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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
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A Discourse on Two Mindsets

07 January 2013 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kimball Corson
A Discourse on Two Mindsets

Many Americans tend to be of the affirmative view that government is too noxious, impairs freedom too much and is too wasteful; that it should be much smaller; that taxes are anathema of sorts which just feed wasteful government; and that the income an individual has earned is properly subject to the view that "It is truly mine-- Really all mine -- and Nobody except me has a right to any of it." This perspective is asocial, isolatively individual and ill adapted to collective living. It is a view often rooted in fear of want and the further view that no one cares. It is self reinforcing and withdrawn. It is very much American, however.

A more progressive and contrary view argues the first view is myopic, dysfunctional and ignores too much, particularly the infrastructure the individual used to earn that income, the markets he similarly used, the educated workforce employed to that end, and too often government favors and benefits-- both morally proper and improper -- likewise used to acquire that income. The view likewise ignores the social compact among all of us in this country to live together, well, prosperously and peaceably, the virtue of a well educated, enlightened, well fed and healthy population, having a well maintained and modern infrastructure, having the incompetent poor properly cared for and of course the constitution which authorizes progressive income taxation. The rich in countries where this perspective dominates often view the high marginal and average income tax rates they bear as a small price to pay for all these benefits and the country they live in. This is more a Scandinavian viewpoint

The later view recognizes we live collectively, we are social beings, we should care for and about each other and we want a good life for all. The first view fails badly on all these points and is comparatively quite dysfunctional.

We are not able to well discuss these matters in America unfortunately without incivility raising its ugly head. Our political arena was just reduced to a public 'Fuck you" from the House Speaker who was re-elected to the position. Where are we to truly find our hope? That things must first become much worse before sensible dialogue can occur? I wonder. I find us a bit sorry. We are fallen, scared, grasping and isolated.
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Vessel Name: Altaira
Vessel Make/Model: A Fair Weather Mariner 39 is a fast (PHRF 132), heavily ballasted (43%), high-aspect (6:1), stiff, comfortable, offshore performance cruiser by Bob Perry that goes to wind well (30 deg w/ good headway) and is also good up and down the Beaufort scale.
Hailing Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
Crew: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
About:
Kimball Corson: I am a 75 year old solo sailor, by choice. However, I did take on a personable, but high maintenance female kitten, now a full grown cat, named KiKiPoo when she is sweet, or KatKatPo after she has just killed something like a bird or bat. [...]
Extra:
Although I was a lawyer and practiced law with good success for thirty years, creating significant new law, I never really believed in the law, the politics of law or in the over reaching self-interest of most lawyers I met. Too much exposure to Nietzsche and other good and seriously thoughtful [...]
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Profile

Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