Eso es comunismo!

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

Fuck yeah! He does. And I will say what I will.

God is gender neutral.

I hope you've seen this where I posted it before. And I should think you understand it.











Sir.

Eccieuser, I'm moving this so we won't hijack a thread.

For our non-Spanish speaking brethren, the young priest is called on the carpet by the old priest, for teaching children that an honest days work deserves an honest days wage. Then the young priest goes a bit farther and says a local businessman shouldn't hog all the wealth and his workers should share in it as well. This causes a young woman (the old priest's Sugar Baby?) to say "That's Communism?!" The young priest goes on to describe a famous encyclical, or pronouncement of the Pope, being the Rerum Novarum, or "Revolutionary Change," issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. According to Wikipedia, the Pope was promoting "amelioration of the misery and wretchedness...of the working class." He however rejected socialism and affirmed the right to private property, while also rejecting unrestricted capitalism.

Eccieuser, In developed countries, I think we've largely arrived at the state of condition favored by the young priest and the Pope. Yes, there's still room for improvement. And we haven't made a lot of progress in the last 20 years. There were signs of improvement in 2019, but they were snuffed out by COVID and inflation. But outside of some businesses like hedge funds, the profits taken out by owners of businesses, in the form of dividends for example, are dwarfed by wages paid to employees. The Robber Barons of yore are no more.

The first thing I thought about when I saw the video was Graham Greene's novel, the Power and the Glory. A priest in 1930's Mexico is persecuted by the government. During that era, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional which ruled Mexico was hell bent on socialism. And like Castro, and Stalin, Mao and others, it viewed the Catholic Church as an obstacle. And the second thing that came to mind was the young Marxist priests who played a part in revolutions in Central America. And how disappointed they'd be with Daniel Ortega, the former revolutionary of Nicaragua, who's become the biggest crony capitalist out there.

I'm not really going anywhere with this, except to say that I believe the sentiments of the young priest are very similar to yours. Despite the photos you post of Che and others, you're not hell bent on a socialist society. You just want people to have a decent wage. Hope I'm not overstepping.

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

By the way, a generous tip would be to pay half. Only. Max and minimum.

I tip 30% myself. I think 50% might defeat Hoffman's purpose, that is, skipping the restaurant without paying much.

[the_real_Barleycorn]

The problem with that philosophy is that they want it both ways. The church wants everyone to act in a godly manner. Meaning, the owners and the rich would look out for the poor and disenfranchised. They have the means to do so. The communist way is to force people to share what they have earned regardless of the risk and work required to accumulate wealth.
People will act in their own best interest at the beginning. For most, charity comes later. Now, I ask the people who think they deserve a share, where do you come off demanding something from someone else. Taking the fruits of someone else's labor is akin to slavery. Jefferson thought so. So maybe communism (socialism at gun point) is slavery light.

[lustylad]

Remember the parable of the loaves and fishes?

Capitalism was the multiplier!!

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by lustylad

Remember the parable of the loaves and fishes?

Capitalism was the multiplier!!

Great analogy. I'd never thought about that.

Yes, too many on the left believe the economy is a zero sum game. You take more money out of the private sector through higher taxation, channel it to government, and suffer no ill effects.

Well, that's not the way it works. Say you have a business that makes a consistent 10% return on equity, reinvests all the profits in the business, and never pays dividends. Margins, productivity and tax rates are constant. There’s no inflation.

In 20 years that business will produce seven times more income and sales, increase its workforce (jobs) by seven times, and pay seven times more taxes.

Repeat hundreds of thousands of times. And you have the miracle of capitalism.

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by the_real_Barleycorn

So maybe communism (socialism at gun point) is slavery light.

Based on my conversations with Cubans, I'd argue it's out and out slavery. The masters are the revolutionary elite.

[eccieuser9500]

Once were the days. A forbidden topic: Communion.


Play at low volume as you read.

Originally Posted by Tiny

Eccieuser, I'm moving this so we won't hijack a thread.

For our non-Spanish speaking brethren, the young priest is called on the carpet by the old priest, for teaching children that an honest days work deserves an honest days wage. Then the young priest goes a bit farther and says a local businessman shouldn't hog all the wealth and his workers should share in it as well. This causes a young woman (the old priest's Sugar Baby?) to say "That's Communism?!" The young priest goes on to describe a famous encyclical, or pronouncement of the Pope, being the Rerum Novarum, or "Revolutionary Change,"

Maybe you should just remember to bring the book back. Sometimes my memory is short-term though.

Originally Posted by Tiny

issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. According to Wikipedia, the Pope was promoting "amelioration of the misery and wretchedness...of the working class." He however rejected socialism and affirmed the right to private property, while also rejecting unrestricted capitalism.

Like magic bread and fish.

Originally Posted by Tiny

In developed countries, I think we've largely arrived at the state of condition favored by the young priest and the Pope. Yes, there's still room for improvement. And we haven't made a lot of progress in the last 20 years. There were signs of improvement in 2019, but they were snuffed out by COVID and inflation. But outside of some businesses like hedge funds, the profits taken out by owners of businesses, in the form of dividends for example, are dwarfed by wages paid to employees. The Robber Barons of yore are no more.

Right! Yeah. Sure.

Originally Posted by Tiny

The first thing I thought about when I saw the video was Graham Greene's novel, the Power and the Glory. A priest in 1930's Mexico is persecuted by the government. During that era, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional which ruled Mexico was hell bent on socialism. And like Castro, and Stalin, Mao and others, it viewed the Catholic Church as an obstacle. And the second thing that came to mind was the young Marxist priests who played a part in revolutions in Central America. And how disappointed they'd be with Daniel Ortega, the former revolutionary of Nicaragua, who's become the biggest crony capitalist out there.

