Redistribution of wealth in practice

[Rapchizzle]

I saw this on another forum.
_______________

Yesterday on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

[smitty187]

Since I am a socialist, which is way more left than Obama could ever think of being, I am going to tell you what I would have done to distribute the wealth. I would have taken the homeless guy to eat, and then gave the waiter the ten dollar tip and the homeless guy money for another meal. That is real distribution of wealth, not what the person who posted that has done.

And for the jackasses, yes I have done this quite a few times.

[Phantom549]

isnt redistribution of wealth a type of communism?
idk for sure, but thats what one of my friends in school said.

[lolipop-tithead]

communism is a type of socialist government.


I agree with Smitty on this one. This "experiment" was one sided and biased.

[Rapchizzle]

i think you guys are missing the point. Think of the restaurant patron as the government. Instead of letting the waiter, who EARNED the tip, but already had enough money to live and did not NEED the tip, keep his hard EARNED money, the patron(aka the gubment) gave it to the homeless guy who did absolutely nothing to EARN it, in order to level the playing field and make things fair.

This example was to show how the people who WORK HARD for their money, get shafted and are forced to support those who don't. I don't think the gubment should determine how my money gets spent. Let me keep my hard EARNED money and use it support the causes and such that I chose.

And yes, this wealth redistribution is a socialist ideal. I'll give you one guess as to which candidate has gone on record of saying this is exactly what he wants to do, while tactfully avoiding using the term "wealth redistribution".

[CCIiscool]

One thing that people don't see is that when people are allowed to be sucessful and make money, they will donate/give back to the community on their own. Bill Gates gives away millions if not billions freely, but do you think he would be happy about it if the government made him do it? I go on one or two mission trips a year, which i pay at least half for, and my parents/fundraisers pay the other half. I am happy to do it but would I be if the government made me go on these trips? Probably not

[Rapchizzle]

Forced generosity is not generosity. It should be MY right to distribute MY wealth the way I want.

[Brain]

Since I am a socialist, which is way more left than Obama could ever think of being, I am going to tell you what I would have done to distribute the wealth. I would have taken the homeless guy to eat, and then gave the waiter the ten dollar tip and the homeless guy money for another meal. That is real distribution of wealth, not what the person who posted that has done.

And for the jackasses, yes I have done this quite a few times.

And where are you going to keep getting money to do this from? In a true socialist society no one would be homeless or poor. At the same time no one would have to work to be successful because there are no rewards for it. You can say "why must I be rewarded in order to want to do well". Well, it is how you get the things you want, not need. A true socialist would also be ok with bread and water, if that is what everyone else has.

[jtodd]

yea socialism sounds great on paper but with no incentives to do anything people just sit around and the ones who do actually do work do such a crap job that its not even worth it. talk to the former soviet union and they will tell you how well socialism worked out.

[Tbigs]

You can only give if have something to give. America doesn't have anything to give.

[CCIiscool]

what?

[Phantom549]

hes saying that America has nothing extra to give.

id have to agree and disagree b/c we, America, are always giving stuff to other countries, BUT we should be more concerned with ourselves first than the other countries. but if its something serious like war supplies and stuff them thats an exception.

thats just my opinion.

[PBMainiac3]

Since I am a socialist, which is way more left than Obama could ever think of being, I am going to tell you what I would have done to distribute the wealth. I would have taken the homeless guy to eat, and then gave the waiter the ten dollar tip and the homeless guy money for another meal. That is real distribution of wealth, not what the person who posted that has done.

And for the jackasses, yes I have done this quite a few times.

This isn't socialism, it's being generous and it's very good. However, when you think the government has the right to take my hard earned money and "redistribute it", that is socialism. Socialism is terible and always fails. We are in for a rough 4 years. Again, I encourage everyone to vote third party, the Democratic and Republican nominees are very dangerous men. If you vote for them, remember what I told you when the shit hits the fan.

[smitty187]

I didn't say it was socialism, i was simply saying that what the guy described was not distributing the wealth.

