plunging birthrate

[briansd1]

[quote=CA renter]
Precisely why some of us really hate our current version of “free trade.” We gave up great jobs and well-made durable goods. Yes, they were more expensive than the plastic junk made in China, but a US-made, $500 widget might last a lifetime (or 20-30 years), while a Chinese-made $100K widget lasts only a couple of years. [/quote]

Free trade is good and increases our standard of living (as measured by the stuff we can buy with our money).

Take my Harbor Freight example. If you need to fix a fence you can buy a cheap air stapler for $20. It does the job but it’s crap and won’t last long.

Why do you need a $300 made-in-USA tool, if you’re not in the trade? You need a tool to use once and maybe you’ll misplace it somewhere in the garage.

So thanks to the cheap tool, you can build your fence yourself and save money to spend in other areas of the economy.

With many choices, we have to choose wisely.

[briansd1]

[quote=walterwhite]it’s all BULLSHIT except for paid racers for who tiny differences do actually matter…
[/quote]

Thats the key walter. Marketing is very powerful. Buyers think that they can become athletes if they use the same products they see on TV.

At 145#, you’re a light weight American. I think that just about every American man above 40yo is 200# or more, regardless of height.

Cycling is good, it keeps you in shape. You don’t see obese cyclists around. But there are plenty of obese bikers. 😉

[briansd1]

[quote=walterwhite]it’s all BULLSHIT except for paid racers for who tiny differences do actually matter…
[/quote]

Thats the key walter. Marketing is very powerful. Buyers think that they can become athletes if they use the same products they see on TV.

At 145#, you’re a light weight American. I think that just about every American man above 40yo is 200# or more, regardless of height.

Cycling is good, it keeps you in shape. You don’t see obese cyclists around. But there are plenty of obese bikers. 😉

[briansd1]

[quote=walterwhite]it’s all BULLSHIT except for paid racers for who tiny differences do actually matter…
[/quote]

Thats the key walter. Marketing is very powerful. Buyers think that they can become athletes if they use the same products they see on TV.

At 145#, you’re a light weight American. I think that just about every American man above 40yo is 200# or more, regardless of height.

Cycling is good, it keeps you in shape. You don’t see obese cyclists around. But there are plenty of obese bikers. 😉

[briansd1]

[quote=walterwhite]it’s all BULLSHIT except for paid racers for who tiny differences do actually matter…
[/quote]

Thats the key walter. Marketing is very powerful. Buyers think that they can become athletes if they use the same products they see on TV.

At 145#, you’re a light weight American. I think that just about every American man above 40yo is 200# or more, regardless of height.

Cycling is good, it keeps you in shape. You don’t see obese cyclists around. But there are plenty of obese bikers. 😉

[briansd1]

[quote=walterwhite]it’s all BULLSHIT except for paid racers for who tiny differences do actually matter…
[/quote]

Thats the key walter. Marketing is very powerful. Buyers think that they can become athletes if they use the same products they see on TV.

At 145#, you’re a light weight American. I think that just about every American man above 40yo is 200# or more, regardless of height.

Cycling is good, it keeps you in shape. You don’t see obese cyclists around. But there are plenty of obese bikers. 😉

[UCGal]

Brian – when you refer to the PIGS – are you leaving out Ireland or Italy. (I thought it was PIIGS because both are in there.)

I’m hoping Italy stays solvent… I have fantasies of retiring there. (Ireland’s nice… but too cold and damp.)

Walter – I thought of you when I saw this blog post this morning. (via atrios)
http://carfreebaltimore.com/?p=1323

[UCGal]

Brian – when you refer to the PIGS – are you leaving out Ireland or Italy. (I thought it was PIIGS because both are in there.)

I’m hoping Italy stays solvent… I have fantasies of retiring there. (Ireland’s nice… but too cold and damp.)

