Serious question to my chums to the left of me

[egb_hibs]

All the ifs are for the sake of argument but if you disagree with any of them please say so;

- if religion is a bad thing, or at least to be consigned to private life, and therefore not a motivator in public life whether through fear, compassion, whatever

- if patriotism is a bad thing and we shouldn't favour our (national) fellows over others

- if we are not to discriminate or by lifestyle choice or indeed any other consideration (to to put it more softly not to favour any)

- and if we do not want a totalitarian state that directs all we do

- if we prize rationalism and by inference, among other things, the most efficient and logical way to do things

Then how

- do we motivate those who create jobs to provide decent living standards to western labour

- and how do we avoid tacitly rewarding self interest, versus communal contribution ; for example the singleton who can afford holidays and better housing due to being without the cost of raising kids

- do we get out of the grind of children suffering from lack of family time as parent must strive to compete on a level playing field with the childless (free marketeers if there are any - this one, probably the others - is for you as well)

- do we challenge a defence of global capital resting on the assertion that its a greate good to rescue a Bangladeshi from starvation than an aberdonian from minimum wage

I cannae figure it.

 

[hibadelic]

Not sure how this could be answered, it's so multifaceted and presumptuous.

 

[egb_hibs]

Not sure how this could be answered, it's so multifaceted and presumptuous.

I'm not sure how it can be answered either. That's the point.

It's not really that multi faceted though - it boils down to; how can we expect good jobs to be produced for British workers if we take away all the things that might motivate people to provide them.

 

[gun ainm]

I'm not sure how it can be answered either. That's the point.

It's not really that multi faceted though - it boils down to; how can we expect good jobs to be produced for British workers if we take away all the things that might motivate people to provide them.

assume you're point of view is that a more progressive tax system would demotivate business people to strive, lower economic advantage making it less attractive. that will be true up to a point but as with everything its about finding the balance - i'd be going for something like a cap on all earnings if they are 6x the average wage. i don't believe in an equalisation wages just a narrowing at both ends. Personally i'm not convinced that would represent a significant disadvantage to economic growth particularly if industrial democratisation were introduced that would broaden incentive to all involved in the delivery of growth.

 

[egb_hibs]

assume you're point of view is that a more progressive tax system would demotivate business people to strive, lower economic advantage making it less attractive. that will be true up to a point but as with everything its about finding the balance - i'd be going for something like a cap on all earnings if they are 6x the average wage. i don't believe in an equalisation wages just a narrowing at both ends. Personally i'm not convinced that would represent a significant disadvantage to economic growth particularly if industrial democratisation were introduced that would broaden incentive to all involved in the delivery of growth.

No my point is more; why would anyone pay western labour rates when they get can get cheaper and sometimes better elsewhere? What would motivate anyone to do it?

A second point is how can family life ever be other than a real struggle when it cannot be favoured by the system?

I think all the main economic complaints of the day are clearly connected to our social values

 

[Davy]

Duno how to answer all that. I would however like to see a reduction in corporation taxes, providing employers did more to pay more than the minimum wage

 

[gun ainm]

No my point is more; why would anyone pay western labour rates when they get can get cheaper and sometimes better elsewhere? What would motivate anyone to do it?

in manufacturing? look at Germany's manufacturing base with a high wage economy - compare to the UK's - its clear something is working for them

A second point is how can family life ever be other than a real struggle when it cannot be favoured by the system?

it should be favoured by the sytem in my view - we should improve childcare and support for vulnerable and disabled children and their parents though

I think all the main economic complaints of the day are clearly connected to our social values

in so far as the world is made in our image, if you think about it it would be extremely odd if this was not the case

 

[aggie]

I think all the main economic complaints of the day are clearly connected to our social values

Disagree. On that particular front, IMO the problem is globalisation. Unfortunately, the genie is out of the bottle, so to speak. Not all "progress" is necessarily and/or inherently a good thing.

 

[Shell7]

No,no, maybe no no, no?