Ace of Spades HQ

October 13, 2011

How Can You Not Love This?
— LauraW

Dear OWS Folks: From One Of Their Own

Conan is asked, "What is good in life?"

You've people got it backwards. Capitalism calls for insolvent banks to fail. Socialism calls for them to be bailed out.
submitted 11 hours ago by r3compile
Edit: Some more complete thoughts:
The free market gets rid of risky, unstable businesses. Capitalism means if you don't have a viable product, you go away. People vote with their own money.
In Socialism, you vote with other people's money. You keep throwing good money after bad because you like the idea of a stable bank and you don't want to admit that it needs to go bankrupt.
All a businessman can do is try to sell you something that you think is worth the money.
But a government can take your wealth by force, and allocate it to an area that has no viable market, purely for the benefit of catering to voters and trying to get re-elected.
As long as we have a big government trying to run every aspect of the economy, it will be taken advantage of by some minority to the detriment of the majority.
I sympathize with the message of OWS thanks banks get special favors from government. But the answer isn't to give more special favors to labor unions and employees. The answer is to get the government out of the way and let the market flush out all these bad banks so a viable economy can rise.
Bring on the downvotes.

And brought they were. This gem was buried furiously by the lefty brethen of a certain site we will not name, but its initials are REDDIT.

What follows is a long and furious discussion of Socialism vs. Capitalism, and some of it is pretty damn interesting, and some of it is pretty damn funny, if you're into watching lefties argue amongst themselves.

One thing strikes me: a lot of these lefties? Not actually so very far to the left as they think they are. Nope. Not so much.
Frankly, many of them seem to be conflicted.

What capitalism has going for it that no amount of Marxist Econ 101 professors can ever undo, is that it comes so naturally to us.

Posted by: LauraW at 05:40 PM | Comments (51)
Post contains 384 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at October 13, 2011 05:41 PM (fyOgS)

2 Oh hi laura's post.

Posted by: soothie at October 13, 2011 05:41 PM (yhYn1)

3 Amen.

To the post, too.

Posted by: Methos at October 13, 2011 05:41 PM (sOXQX)

>> Bring on the downvotes

down twinkles

Posted by: Dave in Texas at October 13, 2011 05:42 PM (PjVdx)

5 Not all of reddit is lefty

try;

reddit.com/r/guns/

reddit.com/r/libertarian/

Posted by: dave at October 13, 2011 05:43 PM (62Vcx)

6 What are green jobs if not corporate welfare? Which is bad, right liberals?

Posted by: Dr Spank at October 13, 2011 05:44 PM (Sh42X)

7 In other words ... YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

Posted by: soothie at October 13, 2011 05:45 PM (Y4TdB)

8 Is it possible that some of these people are capable of embarrassment?

Posted by: pep at October 13, 2011 05:45 PM (6TB1Z)

9 Is Medical Marijuana Dispensary operator a green job?

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at October 13, 2011 05:46 PM (ieDPL)

10 The ignorance is reaching critical mass.

Posted by: soothie at October 13, 2011 05:47 PM (BUcLz)

11 Lay off the medical marijuana hate, I needs my medicine.

Posted by: Dr Spank at October 13, 2011 05:48 PM (Sh42X)

12 Sytem overload is imminent. Too many teatsuckers. Must jettison parasites.

Posted by: soothie at October 13, 2011 05:49 PM (GcwH1)

13 The problem with the Left, as the commenter points out, is the half of the Left that claims to be socialists have not clue one as to what it means other than a generalized anger at 'rich people.' The other half refuses to be called socialists yet agree with every enlargement of the State, subordination of freedom, and revels in oikophobia.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 13, 2011 05:50 PM (kt1UQ)

14 One thing strikes me: a lot of these lefties? Not actually so very far to the left as they think they are.

Campus aged leftism is mostly about scoring the poon.

Posted by: toby928©: Perrykrishna and general know-it-all at October 13, 2011 05:50 PM (GTbGH)

15 Interesting. Erudite. Wrong.

Cognitive Dissidence for me, I'm afraid

...to read an interesting and well thought out post from a commenter who then states his belief in Gerbil Worming.

Posted by: Minutman (who used to be trainer) until Juggy is Gone at October 13, 2011 05:51 PM (DGxyd)

16 Hey, here's an idea, let's have the Feddle Gubmint subsidize a bunch of educational institutions, then loan a bunch of money to people so that they can go there, then forgive those debts. Then, direct hire them, and BAM! We got stimulus!

