Yeah, apparently the sarcasm didn't come across in my post. Somalia? That's what you get with no government and no corporations. Even consultants need businesses to consult for. Entrepreneurs need other people to be employed by corporations so they actually have money to pay them for whatever goods or services.

You really need to be more careful about what you say around here, mate.... 

I disagree. I think Marley said it best: "A hungry man is an angry man... a hungry mob is an angry mob."
Leaving aside all of the evolutionary psych behind this, I know that when I'm f'ing hungry, I'm f'ing angry.

OK... as long as you have to work 20 hrs. for 1/2 a sandwich.
Really... how heartless. I wonder what you would do under those conditions? Extend the logic:
"Starving to death should make you an Einstein."

Of course I'd never try to defend that statement as true. It's just the sort of absurd slogan that my well-fed coworkers would find humorous.

Maybe not if they knew the context... but sorry, after the comments on page 1 about how to save money on the net (not your comments, zigzag) I didn't know how to take yours... use smilies, damnit!

If you require the use of currency of any type to live, then you are not "empowered" in any way.

If you do not require it to live, then you are empowered to the highest degree because then you are free.

-.-

Ah, the 1099, a way to hire people without benefits, or medical, etc, while the uber-rich push back benefits like social security, etc., and try to get it privatized, so swindling stock manipulating Incs corps get their hands directly on that bit of money as well.  How many more millions of homes must be foreclosed, (2 and 1/2 million in USA not enough?) how many more 'private,' regular pensions must be stolen by banksters and their ideological kin?  The last 30 years have shown Incs' making historically record profits.. yet they need to continually cut wages, benefits, medical while increasing hours, (or forcing part time positions on some  workers - ).  How many people who are not one of two types of people, 1) entrepreneur types, 2) incredibly selfish, inhumane, and heartless SAVAGE CEO/CFO/ directors, Inc groupies, must be sacrificed on the altar of so-called 'free markets?  Corporations are still a device to separate individual profit taking from individual responsibility.    And until ALL stockholders, office holders, and other 'stakeholders' in an INC are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for the actions of the Inc., the evil aspect of Incs will grow.   

Human beings are capable (metaphorically speaking) of ascending to the highest heights of the heavens, and of descending to the very deepest, nastiest depths of hell.  Incs, by their nature, as a shell game that allows people to make money without being fully responsible for what was done to 'get' that money, feed the evil aspects of human nature.  . Inc structures feed the evil side of humanity by making everyone else, outside your group, a non human entity, you are a market, a consumer, a (probably unemployed) worker, a defaulted mortgage holder, a squatter, a welfare moocher, etc. All the while those same Inc collect obscene wealth, have their 200 dollar bottles of wine at lunch (WOW, they have time to go out and sit down for lunch????), stay in $3,000 dollar a night hotel rooms, etc.   NO ONE IS WORTH THAT MUCH MORE THAN ANOTHER.  Corporations, whose controlling ownership being held a tiny percentage of the national Population, most of it inherited from previous generations, do throw a few crumbs off 'their' table.... but the the crumbs are becoming fewer and smaller. 

Many years ago, charters were give to start corporations for specific tasks.  The charters of ten had a time limit, after which the Inc was dissolved. Let the entrench and they will enslave us.    Very ancient religion  had a very wise idea.  (This same religion had some really horrible moral declarations, but that is another issue).  This religion proclaimed the idea of a jubilee, a year in which all debts became void, and all property was returned to the families that had it 50 years prior.  in other words, NO ONE was allowed to accumulate on and on and on.  

What we need to do is dissolve all corporations by revoking their charters, and start new corporations, each of which has ONE job / task, etc.  No more multi conglomerates / multi nationals that are so big, and complicated that they can continually dazzle with their BS, while they steal little bits from each person among the masses...  Make them 'mom and pop' operations so we all can see who is in charge, where the money goes, etc.   End the equity swapping and all the other economic snake oil.  

BTW, to the person who mentioned China as being communist;  mainland china is not communist - it is a one party demand economy. limited free marketing is only allowed because it attracts massive foreign (western) investment in China's infrastructure.  But, as some 'joint ventures' are discovering, china still controls it all, and can, by government decree, remove directors, etc.   When China has enough military / technological power, they will dispense with the illusion of 'joint ventures.'  What will the Incs' do, try and repossess a Chinese city? LOL.   I think not.  They will probably still get a share of the profits, but not a share of the control.   

Communism hasn't been tried, yet.  Albania, maybe, came close... not sure.  However, many nations have described themselves as communist, or been labeled as communist by others - but real communism, as Karl Mark /Frederick Engles, et el's 'followers' envisioned it has not been tried.  And it probably won't ever be either - too many flaws.  Also, i, too, would not want to live under mainland China's government.  It makes me sick that Wal-mart, while wrapping itself in the American flag, accompained by their drum beat of 'free markets,' has been the primary instrument in giving mainland china what it needs to do the fantastic thing of industrializing 1/6 of humanity in a single generation.  Were they, (the Chinese) a free people, what good they could do.  But they are as controlled by corporations as is the USA, with its two-headed ONE party system.  

