Comments on: What Do You Want, More or Less Freedom?

By: Making a Difference - One Blog at a Time - from Creating a Better Life

Making a Difference - One Blog at a Time - from Creating a Better Life — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:53:50 +0000

[...] Steve Olson’s steve-olson.com – I first ran across Steve’s blog on one of the social networking sites (I think it was reddit.com) and watched as he was being slammed by a bunch of narrow minded idiots (to put it lightly) for having the gall to talk about sharing his beliefs with his son… and I was immediately hooked. His posts on freedom and education are among the best I’ve read, and I always look forward to more. If you want to read a guy who lives “the change he wants to see in the world”, read Steve Olson. I love his overall message that it’s up to you, not anyone else, to create your better life (did I get that right, Steve?) [...]

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:33:51 +0000

Steve, sheer numbers of the middle class compared to the upper class would mean that the government would lose too much revenue. Seems like there could be a compromise so that the middle class and Warren Buffet’s class could pay the same tax.

By: Ellen Weber

Ellen Weber — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:28:27 +0000

Great discussion and thanks! Wow — this is a question to ponder, and while freedom rarely comes cheap – neither does it come through war and greed.

After just returning from several weeks in Ireland – I was interested to see the powerful relationship they attribute between peace and national prosperity. Interestingly – they let go of war and agnry rhetoric – and watched their economy strengthen so fast they cannot keep up to it today.

they result – people in Ireland have regained a great vision and they are the second richest European nation.

And our economy decreases daily as we increase the rhetoric and wartones that keep us down. Nuff said — but thanks for the great angles to consider on a vital topic! I need to think about this discussion even more – because of the good ideas posted here.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 01:22:36 +0000

Great points. I’ve also witnessed the same situation wherein, people who get penalties are not satisfied unless others will also join him with the penalties. It’s an attitude we need to forget and start with a good one.

By: anabis

anabis — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:02:15 +0000

I think its a case of people’s tendacy for altruistic punishment gone awry.
http://www.citeulike.org/user/marimo/article/295841

By: Geri

Geri — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:20:59 +0000

I agree with that thought. Instead of causing harm to others, why not make it a benefit we can enjoy?

By: Armand

Armand — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:56:58 +0000

“fairness can be the enemy of freedom.” Only if freedom existed… I even wrote on article on freedom…

By: Dan Piekarski

Dan Piekarski — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:01:25 +0000

Not that I don’t like to hear myself talk, I do, but I feel the need to jump in again and I feel bad. Jonathan, Mr. Buffet is saying the amount he pays in the current system is ridiculous, but, repeat after me, correlation does not equal causation. Just because the present system is ridiculous does not mean he would not want a completely different system if given the choice. In other words, an unfair tax system is not the ultimate cause of ridiculousness, being taxed without a reason in the first place is. Personally, I’m pro inheritance tax (yeah! meritocracy, you worked hard, your children had a good upbringing, you already gave good genes to your kids, seriously, how many advantages do you want???), pro consumption tax (you’re so insecure you need to buy luxuries to feel important…. do not pass go, do not collect $200), and anti income tax (You work harder than your neighbor? You should not pay more for the war in Kazikstan which is vital to our national security against…. Terror…Nazi..Communist!!!!) Stop being sheep and giving money to the feds without asking why. They work for us, remember?

By: Bloggrrl

Bloggrrl — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:01:18 +0000

Excellent, excellent point. I wish there were more people like you out here writing. Subscribed. Thanks for existing.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:51:36 +0000

Jonathan,

You’re right though it did get muddled.

My real curiosity is this…

Why is taking more the only way to level things? Why isn’t taking less an alternative? Whenever I hear about fairness… it usually means sticking it to somebody who’s winning. Why isn’t fairness defined as getting out of the way and allowing others to succeed as well?

Or is it about fairness at all?

Warren’s comment is just brought the thought to mind.