Something very important for everyone to think about: I want to put these two articles together from a source I can still respect because I am actually surprised that these two can coexist in a place where many economists go to get their news - but seem to have failed to realize the inherent problems in economics. The first is about Silicon Valley and it's 'rising costs' (despite many companies getting very rich there), the fact that, as companies grow, they increase the prices (and values) of the areas around them, which is rightly so, but doesn't do much for the local communities who are often forced out and other obvious negative side effects of success (the positive ones, such as escaping paying taxes they should rightly pay, etc. - notwithstanding). Here, we have an example of people who are successful - and the 'collaterally damaged' around them - having to pay a rice for success. They pay in the form of other businesses trying to profit off their success, rather than keeping things 'realistic' and allowing opportunities for others to find that same success. The second is about why Democratic Socialism is becoming popular - something that has already happened in many European countries which are doing better with regard to business, education, health care and many other things, mostly, because they don't exist in a 'exploit the successful and screw everyone else' type economy. In addition, it goes on to explain why raising minimum wages, making homes and health care more affordable, and elevating the middle class is so important. These things, alone, may not appear to present a problem any more superficial than, unfortunately, the average person can wrap their heads around. However, when put together, an economist, business leader or other upper-level thinker should clearly be able to see there are many fundamental problems here. It seems like common sense that companies would want to pay taxes in order to make sure the infrastructure around them is being kept up so they can continue to run their businesses efficiently. It also seems like these companies would want to take care of their employees, since they are the ones who actually do the work. Further, it would seem that the companies would want to give their customers - the ones they depend on for money and success (unless they get so big they need only depend on stock manipulation, etc) - the best price, rather than constantly raising the prices for things that actually cost very little in comparison to the things that preceded them, since the technology is not really more expensive (it is, more likely, just an opportunity for the company to charge more. So let's look at what we get instead: We get companies who don't pay their fair share of taxes, claiming that they can provide more (cheap) jobs if they don't have to spend (more) money that they already aren't spending (paying employees having a living wage). We get employees not only having less pay for more work but also having rising housing, health care and other living costs, not to mention, having to pay more taxes to shore up the taxes the government is getting screwed out of by the corporations not paying their fair share. I think the bankers, the corporations, the economists and the government are screwing the population. Yes, I am absolutely sure that this is the case. I suspect it is because people think that, since they work for these companies, they are part of the people who 'get a break'. But actually, they are not. They are also part of the population. They are screwing their fellow citizens - and they are getting screwed. Unfortunately, they have been 'baffled with BS', deprived of an education (or saddled with educational debt that consumes them) and distracted by meaningless things for so long that they can no longer see it all for what it is...BS. So, you own a store...small Mom & Pop store...and then WalMart moves in. You go to WalMart to get your stuff for your store...and you want a great price. Then, you go back to YOUR store and charge a higher price...even though the people in your store also want a better price. That is why they all start going to WalMart and, eventually, your store is history. Who do you think helped WalMart take your store away from you? Did you think you were being smart by screwing the people around you, rather than directing them to WalMart? For those who want to try to 'pick all this apart' with their 'logic' - please don't waste your time. We all know what is going on. The ones who dare try to condone or defend it - they are suspect. We live in an environment of opportunists and unethical business people, governments who steal our money and use it on things we do not want it used on while *not* using it on what we do. We live in a corporate environment where the companies screw the people who do the work, screw the people who pay them the money and lobby the government so they don't have to pay taxes - putting the burden squarely on those who are already getting screwed in countless ways - the middle class. How long do big businesses, the government, economists, bankers and the rest of the crooked, unethical, thieving opportunists believe that this type of scenario is going to last? Let's also add in the scientists who are doing all they can to warn us that these pathetic 'upper level people' are also destroying the planet, destroying our health, coming up with dangerous new tech at a pace that gets it into everyones' hands quickly - but far too quick for us to create law to safeguard us from its dangers. How do you think they feel? How long do you think we are even going to have scientists willing to tolerate this idiocy? What happens when they are gone? How about law, let's talk about that. Poor education, totalitarian governments, unethical big business, banking that wants to create debt slaves, etc...do you think they are molding Law Enforcement into the people that protect and serve those folks who are perpetually getting screwed and forced to carry the burdens that all those opportunists are thrusting on them? Is that what we are seeing now? I don't think so. And then, there is the biggest question: How much longer do you even think there will be economists (the ones failing us now - notwithstanding). How long before they all become the enemy, just like scientists have, just like everyone else who is actually trying to help the people (like Social Democrats do). Without ethics, we are on our way to the end, marching like a bunch of ignorant lemmings. Start marking your calendars, folks. If we don't make profound, systemic change, there won't be a lot more time to think about these questions. Thanks for taking the time to read this...

