Monetary Cap

[Back]

Had a discussion with a contemporary a few weeks ago and she suggested there ought to be a cap on how much one person can own monetarily.

At first, believe it or not, I was taken aback. It was probably the capitalist/consumerist programing reacting to such a notion. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more sense it actually does make.

From a purely gaming perspective, most, if not all, gamers have some kind of “cap” to deal with. This shouldn’t be anything new to the gaming crowd.

We experience caps in RL as well. Anyone who has filled out a tax form knows it. And, like gamers, find ways to exploit the system and move up.

Why not set a cap on how much one person can have?

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Backlash
Why not set a cap on how much one person can have?

Because humans are driven to want more. If you were at "the cap," what motivation would you have to continue? What if you were SO close to some wonderful new discovery/invention/way to create world peace, and you hit the cap? What would be the motivation to continue? Sure, there's the satisfaction of a job well done, but for most upper echelon folks, that doesn't do much. (I know I'm generalizing)

Jorddyn, been drinking, feel free to ignore me

[Artha]

Maybe because I'm a naive capitalist, but I don't see any reason for anyone to be penalized for being successful.

[Back]

Not talking about anything other than monetary. Instead of the self concept that Capitalism/Consumerism generates, what if we actually focused on the whole of society?

<-- In Absinthia, ignore me as well, and, Cheers. :)

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Backlash
Not talking about anything other than monetary. Instead of the self concept that Capitalism/Consumerism generates, what if we actually focused on the whole of society?

We're programmed to take care of the one before taking care of the many. Many, if not most, people are willing to work on taking care of the many. We have to let them care for the one first, though.


<-- In Absinthia, ignore me as well, and, Cheers. :)

:howudoing:

Jorddyn, blatant use of smiley

[Gan]

Imagine if scientists that worked for universities/drug companies/hospitals reached their monetary cap and decided to quit working. Where would all the new advances in science come from? The new people with out their experienced counterparts to teach them, would waste their time recreating the wheel instead of buliding on the experience that already exists.

Thats just a scenario thats on a simplistic level.

I think the scenario you're describing is very similar to how society was structured in Roddenbarry's Star Trek where people worked for the good of mankind instead of for monetary gain. Which is a shy stones throw from communisim. Nice concept; however people are too individualistic and not very trusting of their fellow neighbor to give up their personal goals and endeavors if there is a chance that their neighbor will not. Property is a tangible and someone has to own it and care for it - therefore someone will hold power over it. Who would you trust with that power?

Only problem with that is that people are and always will be individualists therefore will want to be different, to have different things, and to do different things. Ergo they will want their efforts to go towards their own ends rather than societies - especially if they did not agree with the direction that society is heading.

[Back]

In the family sense. Exactly.

We need to think of all humans as family. There needs to be unification. We are on a dirt ball in this universe. How the phuc are we going to get into the universal swing of things if we don’t recognize it?

[Back]

Originally posted by Ganalon
Imagine if scientists that worked for universities/drug companies/hospitals reached their monetary cap and decided to quit working.

Whats the motivation?

[Gan]

Whats the motivation to quit working? They wont be making any more money.

I'm not sure I understand your question, if thats not it then I'll need clarification.

[Back]

Last I heard, scientists were making our lives easier.

TO clarify. Why should one person, or people in this case, dictate how things should be? For profits?

[Gan]

Ok, now I"m confused. My example was that scientists are making our lives easier by the efforts they put forth. These efforts are rewarded monetarily usually. If you cap those rewards, then you put a barrier to the efforts thus hindering advancement. I guess I was a little muddy in my earlier explanation.

In today's society:
cap = bad
no cap = good

I wish it were otherwise, but money drives the marketplace which in turn drives human endeavor which drives innovation. Making things work faster, more efficient, and cheaper to operate and at the same time attempting to prolong life so we can live long enough, and others live long enough to enjoy our/their lives, families, and the rewards of our/their efforts accordingly. Thats my spin on it.

[Back]

Its the consumerism in you. The Coka Cola, Betty Crocker, Mrs. Butter Worths...

[Gan]

I admit it. I'm a consumer. The only thing I can give in return is some of my time back to the community and to raise my child to be a productive member of society and not a parasite.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Backlash
Its the consumerism in you. The Coka Cola, Betty Crocker, Mrs. Butter Worths...

Coka Cola and Betty Crocker rock.

Mrs Butterworths.....not so much.

[Hulkein]

<< Why not set a cap on how much one person can have? >>

Because it goes against the founding principles of this nation?

