[GarryPaterson]

Beignets

[Ehlgamxf]

Obama isn't wrong. No outcome is ever one individuals effort (except Alby's failure). I thought we moved past the fictional works of Horatio Alger.

[mikeydesignzinc]

[Lt_Apple]

It doesn't take much effort to point out the many ways in which what his father and uncle accomplished was aided by the efforts of others, including government. Government built the roads used to get to the store, government ensured that the food sold at the store was safe to eat, government provided a relatively safe environment in which to run such a business so that it wasn't ransacked by vandals every night, etc.

And other companies provide the pens and pencils you use to fill out sheets, microsoft makes your computers, that doesn't mean that it wasn't your individual effort that led to something's creation.

[aAaBecker]

Why is it that some business owners are multimillionaires and other work tirelessly to scrape by with a small supermarket? I think that's the point, and the President did not intend to downplay the fact that business owners work hard.

[Qxsumehj]

And other companies provide the pens and pencils you use to fill out sheets, microsoft makes your computers, that doesn't mean that it wasn't your individual effort that led to something's creation.

It means your individual effort would have been insufficient.

[u8MmZFmF]

Of course. What Obama should have said was, "You didn't build that alone." I imagine he'd probably rephrase that given the opportunity. Alternatively, he could have meant (but definitely did not clearly articulate), "You didn't build the conditions upon which your success depends." And that's undeniably true. No one knows how to make a pencil, yada yada.

Elizabeth Warren said something very similar a few months ago, and it certainly seemed to me like Obama had co-opted her argument. She definitely thinks that businesses are beneficiaries of government intervention and all that crap.

[Pvfcadbh]

Whatever, computer software. The point stands.

[Kristoferson]

Is this typical for US college kids ?

Microsoft does make computer hardware, just not desktop/laptop stuff.

[Uttephabeta]

Of course. What Obama should have said was, "You didn't build that alone." I imagine he'd probably rephrase that given the opportunity. Alternatively, he could have meant (but definitely did not clearly articulate), "You didn't build the conditions upon which your success depends." And that's undeniably true. No one knows how to make a pencil, yada yada.

Without a doubt. The fun part is that Obama is a "clever" guy, but has now made a Bushism or Rumsfeldian logic statement.

[MadMark]

No one argues that a a civil society is not a necessary precursor. However lost in that precursor is that the hand of government really was built on the taxation of the free market. Thus the free market provided all.

[njfeedd3w]

No one argues that a a civil society is not a necessary precursor. However lost in that precursor is that the hand of government really was built on the taxation of the free market. Thus the free market provided all.

Colonialism, feudalism, etc etc are decidedly non free market and yet there were businesses and merchants and taxes. Free markets are not a precursor to all economic activity or governmental authority.

[Yarmark]

Colonialism, feudalism, etc etc are decidedly non free market and yet there were businesses and merchants and taxes. Free markets are not a precursor to all economic activity or governmental authority.

Missing the larger point. Regardless of the economic system capitalism, fuedalism, etc. where did the governemental resources derive from, the economic interactions of the people and a portion thereof.

However in the context of the Friedman discussion he was in fact speaking towards free markets.

[Xfxhbcxp]

good stuff

[detskpit]

What is the significance of that observation?

[uchetrip]

Point taken. They truly are the heroes.

[ruforumczspam]

One of the ways in which people can work together manifests itself as the free market; another way is government. Lorizael - where does the government's money come from? It comes from free enterprise. It comes from taxation on the earnings of individuals, and on businesses. It comes from the hard work of these businessmen.

Obama's right here - Government didn't build it - the people of the united states did.

[GogaMegaPiska]

This will matter as much as the op's comments.

[thargeagsaf]

Nah, you don't need a state for that - corporate owned police forces and militas can handle the security for the companies in the areas they control. That is true free market

indeed. that's why businesses are rushing to somalia.

[Buhoutsoupfap]

Lorizael - where does the government's money come from? It comes from free enterprise. It comes from taxation on the earnings of individuals, and on businesses. It comes from the hard work of these businessmen.

Obama's right here - Government didn't build it - the people of the united states did.

People in the government work too. Thanks.