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Forum Post: If we would cap sales profit the working man would only have to work 25-30 hrs per week.

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 1, 2012, 10:49 p.m. EST by FriendlyObserverB (1871)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Because of unfettered high sales profits the working man is forced to work many many hours. Working most of his life away.

High sales profits strips the working man of his freedom.

43 Comments

43 Comments


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[-] 2 points by BradB (2693) from Washington, DC 12 years ago

FriendlyObserverB, I agree a sales cap might help... but that is not the real solution... we (the middle class) need our own bank.... they have abused us, and the country too much... it's time for change... we need a banking institution that will invest in America... and it looks like we will have to do that ourselves....

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

A cap on profits is the only solution. Including banks.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

I've worked 25 to 30 hours a week

and I find the production per hour is more efficient than when one work 40 hours a week

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Excellent point.

[-] 1 points by LetsGetReal (1420) from Grants, NM 12 years ago

I disagree. There is nothing wrong with high profits. The problem is that the fruits of labor are not shared fairly by all those who contributed.

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

The product is the fruit of labor.

[-] 1 points by learnthis (120) 12 years ago

Just admit it you don't want to work period. Communist idea to cap sales profit.

[-] 1 points by freewriterguy (882) 12 years ago

you all should start your own business, that way you can make a hundred bucks an hour, work part time like me, and have lots of time to chat on the forums. he he he for reals though.

[-] 1 points by TechJunkie (3029) from Miami Beach, FL 12 years ago

Some entrepreneurs chat on online forums while building businesses. I hired a person through this forum because thats the kind of thing that happens when you do both at the same time. He works 20 hours a week, I work 80 or more, Guess which of us has a lot of money?

[-] 1 points by Nicolas (258) from Québec, QC 12 years ago

Friendly advice : you are working your health and life expectancy away. Regularly working more than 50 hours a week has documented health repercussions (most importantly heart-related). It's your choice to make though.

[-] 1 points by TechJunkie (3029) from Miami Beach, FL 12 years ago

Fair point. And so are the Wall Street investment bankers who everybody around here hates so much. So that should give some people a little comfort at least.

[-] 1 points by freewriterguy (882) 12 years ago

him not you right? LOL thats how it is when i have an employee, i just dont have the heart to lay him off, but meanwhile im working so long and hard i didnt even get a vacation last year.

But then again if i worked 80 hours aweek i would have alot of money. cause i charge alot.

[-] 1 points by TechJunkie (3029) from Miami Beach, FL 12 years ago

You're doing it wrong.

The last guy who I trained makes $85/hr and has an endless supply of work. He chooses to work about 35 hours per week. Do the math.

[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23772) 12 years ago

Can you explain this better to me? I've been thinking about your post, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Gladly !

A sales cap would bring down the cost of living. Making it no longer necessary to work as many hours to maintain ones standard of living. Having more leisure time.

[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23772) 12 years ago

Now I get it. Duh. I couldn't figure out what you were talking about exactly. You know how Facebook is going public and there are going to be something like 24 billionaires made as a result? I sort of have this theory that we all paid for that in the price of the goods that we buy. Most of that money is made from ads, right? Advertising adds to the cost of the goods and services that we purchase.

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Well .. With Facebook going public it is expected the value of share will rise from $2-$3 per share to over $40 per share , and it is the share owners that will become billionaires. This is not directly related to Facebook advertising. But more to do with how the stock market works. The money will come from people buying shares and not from Facebook itself.
A rudimentary understanding. The stock market is a type of pyramid scheme. New buyers increase the value of the stock. Of course it takes a profitable company to attract new buyers. It's almost the chicken or the egg which came first scenario.

The profit cap would prevent such accumulation of huge wealth thus leaving money in the consumers wallet , and as I mentioned allow for more leisure time for the working class.

There are two types of wealth: Wealth earned through hard work vs wealth earned through profit. The profit cap will even the distribution between the two groups.

The question comes up : how much should the profit be capped at ? When profit wealth is brought down to an equal level as working wealth?

How do we justify profit wealth ?

