XPost: alt.society.labor-unions, alt.politics.economics, misc.consumers
XPost: soc.retirement
From: me@privacy.net
wrote in message news:eoe130pvel4acu83hn
6fon44dptf6ht35@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 17:02:27 -0800, "Rick" wrote:
>
> > wrote in message news:bn303099uno2dcp
14vg9o6i45r5kab39v@4ax.com...
> >> On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 20:22:26 GMT, "Michael Legel"
> >> >Omigosh ... you really do think that supply and demand works like
gravity?
> >> >This fairy tale world of thought goes far to explain the world we live
in.
> >> >Obviously there is a rudimentary and basic relationship between levels of
> >> >supply and demand. But these are so basic and easily manipulated as to
have
> >> >no useful bearing in modern economics. Mega-corporations simultaneously
> >> >control the supply and demand of multiple commodities simply by flooding
or
> >> >squelching markets. Since business now effectively controls the
government,
> >> >they control the flow of commerce across borders. A good example would
be
> >> >to plant yourself in the middle of Disneyland and go looking for a Pepsi.
> >> >In that microworld a Pepsi, if it could be found, might have some
precious
> >> >value ... but in reality that doesn't happen because the alternatives
abound
> >> >cheap and plentiful. You buy Coke because it is readily available and
> >> >affordable. There are no people fighting in the streets over black
market
> >> >Pepsi. We live in a modern world of huge diversity that makes the law of
> >> >supply and demand so general as to be nearly non-existent. Even once
rare
> >> >items like gold and diamonds have markets so controlled and modulated by
> >> >monopolies to control the price, thus controlling both supply and demand.
> >> >People and their actions control these variables.
> >>
> >> So, what you are describing is a country (USA) where plenty
> >> abounds...and there are multiple choices for products of a highly
> >> similar nature. However, if one really...really...needs that Pepsi,
> >> but can only find Coke, then their demands aren't met, and they will
> >> continue searching for a supply of Cole.
> >
> >You might want to put that bong down for a few weeks,
> >Sparky.
> >
> >> You may obfuscate all you want with mercantilist conspiracies and
> >> using trivial examples for your illustration, but the law of supply
> >> and demand remains extant. You have not repealed it with your facile
> >> argument using gold and precious gems as your commodities of
> >> necessity.
> >
> >Michael is correct. The "law" of supply and demand exists
> >only as a concept inside people's brains, and is used by the
> >haves as a lame excuse every time they wish to justify stealing
> >yet again from the have nots.
> >
> >Where was the "law" of supply and demand when our
> >government bailed out the savings and loan industry? Or
> >Chrysler? Seems this immutable "law" applies to some of us
> >but not others.
> >
> >Rick
> >
> Rick, the mis-using of gov't to interfere with the rational workings
> of the market doesn't obviate the efficacy of economic laws and
> principles.
But that's the whole point here, Dennis. "Rational workings of
the market", "free market" etc. are concepts and exist only in
economic theory. In many cases, what we have in reality are
markets that are controlled and manipulated by small groups of
suppliers, who price their products irrespective of demand.
One example of this recently surfaced when our local oil refinery
(Tasco) was asked why our region of California is paying an
average of $.50 more a gallon for gas than the rest of the country.
Their answer? "Because we can afford it." No other reason.
It has absolulely nothing to do with demand, the rule of thumb
is and always has been, "Gouge the consumer as much as
possible".
Rick
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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