Stupid, Ridiculous Prices for Stuff

[Boatguy30]

It seems like internet access, Facebook, YouTube has had an agitating effect in this formerly tranquil 3rd works places. Could be my imagination, but seems to be a trend. Doubt there would be so many refugees landing in Europe with out the Internet access and GPS routing to plot the way.

Maybe the wall is not such a crazy idea after all. I wonder if maybe we can encircle the Bahamas as well?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by smj

Same old story. The rich complaining about their tax money going to subsidize the poor, yet if the rich paid a living wage they wouldn't have to worry about that.

It's funny and sad that America is debating the idea of a $15 minimum wage when it should really be at least $22/hr. If one only considers inflation -- no actual increases -- the rate should be at least $22/hr. This amount is simply keeping up with the official cost of living (inflation). The same story holds true in Canada and our social benefits rates. And I suspect it holds true in most Western capitalist economies, particularly the Anglo nations.

But once again (and to keep on topic, and my friend AVB happy ) boaty stuff costs a lot b/c those of us rich enough to own "yachts" are willing to pay a lot.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The "pajama people" infest the inner city no income housing apartments, walking around in their pajamas all day, EBT card in one hand, Free Obama cell phone in the other ...

Also a NYC band.

In the 90’s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set up the Lifeline phone service program via a mandate by the FCC.
This program, funded by Universal Service Fund fees on telephone bills, provides qualified consumers with discounted (sometimes free) monthly telephone service.
It began as just a landline program and a few years ago made it’s debut with cell phones.
It’s been commonly called the Obama phone, but that’s a misnomer, an urban legend as the Lifeline phone program began under the Bush Administration.
➥ https://www.fcc.gov/guides/lifeline-...ible-consumers

Oops, my bad!
The Lifeline program originated in 1984, during the administration of Ronald Reagan; it was expanded in 1996, during the administration of Bill Clinton; and its first cellular provider service (SafeLink Wireless) was launched by TracFone in 2008, during the administration of George W. Bush. All of these milestones were passed prior to the advent of the Obama administration.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Also a NYC band.

In the 90’s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set up the Lifeline phone service program via a mandate by the FCC.
This program, funded by Universal Service Fund fees on telephone bills, provides qualified consumers with discounted (sometimes free) monthly telephone service.
It began as just a landline program and a few years ago made it’s debut with cell phones.
It’s been commonly called the Obama phone, but that’s a misnomer, an urban legend as the Lifeline phone program began under the Bush Administration.
➥ https://www.fcc.gov/guides/lifeline-...ible-consumers

Oops, my bad!
The Lifeline program originated in 1984, during the administration of Ronald Reagan; it was expanded in 1996, during the administration of Bill Clinton; and its first cellular provider service (SafeLink Wireless) was launched by TracFone in 2008, during the administration of George W. Bush. All of these milestones were passed prior to the advent of the Obama administration.

But before this current administration, I had never heard of the ObamaPhone... Now we get flyers in the mail telling us how easy it is to get a free phone... Wait... Maybe I'm part of the target market???

[IdoraKeeper]

I would love to change the world, and the price of boat stuff......but I'm lying on the couch in my pajamas trying figure out how to get an Oyster.��

[weavis]

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

I would love to change the world, and the price of boat stuff......but I'm lying on the couch in my pajamas trying figure out how to get an Oyster.��

What colour are your pajamas? Wondering if that is part of the problem?

[IdoraKeeper]

Blue and white check, with matching clashing brown top. I have omitted the ascot this morning since its warm in the house.
How's that for emulation?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

Blue and white check, with matching clashing brown top. I have omitted the ascot this morning since its warm in the house.
How's that for emulation?

I have postulated the premise that pajamas may indeed be the physical reflection of the problem.

It is more than likely that a lifestyle of comfort enshrouds you. Vast swathes of lucre are missing from your life simply because:

a: You were not born into money
b: A winning lottery ticket has not attached itself to you
c: it involves changing Pajamas to a hair cloth that will not enable you sleep comfortably and therefore enable longer earning hours in your day.

However, Owning an Oyster will not bring you happiness, so in the long term, there is no issue.

er..... scratch the last sentence. Owning it WILL bring you happiness.. its paying for it that hurts.

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by weavis

I have postulated the premise that pajamas may indeed be the physical reflection of the problem.

It is more than likely that a lifestyle of comfort enshrouds you. Vast swathes of lucre are missing from your life simply because:

a: You were not born into money
b: A winning lottery ticket has not attached itself to you
c: it involves changing Pajamas to a hair cloth that will not enable you sleep comfortably and therefore enable longer earning hours in your day.

However, Owning an Oyster will not bring you happiness, so in the long term, there is no issue.

er..... scratch the last sentence. Owning it WILL bring you happiness.. its paying for it that hurts.

