Beamer wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 13:22:

ZandarKoad wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 13:02:
Inflation isn't caused by politics, democrats, republicans, capitalism, or any of the other distractions. It is inherent in the monetary system itself. A global, universal medium of exchange isn't some kind of trivial, natural given. The International Monetary Fund sets monetary policy in an attempt to stabilize (or perhaps destabilize, depending on their objectives) different currencies all around the world. The IMF isn't politically controlled. It's a private, non-domestic, non-US entity that long ago received control of the United States Treasury, such that the United States Treasury is now the individual drawing account of the IMF. They own, and therefore effectively operate the federal government, which at that point became by definition a foreign owned and foreign operated entity. See the Bretton Woods Agreements.

But yeah, go ahead and vote for your favorite incompetent stooge. Trump. Biden. Obama. Bush. Satan. Jesus. They are just talking heads. They don't really do much except fill the headlines and give people a point to focus collectively on when talking to each other.

I have no solutions. I don't feel obligated to solve global problems.

You realize you're more in the conspiracy realm than anyone else by claiming a global banking entity owns the US, no?
It's about systems, not some evil (((cabal)))

I never said they were evil. It's just an accurate description of what has occurred. I don't have any reason to believe that any of the people involved have malicious intent.

Please don't keep calling it "Bidenomics". Please? I still have to put up with my family calling our healthcare "Obamacare" and I want to stick pointy things in my ears to make it stop.

WaltSee wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 09:32:
The Bidenomics inflation is killing it for millions of people in the US, and unfortunately the damage isn't limited to the US. Expect to see it worsen until there's a sea change in Washington.

Inflation has fallen to 3% in the US, nearly what it was pre COVID, and lower than it was for the vast percentage of your life. Bidenomics did that. Bidenomics works.

And WaltC's take is that Biden caused Riot layoffs... of course...

ZandarKoad wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 13:02:
Inflation isn't caused by politics, democrats, republicans, capitalism, or any of the other distractions. It is inherent in the monetary system itself. A global, universal medium of exchange isn't some kind of trivial, natural given. The International Monetary Fund sets monetary policy in an attempt to stabilize (or perhaps destabilize, depending on their objectives) different currencies all around the world. The IMF isn't politically controlled. It's a private, non-domestic, non-US entity that long ago received control of the United States Treasury, such that the United States Treasury is now the individual drawing account of the IMF. They own, and therefore effectively operate the federal government, which at that point became by definition a foreign owned and foreign operated entity. See the Bretton Woods Agreements.

But yeah, go ahead and vote for your favorite incompetent stooge. Trump. Biden. Obama. Bush. Satan. Jesus. They are just talking heads. They don't really do much except fill the headlines and give people a point to focus collectively on when talking to each other.

I have no solutions. I don't feel obligated to solve global problems.

You realize you're more in the conspiracy realm than anyone else by claiming a global banking entity owns the US, no?
It's about systems, not some evil (((cabal)))

Inflation isn't caused by politics, democrats, republicans, capitalism, or any of the other distractions. It is inherent in the monetary system itself. A global, universal medium of exchange isn't some kind of trivial, natural given. The International Monetary Fund sets monetary policy in an attempt to stabilize (or perhaps destabilize, depending on their objectives) different currencies all around the world. The IMF isn't politically controlled. It's a private, non-domestic, non-US entity that long ago received control of the United States Treasury, such that the United States Treasury is now the individual drawing account of the IMF. They own, and therefore effectively operate the federal government, which at that point became by definition a foreign owned and foreign operated entity. See the Bretton Woods Agreements.

But yeah, go ahead and vote for your favorite incompetent stooge. Trump. Biden. Obama. Bush. Satan. Jesus. They are just talking heads. They don't really do much except fill the headlines and give people a point to focus collectively on when talking to each other.

I have no solutions. I don't feel obligated to solve global problems.

The free market doesn't make things better. It just advances capitalism run amok. Yes, the government is enabling a lot, but its purpose should be restraining capitalism.

