The Supreme Court May Finally Do Something Right! - Page 7

classicman · 06-11-2008, 09:03 AM

Wow! Cock and pussy all in one thread - this may have to get a NSFW designation.

Shawnee123 · 06-11-2008, 10:10 AM

But but...I thought you guys liked each other in this thread.

Radar · 06-11-2008, 10:37 AM

I don't think we like each other in any thread, though we occasionally agree on an issue or two. I'm sure even you and I agree on a few. I tend to have points of disagreement or agreement with people at different times, though it seems more of the prior than the latter.

Shawnee123 · 06-11-2008, 11:25 AM

I do think there was one thing I agreed with you about; can't for the life of me think of what it was.

headsplice · 06-11-2008, 03:03 PM

Here's a real-life question: since America has, for the past decade or so, meandered down a path of deregulation, and since Radar argues that deregulation is inherently good (I could be wrong, please feel free to correct me), why is that the United States is economically falling behind those countries who have more socialist-type governments, specifically the European Union?

lookout123 · 06-11-2008, 03:27 PM

Regardless of which side of that argument you want to be on ten years is far too short to measure the true economic effect of policies. There is a considerable lag between cause and effect.

DanaC · 06-11-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Regardless of which side of that argument you want to be on ten years is far too short to measure the true economic effect of policies. There is a considerable lag between cause and effect.

I would agree with that. Historically speaking the time lapse between changes in real wages and corresponding societal changes (such as the effect on age at first marriage etc) is about 30 years.

Happy Monkey · 06-11-2008, 04:38 PM

That may be true, but I would expect that the lag between deregulation and the resumption of activities that instigated regulation in the first place is not very long at all.

Radar · 06-11-2008, 04:45 PM

America has not been deregulating. It has been re-regulating. De-regulation means not regulated by the government. Some people stupidly claim that we had rolling blackouts in California or suggest the Enron scandal happened due to deregulation in the power industry. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If we had truly de-regulated the power industry consumers could choose who they bought their power from in the same way they choose who they buy their long distance from. I'll admit the phone companies are still regulated, but not to the degree they were before Bell split up.

If consumers could pick who they purchased power from, we'd never have a single blackout, and our service would greatly improve. When you compare laser eye surgery to the rest of medicine in America you see a stark contrast. Due to a high amount of regulation in the insurance and medical industries, the prices are higher and the quality of service sucks.

Compare that to laser eye surgery which is voluntary so it has almost no government regulations associated with it. Over the years laser eye surgery has gotten better and better and cheaper and cheaper.

The same is true of the computer business. It's largely unregulated.

True de-regulation is great. It means better products and services, and better prices, with more features, more competition in the marketplace, and more innovation. It's the reason a long distance phone call has greater quality with lower prices than we had 30 years ago. The same is true of computers. The same is true of laser eye surgery.

If power companies were truly de-regulated, ANYONE could get into the power business, and consumers could choose who they bought their service from. Also, it would mean hemp was legal because it's the only currently available source of power that could make us 100% self-sufficient without the need of a single drop of foreign oil.

lookout123 · 06-11-2008, 04:48 PM

I think what he's saying is competition without government intervention is a good thing. Can't say I disagree.

Undertoad · 06-12-2008, 06:52 AM

"My mental model of X is that it's perfect! Therefore, if it's not working, the only possible conclusion is that it is NOT X."

This appears to be a basic logic error that appears in all humans.

TheMercenary · 06-12-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

"My mental model of X is that it's perfect! Therefore, if it's not working, the only possible conclusion is that it is NOT X."

This appears to be a basic logic error that appears in all humans.

Radar says, "You must adhere to my doctrine! You must see things my way! I am correct! You are wrong! Hear me now!"

Urbane Guerrilla · 06-15-2008, 01:31 AM

Which doesn't stop him from being right about capitalism. It's based on mutually beneficial transaction.

As in any system, somebody can try cheating -- fraudulent transactions. The cheater might even manage to get away with it for quite some time if he hides cleverly and well. The more rigid the system, the better gaming it seems to pay off, if Communist Party apparatchiks are any example.

Undertoad · 06-15-2008, 07:10 AM

If it's not perfect it must not be X.

