https://www.google.com/amp/s/nymag.com/ ... biden.htmlWhat would a healthy capitalist response to COVID have looked like?
In World War II, one Chrysler factory in Michigan punched out more tanks than the entire Third Reich. We have not had a full-throated capitalist response because the reality is that the sense of urgency hasn’t been there. If Amazon stock had gone down 70 percent, and not up 70 percent, in the past 12 months? When a van with a smile on it delivers my espresso pods tomorrow morning, someone in a white lab coat would be jumping out and jabbing me. The full-throated capitalist response is not happening here in the United States because the people who control the government have just not endured that much pain. As a matter of fact, it’s more like, “Stop, stop, it hurts so good.”
The dirty secret of the pandemic is that during one of the worst crises in history — as measured by death and velocity of death — you have the people who essentially control the government living their best lives. They die at a lower rate, they get sick at a lower rate, and COVID-19 for the shareholder class has meant more time on Netflix and more time with family — and their wealth has exploded.
I’m not saying that rich people aren’t empathetic. I’m not saying that rich people want people to die. But if this had impacted them — if this had cut their wealth in half instead of doubled their wealth — we would have made the responses in Taiwan and in Singapore and in South Korea look like amateur hour. If Walmart’s stock had been cut in half, instead of going up 50 percent, and if someone walked into one of its stores and refused to wear a mask, Walmart would have Tasered them and arrested them, instead of trying to thread this needle between liberty and public health.
We have decided, in this pandemic, that half a million people dying is bad but the NASDAQ declining would be tragic because it would reduce the wealth of old people. And again, we don’t even want to acknowledge that if the NASDAQ were to get cut in half, that’s bad for the existing rich, but it presents opportunities for the not yet rich.
Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
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Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Another terrific read on late stage capitalism and wealth inequality. A few tidbits from the interview...
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Yeah, fuck that 50-year old. Let’s give the poor 28 year old a shot at their expense. What kind of fucked up, zero-sum-game logic is THAT?Imagine a great little restaurant that goes out of business. You think, Well, that’s a shame. Yeah. It’s a shame for the current 50-year-old owners. But it also means that the real estate and the supplies — dishes, the stove — go down in cost, and it gives a 28-year-old, a recent graduate of a Brooklyn culinary academy, her shot at owning a restaurant. Closures mean layoffs, of course. But new ventures quickly take up the slack. And in an empathetic — or even sane — system, direct payments to anyone affected could carry them through the transition.
It’s more drivel from the far left. The rich are evil. The young are sooooo poor and just not doing well compared to their parents, nobody cares as long as their stocks go up, blah blah blah.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Far left?AZGrizFan wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 2:39 pmYeah, fuck that 50-year old. Let’s give the poor 28 year old a shot at their expense. What kind of fucked up, zero-sum-game logic is THAT?Imagine a great little restaurant that goes out of business. You think, Well, that’s a shame. Yeah. It’s a shame for the current 50-year-old owners. But it also means that the real estate and the supplies — dishes, the stove — go down in cost, and it gives a 28-year-old, a recent graduate of a Brooklyn culinary academy, her shot at owning a restaurant. Closures mean layoffs, of course. But new ventures quickly take up the slack. And in an empathetic — or even sane — system, direct payments to anyone affected could carry them through the transition.
It’s more drivel from the far left. The rich are evil. The young are sooooo poor and just not doing well compared to their parents, nobody cares as long as their stocks go up, blah blah blah.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
The author was so close with this line, "The dirty secret of the pandemic is that during one of the worst crises in history — as measured by death and velocity of death — you have the people who essentially control the government living their best lives" but didn't expand on it.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
HI54UNI wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:04 am The author was so close with this line, "The dirty secret of the pandemic is that during one of the worst crises in history — as measured by death and velocity of death — you have the people who essentially control the government living their best lives" but didn't expand on it.
Overall I like the piece. It made some great points.
This crime was perpetrated by members of both parties. The populist veneer that Pelosi and others like to showcase is just that, a veneer. They don't give a sh!t about the common person and try to give them just enough to keep them fat, dumb, and marginally happy.I believe that the trillions in bailouts from both the Trump and Biden administrations will ultimately be judged in history as a crime against the middle class in America and future generations. Something like a third of that money has gone to people. The rest has gone to corporations and governments.
