Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

False equivalency : A misleading comparison where the comparison targets are forcibly balanced while ignoring relevant differences. For example, claiming that banning guns also requires banning cars. Both cause harm to human life, but guns are designed for lethality and are closely linked to crime, whereas automobiles are meant for transportation and sometimes cause fatalities in traffic accidents as side effects. Comparing these two as if they are the same constitutes a false equivalency. Similarly, saying that apples and oranges are the same because they are both fruits and round is also a false equivalency. We are easily misled by such false comparisons . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Many people in our society invest in bonds . Perhaps you, reading this article, have invested in bonds at least once and are still investing now. Bank deposits are a form of bonds, just not labeled as ‘bonds.’ When you deposit your money in a bank, the money isn’t considered bank money. Interest is paid because the money isn’t withdrawn immediately. When you withdraw your deposited money, the bank must return the principal plus interest. This is essentially a bond. However, the only reason this differs from bonds as an investment asset is that these bank deposits are not traded on the market. If bank deposits were traded publicly, the interest rate would be evaluated in comparison with other deposits, even if the principal remains unchanged. Valuation reflects opportunity cost . This is the transaction value of bonds . When goods or assets are traded in the market, their value is re-evaluated. The core of value is comparison, and the tool for valuation is opportunity cost. That’s why C...

If the price of bread is one dollar, it signifies that the bread has a monetary value of approximately one dollar. Conversely, this indicates that one dollar represents the intrinsic value of the goods associated with the bread. In other words, the values of money and bread (goods) are established through mutual comparison, which also implies that they do not exist independently in the world, as they are assigned absolute values from the moment of their existence. If only comparison can be made, value can be assessed regardless of whether the comparison is mandatory or voluntary, allowing the value to be expressed as a price, which is its monetary value. This suggests that there is no absolute value in the economy, only relative value , and that all values constructed through comparison are subject to fluctuations in price . Consequently, wealth involves the act of preserving or augmenting this relative value while continually exchanging for other goods as a legitimate act of trad...

It is often said that blessings are not merely given or received, but discovered. If you fail to recognize the worth of what you already possess, you may overlook its significance, even if it is genuinely offered by someone. Value arises from comparison; yet a person’s sense of worth must originate from within. It is essential to cultivate self-esteem in order to appreciate and take pride in your own possessions, rather than measuring yourself against others. Only then can you establish the right values... - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”