I actually care a lot more about things than money. If I was that concerned about money I wouldn't have been a pharmacist. There are probably easier ways to earn money than pharmacy. I got married to a man for love, and it had nothing to do with money. Actually by the time I get out of pharmacy school I'll be making more than double his salary ^_^' I really do care about healthcare because my mom has had quite a few physical ailments, and I've had a few myself. I saw how doctors treated her, and it was like they really didn't care about her at all. I tell you what though, I have a really good expensive endocrinologist that treats me very well. I actually pay for that endocrinologist out of pocket because he treats my condition better than any other doctor I've been too. He doesn't take insurance. He probably makes quite a bit of money too. Each appointment of mine is $400, and I have a few of them a year. He has patients lined up, and out the door too. Just because he makes a lot of money doesn't mean he wishes autoimmune disorders on people, or that he's busy thinking about how much money he's making during each appointment. In my experience I've found that some of the most expensive doctors are actually the best.
Okay, i am glad you enjoy your most expensive doctor. But that doesn't necessarily makes them the best. You should look in those magazines that tell you the best doctors of the year and so on to see how much they cost. It gives surprising results. Anyways Let me tell you an example, if you open the Denver's yellow page, my dad's ad is the biggest in the roofing company section. He is giving an illusion to people that he is the biggest and the best (all about quality isnt it?). Also, he even worked for Senator Ken Salazar! Anyways, my point is that he tells lies to people saying that they need a whole brand new re roof (cost could exceed 30k!) and when I go up there to help do the re roof, the wood under it is not rotting or anything (in fact most houses that I work on had wood that was brand new!) so they didn't need a re roof but needed a little patch up work to fix a leak but no, my dad wanted to make them feel like they should spend a lot of money so they can get the 'best' stuff. Now the other companies that compete with him are way cheaper and actually more honest but the people think that they do crappy job (which the cheaper company actually do pretty good work). Also, if the homeowner looks like he can't afford the re roof (my dad judges people), my dad would offer them like 1000 bucks to fix a little leak that could cost around 50 dollars if you go buy the tools in the hardware store. So do you understand what I mean about how people get illusionized only because they want to get the 'best'?
Its not even the money thing, its about principles. I'm sorry your dad treated you so badly, but that doesn't mean that every one that makes money is out to exploit the proletariat. Its great if you want to give all your money away, or a large portion of it. I think we need more people like you in that regard. However, its wrong if someone steals the money from you to give to other people. Here are three scenarios. Scenario A: I'm a student and I have a $800 laptop computer. Person X is a single mom with two kids, and she doesn't have enough money for a laptop computer. The government comes in and says, "you know what, its not fair that you have a laptop and Person X doesn't so we're going to take yours and give it to her. Just go out and buy another one." Scenario B: Everything else is the same, but I decide out of the goodness of my heart to give my laptop to Person X, and I go out and by another one. Scenario C: Everything else is the same, but Person X decides to steal my laptop because she doesn't have one. I go out and buy another one. In our current society, Scenario C is morally wrong, but how is it that much different than Scenario A? In Scenario A the government is stealing, and in Scenario C the individual is stealing. It doesn't matter who is stealing from me, I don't like it. Did I really need that extra $800? Maybe, and maybe not. Truth be told if someone stole my laptop I would be financially okay, but that doesn't make it right. Scenario B is perfectly fine. If I felt like giving my stuff away, then more power to me.
you just need to get lojack and then scenario C won't happen!
I understand what you mean by scenario A but seriously though, governments tax you only because we have programs (government is not stealing, didn't we the people make these programs? FDR is an exception only because he wanted to help us get out of the depression.) The government doesn't steal money to pay their living cost. The government worked too to make sure that the tax money will be used wisely. Do you want your kids to go to a private school and pay thousands of dollars if you can save some money and pay your taxes so you can send them to a public school?
