Just got back from Going Galt for a week. You know, all that snarky snark about how glibertarians who threaten to Go Galt should go ahead already – about how no one will miss them – about how they are being such whiny-ass titty-babies what with the complaining about being saddled with the lowest marginal tax rates in modern history. Well it’s all valid – but there’s another point I want to look at.
First let’s assume the crazy fantasy world of these Randian übermenschen IS REAL. That they are all super-producers with crazy productivities the likes of which us mere leeching mortals cannae ken. Let’s assume that they are some sort of platonic ideal of the Alpha Wolf Executive workaholic putting in their 110% throughout their sixty hour weeks and fully deserving of their massively inflated salaries. Yes, I realize that we are now discussing Mary Sue slash fanfic hypothetical universes, but bear with me.
What are they really “threatening” to do? Cut back on the overtime. Go down to a fifty hour work week and maybe actually take some of their vacation time. To spend with their families. Getting to know the wife and kids better. Really? That’s a threat?
I just spent the last seven days in the company of my wife and five month old daughter, and let me tell you this – loved every minute of it. I’m having difficulty conceptualizing why this would be a bad thing. By all means, all of you ultra-achieving wünderkind who are shocked, SHOCKED I SAY, at the mere thought of a millionaire’s tax bracket or an increase in the top marginal tax rate – take the time off. Find out the colour of your spouse’s eyes. Marvel at how much bigger your kids are already. Try and move past all the things you missed in your childen’s childhoods by NOT MISSING ANY MORE OF THEM.
Really. Honestly and truly. All you libertarians out there who are thinking about Going Galt - please do. And I don't mean that in a snarky don't-let-the-door-hit-you kind of way, but if you really are one of these overworked super-achievers who spend all of their time and energy on work - then take the break. Have a nice dinner with the spousal unit, play some catch with the tykes, call your moms, do some of those things that there is never time to do. You don't even have to thank teh socialests for incentivizing it by threatening higher tax rates - just go and be a human being instead of a fountain of GDP for a change.
7 comments:
Weirdly, they don't seem keen on making less money to avoid taxes. Strange, that.
I suspect many of the Galt-threateners would prefer to be at work being full-time assholes then spend time w/ family & such, where they might have to be decent, compromise, not threaten their employees & otherwise not be "Alpha Wolf Executives."
Well if that's the case, it shouldn't matter what the marginal tax rate is - those assholes are going to work their asses off regardless of how much Uncle Sam demands in coerced theft monies OMGs!
Unless you're implying that they aren't being serious about that cutting back on productivity due to high taxes. That it's all a comforting lie they fall back on to justify the greediness behind letting the bottom 98% slide further and further into despondency. No, couldn't be. What type of people do that?
Hey! Leaves some words for OTHER PEOPLE, would ya?
~
Hey, that's really nice, DK-W. I'm glad you got the time off to revel in the warm glow of The Fam.
"Hey! Leaves some words for OTHER PEOPLE, would ya?"
Posting is theft.
but if you really are one of these overworked super-achievers who spend all of their time and energy on work - then take the break.
Maybe if we bought them ice-cream cones they'd be less angry.
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