The cost paid by the ultimate consumer is the determinant factor in any decision to buy. Since the seller has to cost the price of getting goods to market into his selling price, he really has to look at the cost to consume, not produce. For example, if I am comparing TV sets, the one I will buy (given equal quality) is the one on sale where I can obtain it (be that at a store or online) at the lowest cost to me. If Set A is produced in Mexico at a lower cost than Set B made in the US, but transportation costs actually make it cost more at the point of sale, then I will buy Set B. If, with transportation costs included, Set A is still cheaper than Set B, I will buy Set A.

The problem arises when tariffs, embargoes, import fees, price supports and other protectionist devices are artificially inserted into the economic decision-making process (farmers love these, BTW). These allow non-economical (whether measured by production or consumption costs) industries to endure when they really shouldn't.

I am from a Kansas farm family and married into a Florida farm family. Farmers love to complain about the "gummint" interfering with their lives, but they also love them subsidies.

I am from a Kansas farm family and married into a Florida farm family. Farmers love to complain about the "gummint" interfering with their lives, but they also love them subsidies.[/reply]

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Old joke:
Q: What's a farmer's least favorite month?



A: February, because there's only 28 days to complain. :-)

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Josef
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blog

those who actually did read 'das kapital' thought it made a lot of sense.

Hoo boy. Now you think I'm a Marxist myself? Whiplash city, baby. ;)

What's proposed by McNabb, and whoever this farmer dude is, is most definitely not Marxism, or socialism, or anything of the sort. (C'mon Ken, help me out here- who's that farmer?)

And while capitalism as actually practiced does exploit many (low) tendencies of human nature, it's hardly a human inevitability.

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"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

I wouldn't say "capitalism as actually practiced does exploit many (low) tendencies of human nature," I would say "many people susceptible to the low tendencies of human nature exploit capitalism."

Kind of like the argument about guns killing people vs. people killing people.

Pure capitalism doesn't just exploit certain tendencies, it is fundamentally built on some of the lowest human motivators; greed and vanity.

Back this statement up and cite real references...

What, you think I listen to NPR 24/7? I get to hear it during my commute to/from work, is all. And I now work all of 5 miles from home.

I also listen to the puzzle on Sunday mornings, of course.

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"Go yell at an M&M"

[reply]Back this statement up and cite real references...[/reply]

Ok, let's quote the father of capitalism, Adam Smith!

[i]Every individual endeavours to employ his capital so that its produce may be of the greatest value. He generally neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. He intends only his own security, only his own gain. And he is in this led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than he really intends to promote it.[/i]

Trickle down. Look out for #1 at all turns and Capitalist Jesus will make sure everyone else doesn't die.

This is far more complicated than you think. Washington Apples/Florida Oranges are famous -- and a farmer can make more shipping them elsewhere than selling at "home".

You would think California Wine and Hawaiian Coffee and Hawaiian Pineapples would be the same, But tourism changes things.

Never mind -- I have to get to work, this is too long to explain.

Let's just say that there are many marketing factors that influence economic structure as well as manufacturing and shipping factors.

What, you think I listen to NPR 24/7? I get to hear it during my commute to/from work, is all.

Dang. There goes another cherished illusion up in smoke. ;)

Anyway, doesn't anybody know the name of this guy? He's been around for awhile, apparently.

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"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."