Utopian Math

[gwendally]

Last year the GDP of the United States was roughly 14T.

Which worked out to about $46K in gross domestic production for every man, woman and child, assuming that earnings were 100% socialized across all citizens (and closed borders prevented illegal immigration from the countries bordering ours with per capita income of $14K and $38K.)

Which is

Comments

[admnaismith]

That's over $180K for a family of four. For the seven family members who live at my place, it's $322K. Probably save a bit on necessities by living together, but assume the full amount for all seven and that leaves $119 in discretionary income. Or, if my inlaws became independent thereby and moved out, we'd have $68K after essentials. That's a lot more than we have after essentials right now.

I'd be tempted to sign up, in my own self interest. What am I missing?

[gwendally]

10 years of bloody revolution.

[admnaismith]

OK, they's that. But I meant within the context of your "utopian ideal". Doesn't sound that bad to me. Then again, I don't want a castle or a unicorn.

[gwendally]

Also, the AVERAGE spending is $7K/year on health care, but you'd have to save up for those times when it isn't average. Also, you would have to save up for college. And home repairs.

"Discretionary" doesn't mean "consumer spending".

In this scenario where everyone has exactly what everyone else has - the utopian model - capitalism would be reinvented within the week when I save 10% towards a kitty and the grasshopper spends everything and then has to borrow from me. At interest.

[ytterbius]

I want my mountaintop estate, and I don't care what I've gotta do, or who I've got to destroy, to get it. If they can't defend themselves from me then they are losers by definition and they (and their children) deserve their poverty.

- a capitalist.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[gwendally]

What about educating your children? What if you have very bright children, brighter than the average, and they could benefit from learned instructors? Maybe even medical school. Do you want THAT? It's a bit outside the means of most families to save up the $200K it costs for med school out of their discretionary $15K, but it's possible. And at the end you'll have someone who is able to earn... uh... exactly the same as if they had never saved to go to college.

[abz6598]

Forget it...you cant reason with that ilk or their fellow travellers.

[ytterbius]

You you want me to respond as my capitalist character, or tell you what I really think? I was kinda joking. :)