What Constitutes Greed? (And More!)

So I have a couple of honest questions regarding some ideas that have been popular on ATS as of late. I look at most things from the perspective of free and voluntary which means I am against nearly anything that forces one person to do something against their will. I have this apparently strange idea that we are born free men and women with a government that serves us and not the other way around (I realize this isn't always the case, but SHOULD BE). That being said here it goes...

1) Why do some people consider it greedy for a person to want to keep what they earn, but do not consider it greedy when they take from this person to give to themselves or others?

2) When the government forces people to give them money how is this not stealing? If we say we are giving to people in need isn't this similar to a thief in the night trying to feed his family? Either way the person is being separated from his property and the fruits of his labor against his will for an ostensibly 'good reason'?

3) Why do some people believe that people should receive money from society without having to be drug tested? Wouldn't this simply be society enabling drug use without one? Note that no one is 'forcing' you to take money from society.

4) Why do some people believe that people should receive money from society without having to volunteer 20 hours or so a week? Isn't this greedy to expect this money for nothing? Again, no one is 'forcing' you to take money.

5) Why do some people think it is wrong for someone to pass on the wealth they have earned to their children? What makes the government entitled to it? What makes YOU entitled to it?

6) Are you frightened by the words 'personal responsibility'? Why would you NOT want to be responsible for yourself? Do you consider it insulting to be 'taken care of' by government?

7) What is wrong with people giving their neighbor a helping hand voluntarily or donating to charity when they have extra funds instead of being coerced and forced by government? Why not crowd source voluntary donations for special needs?

8) Is it greedy to want to take care of yourself, your family and your neighbors first? Isn't that simply a normal human instinct?

9) How do we keep entrepreneurs and visionaries motivated? How do we reward hard working people? Is it greedy to want to be rewarded for your hard work and vision? Is it greedy to want to take from these people?

10) What entitles YOU (or the government) to take from others? How do you justify the idea of taking others property? Why not just work to get your own?

I realize I may have loaded a few of the questions because I already know my answers so please do the best you can if you care to answer for yourself. As I have stated I don't really care what you do in life or what contracts or transactions two consenting individuals enter into as long as it is voluntary. The moment someone becomes coerced or forced I am usually against whatever is happening to that individual unless it is to protect the person or property of others.

~ Metallicus

I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

All I want is my fair share, all i want is what's coming to me.....
Thanks lucy van pelt...lol

Its the old axiom "build it and they will come" . Give it away and they will take it.

11) What gives you the right to live like a self entitled fat cat, when there's so many out there who have no choice but to live off the scraps of the so called elite?

The Government doesn't even have the competence to be able to supply everyone with 38 hours a week of decent wages. So obviously they should use some intelligence and pay there dues to the 'have not's'... Either that, or deal with the destruction and violence that will enviably occur from ignoring those in need.

After all... The hungry, won't stay hungry for long! They'll raise up and feed themselves, at any cost!

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

a reply to: Metallicus

Greed to me is the accumulation of wealth or power but at the expense of other people in a negative way.

Eg there is nothing wrong with you becoming a billionaire. As long as it was done within the law and or at the expense of other peoples life or freedom.

The Elon Musks and Richard Brandsons of the world I would not label as Greedy.

Greedy would be Bernie Madoff or The bankers responsible for the 2008 Crash or war profiteers.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
11) What gives you the right to live like a self entitled fat cat, when there's so many out there who have no choice but to live off the scraps of the so called elite?

The Government doesn't even have the competence to be able to supply everyone with 38 hours a week of decent wages. So obviously they should use some intelligence and pay there dues to the 'have not's'... Either that, or deal with the destruction and violence that will enviably occur from ignoring those in need.

After all... The hungry, won't stay hungry for long! They'll raise up and feed themselves, at any cost!

This right here, it is brewing!!!

This is the 60 percent working poor point if view right now!!!

I know I am one of them...

In fact I worked so hard I herniated myself at work, I'm at present on workmans comp...

My buddies at work told me they are going to fire me as soon as I get back....

All I did was busy my ass and make nothing.... Now that I worked til hard for them I'm going to get sacked?


WTF!!???

They were told I'm going to fear a write up a week until they have enough to sack me without unemployment......


Duck these corps, I'm going good to be the first guy through their front doors when the # hits the fan!!!


Pieces of #

Lol.. Edited only to add, my autocorrect is retarded and makes gibberish out of what I type clearly...

It hates me, seriously it obviously just hates me, because it spits out what I obviously didn't type all the time!!

a reply to: crazyewok

I would agree with you. Treating others fairly and with respect should be at the heart of all we do.

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

Why is it always the evil walmart and McDonald's that could train monkeys to do most of their jobs?
Why not pick on evil IBM or dupont or ExxonMobil or csx? Oh yeah...skilled labor..they pay better.
What percentage of profit for a company is to much?

originally posted by: crazyewok
a reply to: Metallicus

Greed to me is the accumulation of wealth or power but at the expense of other people in a negative way.

Eg there is nothing wrong with you becoming a billionaire. As long as it was done within the law and or at the expense of other peoples life or freedom.

The Elon Musks and Richard Brandsons of the world I would not label as Greedy.

Greedy would be Bernie Madoff or The bankers responsible for the 2008 Crash or war profiteers.

Elon Musk has taken a huge advantage of government welfare disguised as carbon credits due to climate change!

Dig into it and tell me I am wrong!

