America's Black Market May Be Exploding

Breitbart's Big Government ^ | March 19, 2013 | Ben Shapiro

[ckilmer]

In mexico only about 60% of the economy is taxed. The rest is off the books. The illegals from mexico and elsewhere mostly work off the books and send large chunks of their paychecks back to their countries of origin

[Nateman]

I use to wonder how the Soviet Union , as bad as it was, continued to function with as much as it had. Black markets is why, that is what kept it floating longer then it should have.

[Alberta's Child]

I read a fascinating article a few months ago about the growing popularity of -- get this -- laundry detergent -- as a form of "money" in many urban areas. The point of the article was that this type of commodity has become a medium of exchange because it is readily available in any grocery store or bodega, has a strong latent demand that cuts across income and cultural lines, and has a relatively high cash value on a unit weight basis (compare the cost of a gallon of laundry detergent to a gallon of almost any other product that is sold in liquid form).

Go figure.

[PrairieLady2]

I watched my neighbor pull into the driveway today with his back car door open and something very large sticking out. It looked like a box containing a huge flat screen tv..but it wasn’t.

He took it out of the car and I still couldn’t tell what it was as all I could see was the paper wrapper. Being the curious person I am I asked him what it was. He turned it around to show me a beautiful framed print for his girlfriend’s apartment. It was around 5 feet wide by 4 feet long and it cost $10.95 at the church bazaar. It just needs a little touch-up of paint around some of the edges of the frame.

And yes..yard sales. Another way to sell used belongings. So much for black market :(

[mrsmith]

I remember that. The point I thought missing from the article is that detergent is the most costly ‘neccessity’ that food stamps can’t be used for. So a whole lot of it gets bought by ‘trading’ food stamps.

It’s sorta like gold: compact and non-perishable.

[dalereed]

Custom cars/hot rods are mostly cash deals for large amounts!

I bought one for $30k cash.

[hinckley buzzard]

Investors Business Daily reported the American black market in excess of 10-15%--back about fifteen years ago. It can only have grown since then.

[Secret Agent Man]

Selling used stuff you already bought is legal. Private sales to other people are legal too.

[Secret Agent Man]

if only we could get urbanites to consider deodorant as a form of “money”.

[MasterGunner01]

Captain Obvious Award time. I’m shocked . . . positively SHOCKED!

[tbw2]

There have been fights in various locations as blacks and whites have joined Hispanics at day labor centers, seeking any type of work or work that brings in money but doesn’t threaten benefits.