Become a fan of Slashdot on Facebook

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×

Comment Re:Public safety is not the issue (Score 1) 284

One can't consider that when discussing the rights of man. After we decide what our rights should be, then we can have whatever policing that fits within that.

I'm pretty sure we already considered what the rights of man are, as we only gave limited powers to the federal government via this document, the Constitution. Regulating encryption is not in the list, therefore it is reserved for the state or us.

Comment Re:Awesome quote (Score 1) 232

The problem is the last mile would only be run competitively in high density population centers outward, until it is no longer profitable to add more people. The incumbents would then moan and complain that they cannot continue to support those low density areas, even though there's this universal access fee thing everyone pays, and stop serving them.

Comment Re:This looks like a nasty trick. (Score 1) 839

Consumption tax and income tax have to go hand in hand. If you only do consumption, there's nothing keeping the rich from gaining incredible wealth. If you only do income, the burden becomes too heavy on the rich or winds up taxing everyone, much like today, except for tons of loopholes that allow individuals to pay little tax. A consumption tax, globally applied, evens the playing field somewhat. Income tax on the richest 20 (x) % can lower the effective consumption tax rate some, or offset it for the bottom y%.

Comment Re:This looks like a nasty trick. (Score 1) 839

A) The income tax restricted to the top 20% is merely to tax disparate income. There should still be a consumption tax IMHO.

B) Capital tax, as I understood it, is on current wealth. After skimming TFA again, it appears that is how capital is used in TFA. I'd imagine to encourage savings, etc, this again would be applied to the top 20% percent

FYI - 20% is an arbitrary number between the top 100% and 0%. Slide as necessary to balance the budget or achieve whatever is necessary. That, of course, can allow the current situation to continue, or achieve a lowered rate of income inequality and a more robust economy.

Comment Re:This looks like a nasty trick. (Score 1) 839

First, I'm not 100% sure what he means by a "progressive" consumption tax, perhaps the more you consume, the higher your tax rate? How would that work? Ideally, income tax would only hit the top 20% of income earners, plus a capital tax if your goal is to reduce wealth. However, note that a capital tax can most likely be gotten around precisely via such vehicles as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, because it's a philanthropic entity run by, whom again? And IIRC no tax was ever levied against that wealth nor its "transfer".

Well done, Bill!

Comment Re:re ext support (Score 0) 183

A Chromebook will do all of that and boot to a browser in less than 10 seconds andreport everything you do back to Google

FTFY. FWIW, I don't use Google for anything important pretty much the past 8 or so years.

and be super easy to maintain (no package conflicts!). Sometimes, you just want something that works without having to fiddle around with it.

That would be the argument for using an Apple product. You don't fiddle with it, some say you can't fiddle with it. :)

Comment Re:Patents, employment, and invention (Score 2) 224

You'll need to read those clauses carefully, and they're usually sprinkled across at least 2 sections, if not 3. You need to read them separately and as a whole, and redline anything that's unreasonable or detrimental. Note that doing so may cost you the job. Some companies are not flexible at all in this area. However, depending upon your state, those clauses may not be enforceable, or truly be difficult to enforce. Some restrict this to use of company owned equipment and/or on company time. This one can be relatively benign, especially if you're using your own equipment.

Slashdot Top Deals

The rule on staying alive as a program manager is to give 'em a number or give 'em a date, but never give 'em both at once.

Working...