1 (edited by East 03-Feb-2009 19:32:46)

Topic: Common sense economics?

The thing is that poor people tend to save a lot less than rich people. If you put 10$ into the hands of 100 poor people chances are they will spend all of their 10$ whether it is an economic crisis or not. The amount of extra income is just too small and their running costs too great to entice saving it. If you put 1000$ into the hands of one rich person he might choose to buy that new plasma screen, but in times of crisis he is much more likely to save all or at least some of this extra money (with a bank not too willing to lend it out for fear of not seeing it back or in government bonds, putting the money back in the hands of the government).

so if you want to stimulate the economy out of a crisis you have take measures that distribute small bits of wealth into many hands, rather than measures favouring a few people a whole lot

on the other hand if you want to keep a knowlegde economy in a boom cyble going you may want to consider putting more wealth into rich people's hands; that 1000$ top of the line plasma screen provides an extra incentive to research innovating products and even if they save some or all of the money it just ends up in the hands of people who will be more than willing to lend it out to innovators since the economic boom creates enough trust that it will be paid back

mmmh?

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Re: Common sense economics?

Government is not the source of wealth creation. The mistake in thinking of modern laymen is to start with a question of "what should the government do to help?" because it presumes that government, being all-powerful and having the authority to do whatever it decides it has the authority to do, is also all-capable and actually can do whatever it decides it can do. A government can do whatever it wants striving toward any goal it claims, but it does not actually have the power to achieve any goal it claims just because it claims that goal is what its actions are furthering.

A government, as you say, "distributing" wealth will have effects on an economy. But that's the problem with the laymen engaging in politics over economics: They focus only on distribution, not creation. Creation is the key to economies thriving. Amerika's economy has erupted in such a short time to the huge machine it is today because institutions in place (/staying out of the way) encourage wealth creation. I'm all in favor of social welfare policies because bad things happen and not everyone has a safety net. But focusing only on this as a matter of social justice and then building upon it reasons why this is also best for an economy at the expense of ignoring incentives and institutions of wealth creation is bad for everyone. And their economy.

The best thing for an economy is to not have taken that $10 and $1000 from the people who create wealth to earn it and support others whose wealth they're paying for when they buy the products of their labor. There is no net gain when a government takes more taxes and redistributes them. There is a net gain when someone performs a service or produces a product which people are willing to pay for. Competition between people offering services and products results in the best possible service/product at the lowest possible price. Everyone has more because things cost less. Taxation increases prices on EVERYTHING, so everyone has less and needs that $10 more to begin with.

The question is how can government best serve its people and their needs while staying out of the way otherwise. A government does the most for its people when it can stay out of the way. Government involvement is purely administrative costs, increasing the price of everything. This is why government is a "necessary evil." Government is good in that it is necessary and provides things we need. Neither the founding fathers of the USA nor I were/are anarchists, but government has a cost that needs to be kept at a minimum for the well-being of its people.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: Common sense economics?

I crisis is created because people consumed more than they produced. All that extra consumption was borrowed from somewhere.

The funny part is that the crisis can be over tomorrow if all the debt is wiped off the books. That will never happen because the lenders want anything they can get back, regardless of who suffers.

Fastest cure is issue truckloads of shortterm bonds, give 200K to everyone, have them pay off their loans, default on bonds, end of crisis.

Re: Common sense economics?

No, government does create wealth. It prints money!

5 (edited by Father Communism 05-Feb-2009 09:59:31)

Re: Common sense economics?

If you put 10$ into the hands of 100 poor people chances are they will spend all of their 10$ whether it is an economic crisis or not

yeah...to buy things like food and things they need. Rich people dont have a problem with getting themselves thier basic needs. 

