Korea's GDP Per Capita Was $29,891 In 2017

Korea has the 11th largest economy in the world.

Why is most of the Korean media complaining that raising the minimum wage to a little under $8 an hours going to wreck small businesses and the economy?

Why are they not complaining about unfair labor laws and the growing divide between the rich and poor?

I supposedly live in a half million dollar apartment (condominium). It is very small and run down. I pay about $400 a year in property tax. The extremely wealthy with multi-million dollar homes and buildings pay about the same rate as I do.

As I stated before, I would gladly pay much more in property taxes, if the rich pay their fair share. Supposedly, raising property taxes will cause property values to plummet and ruin the economy according to most Korean media.

Property taxes are between 0.15% to 0.50%, but are levied on the official property value which is about half of the real value. So, in effect it is about 0.08% to 0.30%.

Corporate tax is 10% on income under about $180,000, and 20-22% for amounts over $180,000.

Businesses get preferential electricity rates with regular consumers getting shafted with up to triple rates for peak periods. Consumer rates are much higher than business rates. 

I could go on and on. 

Korea Herald: Moon administration pushes real estate tax hike, dithers financial income tax

Joongang Daily: Tax changes for next year narrow the income gap

Editorials complaining about wage increases, reduced working hours and other reforms. Very similar to the tone on TV media, very pro-wealthy.

Joongang Daily: Runaway government

Korea Herald:  Substantial, not conceptual, growth

Sending Drug Users To Jail Only Makes Things Worse

Drug users are not criminals. Many rich conservatives abuse prescription drugs, but they don't go to jail. I knew some corporate CEOs that did this. None ever got arrested for abusing prescriptions. Unlike some of my pot using friends.

Time: Want to Win the War on Drugs? Portugal Might Have the Answer

In Korea, conservatives regard pot users as liberals and will do anything to stop pot use, including jailing people. Seems like the US. Using drug laws to suppress freedom.

US Companies Doing Great, Wages Are Not

Sounds familiar. Companies doing well with wages stagnating seems to be the new norm.

Companies seem to be rewarding shareholders and management with ever increasing payoffs, and hellbent on keeping wages down. 

Newsweek: TRUMP’S TAX PLAN IS FAILING TO GIVE AMERICAN WORKERS THE WAGE GROWTH HE PROMISED

Korea already tried tax cuts for the wealthy and businesses several times in the past. It only exasperated the divide between the rich and poor. 

I'm spiritual, not religious

I believe in some sort of God, but not religions.

Korea Monthly Trade Surplus Average Is $50 Billion

For the past seven months, Korea's monthly trade surplus has been about $50 billion.
GDP has grown about 3% this year. Seoul is one of the most expensive cities to live in.

Yet, according to most Korean media, the economy is in shambles due to the increase in minimum wage to about $7 an hour.

The economy for small mom and pop restaurants and stores is bad, with many closing. However, this was the trend before increasing the minimum wage. The problem lies with high rents, high credit card transaction fees and very unfavorable franchise contracts (many would be illegal in the US). Also money does not flow downward into the local economy from the major corporations that export. They are not hiring, not investing and not paying their fair share of taxes. They are not even paying full price for electricity. Just hording money and buying real estate.

Property taxes are appraised according to the official value of the property which is a about 60% or less of the actual value and the rate is probably under 1%. So, in effect, rich property owners pay less than 0.6 percent. Rent is not even properly taxed. There is a tax brake if you report rental income. That's why the rich all have property, and why they hate property tax increases.

Something is not right in Korea.

At least, some are now seeing justice. During the past conservative administrations, Korean courts ruled against labor unions and laborers. Under the present progressive administration, a few are finally seeing justice.

Hankyoreh: Samsung leukemia and KTX cases finally nearing a close after more than 10 years

And to combat high credit card transaction fees, many mobile transaction services have appeared.

Hankyoreh: Seoul Pay to allow direct wire transfers for everyday transactions

There is legislation pending to extend the protection period for renters, so that landlords cannot raise rents exorbitantly, to ten years. There were cases where landlords would raise rents by 1000% or more, after the present protection period of 5 years was over.

I know many landlords who run businesses directly in their buildings, because there are no renters. Since they own the building, it is profitable for them to run businesses. For renters, the rent is so high, they cannot make any profit.

No Time?

Theorists say there are areas of the universe with no time. Centers of black holes. Time before the supposed "Big Bang". Time stands still at the speed of light.

There could be a lot more things that transcend, or are independent of time.

Maybe we should get used to not having time. Pun intended. Just to exercise your thoughts.

Cosmic Expansion Rates?

According to how you try to measure the expansion of the universe, there are two different rates of expansion.

As you know, I doubt the Big Bang. I wonder about cosmic expansion.

Maybe cosmic expansion can be explained, in part, by all those photons, gamma rays and other stuff trying to shoot their way out of the universe. They have no mass, but do exert pressure. Like black holes, they have an element of timelessness about them. Time theoretically stops or becomes non-existent at the center of black holes. Anything traveling at the speed of light does something similar, I think. They say before the big bang, there was no time.

Is intention a form of energy? I suppose so.