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Comment by codedokode | Hacker News Reader

Isn't this how capitalism works? The riches buy out or grab all the valuable assets and everyone else has no choice but to work for them.

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No, because the rich in this case didn't buy the assets, they inherited them from people who were gifted them for being lieutenants in an invading army 1000 years ago. England is still an occupied country, and the only solution is to revolt against the occupiers.

And when the revolutionaries win, they become the iron fists of social injustice and they, their children or grandchildren get revolted against.

The circle of life ...

What’s the temporal cutoff to your line of reasoning? England was invaded continuously by the Norse before William conquered in 1066. Should we appropriate private property from people who have Norse surnames?

No, we recognise that all pretty much land in England has been appropriated by force from the original inhabitants, and that all claims of ownership are tainted by blood.

Agree. Except expand your sentence to include the entire world, rather than just England.

The only solution? Forgive me some skepticism...

A Georgist Land Value Tax would be a much better solution.

I've never seen a concrete or comprehensive description of the Georgist scheme.

Say I own 5 acres of undeveloped forest, valued by the market at $100k. Can I immediately know what my tax bill will be, given the tax rate in my district?

What happens to my tax bill if I cut down the forest and build a factory? Or a grocery store? Does my tax bill remain unchanged?

What if I do nothing with my woods, but the guy owning the adjacent lot opens a supermarket? I'll pay more then, right? How is it calculated?

Is there a Georgist story about incentives to preserve natural ecosystems?

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