Posted on 09/01/2005 4:22:37 AM PDT by chronic_loser
Yes, the ancient Hebrews got along without capitalism, free markets, freedom, air conditioning, Charmin, SUVs, the Internet, antibiotics, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, moveable-type printing presses, .45ACP, pizza, paperclips, wheelchairs, Velcro®, deodorant, Pitch Black Mountain Dew, sunglasses, C-SPAN, Pachelbel's Canon, Golden Retreivers, etc....
...but that doesn't mean these things don't make life a lot better!
And heck, I got that water for only $1.50, so why should I care about wasting it?
Pretty discouraging, isn't it?
I recall in previous disasters some brave reporter who talked with people who had previously bought generators and driven them to the affected areas. They weren't doing it this time...why? Because they couldn't afford to take a few days off to drive them down to the disaster areas and then just be allowed to charge the same as they paid for it or only slightly more.
End result? A shortage of generators in the disaster area and many of them sitting unused elsewhere.
Saw that type of story only once. I'm sure the reporter was reprimanded!
Okay, and so now the retailer has insufficient funds to pay someone to truck in more water from outside the disaster area. Now there's an even greater shortage of water in the disaster area. Thank you.
The two phrases appear side by side in the bible. I leave it as an exercise for you to look up where. (Hint: Old Testament prophet) Also look up why Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers and chased the livestock out of the Temple, while you're at it. He called them robbers... how could that possibly be by your lights, if they were selling at market prices?!?
Uh, I wasn't addressing you. Please read who people quote before you attack them. I was addressing Rod Blageovich, the Governor of Illinois, who was mad that prices went up before the storm hit, apparently HE is unaware there is such a thing as the futures market. I was not addressing you. I did not quote you in my comment, but rather his. Take another look.
Without 'free markets'? Without 'freedom'? You think the US Founding Fathers have somehow written the New New Testament?
hope you saw my apology. You are right and I was wrong. sorry.
Huh? The original point was made that the Hebrews did NOT have free markets, evidently indicating that it was somehow okay.
Hey, it's no problem. Would love to chat about futures sometime. I trade mainly currencies, and also crude and SP electronically.
You indeed were very precise. Yet, I'm sure everyone with an IQ greater than room temperature understood my meaning without a bunch of pedantic logorrhea.
That's the problem. Most people have an economic IQ at or below room temperature. That is one reason that I try to be informative and correct common misconceptions and errors when I encounter them. I guess some might consider that pedantic logorrhea, but I prefer that over allowing people to wallow in ignorance.
Pretty easy. They were charging people who had traveled to the temple excessive exchange rates for converting their money to "kosher" coins for their offerings, and they were charging excessive (read higher than market) prices for animals for sacrifices. This was in direct contradiction of Scriptural commands against using unfair measures (dishonest scales). Most scholars I have read (based on their studies of various sources on history of the temple) state that the money changers were charging anywhere from two to ten times the "market" price for the animals, taking advantage of the fact that people traveling a great distance to come worship at the temple would be unable to bring sacrificial animals with them.
A noble aim, but doomed. Kaint ejjecate people even on this forum.
i wanna see a fight of the terrikillers. c'mon by.
But waitaminnit. The market is whatever the market was... RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT! That was the market price! Just like you don't expect gas in Hawaii to be the same price as gas next door to the refinery in Houston! But, but, but,,,,.... [screeching to a halt]
Oooooooops, guess God didn't like excessive profiteering after all.
Profit may not be necessary to stay in business today, but if you want to open your doors tomorrow and the day after, you bet they are necessary - they are essential.
Failure to make a profit is the number one reason for business failure. (Econ 101)
Remember, the cost to the merchant of a particular item may be falling. He can actually sell stock on hand at less than what he paid for it provided he can acquire new stock for less.
Think "dollar cost averaging" as a technique for building a nice stock portfolio. It's the same trick.
You need is enough cash flow to FULLY resupply, to pay rents and other fixed costs, pay salaries and payroll costs, and to advertise and market. You also need enough to cover capital costs and build reserves.
The falling cost of a component may make things easier for a business for a time, but no successful business could be built on such a strategy.
"Dollar Cost Averaging" is a nice parallel, but trivial.
I have to tell you that I will pity your wife if you ever decide to start your own business. If I were you I'd make an effort to learn a little about economics.
There are numerous businesses that buy and sell products and services but never make a profit. They also never go out of business because they reduce their costs and generate enough cash to restock.
Besides, if your business is small enough, you can get unpaid labor from your spouse and children.
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