tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post5702458047992389550..comments2024-03-05T10:52:24.691+00:00Comments on Mark Wadsworth: Probably over most people's heads, but here's how I see it.Mark Wadsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-91750678014627654062015-01-14T21:46:33.887+00:002015-01-14T21:46:33.887+00:00Precisely. The economy is possibly as random as r...Precisely. The economy is possibly as random as rain - that's why the government cannot run it (the socialism calculation problem). But it needs to collect some of the rain (money) somewhere. Does it collect it as it passes through the economy or does it as you suggest suck a bit up from the sea? Yes, taking it from the sea has less deadweight effects but it is still taking money (water) out of the economy - the government not being the 'economy'. But that will still reduce the water for the economy. <br />Suppose we think of rent seekers as also taking water from the sea and the government taking some of that water from the rent seekers? That would have no additional dead weight costs over those caused by the rent seekers. Whatever you do, as land is a monopoly you cannot stop rent seekers. You just have to minimise their negative impact.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-56551793522416155092015-01-14T21:39:11.357+00:002015-01-14T21:39:11.357+00:00L, rain is even less predictable than little puddl...L, rain is even less predictable than little puddles or mountain springs. If the government tries to raise money by collecting rain..?<br /><br />And "the ocean", like a land owner, it does not do any work; it is the sun shining down which turns sea water back into fresh water and gives it back to us.Mark Wadsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-7493773689920755592015-01-14T21:26:06.444+00:002015-01-14T21:26:06.444+00:00Oops. You are forgetting the water cycle. The wate...Oops. You are forgetting the water cycle. The water in the little streams on top of the mountains gets there from rain which is the precipitation of the water sucked up from the Oceans by evaporation. It is veritably the cycle of life. Which is what seekers after economic rents aren't.<br />Overall the water cycle is more like the economy as it provides the sustenance to grow value by carrying mineral and nutrients to plants and life. Maybe like 'money'?<br />Water is always useful (even seawater which not only carries more gold dissolved in it than is available in all the ore in the ground, but also provides a universal highway for trade).<br />Dare I humbly suggest you have another go?Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.com