I don't adopt that "framework".

Well, I guess you are in the minority, if you think the rich are not the wolves in a capitalist economy.

Well, I guess you are in the minority, if you think the rich are not the wolves in a capitalist economy.

that was a great movie about a person who made a lot of sales. He didn't earn all that money by believing in being sheep and certainly no one held him back from accomplishing his goals. All the while in the context of a movie.

Well, I guess you are in the minority, if you think the rich are not the wolves in a capitalist economy.

You really think a Hollywood movie is a good source to make your point?   

that was a great movie about a person who made a lot of sales. He didn't earn all that money by believing in being sheep and certainly no one held him back from accomplishing his goals.

Yep.  Salesmen don't force you to make a decision to buy.  You have the freedom to walk away.  Not a wolf.  More like a horn dog that uses emotional appeals to get what they want.

that was a great movie about a person who made a lot of sales. He didn't earn all that money by believing in being sheep and certainly no one held him back from accomplishing his goals. All the while in the context of a movie.

I believe you forgot the part that he was later a convicted criminal.

Yep.  Salesmen don't force you to make a decision to buy.  You have the freedom to walk away.  Not a wolf.  More like a horn dog that uses emotional appeals to get what they want.

I guess the title should be changed to the horn dog of Wall Street.

I can't believe there are people so drunk with the ultrawealthy's Kool-Aid that they would actually defend wealthy elites who break the rules of the game and commit felonies.

I guess the title should be changed to the horn dog of Wall Street.

I can't believe there are people so drunk with the ultrawealthy's Kool-Aid that they would actually defend wealthy elites who break the rules of the game and commit felonies.

You brought that movie in as supporting your argument.
I didn't defend him at all. Jordan Belfort committed crimes, was convicted and sentenced. He is no where "elite". I don't consider someone like him "elite". You did.

In defining the "elite" is it a crime to be wealthy?

I didn't defend him at all. He committed crimes, was convicted and sentenced. He is no where "elite". I don't consider someone like him "elite". You did.

He was a millionaire before his felony conviction.

What is your apparent narrow definition of elite?

He was a millionaire before his felony conviction.

What is your apparent narrow definition of elite?

He made his millions by defrauding people and as a result was found guilty. He was ordered to pay restitution.

My "apparent narrow definition of elite"? Why do you care? I live my life. You live yours. You apparently believe in a class of elites that rule over your life or have power over it with some degree.

I think Jocko is elite. His thinking is very profound and on point.



So what ecosystem you exist in?

There are 10 kinds of people in this world:  those who understand binary math, and those who don't.

another elite. Larry Vickers. ODD veteran

Ren Herring

Ren Herring

call me names all you want I didn't bring up the question of elites.

He was a millionaire before his felony conviction.

What is your apparent narrow definition of elite?

So who's bringing down who in this topic? Who is really driving this so-called "divide"?
What I'm saying is that the only real person holding you down is the person in the mirror. You are in control of your own fate.
My definition of an elite is someone who has extraordinary skill and motivates others around them.
The only way to break free of this is to give up victimhood because that's how these "wolves" prey on you.

The only way to break free of this is to give up victimhood because that's how these "wolves" prey on you.

Correct. Collective action to reign in corruption and criminality is the only way to stop them, and preferably before they destroy capitalism.

What I'm saying is that the only real person holding you down is the person in the mirror. You are in control of your own fate.

In the general case, you are right.  However, the level of how corrupt/dscriminatory the rules of the game are still dictates whether you will succeed or not.  For example, if you are trying to apply for a high paying job in Hawaii and not a graduate from Punahou or Iolani, good luck to you.  If you are of Samoan ancestry and more qualified than the other applicants who happen to be Asian, who are all applying for the same computer programming job, good luck to you.

The only way to break free of this is to give up victimhood because that's how these "wolves" prey on you.

How does making mental adjustments prevent others from taking advantage of you?  For example, if some mafioso steps into my small business and asks for protection money, do you really think I can stop these "wolves" by myself? 

There is no justification for being lazy and somehow expecting to live a comfortable life.  However, to actively preach to others that you too can be another Amway millionaire with just hard work is another bad religion.

In the general case, you are right.  However, the level of how corrupt/dscriminatory the rules of the game are still dictates whether you will succeed or not.  For example, if you are trying to apply for a high paying job in Hawaii and not a graduate from Punahou or Iolani, good luck to you.  If you are of Samoan ancestry and more qualified than the other applicants who happen to be Asian, who are all applying for the same computer programming job, good luck to you.



How does making mental adjustments prevent others from taking advantage of you?  For example, if some mafioso steps into my small business and asks for protection money, do you really think I can stop these "wolves" by myself? 

There is no justification for being lazy and somehow expecting to live a comfortable life.  However, to actively preach to others that you too can be another Amway millionaire with just hard work is another bad religion.

Another "Amway millionaire" ? Where did I say that? Jocko Willink and Larry Vickers are far from "Amway millionaires". You brought up the example of Jordan Belfort in the form of a movie clip.
You can do what ever you want with your life. The answer lies with who you hold responsible for your successes and your failures.

There are 10 kinds of people in this world:  those who understand binary math, and those who don't.

I can't resist, this is not directed towards you
111111011001110's in most the comments
today.
Convert to Hex.
Computer science humor.
I had a job once where I had to validate
some data tapes before use in the real world.
That was my chosen pattern for validation.
One day i decided to change it to
1011101010111110.
Messed up their mainframe as
they read data tapes that had real data on them.
They had adopted 1111111011001110 as
the EOT.
Lots of fun for all.
Aerospace in the 80's was fun!

You can do what ever you want with your life. The answer lies with who you hold responsible for your successes and your failures.

That's only half right.

Personal responsibility to take advantage of opportunity is one half and having government ensure that the rules of the game are not violated or discriminatory is the other half.

I can't resist, this is not directed towards you
111111011001110's in most the comments
today.
Convert to Hex.
Computer science humor.
I had a job once where I had to validate
some data tapes before use in the real world.
That was my chosen pattern for validation.
One day i decided to change it to
1011101010111110.
Messed up their mainframe as
they read data tapes that had real data on them.
They had adopted 1111111011001110 as
the EOT.
Lots of fun for all.
Aerospace in the 80's was fun!

If memory serves, EOT was a shiny metallic piece of tape applied to the magtape to prevent the drive from running until the tape ran off the spool.

EOF was the end of file marker written between files, and two sequential EOFs indicated the end of the data on the tape.

There was usually a BOT piece of metallic tape at the beginning to tell the drive where to begin reading/writing.

My job in AWACS revolved around IBM 360s and libraries full of 9-track tape.  Each AWACS mission required one 7-tape case for the program loads and 2 more cases of scratch tapes for recording over a 12-16 hour mission.