Addressed in an opinion of Jefferson on revolutions.

Using the history of mankind as a guide, it doesn't look good. During times of plenty we manage to hold the despots at bay. When things get tough we reject King Log and clamber for King Stork.

B

I get about half of that -- the King Log/King Stork thing is unfamiliar to me.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Aesop's Fable.

The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them; they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody troubling with them. But some of them thought that this was not right, that they should have a king and a proper constitution, so they determined to send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted. "Mighty Jove," they cried, "send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order." Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log, which came down splashing into the swamp. The Frogs were frightened out of their lives by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster; but after a time, seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log, and even dared to touch it; still it did not move. Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it, thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same; and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst. But this did not suit them, so they sent another petition to Jove, and said to him, "We want a real king; one that will really rule over us." Now this made Jove angry, so he sent among them a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up. Then the Frogs repented when too late.

I'll be damned -- Jefferson referencing Aesop's fables in a speech.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Best model I'm aware of is the Mondragon cooperative model. Corporation is owned by the workers. Ratio of highest paid to lowest paid is determined in a general election by all owner/workers. Everyone has incentive to work, nobody sells themselves as a wage slave to anyone else, no limit on amount of 'profit' that can be generated. No owner/worker would outsource his or her own job. Not perfect by a long shot, but better than either state socialism or labor market capitalism in my view. It's basic, fundamental democracy, applied to the workplace. Wealth could still accumulate over generations causing social inequalities but the problem would be much less significant since the ratio between highest and lowest paid would be much less than the typical ratio traditional US capitalist corporations.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I don't see all social inequalities as a bad thing.

If you are driving around in your old car and see someone with a nice shiney new Ferrari you maybe wonder how he can afford such a nice toy. Than you say to yourself I'm going to figure out how to get one for myself.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I believe you should be able to tell them what you are worth. If they agree, they raise your wage. If not, you can STFU or take your act elsewhere where you can show your worth. Don't like how much the CEO gets? Simple. Make yourself better and earn more. Oh, what's that you say? You can't? Too bad. Sucks to be you

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Simply put into 1 word. Incentive.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I've read and heard about the old sci fi story, Ray Bradbury, I think, where talented people were hobbled with weights, masks, etc. to slow them down or hide their beauty and less talented people were given various sorts of aids in an attempt to make society equal.

Of course that would never work, or be appealing even if it could be made to work.

But money is a funny animal. Some people get richer w/o the addition of much talent or useful work, just on the weight of their accumulated wealth from earlier good work. A bit of this doesn't seem too bad, but the end result, if this trend is followed for a long time, is the El Salvador model, where people starve for lack of 1/8 of an acre whille the idle rich lounge about on multi-hundred acre estates.

Money is not God incarnate, if fact JC warned against over-much loyalty to mammon.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

How much is enough Mr. Reck-A-Fellow?
"Just a little bit more..."

__________________
1985 300D / 175k

WISH LIST
29' HackerCraft - Gentleman's Racer...
http://www.hackerboat.com/html/29__gentleman_s_5.html

For the sake of argument, lets pretend he really existed and did all that was said he did. Of course he would want us to forget it all and not get distracted from blind obedience. So, I guess I'll take his advice, If I can't serve god and marmon, screw him. I'll serve marmon.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Lets look at this man for what he really is. For all that he claimed to champion, what did he every really do in that direction? He realized that the wealth he earned would be spent and he would be forgotten. What to do? Well, he would "give it away" and create a new persona. He would make himself look like a philanthropist. He gives it to places that would immortalize him. Wrote a bunch of mealy mouthed crap. IOW, he bought his immortality. If he had given it to his kids and they blew it away, what would happen to him? He'd be forgotten. This way, he will forever be remembered and admired by a bunch of morons who can't see past his BS.

OTOH, if he really believed a word of what he said, why didn't he make amends? Lets start with the workers he paid low wages to. How about giving them some money to make their lives better? Oh wait, that does nothing towards his goal of immortality. Let them name a library or some school after him. Probably won't get farther than one grateful person writing him a "Thank You" note.

What a load of BS. All he is trying to do is buy his immortality by "giving" money away and having places named after him (better bang for your buck than giving it to his kids) and writing a bunch of crap that sounds like the person he wishes he was.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Dude, if a rose was put in your hand, I bet it'd wilt.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Edit: Why don't you tell me what I said wrong? Besides not looking thru the rose colored glasses, that is.

Sorry. I lost my rose colored and delusional glasses. Looks like you found them and put them on while wearing your own. Guess you didn't read the label that states: Only wear one pair at a time.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

That was Vonnegut, "Sirens of Titan" I think.