The Cost Of Capitalism vs. Socialism [CBD]

CoyoteBlog writes, I Have This Argument All The Time With The US Forest Service , but it could be with any government agency doing....anything. The pull quote is marvelous, and one that, while we as obsessed conservatives have internalized, is not common knowledge among those who aren't quite as rabid about political philosophy.

from page 114 of the 5th edition (2015) of Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics :
While capitalism has a visible cost -- profit -- that does not exist under socialism, socialism has an invisible cost -- inefficiency -- that gets weeded out by losses and bankruptcy under capitalism. The fact that most goods are more widely affordable in a capitalist economy implies that profit is less costly than inefficiency. Put differently, profit is a price paid for efficiency.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:15 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Wut

Posted by: Bosk at August 29, 2015 06:17 PM (vvt1z)

2 Just look at Venezuela.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:21 PM (PfVjp)

3 Or Greece. Socialism doesn't work. It scares me that Bernie Sanders has such large crowds according to the MSM.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:22 PM (PfVjp)

4 The fact that we are still debating whether or not socialism works is an indictment against all of humankind.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Listen to the Podcast at August 29, 2015 06:22 PM (GEICT)

5 There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at August 29, 2015 06:22 PM (rwI+c)

6 Stretches out. Ahhh.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:23 PM (PfVjp)

7 Pull the string and I'll wink at you
I'm your profit
I'll do funny things if you want me to
I'm your prophet

Posted by: Trumpy at August 29, 2015 06:26 PM (BO/km)

8 Although now that I think about it, people born without eyes would probably be the blindest.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at August 29, 2015 06:26 PM (rwI+c)

9 The fact that we are still debating whether or not socialism works is an indictment against all of humankind.

Magical thinking is a helluva thing.

Posted by: Todd w at August 29, 2015 06:27 PM (lrkg9)

10 Socialism works just long enough to say, "Hey! Look! Socialism works!"; just long enough to make a generation of people who railed against it look like the greedy fuddyduddies the socialists always said they were.

It collapses when the founders of it are dead, so they could go to their graves as self-satisfied heroes.

Socialism that's functioning is like a man who's jumped off the roof of a building and is laughing all the way down, "They said I'd hit a sidewalk! Ha! There's no sidewalk! Look! I'm fine!"

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:29 PM (zpRqk)

11 If you don't have to survive by making a profit why would you? If there is no bottom line you can perform lower than the bottom.

Posted by: freaked at August 29, 2015 06:31 PM (BO/km)

12 Who need toilet paper anyhow?

Posted by: Nicolas Maduro at August 29, 2015 06:33 PM (W5DcG)

13 Capitalism is the worst economic model, except of for all the others.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:34 PM (DUoqb)

14 It's hard to steal effiency yo

Posted by: Barack Obama at August 29, 2015 06:34 PM (5LOno)

15 Who need toilet paper anyhow?

Posted by: Nicolas Maduro

---

See now? It's all part of a plot!

The socialists take us to a point where we have no toilet paper, then the damned Muslims move in and take over, because a nation without toilet paper is home to them.

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:35 PM (zpRqk)

16
I happened to catch Reds on a movie channel this morning -- I had never watched it before.

The insufferable smugness of the socialist / communist "witnesses" to Reed and his doxy's lives made me want to put my fist through the screen.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 29, 2015 06:35 PM (VLTL9)

17 I love you. You love me.

Posted by: Bernie the dinosaur at August 29, 2015 06:35 PM (W5DcG)

18 17 I love you. You love me.
Posted by: Bernie the dinosaur

Psst kids that's not Barney. Barney is purple. That thing is as Red as Clifford the dog.

Posted by: freaked at August 29, 2015 06:37 PM (BO/km)

19 Imma gonna do it right!

Posted by: Ready For Bernie!!11!! at August 29, 2015 06:37 PM (Dwehj)

20 Getting ready to watch the Jets vs The Giants. Just not sure why?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:37 PM (DUoqb)

21 Getting ready to watch the Jets vs The Giants. Just not sure why?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:37 PM (DUoqb)

Mets with Chinese takeout?

Posted by: Vendette at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (TEpA2)

22 Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:37 PM (DUoqb)

Hoping that both lose?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (Zu3d9)

23 Getting ready to watch the Jets vs The Giants. Just not sure why?

Posted by: Nevergiveup

You're a football fan. It's what you do.

Posted by: Geico commercial at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (W5DcG)

24 NGU, sorry for that.

Posted by: Vendette at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (TEpA2)

25 channeling my friend from Ohio But but it works in Sweden and Germany!!! Just ignore that Sweden and Germany have an advantage of being full of Swedes and Germans

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (NGd+i)

26 Hoping that both lose?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (Zu3d9)

Something like that.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:40 PM (DUoqb)

27
Federal AutoMatch .22 LR 40 gr SLD Rimfire Ammunition - 325/box $18.36
http://bit.ly/1JDO2DT

Federal Champion Target .22 LR 40 gr SLD Rimfire Ammunition - 50/box $2.61
http://bit.ly/1JDO7aG

Posted by: Grump928(C) at August 29, 2015 06:42 PM (rwI+c)

28 Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:29 PM (zpRqk)

That short-term thinking drives me crazy, and is widespread among leftists. "See? SF works! It's socialist, and doing just fine!"

No, it isn't. SF is broke, is overrun with homeless nutjobs, faces demographic collapse (with more dogs than children). By itself it would go the way of Venezuela, but in all things it takes time.

But leftists persist in advocating putting everything on MasterCard, and the crowing about how the doomsayers were wrong wrong wrong. Until the MasterCard statement comes ...

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 29, 2015 06:42 PM (oKE6c)

29 16: Never saw it but then I think Warren Beatty is overrated. Dr. Zhivago is much better film about the benevolent Bolsheviks.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:42 PM (NGd+i)

30 With Fredo having essentially nationalized the medical System, and trying to nationalize almost everything else, are we still a capitalistic Country or we on the down slope to socialism?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:43 PM (DUoqb)

31 Let's not forget corruption. The bigger the government involvement the bigger the corruption where allocated funds vanish or are spent on incompetents. Such increased costs kill off inefficient businesses.

Posted by: Warthog at August 29, 2015 06:43 PM (/9qEC)

32 25 channeling my friend from Ohio But but it works in Sweden and Germany!!! Just ignore that Sweden and Germany have an advantage of being full of Swedes and Germans
Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (NGd+i)

That, and that we pick up the cost of keeping order in the world that allows commerce to continue unimpeded. All those shipping lanes? Thank the U.S. Navy.

