that don't. Would you pay more for a house that has safe drinking water than an otherwise similarly situated house that doesn't?
--Hiram
Moose,
ReplyDeleteYes they are spending ~$2 Billion of nationwide tax payer money,
and some people in a small area will benefit.
It reminds me a lot of the US Bank Stadium expenditure. A lot of people pay and a relatively small group benefits.
Hiram,
Thankfully community water quality is usually paid for by the people who live in that community. They pay, they benefit.
"Yes they are spending ~$2 Billion of nationwide tax payer money,
ReplyDeleteand some people in a small area will benefit."
That is how this all works. You didn't pay for the road to your home by yourself.
Moose
Actually most community roads, sewer systems, water systems are installed with the housing development and paid for by those who buy the homes.
ReplyDeleteAnd even the bigger roads are paid for by local tax payers. (ie city, county, etc)
"An expenditure like the SW Transit Corridor means that a LOT of money will need to be collected from citizens, companies and communities all over the country in order to benefit some people in the SW Burbs."
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, SWLRT will provide significant utility to Minneapolis-area commuters who will be able to get transit service to SW suburban areas with lots of jobs that are poorly served by buses today.
And even the bigger roads are paid for by local tax payers. (ie city, county, etc)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that's the trick. It's an instance of defining the problem away, basically that if it enhances values, creates wealth, that it isn't the government that's doing it. This is why I don't like logic, it's so easy to fool around with the premises to make the conclusion turn out right.
--Hiram
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI work ~2 blocks from the metro transit park and ride garage. It seems there are a lot of buses doing a wonderful job.
Hiram,
As I have noted before, governments are necessary and can do good. But I have yet to see a government hand out money that did not come from another tax payer's wallet.
But I have yet to see a government hand out money that did not come from another tax payer's wallet.
ReplyDeleteThe issue for me here is whether government creates wealth. I think it obviously can. Building a school near a housing development increases the value of the development far in excess of the cost of the school.
The further question is, what is a government? In a democracy or a Republic it's the people banding together to accomplish certain aims. It's us acting together.
--Hiram
Then have you come to support that we banded together to build that shiny new stadium for our benefit...
ReplyDeleteAnd that our community is wealthier for it? :-)
Then have you come to support that we banded together to build that shiny new stadium for our benefit...
ReplyDeleteI think we did. People wanted pro football. It's perfectly possible to disagree with that decision and there are reasonable grounds to disagree with it, but that was the decision we made. The right to free speech doesn't include a right to be agreed with.
--Hiram
Agreed
ReplyDelete