- On 22 May 2013
in
I don't understand Paul Krugman,
thunderlips11 said:
From this article:
Not an article. A Neoliberal's opinion column.
- On 22 May 2013
in
Great Depression vs. Current Depression -,
thunderlips11 said:
The result of the 1930s policy was the 1930s
I can play this game too:
And the result of the 1980s spending boom? The 1990s.
- On 22 May 2013
in
Continuing Whistleblower Harassment,
thunderlips11 said:
Chris Hedges: Monitoring of AP Phones "Terrifying Step"
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges joins us to discuss what could mark the most significant government intrusion on freedom of the press in decades. The Justice Department has acknowledged seizing the work, home and cellphone records used by almost 100 reporters and editors at the Associated Press. The phones targeted included the general AP office numbers in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Hartford, Connecticut, and the main number for the AP in the House of Representatives press gallery. The action likely came as part of a probe into the leaks behind an AP story on the U.S. intelligence operation that stopped a Yemen-based al-Qaeda bombing plot on a U.S.-bound airplane. Hedges, a senior fellow at The Nation Institute and former New York Times reporter, calls the monitoring "one more assault in a long series of assault against freedom of information and freedom of the press." Highlighting the Obama administration’s targeting of government whistleblowers, Hedges adds: "Talk to any investigative journalist who must investigate the government, and they will tell you that there is a deep freeze. People are terrified of speaking, because they’re terrified of going to jail."
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/5/15/chris_hedges_monitoring_of_ap_phones
- On 22 May 2013
in
Why pedophilia is a witch hunt and the laws are ridiculous,
thunderlips11 said:
There is nothing stupid or wrong with two adolescents having a sexual relationship. Fuck, if it wasn't for 14-year-olds baring children, our species wouldn't have made it out of the Stone Age. Our culture does not override evolution. People mature and age at the exact same rate today as our ancestors from the Stone Age did, regardless of how long our society likes to put off adulthood.
WORD.
The fact that kids marry and make babies later has 0% to do with ethics and 100% to do with opportunities.
(Smart) Kids delay having babies until their twenties because modern day success requires higher education (or technical training), powered by birth control.
If higher ed made no difference, people would have babies at 14, just like dumb hicks and beasties do, because they come from a primitive culture and/or believe they can achieve nothing but bastard factory operation.
I would actually argue that because of more socialization (schools full of peers, telephones, internet) AND nutrition (how many 1st World Kids endure a period of starvation prior to puberty?), people mature Faster than they did previously. Until the 20th Century, most teenagers could count a few dozen peers at best, today all but a tiny minority have access to a hundred peers or more.
I believe the average age of first menstruation is 11-12 today; in the 19th Century it was 13-14, and females that had not yet menstruated by then were not all that unusual - today they are exceedingly rare, and almost always some serious health condition underlies it.
- On 21 May 2013
in
Senate panel OKs tax-welfare benefits for newly legal immigrants,
thunderlips11 said:
But immigrant-rights groups called that a rollback of due-process rights for the immigrants and said a drunken-driving incident shouldn’t cost someone a chance at citizenship.
That's insane. Literally. If you're irresponsible enough to drive drunk, that is EVERY reason to deny citizenship. Drunk Driving is a top ten killer.
This crazy f'ker in Boston was convicted of Domestic Violence and yet was allowed to remain in the country. He should have been put on the first plane back to the Caucasus. Even in France, Germany, etc. recent immigrants who commit felonies get their asses sent right back home.
The US is ridiculously generous, bar none that I can think of, to recent immigrants in terms of social benefits. The inability to understand that this is neither tenable over the long term, nor fair to taxpayers, and dangerous to social order (ie It causes xenophobia, and many immigrants that fail to assimilate develop dangerous antisocial behavior) escapes me.
Given the high endemic unemployment in poor rural and urban areas, the poverty we saw during Katrina in NOLA, etc. means we are underutilizing and undersupporting our own native population. Lack of workers is complete BS in a country of 300M+ people with record low participation in the labor force but where 50% of the population has at least 2 years of higher ed, and 30% 4 years or more.
- On 21 May 2013
in
Why pedophilia is a witch hunt and the laws are ridiculous,
thunderlips11 said:
I'm sure this will be made into a film soon.
