re: Horrors...

Tom Brosz — 3/19/2004 2:07:39 AM (archived)

Look at the number of people who pay money to destroy themselves with cigarettes, for example, and tell me the market always does what's right for society.

In this statement, you get very close to the heart of what a free market really means, and what it's based on. Think real hard about this. Key point: who exactly is "society?"

Ever see "Demolition Man?" Cheesy movie, to be generous, but with a message.

Edgar Friendly, a leader of the rebellion against the Nanny State of all time:

"You see, according to Cocteau's plan I'm the enemy, because I like to think, and I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who'd walk into a greasy spoon and wonder -- "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecued ribs with the side order of grave fries?" I WANT high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and BUCKETS of cheese, okay? I want to smoke Cuban cigars the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I want to run through the streets naked with green jello all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the urge to, okay, pal? I've SEEN the future. Do you know what it is? It's a 47-year-old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas, drinking a banana-broccoli shake, and singing "I'm an Oscar Meyer Wiener."

It helps to know that Edgar is played by Denis Leary in the movie.

The whole thread (46 posts)

Colin Powell reassures India - don't worry about job loss. - Bowser - 3/18/2004 12:58:07 AM
- heh heh. . . - Justin Kelly - 3/18/2004 1:09:25 PM
  - Oh, do you really expect me to believe - Davin L. - 3/18/2004 4:37:05 PM
    - 'many steps that can be taken' how about an obvious one? - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 1:17:19 AM
      - BTW: I named two obvious steps... Plus some empirical observations about globalism. - Davin L. - 3/19/2004 5:03:23 PM
      - Wow. I don't think you heard anything I said. Complete disconnect - Davin L. - 3/19/2004 4:05:56 AM
      - Uh, Justin, excuse me a second - Robert - 3/19/2004 2:23:29 AM
        
        on a serious note. . . - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 8:14:57 AM
        
        re: Uh, Justin, excuse me a second - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 3:12:35 AM
        
        You've been hanging out at the wrong bars (n/t) - alcaray - 3/19/2004 3:08:43 PM
        
        I didn't hang out at bars in the US (n/t) - Justin Kelly - 3/20/2004 2:11:13 PM
    - a question - SDG - 3/18/2004 10:34:49 PM
  - Well, I'm sorry. - Bowser - 3/18/2004 3:27:42 PM
  - great post, J (n/t) - phil - 3/18/2004 1:16:48 PM
    - Thanks P ;-) (n/t) - Justin - 3/19/2004 3:17:55 AM
- re: don't worry about job loss. - Tom Brosz - 3/18/2004 1:07:45 AM
  - 10 percent? - McFly - 3/19/2004 2:52:05 PM
  - re: don't worry about job loss. - McFly - 3/18/2004 4:56:18 AM
    - Lest anyone get the wrong idea - McFly - 3/18/2004 4:56:03 PM
      - I'm impressed McFly...... - Lindy - 3/18/2004 7:58:27 PM
    - Regulations - Tom Brosz - 3/18/2004 6:44:29 AM
      - Horrors... - McFly - 3/18/2004 2:20:20 PM
        
        re: Horrors... - Tom Brosz - 3/19/2004 2:07:39 AM
  - Only "10 percent". Just "10 percent". Merely "10 percent". (n/t) - Bowser - 3/18/2004 4:50:05 AM
  - Outsourcing is a minor threat; the real 'culprit' is productvity - m - 3/18/2004 2:37:08 AM
    - Lemme see if I get this... - McFly - 3/18/2004 5:26:51 AM
      - Yeah, great post! - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 1:54:55 AM
        
        And furthermore. . . - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 2:11:11 AM
        
        re: And furthermore. . . - RobVG - 3/19/2004 5:54:30 AM
      - That is a GREAT point. - Bowser - 3/18/2004 6:03:59 PM
      - Nope - Larry J - 3/18/2004 2:21:27 PM
        
        re: Nope - Tom Brosz - 3/19/2004 2:11:27 AM
        
        Myth - Bowser - 3/18/2004 3:33:22 PM
        
        Drug companies will never stop R&D, though they may threaten to do so. - Mary Anne - 3/18/2004 3:12:44 PM
        
        If they can't recoup their investment, then they'll have no choice - Larry J - 3/18/2004 4:15:32 PM
        
        Maybe they should outsource R&D to India? (n/t) - Robert - 3/18/2004 11:21:04 PM
        
        I still say let's start offshoring CEO and COO jobs... - McFly - 3/19/2004 1:59:02 AM
        
        How about this? - Robert - 3/19/2004 2:16:53 AM
        
        'outsourcing CEO Pay' - I'm all for it, They are subject to the free market as well. (n/t) - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 3:16:06 AM
        
        Sure! . . . and whose fault would that be? (n/t) - Justin Kelly - 3/19/2004 1:33:06 AM
        
        Why not recoup their (relatively small) investments from Canada? And Mexico? (n/t) - Bowser - 3/18/2004 6:11:41 PM
        
        myths about drug companies - Davin L. - 3/18/2004 4:48:55 PM
        
        Without new product, they will be left with expired patents and competition with generics. Period. - Mary Anne - 3/18/2004 4:43:11 PM
        
        re: Without new product - Tom Brosz - 3/19/2004 2:24:34 AM
        
        When the small-plane industry lowers blood pressure for millions and annihilates cancer cells without surgery, let me know. - Mary Anne - 3/19/2004 7:11:25 PM
        
        Some reforms are needed - Tom Brosz - 3/20/2004 1:47:11 AM

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