(NSR) Republican Humor

[1080Rider]

Originally posted by iceman
Yeah, well, when they outsource all the lawyering to the Phillipines I bet you'll sing a different tune!

Nah, it'll go to india, they speak english there. It'll be just like all our helplines now, you'll call for an atty and talk for hours w/ abib, then you'll hang up more puzzled than when you called. The good news is I'm a canuck too so I can prolly relocate easily.

[bad_roo]

Originally posted by 1080Rider
Roo, we do have antitrust laws in the states. It is actually not easy to conspire w/ other people in your industry...

Sorry Ice and Roo, I respectfully disagree w/ your position on free market capitalism.

Ba-da bing. Maybe this lawyer will learn something today.

[up an down]

Originally posted by 1080Rider




I think we've all seen what happens when the gov't gets involved in the market and holds prices artificially high or low. Businesses start to go under and can't make ends meet. I honestly think the market works. There will eventually be some companies that make big profits, but that's to be expected. If its on their own ingenuity then I say all the better. It forces other companies to make better products. If it comes from predatory pricing or through conspiring, that's illegal and is not the market at work.



Edit: up and down- how much of your tax $ do you really think goes to the homeless person. I recall a study a long time ago (about 10 yrs) that showed about $.25 goes to the recipients of benefits programs. Where does the rest of the $$$ go? To the salaries of the people oporating the program. I'd rather see not-for-profit programs working and having closer to $.70 of donations go to the needy.

where the heck did i ever mention homeless people or the tax dollars spent on them in my posts???????????????????

the government IS involved in the market,, and just the most obvious example, have you ever heard of the federal reserve bank?? companies fall over each other to pay bribes to get federal contracts, isn't that part of the market?? i am not accusing the government of "holding prices high or low", that's a completely different issue, but just fyi the government still keeps uranium prices artificially high so that there is a guaranteed supply for the bomb makers, who by the way are part of the market and whose sole customer is the federal government.
and speaking of conspiring,, why did cheney and the white house fight in court ( so far successfully) to keep their proceedings of the big energy companies (including enron)meeting with cheney in 2001 at white house secret??????????

edit: damn it looks like my question mark key is spastic

[Grange]

Originally posted by iceman
I rarely get involved in these debates: I know what I think, and I know how unlikely it is that I will change anyone's mind.

But monster, I will say this - I don't begrudge the guy in Malaysia his job. If he is willing to make lugnuts for a dime a day, so be it. I do however object to a system that gives a competitive advantage to countries that suppress organized labor, which either do not have or do not enforce environmental regulations, which do not have or do not enforce worker-safety programs, etc.

Is the answer to remove these restrictions from U.S. industry? Or is the answer to insist that goods imported to the U.S. be produced in accordance with standards that would be required here?

In other words, is total capitalism simply a boon to consumers and workers in low-wage countries or is it a sytsem that will inevitably lead to worker oppression, environmental destruction and the enrichment of the few at the expense of the many?

You tell me.

Good points. I'll also add that while the prices may not have gone down on some items have not up either, which according to many larger companies (i.e. Walmart) is because of the cheaper cost to produce these goods.

This may seem great for the consumer to keep the prices from rising, but the problem is the consumers are the same people who lost their job in order for the company to lower the production costs. Now with the consumers losing jobs their ability to spend money is decreased, and thus the larger companies can't sell their good in the quantities they did before. Therefore the price goes up.

Losing jobs overseas will have a greater impact than just lost jobs. Lost jobs means less money being put into the economy, which means slower recovery.

I'm not an economist, but it sounds good.

[Honc]

Originally posted by iceman
Yeah, well, when they outsource all the lawyering to the Phillipines I bet you'll sing a different tune!

Hilarious. I bet it never happens tho.

U&D: I agree with a lot of your argument, but I also think that we have recently entered a new era in business regulation and consumer safety. Judging by recent corporate scandal and subsequent legal action (much of which was red-flagged by the government) anywhere from Tyco to Con Edison, coupled with the pending overhaul at the NYSE and elimination of the Specialist system, this country is not going to accept being misled by big business. I believe that the regulation is going to come from within, but the government has no choice but to support it.

The fact that Big Dick Cheney was once an exec at Halliburton is troubling.

This post is a bit of a brain fart, apologies. It's friday and it's getting to the end of the day.

[1080Rider]

Up and down: I think I was responding to a post of yours earlier- something about businesses thinking gov't owes them, I don't remember... sorry its friday.

Roo- did you mean this atty may learn something or this atty may learn something??? Which one of us, 'cause I don't think I can learn anything more.

