Since we're talking about hipsters, here's a post on something hipsters (or other "socially conscious" folks) love to hate: The evil mega-corporation Wal-Mart, which somehow underpays their employees, manages to evilly drive other companies out of business, and underpays their suppliers. And, yes, I did pull this out of the comments. Oh well--sometimes I like my comments.

Explain this: whenever Wal-Mart opens up a store or a factory, they have applicants that FAR outweigh their positions. Seems to me like the people are taking advantage of the (relatively) high wages that Wal-Mart offers. Maybe everyone lining up is just masochistic. Maybe they need the nice westerners to tell them what they really should be wanting, eh?

In some examples, the next-best option to working at a Wal-Mart or Wal-Mart producer is picking through garbage at the dump. Oh, but at least a mean, evil western company isn't "exploiting" those dump workers! At least they're making an honest living. Right?

Wal-Mart works so well (hey, it wouldn't be an "evil empire" if it didn't work well, right?) because they have a business model for their stores and producers that enables them to use very low-skilled workers--workers that would not be able to find a factory job elsewhere--and then, having obtained modern factory experience, those workers often leave Wal-Mart to work at more lucrative positions elsewhere, having gained a great amount of human capital because someone "underpaid" them (according to the arrogant west-centric assumption that something other than a dollar a day is the 'right' wage for them).

For a primer on this issue, check the Econtalk on fair and free trade coffee w/ Munger here, and for more information on rent-seeking (what Munger refers to in the podcast as "job gentrification," check (another Munger) Econtalk here. Rent-seeking is the reason that you can't give money (or higher-than-market-wage-jobs) away for free w/o it being a net-loser for all involved.

This really is basic, elementary economics. If one is going to have an opinion on economic issues, it really behooves one to read some basic economics. And, Sowell's Basic Economics is a great place to start.

Here's a puzzler (answered in the aforementioned podcasts): the best way to help the poorest is not to try to offer high wages for low-skill jobs. Now, why is that?

As Robert Samuelson put it in a recent column,

One job of presidents is to educate Americans about crucial national problems. On health care, Barack Obama has failed. Almost everything you think you know about health care is probably wrong or, at least, half wrong. Great simplicities and distortions have been peddled in the name of achieving "universal health coverage." The miseducation has worsened as the debate approaches its climax.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/26/guatemala.ex.president/index.html?iref=allsearch


(CNN) -- Ex-Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo, facing money-laundering charges in the U.S., was captured Tuesday on a farm on the Guatemalan coast, that country's attorney general said.

Portillo, who also faces charges in Guatemala and was out on bond at the time of the announcement of his U.S. indictment, was arrested after authorities were tipped to his location, said Amilcar Velasquez.

This is a groundbreaking case in Guatemalan history. One of the most corrupt president's in our nation's long history of corrupt governments has been captured. Unfortunately the justice he will face is the US's, as our own nation has not been able to bring him to justice. On the other hand, if the case succeeds and Portillo does time, we will have set an important precedent and maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of a new life to our weak justice system.

Thoughts?

According to an article in Prensa Libre, a Chilean former police prefect invented and patented (and will soon release to the market) a lifesize male doll that women who drive by themselves in their cars can place on the passenger seat in order to disuade robbers from attacking them. The doll will retail at about US$190. How about that for a stocking stuffer?
Yes...things are this bad in our region. Everyday someone gets mugged in traffic...some are even shot if they refuse to give up their cell phones. Robbers use bluetooth devices to "see" which cars have the best phones, etc.

"People have the governments they deserve", some people say. Recent incidents in Guatemala's Congress make me want to deny this assertion....what follow are some very embarrassing videos of what has happened recently with our congress-people (the "Father's of the Nation" as they call themselves).

(This video captures the scenes of the arrest of Congressman Ruben Morales, accused of money laundering)


(These two videos capture the embarrassment that congressman Mario Taracena is for our nation. He is a disrespectful member of the official party who continually attacks and mocks women and other parties)

What makes a good member of Congress or Parliament? Does Congress reflect the people? Do we let ourselves be governed by our passions once we assume a position of power? (Why don't we hear stories like these happening at corporate board meetings, etc.?)Do we run away like cowards when faced with the consequences of our actions?

Thoughts?

They were all in a meeting. Everyone who would have doled out horrific retributions on the citizens and guards at the Berlin Wall crossings were locked up in "very important" meetings, and a low-level bureaucrat was tired and blubbered out some uncertain phrases.

The media pounced. Pandemonium ensued. Concrete was busted up. Hasselhoff "sang."

Check the story here.

Spontaneous order, indeed.

(h/t: Kids Prefer Cheese)

The first image is from OkCupid Politics, which I just finished.
Similar here
and another here.

The second is my result from the last one (politicalcompass.org), when I took it last year. Of course, the historical and contemporary figures are guesses, made by the site's creators, based on speeches/writings they made.

Take one or two of them...maybe you're not as interested in the results as I am, though. :) (aack, another emoticon!!)

This also explains why comments by Democrats and Republicans are about equally likely to frustrate me, and why I have such a hard time discussing politics with...well...most everyone. :) I guess a better way to look at it would be to say that there are some things I can agree with Democrats on, and some w/ Republicans. Yeah, positivity!

A liberal or a conservative is someone who identifies a social ill and then asks what laws can be passed to cure it.

A libertarian is someone who identifies a social ill and then asks what would be the most effective way to cure it.