Saturday, November 29, 2008
Bad Ideas That Don't Work
1) Terror Attacks
The events in Mumbai over the past few days have been just horrible. I can't say I understand it all, but it seems that the theory behind it was to harm Americans and Jews. What is the gain in acting out of retributive hatred? In what way does that advance any goal, even an illegitimate one?
2) Giving Huge Amounts of Cash To Corporations
Our federal government is clearly in "bailout" mode. Personally, I'm against the bailouts, but it looks like they are going to happen. Given that, the government has two choices-- give the bundle of cash to those at the top (who run the failing companies), or to those at the bottom. For example, with the auto industry we could either (1) give $25 billion to the company management, or (2) give the $25 million to Americans to buy US-built cars. For example, you could offer a $7,000 tax credit to people for buying a fuel-efficient American car. I prefer the latter. Consider this-- if you give the money to the consumers, they will buy cars, and the companies will continue to compete to fulfill that demand. This bailout would reward a specific skill set in company management-- the ability to build cars people would buy. If, on the other hand, you give our tax money straight to management (as a loan or a grant), they will use that money for other things that will produce a much shorter-term gain. We have seen this already, as the bailout money to banks has largely gone towards their acquisition of other banks, not loans.
3) Breaking down the doors of Wal-Mart in a materialistic frenzy
As you probably heard, shoppers in New York busted down the doors of a Wal-Mart and trampled to death the employee who was opening those doors. Ugh.
The events in Mumbai over the past few days have been just horrible. I can't say I understand it all, but it seems that the theory behind it was to harm Americans and Jews. What is the gain in acting out of retributive hatred? In what way does that advance any goal, even an illegitimate one?
2) Giving Huge Amounts of Cash To Corporations
Our federal government is clearly in "bailout" mode. Personally, I'm against the bailouts, but it looks like they are going to happen. Given that, the government has two choices-- give the bundle of cash to those at the top (who run the failing companies), or to those at the bottom. For example, with the auto industry we could either (1) give $25 billion to the company management, or (2) give the $25 million to Americans to buy US-built cars. For example, you could offer a $7,000 tax credit to people for buying a fuel-efficient American car. I prefer the latter. Consider this-- if you give the money to the consumers, they will buy cars, and the companies will continue to compete to fulfill that demand. This bailout would reward a specific skill set in company management-- the ability to build cars people would buy. If, on the other hand, you give our tax money straight to management (as a loan or a grant), they will use that money for other things that will produce a much shorter-term gain. We have seen this already, as the bailout money to banks has largely gone towards their acquisition of other banks, not loans.
3) Breaking down the doors of Wal-Mart in a materialistic frenzy
As you probably heard, shoppers in New York busted down the doors of a Wal-Mart and trampled to death the employee who was opening those doors. Ugh.
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Yesterday I saw a story where an Illinois Chrysler Dealer was giving away a slightly used PT Cruiser with every car bought... sort of a "Buy One Car, Get One Free" kind of thing.
If the dealers that sell the cars want to give them away for free, how good can they be, and what does that say about these companies???
I have nothing to say about what is happening in India as I do not see the point of terrorism. It accomplishes nothing.
As far as the Walmart thing, I blame the stampede for sales on stupid Xboxes and the like. FOr a year I worked at a place where I answered calls all day from customers whose video games malfunctioned or they did not get to buy the latest Nintendo or Sony Playstation things. These were Grown Up Adults screaming into the phone, making threats and/or peeing their pants over getting bumped off the list to buy something where each store got maybe one unit. It was complete insanity. I don't get those games AT ALL. Most of them are hideous stuff like Grand Theft Auto or Halo or whatever.. People say they are just harmless fun. Mrs. PacMan was Harmless fun, you know? Donkey Kong was harmless fun. Racking up points for how many dead bodies you can pile up is neither harmless nor fun.
I wonder how many future terrorists there were in line at 3 AM at Walmart?
If the dealers that sell the cars want to give them away for free, how good can they be, and what does that say about these companies???
I have nothing to say about what is happening in India as I do not see the point of terrorism. It accomplishes nothing.
As far as the Walmart thing, I blame the stampede for sales on stupid Xboxes and the like. FOr a year I worked at a place where I answered calls all day from customers whose video games malfunctioned or they did not get to buy the latest Nintendo or Sony Playstation things. These were Grown Up Adults screaming into the phone, making threats and/or peeing their pants over getting bumped off the list to buy something where each store got maybe one unit. It was complete insanity. I don't get those games AT ALL. Most of them are hideous stuff like Grand Theft Auto or Halo or whatever.. People say they are just harmless fun. Mrs. PacMan was Harmless fun, you know? Donkey Kong was harmless fun. Racking up points for how many dead bodies you can pile up is neither harmless nor fun.
I wonder how many future terrorists there were in line at 3 AM at Walmart?
