Government Hired a Firm for $13.6M to Hire Recruits. It Hired 2 • Hacker News Board

Re: Government Hired a Firm for $13.6M to Hire Recruits. It Hired 2

#211

Post by jki275 » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 11:57 AM UTC

isostatic wrote: post #202

jki275 wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You act as though "invading Iraq" is the only thing the US military has ever done. That's a little myopic, don't you think? Again, your numbers don't really have any meaning on the healthcare thing. It's a far more complex discussion than you are attempting to make it.

No country in the world comes close to health spending as the US. I'm sure that's american exceptionalism though. The U.S. military doesn't seem to protect anyone against modern threats - terrorism, propaganda, rigging elections, etc.

Fortunately for you, you will never understand the threats you never saw.

Re: Government Hired a Firm for $13.6M to Hire Recruits. It Hired 2

#212

Post by Firadeoclus » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 12:33 PM UTC

nonbel wrote: post #181

jbay wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "The only time taxes are required is when people will not freely give money for a project. That is literally the only reason taxes exist. Nothing is stopping people from donating to the government." This really sounds true, but it disregards game theory. For concreteness, let's say the government proposes to upgrade a waste processing plant for $500 million, and you think it's a pretty good idea. There are varying…

This concern for "free riders" doesn't seem appropriate to me. Who cares as long as you get your waste treatment plant (or whatever) for the stated price?

The price per person goes down if everyone pays.

Re: Government Hired a Firm for $13.6M to Hire Recruits. It Hired 2

#213

Post by Firadeoclus » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 12:55 PM UTC

conanbatt wrote: post #149

gmadsen wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you are missing the sentimental aspect of gift giving. It is not purely price/utility value. Emotions attached to gift giving have value for both the giver and the receiver.

I feel pretty good giving money away as well!

That may be so, but it doesn't generalize to the whole population.

> This is because if the receiver can afford it and thought it was good, he would already have it.

Assuming they a) know about it and its qualities, b) know how to get it, c) can do so without hassle, and d) truly know what they want and need.

Then there are people who hate to choose, but trust certain others to make a good choice for them.