On the Lifetime Channel. ;)
I know a girl who was a registered sex offender because when she was 17, she gave a Sophomore a few months before his 16th birthday, a hummer behind the bleachers.
When she was in her 20s, her boyfriend got the shit beat out of him coming out of his house by vigilantes, who saw there was a registered sex offender living at that address, since a sex offender "Must" be male.
She also can never live downtown in most places because of proximity to schools, even though she is not the least bit of a true pedophile.
- On 21 May 2013
in
Why pedophilia is a witch hunt and the laws are ridiculous,
thunderlips11 said:
Witch Hunts make DAs look "Tough on Crime", which helps them run for Governor.
- On 21 May 2013
in
Selecting a good investment advisor,
thunderlips11 said:
Get a revolver and put only one bullet in the chamber, then spin the barrel.
Get 6 financial advisers together. The one who bites the bullet was the best financial adviser, the rest will just BS you and take your money.
- On 21 May 2013
in
Evil: Revised Guantanamo force-feed policy exposed,
thunderlips11 said:
Article 3, section 3, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution specifies that the giving of aid and comfort to the enemy is an element in the crime of Treason. Aid and comfort may consist of substantial assistance or the mere attempt to provide some support; actual help or the success of the enterprise is not relevant.
Constitution forbids the government Cruel and Unusual punishment. Why are you supporting the corruption of the Constitution, and giving aid and comfort to those who are breaking our Laws?
What gives you the right to call our actions as "injustice".
Since when are you a post-modernist?
- On 21 May 2013
in
Makers And Stars Of Porn Being Turned Away By Some Banks,
thunderlips11 said:
Meanwhile, a former softcore porn producer in California is suing JPMorgan Chase after the bank refused to underwrite a loan for “moral reasons.”
That was the big SNORT of the day.
- On 20 May 2013
in
Why the hell is gay sex immoral?,
thunderlips11 said:
Although there are screwed up closeted homosexuals who bash gays, most gay bashers are just immoral assholes.
Closeted Cowardly Self-Hating Gays:
http://nyjtimes.com/Stories/2005/BoyScoutExec&ChildPorn.htm
BTW, Smith was charged just a few weeks after he fired another executive for going to a gay event. The guy was 2 years until retirement.
More examples:
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2007/07/homoquotable-bob-allen.html
http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/08/03/disgraced-ex-idaho-senator-larry-craig-my-toe-tapping-bathroom-trip-was-official-govt-business/
Exodus "Ex-Gay" Ministers caught soliciting man love:
http://www.truthwinsout.org/scandals-defections/And of course:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/03/haggard.allegations/And:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-caught-soliciting-prostitute-stunned-minn-church-remains-supportive-79358/
http://clergygonewild.com/sex-abuse/38-solicitation/851-arkansas-bentonville-pastor-arrested-during-prostitution-sting-resignsI could go on and on and on.
I stand in awe of this kind of hypocrisy.
- On 15 May 2013
in
Cotati California Police Brutality. Break into private residence and taze person,
thunderlips11 said:
They are actually including old people and pregnant women now on police targets, so they don't hold back if they are told to prang them.
Apparently a spate of cop killing pregnant ladies and elderly people caused them to incorporate this new training.
- On 14 May 2013
in
Non-GMO SALT now available!!! Please walk, don't run!,
thunderlips11 said:
That's nothing compared to:
"This Sugary Fruit Drink is 100% Fat Free!"
"This Corn Syrup laden Wheat-based Snack is 100% Fat Free!""Corn 'sugar' is fine in moderation. But don't deal with the act that corn syrup is added to everything from ketchup to salad dressing to 'diet' cookies to frozen vegetables, making it impossible to moderate unless you only buy fresh unprocessed ingredients."
The danger of GMO I don't think is in the plant. It's in the control of seed and the danger to seed diversity. Also, GMO seeds do not work as well as advertised, and often, heirloom varieties beat them in both quality and quantity. Like any marketed artifical product, some GMOs are more hype than substance.
- On 14 May 2013
in
The spectacular failure of Austrian economics,
thunderlips11 said:
Murray Rothbard talking about "Infiltration", "Liquidation", and "Propaganda" in a memo to the Volker Fund, from which he was fired:
www.libertarianpapers.org/articles/2009/lp-1-3.pdf
Libertarianism: Marxism of the Right.
