Inflation

[MAGS1]

Here's the thing: we should have a separation of state and business just like we do with state and religion. Lobbyists only exist because, like I said, we're only a semi-free society and economy. If the government didn't regulate business like it does, then businesses would have no reason to spend millions on lobbying.

If our government followed the Constitution, lobbyists wouldn't exist and politicians wouldn't make all that money. Yes, that would require getting rid of the vast majority of current politicians, and to have politicians waiting in the wings who would reverse things. But that won't happen until more people think and vote that way. But that sends us down another rabbit hole entirely.

I’ll agree to a certain extent but some regulation is necessary in my opinion. Look at the early 1900’s and all the monopolies that existed before the vast majority of government regulations on business existed. And then look at the 1929 crash. There needs to be some regulation or guardrails in place mostly because there are different interpretations of the Constitution because a lot of it is very broad. But we have gone off the deep end as far as regulations go and it does need to be scaled back. But like everything else government related, once it’s in place it’s very difficult to get rid of.

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[wynand32]

I’ll agree to a certain extent but some regulation is necessary in my opinion. Look at the early 1900’s and all the monopolies that existed before the vast majority of government regulations on business existed. And then look at the 1929 crash. There needs to be some regulation or guardrails in place mostly because there are different interpretations of the Constitution because a lot of it is very broad. But we have gone off the deep end as far as regulations go and it does need to be scaled back. But like everything else government related, once it’s in place it’s very difficult to get rid of.

Yeah, I'd debate you all day about so-called "monopolies" and the alleged "robber barons" of the late 1800s/early 1900s. So much of that is pure propaganda perpetrated by the very people we're complaining about there. And the Constitution is actually very clear, when it's read objectively. The federal government has very few legitimate responsibilities, but man, that "general welfare" clause has been tortuously perverted.

But sure, that's going off the rails quite a bit.

 

[wynand32]

Capitalism is a fantastic system. Unfortunately, almost all do not know how to work in it and vote with their money every day. So many think that everything should be free, education, health care, and whatever the deal of the day is. The idea that everyone doing the same job should get the same pay seems ridiculous to me. If worker A produces 1XX dollars of product/day and worker B produces 1/10xx product per day WTF? They are getting the same pay? I like pay for performance and have it seen it motivate mediocre employees to produce more and sometimes even become the highest producers. And I have seen it cause lazy people look for greener and lazier pastures.

When unions get their members raises the only motivation for them is to get their members to pay more monthly dues. I have been both a Union Member and Management. Trust me, when contract time comes the Union guys and the management get together at the titty bars and the deals are made while they are spending your money and you are on the picket line.

I have a young guy neighbor who in 2018-19 could not but brag about his 5% pay increases with the insurance company that he works for. It has been pretty quite over there for the past 4 years. I told him to salt some of that money away cause some tough times were coming, but he has a BS in Finance! Ha! Finance that is what he did.

Anyway, the whole point of this diatribe is vote with your money every day. Pay attention to your investments and think seriously before you spend large amounts of cash or finance a big ticket item. If you don't believe in capitalism look up Larry H. Miller. Then find out what he did. I am sure that he did not do it by being pissed about the cost of things. If anyone gets gouged it is their responsibility to spread the word about who did it to them and cost that outfit a helluva lot of money. Think about it, when you go someplace and the product and service is good, how many people do you tell about it? When you go someplace and get screwed good, how many people do you tell about it? I just got the shaft from a Ford Dealership that I have done business with for 24 years. I am telling a lot of people about it. Especially those that I recommended them to.

Vote with your money and stop complaining. You know the saying a "Fool and his money... ".
Well, if you don't know it by now I guess I might be wasting my time.

Unfortunately, we don't live in a capitalist society. To REALLY send us off into the weeds, by a technical definition, ours is a fascist economy. By that, I mean socialism is public (i.e., state) ownership and control of the means of production. Capitalism is private ownership and control of the means of production (and requires the state only to enforce objective laws against force and fraud). Fascism is nominal private ownership of the means of production but public (i.e., state) control.

That's what we have today, and the tide really turned when we went off the gold standard in 1933. And we know how that turned out.

 

[shogun32]

But like everything else government related, once it’s in place it’s very difficult to get rid of.

“governments’ programs, once launched, never disappear.” He added that the agencies running those programs are “the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” -Ronnie

If Twitter can lose 60-80% of it's staff and work just fine, can't we please try that with Fed Gov and all the army of contractors? You can't tell me the per unit efficiency/productivity of a single gov't worker or the associated contractor is anywhere NEAR that of an ex-Twitter employee.

 

[MAGS1]

“governments’ programs, once launched, never disappear.” He added that the agencies running those programs are “the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.”

