Quote:
Originally Posted by saden1
Everyone is motivated by money including those with money who "employ everyone." This is by far the biggest consumer market in the world as well as the best place for talent. No self-respecting business man would simply pack up and leave because a) it wouldn't be in their best interest for what I hope are obvious reason (employees -> consumers -> $$$ -> employers) and b) someone will step in and fill in the gap they left including foreign investors/corporations/entrepreneurs. There's simply too much competition out there to walk away from the biggest pie on the planet. Sure, our economic power might decline in the future but taxation would be the least of our worries in that regard. Anywho, I leave you with this quote from Ike (the letter is worth reading in its entirety):
p.s. Ayn Rand's utopian view of the world is no better than that of an anarchist shouting "abolish money!" |
Ike wasn't purely conservative. That's never been in doubt. Besides that, what he said is probably true, which is why those who believe in limited government have such an uphill climb. Americans have been conditioned over many years to expect the government to be there for more and more of their basic needs. Dependency then becomes a bigger problem and anyone who tries to present the idea that people should be more self-sufficient doesn't stand a chance. That's why the focus should really be on changing the mindset of the people, not so much the politicians.
As to your first point, you're correct; money certainly is the motivating factor. But once the high achievers realize that there is no point acquiring wealth because it will be confiscated, there's no point in producing either. They can sit on their wealth, earn interest and kick back. Or they can leave.
And I can promise you this -- there won't be a huge influx of businesses to take their place if the new business stands to take the same type of hit the last guy did. The incentive to do business is no longer there.