Comments on: Look, Ma, no Chappaquiddick jokes! http://viscariello.com/vdv/2009/08/29/look-ma-no-chappaquiddick-jokes/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:46:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Special K http://viscariello.com/vdv/2009/08/29/look-ma-no-chappaquiddick-jokes/#comment-295 Special K Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:55:11 +0000 http://viscariello.com/vdv/?p=94#comment-295 I would like to say that people were more charitable back then, but I obviously can't back that up with anything. What I was suggesting is dependent in part on the attitudes of Americans today and the changes in American values. I just think that overall, people are less likely to help out other people today than they used to be. Maybe it's just me, but that's the impression I've gotten. I would like to say that people were more charitable back then, but I obviously can’t back that up with anything. What I was suggesting is dependent in part on the attitudes of Americans today and the changes in American values. I just think that overall, people are less likely to help out other people today than they used to be. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s the impression I’ve gotten.

]]> By: Vincent Viscariello http://viscariello.com/vdv/2009/08/29/look-ma-no-chappaquiddick-jokes/#comment-291 Vincent Viscariello Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:59:54 +0000 http://viscariello.com/vdv/?p=94#comment-291 You wrote: "And also, if left to our own devices, I’m pretty sure the human race would divert to survival of the fittest, and eventually we’d wipe ourselves out trying to out-do each other. So requiring taxes and using them to somewhat redistribute wealth is a good thing in that sense, right? It keeps us from being so selfish that we all end up dead." I'll limit my rebuttal to this: Please explain the improvement in the standard of living, even for the poor, throughout human history PRIOR TO the advent of the welfare state (i.e., the creation of wealth redistribution programs). Also, please explain how we failed to "all end up dead" before there were wealth transfer programs... keeping in mind that the U.S. didn't have wealth transfer programs aimed at the poor before the 1960s, or aimed at the elderly and/or disabled before the 1930s. You wrote: “And also, if left to our own devices, I’m pretty sure the human race would divert to survival of the fittest, and eventually we’d wipe ourselves out trying to out-do each other. So requiring taxes and using them to somewhat redistribute wealth is a good thing in that sense, right? It keeps us from being so selfish that we all end up dead.”

I’ll limit my rebuttal to this:

Please explain the improvement in the standard of living, even for the poor, throughout human history PRIOR TO the advent of the welfare state (i.e., the creation of wealth redistribution programs). Also, please explain how we failed to “all end up dead” before there were wealth transfer programs… keeping in mind that the U.S. didn’t have wealth transfer programs aimed at the poor before the 1960s, or aimed at the elderly and/or disabled before the 1930s.

]]> By: Special K http://viscariello.com/vdv/2009/08/29/look-ma-no-chappaquiddick-jokes/#comment-271 Special K Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:56:56 +0000 http://viscariello.com/vdv/?p=94#comment-271 Okay, did I miss something? I thought that part of our tax dollars were to fund social programs that benefit the less fortunate, therefore increasing the standard of living of our society. And also, if left to our own devices, I'm pretty sure the human race would divert to survival of the fittest, and eventually we'd wipe ourselves out trying to out-do each other. So requiring taxes and using them to somewhat redistribute wealth is a good thing in that sense, right? It keeps us from being so selfish that we all end up dead. I don't know, I'm probably completely wrong as usual, but at least my football team just totally beat yours. Just sayin'. I think a certain Pack is gonna make it to the 'Bowl this year. WITHOUT Brett Favre. :) Hope you're well! I wanna come visit, but school's keeping me busy. Go figure. All this teaching crap I have to learn, I don't know how you guys do it. Later! Okay, did I miss something? I thought that part of our tax dollars were to fund social programs that benefit the less fortunate, therefore increasing the standard of living of our society.

And also, if left to our own devices, I’m pretty sure the human race would divert to survival of the fittest, and eventually we’d wipe ourselves out trying to out-do each other. So requiring taxes and using them to somewhat redistribute wealth is a good thing in that sense, right? It keeps us from being so selfish that we all end up dead.

I don’t know, I’m probably completely wrong as usual, but at least my football team just totally beat yours. Just sayin’.

I think a certain Pack is gonna make it to the ‘Bowl this year. WITHOUT Brett Favre. :)

Hope you’re well! I wanna come visit, but school’s keeping me busy. Go figure. All this teaching crap I have to learn, I don’t know how you guys do it.

Later!

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