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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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 Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 1:36 am Post subject: Re: New Book: 'The Spirit Level Delusion' |
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| Junior wrote: |
| Senior wrote: |
This is why we should be worrying about low GDP per capita and not inequality. |
The third world productivity is just fine thank you. All those sweat shops in Bangladesh have probably made every pair of shoes you've ever worn.
the GDP is not the problem. Its that the wealth from it is not shared equally.
You seem quite OK with this unsustainable situation. Your much-touted wonderful first world existence depends on exploiting those poor countries. You probably consume 20 X your fair share of the earths resources, and in doing so are also spurring global warming- the effects of which are mostly felt in the third world. |
A)Sweat shops are the best thing that ever happened to those countries. It is their corrupt govts that keep them poor. Not multi-nationals coming in and providing jobs.
B)Global warming is a hoax/death cult. Did you forget the absolute pasting you received in the Climategate thread? Go back and read that if you need some re-edification |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 1:41 am Post subject: |
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| Kepler wrote: |
| 'They have this thing called "Jante-lov," which essentially says, "You're no better then anybody else," ' said Buettner. 'A garbage man can live in a middle-class neighborhood and hold his head high.' ". |
I've always thought all that focus on status and position within heirarchy is a great cause of misery to Koreans.
Very likely to the UK,India, and wherever else too. The whole class-system thing.
I've had several Koreans remark to me that they admire this british system of ranking and organising people. It may be a recipe for success, but certainly not happiness. |
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Sergio Stefanuto
Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| Kepler wrote: |
| Denmark ranks as the happiest nation in the world and its high taxes have a big equalizing effect |
If there was any relationship between equality and happiness, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe would have been the happiest places in the history of the world.
That article presented a very one-sided and romanticized view of fiscal policy in Denmark. Business-friendly Denmark also has one of the freest private sectors in the world. The kind of anti-capitalist constraints the authors of The Spirit Level admire would run Denmark into the ground. Not only that, but high tax/redistributionist fiscal policy is predicated entirely on low levels of tax evasion. Outside of Denmark, these policies can achieve lower revenues than low taxes because people are unwilling to comply.
In any case, my anecdotal evidence of Denmark wasn't hugely impressive, at least compared to capitalist paradises like Singapore!  |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 5:24 am Post subject: Re: New Book: 'The Spirit Level Delusion' |
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| Senior wrote: |
| It is their corrupt govts that keep them poor. |
But according to you ..." lets not worry about inequality"..
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| Global warming is a death cult. |
Totally. Just look at all the people that are dying because of it.
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Deaths in Moscow have doubled and are now averaging 700 people a day amid a sweltering heat wave.
About 550 separate blazes were burning nationwide on Monday, mainly across western Russia, including about 40 around Moscow, according to the Emergencies Ministry.
Forest and peat bog fires have been triggered by the most intense heat wave in 130 years.
Neighbouring Ukraine is also battling with fires as it suffers its worst heat wave on record. |
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/08/09/russian-smog-deathrate.html |
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