If someone picked up our defense, we'd get an immediate break of ca. 10% in the Federal budget. Think that would cheer up the economy?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 29, 2015 06:44 PM (oKE6c)

33 30 With Fredo having essentially nationalized the medical System, and trying to nationalize almost everything else, are we still a capitalistic Country or we on the down slope to socialism?
Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:43 PM (DUoqb)

Europeans now consider us as another socialist country, and let's face it, they oughta know.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 29, 2015 06:45 PM (oKE6c)

34 NGU, you ask so many obvious questions.

And Jets v. Giants. Yuck.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 06:45 PM (3kBFI)

35 I happened to catch Reds on a movie channel this morning -- I had never watched it before.

The insufferable smugness of the socialist / communist "witnesses" to Reed and his doxy's lives made me want to put my fist through the screen.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars

---

Last week I watched "Big Jim McLain" on TCM.

It's the antidote for you! John Wayne and James Arness hunting down communists! Awesome!

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:46 PM (zpRqk)

36 I'm awaiting the Redskins/Dirty Scum Sucking BBirds. I'm a big Redskins fan tonight! Fuck Baltimore.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:46 PM (NGd+i)

37 25 channeling my friend from Ohio But but it works in Sweden and
Germany!!! Just ignore that Sweden and Germany have an advantage of
being full of Swedes and Germans
Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (NGd+i)

Same thing with crime. Europeans express horror at our crime statistics, not realizing that we are in effect two countries: inner cities, and everywhere else. The murder rate for white Americans? About the same as Belgium's, i.e., in the middle of the European league tables.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 29, 2015 06:47 PM (oKE6c)

38 25 channeling my friend from Ohio But but it works in Sweden and Germany!!! Just ignore that Sweden and Germany have an advantage of being full of Swedes and Germans
Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (NGd+i)
---
For now.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at August 29, 2015 06:47 PM (jR7Wy)

39 You will have to pry the TP from my cold dead hands. Unless you get shot first.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:49 PM (PfVjp)

40 25 channeling my friend from Ohio But but it works in Sweden and Germany!!! Just ignore that Sweden and Germany have an advantage of being full of Swedes and Germans

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:39 PM (NGd+i)

And Greece!! oh wait...

Posted by: buzzion at August 29, 2015 06:49 PM (zt+N6)

41
The painful ugly truth is that one cannot argue with socialists. They believe it's the "right" thing to do. Economics is not allowed in the discussion because "math" is part of the foundation.

Please hand me that piano, as Carlin used to say. The big Ponzi scheme falls apart real fast as soon as the lies are discovered - you know like Social Security. Wow. Almost as bad as Wilson and the Income Tax.

Posted by: GBruno at August 29, 2015 06:50 PM (u49WF)

42 Also...

Re: "Big Jim McLain"... the bad guy is Alan Napier (Alfred from the old "Batman" show). If that's not a bonus, then I just don't know what to do with you.

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:50 PM (zpRqk)

43 The problem is that the more Government regulation you have, the less efficient capitalism becomes...

Especially if you are competing with foreign countries who do not have your level of regulation.

Because to get rid of those inefficiencies, you must be free to innovate... and regulation kills innovation.

Posted by: BB Wolf at August 29, 2015 06:51 PM (qh617)

44 39 You will have to pry the TP from my cold dead hands. Unless you get shot first.
Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:49 PM (PfVjp)

Lord, if this is the day you truly call me home, let me die in a pile of spent brass and unused toilet tissue.

Posted by: Insomniac at August 29, 2015 06:51 PM (mx5oN)

45
Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:42 PM (NGd+i)

When Zhivago's family home was appropriated to serve as a dwelling for many more families besides their own and the building's party apparatchik spoke of how "Your home had emough space to house a dozen families!" I enjoyed Zhivago's response, "Yes, comrades, this situation is now more just." And then he and his wife go upstairs while snickering and asking if the true believers know how ridiculous they sound.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 29, 2015 06:52 PM (VLTL9)

46 That's one movie I haven't seen.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:54 PM (PfVjp)

47 Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 29, 2015 06:42 PM (oKE6c)

San Francisco is a perfect example; since the Socialists took over the Black population of the city has plummeted. They have been driven out by lack of jobs, skyrocketing rents, demographic changes to traditional Black neighborhoods....Yet Blacks in the Bay Area vote reliably Democrat.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (Zu3d9)

48 People are frightened of uncertainty, they want guarantees. But they opt for a dishonest alternative: backing a coercive government that allows them to live at other people's expense. And eventually the whole thing goes to shit.

Posted by: Bruce Boehner at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (P6Jv8)

49 The problem is that the more Government regulation you have, the less efficient capitalism becomes...

----

But some things need regulation, so it has to be handled like surgery: it needs to be so careful that it's beneficial, because it can quite easily turn detrimental.

This is why I dislike libertarianism so, so, so very much. They just don't want to do that "hard stuff" like decide what's beneficial regulation. They want to call it done and have a beer, and when things get ugly say, "Nope! Leave it alone! I know it's falling apart, but ethically you have to let it!"

Running a civilization is for serious grownups who know that there's no autopilot.

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (zpRqk)

50
What BCochran said.

And Jay - about the crime rates and the dichotomy of life in the US.

I still recall the "murder map" in the Metro section of the WaPo, think it used to be every fall. A dot for every homicide. This was in the 80s/early 90s, era of the Marion Berry/crack wars etc., real bad.

Clusters of dots in Anacostia, far NE DC, east of Eastern Market on the Hill, Shaw and other areas that probably now are where you can find $2M restored townhouses. One, or two, lonely dots west of Rock Creek Park. I recall knowing what each one was, two particular years (weird retail hold-up murders, one at an outdoor store near Tenley Circle, the other the Starbucks double-murder across from the Georgetown Safeway, which is technically just outside G'town- a few blocks from where I was living).

That is not too unrepresentative of the national picture that Jay points out. Two worlds.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (QDnY+)

51 Karma's a bitch.

Posted by: Bruce Boehner at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (P6Jv8)

52 >>but it works in Sweden and Germany!!!

Not working so well now that they've opened up their borders to mass immigration from the ME and Africa. So much easier when you have a small, non-diverse community. It's getting messy there with all the new comers who don't or can't work, and who would rather just rape your wife and have his kid beat up your kid after school.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (NOIQH)

53 Capitalism: Those work hard and earn, get what they want

Socialism: Shut the fuck up and get in line

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:56 PM (DUoqb)

54 If we go full-on Red and the shortages beget the inevitable Springfieldian riots, can we as the proletariat seize the means of toilet paper production?

And then ramp up production, and with economies of scale, bring the price down and the supply up, and open up factories, and bring back capitalism?

I want to be the 800-thread-count-quilted-t.p. baroness. I want to be the Standard Oil of shit tickets.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at August 29, 2015 06:56 PM (jR7Wy)

55 I, for one, enjoy very much having 27 choices for every product that I buy. If you're a socialist then get used to long lines for no choice, if there happens to be any on the shelf at all.

Move to Venezuela or Greece or whatever other socialist paradise you want, but don't fvck up "our" country.

Even China gets it. They got a small taste of economic freedom and now they realize what they have been missing.

