tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723435036895671489.post282119021549351099..comments2023-07-22T02:24:13.262-07:00Comments on Simple Planet: Tweaks at the MarginAshvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692970226443206815noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723435036895671489.post-1385816443489564972010-09-24T10:45:28.614-07:002010-09-24T10:45:28.614-07:00Great points Michael. Especially #3, which shows h...Great points Michael. Especially #3, which shows how our designed or evolved economic structures affect our social relations as well. As CHS points out, it is truly a struggle between classes.Ashvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692970226443206815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723435036895671489.post-73364672763037567302010-09-22T20:48:10.881-07:002010-09-22T20:48:10.881-07:00"You say you want a revolution..."--John..."You say you want a revolution..."--John Lennon<br /><br />Gosh, Ash, you sure present plenty to chew on in this essay.<br /><br />Let me throw a few comments your way...<br /> 1) To most people, most of the time, the word change is differentiated from revolution by the fact that the vast majority of change occurs at the margins of any stable system. I can't fault those who still strive to make positive change to a complex system that is wobbling towards release. I do fault those, however, who cynically only offer the illusion of change in order to please their masters of the status quo.<br />2)Tax policy considerations today happen in the midst of a 3-way class war ( http://www.oftwominds.com/blogsept10/class-warfare09-10.html )so of course the current debate about the Bush tax cuts ignores the historic and on-going tax breaks given the super-rich who control the vast majority of rent producing assets.<br />3) Taxing land value as opposed to improved value would effectively be a shift in tax burden off of the lower economic classes onto the higher economic classes. Though I agree that would be good, it violates the "golden rule",i.e. that he who has the gold, rules. Taxing improvements means that class segregation is built-into local economies. This is by design. The super wealthy designed the system. The wealthy don't want to live near their workers, so they designed a property tax system that a) requires high ongoing income to live in a "wealthy" neighborhood, and b)allows the wealthy to control and profit from development by requiring a small tax burden to hold un-developed land.<br /><br />I agree that we need revolutionary change...but I am not sure that it will necessary bring about the greatest good for the greatest number unless people themselves undergo an inner revolution of perception and character which is capable of supporting a better system. I think that in many fundamental ways society perfectly reflects the inner state of its members.casamurphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18250603658529637662noreply@blogger.com