RoR: Forum

Post 0

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 8:52am

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I posted this a couple months as a regular thread.

Post 1

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 9:36am

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Brilliant. I loved it.

Post 2

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 9:55am

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What would I do with Buffett�s billions? With that kind of money one could literally buy a country. The place could be made devoid of taxes, regulations, and legislatures. It could make the progress of places like Hong Kong and Dubai seem retarded by comparison. And it would actually, and sustainably, accomplish what the lame-brained Gates Foundation says it hopes to do.

Awesome. This is something that has always puzzled me about the uber-rich -- why don't they do something grand with their money? Starting a country or city-state would be great. Myself, I would start a company dedicated to space mining and leave my fortune in the hands of an enthusiast. If it succeeds, you've just changed the course of humanity posthumously, if it fails, well at least you provided paychecks to some very talented people along the way, and probably drummed up some public enthusiasm.

Post 3

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 10:09am

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I know I'm flogging a dead horse but this is what I've been saying all along.

http://domainofthefree.com/index.htm

Sam

Post 4

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 10:41am

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Brilliant article, indeed. I also read it when Chris posted it a while back. It's probably more or less the best article I've read strictly on "charity" alone.

Sam Erica, I looked over your site and there was just one thing that I have a qualm with. As one of the requirements for a free society, the following was listed:

No licensing of professionals

Are you saying even medical professionals shouldn't be licensed?

Post 5

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 10:59am

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Are you saying even medical professionals shouldn't be licensed?

I don't think they should be licensed by the state. Their credentials should be assessed on the basis of the reputation of the medical school they attended and the grades they received. Malpractice records should be public property. Reputation should mean everything. If someone wants brain surgery from some illiterate bum then that's what free choice is all about.

btw, licensing of professionals isn't at the top of the list of my concerns.

Sam

Post 6

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 11:04am

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Oh, I see then. I've been living in a mixed-economy country for so long, I hadn't even concieved the possibility of a commercial/third-party licensing agency. Understanding the value of Capitalism and competition, I definitely see the advantages.

Post 7

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 11:51am

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There are "licensing" programs in place. For example, auto mechanics are ASE certified. Computer professionals can be Microsoft Certified Professionals. But nobody is barred from entry into the profession.

Post 8

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 12:46pm

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My only problem with this article:

A hospital (or anything else) that is �non-profit� is inevitably a boondoggle that soaks up capital.

Many people share the misconception that not-for-profits are not in the business of making money. Not true. A not-for-profit hospital is just as concerned about the big fat bottom line as a for-profit hospital. The profits are simply directed in a different manner. A more accurate statement would be: A poorly-managed hospital that is "non-profit" is inevitably a boondoggle that soaks up capital. But then, any poorly managed business of any kind is a boondoggle. It also may be accurate to say: A hospital that is "non-profit" and is solely funded by the government and philanthropists is a boondoggle. A not-for-profit business that makes its money from its customers can be quite successful.

Post 9

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 1:56pm

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Non-profits often behave like government. At least the one I worked for did.

Post 10

Friday, September 22, 2006 - 5:46am

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Apropos: "I was coming back from Africa on one of my trips, ...I had taken one of my wealthy friends with me. She said, 'Don't you just feel guilty? Don't you just feel terrible?' I said, 'No, I don't. I do not know how my being destitute is going to help them.' Then I said when we got home, 'I'm going home to sleep on my Pratesi sheets right now and I'll feel good about it.' "

Oprah Winfrey,

speaking in Baltimore

on 04/10/06 at a fund

raiser for

Beth Tfiloh Dahan
Community School

Post 11

Friday, September 22, 2006 - 7:38am

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Yes, Chris, sometimes they do. I've worked for both kinds. It's all in the management.

Post 12

Friday, September 22, 2006 - 8:29am

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Oprah really said that? Do you have a link for that quote?

I am glad she did. If she did, I may start my "Oprah for President" campaign.

Post 13

Friday, September 22, 2006 - 10:36am

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Here, Chris:

http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1182572,00.html

For reference: I copied the first phrase of the quote and used Google to search for it, having added quotation marks to the beginning and end (to search for the exact quote, not just some combination of the words). This site was the very first search result.

This also works when you wish to know the title of a particular song, but can only remember a single phrase.