Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Dutch Central Bank Sale Announcement Imminent? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sea_urchin who wrote (19674)	11/23/2003 9:59:27 PM
From: philv	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81193

truthout.org "Donkeys of Mass Destruction" I can see it now. Lethal Donkeys with missile launchers strapped to their backs. It would be even funnier if it wasn't tragic.

To: sea_urchin who wrote (19674)	11/24/2003 8:19:50 AM
From: mcg404	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81193

Searle, Thanks for the book suggestion, i'll check it out. < Unfortunately, the criticism which I leveled at your references can also be used against him... A naive romanticization of the medieval lifestyle...of subsistence farming, village dwelling, minimal international trade, illiteracy, poverty, stagnation, immobility, and superstition, but I do not think, as Schumacher seems to, that this development would be something to be celebrated.> Sorry, but this is not meaningful criticism. This is absurd exaggeration. I haven't read the schumacher book (so i don't know what he is advocating) but to imply that Berry's suggestion that we examine the need for limits on free trade and industrialization will require, or lead directly to, deprivation is just plain silly (imo). We are only allowed to choose between 'the rustic village living' or 'all the benefits of industrial society on demand.' This strike me as the ranting of (can i make this analogy one more time) a religious zealot - live the 'one right way' (ie, complete, total industrialization) or suffer in hell (deprivation). (And by the way, i hadn't noticed that our love affair with total globabilization/industrialization/specialization had been so successful in eliminating poverty, illiteracy and superstition. And i'm also amused that subsistence farming, village dwelling and minimal international trade made the list of deprivations...i hadn't realized they were intrinsically bad.) Interesting in more about Walmart? Here is a multiple part series from the LA Times (sorry, requires registration which i hate) latimes.com This series is a reasonably balanced attempt (imo) to show some of the benefits derived from Walmart's remarkable efficiency, as well as some of the hidden costs that are not readily apparent in their low prices. Such as, "Surveys by the Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers — the two unions most threatened by Wal-Mart — show that many of their own members shop at the discounter." Ignoring (i hope) any discussion the pros/cons of unions, I think the factoid above illustrates how difficult it can be to connect the dots and understand the relationship between the natural consumer urge for the best bargain and the large number of ramifications of that shopping decision. In my view, these decisions are significantly more important that the hobson's choice currently available at the voting place (hence my lack of concern about being politically disenfranchised). When we empower walmart with our dollars we are 'electing' them to make decision about the world we live in, such as, should there be unrestrained free trade with china, in a much more significant way then any conventionally elected official. Ok, so I realize this is not an original idea. But don't you think the union officials would spend more time educating their member on these relationships than worrying who to support in the next election? <You might also choose to buy a copy of Schoemacher. I see, at Amazon, one can get one for a few dollars.> And support the ultimate corporate behemoth? Just kidding. (g) I kind of like amazon and have cast my 'vote' for them a number of times. have you heard about their next text search feature? "An ingenious attempt to illuminate the dark region of books is under way at Amazon.com. Over the past spring and summer, the company created an unrivaled digital archive of more than 120,000 books. The goal is to quickly add most of Amazon's multimillion-title catalog. The entire collection, which went live Oct. 23, is searchable, and every page is viewable." wired.com but even here, should we not ask ourselves what we might be losing with this we have gained? John