Posted by: GBruno at August 29, 2015 06:56 PM (u49WF)

56 If you want a great anti-commie movie, check out "I Am David."

Jim Caviezal is incredible (though it's a small role).

It follows the adventures of a 10-year-old boy who escapes from a 1950s Bulgarian work camp and goes on the run.

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 06:58 PM (zpRqk)

57 Even China gets it. They got a small taste of economic freedom and now they realize what they have been missing.
Posted by: GBruno at August 29, 2015 06:56 PM (u49WF)

yeah some economic freedom, but try to have more than one kid. They own your dick and vagina

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:58 PM (DUoqb)

58 And Greece!! oh wait...
Posted by: buzzion

My friend blamed that on the Olympics. Socialists are immune to reason. I like my friend but I steer clear of politics. Its pointless.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 06:58 PM (NGd+i)

59 Karma's a bitch.
Posted by: Bruce Boehner at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (P6Jv

I went out with her in college once.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 06:59 PM (DUoqb)

60 My wife dug up the video of Milton Friedman schooling Phil Donahue about basics of capitalism vs. socialism. I'd dig up a link, but I'm not going to. It's really is a gratifying interview: Phil just sits there w/a sideways grin on his face. He has no way to refute what he says.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 06:59 PM (5buP8)

61 That pretty much sums it up, NGU.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 07:00 PM (PfVjp)

62 "Put differently, profit is a price paid for efficiency."

But the libtard answers, "But profit is evil, so inefficiency is a fair price to pay for not making a profit."

(I don't hink Sowell has expressed himself well here: how can a good thing (profit) be a "price" paid for another good thing?)

Posted by: Adam Smith, I'm not. at August 29, 2015 07:00 PM (FkgZk)

63 They own your dick and vagina

Is that so wrong?

Posted by: Planned Parenthood at August 29, 2015 07:00 PM (Dwehj)

64 Karma's a bitch.

Posted by: Bruce Boehner at August 29, 2015 06:55 PM (P6Jv

So is Barry

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 29, 2015 07:01 PM (DiZBp)

65 A brilliant friend of mine, Norwegian with about fifty patents, says that thanks to socialism he actually made about the same money as the bus driver. Lives here now.

Posted by: Dave, exiled in RI at August 29, 2015 07:02 PM (sTarx)

66
What RKae said.

And CBD that's a nice formulation you quoted. But it leaves out a lot, of course. A lot of ways that tip the scales even further against socialism, I mean.

Loss of freedom. Hard to put a price tag or do a comparison chart on that, but it's probably the most important thing of all.

A thing that America, to a great extent unique so, had pioneered and institutionalized (if that's not contradictory) more than any polity in history.

Now - one wonders just what % of the American electorate even thinks, even occasionally, in terms of freedom. Really. The most important foundation of the best that is/was America - the mindset - is lostfor so many.

The fact that the civil society hasn't burned down, metaphorically speaking, just in reaction to the freshest blows against traditional American freedom (take-over of the frankenstein medical "insurance" market, comically ridiculous social engineering legislation from the courts to re-define marriage and compel compliance with group-think ina way thatwithout exaggeration reeks of the worst of authoritarian and totalitarian societies).

Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 07:02 PM (QDnY+)

67 I don't know if you have these in your state, but Iowa has rest stops with minimal facilities -- vending machines, bathrooms, picnic tables. No food courts, etc., though.

Now, if you have a choice, where would you rather go to the bathroom -- there or McDonald's?

Posted by: AmishDude at August 29, 2015 07:03 PM (JIElb)

68 Or Greece. Socialism doesn't work. It scares me that Bernie Sanders has such large crowds according to the MSM.

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 06:22 PM (PfVjp)

I don't care what BS numbers they put out. The economy is in terrible shape. Barry has treated it like Ike treated Tina. All we need after 8 years of that commie queen is to follow it up with Bernie

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 29, 2015 07:03 PM (DiZBp)

69 When did the word "profit" become dirty?

I cringe when I hear young people bragging about working for non-profits, when their college education was bankrolled by parents making money from profit.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at August 29, 2015 07:03 PM (jR7Wy)

70 McDonald's will let you use their clean bathrooms without you buying anything (unless they're in a crime-ridden city and they have to loan you the bathroom key). Isn't that amazing?

That's what capitalism does.

Socialism tells you to just hold it. And you should hover over the seat.

Posted by: AmishDude at August 29, 2015 07:04 PM (JIElb)

71 "16

I happened to catch Reds on a movie channel this morning -- I had never watched it before.

The insufferable smugness of the socialist / communist "witnesses"
to Reed and his doxy's lives made me want to put my fist through the
screen.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 29, 2015 06:35 PM (VLTL9)"

While there are the few individuals who have conversion experiences, the overwhelming majority of reds stay that way until the day they die. One explanation I have heard for the post WW II German miracle was that Hitler killed most of the Communists and most of the survivors willingly moved to the East to live the dream, leaving normal people in the West to rebuild.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at August 29, 2015 07:05 PM (QHgTq)

72 69: the funny thing about non-profits is that the people running them have gotten very wealthy from it.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 07:05 PM (NGd+i)

73 Read Jane Smiley's Moo, a satire of academic life. Chapter 39 is a classic, wherein we see the disintegration of Eastern Europe through the eyes of these bereft campus radicals. Funny stuff.

Posted by: PJ at August 29, 2015 07:05 PM (cHuNI)

74
Sorry, mean to conclude that the fact that the civil society hadn't gone ape-s**t over just the most recent assaults on freedom in the US does NOT offer much hope that the "freedom mindset" will again shape American life.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 07:06 PM (QDnY+)

75 Milton Friedman on Donahue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EwaLys3Zak

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at August 29, 2015 07:06 PM (t2KH5)

76 "67
I don't know if you have these in your state, but Iowa has rest stops
with minimal facilities -- vending machines, bathrooms, picnic tables.
No food courts, etc., though.

Now, if you have a choice, where would you rather go to the bathroom -- there or McDonald's?

Posted by: AmishDude at August 29, 2015 07:03 PM (JIElb)"

Depends on whether you are looking to void your bowels or looking for anonymous gay sex.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at August 29, 2015 07:07 PM (QHgTq)

77 Sorry, mean to conclude that the fact that the civil society hadn't gone ape-s**t over just the most recent assaults on freedom in the US does NOT offer much hope that the "freedom mindset" will again shape American life.
Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 07:06 PM (QDnY+)

Well yeah maybe, maybe not. Some of Trump's popularity is related to issues just like that. There is hope. Maybe. If there are enough of us to lead. Maybe

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 07:07 PM (DUoqb)

78 ***Socialism tells you to just hold it. And you should hover over the seat.

Islam says squat over the hole.