[hobo]

Originally posted by monster dump.
And roo, no one forces anyone into the lugnut industry. I like Nikes. Would even consider buying from K2. It's young people spending their parents money on college tuition that protest the working conditions in Malaysia, not the wokers there who are happy to have a job paying twice the going wage. Who do these protesters think they are? It's so out of touch it makes me think of Antoinette and "let them eat cake".

I've never been one for signing manifestos, building shanty towns, or dating women who don't shave their legs. However, I think you're wrong here monster dump. I spent several years working in China and had a good view of the practices in some of the factories shipping products to the US and Europe. Volkswagon, IBM and other companies that build their own factories overseas do provide good wages and good working conditions. However, the factories that make your shoes, plastic forks, schoolbags, etc. usually aren't run by Volkswagon or IBM. They are run by scumbag local contractors, who contract with semi-legit regional middle-men, who contract with legit-appearing consultants, who are hired by multi-nationals to connect them with cheap local manufacturing capacity.

The problem with this setup is that the US/European company has no contact with the people making its products, and no view of what goes on in the factories. And, at least in China, what goes on in some of the factories is slavery. Not tantamount to slavery, not in bad working conditions, not for below-market wages. Slavery. What happens is that a family in the sticks has a teenage girl. Girls in the rural communities, when married, enter their husbands' households, and thus take care of their husbands' parents in their dotage. Her own parents are left alone (remember, there's a one child policy), and the retreat of Communism has left precious little in the way of a social safety net. So her parents can take the risk of sinking into poverty when they hit their golden years, or they can sell said daughter and put a little aside for their old age while getting the chance to have another kid (& 50/50 chance that the next one is a boy). Trust me - this is not a rare event. I've seen factories with barbed wire and thugs carrying shovel handles.

This is what got Cathy Lee Gifford in trouble a couple of years ago. She had no idea that her stuff was produced in bad conditions because there were three levels of middle-men between her and the shopfloor.

The company I worked for in China was one of the big audit/consulting firms. For a short time, we had a business of certifying the conditions in factories that contracted to multi-nationals. However, we quickly decided that we were putting our people at risk, and stopped. There are some very dangerous people making some of our household products.

Do we have the right to legislate conduct in other countries? No. But we damned well have the right to require our own citizens and companies to adhere to certain codes of behavior. After all, not many people are arguing that the US and Australia are out of line when they prosecute pedophiles returning from junkets in Thailand.

Just my two cents.

[up an down]

honc, i hope your're correct about a "new era", i probably shouldn't be as pessimistic as i am,, too easy to look on the bad side and ignore the positives when so much horrible crap happens.
and thinking of positives, i may get out to vail again in late march/early april.. prices get much cheaper there starting march 28, and east vail is in my dreams.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Originally posted by 1080Rider
Sorry Ice and Roo, I respectfully disagree w/ your position on free market capitalism.

A sweatshop on every corner would be the result of true capitalism--thank god it doesn't exist in the 1st world (which is why it is the 1st world).

[KQ]

Originally posted by Will

So to bring back some levity, here's a swing at my own party.

http://www.wonkette.com/images/fuckable-tm.jpg

Too funny - I was watching MSNBC - Hardball the other night (what a joke) and the woman on the show just couldn't quit gushing about how cute Edwards was.

It was most pathetic and disgusting.

[Dexter Rutecki]

But that's why all the ladies voted for Dan Quayle, right? Right? [/crickets chirping]

[Clack]

Some good points on all sides. Everyone likes to wax intellectual.

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http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jan/01262...ges/sunwax.jpg

[drums]bu doomp BING[/drums]

[Honc]

u&d: agreed on all counts. let's talk about skiing again.

[1080Rider]

Not quite sure why everyone assumes that busineses are bad. Why would every business ultimately become a sweatshop? Does nobody know any family businesses? I had a friend who's dad started out w/ 1 garbage truck. W/in 20 years it was a BIG business. He never forgot his workers (prolly about 60 of them). He paid to have every truck painted once a year. He had a party every summer w/ clowns for the kids and hearty food for all the workers. He was a truely good guy and EVERY person working for him was thankful for the generosity and the good work environment. They made handsome $$$ and this only made them work harder/better. I think that in a free market there would be a lot of consciencious businesses. I do agree that the gov't needs to monitor shit and make sure things don't get out of line.

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by 1080Rider
I think that in a free market there would be a lot of consciencious businesses.

Like the multinational corporations such as Monsanto of today.

I do agree that the gov't needs to monitor shit and make sure things don't get out of line.

Pinko!

[dipstik]

Originally posted by iceman
I will continue to pick on you as long as you continue to be abrasive, self-righteous and ill-informed. I also went to a prep school (clearly a better one than you attend, judging by your literary skills or lack thereof), so that has nothing to do with it.

As to your crack about my spelling of "moderator", the board is set up so that it is impossible to put the word "moderator" in the "member type" field. Try it and see. So, "moderater" is there to fool the unwary and annoy the humorless. Looks like it worked just fine in your case.