The natural state of free market capitalism is single entity capitalism. If there's no government enforcing anti-trust, then you just have companies buying their competition.

Look at what's happening with inflation. Why is it happening? A lack of competition, first and foremost. If there are only 4 companies competing, and that's where most major industries have fallen, then they're not really competing. They will all raise prices together. This isn't collusion, as they're not talking to each other and planning this, they just know there's more value in following each other than trying to compete.

Vox did a great episode on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_hCLjUrK1E. And, if you don't trust Vox, and there's no particular reason to, Joe Rogan actually did the same topic a few months back. But I don't think he was smart enough to realize this isn't solely a farm issue. Virtually any aisle you walk down in the supermarket is controlled by 4 competitors. Online search is controlled by 2, but really one. Cell phone operating systems controlled by 2. It's hard to find any category where 85% of the market isn't controlled by 4-6 competitors, and at that point, they just begin to avoid each other as much as possible.

That's where the free market takes you. And the reason the government allows all of this is we let capitalism and the free market get so big that we welcomed it into our political system. When we got rid of public funding (eww, public? socialism!) we allowed the free market to control our politics, and that, in turn, means that our government just keeps giving corporations donations because corporations have more power than people. Free market!

I'm with Beamer on this. When Mrs. Burrito and I would fly internationally, even to Canada or Mexico, it was always first class. The reduced wear and tear on the body was worth the cost to us. We both used CPAP machines and being able to lie down, use our CPAP machines, and get a good night's rest made sure we were fresh and alert at both ends of the trip. When she went in to a wheelchair full time, her ultra lightweight wheelchair was taken down and stored in the cabin in the coat closet. No fuss, no muss. So there was no worries that some baggage handler was going to throw it around like some Olympic level discus event and destroy it coming in and out of the cargo hold. Again, totally worth the cost since that wheelchair was fairly expensive as it was custom.

There is a time and place where you break out the china instead of the paper plates.

Beamer wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 11:21:

Prez wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 11:13:

A great example of this is American Airlines announcing today that they're going to end first class service (or likely going to end.)

I always thought flying first class on passenger planes was silly. You saying that immediately made me think of some great stand-up bits on flying first class from comedians like Louie Anderson and Tom Segura.

Given the cost, I largely agree. I know that many international carriers have suites with full or queen beds, total privacy, often showers, etc., but many people that can afford that ticket regularly don't want to be on a plane with normal people.

Business, though. Man, you feel like an entirely different person getting off of a flight with a lay-flat vs a standard seat. If I fly a redeye to Europe in coach, I lost the next day. If I fly it in a lay-flat, I don't. It's worth the occasional splurge.

And my company, like many companies, really discourages flying business since it's 3x-5x the cost. But, when they sent me to Sinapore, I forced it. It was nearly a full bed layflat, the food was actually very good, and I could plug my steam deck into the 24" screen via the HDMI-in. I know I've mentioned this a thousand times, but it was an incredibly quick 19 hour flight. I wouldn't buy it on my own, or fly that direct, but I got off the plane as relaxed and refreshed as if I'd just spend a day lounging around the house.

Oh, so you're telling me that you are the one percent! I fell less worthy of talking to you now. I think I will just be quiet and just occasionally make sure you have everything you need sire. I mean 'sir'.

But seriously, I get it. For someone like you who sounds like they fly a lot it would be almost necessary I guess. I just am that guy who almost won't allow himself any luxuries if I know someone else has it worse. I would be up the whole flight, fidgeting and restless, feeling bad for the people in coach.

Donkey_Punch wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 10:47:

WaltSee wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 09:32:
The Bidenomics inflation is killing it for millions of people in the US, and unfortunately the damage isn't limited to the US.

I agree 100% because Biden is President of all countries (sarcasm).

