@quark, I'm not say people don't do with less than they can possible have, but few rarely will operate at a cost to their own personal welfare. In your first example, think about it, did your father ever go so far that he was not paying essential household bills, or not putting food on the table for his family. I'm not saying that not being that selfless is wrong, in fact I would consider it foolish for people to be that giving (even most parasites won't take so much from its host that it kills the host and as a result kills itself... sorry for the crude metaphor, not trying to be offensive, just writing this off the top of my head). In my example I was saying a farmer would happily take a higher price for his produce than he needed to pay his overhead. I realize that the same farmer would do so rationally, because who knows how well his next harvest will pay, he may need that surplus cash in the next year or so.. but I digress.

In your second example you talk about business that run as co-ops, again do the co-ops charge the minimal, maximum or a somewhere in between price for their product. Minimal price would cover their overhead and raw material expenses (enough to stay and business and make payroll), a maximum price would get them the best return on their investment (a healthy profit) a somewhat in between price would get the company would pay expenses, re-investment of funds in the company, perhaps afford raises for all employees, not harming their community, but certainly making a profit off the community.

But regardless, I'm not trying to argue for what are the best/worst economic practices for individuals. I was merely presenting a simple model to make my point. I believe its human nature to provide basic essentials, food, shelter etc.. on top of that it is also human nature to want just a bit more, not because we're all greedy, self-interested bastards, but in reality I think its kind of a hardwired instinct to "save for a rainy day", however since we no longer live in caves and roam the plains, we store up way more than we could possibly need, without really thinking about it. Rather its food, cash, or funny cat lamps. Self preservation is human nature, and preparation for the future calamities I think is ingrained, but more often than not individuals allow that instinct to override all rational concept of their needs vs. wants. I don't think its intelligence based, perhaps social evolution is a major part of it, whichever, it's a major underlying issue. If we don't recognize it or try to understand it, how will we ever be able to work with it?

BTW, I'm in no way trying to make any allusion to your father not being noble or selfless. I truly believe that he is, please look at my comments subjectively, academically. I'm trying to be as emotionless as possible in my thought process, but not callous.

Tea-Party sign:

If ignorance is bliss, this would be Disneyland...

Harry Ashburn,

This is as much as I can tell you, from the study:

""The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," Pereira said in a statement.

Insulin, which helps the body metabolize sugar, is made in the pancreas.

Reagan and Congress enacted the largest set of tax breaks (aimed almost purely at the wealthy) in history THEN shifted the burden of paying for crap onto the middle class by doubling wage-based taxes. Reagan suspended Anti-Trust enforcement to further concentrate wealth. This created an ever growing rift between the classes.

Bush43 largely wiped out taxation of MNE and focused IRS enforcement onto middle and lower classes . . . AND let's not forget the "Paris Hilton NEEDs to just sit by the poolside when Grandpa finally kicks it" tax exemption crap.

Clinton and Reagan worked fervently to dismantle the tariff system design by Alexander Hamilton to protect our economy and our ability to protect ourselves.

The Investor Class burns the largest the large portion of our nation's resources . . . Our Commons . . . AND refuses to pay for it. The largess . . . The corporate welfare and tax breaks for folk who build nothing and horde wealth have created REAL "welfare kings and queens". Yes, they and YOU have built the economic royalty that FDR warned us about by using our portion of our tax dollars.

The real reason you should feel anger is they astroturfed you into doing it for them.

Happy tax day.

harry ashburn,

Wow --- that almond anti-cancer thing sounds great. As a cancer survivor, I have since eaten almonds and apricots almost every day (tho I didn't know there might be a palliative connection.)

However, I have recently been undergoing some major tests and am under observation. (I am keeping my fingers crossed.) Eat many more almonds?

Here's My Tea Party Sign:

Where were we during the George W. Bush Administration?!

@Speedbird: "HERE HEAR" to that!

@Harry:

If Wikipedia can truly be believed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_here 'redirects' to Hear Hear.

How about 1 of 2 signs...

1: Tea Partiers = Slaves Fighting For The Master Class

2: Real Americans Join The Coffee Party!

Thom,

Supertasker? Your brain can still concentrate on one thing at a time. Supertasker = ADD (in my humble opinion, as one also with ADD.)

I'm pretty sure its "HERE HERE!"

re: educated tea-partiers: I saw such an article, I think it was the Nation or maybe Truthout yesterday.