After your initial para you seem relatively reasoned, though.

I believe in America. I believe in the fairness of a progressive tax code for income if the top rate is less than 37 percent, and the top rate starts at $4 million or so/ annum. No sweat. I think the inheritance tax should be about the same for a top rate that begins at $50 million or so with no tax at $1.5 million or so.

If we take too much from the private sector and give it to politicians they do worse than waste it.

I think I am too dumb for this work. I think I am too old, and too weary from a lifetime of toil, to carry on with you Herb. Goodnight.

First though, let me admit a flaw in my gene package presentation. The concept is not flawed, but I did not make it very clear that we all are here because our ancestors were, on the average, more fit. Those who survived had attributes for human life that were, again on the average, superior.

There's nothing wrong with a progressive taxcode, for one example. The wealthy receive more from society and it's only right that they contribute more in return, and so on. That's not to advocate pauperizing them, which is where you want to take the idea immediately, but it is to seek a bit more equity for the working stiff. Herb is onto something in discussing your outlook. You seem very sympathetic re the interests of the obscenely wealthy, but can give a damn for the workers that make their wealth possible.

What economics has to do with truth I must admit I do not know. I agree, however, it involves matters of fairness, which is what Herb and I have been arguing.

That's OK RJN, I now definitely know where you come from and it is not a world that I would care to share and who only think of themselves and care nothing of those who worked their rear ends off, suffered and died to make this country great. You seem to be one who is filled with selfishness and greed at the expense of others. I really pity you and your kind. Everyone has witnessed those who have taken advantage of others sweat in order to full fill their lust for the almighty dollar and we have all seen them live,and die without any sorrow from anyone except those who were paid in cash to express grief. And, what a hollow grief it was.

It also is sad that your gene package dictated you to be so shallow as to not show any form of compassion to those less fortunate and only show your praise and adoration to those who prey on those who have difficult times during their lives. Your kind will destroy this country with your selfish lust for money and self importance.

You also forget where the "gene Package" that is so superior, came from and above all you also have no appreciation for the "gifts of body and mind that were given you. You sadly have mis- directed all these gifts into pure selfishness with high praise for those who are just like you

The world goes on in spite of those like you.

People are successful because they do things, or produce things, that other people want and will pay for. If we punish success we are punishing ourselves..

Roger: If you want to take away the movie stars money, or Bill Gates money go ahead, be a thief. Meanwhile, stop calling me a little guy. Economics is more about truth than fairness.

By the way, if the world was fair we would all still be amoebas or something such. It is the unfairly superior of all the gene packages that has brought us to these gifts of body and mind that we have.

It's just to sad that you choose to cite figures that uphold the outrageous prices from the big oil companies. I guess you are OK paying these high prices while showing little or no compassion for your fellow man. The oil companies love guys like you that justify their greed with such nonsense. I am supprised that you didn't tell us all about the price of gasoline in Europe. I am sure that, with support like yours big oil can continue to rape the people for a while longer. Your knowledge of our :market economy" really impresses me with the exception of your total lack of consideration for others.

And RJN, your patronizing words to me about raising my children were at best a demonstration of the lack of consideration you apparently have for others and at worst, totally uncalled for. I definitely was not impressed with you words of consolation. However I will brag a bit and tell you that every one of my children are very compassionate and considerate of everyone they come into contact with. Perhaps you, if possible, could learn a thing or two from them. Obviously you were not taught that as a child while you were being raised.

While I do somewhat agree with you about writing your Congressman, bare in mind that he/she has no idea or thought of your concerns and thoughts if you don't let them know. If no one ever wrote to let them know their feelings, they would run amok like they have been doing. Have you noticed that this gasoline price issue is the number one issue talked about by many many Senators and Congressman. Have you ever given any thought of why it is the number one issue coming from their mouths.

And FYI, My wife and I have not always had hard times. Like most Hard working Americans, We have also had our good times, but I have always remembered the bad times to help me more considerate of others who were experiencing their bad times and to be very thankful of the good times we experienced.

Greed is a cancer on our society and helps no one except the greedy, but just as bad is the person who makes excuses and upholds the actions of the greedy.

Large profits today lead to more supply tomorrow unless Congress mucks up the works.

We have gotten into the habit of making fewer trips to town to save gas. I can afford gas, but we still make fewer trips to save gas. Price is, and always has been, the best way to control supply.

One more thing about price; the cost of gasoline adjusted for inflation, is about the same as it was in 1968. I bought a new 1968 Ford Galaxy 500 w/ vinyl top for $3350.00 when gas was selling for $.35-39/gal. That car would cost seven times as much today. Thirty seven cents/gal. then would be equivalent to $2.59/gal. today. Not far off, and the cars get better mileage today, and the government did not, then, mandate ten, or more, different fuel mixes to screw up distribution.

The worst thing a person can do is write a congressman unless it is to tell them to get the hell out of the way.

Herb, if you have had hard times and succeeded in raising six great kids be content. We love you for it. Don't advocate destroying the economy that made it possible. All the managed economies of the twentieth century ended up in destruction and with tens of millions killed by their own governments in the bargain.

From you comment, i have no doubt that it is difficult for you to "read my words and conclusions". You have apparently never "Been There and Done That" and until you experience the common difficulties of life, you never will.

I truly hope you never have any of the problems most Americans endure on an everyday basis, but you seem to have a problem of not understanding of having consideration for those who do and that indeed is sad.

The "market Based Society" also does not consider or understand the efforts and the hard work the average working person has in aiding those who are making one hell of a lot of money to make this so called "Market Based Society" work.

Do you think that for one minute that Exxon Mobile or BP of Chevron gives a tinkers damn about those who cannot afford their products and have to scrimp and save and do without because of their lust for high profits, If you do, then you are a very foolish man and totally lack the experience of life that a majority of Americans endure.

And, sure we all suffer the effects of the wacko environmentalist, but have you ever seen or heard of a Major Oil Company with all their money and political clout do anything about it. The answer is NO.

I hear about the high profits from the drug companies and there to their lust is for higher and higher profits. BUT, at least the drug companies have assistance programs to provide needed drugs to those who cannot afford the high prices.

Have you ever seen or heard of an Oil company having such programs, The answer again is NO.

And by the way RJN, what have you done to help reduce the high cost of gasoline, contact you Congressman, Contact you State Senators, Write an e-mail to any of the big oil companies. I bet not.

Here is a conclusion that I hope is not to difficult for you to understand, There are many many Americans in this country that have a great deal of difficulty coping with the high cost of a life necessity, gasoline, and are making many sacrifices in other areas of their lifestyle that is making life very hard for them.

And the �market economy�
is not designed to help the little guy, either.

No, it's designed to produce goods and services efficiently. That does help the little guy.

However, the proper way to help the little guy is at the back end. Not by controlling markets. As I said in an earlier comment in this thread, we've got a century's worth of experience under our belts in that area.