How Much Do They Make?

Read Forbes estimates of earnings for some of the great talkers of our time today. The ones who make you feel as though they are just like you. They are speaking for the "little man" or should I say "poor average man." Glenn Beck, the super conservative who has moved to Texas, so he doesn't have to pay state income tax, earned an estimated $90 million dollars in the last 12 months. The old standard of conservative talk, Rush Limbaugh, who moved to Florida to avoid paying a state income tax made an estimated $66 million dollars in the last 12 months. Fox News big conservative talker Hannity made an estimated $30 million in just 12 months. Even liberal funny man Jon Stewart did well. His estimated income for the last 12 months was $16 million dollars.

Conservative philosopher John Locke's Second Treatise, ended with the following conclusion.

"Right and conveniency went together; for as a man had a right to all he could employ his labour upon, so he had no temptation to labour for more than he could make use of. This left no room for controversy about the title, nor for encroachment on the right of others; what portion a man carved to himself, was easily seen; and it was useless, as well as dishonest, to carve himself too much, or take more than he needed."

For perspective, if you had $1,000,000 you could spend $40,000 each year for the next 25 years and not run out of money. If you invested the million at only 3 or 4 percent return you could comfortably live out the entire lifetime of the average American. Is $90 million in 12 months, the portion Glenn Beck, carved to himself, or Limbaugh's $66 million, or Hannity's $30 million, or Stewart's $16 million too much? If so, I agree with Locke, "it was useless, as well as dishonest, to carve himself too much, or take more than he needed."

I'm not saying they should redistribute their wealth through forced taxation. However they have more than they could ever make use of. They should choose their own way to share the wealth. With so many in America doing without, what goodness is served by the wealthy thriving among paupers?

What are Bitcoins, Why Buy Them, and Where Do I Get Some?

A Better America suggest some changes to our economic system. Many very talented young people are creating new and better ways of managing the exchange of goods and services. One area that is new to most Americans is "crypto currency" and the most well known of these is called Bitcoin.

Bitcoins are the absolute best new way to exchange goods and services in the world today. They are computer based, and can be used to buy and sell products and services, just like Dollars or Euros. If you have a smart phone, iPad or computer you can use Bitcoins to purchase or sell anything.

There are some big advantages to using Bitcoins. One is the high likely-hood that they will increase in value over time, as contrasted with the US Dollar. For example if you bought one Bitcoin for one dollar three years ago, now that same Bitcoin is worth $125 dollars.

Bitcoins can be used in any country in the world without needing to worry about exchange. Wether you are spending a week in Brazil or London you can use the exact same Bitcoins. Berlin, Germany has become the “home” of Bitcoin in Europe, with Spain and Greece not far behind. In Asia, Japan leads the way with Mt. Gox as the largest exchange in the world.

Finally, never worry about keeping receipts or records of your transactions. Officially Bitcoins are not considered money. So you can move your Bitcoins privately without concern for various government rules, bank fees, or credit card charges.

When asked, how to buy Bitcoins, I recommend the following website:

  https://localbitcoins.com/

On this site, you will see a list of people in your area that buy and sell Bitcoins. Typically this is the best way to go for a beginner. Meetup groups are also found in most larger population centers.

http://www.meetup.com

This will give you a chance to meet people and ask questions. Most people involved with Bitcoin are well educated and quite helpful to new people. They will also show you how to exchange products or services using Bitcoins.

Will the financial winners, with the government acting as their enforcer, give you trouble if you use Bitcoin? Maybe. Even though Bitcoin is a better, more sound system of exchange for the modern world, the winners with dollars will not want to take a chance on acquiring their wealth again with a new medium of exchange.