Posted by: Dave, exiled in RI at August 29, 2015 07:08 PM (sTarx)

79 >>But the libtard answers, "But profit is evil, so inefficiency is a fair price to pay for not making a profit."
Yes, just like Bill and Hillary and so many Congresscritters who managed to become millionaires (or billionaires) doing "public service."

Except a lot of people *are* profiting off that inefficiency. Just imagine how much money is spent facilitating foodstamps vs. a local food bank. All those state and federal jobs created to manage the program - that's a huge cost, money that is not spent on actual food.

Every government program is an opportunity for graft and cronyism - which is just a sneakier means of "profit."

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 07:08 PM (NOIQH)

80 Posted by: AmishDude at August 29, 2015 07:03 PM (JIElb)

I drive between NJ and Ohio occasionally, and I have found that all of the bathrooms, both in the state run rest areas and the commercial fuel/food/bathrooms places are very clean.

<mini-rant> When the fvck did Pennsylvania become so damned long? </min-rant>

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 07:08 PM (Zu3d9)

81 Islam says squat over the hole.
Posted by: Dave, exiled in RI at August 29, 2015 07:08 PM (sTarx)

Well islam actually say 'bend Over" but that's for another day

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 07:09 PM (DUoqb)

82 The socialists with lightning bolts on black collars will take over from the political correctness brownshirt socialists. Don't doubt me on this one. Of course, the mohamadan murdering sonsofbitches take over from the lightning bolt black collared cocksuckers. If, and this is a slender if, we don't stop this happy horseshite. Soon. I know, not a pleasant or clean prospect, is it?

Posted by: Eromero at August 29, 2015 07:09 PM (go5uR)

83 Read Jane Smiley's Moo, a satire of academic life.
Chapter 39 is a classic, wherein we see the disintegration of Eastern
Europe through the eyes of these bereft campus radicals. Funny stuff.
Posted by: PJ at August 29, 2015 07:05 PM
---

I don't think it's funny anymore.

Posted by: America at August 29, 2015 07:09 PM (byEV3)

84 How do we get to economic freedom? Privately owned transports to escape the Earth? The modus operandi is to give people freedom until they produce then swoop in and steal their stuff because that's the law and they have the guns.

Posted by: how do we at August 29, 2015 07:09 PM (PGh+Q)

85 Socialism is armed robbery made to seem like something else.

It is theft masked as sharing.

It always fails.

The elites know this and this is why they are trying to have their cake and eat it too.

Cronyism is a try at keeping enough Capitalism in place to fund the Socialism the elites need to keep themselves in power.

It is a dragon they cannot control.

Posted by: Positive Waves at August 29, 2015 07:09 PM (MQEz6)

86 10 Socialism works just long enough to say, "Hey! Look! Socialism works!"; just long enough to make a generation of people who railed against it look like the greedy fuddyduddies the socialists always said they were.

Yes, but .......

....it works as long as there is a vital enough free market to support it. It has stayed afloat (debatable) here, because we had an almost infinite capacity to support it, within reason. The US harvest was so bountiful that a certain certain level of Socialism could be sustained indefinitely.

Reason is long gone.

Here's an up close and personal observation of Sweden:

http://tinyurl.com/nhaf4ts

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at August 29, 2015 07:09 PM (yMVjf)

87 Depends on whether you are looking to void your bowels or looking for anonymous gay sex.
Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at August 29, 2015 07:07 PM (QHgTq)
----
*types*
*deletes*

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at August 29, 2015 07:10 PM (jR7Wy)

88 When the fvck did Pennsylvania become so damned long?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 07:08 PM (Zu3d9)

I drive to Portsmouth VA every month, so........

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 07:10 PM (DUoqb)

89 channeling my friend from Ohio But but it works in Sweden and Germany!!! Just ignore that Sweden and Germany have an advantage of being full of Swedes and Germans

The fact that they were pretty ethnically unified and are living off of a well-established successful culture and set of institutions doesn't hurt. That, and the fact that they aren't really socialist.

Yes, they have a welfare state that makes us look like pikers, but Sweden taxes the rich at a much lower rate than the US (the middle class is soaked there) and their corporate tax rate is lower (everyone's is).

In addition, Sweden has problems. There was an article (linked here) that said that Sweden sucks and looks to be functioning because it's living off of its history.

Posted by: AmishDude at August 29, 2015 07:11 PM (JIElb)

90 Did Tim Cook Lie To Save Apple Stock: Apple "Channel Checks" Paint A Very Gloomy Picture

Here's hoping that lefty pansy takes a fall over this

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 29, 2015 07:11 PM (DiZBp)

91 Depends on whether you are looking to void your bowels or looking for anonymous gay sex.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole

----

No, really! I wasn't tapping your foot intentionally! I just have a wide stance!

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 07:11 PM (zpRqk)

92 I don't understand how profit is a "cost."
Seems more like a benefit.

Posted by: @votermom at August 29, 2015 07:12 PM (cbfNE)

93
And yep economic illiteracy is breath-takingly widespread.

When the most important economics is extremely limited, simple, and accessible.

Supply and demand, choice, barriers to entry, more open vs. less open markets. All of it utilized, instinctively, by every person who ever walks into a swap meet or farmers market and compares prices, or any person who ever spent 10 min. price/quality shopping online. Yet to apply the same principles to understand the world/economy around them? For most, unthinkable, rare.

And public goods vs. private goods. There *are* public goods, but they mostly are obvious, and most involve physical security (nuclear warheads, nuclear submarines) - and even THOSE are best actually produced by private parties, fulfilling a public contract.

And "externalities". They are rare, but they exist. "Environmental" side effects are legit subjects for regulation - it's just that there are no integrity, science, or common sense any longer used in analyzing issues, so the whole enterprise is suspect and usually nothing but Khmer Rouge cult radicalism with self-dealing/rent-seeking tossed in for good measure.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 07:13 PM (QDnY+)

94 "gets weeded out"

That's racist.

Posted by: Vester Flanagan at August 29, 2015 07:13 PM (JIJNV)

95 88 When the fvck did Pennsylvania become so damned long?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 07:08 PM (Zu3d9)
Yup. It's like the Kansas of the east. It's the place you go through to get to the good stuff. The Appalachian trail goes through Pennsylvania. They call it "the place where boots go to die."

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 07:13 PM (5buP8)

96 80: Heh! Pa is about 5-6 hours long, depending on how fast you drive. I tend to avoid major highways so its about 6 hours for me to get back to the former homestead.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 07:13 PM (NGd+i)

97 94 "gets weeded out"

That's racist.

Not if Margret Sanger says it.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 07:14 PM (5buP8)

98 I don't understand how profit is a "cost."
Seems more like a benefit.

Posted by: @votermom

---

Yeah. Actually, it's bankruptcy that's the downside.

I'm sure we all know the Frank Borman quote.

"Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell."

(Of course, there are so-called Christians who don't believe in hell. And, yes, they are leftists.)

