From: maedhros@yabbs
To: laelth@yabbs
Subject: re: Who Profits?
Date: Wed Feb 16 01:10:47 1994

*Maedhros evaluates the scratch and wonders when Laelth's adrenaline rush 
will where off enough for him to notice his left arm is missing*

  Is George Bush earning all his salary.  I will refuse to comment on this 
question in the future as this is the third time I'm repeating it already. 
Yes.  Quite simply, his salary is based on those who pay him.  Bush has 
nothing to do with determining his net worth.  Sure he can demand as much 
as he likes, but hell anybody can do that.  His worth is based on the 
decision of his employers.  Is his salary fair?  It would appear to be 
from the perspective of his employers.  The bottom line is that whether or 
not he's making to much is the business of those who are paying him, not 
anyone elses.  If you're footing the bill then fire him.  If you're not, 
then I don't quite understand what business of yours it is in the first 
place.  Quite simply, fair wages is determined by the employer.  If you 
don't like it quit.  You seem to be under the delusion that there's some 
kind of rich conspiracy.  As I've gathered from your posts, you don't seem 
to think of the rich as very nice people.  Then why the hell would they 
overpay him.  They obviously think he's doing something deserving for his 
wages.  
  You can argue that the common laborer is just as important, but it's a 
ludicrous assumption.  Gates at Microsoft makes about a thousand times as 
much as one of his delivery drivers.  However, if Gates quites, Microsoft 
would be in a world of shit.  If Bob the delivery guy pitched a fit about 
his paycheck and left, somehow I think they'd survive.  It's unskilled 
work.  Anybody with four limbs can do it.
  If the delivery guy made as much as Gates, do you think anybody would be 
dragging there ass through college.  Damn few.  
  Do I profit from the status quo?  Damned straight I do.  Why?  Because, 
despite what your hell bent to believe, there is no conspiracy to keep me 
poor, there is no repression of the masses and no (in case that's the next 
accussation) the government is not hiding Elvis on Mars.  I profit because 
I'm willing to work with it.  Do I start with an even chance?  Nope.  This 
isn't some board game.  We don't all start at GO with $200.  Everybody 
starts the game at a different place:  some better some worse.  You can 
cry repression and say your not going to play the game and sure enough 
it'll go on quite well without you and leave you behind.  Or, you can get 
off your ass and do some serious catching up.  I'd prefer to catch up 
myself.  

  The root of the problem seems to be that Laelth sees the world as a 
Marxist era, repressionist regime.  This isn't a labor camp.  Education is 
not even near approaching the level of unattainable.  Noone is stuck where 
they are, unless they won't put forth the effort.  The idea that there's 
some society of the rich plotting to keep everyone in their social strata 
is a groundless myth propogated by underachievers who see internal 
conflict as an easy means of personal gain at the expense of...well, 
anything, as long as it's not theirs.
  As for Laelth being suspicious of my personal bias...Is Laelth claiming 
to have no bias in how wealth and payment is distributed?  It would appear 
so, as he seems to think this invalidates my opinions.  Tis a truly great 
day, for I have met the first mortal who has no personal opinion and is 
not in any way influenced by money, work or payment.  
  As for my "programming"...Well, let's examine what programming I've 
undergone.  It appears that I've had some values or "ethics" instilled in 
me.  Well, I've been taught to work hard.  I've been taught not to expect 
instant gratification, as I think most have ny the time they reach 
puberty.  Oh, and horrors, I've been taught to be honest.  Well, if we 
throw away all that evil programming what does that leave.  Slothfulness, 
short-sightedness, no capacity for effort, and an indifference to honesty. 
I think I'll stick with the programming.  Although, I wish the best of 
luck to my colleagues who are stronger than I who can break free of the 
conditioning.
  Lastly, do I find the rich kind and generous?  Hell no!  Neither do I 
find the poor much better.  If you carry the illusion that the poor are a 
bunch of simple-minded, loving folk you don't get out much.  I don't find 
any class of people kind and generous and you're kidding yourself if you 
do.  That said, it seems that everyone, as a class, is pretty much out for 
themselves. If a new program were introduced in this country, I seriously 
doubt it would be for my benefit.  At least now, I know what I'm working 
with.  God knows what the next bunch would institute.  Better to stick 
with the known problems than the unknown.  Does change scare me?  Hell yes 
again.  Things are bad enough without turning the reins over to a pack of 
people who, when it comes to the bottom line, are just looking for an 
extra piece of pie for themselves from the rapidly diminishing tray.  
There is no altruism that motivates Laelth's cries of injustice, just 
greed.  As Laelth said himself, he doesn't have the answers to make it 
right.  What he does know is that someone else has goomething he wants and 
he'd rather take it than "earn" it.

Maedhros /\
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