Guess i really don't fit into this world... I'm an ALF, too.     Planet Earth to....

Sorry, my literal meter was pegging too high I guess.

hey!  Don't knock the bod unless you got something better to offer!

Currency is just the store of value based upon faith.  Gold has no value (you cannot eat it or wear it or burn it).  So it is just another currency.

No one requires the use of currency who is an island.  You seem to think that man is somehow detached from society.  Iguess at certain times and places that can be true (hermits, mountain men, etc,).  but the Renaissance man is no more as the world has quickly sped beyond the ability of any man to be all knowing.

But you confuse all powerful with empowerment.  I am very much empowered to live my life the way I want (it is easier if you do not want to infringe on other's rights).  If your choice is to have it all or none, there is no help or hope for you.  We each make our own bed to lie in, no matter the excuses we give to others about our victimhood.

True to an extent, and I agree to a large extent but if a person inherits a genetic disease, and suffers terribly from it - is it his fault? Could he choose his parents?

I guess there are just too many victims here.  How could I hire someone to do an 8 hour job on a wage basis?  A w-2 employee has obligations that a 1099 does not.  As a 1099, I do not have to be anywhere, and I chose where I am.  As a w-2, I am obligated by the contract of hire I sign to be certain places at certain times.

And no, there is no lack of "benefits like social security" for 2 reasons.  one is that SS is not a benefit.  You are paying for it.  When you get employed, you only see half of it being taken, but you are paying for all of it (do not kid yourself).  Second, 1099s still have to pay it.  So I fail to see where that is even in the discussion.

I did not talk about privatizing it, nor do I care to get into that here, so again, why the non-sequtur?  And stolen?  Again, if you have lost something, is that my fault?  You agreed to the deal when you signed the employment contract.  As I started out saying, if you do not like the deal, don't do the deal!  That is what is great about this country!  You do not have to!  If someone held a gun to your head, report them!  That is a crime!  if not, why are you blaming everyone else for your poor decisions?

Homes foreclosed?  really, I had no idea that people were forced to buy houses.  It is against the law, report the people holding the guns and doing the forcing!  They will go to jail. But once you agreed to buy the house (note the words ONCE YOU AGREED), you are contractually obligated to hold up your end of the bargain.  How would you like it if you gave someone a loan, and they told you to pound sand when you asked for the money back?

I will not go on as it is evident you want to make this about Big Business and American Society, when my point had more to do with what YOU can do as an individual to empower yourself.  The more you are empowered, the less you have to rely on the kindness (or lack thereof) of others. 

I see where you are going.  I did not say that everyone has the same capabilities.  That would be foolish.  But even the ones who have Cerebral Palsy can chose to either live life as best as they want - or to cry about life's cruel fates.  I would not fault them for being angry and yelling at "god" for dealing them a bad hand, but in the end, I cannot make their life worth living.  Only they can decide that for themselves - or just give up.

Some do, and some don't have that ability.

Capability wasn't the point, responsibility was. There are people who are truly not responsible for the fix they are in.... accept it or not.

Currency is not a store of value, but only a way to negate debt.  With the concept of fractional reserve banking, it effectively has zero value.  What gives the alchemy-laden bank note a false sense of value is faith alone; faith not only on it, but also on the government which prints it, and which also writes the laws that dictate its availability (scarcity) and effectiveness (inflation).

What is society?  Society is a parameter within which pre-determined thoughts and beliefs are accepted -- without even the full knowledge or awareness of the society member.  Man therefore is not detached from society, but conditioned by it.

If you live as a free person, since you say you live how you want, then you are either an island or a willful slave.

-.-

A person who inherits a genetic disease has only the medical establishment to blame.  With the prolongation of life expectancy, many defective genes become inherited.  Furthermore, with the advent of synthetic anti-infective medicines, our genetic code forfeits the opportunity for adaptation where possibly our immune defenses would then confer resistance to infective agents.

Nature determines the life expectancy of man, not man.  Because of man assuming the role of life giver, he has become the master of morbidity and mortality.

We have caused our own suffering.

-.-

if i had to make Iphones i would top myself to. Only kidding. This company needs to closely examine it's working practices as to why their staff are so unhappy.

A  person with a genetic disease should blame the people who keep him alive and in as best health and as comfortable  as they can. That makes sense. On Bizarro world.

Man has never been a life giver. We continue life, we extend life, but for the life of me I can't remember breathing life into a lump of clay of coal.

We have caused a great deal of our own suffering but not because of the reasons you cited. In fact though, if you feel strongly about it, please prevent suffering: Never go to the Doctor or Dentist again. I can support that.