Posted on 11/09/2015 12:03:12 PM PST by rey
I am trying to find an episode of the Three Stooges wherein one of them (Curly I think) finds money on the floor (a $20 I think).
"Oooo, a $20" he says. To which Moe says, "Is that the $20 you owe me?" And Larry says to Moe, "Is that the $20 you owe me?" To whom Curly says, "Is that the $20 you owe me?" To whom Moe says, "Is that the $20 you owe me?" and on and on.
I thought this a perfect example of how many think an economy works (Particularly Krugman); money just circulating.
I would love to find it. Thanks
That's very cool!
Seymour "Cy" Schindell (March 4, 1907--August 24, 1948) was an American actor who appeared in 37 Three Stooges short subjects, mostly as a heavy. (from wiki)
I hate to be an absurdist, but it seems to me that your parable is morally murky, and does not need to be. As described, all these debts got paid off because the motel owner spent $100 that wasn’t really his. A more satisfactory illustration would be for the man to like the room and pay the $100, after which the motel owner spends the $100 and eventually gets it back.
Moe to Curly:
“Remind me to kill you later!”
Not much reason to move around these days, apparently...
https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/M2V
That little stunt where the debt stayed fixed for over 6 months then blew up $349b once the budget deal was announced, Jack Lew ought to be in jail getting married to the guy on the cell block with the most cigarettes over that one.
Could you consider it a loan that he wasn’t aware of, sort of like when our tax dollars are loaned out and used for things we know nothing about?
Thanks for posting that photo. He died before I was born. He was a boxer, an actor and a marine in the Pacific theater. He died far too young. By all accounts, he was quite an amazing fellow.
Actually in your scenario, the motel owner loses out. He was paid back his $100 but it was the same $100 that the tourist initially laid down on the desk. So he is technically out $100 - plus he lost a potential customer.
Reminds me of the story where the two guys get robbed.
“Okay you can have my wallet, but wait. Here Bob - here’s the $20 I owe you.”
The robber being the IRS I suppose.
The “tourist” is completely irrelevant. Inside this closed system of the town, the debt was all equal and transferable. They could have settled all debts by meeting in a room and figuring it out.
This is not a microcosm of the real world that leftists like to think it is.
“This is not a microcosm of the real world that leftists like to think it is.”
Boy. You got that right. I read Krugman’s book with his example of the baby sitting service and the paper money which he then inflated to stimulate circulation. What a crock. It assumes people do not alter behavior beyond buy and sell, that no one could change or improve a service. The model was only of service economy not a capital producing economy, no one could do anything significant to alter their situation, just to name a few of the many flaws. How people can read this guy is beyond me.
Curly to Moe:
âOk, I’ll make a note of it. nyuk nyuk nyuk .. Oooohâ
I needed a Monday laugh. That did it.
I’d wager that Moe, Larry and Curley would govern better than that three.
Isn’t this fun!
The Curly Shuffle - Jump ‘N’ The Saddle Band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBiHysKnvGs
Over here, another fun Stooges thread:
10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Three Stooges
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3358172/posts
Exact scene I was thinking about when I read the first post.
What is with the 3 stooges threads tonight?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.