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Why would you? Hm, because despite our long life expectancy, the prime years of life are between 20 and 40, and those 20 years pass pretty fast, the faster the more industrious you are. Before you know it your prime years are gone, health issues start to bug you, good looks go down the drain, etc.
Who the hell SHOULD have profited from his work and ideas?
Microsoft is a "bubble"?
There is nothing wrong with an honest developer or inventor (which doesn't necessarily include Gates in my view) earning well, But with people like Gates or Jobs the whole thing got totally blown out of proportion.
Yes, in a way Microsoft is a giant bubble, just like Google etc. That's why MS is pissed by software pirates, they are needles threatening to make the bubble burst.
LMAO! Are you really serious? This is such a simplified ignorant view of not only wealth creation but economics in general......especially capitalism.
There is a fixed amount of wealth in the world as there are a fixed amount of resources in the world. Do you believe money grows on trees? That's basically what you are saying. Natural resources are what makes the world go round. That and the fact that there are third world poor willing to mine diamonds, and sew a pair of Nike shoes for less than a nickel a day.
Really? So a tree in the forest is worth the same as finished furniture? Iron ore is worth the same as a finished automobile? Crude oil in the ground is worth the same as refined gasoline? If you're going to challenge my economic prowess, please at least use an argument with some teeth.
Whenever you make or do something that someone else is willing to exchange goods or services for, you create wealth. Whenever you consume things or use them up, you destroy wealth. It's really a simple concept.
For example, when you go to work you provide a service to your employer that they are willing to pay you for. They, in turn, coordinate your services with the services of others to make or provide something worth more than the combined cost of labor and materials.
Profit makes the world go round: a voluntary exchange of goods or services which is mutually beneficial to both parties involved.
So, please explain how this "simplified, ignorant view" is incorrect.
Why would you? Hm, because despite our long life expectancy, the prime years of life are between 20 and 40, and those 20 years pass pretty fast, the faster the more industrious you are. Before you know it your prime years are gone, health issues start to bug you, good looks go down the drain, etc.
It's OK. I am not rich, never will be, simply because I don't want to be. I could work more if I wanted to, but I am happy with my low-key lifestyle and part-time workload as a freelancer
Even spending time on this board makes more sense to me than most of my work. Reading and thinking about different ideas and topics helps me as a person, more than my work does. If I worked 60 hours a week I would not have the time and energy to do things like writing on boards, reading on websites, etc. I used to have a full-time in-house job many years ago, it just wasn't for me, it was so obvious to me that I was wasting my life.
There is nothing wrong with an honest developer or inventor (which doesn't necessarily include Gates in my view) earning well, But with people like Gates or Jobs the whole thing got totally blown out of proportion.
Yes, in a way Microsoft is a giant bubble, just like Google etc. That's why MS is pissed by software pirates, they are needles threatening to make the bubble burst.
Any company should be upset over pirates..they STEAL what you created.
Want to work in software for free..go to Linux and design your heart away for nothing.
MS is no bubble. They've proven themselves for several decades now.
Do you even understand what a "bubble" is ?
It's OK. I am not rich, never will be, simply because I don't want to be. I could work more if I wanted to, but I am happy with my low-key lifestyle and part-time workload as a freelancer
Even spending time on this board makes more sense to me than most of my work. Reading and thinking about different ideas and topics helps me as a person, more than my work does. If I worked 60 hours a week I would not have the time and energy to do things like writing on boards, reading on websites, etc. I used to have a full-time in-house job many years ago, it just wasn't for me, it was so obvious to me that I was wasting my life.
As long as you are set up for retirement, without becoming a ward of the state.
"I'm not rich because I choose not to be" is as good as saying "I don't have the work ethic or the intelligence and that's a great excuse for my failures".
"I'm not rich because I choose not to be" is as good as saying "I don't have the work ethic or the intelligence and that's a great excuse for my failures".
I disagree. Not everyone wants millions in the bank and everyone's level of financial comfort is different.
Some value more freedom at the expense of riches and find their financial comfort level to live the way they want.
"The one with the most toys wins" does not apply to everyone.
Sorry PG wrong. Is there more wealth today than 2,000 years ago? The answer is obviously yes. How is that possible if wealth is zero sum?
The guy who invented the first hammer created wealth as did the inventor of Cable TV as did Bill Gates. Before these folks created their inventions the wealth associated with these things didn't exist. Do me a favor, Google economy and zero sum and see what you find to support your view.
Considering 2,000 years ago, they didnt use dollars, I'm not sure how you can compute if there is more now than before..
Is there more now than 100 years ago? Not really, rich people were rich then, rich people are rich now.. Sure now they have more wealth as a $ figure, but because the dollar isnt the same now as it was then, a millionaire now isnt the same as a millionaire 100 years ago..
Its like some of you guys have never heard of the Rockefellers, who's wealth would be about $310B in todays dollar, or Carnegie, $300B.
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