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 07:15 PM (zpRqk)

99 I don't understand how profit is a "cost."
Seems more like a benefit.

If you're not receiving the profit, it's a cost. The socialist looks at the supermarket making a, what, 2% profit and figures you can get a 2% cut in your grocery bill by just cutting the profit.

Posted by: AmishDude at August 29, 2015 07:16 PM (JIElb)

100 92 I don't understand how profit is a "cost."
Seems more like a benefit.
Posted by: @votermom at August 29, 2015 07:12 PM (cbfNE)

Yeah, and when you figure that out, explain to me how taxes are an "investment." George Orwell, paging George Orwell, please pick up the nearest white courtesy phone...

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 07:17 PM (5buP8)

101 Watching the Jets is like the Woody Hayes Ohio State team.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 07:17 PM (DUoqb)

102 Shannon J Miles has been charged with the capital murder of Sheriff's Deputy Goforth. Miles was 30 years old and had a criminal record for assault and trespass. He will fry. Goforth leaves behind a wife and two daughters age 12 and 5.

Posted by: ThunderB at August 29, 2015 07:17 PM (zOTsN)

103
NGU - here's to your/our hope (sips home-made basil lemonade).

Yeah, gotta think that the Trump phenom is at least partly the channeling of free-floating anger and frustration (quite, quite, quite well justified- take note, Beltway dips**ts) on some of these things, incl. America's head-long abandonment of ordered liberty as a basic principle.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 07:18 PM (QDnY+)

104 Shannon J Miles has been charged with the capital murder of Sheriff's Deputy Goforth. Miles was 30 years old and had a criminal record for assault and trespass. He will fry. Goforth leaves behind a wife and two daughters age 12 and 5.

Posted by: ThunderB

-----

Was he a "gentle giant" who had a "bright future" as a rapper?

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 07:19 PM (zpRqk)

105 I forgot who said it, but Capitalism has a bad reputation because its faults are exposed by the system by design, while Socialism has a good one because it's designed to conceal its faults.

Posted by: Socratease at August 29, 2015 07:19 PM (2GbWn)

106

92 votermom

I don't understand how profit is a "cost."

When you purchase something, you pay a certain amount; this is your "cost". It includes the costs of the original raw material(s), manufacturing cost, transportation cost, and the seller's profit (your cost).

Posted by: Arbalest at August 29, 2015 07:19 PM (FlRtG)

107 >>>. They own your dick and vagina

Some of us have owned one of each.

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner hates her junk at August 29, 2015 07:20 PM (P6Jv8)

108
Yeah didn't want to focus on the semantic problem with profit as a "cost", but y'all have that covered it seems.

Among the jaw-dropping terms vying for title of most pernicious orwellian statist-speak: "tax expenditure". One almost face-palms just trying to imagine anyone actually framing things in such an absurd, upside-down way and expecting to be taken seriously.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 29, 2015 07:20 PM (QDnY+)

109 >>America's head-long abandonment of ordered liberty as a basic principle.

Coerced abandonment of everything that is good and normal. It's like waking up and discovering that every day is opposite day.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 07:21 PM (NOIQH)

110 "27 Federal AutoMatch .22 LR 40 gr SLD Rimfire Ammunition - 325/box $18.36
Federal Champion Target .22 LR 40 gr SLD Rimfire Ammunition - 50/box $2.61 Posted by: Grump928(C) at August 29, 2015 06:42 PM (rwI+c)"

"We're sorry, but Natchez Shooters Supplies does not currently service residents of TN, GA or AL.

Well, shit.

Posted by: Cloyd Freud, Unemployed at August 29, 2015 07:21 PM (u5gzz)

111 I forgot who said it, but Capitalism has a bad reputation because its faults are exposed by the system by design, while Socialism has a good one because it's designed to conceal its faults.
Posted by: Socratease at August 29, 2015 07:19 PM (2GbWn)

Kinda like when the media conceals the bad stuff in a communist Country like MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN do the NY Times

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 29, 2015 07:22 PM (DUoqb)

112 The basic flaw with a whole lot of socialist thinking comes from viewing the world as a zero sum game. They believe in a fixed sized pie that can never grow so that every gain for somebody is at the expense of somebody else. I really wonder how they can keep believing that after the enormous increases in wealth during the 20th century.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at August 29, 2015 07:22 PM (QHgTq)

113 Kinda like when the media conceals the bad stuff in a communist Country like MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN do the NY Times

Posted by: Nevergiveup

----

THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED!

Posted by: Walter Duranty at August 29, 2015 07:23 PM (zpRqk)

114 The basic flaw with a whole lot of socialist thinking comes from viewing the world as a zero sum game. They believe in a fixed sized pie that can never grow so that every gain for somebody is at the expense of somebody else. I really wonder how they can keep believing that after the enormous increases in wealth during the 20th century.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole

----

Funny that a lot of Hollywood libs believe in that zero-sum game, which is not true... EXCEPT in their business. Every movie has a set budget, and when the star takes 20 million (aka 10 percent of the budget) it leaves less for everyone else.

Never stops them from doing it, however!

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 07:25 PM (zpRqk)

115 >>They believe in a fixed sized pie that can never grow...

...or shrink, which is what always happens.

It kills me that it's the uber-wealthy that often push the socialist programs the hardest. I can see it from someone who inherited money, because they feel guilty about unearned wealth, but capitalists like Zuckerberg and Gates?

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 07:26 PM (NOIQH)

116 104 Shannon J Miles has been charged with the capital murder of Sheriff's Deputy Goforth. Miles was 30 years old and had a criminal record for assault and trespass. He will fry. Goforth leaves behind a wife and two daughters age 12 and 5.

That just breaks my heart. Play by the rules. Work hard by protecting people and property form the scum of the earth. And get shot in the back of the head by a f'ng retard and professional victim. Annnnd, listen to the silence from his accomplices in DC. Fuck the lot of them.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 07:26 PM (5buP8)

117 When you put this all together you see the only thing that can put an end to this bad ride is complete collapse.

If you prepare well and are lucky, the collapse can be guided such that recovery to a new Republic will happen.

Posted by: Positive Waves at August 29, 2015 07:29 PM (MQEz6)

118
72 69: the funny thing about non-profits is that the people running them have gotten very wealthy from it.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 07:05 PM (NGd+i)

Aside from the ones who already had fat trust funds from Daddy to live off of, which is probably most of them.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 29, 2015 07:30 PM (o98Jz)

119 When the fvck did Pennsylvania

Look at a terrain map. Note the Alleghenies run diagonally across your route. Also note the Turnpike began on railroad right of way, so minimum gradients.

Posted by: DaveA at August 29, 2015 07:31 PM (DL2i+)

120 Bastiat: That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Not Seen

Link in nic.

I: The Broken Window should be required reading in every single sixth grade "social studies" class, and reviewed annually every year in every single f*cking "social sciences"-oriented course afterwards.