I disagree with most of your reasoning...if you put 1000 dollars in a rich persons hand...he probably already had a big screen tv...so he would prob put it in his bank and it would be spent keeping his lifestyle where it is.  You dont see rich people eating peanut butter and salted crackers for meals because they dont have anything else to buy.  There would be days were they wouldnt eat at all.  a rich person may buy a new furniture set and discard the old one.  A poor person wishes he had the money to spare to even think about replacing the couch that came with the basement sweet he is renting..a couch that is falling apart because until he could aford a bed he was sleeping on it...i was in that situation at one point in my life.  if someone gave me 1000 dollars, i would pay two months rent up front, and then buy a giant bag of rice, four loaves of bread and put them in the freezer, a bin of marjornie that would last a year, a package of 40 burgers and some mustard.  And every now and then i splurged and got a package of bagels. Lets not forget the kraft dinner i had so often i couldnt taste cheese anymore.  a rich person doesnt have to think of such things

your full of ignorance, and before you claim the poor are poor because they are bad at spending, try living in that situation.   

and another thing. The safty net programs the states had took 12 million people out of poverty in 2007 by giving peopel in poverty money.  thats better for the economy than giving it to people who are already in high tax brackets.  now instead of peopel who are rich getting richer, and geting into tax brackets taht have cuts under the bush administration, you get 12 million people put up a tax bracket.  The richest people int he world pay less, or the poor people become stable and start paying taxes...hmm..waht makes more money?


I think the best solution would be to

step 1. Stimulate the economy by investing in things that bring more jobs and do other good things...two birst with one stone...

like alternative energy, small businesses, leagalize marjuana and tax it (something they will never do, but would solve the crisis in an instant with allt he money they would get from it lol) , education, and many others...

i should also add , since i mentioned pot, before someone gets a hard on, leagalizing it woulnd make people smoke it more, it would just be leagal.  Its better for your health than alchohol , tabacoo and nicoteen...no matter what anyone says...so it wont kill hardly anyone...and it would also save money on all the court cases and jail space..allowing for you to keep ACTUAL criminals and not pot heads...personally i dont smoke pot btw, so its an unbiased opinion

2. after the economy is jump started, give the tax payers some relief...laike say a 4 month period without interest on thier goverment loans...you loose money , but you also loose money when people declare bankrupcy..you have to do what you can to keep people from being down as to give up. 

3.  put the countries growth on a slower plan than it is so it can get a surplus in the national budget, and then you can pick and choose what you want then...now you survive...

Morale = to make money you gotta spend money


so yeah, those are my opinoins.  lol...i hope oboma reads the politcal page on ic...

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

Re: Common sense economics?

> Father Communism wrote:

> if you put 1000 dollars in a rich persons hand...he probably already had a big screen tv...so he would prob put it in his bank and it would be spent keeping his lifestyle where it is.



Um... then that's what we should do.


I don't know if you've read the news, Communism: We're in a banking crisis.  tongue

Make Eyes Great Again!

The Great Eye is watching you... when there's nothing good on TV...

Re: Common sense economics?

> Zarf BeebleBrix wrote:


I don't know if you've read the news, Communism: We're in a banking crisis.  tongue

<

Yes we lost shitloads of invisible money

Not many people know this, but I own the first radio in Springfield. Not much on the air then, just Edison reciting the alphabet over and over. "A" he'd say; then "B." "C" would usually follow...

Re: Common sense economics?

Um... okay, let me explain what I mean.


Right now: Banking sector is in the shithole.  That's causing the collapse.

Giving rebates to low-income people: Stimulates other sectors of the economy, but the banking sector's benefit will be negligible, since any income to it requires waiting until money funnels through to them.

Giving rebates to high-income people: They put the money in the bank.  Bank has liquidity now!

Make Eyes Great Again!

The Great Eye is watching you... when there's nothing good on TV...

Re: Common sense economics?

yeah, get milliosn of poor people putting money in the bank is better.  if they get on thier feet, thier income will grow to a point were they put it in the bank

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

10 (edited by Zarf BeebleBrix 05-Feb-2009 21:10:33)

Re: Common sense economics?

> Father Communism wrote:

> yeah, get milliosn of poor people putting money in the bank is better.  if they get on thier feet, thier income will grow to a point were they put it in the bank


But you just said that they would spend the money on stuff in stores!  There's no increase in net income production.


And even if you don't buy that... it's an issue of simple math.