Posted by: blaster at October 13, 2011 05:53 PM (Fw2Gg)

17 Concentrated stupidity confined in small areas will result in total annihilation. These people are about to self destruct and set back the Leftist agenda twenty-five years.

Posted by: soothie at October 13, 2011 05:54 PM (BUcLz)

18 3,827 up votes 3,115 down votes RETARDS hell bent on the destruction of this country.

Posted by: Unclefacts Out Of Commenting Retirement Just For This One Thing at October 13, 2011 05:58 PM (6IReR)

19 All the interviews of the OWS and other cities' protesters gave me the strong impression that these gullible moonbats don't really have a strong handle on what capitalism is. I think the simpletons think that capitalism is ONLY Wall Street and venture capitalists and big banks, but not mom and pop on the corner selling cigars marijuana.

Posted by: Sphynx at October 13, 2011 06:03 PM (M0c4a)

20 Within 20 comments, that reddit thread turns into a debate of whether Ron Paul believes in evolution, and whether it's acceptable if he doesn't.

I would analyze and critique this phenomenon, but I'm going to just say "res ipsa loquitur" and go out drinking.

Posted by: C.T. at October 13, 2011 06:04 PM (G/HR5)

21 It's not socialism, it's egalitarian fairnessism. Do keep up.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 13, 2011 06:07 PM (4q5tP)

22 There was this 1964 documentary about the Dawes, Tomes, Mousely, Grubbs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank that impressed in my young mind the importance of not wasting my hard earned tuppence giving handouts to damn filthy rats with wings hippies.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 13, 2011 06:20 PM (4q5tP)

23 I keep thinking lately that "capitalism" is a very poor word for "the way the world works." No matter what sort of system rulers try to impose, people keep right on seeking their own advantage and trying to accumulate wealth. Capitalism is not so much an economic system as "what people do."

Posted by: Tonestaple at October 13, 2011 06:21 PM (7ZLNk)

24 Oh, one comment that's one point here and to the troll that thinks it has a name called Jordan, the difference between W's TARP and lefties bailing out banks and Goldman Sachs is that we conservatives were led to do so on the basis that if we didn't EVERYTHING would end, not based on the connections of the firm in question like Clinton and SCOAMF.

Posted by: joeindc44 at October 13, 2011 06:36 PM (u9B7L)

"Hey, here's an idea, let's have the Feddle Gubmint subsidize a bunch of educational institutions, then loan a bunch of money to people so that they can go there, then forgive those debts. Then, direct hire them, and BAM! We got stimulus! "

Hey you capitalist pig! I got a better idea, why don't you just pay my tuition then I can run up my credit cards and take out loans to party, etc. By then Wall Street will have succumbed to our demands and all debt will be stricken from teh books and I'll have guaranteed minimum living wage of $20 per hour regardless of my employment situation which I will choose to be no employment. I like that my idea better. I'll just give you my po box number where you can send me my checks.

Posted by: OWS dipshit who wants his tuition paid at October 13, 2011 06:38 PM (s9yut)

26 It's kind of mean to try to make the Operating Without Soap crowd think--it makes their heads hurt. Or it could be the cumulative effect of the flea bites--hard to say.

Posted by: M. Scott Eiland at October 13, 2011 06:39 PM (bh71W)

27 After reading the many compelling posts and comments on the OWS (OEW) movement here at AoSHQ, I have determined that the whole thing was simply a gigantic misunderstanding. Accordingly & therefore, I am instructing the millions of those who have already attended one or more OWS, or OEW, or Occupy Pocatello sessions just to give up, go back their foreclosed homes, broken down cars & vans, tent-city sleeping areas, the nearest available empty alley, lot or field, stop whimpering about their lack of jobs, money, housing, food, and future, and just ... die already. (slap hands) That should solve it all. And you're welcome.

Posted by: Rex the Wonder God at October 13, 2011 06:40 PM (vahvH)

28 free market capitalism descibes a behavior. Socialism describes a dream.