Pound the message into the "young skulls full of mush's" heads.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:32 PM (JvPqF)

121
It's suppertime.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:33 PM (beqZz)

122 Thomas Sewell needs to write an economics/social sciences textbook for middle schoolers/homeschoolers.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:34 PM (JvPqF)

123 while Socialism has a good one because

The commies shoot the complainers.

Posted by: DaveA at August 29, 2015 07:35 PM (DL2i+)

124 Thomas Sewell needs to write an economics/social sciences textbook for middle schoolers/homeschoolers.
Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:34 PM (JvPqF)

I hate myself for misspelling "Sowell." I started drinking early, m'kay?

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:35 PM (JvPqF)

125 "It's suppertime. "

Yep. Subway'd it again today.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 07:35 PM (3kBFI)

126
Sowell.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:35 PM (beqZz)

127
Not Sewell, you silly nut.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:36 PM (beqZz)

128 >>the funny thing about non-profits is that the people running them have gotten very wealthy from it.

Amen! Years ago the WashPost did an expose on World Wildlife Fund, and hoo-boy were they up to some serious shenanigans. The pres. sold himself a lovely GA property (on the cheap) that had been donated to protect some birds and built himself a yuuuuuge vacation home. They also sold natural gas mining rights on LA land that had been donated to protect another bird species (resulting in dead birds).
And then there's Planned Parenthood profiting off not-quite-dead babies' organs.

I bet most of the bigger non-profits are just as sleazy.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 07:36 PM (NOIQH)

129 Not Sewell, you silly nut.
Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:36 PM (beqZz)

Yah. Not drunk enough yet.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:37 PM (JvPqF)

130
Ricardo, hate to say it, but I just came home with a pizza from Dino's.

Pepperoni, Steak tips, and pineapple for toppings.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:38 PM (beqZz)

131 Good defense Redskins. Idiots.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 07:39 PM (NGd+i)

132 "Ricardo, hate to say it, but I just came home with a pizza from Dino's. "

Never heard of Dino's. And I don't argue pizza toppings. They're like taste in women.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 07:43 PM (3kBFI)

133
oh, speaking of costs of things...

I saw gas as low as $1.99 here in MA yesterday.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:43 PM (beqZz)

134
Dino's is a local pizza place near me.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:44 PM (beqZz)

135
Cost of Dino's large pizza with 3 toppings: $20.33

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:45 PM (beqZz)

136 Aside from the ones who already had fat trust funds from Daddy to live off of, which is probably most of them.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 29, 2015 07:30 PM (o98Jz)
---

Brony Capitalism.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at August 29, 2015 07:45 PM (jR7Wy)

137
This place is too quiet.

Who died??

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:46 PM (beqZz)

138 oh, speaking of costs of things...

I saw gas as low as $1.99 here in MA yesterday.
Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:43 PM (beqZz)

But the economy is strong, don't cha know.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:46 PM (JvPqF)

139 I saw gas as low as $1.99 here in MA yesterday.
Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:43 PM (beqZz)

O_O

Posted by: @votermom at August 29, 2015 07:46 PM (cbfNE)

140 Dino's is a local pizza place near me.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:44 PM (beqZz)

Local joint, or chain? (Or local chain?)

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:47 PM (JvPqF)

141 Glad I'm not a Redskins fan. Damn, they suck.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 07:47 PM (NGd+i)

142 It is scary but non-profit is like a protective shield these days. There is a wild animal sanctuary near me. They seem to be a booming business. Charge $15 for people to walk around and view the lions and tigers and things and are expanding annually. They'd be a target with all that expansion and daily revenue if they were not a 501 charity but being the non-profit they are golden. They do happen to treat the critters well but being non-profit is very very beneficial to them.

Posted by: PaleRider at August 29, 2015 07:48 PM (iA/+T)

143
Just one store. The owner's name is really Dino.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:48 PM (beqZz)

144 And I don't argue pizza toppings. They're like taste in women.

I was going to argue for anchovies, but now that seems in poor taste.

Posted by: t-bird at August 29, 2015 07:50 PM (FcR7P)

145 Posted by: PaleRider at August 29, 2015 07:48 PM (iA/+T)
---
So you can only show profit by being a non-profit?

Down the rabbit hole we go!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at August 29, 2015 07:51 PM (jR7Wy)

146 Bob went bye-bye.....

[CBD]

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:54 PM (JvPqF)

147 Scorched earth baby!

Erasing all traces.....

[CBD]

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 07:54 PM (5buP8)

148 >>There is a wild animal sanctuary near me. They seem to be a booming business. Charge $15....

Are you talking about the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, CO? They seem to do really good work rescuing abused predators from all over the world (like the 34 lions they just airlifted from Columbia that were to be euthanized after circus animals were outlawed). They did just raise their ticket price to $50. Yikes.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 07:55 PM (NOIQH)

149 Trump wigs in sidebar.

Oh my.

Posted by: Mindy, soon to be Emmie at August 29, 2015 07:56 PM (27veP)

150 148 The penis is an organ

Posted by: MAx at August 29, 2015 07:58 PM (LAliD)

151 139 I saw gas as low as $1.99 here in MA yesterday.
Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:43 PM (beqZz)

O_O

Posted by: @votermom at August 29, 2015 07:46 PM (cbfNE)

Checked gas buddy for my area and my parents, both in Ohio. One spot was $1.99. Most are more, with the high being $2.75. That's after those refinery issues, so those high prices are the typical slow drop of prices. Most seem to be in the $2.15 - $2.40 range.

Posted by: buzzion at August 29, 2015 07:58 PM (zt+N6)

152 Soothie, are you married or batching it?

Posted by: Ronster at August 29, 2015 07:58 PM (0qASP)

153 146. I know -scary isn't it. this place gets donations to go and rescue the lions and tigers and bears when countries like Bolivia ban circus animals and they fly them here and have wonderful big pens where they can live like proper cats and bears. They are not bad but it just strikes me these past few years that if they were not non-profit the commie agitators would be whining about them buying up surrounding land, having the fancy new truck to haul the rescues and so on.

Posted by: PaleRider at August 29, 2015 07:59 PM (iA/+T)

154 Filbert, Sowell's Basic Economics is quite accessible. I bet a lot of homeschoolers could handle it.

Posted by: Mindy, soon to be Emmie at August 29, 2015 07:59 PM (27veP)

155
Single and loving it, Ronster.

Posted by: Soothsayer, now with a low profile tip and ergonomical handle at August 29, 2015 07:59 PM (beqZz)

156 I smell ban-hammer. That was not an organic criticism.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 29, 2015 07:54 PM (5buP

You were more erudite than I.

But as previously noted, I've been drinking.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:00 PM (JvPqF)

157 If you really want to see something depressing about state politicians partnering with "non-profit" foundations to steal $25 billions worth of art, rent "Art of the Steal" (2009) about how the Barnes Collection got hijacked. It's a documentary w/an obvious viewpoint, but it's disturbing nonetheless.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 08:00 PM (NOIQH)

158 Thomas Sewell needs to write an economics/social sciences textbook for middle schoolers/homeschoolers.

Basic Economics should be required reading for college freshmen, which means your average home-schooler could handle it.