Rich are more likely to put the money in the bank.  Poor people are more likely to spend it.  That means there's greater probability of higher investment in banks, and therefore a greater amount of money put into the banks, if you give the money to the rich people.  This is all your analysis, not mine, Communism.  wink

Make Eyes Great Again!

The Great Eye is watching you... when there's nothing good on TV...

Re: Common sense economics?

the stores have more money in the bank then...and yes, poor people owuld buy thier basic needs and get back on thier feet.  Then you have a bunch of poor people affording interview cloths, a healthy diet, and a better attitude overall...they get better jobs, and MAGIC...money goes into the bank the second they start making more money than thier basic needs...that simple.

and besides...your going to give rich people money to just put it in the bank? Why doesnt the goverment just put money in the bank? its not peoples fault the banks are in a crisis anyways...its the banks fault...

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

Re: Common sense economics?

Dollar signs go in front of numbers

Not 10$

But $10

TC pwns me

Re: Common sense economics?

i always thought if you were refering to the bill its a $10 since thats what the bill looks like, but if your typing like you talk, its 10$ since you would say it "ten dollars"  ...just me though

eg

i ate that $10 bill the other day...

eg # 2

I ate all the food...it cost me 10$

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

Re: Common sense economics?

maybe im just raving mad though

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

15 (edited by East 06-Feb-2009 12:17:50)

Re: Common sense economics?

V. Kemp

government can facilitate wealth creation by making sure the right people get the right resources at the right time; it is not easy to determine who, what and when that is exactly, but that's a matter of establishing good governance; the money in question doesn't need to come from directly from other tax payers by the way, it could be done through lowering certain taxes or as justinian pointed out through simply issuing more money (all of which have their own risks, but the net result can still be beneficial, again that is a matter of implementing the right policies)

Father Communism
I think you got caught up a bit in the concrete examples I gave without taking into account the bigger picture behind them. The rich(er) person may or may not have had a plasma TV already, he can buy a new one, he can buy some other gizmo that he didn't yet have,... and like I said in the op he will rather put it into the bank in times of crisis

this is not very beneficial to the bank as I pointed out the bank is scared in times of crisis and will be less willing to take economic risk and instead put it into safer investments like government bonds, not helping to solve the crisis

instead you want companies to be able to sell stuff so that they can go to the banks and get short term loans for their daily operations and long term investments without the bank worrying about them going bust

"your full of ignorance, and before you claim the poor are poor because they are bad at spending, try living in that situation."

also I think this was uncalled for, I merely said poor people are more likely to spend the money, not that they are somehow morally bad with spending or saving

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qmkjghqmksdjqlskhqkmsdhqmskfhjqmskjdfhqkmsdfjhqmskfhjqkmsjdfhqkm
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kjnqsdfqsdfqsdfmkjqhgmkjnqsgkjmhzdflmghjsmdlghjsmdkghmqksdjghq

Re: Common sense economics?

Father Communism:  You are raving mad

TC pwns me

Re: Common sense economics?

your right...i got a little worked up.  I went through some tough times...Sorry for snapping...

regardless though, the banks may be in crisis, but the real problem is with the economy.  If they economey was healthy, then banks would be fine.  What needs to be done is stimulating the economy, getting people out of poverty.  The more people contributing, the more money is gained in the system (same concept behind pop banking, you gotta max out your planets with pop...and its more money than cf banking) lol...like my little ic example..

at the end of the day , its just my opinion, and i am nothing siad here has changed it...fixing the  banks is a short term half solution, people will still be poor..focus on fixing the long term, and fix things the right way and they wont break next time.

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

18 (edited by V.Kemp 06-Feb-2009 13:38:35)

Re: Common sense economics?

>>government can facilitate wealth creation by making sure the right people get the right resources at the right time; it is not easy to determine who, what and when that is exactly, but that's a matter of establishing good governance<<

It's better a matter of the private sector in the free market. When banks decide who to give loans to, they judge each lone on a case by case basis by who they believe will be able to pay them back at a profit for the bank (when the venture the loan is paying for turns a profit for the person seeking the lone). Investors choose where to invest the same way. Government does not have this free market motivation to make good decisions that private citizens have had which has given the USA the most powerful economy in the entire world. Government has bankrupted everything it has ever run. Why would making investments be any different than everything else in the history of government?