I can see where a capitalist could be concerned about restaurants going out of business. A restaurant failing because of a pandemic response that they feel was excessive would seem like the government drove the restaurant out of business, not the bad food, bad staff, bad luck or just the market. The flip side of the author's arguments is that some of those failed restaurant owners were younger and now their finances and self-confidence are sh!t. IMO, the government's pandemic response was bad luck for restaurant owners. It sucks, but true capitalism is cold and unfeeling. I think I told 89 in a brewing thread last spring/summer that he would probably have an opportunity to pick up some equipment at a fraction of the normal cost. If I ever seriously considered opening a restaurant, now is a time of opportunity. There is risk but real estate and equipment are available.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Restaurant equipment is always available at a fraction of the normal costUNI88 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:47 amHI54UNI wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:04 am The author was so close with this line, "The dirty secret of the pandemic is that during one of the worst crises in history — as measured by death and velocity of death — you have the people who essentially control the government living their best lives" but didn't expand on it.
Overall I like the piece. It made some great points.
This crime was perpetrated by members of both parties. The populist veneer that Pelosi and others like to showcase is just that, a veneer. They don't give a sh!t about the common person and try to give them just enough to keep them fat, dumb, and marginally happy.I believe that the trillions in bailouts from both the Trump and Biden administrations will ultimately be judged in history as a crime against the middle class in America and future generations. Something like a third of that money has gone to people. The rest has gone to corporations and governments.
I can see where a capitalist could be concerned about restaurants going out of business. A restaurant failing because of a pandemic response that they feel was excessive would seem like the government drove the restaurant out of business, not the bad food, bad staff, bad luck or just the market. The flip side of the author's arguments is that some of those failed restaurant owners were younger and now their finances and self-confidence are sh!t. IMO, the government's pandemic response was bad luck for restaurant owners. It sucks, but true capitalism is cold and unfeeling. I think I told 89 in a brewing thread last spring/summer that he would probably have an opportunity to pick up some equipment at a fraction of the normal cost. If I ever seriously considered opening a restaurant, now is a time of opportunity. There is risk but real estate and equipment are available.
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
The irony in your post is that the government’s shotgun, unscientific pandemic response caused the failed restaurants. It had ZERO to do with “cold and unfeeling capitalism”.UNI88 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:47 amHI54UNI wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:04 am The author was so close with this line, "The dirty secret of the pandemic is that during one of the worst crises in history — as measured by death and velocity of death — you have the people who essentially control the government living their best lives" but didn't expand on it.
Overall I like the piece. It made some great points.
This crime was perpetrated by members of both parties. The populist veneer that Pelosi and others like to showcase is just that, a veneer. They don't give a sh!t about the common person and try to give them just enough to keep them fat, dumb, and marginally happy.I believe that the trillions in bailouts from both the Trump and Biden administrations will ultimately be judged in history as a crime against the middle class in America and future generations. Something like a third of that money has gone to people. The rest has gone to corporations and governments.
I can see where a capitalist could be concerned about restaurants going out of business. A restaurant failing because of a pandemic response that they feel was excessive would seem like the government drove the restaurant out of business, not the bad food, bad staff, bad luck or just the market. The flip side of the author's arguments is that some of those failed restaurant owners were younger and now their finances and self-confidence are sh!t. IMO, the government's pandemic response was bad luck for restaurant owners. It sucks, but true capitalism is cold and unfeeling. I think I told 89 in a brewing thread last spring/summer that he would probably have an opportunity to pick up some equipment at a fraction of the normal cost. If I ever seriously considered opening a restaurant, now is a time of opportunity. There is risk but real estate and equipment are available.
"Ah fuck. You are right." KYJelly, 11/6/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Yes it is. As is restaurant space. Now it’ll be a fraction of a fraction of the cost.houndawg wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:40 pmRestaurant equipment is always available at a fraction of the normal costUNI88 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:47 am
Overall I like the piece. It made some great points.
This crime was perpetrated by members of both parties. The populist veneer that Pelosi and others like to showcase is just that, a veneer. They don't give a sh!t about the common person and try to give them just enough to keep them fat, dumb, and marginally happy.
