Drugs and Charity

Cactus at Angry Bear brings Us this Post from the Straight Dope. Does it seem a little extreme for mainstream economics–it really shouldn’t. I am trying to remember who told me this, but Someone once told me that Steroids were like non-biodegradable Plastics in not being naturally broken down by biological process, while having the property of accumulating concentration. We must take into account that We are dealing with very minute amounts of Drugs, but the universal spread of the minute amounts should give Us pause. It has effectively taken less than a half-Century to get a diffuse spread of these Drugs into a huge containment of soluble water. The investment rate of these Drugs is extremely high when charted at essential Origin in 1950. This is combined with the Condition that absorption by Plant life seems to be the only cleansing methodology available, and which itself has a Shelf-Life ending with Plant decay.

Ask Me why I cite Arnold Kling today, and I could not give a clear Answer except to say it is a Post which should be Read. Robert Barro and Marin’s theory of convergence, while accurate, did not postulate the real Gain coming from Interior Lines of Communication; Railroads followed by the Interstate system, Canals and Locks on American Waterways combined with the Coastal Carrying Trade–all cheaper than the base Import Trade. American Capital in the wealthier States came to realize that higher Profits demanded increased Investment in poorer States. I don’t believe that Arnold’s risk premium contains more than marginal incentive to invest in Poor Risks. I believe that the American Public has been overexposed to the true Cost of health care, and that it doesn’t require personal payment of health care Charges to make them realize the Price is too high; We need measures to control that health care Cost. The charitable tax deduction is a tax loophole which can be misused; consider the repetitive Court Orders demanding that the Gates Foundation actually distribute the funds collected.

One should read this post by Mark Thoma when considering all of Arnold’s positions. Exponents of Capitalism espouse Government protection of practices utilized only by the Rich by way of tax exemptions, so they can intervene and impact the lives of poorer Citizens with imperfect information, and misdirection of financial assets; all at the Cost of increased Tax pressures on their poorer fellow citizens. Allocation of financial assets through Charity innately disintegrates adequate concentrations to resolve major Problems, as the Rich all pursue their own Pet projects to the detriment of real resolutions. Common Taxpayers are asked to actually bankroll the flights of Fancy of the Rich by such tax deferments. Ninety Percent of all Charity contributions remain simple attempts by the Rich to maintain control over financial assets, when American Tax law has already determined such Control should be surrendered; the Charity tax deferments forestalling this redistribution for the common good of all of Society. lgl