- On 14 May 2013
in
China Shorts - QIHU,
thunderlips11 said:
Time to eat crow on this one!
At least, for now. Still think this company stinks on ice.
- On 14 May 2013
in
Austrian test,
thunderlips11 said:
But I would bet that your quote is taken out of context
Here it is:
At some point in the possibly near future, perhaps in the next recession and the next spate of bad bank loans, it might dawn upon the public that 1.5 percent is not very safe either, and that no such level can guard against the irresistible holocaust of the bank run. At that point, ignoring the usual mendacious assurances and soothing-syrup of the Establishment, the commercial banks might be plunged into their ultimate crisis. The United States authorities would then be faced with two stark choices. One would be to allow the entire banking system to collapse, along with virtually all the deposits and depositors in that system. Since, given the mind-set of American politicians, and their evident philosophy of “too big to fail,” it is certain that they would be forced to embrace the second alternative: massive, hyper-inflationary printing of enough cash to pay off all the bank liabilities. The redeposit of such cash in the banking system would bring about an immediate runaway inflation and a massive flight from the dollar.
Such a future scenario, once seemingly unthinkable, is now definitely on the horizon. Perhaps realization of this plight will lead to increased interest, not only in gold, but also in a 100 percent banking system grounded upon a revalued gold stock.
http://archive.mises.org/8694/rothbard-saw-the-future/Rothbard is clear as crystal as to what will happen when.
I'm also taking the quote directly from Mises.org, where a contributor is directly trying to assert that Rothbard saw the future.
In reality, Rothbard stated the obvious - that the Fed would bailout banks, not surprising as it kinda is called "The Bank of Last Resort". But the hyperinflation and mauled dollar that would immediately follow? No sign of that at all.
Right now the local paper is griping about the expensive dollar and how hard it is to find them because of the appreciation.
- On 14 May 2013
in
The spectacular failure of Austrian economics,
thunderlips11 said:
Peter Schiff called it while getting laughed at on TV by some of the idiots whose companies needed a criminal bailout via massive fed intervention later as well as their paid sheisters. Can't watch this highly educational material often enough ;)
I do loathe Laffer though, man that guy should be ashamed to come on TV. But when has an economist ever felt shame over being spectactularly wrong.
- On 14 May 2013
in
Social Mood Darkens in Europe, Especially France, as Eurozone Economy in Freefal,
thunderlips11 said:
Which explains why the Greek ETF is up so much in the past year.
I know neoliberals really want the EU to die, but it won't. Even with the flaws, the ease of cross-border standardization, travel and transactions means it's not going anywhere. Germany's exports doubled in the decade since the Euro was introduced.
- On 13 May 2013
in
Crony capitalism = both a corruption of capitalism and a corruption of morals,
thunderlips11 said:
The fundamental problem with capitalism is that profits always move money up the pyramid. There needs to be some system to move money down the pyramid, however this particular FACT doesn't appear to interest free-market lunatics and they just assume there will always be customers regardless of who holds all the cash.
Austrians explain that by time-demand problems.
You see, rich genius self-actualized entrepreneur decides he will put off buying a diamond dog collar for Tibbles, his toy puddle, until later, and use the money to invest in a new enterprise, a chain of convenience stores.
Bumette the baglady spends all her resources on buying a hotdog because she is hungry.
Therefore, we can see why rich genius the self-actualized entrepreneur is rich and Bumette the baglady is poor. The former delays consumption, but the latter irresponsibly spends all their resources on immediate gratification.
- On 13 May 2013
in
Crony capitalism = both a corruption of capitalism and a corruption of morals,
thunderlips11 said:
LOL, by the time we are done, Iwog's ass is going to hurt. Apparently Iwog forgot all about macroeconimcs, assuming he studied it once upon a time
Yep, if somebody disagrees with you, they don't understand economics.