Posted by: Socratease at August 29, 2015 08:01 PM (2GbWn)

159 148: Lizzy yes and yikes. That would be pretty steep for a few hours entertainment looking at the wildlife.

Posted by: PaleRider at August 29, 2015 08:01 PM (iA/+T)

160 Benjamin Button on fxm right now

Posted by: MAx at August 29, 2015 08:02 PM (LAliD)

161 Damn, CBD ain't messing around today.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 08:04 PM (3kBFI)

162 Basic Economics should be required reading for college freshmen, which means your average home-schooler could handle it.
Posted by: Socratease at August 29, 2015 08:01 PM (2GbWn)

Here in KC, wife and I frequently listen to the Royals post-game call-in show. One of the callers sounds like he's maybe sixth- to eight- grade level, and calls in after almost every game.

Kid's got game.

Wife and I are in agreement that the kid's probably home-schooled, because he's just got it SO together with his call. I am absolutely sure he's got written notes (probably works with his parents) he's working off of when he calls in.

And the kid's got good observations, too.

All is not lost, if we have enough young people like that kid coming up through the grapevine.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:04 PM (JvPqF)

163 Posted by: Socratease at August 29, 2015 08:01 PM (2GbWn)

It's extremely well written, which makes it easier to understand.

Also his, ""Economic Facts And Fallacies" is a great read that should be accessible to a high schooler.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 08:05 PM (Zu3d9)

164 Great,
Pussy Galore is a lesbo in the next Bond film....

Posted by: Jake at August 29, 2015 08:05 PM (aMeMZ)

165 The penis is an organ

Music lessons paid off.

Posted by: Barky O'Tool at August 29, 2015 08:06 PM (FcR7P)

166 "Capitalism" is simply the economic system that emerges when people are given economic freedom under modern conditions. "Socialism" can only be achieved by taking away that freedom.

Posted by: Caliban at August 29, 2015 08:06 PM (3GFMN)

167 Bob went bye-bye.....

[CBD]
Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 07:54 PM (JvPqF)

It's as if a planet full of trolls suddenly was extinguished . . .

Feels like . . . Saturday.

Thanks, CBD!

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:07 PM (JvPqF)

168 "It scares me that Bernie Sanders has such large crowds"

Here's the problem for the left.

The last six and a half years have been a failure by their own lights and by everyone else's. Sweeping majorities of Americans when polled say that the country "is on the wrong track".

Except it's doctrinally and culturally impossible for the left to admit that (a) Obamanomics is socialist per se, and (b) that Obama is an arrogant dimwit.

So the psychological stratagem for resolving this cognitive dissonance is instead to insist that (a) socialism works just fine, and (b) the only problem was that Obama was prevented from administering a large enough dose of socialism, by racist obstructionists.

Posted by: torquewrench at August 29, 2015 08:07 PM (noWW6)

169 Was Bob banned and ozoned?

Posted by: Positive Waves at August 29, 2015 08:08 PM (MQEz6)

170 >>They are not bad but it just strikes me these past few years that if they were not non-profit the commie agitators would be whining about them buying up surrounding land, having the fancy new truck to haul the rescues and so on.

Oh, for sure.
I just think it's perfect demonstration of doing good work via supporting govt. solutions vs. private solutions.
The people who agitated for no circus animals legislation were no doubt so proud of themselves for "saving" the big cats. Except they didn't. They just made them unprofitable to own, worthless, something to dump or kill.

Meanwhile there's a private organization that - get this - saves bigs cats by adopting them, giving them a huge new home in which to roam, all using private donations.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 29, 2015 08:08 PM (NOIQH)

171 Was Bob banned and ozoned?
Posted by: Positive Waves at August 29, 2015 08:08 PM (MQEz6)

He's an ex-poster.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:08 PM (JvPqF)

172 Papa John's large thin crust with everything. And extra tomato sauce. Only way to go.

Posted by: Eromero at August 29, 2015 08:09 PM (go5uR)

173 Thanks, CBD!

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:07 PM (JvPqF)

That wasn't the full power of the ban hammer. Just a taste.

And.....anyone want a new post? This is old, but there aren't many people hanging around, so it is still manageable.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 08:11 PM (Zu3d9)

174 Papa John's large thin crust with everything. And extra tomato sauce. Only way to go.
Posted by: Eromero at August 29, 2015 08:09 PM (go5uR)

If you've got an Aldi's near you, their take-and-bake thin-crust are usually pretty good.

When we had a Papa Murphy's near us (it closed a year or so ago), their thin-crust pizza was pretty good, too.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:11 PM (JvPqF)

175 You're the man CBD!

Posted by: Infidel at August 29, 2015 08:12 PM (PfVjp)

176 164: link?

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 08:13 PM (NGd+i)

177 That wasn't the full power of the ban hammer. Just a taste.

And.....anyone want a new post? This is old, but there aren't many people hanging around, so it is still manageable.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 08:11 PM (Zu3d9)

You got something curious/interesting in the posting queue?

Seems like a pretty slow night.

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:13 PM (JvPqF)

178 "And.....anyone want a new post?"

Surprise us.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 08:13 PM (3kBFI)

179 Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:11 PM (JvPqF)

Most places around here make classic NY style pies, so I just ask for extra-crispy. They are less doughy and have more interesting flavors.

There are a couple of places that make what is called "cracker crust pizza."

It's exactly what it sounds like, and strangely satisfying.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 08:13 PM (Zu3d9)

180 Surprise us.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 08:13 PM (3kBFI)

Do you drink martinis?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 08:14 PM (Zu3d9)

181 Elbows.

For practice.

Posted by: Positive Waves at August 29, 2015 08:14 PM (MQEz6)

182 "It kills me that it's the uber-wealthy that often push the socialist
programs the hardest. I can see it from someone who inherited money,
because they feel guilty about unearned wealth, but capitalists like
Zuckerberg and Gates?"

I have suggested before that Silicon Valley be subjected to a horse-doctor's dose of the policies that are espoused by the loony-left candidates they back.

A few years of 98% top tax rates with no loopholes should be instructive.

As would the forcible imposition, at bayonet point if necessary, of "disparate impact" standards in all hiring and promotion at these companies, all the way to the C-suite and the boardroom.

Oh, and all data centers and manufacturing facilities must be run exclusively on "clean, green, renewable" power. If that power costs too much or isn't adequately reliable for operations, tough titty.

Yes, this would result in Silicon Valley collapsing. But frankly, much of what the Valley produces these days is less and less useful to America anyway. Would anyone argue that the USA could not continue if Facebook and Twitter vanished?

