Down the Tubes with Dubya

[strong island]

dunno how to quote here but -

Naw, I can't make cookies, my cooking tastes like shit. My husband does all the cooking in my house, I clean up and do the washing up.

Anyway I'm too busy practicing my axe kick for my upcoming tkd class - RRRRAAAAARRRRR!!!!!! *crash* *bang* *wallop* and other old batman series sounds.

Economics 101 -
Seeing as Strong Island doesn't want to enlighten us, I thought I might.

Capitalism - in its modern form originally outlined by Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations. Bsed on the principles of supply and demand setting prices, wages etc. Incidentally, Smith imagined society as a network of independent contractors, not a society of wage-slaves. he imagined EVERYONE would be self-employed. Scott Adams actually talks about this quite a lot in some of his books, although he's not exactly a prominent economic theorist.

Socialism - concentrates on the added value that results from labour, and points out that a few individuals amass the profit from other's labour. theory is that ALL added value comes from labour, hence labour is the only important commodity. The theory of socialism doesn't include JUST political socialism, it's also relevant in terms of how we percieve economic theory. Marx may not have known shit about politics and human nature, nevertheless, his ideas are interesting from an anlytical point of view, also his view on conducting historical research, and on linguistics, particularly sociolinguistics...

Social Democracy - realises that unbridled capitalism is ok if everyone starts from a level playing field. However, one generation on, this isn't so, and so the dynamics of the cream rising to the top put forward by Smith don't apply any more, and you get a dissatisfied underclass. Hence it being in everyone's interest to allow equality of opportunity.

The Economist some time ago had an interesting article on the subject of economic politics that said that socialism missed the main point - that inequality was not the problem, but people living in poverty was. Make sure no-one is living in abject poverty they have no way out of and many social problems will disappear. If you exclude people from social participation or refuse to give them the chance to better their situation you create an underclass with nothing to lose -> crime, violence, anti-social stone-age tribal behaviour.... I can't remember which issue, it would have been about 6 months ago. Give them something useful and beneficial to do and it keeps people occupied and in society.

There you have in, economics 101....

Good job...you covered page 1 of Chapter 1...You get a star next to your name.

Little tip...buy some Entenmann's Milk Chocolate Cookies and put them in the microwave for 40 seconds...then tell your hubbie you made them. He'll love em.

 

[musclebrains]

Sorry if I hurt your feelings I was just kidding. Sorry mang. Good luck finding a job.

He didn't say it hurt his feelings. He said it renders your argument pointless.

 

[the nature boy]

Bush claims he is a free trader.
**flip flop**
Tariffs on steel imposed.

>>>>>Bush it taking care of American industry...thats his job.

A new government agency is not needed.
**flip flop**
A new government agency is needed, afterall.

>>>>Agency is needed or atleast reorganization. Again Bush trying to protect Americans.

wrong on point one, he saved about 3000 jobs in the steel states because they are also "swing states". it was a total political ploy, and will cost many more jobs in the long run because steel prices will go up. Companies that buy steel have to pay more, which equals layoffs in the long term.

and in terms of added government creation, he supposed to be making government smaller. but as you say it's for the protection of americans. However the legislation passed that infringes on our rights, if not unchecked, will lead us towards a totalitarian state.

 

[Longhorn85]

In Dubya's case, we're supposed to chuckle at his incoherence and then climb on board -- as if what we are climbing on board won't tranform itself over night.

An occasional blunder doesn't make him incoherent, it makes him human. In fact his policy is crystal clear, and yes, watch open-mouthed as the G8 climb on board.

 

[the nature boy]

You're right, that wouldn't be clever, that would be an act of pure genius!

you must be easily impressed.

 

[musclebrains]

Bush claims he is a free trader.
**flip flop**
Tariffs on steel imposed.

>>>>>Bush it taking care of American industry...thats his job.

Bush says Arafat should stay.
**flip flop**
Arafat should go.

>>>>He never said he should stay permanantly...he tried to give him a shot. Clinton kissed Arafat's ass and Arafat took advantage.

A new government agency is not needed.
**flip flop**
A new government agency is needed, afterall.

>>>>Agency is needed or atleast reorganization. Again Bush trying to protect Americans.

Bush contends that he will never allow stem cell research.
**flip flop""
Bush allows stem cell research.

>>>>Bush is allowing research on EXISTING stem cells. This will help us understand this new technology.

Well thanks for documenting Ryan's claim. What you're missing is that most of these would entail a complete philosophical shift.

 

[strong island]

He didn't say it hurt his feelings. He said it renders your argument pointless.

OH...ok.

 

[musclebrains]

An occasional blunder doesn't make him incoherent, it makes him human. In fact his policy is crystal clear, and yes, watch open-mouthed as the G8 climb on board.

Occasional. So occasional entire websites are devoted to documenting them.

 

[Longhorn85]

And once Bush took office, he sits down with his advisers and asks them to "tell me about Europe

Any smart executive surrounds himself with talent. I wasn't there, and neither were you, but I'm sure Bush received and continues to receive briefings from subject matter experts like Condolezza Rich and Paul Wolfowitz rather than rely soley on what he already knew.

Wouldn't you?

 

[circusgirl]

I could post my high school economics textbook ref here, but I doubt Amazon carry irish school textbooks..... Anyway, even if you never did economics in high school, I would suggest you all go read one of these, they are pretty good at explaining things nice and clearly for the non-accountant. (Actually, I studied accounting for 5 years as well, but that's a different story). I do know as much about economics as you strong island, I just disagree with you on what's good for society.

Re cookies - hmmm we don't have a microwave.

We moved into our first appartment that we own recently, and hubbie pointed out we didn't need to spend 50 pounds (80 dollars) on a microwave so I could reheat my coffee, and anyway we didn't have room. I said, but pleeeeze we NEVER remember to take the meat outta the freezer on time.... Anyway, he is off to the US for 2 months soon (work is sending him) so when he comes back I will have put up some more shelves in the kitchen and there will be room for a microwave. We live right next to a DIY superstore, which makes me one VERY happy circusgirl.

However, ready-made cookie dough sounds niiiiiiiice, now, I wonder how I can justify these as a BB food....

circusgirl