Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

If they sell stuff, trade is in their supply chain. If they use stuff in performing their services, trade is in their supply chain.

But more importantly, small businesses that might not rely on trade have nowhere near the clout that big business has.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

What the fuck is it with a job in the House or Senate that is so amazing that people will completely give up any sense of a hint of integrity to retain their seat? Power? Prestige? Attention? All of the above? I don't fucking get it.

If I were in the Senate as a Republican, I would rather go down in my next primary if I also went down in history as the only Republican who stood up to this fucking idiot.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

You are incurably stupid.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

This is a damn good question.

Does anyone have an answer?

Re: Falling Prices Brought to You By China
 

Man, when prices start going up in Walmart there are going to be some pissed real 'mercans out there.

Re: Falling Prices Brought to You By China
 

At this point, there is no connection between what happens in this country--prices going up, jobs being lost, wars being waged, rights being infringed, you name it--which can be tied to political action based on actual facts. There is no penalty for complete obstruction. There is no penalty for purposeful and outright destruction. There is no penalty for lies one can see with your very own eyes. All that matters is how you make a completely uninformed electorate feel. And fear wins every fucking time.

Democrats are going to have to paint Republicans as the disaster party. There are sure to be a few during this administration. Tie it to them with those under Bush and just repeat the refrain again and again and again. "The Republican Party is the party of disaster. They will destroy you while cutting their own taxes." Forget talking about the positive shit you want to do. Just do it when you get in office. Fucking force it through. Enough of this shit already. Design the pitch based on the limited faculties of those whose votes you need.

TM

Re: Falling Prices Brought to You By China
 

That's really it. And these people really don't seem to grasp that this is different. That Obama didn't do the same sorts of things (but just not on their side).

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

It's amazing to me that people are still genuinely debating policy points with Sebastian. As far as I can tell, his "arguments" consist of equal parts 1) completely unfounded predictions of what will occur in the future rendered with absolute certainty (including actual percentages!), 2) a massive distortion of what has happened in the past (including an inability to remain consistent on any point when confronted with actual facts that undermine that point), 3) and a string of the most nonsensical gibberish since Alice went down the rabbit hold. In addition, his whole "oh how amusing it is to sit on the veranda and watch the right bumble and the left wring their hands oh so earnestly as the empire crumbles" facade has grown wearily thin. Moreover, given that this bumbling and hand-wringing is about ineptly conceived and executed policy decisions, and the lies that accompany them, that will actually result in people dying means that this his "empathy is for suckers" facade, if at all genuine, puts Sebastian on the personality spectrum somewhere between Supreme Fucking Asshole and Dangerous Sociopath. On that note, how about a little JB for the Friday Daily Dose? The full length sprawling disco-funk of Bodyheat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t43uw8DFHkQ

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Agreed.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Whatever. You know it's fascinating. And I enjoy watching institutions upended. I'll admit it. I also found 2008 fascinating. People keep thinking they've conquered risk...

We're seeing policy makers' hubris undone. It's natural volatility screwing the efforts of undeserving Brahmin to control and manage their world.

You don't even grasp the basic angles of the facts you accuse me of getting wrong.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

This last statement, if not ironic, explains why you and I will never be able to discuss politics

You critique my inconsistency, yet offer the most naive points next to the most cynical ones.

You know how you get mad when people focus on the inside baseball aspects of politics? That's because it's the only debate that matters.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

The big ones will invest in automation. The little ones with primarily domestic exposure won't have to. But to the extent they can, r&d done on automation by big companies and tech firms will benefit the little guys with forms of automation they can cheaply acquire, which will eventually offset cost increases in the supply chain cause by decreased trade. (But yeah, they'll get pinched for a while at first.)

Trump = More robots more quickly.

Hillary = More robots not as quickly.

Tech accelerates its overtaking of labor arbitrage as a cost-cutter in a less globalized world. Simple enough?

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

But can you place his recent work in the context of his prior oeuvre?

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

You are wise, Sensei.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

You're smarter than this. And you know what I mean.

Look long term. The echo chamber here is, well... an echo chamber. Do you really give a fuck what they think?