Posted by: torquewrench at August 29, 2015 08:14 PM (noWW6)

183 Well just saw a trailer for the Batman/Superman movie coming out in 2016.

Just a little to say. Dear Zach, Peter Hyams made 2010 heavily 'topical' as Arthur C. Clarke said and as a result that movie has aged terribly. You have done the same thing with this movie. Enjoy oblivion.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 29, 2015 08:15 PM (JgpFm)

184
James Roday and Maggie Lawson split up. Who knew? Seems as soon as the show ended they went their separate ways. I know that they had a house together and they sold it a couple of years ago. She married someone else, too.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at August 29, 2015 08:16 PM (iQIUe)

185 Oh before I forget. Apparently Zach can imitate the collapse of the WTC towers with the destruction of Wayne Tower in this movie.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 29, 2015 08:17 PM (JgpFm)

186 John Harbaugh is a fucking dick.

Damn the Redskins suck

I feel bad for my co worker. He's a huge Redskins fan, he sounds like he's going to have an seizure and the season hasn't even started.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 08:17 PM (NGd+i)

187 Yes, this would result in Silicon Valley collapsing. But frankly, much of what the Valley produces these days is less and less useful to America anyway. Would anyone argue that the USA could not continue if Facebook and Twitter vanished?

Posted by: torquewrench at August 29, 2015 08:14 PM (noWW6)

Policies that would favor the mom-and-pop and the garage-startup over the mega-corp are pretty much always, IMHO, preferable from the public policy point of view. (From the crony capitalism point of view, the opposite is, naturally, true.)

Posted by: filbert at August 29, 2015 08:17 PM (JvPqF)

188 "Do you drink martinis?"

Not particularly but I'll try one.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 08:17 PM (3kBFI)

189 Well just saw a trailer for the Batman/Superman movie coming out in 2016.

Just a little to say. Dear Zach, Peter Hyams made 2010 heavily 'topical' as Arthur C. Clarke said and as a result that movie has aged terribly. You have done the same thing with this movie. Enjoy oblivion.

Posted by: Anna Puma

----

Damn. That Superman/Baman trailer. I have never wanted to see a movie less.

I remember when superheroes fought villains and saved the city. Now it's all just pretentious hand-wringing about "OMG! What is a world like that has these super-powered people in it?"

I gave up on "Agents of SHIELD." It was turning into that same nonsense.

Damn it! Just fight some bad guys!

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 08:18 PM (zpRqk)

190 John Harbaugh is a fucking dick.

----

Any Harbaugh is a fucking dick.

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 08:19 PM (zpRqk)

191 RKae, what made me really cheesed at that trailer. When Clark's mother told him 'you don't owe them anything.'

That makes Superman one step away from being the capricious tyrant. And inverts everything.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 29, 2015 08:22 PM (JgpFm)

192 Anna Puma:

Spot on!

Posted by: RKae at August 29, 2015 08:23 PM (zpRqk)

193 Not particularly but I'll try one.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 29, 2015 08:17 PM (3kBFI)

Nood.....

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 29, 2015 08:26 PM (Zu3d9)

194 Dino sells pancakes in Myrtle Beach

Posted by: tmitsss at August 29, 2015 08:27 PM (L0IIq)

195 The DC movies seem to be going very grim and dark-- the opposite of the Marvel movies.

I don't think they're going to have the successes they hope they will.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at August 29, 2015 08:29 PM (oVJmc)

196 hand-wringing

That's what stood out for me. How about you STFU and be thankful for Superman? Just be thankful.

Then the trailer gets stupid. Batman is threatening Superman? With what, a taunting?

Posted by: t-bird at August 29, 2015 08:34 PM (FcR7P)

197 Ben Affleck as Batman? Yea, I'll just skip that one.

Posted by: Puddleglum at August 29, 2015 08:43 PM (NGd+i)

198 "Ben Affleck as Batman? Yea, I'll just skip that one."

Difficult to imagine Bruce Wayne boning the nanny.

Posted by: torquewrench at August 29, 2015 08:49 PM (noWW6)

199 92 votermom

I don't understand how profit is a "cost."

When you purchase something, you pay a certain amount; this is your "cost". It includes the costs of the original raw material(s), manufacturing cost, transportation cost, and the seller's profit (your cost).

***********

So, when the seller makes no profit because of his controllable inefficiencies or, changes in materials/manufacturing/transportation costs largely beyond his control, the buyer's total cost is lower?

I'd say that's what a socialist would say. Of course, absent the profit incentive, what's the point of wasting time creating a product you make no profit on?

Socialists don't answer that question, or if they do, they will claim it's a virtue to work for the "community interest".

Of course, many examples exist where profit bears little relationship to efficiencies. If I discover a 2-carat diamond while hiking in Arkansas, for example, and sell it for $20K, capitalism and inefficiencies have nothing to do with my large profit.

Posted by: Adam Smith, I'm not. at August 29, 2015 09:18 PM (FkgZk)

200 "I don't think it's funny anymore.

Posted by: America"

But America, the point is these Marxists realized that they had been stupid all along. It was all a lie! They felt ridiculous, and that was funny.

Posted by: PJ at August 29, 2015 10:18 PM (cHuNI)

201 good thread ... I missed it.

Another issue, our culture/system, subsidizes the more socialist of Europe with our military, and subsidizes China (etc.) by buying their cheap stuff, subsidizes Latin America (and the Caribbean) with $62B in known remittances, and probably that much more in drug money. HSBC was caught mishandling a trillion in transactions, and charged with tens of billions in money laundering, but Loretta let them off with a low fine (on the shareholders ultimately).

But the politicians take the money from the big players, who profit from the cheap labor and low regulation. We like the cheap goods, but we get them partly by the billions in profits from socialist/commie lands, funneled to the oligarchs. By the time the capitalist norms that we adore (from Smith, Friedman, Hayek) balance out those alleged "competitive advantages", we will be under rule of the Goldman Sachs oligarchs, if we aren't already.

The commies plotted long ago to keep the peasants in place, and destroy the American experiment in liberty. The 60's was maybe their coming out party.

Posted by: Illiniwek at August 29, 2015 11:04 PM (6zZ5y)

202 It's even more so aS profit (unlike inefficiency) is not a true economic cost, but a value flow. (I.e profit does not flow into thin air, but to investors)

Posted by: Lolees at August 30, 2015 03:50 AM (/sLR6)

203 Greenies believe we should create the minimum of waste. So they must all endorse capitalism, right? Except they don't understand it.

Posted by: bruce at August 30, 2015 06:16 AM (nzDnf)

204 Efficiency means the least possible waste. In every sense of the word waste. As soon as I understood Adam Smith's supply/demand curve I saw it was the ideal environment conservation principle. I have no idea why others don't see that.

Posted by: bruce at August 30, 2015 06:20 AM (nzDnf)

Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0347 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0109 seconds, 212 records returned.
Page size 116 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.