General Discussion

tclambert

(11,089 posts)

15. Yeah, the rich believe that, yet economics is based on the win-win transaction.

Thu Aug 1, 2013, 08:52 PM

Aug 2013

The most fundamental explanation of economics always starts with: "Person A has a surplus of one thing and shortage of a second thing. Person B has a shortage of one thing and a surplus of the second thing. They get together and make a mutually beneficial trade. Both come out ahead. And economics is born."

The win-lose transaction, where one person tricks another out of their wealth, or takes it by force--that's not the basis of classical economics. That's the basis of crime.

Yet today anything remotely resembling mutual benefit gets labeled "socialism" and all "proper" economic activity involves competition, with clear winners and losers.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

27 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Shocking Things Liberals Believe [View all] babylonsister Aug 2013 OP

You Are An Un American Marxist Communist. How Dare You Promote Sharing Wealth. TheMastersNemesis Aug 2013 #1

So, they believe, sulphurdunn Aug 2013 #9

Well stated sulphurdunn ..... n/t tweeternik Aug 2013 #14

Yeah, the rich believe that, yet economics is based on the win-win transaction. tclambert Aug 2013 #15

Liberals have always believed that the people they share this planet with were put here to satisfy.. BlueJazz Aug 2013 #2

Is there a graphic or pic in the OP? StopTheNeoCons Aug 2013 #3

Yes, there's a graphic there. n/t OnlinePoker Aug 2013 #4

K&R n/t fasttense Aug 2013 #5

There you go, making perfect sense. mountain grammy Aug 2013 #6

WHOA!!!! heaven05 Aug 2013 #7

I logged in, just to REC this Peacetrain Aug 2013 #8

Technically, people are cell clusters. Nunliebekinder Aug 2013 #10

"Undifferentiated" wouldn't fit in the box Paulie Aug 2013 #11

So true ut oh Aug 2013 #12

Next they'll say life continues after birth! Whoa now! K&R. ck4829 Aug 2013 #13

For the right, birth is where life ends. Dawson Leery Aug 2013 #16

The World Doesn't Belong To White Men. Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #17

No one should go to bed hungry. kcass1954 Aug 2013 #18

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Aug 2013 #19

Wars should not be started for profit. Rozlee Aug 2013 #20

Proud to K&R. JDPriestly Aug 2013 #21

one more k&r intaglio Aug 2013 #22

Warmongers must fight paland99 Aug 2013 #23

Milton Friedman Was The Biggest Con Man Walking. HughBeaumont Aug 2013 #24

Is the American Dream Over? slayy77 Aug 2013 #25

It astounds me that you can post this and yet... tkmorris Aug 2013 #26

K & R cordelia Aug 2013 #27