Calculating the "real value" to society of different professions

Post by tyn » Wed, Dec 16, 2009, 1:44 PM UTC

boyer wrote: post #2

If you equate hard work to manual labor and assign altruism an imaginary monetary value then of course you're going to think that janitors are the pillars holding our society up. The wealthy don't exist because its 'in our interest' they exist because its in their interest. What kind of evil sacrificer of men wants to drag every man of success down into the gutter of egalitarian ruin? Moochers don't retain inherited…

Post by tyn » Thu, Dec 17, 2009, 6:22 PM UTC

brg wrote: post #12

tyn wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What value do I provide to the society if I'm able to predict the stockmarket movements? I will end up very rich for sure (meaning I will hold a lot of assets that other people's work created) without having contributed anything in the general production of goods and services and without commiting any fraud or getting help from government.

You would be able to help direct capital to those businesses requiring it, thereby maximizing the benefit of investment to society. The stock market is not a lottery.