Something very important for everyone to think about: I want to put these two articles together from a source I can still respect because I am actually surprised that these two can coexist in a place where many economists go to get their news - but seem to have failed to realize the inherent problems in economics. The first is about Silicon Valley and it's 'rising costs' (despite many companies getting very rich there), the fact that, as companies grow, they increase the prices (and values) of the areas around them, which is rightly so, but doesn't do much for the local communities who are often forced out and other obvious negative side effects of success (the positive ones, such as escaping paying taxes they should rightly pay, etc. - notwithstanding). Here, we have an example of people who are successful - and the 'collaterally damaged' around them - having to pay a rice for success. They pay in the form of other businesses trying to profit off their success, rather than keeping things 'realistic' and allowing opportunities for others to find that same success. The second is about why Democratic Socialism is becoming popular - something that has already happened in many European countries which are doing better with regard to business, education, health care and many other things, mostly, because they don't exist in a 'exploit the successful and screw everyone else' type economy. In addition, it goes on to explain why raising minimum wages, making homes and health care more affordable, and elevating the middle class is so important. These things, alone, may not appear to present a problem any more superficial than, unfortunately, the average person can wrap their heads around. However, when put together, an economist, business leader or other upper-level thinker should clearly be able to see there are many fundamental problems here. It seems like common sense that companies would want to pay taxes in order to make sure the infrastructure around them is being kept up so they can continue to run their businesses efficiently. It also seems like these companies would want to take care of their employees, since they are the ones who actually do the work. Further, it would seem that the companies would want to give their customers - the ones they depend on for money and success (unless they get so big they need only depend on stock manipulation, etc) - the best price, rather than constantly raising the prices for things that actually cost very little in comparison to the things that preceded them, since the technology is not really more expensive (it is, more likely, just an opportunity for the company to charge more. So let's look at what we get instead: We get companies who don't pay their fair share of taxes, claiming that they can provide more (cheap) jobs if they don't have to spend (more) money that they already aren't spending (paying employees having a living wage). We get employees not only having less pay for more work but also having rising housing, health care and other living costs, not to mention, having to pay more taxes to shore up the taxes the government is getting screwed out of by the corporations not paying their fair share. I think the bankers, the corporations, the economists and the government are screwing the population. Yes, I am absolutely sure that this is the case. I suspect it is because people think that, since they work for these companies, they are part of the people who 'get a break'. But actually, they are not. They are also part of the population. They are screwing their fellow citizens - and they are getting screwed. Unfortunately, they have been 'baffled with BS', deprived of an education (or saddled with educational debt that consumes them) and distracted by meaningless things for so long that they can no longer see it all for what it is...BS. So, you own a store...small Mom & Pop store...and then WalMart moves in. You go to WalMart to get your stuff for your store...and you want a great price. Then, you go back to YOUR store and charge a higher price...even though the people in your store also want a better price. That is why they all start going to WalMart and, eventually, your store is history. Who do you think helped WalMart take your store away from you? Did you think you were being smart by screwing the people around you, rather than directing them to WalMart? For those who want to try to 'pick all this apart' with their 'logic' - please don't waste your time. We all know what is going on. The ones who dare try to condone or defend it - they are suspect. We live in an environment of opportunists and unethical business people, governments who steal our money and use it on things we do not want it used on while *not* using it on what we do. We live in a corporate environment where the companies screw the people who do the work, screw the people who pay them the money and lobby the government so they don't have to pay taxes - putting the burden squarely on those who are already getting screwed in countless ways - the middle class. How long do big businesses, the government, economists, bankers and the rest of the crooked, unethical, thieving opportunists believe that this type of scenario is going to last? Let's also add in the scientists who are doing all they can to warn us that these pathetic 'upper level people' are also destroying the planet, destroying our health, coming up with dangerous new tech at a pace that gets it into everyones' hands quickly - but far too quick for us to create law to safeguard us from its dangers. How do you think they feel? How long do you think we are even going to have scientists willing to tolerate this idiocy? What happens when they are gone? How about law, let's talk about that. Poor education, totalitarian governments, unethical big business, banking that wants to create debt slaves, etc...do you think they are molding Law Enforcement into the people that protect and serve those folks who are perpetually getting screwed and forced to carry the burdens that all those opportunists are thrusting on them? Is that what we are seeing now? I don't think so. And then, there is the biggest question: How much longer do you even think there will be economists (the ones failing us now - notwithstanding). How long before they all become the enemy, just like scientists have, just like everyone else who is actually trying to help the people (like Social Democrats do). Without ethics, we are on our way to the end, marching like a bunch of ignorant lemmings. Start marking your calendars, folks. If we don't make profound, systemic change, there won't be a lot more time to think about these questions. Thanks for taking the time to read this... - Its primacy as a technology hub is on the wane. That is cause for concern