Government agencies, death and taxes

 

[PhillyMike]

It’s crazy. For sure. I see you’re in Philly. You might have some more important issues going on there though.

Think we addressed both of the most serious by getting rid of Brian Johnson and Desai/Patricia.
But I never underestimate our collective ability to f-stuff up, so who knows for 2024.

 

[NGOT8R]

@wynand32 correct, those were choices made of my own free will. I definitely would not have worked as a LEO for minimum wage, even though I had determined at a very young age that I wanted to be a detective. While I wanted to help people, I also wanted the ability to earn a fair wage and be provided good healthcare benefits for me and my family.

You are also correct in that the department and our union negotiated salaries and raises. I remember one time (about the half way mark in my career), we had something like 13 recruits graduate from the academy and they had just begun the field training phase, while the department and union were in the middle of contract negotiations. The department came back and said: We can give you guys a raise, but if we do, we’re going to have to lay off the new recruits. Well, that was a no brainer for me, I was not going to take a raise over losing several good men and women, who were simply trying to do some good in the community, as well as provide for their families.

That was a raw deal for your wife and/or any other teacher to receive the same salary, regardless of the quality of their work. The ones that didn’t perform to a reasonable standard should have been let go and someone else allowed to fill those spots. That’s goes for any job.

My wife and I just built a new house 2 1/2 years ago and it was the worst experience we’ve ever had and we’ve done it four times now. The builder and his superintendent allowed subcontractors to do whatever they wanted (shoddy work, late or no show/no call for scheduled warranty appointments etc.). I questioned the warranty manager about this practice and he told me on the low, that the builder was afraid to hold the subcontractors responsible for being professional and doing quality work, for fear that they wouldn’t show up for work as a get back at the builder. How crazy is that? That mess would never have flown with me, if my wife and I had the cash to fund the build ourselves. I would not have hesitated to fired anyone, who failed to perform to a reasonable standard and hired someone else, who wanted and could appreciate having the job. IMO, if you never hold people accountable, they will skate by like a professional figure skater on a victory lap with their arms crossed behind their backs. Screw that! I’m now busier than ever because I take on so much more responsibility around our house after having dealt with so many shady businesses, like pest control, pool maintenance and lawn care etc.

I’m no debater or politician, just a guy who has his own opinions based on real life personal experiences in the 55 years that I’ve been blessed to be alive. The reality is, there are companies, who implement good business practices and companies, who implement horrible business practices. To those, who are doing it right I say, “good on ya.” I’ll put a pin in it right there.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

Unfortunately, we don't live in a capitalist society. To REALLY send us off into the weeds, by a technical definition, ours is a fascist economy. By that, I mean socialism is public (i.e., state) ownership and control of the means of production. Capitalism is private ownership and control of the means of production (and requires the state only to enforce objective laws against force and fraud). Fascism is nominal private ownership of the means of production but public (i.e., state) control.

That's what we have today, and the tide really turned when we went off the gold standard in 1933. And we know how that turned out.

I believe that there would be quite a few businesses that would take offense to being told that they are government owned. I agree that there is too much government control on business. I would submit that the government ownership that you are referencing is the regulation that stifles the production. I mean look at Tesla (Musk) and what he is doing. Kommiefornia is such an unfair business state that many companies are moving to greener pastures. Can't say that I blame them. Buck Knives left many years ago because of the climate (and I ain't talking the weather) there is just so unfriendly. What is happening now with so many people and business leaving Kommiefornia is going to put that state into even worse shape in the future. I will also give you that it is perhaps the most Socialist State in the Union and that it has too many running a close second like Oregon, Washington, Illinois, etc. etc.

 

[wynand32]

I believe that there would be quite a few businesses that would take offense to being told that they are government owned. I agree that there is too much government control on business. I would submit that the government ownership that you are referencing is the regulation that stifles the production. I mean look at Tesla (Musk) and what he is doing. Kommiefornia is such an unfair business state that many companies are moving to greener pastures. Can't say that I blame them. Buck Knives left many years ago because of the climate (and I ain't talking the weather) there is just so unfriendly. What is happening now with so many people and business leaving Kommiefornia is going to put that state into even worse shape in the future. I will also give you that it is perhaps the most Socialist State in the Union and that it has too many running a close second like Oregon, Washington, Illinois, etc. etc.

I think you misread my comment. I specifically said that ours is a fascist economy, one where businesses are privately owned but publically controlled. You're right about California, but that makes it a fascist state, not a socialist state. And it's not alone, as you say.

That's all contrasted with socialism, where businesses are publicly owned and controlled, that is, by the state. That's not what we are. The only exceptions are state-owned "businesses" like Amtrak and the USPS. And then during the financial crisis that started in 2008, the government bought a piece of GM, which made it semi-socialist.

