Stossel is Awesome

[Brick]

Great Stossel vids:

Your Government, Your Friend

Help the Poor?

Broken Promises

Nancy said the earthquake would stimulate Haiti's economy?

I got an idea- Obama should recruit young people to break the nation's windows. That would stimulate window manufacturers. Then he could build a giant shield to block out the sun, which would stimulate the power industry.

[Irreligious]

Some people think Paris Hilton is awesome, too. I guess it all depends upon your own unique point of view.

[Brick]

Can anyone explain why Cash for Clunkers was not an example of the Broken Window fallacy?

[Irreligious]

Why don't you explain why it was? Personally, I'm not all that invested in either defending or demonizing the program without any evidence that it had a significant impact on the economy. If you think it had a deleterious impact, I'd be willing to read your rationale for that assertion.

[GodlessHeathen]

You disappoint me, Brick.

[Brick]

Irreligious wrote

Why don't you explain why it was? Personally, I'm not all that invested in either defending or demonizing the program without any evidence that it had a significant impact on the economy. If you think it had a deleterious impact, I'd be willing to read your rationale for that assertion.

Cars were destroyed on the basis of driving up demand for new cars. I don't see how this is any different from smashing windows to drive up demand for windows.

The program drove up the average price of a used car by $1800. How is that good?

GodlessHeathen wrote

You disappoint me, Brick.

Please elaborate.

[Irreligious]

Brick wrote

Cars were destroyed on the basis of driving up demand for new cars. I don't see how this is any different from smashing windows to drive up demand for windows.

The program drove up the average price of a used car by $1800. How is that good?

I thought the cars destroyed were clunkers. What normally happens to clunkers? Aren't they scrapped for the metals? Did the program require the demolition of used but otherwise perfectly serviceable Mercedes Benz's?

And wasn't the idea to stimulate new auto sales in order to stave off the demise of a U.S. auto industry that was in serious financial peril? Wasn't the aim also to avert harm to thousands upon thousands whose livelihoods are directly tied to assembling U.S. made automobiles, as well as protecting the jobs of multiple thousands more who are involved in the manufacture of ancillary parts for U.S. automakers?

If the program didn't do any of those things, then I suppose it was a waste.

[ubs]

What was that remark about Title Nine? I don't understand the outrage of spending tax money for public education equally on males and females. How is that anti free market?

[lostsheep]

Irreligious wrote

I thought the cars destroyed were clunkers. What normally happens to clunkers? Aren't they scrapped for the metals? Did the program require the demolition of used but otherwise perfectly serviceable Mercedes Benz's?

And wasn't the idea to stimulate new auto sales in order to stave off the demise of a U.S. auto industry that was in serious financial peril? Wasn't the aim also to avert harm to thousands upon thousands whose livelihoods are directly tied to assembling U.S. made automobiles, as well as protecting the jobs of multiple thousands more who are involved in the manufacture of ancillary parts for U.S. automakers?

If the program didn't do any of those things, then I suppose it was a waste.

I think the cash for clunkers plan was ill-conceived. It was just another scheme by Obama which fucked not so rich folk, like myself. It certainly fucked those of us trying to buy used cars. One man's "clunker" is another one's only affordable mode of transportation, thank you very much. I can assure you that used cars at low prices are very hard to come by now. You are essentially forced to buy a new car if your old one goes, thereby paying way more than what you are getting, IMO. Personally, I cannot afford a new car payment on any new car, even the worst glorified golf carts. And, now, thanks to cash for clunkers, I can no longer afford a used one. It used to be that used cars were a good deal for folks like myself.

[lostsheep]

Brick wrote

Cars were destroyed on the basis of driving up demand for new cars. I don't see how this is any different from smashing windows to drive up demand for windows.

The program drove up the average price of a used car by $1800. How is that good?

Yeah, it sucks.

[Irreligious]

lostsheep wrote

I think the cash for clunkers plan was ill-conceived. It was just another scheme by Obama which fucked not so rich folk, like myself. It certainly fucked those of us trying to buy used cars. One man's "clunker" is another one's only affordable mode of transportation, thank you very much. I can assure you that used cars at low prices are very hard to come by now. You are essentially forced to buy a new car if your old one goes, thereby paying way more than what you are getting, IMO. Personally, I cannot afford a new car payment on any new car, even the worst glorified golf carts. And, now, thanks to cash for clunkers, I can no longer afford a used one. It used to be that used cars were a good deal for folks like myself.

Then it was a terribly bad program for you, and I sincerely understand if you don't give a flying fuck what it may have done for the U.S. auto workers and those who work at plants that manufacture auto parts for those vehicles.

By the way, I'm partial to used cars myself, though not necessarily of the clunker variety. Two or three years old and under 40,000 miles is good enough for me. Though, I tend to drive my vehicles until they are no longer roadworthy. If the Cash for Clunkers program had the effect of creating a shortage of the kind of used vehicles I tend to buy, I guess I'll also get pinched when I go car shopping.

Edited: More bad spelling on my part. That should have been "Mercedes Benzes."

[Philboid Studge]

GodlessHeathen wrote

You disappoint me, Brick.

That's like going to a porn theater and being disappointed that the seats are sticky.

[Brick]

Philboid Studge wrote

That's like going to a porn theater and being disappointed that the seats are sticky.

Here's one just for you:

Cuba's Healthcare Better?

What? A communist government put out a bullshit statistic and showed a gullible foreigner a Potemkin village? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

[Brick]

ubs wrote

What was that remark about Title Nine? I don't understand the outrage of spending tax money for public education equally on males and females. How is that anti free market?

Title 9 forces schools to spend equal amounts on male and female athletics. Since there are more male athletes, their programs get cut to keep the numbers equal. Segment begins at 12:02.

Full Special

[psychodiva]

seriously- I mean- seriously

oh and just to make it clear to Dick - I'm not laughing at the video