In contrast to the previous post, wherein I attacked two of the longest standing American political organizations and the structures which created them, this post is a bit more positive
( Read more... )
I think you are wrong about one of thesecandidNovember 4 2008, 03:02:15 UTC
This is very similar to Virginia Postrel's "Dynamism-Stasism" dichotomy.
But she would (and I do) disagree with the following:
Lowering Taxes (Preserving existing wealth) - Explorers say no. Preserves say yes.
Taxes are generally on income, not wealth. Changing the tax rate shouldn't really have any first order effects on "preserving existing wealth".
What lowering taxes does do is increase the benefit of creating new wealth. And creating new wealth is an "explorer" activity. Raising taxes (which e.g. makes it tougher to get a new business off the ground, and which funnels more money to the government, which tends to protect entrenched interests) is most surely a "preserver" activity.
Re: I think you are wrong about one of thesefoolmonkeyNovember 4 2008, 03:34:58 UTC
Hmm. Yes, perhaps you are right.
Though in a sense, for a substantial number of people, raising taxes does have a first order effect on decreasing wealth, as many people live with small asset to income ratios.
this is a fantastic post, monkey. I too am an explorer. I believe things must be tried to see if they will work. When explorers push boundaries and go too far off course, the preservers should be pushing them back towards the center. I love the way you have explained this. It reminds me alot of how Daniel Quinn used the terms "leavers" and "Takers" in his book Ishmael. Though it was in a different context, using that simplistic terminology allowed him to discuss some very complicated topics.
When explorers push the boundaries and find something that works, then the preservers should then step in and start protecting. I think we owe it to ourselves as a nation and a species to try as many ideas out as possible. Its kind of like dating, you have to try it in order to know if it works, you take notes, then the next time you factor your previous results into the next thing you try. If we are not feeling like we are out of our comfort zone, then we are not growing and moving forward.
I don't think it matters what you call each side. We are still talking about sides. I would say that we need to change the bad and protect the good. However, I think it is everyone's responsibility to do this together. To understand that one day I may argue on the liberal side of an argument, and a conservative position of a different argument the next
( ... )
Regarding debates as sport, I am so with you. I'd love to see the discussion of important topics by politicians made as fun and accessible as possible so people will actually be engaged and (gasp!) even entertained. Just as long as the game doesn't have rules with stupid loopholes and bad commentators. Better than sports - it's the fate of our country!
Comments 9
But she would (and I do) disagree with the following:
Lowering Taxes (Preserving existing wealth) - Explorers say no. Preserves say yes.
Taxes are generally on income, not wealth. Changing the tax rate shouldn't really have any first order effects on "preserving existing wealth".
What lowering taxes does do is increase the benefit of creating new wealth. And creating new wealth is an "explorer" activity. Raising taxes (which e.g. makes it tougher to get a new business off the ground, and which funnels more money to the government, which tends to protect entrenched interests) is most surely a "preserver" activity.
Reply
Though in a sense, for a substantial number of people, raising taxes does have a first order effect on decreasing wealth, as many people live with small asset to income ratios.
Reply
Property taxes and other such rent-seeking measures are much more of a first-order effect on income.
Reply
Reply
When explorers push the boundaries and find something that works, then the preservers should then step in and start protecting. I think we owe it to ourselves as a nation and a species to try as many ideas out as possible. Its kind of like dating, you have to try it in order to know if it works, you take notes, then the next time you factor your previous results into the next thing you try. If we are not feeling like we are out of our comfort zone, then we are not growing and moving forward.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment