In article , Juergen Hannappel wrote:
(Doug Miller) writes:

I prefer a society in which everyone's standard of living improves.

So would I if I thought it were possible. But consider that the
standard of living cannot be measured by material wealth alone.

I never said that it was.

Capitalism has proven to be a remarkably effective tool for doing just that.

As long as growth rates were high enough so that there was much to
distribute. With growth run into it's limits the gap between rich and
poor will open ever farther.

You are proceeding from a mistaken assumption. You observe economic stagnation
in Europe, and assume that it is the result of economic growth having
encountered a natural limit of some kind, when in fact the stagnation is the
direct, and entirely predictable, result of socialism. Here in America, we do
not share the belief that there are any limits.

Compare modern Europe to feudal Europe for an example.

Today with no formal division between a well of nobility and a
rightless population but rather a graduation of differences with the
lure of everyone hope to get richer personaly there is less chance of
a revolution than at the end of feudal reign.

And with good reason, I'd say.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.