Comments on: I’ll believe it when I see it

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:49:15 +0000

Then why do have peprpetual trade deficits, that seem to reach new record levels periodically? A big part of it is oil, but take out oil and it is still a huge problem. I am not an economics guru, but it seems intuitive that the trade deficit is a macro report card of how well we are doing globally. And we are getting a D or D- by that standard.

By: Peejz

Peejz — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 11:38:15 +0000

Actually Robert, we do well on the global market, but it is in no one area that you can pin it to. Zelda made a good point with WalMart. They sell a great deal of product that was purchased abroad. (though WalMart does cause people to have allegeric reactions to shopping there due to the stupidity of the worker)
You used the example of Apples, so I will stick with that one. In MI, we have many apple orchards. The grocery stores all carry our states product. This is not due to the fact that they are homegrown, but due to the fact that they are marketable and the pricing is excellant. Our bigger farmers set up shops on their property. This time of the year, they are able to increase profit due to the fact that there are many idiots just like me that go there, buy the unusual merchandise that I don’t find in a mainstream store, and yes, I can go every week and find something to buy. When I am done in the gift barn, I go to the Apple Haus and buy my homemade cider that I can watch them make, buy a bag of apples or kettle corn and look over the various bakery products sold. I go on the weekends due to the fact that the farms are crowded during the week with school kids on tour. The bigger farms used their creativity to survive. These are the farms where there are generations ready to take it.
Part of the problems that you see are due to the State you live in.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 05:31:45 +0000

I think free trade is a good thing, a necessary thing. However, we don’t have real free trade with many countries. What China buys from us is a drop in the bucket compared to what we buy from them. When it comes to technology and IP, they buy just enough to reverse engineer it and steal it. Then they flood the market with it.

Free trade also requires a level playing field for competition, another thing we don’t have. When Kalifornia apple growers are going out of business because imported apples from China can be sold here cheaper, that is a real problem. Chinese apple growers don’t have to deal with the regulations, taxes, fees, and multiple layers of bureaucracy that Kalifornia growers do.

I own land that is in an area zoned agricultural. I don’t grow anything on it, never have, don’t graze cattle; it is natural. But starting last year, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, by regulation, defined natural rainwater runoff as “waste”. Then they required, by regulation, all landowners of agricultural zoned land to purchase a “waste discharge permit” for the “waste” (rainwater) that runs off naturally. There is a base annual fee, then a per-acre cost. Its only a few hundred bucks…..to start. I’d bet that soon, some sort of management plan will be required, then some sort of inspection/certification process, and of course, the fess will go up. All this over rainwater that has been running off from the land naturally for millions of years.

This is just a vignette, an anecdotal glimpse of the absurdity and insanity that is a growing cancer in America, and why in an era of greater global competition, America is handicapping itself. And the same bureaucrats and politicians who think this is good just want to keep expanding it, I guess until the Golden Goose is dead, and everything collapses. That is the track we are on.

So we don’t have real free trade in that sense, and it is only getting worse.

Starting last year farmers in Kalifornia have to get permits for stationary engines, like the ones usd to pump water. In addition to in some cases having to get rid of perfectly serviceable older equipment and buy new, they have to pay annual fees (which of course will only go up). So it just drives up their costs and makes them less competetive in the market. Yet another example.

By: PCD

PCD — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 04:13:45 +0000

28, Mike, my brother who is an IS manager at Target thanks you heartily.

The bum opened 70 odd stores last month and I didn’t get an invite to one.

By: Zelda

Zelda — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 02:08:34 +0000

The company that has done the best job at mastering capitalism is a bad thing??? You guys need some of my pipe.

By: Zelda

Zelda — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 02:06:04 +0000

“Objectively look at both sides.”

I am trying very hard to do just that as I always do, can you do the same?

“I do think Wal Mart is a net negative”

See; I can respect your opinion, but I don’t agree. To me, we need to look at the bigger picture. What happens to China when they get more money, and America gets cheap products? Where is the problem?

FREE TRADE IS A GOOD THING!!! It is part of what made America great to begin with. In the long run it will be a great thing on a global level.

By: Zelda

Zelda — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 01:58:16 +0000

Robert;

I think I love you… Why? Because you state your issues without personal attacks. That can only facilitate positive exchanges of opinions and perhaps we can all learn a thing or two.

By: Mike Kilo

Mike Kilo — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 22:20:16 +0000

27.

Yeah, I’m a Target man, myself.

By: Peejz

Peejz — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 21:35:30 +0000

24-Are you going to try to convince me that Wal-Mart is bad for the economy too? No, just bad in general. I went to one and hated the stupidity of the employee. I think I developed an allergy to the place!

By: Just A Girl

Just A Girl — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 21:27:56 +0000

Day Off

I took the day off work today (gasp!)
Sure, I dabbled a bit in a little design work and dealt with a few help tickets – but for the most part, I played hookey. Hey – a girl needs a break once in awhile . . and it’s been AGES since I called in …