50% inflation. Pyramid schemes. 1500 deaths. Bouncing currency values. Widespread destruction of property.

Mutually beneficial transaction. Very good, I read Friedman too. But in the case of a pyramid scheme, who mutually benefits?

Urbane Guerrilla · 06-16-2008, 12:39 AM

Which is why a pyramid scheme is outside the pale of proper capitalistic practice, just like any swindle.

06-11-2008, 09:03 AM	#1
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Wow! Cock and pussy all in one thread - this may have to get a NSFW designation. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

06-11-2008, 10:10 AM	#2
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	But but...I thought you guys liked each other in this thread. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-11-2008, 10:37 AM	#3
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	I don't think we like each other in any thread, though we occasionally agree on an issue or two. I'm sure even you and I agree on a few. I tend to have points of disagreement or agreement with people at different times, though it seems more of the prior than the latter. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

06-11-2008, 11:25 AM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I do think there was one thing I agreed with you about; can't for the life of me think of what it was. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-11-2008, 03:03 PM	#5
headsplice Relaxed Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 676	Here's a real-life question: since America has, for the past decade or so, meandered down a path of deregulation, and since Radar argues that deregulation is inherently good (I could be wrong, please feel free to correct me), why is that the United States is economically falling behind those countries who have more socialist-type governments, specifically the European Union? __________________ Don't Panic

06-11-2008, 03:27 PM	#6
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Regardless of which side of that argument you want to be on ten years is far too short to measure the true economic effect of policies. There is a considerable lag between cause and effect. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-11-2008, 04:38 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	That may be true, but I would expect that the lag between deregulation and the resumption of activities that instigated regulation in the first place is not very long at all. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

06-11-2008, 04:45 PM	#9
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	America has not been deregulating. It has been re-regulating. De-regulation means not regulated by the government. Some people stupidly claim that we had rolling blackouts in California or suggest the Enron scandal happened due to deregulation in the power industry. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we had truly de-regulated the power industry consumers could choose who they bought their power from in the same way they choose who they buy their long distance from. I'll admit the phone companies are still regulated, but not to the degree they were before Bell split up. If consumers could pick who they purchased power from, we'd never have a single blackout, and our service would greatly improve. When you compare laser eye surgery to the rest of medicine in America you see a stark contrast. Due to a high amount of regulation in the insurance and medical industries, the prices are higher and the quality of service sucks. Compare that to laser eye surgery which is voluntary so it has almost no government regulations associated with it. Over the years laser eye surgery has gotten better and better and cheaper and cheaper. The same is true of the computer business. It's largely unregulated. True de-regulation is great. It means better products and services, and better prices, with more features, more competition in the marketplace, and more innovation. It's the reason a long distance phone call has greater quality with lower prices than we had 30 years ago. The same is true of computers. The same is true of laser eye surgery. If power companies were truly de-regulated, ANYONE could get into the power business, and consumers could choose who they bought their service from. Also, it would mean hemp was legal because it's the only currently available source of power that could make us 100% self-sufficient without the need of a single drop of foreign oil. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

06-11-2008, 04:48 PM	#10
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I think what he's saying is competition without government intervention is a good thing. Can't say I disagree. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-12-2008, 06:52 AM	#11
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	"My mental model of X is that it's perfect! Therefore, if it's not working, the only possible conclusion is that it is NOT X." This appears to be a basic logic error that appears in all humans.

06-15-2008, 01:31 AM	#13
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Which doesn't stop him from being right about capitalism. It's based on mutually beneficial transaction. As in any system, somebody can try cheating -- fraudulent transactions. The cheater might even manage to get away with it for quite some time if he hides cleverly and well. The more rigid the system, the better gaming it seems to pay off, if Communist Party apparatchiks are any example. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

06-15-2008, 07:10 AM	#14
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	If it's not perfect it must not be X. 50% inflation. Pyramid schemes. 1500 deaths. Bouncing currency values. Widespread destruction of property. Mutually beneficial transaction. Very good, I read Friedman too. But in the case of a pyramid scheme, who mutually benefits?

06-16-2008, 12:39 AM	#15
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Which is why a pyramid scheme is outside the pale of proper capitalistic practice, just like any swindle. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

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