That is the most idiotic sentence I have read on this website. Capitalism is the problem and corporate greed inflation. Rich people have milked all the wealth out of the system for decades with remote slavery (sending the jobs to China and India among others). With all that wealth absorbed they needed to bring the slavery back to our shores. The middle class doesn't exist any more so they now need to suck every dollar left out of the poor. We are seeing that process now with temporary workers programs and high levels of immigration even while we are in a housing and economic crisis.

The rich are the problem and Conservatives were the worst at enabling this. All these job cuts are just because the corporations can do this and they only care about maximum profits for their wealthy share holders. Only an absolute fool would believe that voting Conservative is the answer to these problems.

Capitalism isn't the issue. It's the governments enabling greedy corporations, providing tax breaks for them instead of for citizens, allowing them to run rampant, enabling bad behavior. Banks, credit card companies, insurance companies - all enabled by government. And then the stock market, Jesus. All the playing around with money that goes on.
Capitalism = Free Market economy. We do NOT have that. What we have is government regulating things so that everything benefits government and rich people.

Also why I identify as lower case libertarian, because the official party line is essentially laissez-faire capitalism, and we KNOW that doesn't work. Jesus, look at Nike in the 80s with the child slave labor offshore. Or go read the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair from goddamn 1906. We KNOW there needs to be some regulation, because otherwise people are terrible to each other.

Prez wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 11:13:

A great example of this is American Airlines announcing today that they're going to end first class service (or likely going to end.)

I always thought flying first class on passenger planes was silly. You saying that immediately made me think of some great stand-up bits on flying first class from comedians like Louie Anderson and Tom Segura.

Given the cost, I largely agree. I know that many international carriers have suites with full or queen beds, total privacy, often showers, etc., but many people that can afford that ticket regularly don't want to be on a plane with normal people.

Business, though. Man, you feel like an entirely different person getting off of a flight with a lay-flat vs a standard seat. If I fly a redeye to Europe in coach, I lost the next day. If I fly it in a lay-flat, I don't. It's worth the occasional splurge.

And my company, like many companies, really discourages flying business since it's 3x-5x the cost. But, when they sent me to Sinapore, I forced it. It was nearly a full bed layflat, the food was actually very good, and I could plug my steam deck into the 24" screen via the HDMI-in. I know I've mentioned this a thousand times, but it was an incredibly quick 19 hour flight. I wouldn't buy it on my own, or fly that direct, but I got off the plane as relaxed and refreshed as if I'd just spend a day lounging around the house.

A great example of this is American Airlines announcing today that they're going to end first class service (or likely going to end.)

I always thought flying first class on passenger planes was silly. You saying that immediately made me think of some great stand-up bits on flying first class from comedians like Louie Anderson and Tom Segura.

That is the most idiotic sentence I have read on this website.

Oh you must be new. Hi, and welcome!

Donkey_Punch wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 10:47:

WaltSee wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 09:32:
The Bidenomics inflation is killing it for millions of people in the US, and unfortunately the damage isn't limited to the US.

The middle class doesn't exist any more

A great example of this is American Airlines announcing today that they're going to end first class service (or likely going to end.)
Why? Because not enough people fly it, obviously enough. But why is that? We have plenty of wealthy people. The thing is, those wealthy enough to fly first class really just fly private. There are enough super wealthy that private jets have increased exponentially. Everyone else can basically afford coach.

Or, just look at housing. The majority of Americans are desperately trying to figure out how they could possibly save enough to buy their first home. However, there's also a lot of wealthy desperately trying to figure out where to park their money. Home prices don't fall because that second group keeps buying investment property and renting it. Rents don't fall because that group needs to recoup their investment. But there is a decreasingly small amount between the "I can't save a dollar" and "I have so much money that I can't find places to invest it quickly enough."

There was a great post on LinkedIn from a Google engineer (was it linked from here? Maybe) about how Google no longer has any visionary leaders. That ideas don't come from them, just occasionally direction, a la "hey, AI is a thing, let's do AI! You guys figure out how I can say we're doing AI on our product!"