Walter – I thought of you when I saw this blog post this morning. (via atrios)
http://carfreebaltimore.com/?p=1323

[UCGal]

Brian – when you refer to the PIGS – are you leaving out Ireland or Italy. (I thought it was PIIGS because both are in there.)

I’m hoping Italy stays solvent… I have fantasies of retiring there. (Ireland’s nice… but too cold and damp.)

Walter – I thought of you when I saw this blog post this morning. (via atrios)
http://carfreebaltimore.com/?p=1323

[UCGal]

Brian – when you refer to the PIGS – are you leaving out Ireland or Italy. (I thought it was PIIGS because both are in there.)

I’m hoping Italy stays solvent… I have fantasies of retiring there. (Ireland’s nice… but too cold and damp.)

Walter – I thought of you when I saw this blog post this morning. (via atrios)
http://carfreebaltimore.com/?p=1323

[UCGal]

Brian – when you refer to the PIGS – are you leaving out Ireland or Italy. (I thought it was PIIGS because both are in there.)

I’m hoping Italy stays solvent… I have fantasies of retiring there. (Ireland’s nice… but too cold and damp.)

Walter – I thought of you when I saw this blog post this morning. (via atrios)
http://carfreebaltimore.com/?p=1323

[Arraya]

[quote=CA renter]

The game is all about increasing consumption and increasing corporate profit margins…all at the expense of the environment, consumers, and working people in the USA.[/quote]

Yeah, that’s about it. But, I am kind of beyond blaming anybody but the logic of the system itself. Even the most ethical business is forced to complete when one breaks from honest practices. Just look at the housing debacle. It became a race to the bottom. They competitively slit their own throats. Add in things like planned obsolescence, debt pushing, seductive constant “life-style images” that produce status anxiety purchasing and you have a neurotic, perpetual waste machine with junky-mentality that produces a lot of bad behavior. I mean, a economic crash is not the worst thing in the world as long as people don’t lose their minds.

[Arraya]

[quote=CA renter]

The game is all about increasing consumption and increasing corporate profit margins…all at the expense of the environment, consumers, and working people in the USA.[/quote]

Yeah, that’s about it. But, I am kind of beyond blaming anybody but the logic of the system itself. Even the most ethical business is forced to complete when one breaks from honest practices. Just look at the housing debacle. It became a race to the bottom. They competitively slit their own throats. Add in things like planned obsolescence, debt pushing, seductive constant “life-style images” that produce status anxiety purchasing and you have a neurotic, perpetual waste machine with junky-mentality that produces a lot of bad behavior. I mean, a economic crash is not the worst thing in the world as long as people don’t lose their minds.

[Arraya]

[quote=CA renter]

The game is all about increasing consumption and increasing corporate profit margins…all at the expense of the environment, consumers, and working people in the USA.[/quote]

Yeah, that’s about it. But, I am kind of beyond blaming anybody but the logic of the system itself. Even the most ethical business is forced to complete when one breaks from honest practices. Just look at the housing debacle. It became a race to the bottom. They competitively slit their own throats. Add in things like planned obsolescence, debt pushing, seductive constant “life-style images” that produce status anxiety purchasing and you have a neurotic, perpetual waste machine with junky-mentality that produces a lot of bad behavior. I mean, a economic crash is not the worst thing in the world as long as people don’t lose their minds.

[Arraya]

[quote=CA renter]

The game is all about increasing consumption and increasing corporate profit margins…all at the expense of the environment, consumers, and working people in the USA.[/quote]

Yeah, that’s about it. But, I am kind of beyond blaming anybody but the logic of the system itself. Even the most ethical business is forced to complete when one breaks from honest practices. Just look at the housing debacle. It became a race to the bottom. They competitively slit their own throats. Add in things like planned obsolescence, debt pushing, seductive constant “life-style images” that produce status anxiety purchasing and you have a neurotic, perpetual waste machine with junky-mentality that produces a lot of bad behavior. I mean, a economic crash is not the worst thing in the world as long as people don’t lose their minds.

[Author]

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