Like the Rail-Road industry, the banking sector, the auto industry, the airline industry, . . . . In other words, the U.S. economy is a chronically crony capitalist system.

Originally Posted by Tiny

I'm not really going anywhere with this, except to say that I believe the sentiments of the young priest are very similar to yours. Despite the photos you post of Che and others, you're not hell bent on a socialist society. You just want people to have a decent wage. Hope I'm not overstepping.

Just because I had to come back at you with vengeance and furious anger that one time, don't feel as though you are overstepping. You're so stuck in the middle like a Canadian who's too nice.

Originally Posted by Tiny

I tip 30% myself. I think 50% might defeat Hoffman's purpose, that is, skipping the restaurant without paying much.

A very generous tip would be to do or pay half the work or wage or time.

Originally Posted by the_real_Barleycorn

The problem with that philosophy is that they want it both ways. The church wants everyone to act in a godly manner. Meaning, the owners and the rich would look out for the poor and disenfranchised. They have the means to do so. The communist way is to force people to share what they have earned regardless of the risk and work required to accumulate wealth.
People will act in their own best interest at the beginning. For most, charity comes later. Now, I ask the people who think they deserve a share, where do you come off demanding something from someone else. Taking the fruits of someone else's labor is akin to slavery. Jefferson thought so. So maybe communism (socialism at gun point) is slavery light.

Good points. Great read. Awesome satire.

I won't take issue with the ownership and rich looking out for the poor and disenfranchised. The point is for everyone to have each other's six.

Originally Posted by lustylad

Remember the parable of the loaves and fishes?

Capitalism was the multiplier!!

My polar opposite friend: Jesus was a Capitalist? Okay! Even though he just gave shit away? Imagine the money he could have made selling fish sandwiches. No overhead!


Ay que acabar con los locos también.

[eccieuser9500]

Originally Posted by Tiny

Great analogy. I'd never thought about that.

Yes, too many on the left believe the economy is a zero sum game. You take more money out of the private sector through higher taxation, channel it to government, and suffer no ill effects.

Well, that's not the way it works. Say you have a business that makes a consistent 10% return on equity, reinvests all the profits in the business, and never pays dividends. Margins, productivity and tax rates are constant. There’s no inflation.

In 20 years that business will produce seven times more income and sales, increase its workforce (jobs) by seven times, and pay seven times more taxes.

Repeat hundreds of thousands of times. And you have the miracle of capitalism.

[eccieuser9500]

Originally Posted by Tiny

Based on my conversations with Cubans, I'd argue it's out and out slavery. The masters are the revolutionary elite.

I'm a revolutionary peasant.

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

I'm a revolutionary peasant.

PLEASE! Tony Montana is a fictional character, who's modeled more after Colombian narcotraficantes than Cuban refugees.

I've spoken with with real Cubans - refugees who spent months trekking from Ecuador to the the U.S. border, taxi drivers, jiniteras, students, even a mid level Communist Party functionary. As I believe you realize, the revolution is in shambles. Cuba is a disaster. It has been for a long time.

Btw I gave you a like for "everything that guy just said is bull shit." Some of our valued posters should adopt that instead "if you say so."

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by Tiny

PLEASE! Tony Montana is a fictional character, who's modeled more after Colombian narcotraficantes than Cuban refugees.

I've spoken with with real Cubans - refugees who spent months trekking from Ecuador to the the U.S. border, taxi drivers, jiniteras, students, even a mid level Communist Party functionary. As I believe you realize, the revolution is in shambles. Cuba is a disaster. It has been for a long time.

Btw I gave you a like for "everything that guy just said is bull shit." Some of our valued posters should adopt that instead "if you say so."

if you say so

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

if you say so

Haha! Well that's much more diplomatic than eccieuser's version.

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by the_real_Barleycorn

The problem with that philosophy is that they want it both ways. The church wants everyone to act in a godly manner. Meaning, the owners and the rich would look out for the poor and disenfranchised. They have the means to do so. The communist way is to force people to share what they have earned regardless of the risk and work required to accumulate wealth.
People will act in their own best interest at the beginning. For most, charity comes later. Now, I ask the people who think they deserve a share, where do you come off demanding something from someone else. Taking the fruits of someone else's labor is akin to slavery. Jefferson thought so. So maybe communism (socialism at gun point) is slavery light.

slavery light? don't think so... all forms of slavery were done at the point of the sword, spear, firearm and the whip.

voluntary slavery/indentured slavery would be slavery light.

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm

slavery light? don't think so... all forms of slavery were done at the point of the sword, spear, firearm and the whip.

voluntary slavery/indentured slavery would be slavery light.

indentured servitude was voluntary. my Irish paternal great grandfather came here from Ireland that way.

[eccieuser9500]

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

indentured servitude was voluntary. my Irish paternal great grandfather came here from Ireland that way.

Your paternal great grandfather could have "chosen" to do time instead of unpaid service. Easy choice, if you ask me. Work it off.

Irish humor/wit:

Not a lick of Irish, but definitely funny. If you're poor and can still be funny, that's human. From one side to the other, funny is funny. I'm sure your great granddad was funny.

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

Your paternal great grandfather could have "chosen" to do time instead of unpaid service. Easy choice, if you ask me. Work it off.

Irish humor/wit:

Not a lick of Irish, but definitely funny. If you're poor and can still be funny, that's human. From one side to the other, funny is funny. I'm sure your great granddad was funny.

it was to pay for his passage to America