I just turned 24, but I've read quite a few books about government myself. Ayn Rand's, "Atlas Shrugged," "We the Living," "Anthem." George Orwell's, "1984," "Animal Farm." Kurt Vonnegut's, "Slaughterhouse 5." Ray Bradbury's, "Farenheit 451." Karl Marx's, "Communist Manifesto." Michael Savage's, "Savage Nation." Plato's, "The Republic." Most of these I read while in high school. It made me very wary of both socialism, and big government. See punitive taxation isn't just about helping people, its about punishing those who have more. I haven't read Obama's book because quite frankly I don't think I could stomach it. I was against socialism before I even made money. I'm not saying that Obama is going to turn America into a dystopia, but the rate that government is growing certainly scares me.
Look, there is nothing to be afraid of the government. The programs were all created by us (public transportation created by who? public schools, public universities, anything with the word 'public' means that we bought that with our tax money.) The congress and the president only signs the bill into law and make sure our system is following the rules that the founding fathers made (this happened 232 years ago so actually the country we live in is doing great except that we need to end the iraq war!!!). Also, don't you remember that communism and socialism means that there is only one class of people, the 'working people' (the government is only the top rank but those people are like invisible, you would never see them like North Korea and Kim Jong is probably in his mansion with his nukes). It means that everyone works and wont get rich or poor while making nukes for their dictator. This doesn't sound like America nor will it become when Obama is president (I know you said that obama wont). Seriously though, you need to think outside the box and read obama's book. The book, dreams of my father, even makes me cry because he is a inspirational person and likes to help people. It's mainly about his life so not too much about the politics (audacity of hope is when obama explains his political views).
In addition to this, more spending and social programs don't necessarily help people. California has one of the highest state taxes in America and its about to get worse with the possible addition of a 1.5% sales tax hike. Our state is in a horrible budget deficit, and we've had to cut back on many things including our public schools. We don't have enough money, and we never will with the way California's liberal legislature keeps spending. .
Your saying that the tax is used unwisely? Okay picture this: we stop paying taxes and the government shuts down.
The roads and bridges are going to break down so the cars will be useless unless if you have a hummer which would make global warming and the oil reserve gone. The public schools closed down because no more money. Lets send our kids to private schools (prices are going to skyrocket because the private schools will try to open a lot of them and get rich.) African Americans and poor people won't be able to send children to schools so they are going to be treated like crap because they will have social problems because they don't socialize with people anymore (no school, where are you going to find friends? Homeschooling wont work!). Then when everyone is suppose to be 12th grade, only private schools graduate and obama would never been president because he would be the 'poor' person and never get an education and would do labor work like I did on the roof for the rest of his life. The community colleges would be gone and public universities too. Only private universities would be available and costly (DU is 44k a year, which is what my brother paid for the last 3 years!). Another thing, the private school parents have to pay the high cost again to send their kid to school (first was private high school and now college! That is going to be expensive!!). 4 years later only a handful would be graduates. The country would be in choas without programs. By the way, there are many other things that will get affected. FHA (Federal Housing Administration) would close down so you know what this means? you are going to have to pay a lot more per month for a private house mortgage loan. That is why I agree with this country as it is now.
Another thing I want to ask you this question: Would you call Bill Clinton (or you can choose FDR) a Socialist?
Dude, You misunderstood me. I meant that you should not be obsess with money. (You should think about raising your family and have faith. Volunteer so you can feel good.) You are going to learn the hard way, didn't you read my post? I worked 4 years on the roof under the hot sun and my dad suddenly stop paying me in the last 2 years of work only because he wanted to escape and move to paradise.
so how do you think I got money? I was poor and I even gave money to the church in one dollar bills. Thank god (faith is an important part of my life) that I got that job in Safeway a while back. That job I had as bag boy was when I found out I wanted to be a pharmacist because I seen a pharmacist help people and saves lives everyday. I want to be that kind of person. I wanted to work for doctors without borders. That kind of work is much better than what I did in the roof.