Face it, the only reason you hate me is because of my conservative view points. That's the only reason, and it's blatantly obvious. If you were after grammar DINMS would have been long gone. Your just upset that I don't believe the same things you do, and you get all pissy and have temper tantrums about it. Its why you try and take personal cheap shots at me. What, you ACTUALLY think how I write on this message board reflects how I write an essay or something equally important? I'm sorry, but I don't spend hours reviewing my posts before I send em out. I have a life outside of my computer. I have to admit though, editing my post for the sole purpose of proving that my grammar isn't up to par with yours if the funniest thing you've ever done. It just proved to me what a tool you are. I can't believe you actually wasted all that time fixing all my grammatical mistakes. Hilarious! Still though, to me it looks like all you do is sit around on your computer and talk shit, thinking you deserve some sort of respect because you found powedermag first. Please guy, don't make me puke.

When you get right down to it though, I'm here to talk about skiing, and to read about others stoke. I'm not here to defend myself from some asshole who prides himself by ragging on 17 year olds and their political beliefs. I don't really give a shit what you think about me, Iceman, I really don't. I don't know what the fuck your problem is, but you need to leave me the fuck alone.

[Dexter Rutecki]

As I recall, dipstik, you did give ice and the rest of us good reason to come down on you when you first showed up. Not that I can remember exactly what it was now, but I do remember something.
So take it easy.
Also, I sent you your discount things yesterday.

[dipstik]

Originally posted by Dexter Rutecki
As I recall, dipstik, you did give ice and the rest of us good reason to come down on you when you first showed up. Not that I can remember exactly what it was now, but I do remember something.
So take it easy.
Also, I sent you your discount things yesterday.

You right, I proabably did, but I can't remember now.

But anyway thanks for those coupons, I owe you one.

[iceman]

Originally posted by dipstik
Face it, the only reason you hate me is because of my conservative view points. That's the only reason, and it's blatantly obvious. If you were after grammar DINMS would have been long gone. Your just upset that I don't believe the same things you do, and you get all pissy and have temper tantrums about it. Its why you try and take personal cheap shots at me. What, you ACTUALLY think how I write on this message board reflects how I write an essay or something equally important? I'm sorry, but I don't spend hours reviewing my posts before I send em out. I have a life outside of my computer. I have to admit though, editing my post for the sole purpose of proving that my grammar isn't up to par with yours if the funniest thing you've ever done. It just proved to me what a tool you are. I can't believe you actually wasted all that time fixing all my grammatical mistakes. Hilarious! Still though, to me it looks like all you do is sit around on your computer and talk shit, thinking you deserve some sort of respect because you found powedermag first. Please guy, don't make me puke.

When you get right down to it though, I'm here to talk about skiing, and to read about others stoke. I'm not here to defend myself from some asshole who prides himself by ragging on 17 year olds and their political beliefs. I don't really give a shit what you think about me, Iceman, I really don't. I don't know what the fuck your problem is, but you need to leave me the fuck alone.

I will pick this apart later, just saving it so you can't delete it. G'night, sweetie.

[dipstik]

Originally posted by iceman
I will pick this apart later, just saving it so you can't delete it. G'night, sweetie.

why would I delete it? that would kind of ruin the whole point...

[iceman]

Dipstik, you're right. I feel bad picking on a kid. Despite the fact that when I was a kid, my hobby was picking on old farts. So, sorry. But what I had lined up for you was pretty good. Check it out:

"Wait - Newsflash - It has come to my attention that it is unseemly for me to pick on you, no matter the reason. It's sort of a bulldozer vs. tortoise scenario, and that never works out well at all for the tortoise. In this scenario, I am not the tortoise.

How about:

1. You read more
2. You spout less

And, assuming conditions number 1 and 2 (see above) are met,

3. I leave you alone.

I really think this is a fair deal, and one you should take, especially considering the shrill, semi-psychotic tone pf the final paragrapph of your last post.

But it's up to you."

Whew, that was a close one. I'm sure glad I didn't have to say that to you. I feel much better now. Do you like bunnies? I like bunnies.

[dipstik]

Originally posted by iceman
Do you like bunnies? I like bunnies.

bunnies can be cool. except dust bunnies. kittens too, but not bonsai kitten's, thats just messed up.

[iceman]

Originally posted by dipstik
bunnies can be cool. except dust bunnies. kittens too, but not bonsai kitten's, thats just messed up.

Good job, my man. Don't be a dick and I won't treat you like one. Simple enough.

[SledNeck]

Good job, my man. Don't be a dick and I won't treat you like one. Simple enough.

Translation: As long as you dont challenge my liberal views, I wont treat you like a dick.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Sledneck needs reading lessons.