Most important, we're not capitalist, where businesses would be both privately owned and controlled. There's way too much regulation for that to be the case.

And I can't stand Musk or Tesla, which only exists because government provided massive financial support and incentives. He's a fascist villain if there ever was one.

 

[shogun32]

And I can't stand Musk or Tesla, which only exists because government provided massive financial support and incentives

But did he go hat in hand and beg or better yet bribe to get that sweetheart deal? Or did the govt offer him fabulous wealth and grotesque business advantage to advance their statist, collectivist ends on the backs of his greeny weeny cars? If you owned a business would you turn your nose up at billions in subsidies? Apparently no large company of note, or even small ones have any ethics that reject free money stolen at gunpoint from everyone else.

If there any they are very few and far between.

Ford, gm etc al were perfectly happy to continue the farce of ev credits and the whole made up multiples the govt concocted on day one to rig the game. What they should have done was sue the ever.loving bejeepas out of the EPA and forced Congress to own their actions. But once you take that sweet sweet hush money, you're not about to go looking for your spine or moral rectitude.

 

[wynand32]

But did he go hat in hand and beg or better yet bribe to get that sweetheart deal? Or did the govt offer him fabulous wealth and grotesque business advantage to advance their statist, collectivist ends on the backs of his greeny weeny cars? If you owned a business would you turn your nose up at billions in subsidies? Apparently no large company of note, or even small ones have any ethics that reject free money stolen at gunpoint from everyone else.

If there any they are very few and far between.

Ford, gm etc al were perfectly happy to continue the farce of ev credits and the whole made up multiples the govt concocted on day one to rig the game. What they should have done was sue the ever.loving bejeepas out of the EPA and forced Congress to own their actions. But once you take that sweet sweet hush money, you're not about to go looking for your spine or moral rectitude.

Right. The problem is when government gets involved in business. It’s inserting force into the equation, and yes, you’ll find plenty of businesspeople who will take advantage of it. In fact, the environment breeds those kinds of businesspeople.

 

[illtal]

It’s definitely also inflation, just in case you haven’t seen the entire country for the past 3-4 years…

I been here also was in Italy as well. inflation of goods/services on average does not outpace wages there.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

Profits are way up on a lot of stuff. Until we stop consuming at this crazy pace, the prices will stay high. Because we are willing to pay it.

Yep. The same reason some cars have the "market adjustments" that they do.
If the cars sat on the lots long enough, the ADM would get adjusted downward. Give it a year or two and the ADM might go away completely.
But, no, someone always comes along and pays.

 

[Geodudes550]

I think it’s a little silly to blame the consumer for somebody else’s greed when it’s said that the public is to blame for high prices because they pay them. I mean sure, if you don’t like the price of a strut tower brace, you’re not going to die if you don’t buy it (depending on how you drive). But if you don’t like the price of bread what are you gonna do, starve to stick it to ‘em? They can go without you buying bread longer than you can go without bread. With the border being a sieve and all, even if you and your whole family refuse to buy bread there’s another twenty people behind you that think paying $5 a loaf if like paradise. The solution to a collective, large scale problem is rarely an individual one.

If prices are being inflated due to greed, I don’t see a good reason why you can’t prosecute people for that. If the burden of high prices could fall on the consumer, well it could also fall the other way. Would it be a criminal act to deny a thirsty man in the desert your canteen unless he gave you a thousand dollars? I think it would be a crime. I’m sure somebody will say it’s not a crime and somehow the highest form tyranny to say otherwise. Oh and actually, by charging a thousand dollars for a sip, that guy is actually a genius for using his big brain to recognize how he could get rich. You probably think this analogy is silly but it happens a thousand times a day throughout hospitals and veterinarians in this country.

Explain why it should be legal to be a greedy piece of shit? Oh greed is natural or just part of the human condition? So is being a pederast, so you gonna stand up for that too?

“I got mine and f!ck you!” is not a noble thing to say and my visceral reaction to that attitude is the same as if somebody said “check out my 13 year old girlfriend.” Maybe if we all had this reaction then progress could be made, I dunno.

but yeah, prices of everything are getting out of hand. sorry for the rant. I just spent about five grand for a few hours in urgent care so I’m saltier than that IV which was crafted by Gucci himself and I guess they charge by the molecule

 

[dnstommy]

Yep. The same reason some cars have the "market adjustments" that they do.
If the cars sat on the lots long enough, the ADM would get adjusted downward. Give it a year or two and the ADM might go away completely.
But, no, someone always comes along and pays.

And it is interesting how ADM is different from town to town, state to state. If you are willing to travel, you can find a deal.

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