Ahh! You have got me sussed. But its not so much the hair shirt that's missing as the starched collar that goes with it,..... Even contemplating an Oyster brings me happiness.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

Ahh! You have got me sussed. But its not so much the hair shirt that's missing as the starched collar that goes with it,..... Even contemplating an Oyster brings me happiness.

I fel the same about a certain vessel.

We are indeed sad people.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

Ahh! You have got me sussed. But its not so much the hair shirt that's missing as the starched collar that goes with it,..... Even contemplating an Oyster brings me happiness.

How can an oyster...

Oh, never mind.

[rognvald]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

It's funny and sad that America is debating the idea of a $15 minimum wage when it should really be at least $22/hr. If one only considers inflation -- no actual increases -- the rate should be at least $22/hr. This amount is simply keeping up with the official cost of living (inflation). The same story holds true in Canada and our social benefits rates. And I suspect it holds true in most Western capitalist economies, particularly the Anglo nations.

But once again (and to keep on topic, and my friend AVB happy ) boaty stuff costs a lot b/c those of us rich enough to own "yachts" are willing to pay a lot.

Mike,,
If you remember your elementary economics class you would know that the costs of wages is one factor that determines the viability of an economic enterprise(business) along with insurances, rent, taxes, cost of goods, etc. If the cost of labor is too high, you will not be able to undertake the venture or if you do, you will not be able to hire enough employees to run the enterprise efficiently and will fail. Given these parameters, there would be little inducement for small businesses or large to create new jobs through new business ventures. Then, there is also the concept of wages based upon skill levels. If an unskilled, uneducated worker must be paid $22.00 per hour, what will a skilled laborer be worth? Those numbers are economically unfeasible here in the US(and I believe Canada as well) and would result in catastrophic failures of businesses, large and small, and runaway inflation. In regards to the cost of marine products, prices are based upon the cost of manufacturing items that will not be sold to a broad market but rather to a small market with limited profitability based upon the numbers. An example would be the number of ratchet blocks manufactured and sold versus any common item in your home, say, a light switch. In the first case, the manufacturer might hope to sell thousands while, in the second case, he would expect to sell tens of millions. Civilizations and Governments cannot exist without large and small business. It is the taxation that is based upon their profitability that determines the health of a government. After all, without taxing businesses that provide jobs for people who pay taxes, where does the money come from to run a government? This, of course, is the failure of the Socialist model we have seen in the former Soviet Republics and in China before the current economic revolution. Power to the people? You bet. It's called Free Enterprise!

[Boatguy30]

It's funny that you can go back thru his (OP) other posts and one gets the distinct impression he makes a good portion of his income off Section 8 housing and is wife is certainly in some Union profession based on the "high healthcare cost" her job pays for the 8 or so months a year she's apparently there.

I take that back, it's not that funny.......

[Boatguy30]

BTW, my Obama phone is one of those $9.95 models. I think maybe you can pay to upgrade. And the plan is 350 minutes per month no data. Just got bumped up from 250 per month. Guess cause I'm such a good customer.

Apparently it is cheaper to run Reagan's lifeline phone program wireless now than thru the telephone quasi government monopoly lines.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Mike,,
If you remember your elementary economics class you would know that the costs of wages is one factor that determines the viability of an economic enterprise(business) along with insurances, rent, taxes, cost of goods, etc. If the cost of labor is too high, you will not be able to undertake the venture or if you do, you will not be able to hire enough employees to run the enterprise efficiently and will fail. ...

rognvald, we really can't get into this here or AVB will step in (probably rightly so). Briefly though, all you're doing is regurgitating the same old tired neoliberal/newcon talking points about how the economy supposedly works, not how it actually works. Three quick and obvious points:

#1. A $22/hr minimum wage today IS EXACTLY EQUIVALENT to what the minimum wage was through the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. You remember those times; the days of the greatest economic expansion any country has ever seen? And the effects minimum wage increases has been well studied. Evidence shows it does not radically disrupt or damage an economy.

#2. As we all know, productivity gains in the economy matched wage gains through to the early 1970s when your neoliberal capitalist cronies started to get their hands on government. It is after that time we began to see the two increasingly diverge. So it's not that there hasn't been sufficient wealth generated to have a $22/hr minimum wage (and the related rise in all other middle-class wages). It's just that all the benefits of this rising productivity has gone to those at the top.

#3. Labour costs as a proportion of total costs for most goods and services have been plummeting since the 1970s (no coincidence). This is due to the trend of #2, and accelerated by mechanization and off-shoring where labour can be more easily abused. Once again, it's the pursuit of the lowest price, at any cost, kind of mentality that has hollowed out the middle class and led to perpetual recession in western countries. No matter how much wealth is transferred to the rich, they can only buy so many hamburgers.

Finally, and as I've said, marine stuff costs what it costs b/c that is the price people are willing to pay. The price of most consumer goods in capitalist economies are only loosely based on actual input costs: materials, labour, profit, etc. This is especially apparent in small markets like boating goods.