More importantly, though, she said that all the downsizing meant no more risk taking and more individual fiefdoms. This is general human nature, right? On the fiefdom side, you're going to hold more close to your chest and be less open and share less because you want to be invaluable and irreplaceable. If you're the only person that can X, then it's less likely you'll be laid off if X is still needed. But this slows information transfer to a crawl. On the risk taking, you're less likely to take a risk because, if the risk doesn't pay off, you're potentially on the chopping block. You'd rather play it safe and not stand out and constantly hit singles than try for doubles, triples, and home runs. Innovation slows to a crawl.

Most of these companies do not need the cuts. But their share prices do. Investors do. It's artificial in that way. It feels like an absolutely stupid system we've built for ourselves. There's a reason why the GE model thrived in the 90s, but so many Jack Welch acolyte-run businesses have done poorly, and why GE is no longer a household name.

WaltSee wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 09:32:
The Bidenomics inflation is killing it for millions of people in the US, and unfortunately the damage isn't limited to the US.

I agree 100% because Biden is President of all countries (sarcasm).

That is the most idiotic sentence I have read on this website. Capitalism is the problem and corporate greed inflation. Rich people have milked all the wealth out of the system for decades with remote slavery (sending the jobs to China and India among others). With all that wealth absorbed they needed to bring the slavery back to our shores. The middle class doesn't exist any more so they now need to suck every dollar left out of the poor. We are seeing that process now with temporary workers programs and high levels of immigration even while we are in a housing and economic crisis.

The rich are the problem and Conservatives were the worst at enabling this. All these job cuts are just because the corporations can do this and they only care about maximum profits for their wealthy share holders. Only an absolute fool would believe that voting Conservative is the answer to these problems.

Midnight wrote on Jan 22, 2024, 21:50:
"As CEO, I’m accountable" says the guy worth $30 million who fired 530 people for doing their job while keeping his own.

Or at least take a pay cut of twice the percentage of people layer off for all the executives who signed off the path that failed!

MoreLuckThanSkill wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 07:09:
These guys weren't making enough money off of League of Legends and Valorant? Sheesh.

Unfortunately it looks they laid off people from their e-sports division because it wasn't as profitable, so yep, pretty much. In the way the economy works currently, you hire too many people in too many different areas just to see what will become obscenely profitable. Those that are, you expand, and those that aren't, you announce how sad you are, that you feel " so so bad, it's such a sad day", blah blah blah, as you lay people off when you were just were essentially throwing shit every which way just to see what sticks with no concern for the people who suffer as a result of your failed experiment. It's expand, expand, EXPAND! Expand or die, we don't have all of the money in the world yet.

Not picking on Riot here because all businesses are run this way, and mostly everyone just accepts it because there's nothing to be done about it without actual regulation.

I blame Biden. No wait, that doesn't work, because it was happening before him. I meant to say, I blame Trump. No, gotta go back further. Obama? It used to be popular to blame Obama, but no one says " I blame Obama" anymore. Bush? Nope, further back. Clinton? Reagan? Well 'Reaganomics were pretty disastrous', but the problem was already festering even before him. Umm, Taft? Crap.

I blame the caveman. It's all his fault.

This comment was edited on Jan 23, 2024, 10:01.

WaltSee wrote on Jan 23, 2024, 09:32:
The Bidenomics inflation is killing it for millions of people in the US, and unfortunately the damage isn't limited to the US. Expect to see it worsen until there's a sea change in Washington.

I'm happy that you've finally realized that inflation isn't limited to the US. I will say, though, that it's impressive that:

1) You think Biden controls the international economy
2) You think the Fed reports to the president
3) You think that inflation isn't tied largely to COVID-related money printing done by the prior administration (and, very heavily, by corporate greed)

The Bidenomics inflation is killing it for millions of people in the US, and unfortunately the damage isn't limited to the US. Expect to see it worsen until there's a sea change in Washington.