[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23772) 12 years ago

That is interesting about Facebook, but ultimately, where does Facebook's value come from? Certainly not teens chatting with one another. It comes from the advertising capability, so I still think ultimately we're all paying a lot of money in our products for that advertising.

I also see what you are getting at with the profit cap. Good point about earned wealth (labor) and wealth from the profit (capitalist wealth purely from owning the means of production.)

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Yes beautifulworld, advertising creates revenue for Facebook but is that revenue shared with shareholders through dividends ? I honestly don't know. And also yes advertising is paid for from sales profits which ultimately comes from the consumer. With a cap on profits the advertising industry would take a cut in pay. But as you can see with facbook valued at 100 billion , they have way more than their fair share.

[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23772) 12 years ago

Agreed !!!!

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

What a nut job.

[-] 0 points by BlackSun (275) from Agua León, BC 12 years ago

So what is a fair profit margin?

[-] 2 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Honestly , product sold at cost would be the ultimate system. Government operated stores would provide the best economic result. It is impossible to justify profit.

[-] 1 points by freewriterguy (882) 12 years ago

amen to that the private citizen has proven that they are dumb to share the natural resources of the earth when he gets rich. He doesnt share. When mitt romney gave to charity last year, guess what, all the charity workers, who consume (95 %) of the donations intended to help others, get paid close to a million dollars a year, AND, ONLY a nickel from each dollar actually goes to helping someone who needs the help.

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

Yeah government operated stores existed in Soviet Russia and there you had to wait in line to buy something, and then if you were lucky enough to be able to enter the store you would have to pick up whatever you get because choice very limited. Oh, govt shops also exist now in North Korea. I daresay you should pick up your groceries from there instead of the oppressive capitalistic enterprise, that is Walmart

You know, I don't hate communist or think they are evil etc. I just think they are stupid and never learnt from history.

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

When the capitalists lower their prices black Friday there are huge line ups. People camp in the parking lot the night before. It's great for the economy. Biggest shopping day of the year. Now if we capped retail profit. What would the Russians say about us?

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

Was that even an argument?

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

The question began with " what is a fair profit margin. You compared north Korea and walmart. Walmart waltons have accumulated the wealth equal to that of 100 million people. So .. The dictator of north Korea and waltons is a very good comparison. I have no argument.

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

If you can compare Waltons and N Korean dictators, I don't really see the point in arguing with you.

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

The waltons are commonly referred to as " dictators" by their employees FYI

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

I am sure I have also referred to my boss by similar and worse names and so has almost every worker in the history of the world.

You know what your problem is, you confuse between rhetoric and arguments, between logos and pathos.

[-] 2 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Well you brought up the comparison. Waltons are probably wealthier than north koreas dictator

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

I brought up the comparison to remind you that zero margin and govt owned production and distribution is a bad idea. I was not comparing them on degrees of dictatorial-ness.

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Yes but it was an unfair comparison. Comparing north Korea with the discussion at hand.

[-] 0 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

No. I compared them because you were talking about govt owned production which existed in USSR and now in NKorea. Where is the unfairness?

[-] 1 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

actually I said stores .. I did not say production .. which you would mean manufacturing ..

interesting though, I have really only heard the keyhole propoganda of former soviet union .. it was said they failed because of corrupt officials.. what was it really like over there ?

[-] -1 points by smartcapitalist (143) 12 years ago

And I said 'production and distribution'. Besides how do you propose to have govt run stores which sell at zero margin and private production which makes profit? Do you even realize the complete murder of logic that you are constantly engaging in?

Corruption exists everywhere and it will exist even more in a society where the govt is all powerful.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

More reason to support:

Petition from CREDOACTION to end Corporate person-hood.

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=745043&id=34439-4904244-%3DMldmHx&t=7

[-] 0 points by BetsyRoss (-744) 12 years ago

You just go ahead and figure that out. Go ahead.

[-] 2 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

A sales cap would revive the world economy.

[-] 0 points by BetsyRoss (-744) 12 years ago

Sales cap or profit cap! What if you don't make your money selling anything?

[-] 2 points by FriendlyObserverB (1871) 12 years ago

Everyone is part of the global economy.

[-] 1 points by BetsyRoss (-744) 12 years ago

Then it requires everyone to fix it.