A lot to think about on this thread.
Mumbai: First, it shows how inept the security forces in India are at dealing with a prolonged terrorism event. They usually face a bomb at the train depot that kills a bunch of citizens and they clean up the bodies. Americans and or Western Europeans are easy targets because we stick out like a sore thumb in Mumbai. It also shows how easy it is to pull off something on this scale and that it fractures the security forces into sub-units (less effective). Yes, the terrorists planned for a while. I bet they will find out some of these terrorist worked as bell boys and room service people at the hotels giving them intimate knowledge of the corridors, stairways, etc...
They spoke on NPR about the attacks influencing the upcoming elections in India. I know my old boss(Indian) in NY and his family are angered by what has happened.
Cars:
Interesting idea, but only if you NEED to by a new car right now and perhaps the tax credit should be tied to the overall price of the car. GM still needs to make a more attractive car.
Walmart Stampede:
My condolences to the family of the person who lost their life to this madness.
I don't get this.
First, I have no intention of standing outside a store in the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning to race for the xBox, Playstation, WII or whatever. Second, we are in an economic crisis. I guess these people still have the disposable income to buy this stuff. Tells me something about their priorities. Get their names and make sure they don't receive any BAILOUTS when they can't make their morgage or credit card payments in January. I like Tyd don't understand the attraction or obsession with video games. Get off your collective backsides and go outside and exercise, take a walk, read a book.
Sorry, I don't have much sympathy for the laziness and greed of Americans this time of year.
Mumbai: First, it shows how inept the security forces in India are at dealing with a prolonged terrorism event. They usually face a bomb at the train depot that kills a bunch of citizens and they clean up the bodies. Americans and or Western Europeans are easy targets because we stick out like a sore thumb in Mumbai. It also shows how easy it is to pull off something on this scale and that it fractures the security forces into sub-units (less effective). Yes, the terrorists planned for a while. I bet they will find out some of these terrorist worked as bell boys and room service people at the hotels giving them intimate knowledge of the corridors, stairways, etc...
They spoke on NPR about the attacks influencing the upcoming elections in India. I know my old boss(Indian) in NY and his family are angered by what has happened.
Cars:
Interesting idea, but only if you NEED to by a new car right now and perhaps the tax credit should be tied to the overall price of the car. GM still needs to make a more attractive car.
Walmart Stampede:
My condolences to the family of the person who lost their life to this madness.
I don't get this.
First, I have no intention of standing outside a store in the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning to race for the xBox, Playstation, WII or whatever. Second, we are in an economic crisis. I guess these people still have the disposable income to buy this stuff. Tells me something about their priorities. Get their names and make sure they don't receive any BAILOUTS when they can't make their morgage or credit card payments in January. I like Tyd don't understand the attraction or obsession with video games. Get off your collective backsides and go outside and exercise, take a walk, read a book.
Sorry, I don't have much sympathy for the laziness and greed of Americans this time of year.
Well, video games keep my family in the cheddar...so no bad thoughts there, but otherwise I agree re: holidays seeming to bring out the worst in us as Americans...
If Chevy would bring back the Camaro of 1965...then we could talk buy American.
If Chevy would bring back the Camaro of 1965...then we could talk buy American.
Regarding Enthusiastic Wal-Mart shopping:
1. Maybe the economic crisis isn't really that much of a crisis for folks (like me) who shop at Wal-Mart, or
2. Maybe the folks who cannot control their spending habits and got us into this economic crisis have learned no lessons and are enthusiastically prepared to squander any bail out money.
1. Maybe the economic crisis isn't really that much of a crisis for folks (like me) who shop at Wal-Mart, or
2. Maybe the folks who cannot control their spending habits and got us into this economic crisis have learned no lessons and are enthusiastically prepared to squander any bail out money.
# posted by 
: 8:09 PM
: 8:09 PM
Anon -
I vote for #2.
I shop at WalMart, Target, Sams and even the Dollar store on occassion. I just don't go there to partake in a Black Friday or Dec 26 feeding frenzy.
I vote for #2.
I shop at WalMart, Target, Sams and even the Dollar store on occassion. I just don't go there to partake in a Black Friday or Dec 26 feeding frenzy.
December 26 is my birthday, so I admit I sometimes hit the stores on that day . . .
The Mumbai violence is so upsetting, because it's fueled by hate and fear. Even though they targeted spots frequented by tourists and people of other religions, the majority of the people killed were regular Indians--probably even some Muslims. It seemed they killed indiscriminately. It's nonsensical and horribly tragic . . .
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The Mumbai violence is so upsetting, because it's fueled by hate and fear. Even though they targeted spots frequented by tourists and people of other religions, the majority of the people killed were regular Indians--probably even some Muslims. It seemed they killed indiscriminately. It's nonsensical and horribly tragic . . .
# posted by : 11:15 AM
: 11:15 AM << Home
