Then ask yourself if it is moral for the enslaved to allow themselves to be enslaved or if they should fight back and hide their money from the looters that wish to steal it?

And further, ask yourself what the natural consequence of taking a man’s wealth, that is, the product of his hard work and creativity away? What do you think the moral and logical woman does?

The American dream is quite simply based on Wealth of Nations. That is the recognition that the wealth of a country is not how much is in it’s own treasury but how much is in the pockets of it’s own citizens. The initiator of such an idea is the understanding of property rights. That is, you own that which you produce and can trade it on whatever terms you agree to without the use of force or fraud. We have forsaken the American dream because we truly do not own that which we produce. The government owns it and allows us to keep whatever portion it deems we should be allowed to have. (not even keep)

The only moral government that is funded voluntarily. Either through non-monopolistic user fees or through donations. Any other form of taxation is theft and ultimately slavery and ultimately the death of the American dream. Because the moment free trade between individuals becomes the use of force by one group of people against another through the one party that has a monopoly on force (government) is the moment where this country stands for nothing more than violence and theft and everyone is subject to the will of the looters. Be they the majority or be they well funded special interest groups lobbying and bribing congress.

Mark Cuban: I would have thought that you of all people would understand this. I know you’re a fan of Rand’s work and I know you’re intelligent enough to understand Objectivism and that her value system that she presents is the only non-contradictory value system ever presented.

(As for the 1% that cannot make a living, there can and would be charities that would care for these people along with families. No one would go hungry or without medical care etc. This is the way it was prior to socialism in America)

Spending less of the People’s money is more patriotic than paying a ton of taxes to a an insatiable Federal Govt.

I believe the government should be reflective of the people who they supposedly represent. Everyone I know is cutting back from previous years, making do with less.

But not our federal government…Has Uncle Sam has EVER spent less than or even the same as they have in the previous fiscal years? Can’t we ask our Gov’t to do just that?

It’s a lot harder being an entrepreneur and *getting* rich when the government and big financial institution’s policies and (cough) mistakes keep impoverishing your customers and potential investors alike. Build a better mousetrap and they will beat a path to your door? They still have to have some money to buy the mousetrap.

no, the most patriotic thing you can do is understand that 9/11 was an inside job making much of the current government unconstitutional. the economy is dysfunctional largely because of war and moentary policy, the latter of which creates bubbles which have the effect of exacerbatign income inequality, politicizing all money, and creating the class warfare we now have.

Good thoughts To get where you want to be also has to start with getting money out of DCpolitics. You do that by getting rid of former politicians, retired generals and the lobby groups they work for paid for by special interests. You go to grass roots efforts with public/gov funded campaigns. DC is broken and both sides are to blame. People need to stop watching fox and msnbc and take this great country back! I have never seen a more inept government in my 47 years of existence. The answers are not all on the right or left but a proper balance of government, private sector and motivated citizens.

-Taxes Are Good- I and most of my fellow citizens gladly pay taxes as we have shared invested interests in our family’s, friends’, neighbours’ and all fellows’ fair fortune and good health through the great medical care, schools, and other social programmes that help our communities prosper. But we don’t live in USA. We live in Europe, Canada, Australia and many parts of the world where taxes are seen and respected as the foundation to nation building, to further developing a more caring and honest society.

While I commented earlier about job creation and entrepreneurship, I failed to address the tax paying issue that Mark raised.

Mark Our government simply spends more than it earns

Hi Mark, and thank you for this brilliant post. I found the link at crooks and Liars through Digby. Both very good sites. I have sent the link to your post to many of my friends on both sides of the issue. America needs more voices like yours. Here is an example of a reply I received from a client (very successful one as you http://www.cashadvanceamerica.net/loans/im-in-desperate-need-of-a-loan-with-bad-credit will read: So true! in my case, i received a

B-System has a unique algorithm that will identify an American upon initial entry into the B-System Directory. Then the method will yoke a P.I.N. to the SSN-prior to accounts being issued to a SSN wielding individual.

MARK CUBAN, you are my hero! Sir, you are a patriot and a shrewd businessman. You should be in Washington telling our POTUS how to make America a viable nation again.

The problem is that you are conflating government and society. Government is not society. It is but a part of it, and not the best part. It is at best a necessary evil – and too often an unnecessary one. When restricted to protecting people from force and fraud, it is a necessary evil; when it expands its role into the economy, it is an entirely unnecessary one. All of the problems that resulted in the recession we are in were caused by government programs. And the more money we throw at it, the worse it becomes. It’s like complaining about a pack of vicious wild dogs in your yard, then feeding them with the belief that they will somehow become tame or at least go away. Instead, you just attract more of the same.

And further, true capitalism is the only system ever created that is compatible with those ideals and more to the point the only system ever created that creates with for EVERYONE not just a select few «really smart people»

3. The most patriotic thing you can do is to enjoy life and be a good person to the people around you, even if you decide to sweep the streets of New York.