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

Since nobody responds yet to this, let me lay it out as it will already later be stated.

" these jobs are meant to be entry level.... So McDonalds makes jobs to train people for the work force huh?

Funny, as that is not the purpose for a McDonalds job, it is meant solely to make money for already rich assholes at the expense if the poor, which is exactly what they do!!!

Walmart.... They can pay $20 an hour and still make just absolutely rediculous profits... But you know greed.... Having more you could never use even if you tried is much more important than than all the lives they crush on their quest for... " more"


I could go on all day
UN 1960, a man working fast food could buy a house and a brand new car and support his family....

Today if you work 3 of these jobs you couldn't do any of that....

Am I the only one that notices the difference?

Gimme my share, I want it now.

Seriously though, the entitlement mentality is growing stronger each passing year.
Nobody has a leg to stand on, telling me how I spend my hard earned money. It`s not the Federal governments job to provide The People with other The People`s hard earned dough. It should be run local in my opion and not at a government form imo. I`m sure there are churches around to help people in need. I`d rather donate voluntarily to them but government takes so much I`m left with scraps.

All taking of possessions from another person without consent is stealing. Telling another how to spend their cash is greed.

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

Why is it always the evil walmart and McDonald's that could train monkeys to do most of their jobs?
Why not pick on evil IBM or dupont or ExxonMobil or csx? Oh yeah...skilled labor..they pay better.
What percentage of profit for a company is to much?

I can easily answer that!!

If the company makes more off a workers labor than the worker doing the actual work does.... It is too much
Period, end of discussion....

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

Why is it always the evil walmart and McDonald's that could train monkeys to do most of their jobs?
Why not pick on evil IBM or dupont or ExxonMobil or csx? Oh yeah...skilled labor..they pay better.
What percentage of profit for a company is to much?

I can easily answer that!!

If the company makes more off a workers labor than the worker doing the actual work does.... It is too much
Period, end of discussion....

Yeah...no
It can't work that way.
Just consider how much a walmart store costs to run before paying a single employee.
Water and sewage
Electric bill
Liability insurance
The cost of the building itself
Property taxes after the abatement of course
Snow removal
You can't run a business that close to the edge.

a reply to: Bluntone22

Funny how these 'mega' corporations can still make a fortune in countries where there forced to pay there minimum wage employee's double the wage as other countries.

Yet, they still moan and whinge about how they couldn't possibly make a profit by paying there employees more, in countries where there only forced to pay half the minimum wage than they pay in other countries.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

They are businesses not charities.

Why don't you start your own business and pay people whatever you want instead of whining about other people complying with the law and legally paying the minimum wage or more.

a reply to: Metallicus

Never said any thing about corporations being charities.

Just saying that it makes no sense that Mcdonald's (for example), can pay $16US an hour and make a killing in one country, then claim they couldn't possibly make a profit by paying more than $7.20US an hour in another country.

Obviously, these corporations could easily afforded to pay a much higher minimum wage than they claim to be able too.

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

Why is it always the evil walmart and McDonald's that could train monkeys to do most of their jobs?
Why not pick on evil IBM or dupont or ExxonMobil or csx? Oh yeah...skilled labor..they pay better.
What percentage of profit for a company is to much?

I can easily answer that!!

If the company makes more off a workers labor than the worker doing the actual work does.... It is too much
Period, end of discussion....

Yeah...no
It can't work that way.
Just consider how much a walmart store costs to run before paying a single employee.
Water and sewage
Electric bill
Liability insurance
The cost of the building itself
Property taxes after the abatement of course
Snow removal
You can't run a business that close to the edge.

If Walmart doubled it employees salaries it would not even halve their profits... Just pointing out the obvious here.

If Walmart paid 4 times as much to hourly employees, it would still not cut in half their their corporate salary pay, for folks not doing a single damned thing to make money for the company....

In fact99 percent of corporate jobs could just disappear tomorrow and the only folks that would notice are mlionaires that have to actually had to do more than play gulf to earn a living!!!

Duck the rich.. They need to pay better or die screaming!!!

Those ate their options.... This us coming, they can make the choice to treat their workers fairly or go out like marionette.. " eat cake indeed"

Lol I didn't type marionette!!!

My autocorrect is epic fail all the time!!!

I'm just tired if fixing it

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: ketsuko
I don't have much to add.

It was more or less how I was raised. No one owes you anything. When you receive something you ought to be grateful/thankful for it. You work for what you want, and you appreciate the things you earn more than the things you are given, mainly because you know deeply the value of the work and effort that went into the earning.

Except for the 60 percent of the population that works their assessment off so a suit in an office that does nothing to generate the profits gets to keep 90 percent of the profits these peoples labor produces...

So why can't the Walmart worker keep the money his labor has earned?

Why does McDonalds Corp make 100 times more than the gym actually flipping the burger?

It seems so simple when you are the person actually making the money doesn't it?

Why is it always the evil walmart and McDonald's that could train monkeys to do most of their jobs?
Why not pick on evil IBM or dupont or ExxonMobil or csx? Oh yeah...skilled labor..they pay better.
What percentage of profit for a company is to much?

I can easily answer that!!

If the company makes more off a workers labor than the worker doing the actual work does.... It is too much
Period, end of discussion....

Excuse me? I don't think you understand how businesses work.

My 18dph employee costs me damn near double that, with matching contributions. Tack on paid holidays, paid vacations, paid sick days, etc, it's quite expensive to have employees. It gets real bad when an employee is a slacker.