Originally posted by uzlessWhy would they think we are all chubby bank robbers?
Yes, and this is generally why world opinion on american intelligence is so low.
When kids around the world are asked to draw a picture of an american, they draw a big fat person with a gigantic wool hat being pulled down over the eyes
GRANNY.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraI'm just trying to put your claims against this hypothetical woman into perspective. You are claiming that you are personally owed (have a right to) the resources of another individual simply because you are members of the same "society". That is a fallacy. Should you try to act on that fallacy, say, by forcing her to work to pay off your claim or by confiscating her property, then you could rightly be labeled a tyrant (or a totalitarian lunatic).
Well, if you regard me as a certain portion of society than she owes me that portion of what she owes to society. I fail to see what you are trying to say with this whole story though, why are you trying to justify making others work for you and doing nothing in return?
Originally posted by SleepyguyProbably, but I never said housewives should be forced to work. I just said it was the right thing to do, because they are taking things from others and it makes perfect sense to me to give something in return if you are able.
I'm just trying to put your claims against this hypothetical woman into perspective. You are claiming that you are personally owed (have a right to) the resources of another individual simply because you are members of the same "society". That is a fallacy. Should you try to act on that fallacy, say, by forcing her to work to pay off your claim or by co ...[text shortened]... scating her property, then you could rightly be labeled a tyrant (or a totalitarian lunatic).
Originally posted by KazetNagorraA housewife can only give something in return if she has a job???
Probably, but I never said housewives should be forced to work. I just said it was the right thing to do, because they are taking things from others and it makes perfect sense to me to give something in return if you are able.
GRANNY.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraWhat you don't understand about the broken window fallacy.
It seems you don't understand it. The lazy housewife is not adding any value (other than providing company, perhaps), and just wasting resources. This is economically the same as a vandal demolishing something, "fueling" the economy.
The point of the broken window fallacy is that a person loses something they value, in this case a window. The shop owner has suffered a loss, against his wishes, the window is a necessary part of his means of survival, some members of the public are of the opinion that the shop keepers loss is a gain for society.
A quote from the wiki:
"The fallacy of the onlookers' argument is that they considered only the benefits of purchasing a new window, but they ignored the cost to the shopkeeper. As the shopkeeper was forced to spend his money on a new window, he could not spend it on something else."
There is no way to make a housewife being supported by her husband 'fit' the broken window fallacy, the husband has not suffered a loss.
I refer you once again to Hazlitts "Economics in One Lesson" which spells out the fallacy very clearly, check out Amazon.com try not to let all the talk of free markets scare you too much, a basic understanding of the broken window fallacy would be well worth the purchase price, keep trying.
You might also like to try Bastiats essay "That Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen" the origin of the broken window fallacy.
Originally posted by SleepyguyYou said it Sleepyguy, KN's problem is the same as that of the alcoholic that refuses to recognise his drinking problem or the drug addict that refuses to see his addiction. KN is a compulsive busybody that thinks he is better at running other peoples lives than they are themselves.
Wow.
I mean wow.
You are a totalitarian lunatic.
KN needs to see that other peoples morality is not his business, he needs to see that morality cannot be forced, force reduces humans to the level of dumb beasts responding only to a stick being waved at them rather than making conscious moral choices themselves.
Originally posted by WajomaI have read Bastiats essay. What in this case is being 'destroyed' is the production factors assigned for the production of the goods and services consumed by the housewife. If everyone was out of work like the housewife, the economy would collapse. Hence, the housewife is not contributing to the economy by spending.
What you don't understand about the broken window fallacy.
The point of the broken window fallacy is that a person loses something they value, in this case a window. The shop owner has suffered a loss, against his wishes, the window is a necessary part of his means of survival, some members of the public are of the opinion that the shop keepers loss is a ...[text shortened]... hat Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen" the origin of the broken window fallacy.
Originally posted by WajomaTry actually reading my posts.
You said it Sleepyguy, KN's problem is the same as that of the alcoholic that refuses to recognise his drinking problem or the drug addict that refuses to see his addiction. KN is a compulsive busybody that thinks he is better at running other peoples lives than they are themselves.
KN needs to see that other peoples morality is not his business, he needs ...[text shortened]... ding only to a stick being waved at them rather than making conscious moral choices themselves.