[Rapchizzle]

I didn't say it was socialism, i was simply saying that what the guy described was not distributing the wealth.

correct. The story was an analogy.

[PBMainiac3]

distribution of wealth = socialism. Your story is a story, not an analogy. What you describe isn't socialism. I ask why you call yourself a socialist if you just go out and buy meals for the poor/homeless. That's just plain generosity and selflessness.

[smitty187]

No, you mistake the story that I told with a set of beliefs that I have, which I will briefly explain because an in depth look would take a while to type and most people wouldn't understand a lot of it.

I believe that everyone should have the same oppurtunities as the other person (health care, education, and jobs to name a few) regardless of age, race, ethnic background, or personal wealth. Which does mean distribution of wealth. I am against privitisation, which moves jobs overseas. I am anti-war, not that I don't support our troops but use the military for a defense kind of thing; Afgahnistan was right, Iraq was not. I am anti-capitalist, obviously, and I could care less about immigration laws, most illegals don't want to be United States citizens that's why they come here illegally. I believe that abortion is a personal choice, and I believe in free trade, which we currently only have with Canada, Mexico, and a few other countries around the world.

So you are correct in saying that my story isn't a correct example in describing socialism, which I wasn't really trying to do if you read my other post. You are also correct in saying that distribution of wealth equals socialism because most socialist beliefs start with this key concept. Also, to say that socialism never works, as stated in one of your earlier posts, is not accurate. It will not work in this country or many others; however, it does work, but everyone within the society must accept it. Socialism is how many of the tribes of South America and Africa have survived for thousands and thousands of years, while the current capitalist idea has only been around for a short amount of time in comparison.

If you have any other questions about my beliefs you can pm me. I am in my third year of a double major in political science and economics, so please try not to belittle my understanding of what socialism is.

[Tbigs]

Your also a tree hugen retard.

[smitty187]

I'm gonna ****ing hurt you I'll be at the field next weekend, come say it to my face faggot.

also, i believe i've told you before to learn a little grammar before trying to talk shit.

[Rapchizzle]

Your also a tree hugen retard.

Stay out of the threads with any kind of relevance to real life. Stick to the paintball threads and talk out of your ass there. You just make yourself look like a dumbass. It's all your own doing.

Socialism does not work in any modern society with any kind of real size to it. It my work for the small, tribes and such but will not work for a large society. Cite me an actual country with a socialist government in which the citizens are working at their full potential and are satisfied with their way of life (in a true socialist society, shouldn't everyone be completely satisfied with what they were given and their way of life?)

Distribution of wealth does not give anyone any motivation to work hard and succeed. It may sound good on paper, just like the rest of Obama's and Karl Marx's and everyone else's ideas but in reality, they are screwing over one group to help out another group. If there were a true socialist society in which the economy is in equilibrium and everyone is satisfied with having only what everyone else has and does not have the desire for material possessions/success, it sure as hell would be one boring place.

(I can see this thread heading in this direction so...)
I agree people should be given the same opportunities, but the truth of the matter is, that will never happen. There are too many factors for everyone to be on a level playing field. Motivation being a very big one. I do think that, it is a good idea though but I DO NOT support affirmative action. It's ridiculous to think that racism can be reversed by giving people of minorities preferential treatment.

rac·ism (rszm)
n.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
racist adj. & n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

By discriminating against whites and males, and giving others preferential treatment to others based on their sex or race, one would be promoting racism. The Affirmative Actors are trying to defeat one act of racism with another act of racism. Hypocrisy.

I do not believe race or sex should be taken into account when hiring people for jobs, admitting people into schools and other instances like that. Someone should get hired or admitted on their own hard work and personal merit, not because they are black, asian, female, etc.

Illegals in the US. If they don't want US citizenship, they should not expect to get the perks that goes with it. The reason you say the don't want it(which i don't believe..) is so they can get off scott-free without having to pay any kind of taxes and exploit the resources and benefits of our society. NO Social Security, NO driver's license, NO free healthcare, etc. If they want to reap the benefits of living in the US, apply for citizenship and obtain it legally. Why should illegals be allowed to exploit our system that people have worked so hard to be able to earn the right to use/exploit, when the illegals don't? They don't pay into the Social Security system, but people think they should be able to take Social Security benefits? Seriously?