I can see where a capitalist could be concerned about restaurants going out of business. A restaurant failing because of a pandemic response that they feel was excessive would seem like the government drove the restaurant out of business, not the bad food, bad staff, bad luck or just the market. The flip side of the author's arguments is that some of those failed restaurant owners were younger and now their finances and self-confidence are sh!t. IMO, the government's pandemic response was bad luck for restaurant owners. It sucks, but true capitalism is cold and unfeeling. I think I told 89 in a brewing thread last spring/summer that he would probably have an opportunity to pick up some equipment at a fraction of the normal cost. If I ever seriously considered opening a restaurant, now is a time of opportunity. There is risk but real estate and equipment are available.
"Ah fuck. You are right." KYJelly, 11/6/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
As the deaths grew people would have stayed away voluntarily anyway, many still are even in places where the gubmint has lifted restrictions. The ones that aren't will spearhead the next wave.AZGrizFan wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:40 pmThe irony in your post is that the government’s shotgun, unscientific pandemic response caused the failed restaurants. It had ZERO to do with “cold and unfeeling capitalism”.UNI88 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:47 am
Overall I like the piece. It made some great points.
This crime was perpetrated by members of both parties. The populist veneer that Pelosi and others like to showcase is just that, a veneer. They don't give a sh!t about the common person and try to give them just enough to keep them fat, dumb, and marginally happy.
I can see where a capitalist could be concerned about restaurants going out of business. A restaurant failing because of a pandemic response that they feel was excessive would seem like the government drove the restaurant out of business, not the bad food, bad staff, bad luck or just the market. The flip side of the author's arguments is that some of those failed restaurant owners were younger and now their finances and self-confidence are sh!t. IMO, the government's pandemic response was bad luck for restaurant owners. It sucks, but true capitalism is cold and unfeeling. I think I told 89 in a brewing thread last spring/summer that he would probably have an opportunity to pick up some equipment at a fraction of the normal cost. If I ever seriously considered opening a restaurant, now is a time of opportunity. There is risk but real estate and equipment are available.
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Interesting how it’s blame government first and then the pandemic.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
True, as delivery and curbside pickup is still popular. We have been giving tips as if we ate inside. Looking forward to our first restaurant dine-in experience since last year, no that we will have 90% immunity in 10 days. Signed up for my first card show in May.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
What is the "shareholder class"? I know plenty of middle class who are happy about their 401K's. If Amazon and Walmart stock tanked as the writer opines, many more folks would be in dire straits today.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
It is not just one or the other but both that had a hand in the economic mess that is 2020+.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Winterborn wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 5:33 amIt is not just one or the other but both that had a hand in the economic mess that is 2020+.
Of course. A big part lies in prioritizing who gets bailed out first and most.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
1) Campaign donors.kalm wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 6:52 amWinterborn wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 5:33 am
It is not just one or the other but both that had a hand in the economic mess that is 2020+.
Of course. A big part lies in prioritizing who gets bailed out first and most.
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x) People/business that actually needed the money.
It might of been better if no bailouts were given, based on the graft/pork that was in the stimulus bills (2/3 went to places that didn't need it).
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“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” - G. Michael Hopf
"I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” – Albert Einstein
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Have you been in an airport, bar or restaurant lately?
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
...governments don't spread pandemics, people do
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Airport, last week, it was pretty quiet. Walked straight through security for the first time in about 40 years, plane was maybe a third full. it was great
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
I would define it as those who live off their investments as opposed to those who are hoping to do so in the future.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Being wrong about a topic is called post partisanism - kalm
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
If thats what you're living on, I guess so. feel free to make up your own definition.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Since Crypto is mentioned.....
“The best of all things is to learn. Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever.” – Louis L’Amour
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” - G. Michael Hopf
"I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” – Albert Einstein
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” - G. Michael Hopf
"I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” – Albert Einstein
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
Well, that’s because you live in a lockdown state. I just flew to Phoenix Sky Harbor from San Antonio and both planes and both airports were PACKED. It felt like the old days.
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Re: Crypto v. Pandemic v. GameStop v. Capitalism
I bought AND sold Dogecoin today.
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