Half-Time Monday Recap

On Monday the 31st, we discussed our e-portfolios, learned how to start a movement, and discussed property;
To start a movement, a fearless and confident leader is necessary. Even more important is the first follower. That person transforms the lone leader into the beginnings of a group. Once the first follower (who must be treated as an equal) joins, a second, third, fourth, et cetera will follow. Once there are upwards of 3 people in the group, more will follow as there is less risk.

**Document (with screenshots of FB/Twitter/etc.) how you are spreading the word about your service**

John Locke's Labor Theory of Value: A person can own what is in the natural world (common, public land, things 'owned' by the Earth) by mixing labor with it or mixing yourself with it. For example, if you pick apples in a public orchard, the said apples are yours because YOU put in the work to pick them.
Locke's exceptions: There must be enough and as good for others (you can't pick every single apple and leave none for everyone else).
No waste! (Don't be greedy; you can't pick 35 apples when you only need 20 and let the remaining 15 rot)

Here are some of our miscellaneous notes from the lecture:
To give/sell something, that thing must be yours.
Once barter/trade economies got complicated, Locke believed that currency and a government was necessary ONLY to regulate property and property disputes.
Who decides a thing's worth?;
Capitalists: A market economy, supply and demand should determine prices/worth.
Socialists: The government should decide and enforce currency (incl. weights, measurements etc.) and regulate prices.

Question(s) posed in class, answered;
How far should the government go in regulating wealth? Wealth caps? Inheritance? Flat tax?
"I don't think we should tax millionaires/people with wealth more because it's not fair or just. Whether their money was inherited or earned, it's their money. Everyone should be taxed equally whether you are working class or wealthy. This makes me think of a past discussion we had in class about banning the color yellow. What it came [sic.] down to was, people would ban the color yellow on the reason that people didn't like it. If we tax millionaires more its like we're punishing them for something that may or may not have control over."
"I believe that a progressive tax is just and fair. For example, a flat 10% tax on a $20,000 income ($2,000) is so much more detrimental than $20,000 to a $200,000 income (They still have 180,000). People making 6+ figures can (typically) spare some money to help America and participate in our democracy, whereas working class families making barely-over-the-poverty-line do NOT have that kind of cash to spare. After groceries, electricity, bills, college tuition, etc., there just isn't money to spare. A flat tax is unrealistic. Take Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan, studies have shown that over 86% of Americans would be paying more taxes than are being paid now. The "99%"/middle class, lower class, and the impoverished make up that 86% and we just can't afford it. Also, in response to my group-mate who sees taxes as punishment, I disagree. I think taxes are good. Taxes are necessary and one of the many ways we participate in a democracy." :)

What do you think?