How about Fair-Tax? we could take the tax burden off those who earn their money, and make everyone pay their fair share. Obama is all about fairness right? or is that just "fairness" towards the lower and middle classes whose votes he's trying to buy with promises of other people's hard earned money?

I'm not posting in this thread anymore. It's just going to turn into another thread where these kids will come spouting off their "knowledge" they learned in their 7th grade social studies class.









PS- Smitty, you read to whip ass next Sunday?
PSS- I think there should be an "basic economics/candidate stances exam" that people have to take in order to be allowed to vote. stuff like how the economy works, and which stances which candidates ACTUALLY have. There are SO many misinformed voters out there, that's it's nauseating to think they'll be electing the next president.

[smitty187]

i'm done with this thread as well, and hell yeah i'm ready to rail some people next sunday.

[RBKpumper]

I'm gonna ****ing hurt you I'll be at the field next weekend, come say it to my face faggot.

also, i believe i've told you before to learn a little grammar before trying to talk shit.

ill be more than happy to point him out to you smit-dog. if you beat him up tho he wont be able to tell everyone at school how cool he is at the field. hahaha. lmao

edit: oooh! looky what i found.
Will be at the field on Sat. November 1

smitty didn't you say you were coming out both days that weekend??

[Tbigs]

Who the hell is this. Michael and Harry started that stuff about school not me. This kid asked me if I play at PBC a lot. I said yes and all of a sodden everybody was on my ass saying that I think I'm so cool and stuff.

[RBKpumper]

im nobody. im just sayin... the word on the street is that you're tell all your freshmen friends that you're super cool at the field, you have mad rep, and everyone likes you.

thats just the word on the street.. i wasnt saying its true cause i know atleast half(the last half of course) of everything i said above is bs.

[Tbigs]

The word on the street is wrong and how do you no I'm a freshmen. People like to start to many rumors at PBC.

[pbc addict2]

The word on the street is wrong and how do you no I'm a freshmen. People like to start to many rumors at PBC.

little defensive

[Tbigs]

You would be to if people started making up shit about you.

[pbc addict2]

You would be to if people started making up shit about you.

ur right...:cool1:

[pballer4life]

I firmly belive that Obama will destroy the great country that so many people have died for to preserve. If there is any good and common sense left in the American masses I ask them to really look at Obama's policies and pick the lesser of two evils: John Mccain...

[pbc addict2]

I firmly belive that Obama will destroy the great country that so many people have died for to preserve. If there is any good and common sense left in the American masses I ask them to really look at Obama's policies and pick the lesser of two evils: John Mccain...

ok this is my opinion on this years election:
if mc cain becomes president .. he will more than likely die in a few years due to old age. ..
and as for obama ... i am not a racists.. but i think he will be assasinated bc AMERICA is not ready for a black president yet

just my thoughts

[Paintbala4life]

ok this is my opinion on this years election:
if mc cain becomes president .. he will more than likely die in a few years due to old age. ..
and as for obama ... i am not a racists.. but i think he will be assasinated bc AMERICA is not ready for a black president yet

just my thoughts

Maybe, but I still think Palin is better then Obama or Biden
And McCains mom is still alive, so I doubt he'l die in the next 4 years but idk.

[Rapchizzle]

:
if mc cain becomes president .. he will more than likely die in a few years due to old age. ..

just my thoughts

that is dumb as hell. Just because he is 70 or so, doesn't mean he's going to die. Quit repeating what you hear in the media.

[glkbigbk]

that is dumb as hell. Just because he is 70 or so, doesn't mean he's going to die. Quit repeating what you hear in the media.

Quoted for absolute truth, I'm not a McCain fan but not because of reasons that i heard from my high school friends or what i think i know, either.

[mini ben]

Tbags just got E-pwned.