- On 13 May 2013
in
The spectacular failure of Austrian economics,
thunderlips11 said:
Got it! Rothbard writing in 1991:
The important point here is a basic change that has occurred in the psychology of the market and of the public. In contrast to the naive and unquestioning faith of yesteryear, everyone now realizes at least the possibility of collapse of the FDIC. At some point in the possibly near future, perhaps in the next recession and the next spate of bad bank loans, it might dawn upon the public that 1.5 percent is not very safe either, and that no such level can guard against the irresistible holocaust of the bank run. At that point, ignoring the usual mendacious assurances and soothing-syrup of the Establishment, the commercial banks might be plunged into their ultimate crisis. The United States authorities would then be faced with two stark choices. One would be to allow the entire banking system to collapse, along with virtually all the deposits and depositors in that system. Since, given the mind-set of American politicians, and their evident philosophy of “too big to fail,” it is certain that they would be forced to embrace the second alternative: massive, hyper-inflationary printing of enough cash to pay off all the bank liabilities. The redeposit of such cash in the banking system would bring about an immediate runaway inflation and a massive flight from the dollar.
Such a future scenario, once seemingly unthinkable, is now definitely on the horizon. Perhaps realization of this plight will lead to increased interest, not only in gold, but also in a 100 percent banking system grounded upon a revalued gold stock.
His prediction was: "IMMEDIATE" runaway inflation and a massive flight from the dollar. Ain't happened.
- On 13 May 2013
in
Austrian test,
thunderlips11 said:
The Subjective Theory of value is ONE of the theories on how to determine prices.
That's utterly lunacy. Economic value subjectivity came long before price discovery, long before commodity currency existed.
Yep the subjective value theory was around long before von Mises - problem is, nobody accepts "Raw" subjective value anymore except Austrians. Go google "subjective value economics" and tell me how many references not by or dealing with criticism of Austrians that you see in the first 20 hits.
YOU asserted that the subjective theory of value is Mainstream. It isn't.
One problem with it is: The Prices effect the decisions, but the decisions effect the price. Where then did the first price come from?
What the heck are you talking about?
Circular Logic.
- On 13 May 2013
in
Austrian test,
thunderlips11 said:
The secret to Austrian economics is: don't quantify anything. Then you can never be wrong.
Yep. Disbelieving empiricism is a great way to excuse proving your assertion. All woo advocates resist demonstrating their assertions.
The other day I came across a Rothbard article where he was predicting impending doom (in the form of hyperinflation, who woulda guessed?) in the early 90s. He used the qualifier "Immediate" which means he expected it to happen right away, not 20 years later. I'm trying to hunt it down for the other Austrian thread.
- On 13 May 2013
in
Austrian test,
thunderlips11 said:
The pencil example simply illustrated what Adam Smith called the "invisible hand"!
All references to Smith regarding the invisible hand are references to what happens when a tariff is in effect, NOT market activity generally. Extrapolations beyond that are interpretations of those reading him.
- On 13 May 2013
in
Austrian test,
thunderlips11 said:
No, what you said is the equivalent of accusing everyone who said "I have a personal relationship with Christ" as a fake Christian.
Man, this is obtuse. I said people who say "Personal Relationship w/ Christ" that are seldom Zen Buddhists. Or Sufi Muslims. Or Hindus. I don't understand how you got "Fake Christian" from that.
If you keep reading people telling you to read Economics 101,
Let me fix that for you:
"If one libertarian on a forum keeps telling you to read Economics 101..."When that happens, I don't sweat it.
perhaps you are indeed just utterly ignorant. Economics 101 is not advocacy of libertarianism by any stretch of imagination. In fact, it's a textbook getting the student on track to be brainwashed by mainstream Keynesianism in Economics 102 (MacroEcon). However, it does introduce some basic economic concepts, for which you are obviously lacking.
Wow, nothing to do with what I said at all. "Read/Take Economics 101; Read this Libertarian Book, Have you taken the Nolan Quiz, etc." is:
"Shit Libertarians Say when they hit a roadblock when pontificating and the audience isn't convinced by their arguments."
See above.Reality says
Not in the general sense at all. Praxeology restricts itself to only where outcome is determined by purposeful human action. It does not at all apply to where results are not influenced by human deliberation.
And how does Praxeology determine, scientifically, when humans are being purposeful, and when they are being intuitive, herd-following, reflexive or habitual? Does Praxeology provide a mechanism to read minds?
Again, if Praxeology was a useful methodology with a demonstrable record of successful predictions, why is nobody - even outside economics - is using it?
You'd thing Praxeology would be helpful in Urban Planning, Marketing, Product Placement, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and a ton of other disciplines. References to it outside Austrianism are few and far between.