>>simply issuing more money <<

There aren't risks involved with inflation. It's just like taxing more; it costs everyone to do it. It's not a "risk," it's a fact.

>>as I pointed out the bank is scared in times of crisis and will be less willing to take economic risk <<

They should have been taking less risk years ago. We wouldn't have this crisis if everyone wasn't so credit crazy to begin with. The market will take care of itself as everyone minimizes their losses and gets back to the business of making a profit. Government spending increasing debt, taxes, and causing huge inflation will just hurt everyone more. People are defending massive credit spending as a cure to a problem which is the result of abusing credit. Yeah. That's reasonable.

>>people will still be poor..focus on fixing the long term<<

The question is whether welfare or a thriving economy is better for the prosperity of a people. I would contend that a thriving economy is far better for everyone who wants to give their children a better life than they had to work hard through. I would contend that every ounce of evidence in the history of man supports this proposal. When government's solution is more taxes, inflation, debt, and welfare, I would rather choose the alternative of government getting out of the way and being less of a burden on the prosperity of its people, not more.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: Common sense economics?

> Father Communism wrote:

> the stores have more money in the bank then...

1: Best case scenario, it's an indirect pumping of money into the bank.  More steps, which means the banks will get less money in the end put into them.

"and yes, poor people owuld buy thier basic needs and get back on thier feet.  Then you have a bunch of poor people affording interview cloths, a healthy diet, and a better attitude overall...they get better jobs, and MAGIC...money goes into the bank the second they start making more money than thier basic needs...that simple. "

With... a couple hundred dollars?  Seriously?  You're arguing that this one magical stimulus will suddenly get poor people rich?
Plus, there's the above "indirect pumping" thing.


"and besides...your going to give rich people money to just put it in the bank? Why doesnt the goverment just put money in the bank? its not peoples fault the banks are in a crisis anyways...its the banks fault..."

Giving money to the banks directly?  Hey, that works too!

Make Eyes Great Again!

The Great Eye is watching you... when there's nothing good on TV...

Re: Common sense economics?

One question for people saying give money to the banks.  Didn't the government try that already, at the cost of almost 1 trillion dollars if I recall correctly, and it didn't work?

There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

Re: Common sense economics?

Why would giving money to failed institutions run by failed CEOs change anything? They had billions in profits to begin with. They lost it. Why would giving them more change the fact that they're running their companies into the ground? Pay the money you insured and let the failures fail. Let the banks that haven't failed get new customers. That's progress. Giving tax dollars to failed companies is wrong, in addition to stupid.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: Common sense economics?

i stand by my opionion. The banks arent the problem. People just need enough money to survive and not declare bancrupcy because of high interest loans.  You give JUST enough aid to help people stay afloat, and the goverment wont loose so much money will it. its not a qustion of the banks saving a bunch of money...if people get a little bump to get them accumulating wealth instead of staying at a stand still unable to get out of a rut...then the money would come.

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...

Re: Common sense economics?

Why would anyone without a stable income take out a high interest loan? Or any loan at all? The government already gives "JUST enough aid to help people stay afloat." Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, social security, unemployment, section 8 housing, foodstamps, and the list goes on. They don't cost the government much money? That was a joke, right?

Giving a "little bump" does not help anyone accumulate wealth. Giving a small amount of tax money to everyone of low income just gives them a little of the reward for their labor back they already paid in taxes. With an administrative cost in having to support the massive government that taxed them and rerouted their money before returning some of. What kind of solution is this? Don't reduce their taxes, but give them less of their money they wouldn't have had to pay if their taxes were reduced back? As a proposed solution it doesn't make any sense. They could get more at less cost no matter how you sugar coat it or what hollow rhetoric you surround the idea of "give all the poor a little bit of money" with.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: Common sense economics?

How about..

now try to follow me here..


we don't give money to anyone? yikes OMG!!!

Re: Common sense economics?

lol gladiator...that is so crazy, it JUST MIGHT WORK

Aquaman: Because how many crimes ACTUALLY occur under the sea...