[pbc addict2]

that is dumb as hell. Just because he is 70 or so, doesn't mean he's going to die. Quit repeating what you hear in the media.


i do not think it is dumb.. it only makes sense ..

[Paintbala4life]

How does it make since?? He's 72, his mom is 96. The average life span is around 75... considering his mom is 96 I'm pretty sure he'll make it an extra few years...

Of course no one can know for sure but it isn't a reason not to vote for someone.
With age comes experience..

[pbc addict2]

How does it make since?? He's 72, his mom is 96. The average life span is around 75... considering his mom is 96 I'm pretty sure he'll make it an extra few years...

Of course no one can know for sure but it isn't a reason not to vote for someone.
With age comes experience..


true about with age comes wisdom.. but all of a sudden obama pops up on the presidential scene.. and before this i am sure no one has ever heard of him...

[PBMainiac3]

I firmly belive that Obama will destroy the great country that so many people have died for to preserve. If there is any good and common sense left in the American masses I ask them to really look at Obama's policies and pick the lesser of two evils: John Mccain...

This is so stupid, why does everyone think you have to vote for McCain if you oppose Obama? There are two ways to waste your vote: A) Not voting, and B) Voting for someone because they are :the lesser of two evils". If you keep voting for a "lesser of two evils" all you will ever get is evil.

Vote third party, for a candidate with good policies!

[Paintbala4life]

If you don't vote for the lesser of two evils you get the greater evil... which is worse

[PBMainiac3]

No, no, no don't vote for any evil. Vote for good, it's really not that complicated.

[Tbigs]

Mini ben what are you talking about. I'm Tbigs not Tbags.

[CCIiscool]

maybe it was a joke?

[Paintbala4life]

There is obama, and there is McCain, no one else is getting in office.
You have to vote for one or the other, AKA the greater evil or lesser evil. There is no one person who is really going to be "good" in all political issues.
No one else has a chance.

[PBMainiac3]

There is obama, and there is McCain, no one else is getting in office.
You have to vote for one or the other, AKA the greater evil or lesser evil. There is no one person who is really going to be "good" in all political issues.
No one else has a chance.

You are so ignorant you don't get it do you? That mentality is preposterous, third parties have, and will win elections. You say there is McCain and Obama, you are so naive. In reality, there is Baldwin, Barr, McCain, Obama, McKinney, and Nader. Plus countless write-ins. Your idea here is insane. There are GOOD candidates, and McCain and Obama are not among them.

[Rapchizzle]

I would love for someone besides those two to win. But you need to be realistic, no one besides those two has an actual chance at getting into office. Sure the others may get votes but I'd be willing to bet money that there will not be any states for someone besides those two.

[Paintbala4life]

I'm ignorant? Your idealistic, I'm done on this thread
A 3rd party candidate has never won a presidential election, unless you count abraham lincoln since the replublican party was pretty new.

[smitty187]

pbmaniac is simply saying that if you don't like either candidate then don't vote for them and support them, vote for somebody that you believe will make a difference. The chances of them winning are almost nonexistant, but you are supporting something that you do believe in. This is a problem with our political system. People usually only vote democrat or republican because they are the two largest parties and control most political posts. The point is it doesn't matter if your candidate wins, you have a choice to vote for anybody that you want, and you shouldn't base you vote on who has the better chance of getting elected over the person you don't like.

[colin2722]

haha tbags. nice.

[Tbigs]

people that I don't know called me Tbags at school today. This has got to stop.

[colin2722]

i think its quite funny and what you deserve for being an ass on this forum.

[Deeply Disturbed]

$ people that I don't know called me Tbags at school today. This has got to stop.

That was me.

[mini ben]

Did patrick call you tbags lol?

[Tbigs]

Yes and he told other people to call me that. I don't mind the name but when random people call me that it gets kind of annoying. Patrick was the worst person to tel that to. He wont stop.

[who knows]

Quit whining Tbags

[PBMainiac3]

Smitty - thanks.
Paintbala4life - yes, you are ignorant. And yes, I am idealistic. I believe in the ideology of an America that isn't imprisoned by a two party system.