[Edited on 5-7-2005 by Hulkein]

[ElanthianSiren]

i can think of two reasons to keep working after you hit the cap:

1) recognition -- it feels good to cure insanely difficult diseases.
2) challenge -- some people just *need* a constant challenge; if they don't have one, they will make one for themselves.
3) routine -- some people just plain need to work -- my mom is like this. she could have retired this past year at 49 but will work until she dies because she LOVES to work and is used to this routine!
4) instruction -- it is vastly motivating to be an influence in someone's life. I enjoy helping newer traders learn the ropes in what I do, the same way someone engineering bioscience would probably enjoy influencing incoming field members. Teaching another person and seeing them understand is a very rewarding experience imo.

All that said, I detest the idea of a cap. My reason is very self-centered. I don't like being told what to do or how to live. If someone told me, you must stop making money doing this work thing, something that was totally acceptable last month, I would hand them the finger.


-Melissa

There should be caps on lawsuits.

People don't sue a few people. They sue many. If one person forgets to mop the floor, the company that employs them should not be punished so ruthlessly that it causes the layoffs of many.

[Skirmisher]

My first problem with something as well intended but woefully naive would be who sets the caps?

What you think of as appropriate may be far above what someone from say, Uzbekistan or North Korea, or Kenya thinks you need.

:down:

[Back]

How about instead of monetary gain, you get a gold star on the refrigerator chart of the nation’s most well respected contributors?

[Parkbandit]

Because it would make me a bleeding heart communist and I would rather be dead than red?

Seriously.. great idea with zero practical application or enforcability.

[Edaarin]

Originally posted by Stanley Burrell
There should be caps on lawsuits.

People don't sue a few people. They sue many. If one person forgets to mop the floor, the company that employs them should not be punished so ruthlessly that it causes the layoffs of many.

There are caps on lawsuits. You just don't know it.

In VA, the cap on punitive damages is set at $350,000 a person.

^^

I got busted on by the prosecuting attorney during a voir-dier (spelling!?) because I expressed damage-cap sentiment.

[Gan]

:lol:

Voir Doir

Good one Stan. Thats an interesting strategy in getting out of jury duty.

[Back]

Originally posted by Parkbandit
Because it would make me a bleeding heart communist and I would rather be dead than red?

Seriously.. great idea with zero practical application or enforcability.

You read it here first. PB thinks its a great idea.

Unfortunately he doesn't realize that if we put our heads together we could make anything happen.

[Apotheosis]

ummm, yeah, well, I don't necessarily believe in a salary cap

A few people made the point that money is the #1 motivator for innovation. Different socio-economic classes view money differently, so it's hard to say what really motivates the wealthy, but recognition, leaving behind a legacy (the closest to immortality people can achieve), and keeping their line alive.


all I know is that I would not support a system where people can sit on their asses all day and still be rewarded for their non effort. (oh wait, I'm in america, that happens here)

[Gan]

<all I know is that I would not support a system where people can sit on their asses all day and still be rewarded for their non effort. (oh wait, I'm in america, that happens here)>

I think you just described having a Government Job. :lol: or is that a Union job? :whistle:

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by Ganalon
:lol: or is that a Union job? :whistle:

:lol: sounds like a union to me...

seriously, unions were necessary when workers had terrible factory conditions and compensation.

Now greed on all sides of the workforce, union, administrative, executive, etc. have fux0r3d us all

[Back]

Originally posted by Yswithe

Originally posted by Ganalon
:lol: or is that a Union job? :whistle:

:lol: sounds like a union to me...

seriously, unions were necessary when workers had terrible factory conditions and compensation.

Now greed on all sides of the workforce, union, administrative, executive, etc. have fux0r3d us all

Its so bad, France went back to the 40 hour work week. :(

[Gan]

Did France have less hours in a work week?

[Back]

They were on 35 for a long time. Where the phuc have you been?

[Gan]

Under my isolationist rock.

Actually, I vaguely remember something to the effect that they did not have the same work week as the US did, but I did not remember enough, know enough about it to jump in and agree until I had more confirmation. And I was too busy watching Triumph and the Star Wars fans in the other thread to google it. :whistle:

[Hulkein]

Don't you get like 2 months off per year in France?

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Backlash

Originally posted by Parkbandit
Because it would make me a bleeding heart communist and I would rather be dead than red?

Seriously.. great idea with zero practical application or enforceability.

You read it here first. PB thinks its a great idea.

Unfortunately he doesn't realize that if we put our heads together we could make anything happen.

I would love nothing better than to not have to work or earn a living. I would love to spend my time with my family and friends and have everything I would ever want handed to me. Who doesn't think that sounds fucking amazing?

Unfortunately, it would never happen due to man's basic nature. I would love to sit around and think it could, but I am a realist and know that it's simply unachievable.

Keep living in your little world though. Really.

[Back]

Paradigm. Buzword of the 90s.

RESISZTANCE IS FUTILE!