General Music Chat

Hey #1 - I broke the law on New Years Eve! I replaced a friend's water heater without a biz license or a work permit & I'm not a plumber OR an electrician...but he got hot water, it doesn't leak, he's happy, & he didn't have to pay me at all (though he DID pay me, far less than an electrician or plumber would have cost, but I wanted to do it for free for a friend who has helped me a few times i the past).

I'm such a criminal!

A couple questions - how does my hard work and persistance make me more "fortunate" than those who won't do what I do?

Who in the world is qualified to redistrubte my weath? I've already got the stinking FedGov sticking a gun in my face and taking darn near half my substance.

Why was there much less poverty before the do-gooders started stealing from the productive?

Why is it harder to start a business, a band or do virtually anything since the collectivists types have been in charge? Isn't their avowed mission to make everything better? Or only for themselves? (as has been the case here in the real world)

And why is it "shocking" how illegal immigrants are treated in France? I find it shocking that they are tolerated at all.

cheers
Talbot

A couple questions - how does my hard work and persistance make me more "fortunate" than those who won't do what I do?

Won't or can't? Also, I think you're pretty fortunate to be born in the USA and not Ethiopia, wouldn't you? Detroit is practically a third world country unto itself.

Who in the world is qualified to redistrubte my weath? I've already got the stinking FedGov sticking a gun in my face and taking darn near half my substance.

First, drop this REdistribution canard. Wealth is distributed RIGHT NOW via a neo-capitalist corporatist system. The article, Scratch, and I were talking about how to make THIS SYSTEM more fair and equitable NOT REDISTRIBUTION. Honestly, a f&*king child could read that.

As for your taxes, already disproportionately hitting you instead of the higher brackets who got Bush's tax cuts, lowering them for lower classes and changing government priorities would go a long way to fixing the problem.

Why was there much less poverty before the do-gooders started stealing from the productive?

When? The Great Depression? The Guilded Age?

Why is it harder to start a business, a band or do virtually anything since the collectivists types have been in charge? Isn't their avowed mission to make everything better? Or only for themselves? (as has been the case here in the real world)

Which "collectivists types?" Ronald Reagan? George HW Bush? "Slick Willy Sell-Out" Bill Clinton? George W. Bush?

And why is it "shocking" how illegal immigrants are treated in France? I find it shocking that they are tolerated at all.

I don't know about the shocking part. The French have always had a reputation for being rude. They've also always had a reputation for being more cultured and intellectually curious (and making good food).

When your biz gets large enough to totally control the resources necessary for your product, & you choose to do so, there is no more "free market."

When you band together with other huge corps to control prices in the marketplace, there is no "free market."

THAT is when a "redistribution of wealth" becomes necessary. THAT is when our gov't, which was designed to protect us from such things, needs to take action against those who have become too greedy, too powerful, & too controlling of the populace. OUR gov't, unfortunately, seems to be owned by these forces, & is neglecting or refusing to protect us from them.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Agriculture, manufacturers, commerce, & navigation, the 4 pillars of our prosperity, are then most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise." When these four pillars are controlled by outside forces, or by one or two huge multi-national mega-corporations, what is left to us Americans? To be enslaved by the "free market?" What of America is there in that? How will we be free to pursue our happiness, if we are enslaved by our jobs to work ungodly hours for little return? This modern trend is destroying what America was set up to be, & it needs to be checked before it gains total control over us

Agriculture is becoming a Monsanto/Kraft product.

Manufacturing has been shipped out, to an alarmingly large degree.

Commerce is being controlled by superstores, international firms, & over-regulation of the little guys in the game.

And now, even navigation, our ability to travel freely within & without our own borders is being taken from us, in the guise of "national security."

But yeah, it's all okay, isn't it? Cuz we are still "Americans," & we live in "the greatest country in the world!" Well...if we dig a little deeper, perhaps we'll see what dangers are really lurking behind the pomp & circumstance, & the flag-waving, & the artificially-produced "news."

WHO in our federal gov't is not owned by foreign interests, or by a mega-corporation? Who is keeping us at each others' throats over twaddle, & keeping us from seeing what's REALLY going on behind the scenes?

Our wealth, as American citizens, IS being "redistributed," every damned day, & it ain't to our poor, or our unemployed, or "lazy ppl." It's going to the mega-corporations who have their bases outside of our borders, so that our laws, which are designed to protect us all, can be circumvented.

Does anyone get it, yet?

It's not the free market system that is flawed, it's the manipulation of it by the super wealthy with the cooperation of bought and owned political leaders and key officials.

Socialist societies always fail
free societies always fail
Name one social system that has survived throughout a long history while all other social systems have failed...

BINGO, you found the current ruling party

The British Monarchy; ALL things lead back to the City Of London...
That's not THE city named London, but a 5 square block international financial district in London.

The Royal Families have always been in control!

^

I don't think a friend helping another friend in need is crimminal at all Phil. But had you screwed up and flooded his house or buned it down his insurance company would have denied his claim and the city would be after you for working without a license. I also am bad about doing things I shouldn't to take care of customers and have regretted it a time or two. What really bothers me is the way some of "the big dogs" treat people without any repercousions. A Co. charged a widow 5 grand to replace 20 ft of sewer to a septic tank and I had to go out a year later and replace the same line they were supposed to but never did. Do you think any of the calls to the BBB or city made any difference? Hell no ! They took advantage of someone and doesn't care about anything but making a dollar. I used to work for this company and showed up at their office and had a few select words and nearly wound up in jail , but thats all that ever came of it. It would be so expensive for the woman to sue them that its not worth persueing . Thats just one of hundreds of scenarios I see every day. I actually think Phil is a hero in his own right for doing something as a friend for someone. People have to remember there is lot more in life than a dollar. I only need money to pay my bills. What really matters to me has nothing to do with money or government or a lot of the other BS. More people need to figure this out . The world is getting more crowded every day and peoples lack of respect for others is out of hand. I know I can't Plumb the world Or change the world and its awfull ways So I'm going to help a neighbor or friend tommorrow because I can and that makes me a rich man indeed.

So Phil don't be offended when I say your OK by me!

You're very kind, #1.

I feel pretty okay, too, & don't worry about the repercussions of shabby work, because I am very thorough in whatever I do. I've yet to have any problem that I couldn't fix myself in mere minutes from my work, & I've been at this awhile.

It's that check-&-double-check work ethic that has kept me going all this time, with repeat customers, until some of them sudden;y got all worked up over insurances & licenses, even though we've had a great working relationship for many years...but now they worry that if I get hurt, I'll sue them...what happened in their heads? Not anything I ever said or did, I assure you. Perhaps it's cuz I'm looking older. I dunno, but it's killing me, financially.

Phil its easy to get those licenses and insurance. Just expensive. Your customers wont mind paying for it . Good work and word of mouth is all the advertising you need. Just don't become an evil ass like most who worship that dollar their making. Its going to take more people out there like you to put "the big dogs" out of business ! Being rich isn't about having money or possesions. Its about friends, family , and good music !!