Posted by: Mueller at October 13, 2011 06:41 PM (/AU3V)

29 Cut, jib, newletter.

Posted by: toby928©: Perrykrishna and Non-Apple User at October 13, 2011 06:42 PM (GTbGH)

30 They have to keep digging, because the fact hat they are buried is not enough to get them to admit defeat. The true puzzle is that I have known people that are good at math, and yet still leftists. I guess being good at math doesn't mean you actually have to *do* it.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Cognitive Dissonance at October 13, 2011 07:08 PM (SyMXd)

31 28 free market capitalism descibes a behavior. Socialism describes a dream. Posted by: Mueller at October 13, 2011 10:41 PM (/AU3V) You mis-spelled "hallucination."

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Cognitive Dissonance at October 13, 2011 07:09 PM (SyMXd)

32 But they won't do it, Rex.

Eventually, rather than die, they will find gainful employment. And- it's hard to say this terrible thing, but it needs to be said- most of them will enjoy being adults who are able to take care of themselves and not be cared-after children anymore, and some...some will love their jobs.

I know! I know- it's a horrifying prospect.

Posted by: lauraw at October 13, 2011 07:13 PM (DbybK)

33 But by hanging out and h8ing on the Capitalism I can score primo hash and make out with marginally attractive hairy legged Birkentstock wearing chicks.

Posted by: New Age Hippy at OWS at October 13, 2011 07:14 PM (M0c4a)

34 These people are about to self destruct and set back the Leftist agenda twenty-five years. Posted by: soothie at October 13, 2011 09:54 PM

I'll be saying a prayer. Me and Mr. Paul.

Posted by: huerfano at October 13, 2011 07:20 PM (fecOD)

35 Rex, I am self-employed RIGHT NOW, putting in more hours, and after-hours, than most job-having people do, and there is no way I could afford to sleep out for even a week at some protest and still be able to pay my bills.

How the fuck am I supposed to take these 'the plight' of these people seriously, when it is obvious that they are already so well cared for enough by others that they are able to come waste time in this park?

Posted by: lauraw at October 13, 2011 07:23 PM (DbybK)

36 "35 .. How the fuck am I supposed to take these 'the plight' of these people seriously, when it is obvious that they are already so well cared for enough by others that they are able to come waste time in this park?" How is it "obvious"? If you want a real ground-level participant understanding of the dynamics at work within the OWS movement (insofar as they can be said to be grasped within some reasonable parameters), listen to this: http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/39276 This suggests many of them not think what they're doing is a "waste" at all, but instead they think they're doing this in pursuit of something of value beyond, with all due respect for your circumstances, the rat race. They won't succeed, because life meaning is found somewhere in the range of illusion. But no one can say with any credibility that they won't achieve ANYthing. At this early stage, it's close to what Cho En Lai said in Paris in the early 1970s during the Viet Nam peace talks, when asked what he thought of the French Revolution: It's too early to say.

Posted by: Rex the Wonder God at October 13, 2011 07:48 PM (vahvH)

37 How is it "obvious"

Because they are well fed. Their clothes. Their cell phones. Their accessories. Their degrees. Their general good health and dental care. Their stories about foreign travel and study. Their manicures. Their Tevas. Their drums. Their cameras. Their ability to get to this protest from a hundred miles away, with or without a car of their own.

Son, have you ever actually met *real* poor people?

They won't succeed, because life meaning is found somewhere in the range of illusion.

My God, you are an absolute infant.

Posted by: lauraw at October 13, 2011 08:08 PM (DbybK)

38 Laura, I like you...
But isn't the point to change people's minds (like you did so well in the first part of your answer) rather than beat them over the head with condescension?
I dunno, but last time I was called an absolute infant, I tended to rebel like one, didn't you?

Posted by: Mr. Lips at October 13, 2011 09:39 PM (bFNQb)

39 #22

This cartoon should be shown to every four-year-old with repeated viewings until high school graduation:
http://tinyurl.com/6cevf8y

Posted by: epobirs at October 13, 2011 09:48 PM (kcfmt)

40 Speaking of teaching children, during the 80s Sierra On-line partnered with Disney for a series of educational games. One was called Donald Duck's Playground. (Designed by Al Lowe, who also created the Leisure Suit Larry series, remarkably.) This was on a bunch of platforms with the Amiga and Atari ST versions being the best if you want to try it in an emulator.

Donald wants to build a playground for his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. The purchase the equipment he takes on a series of jobs to earn money. One of my computer store co-workers at the time had a five-year-old that he had try out the game. At one point the kid turned to him and said, "Dad, I can buy stuff if I don't have any money. And I can't get money unless I do a job."

Watching the kid experience that revelation was a moment to treasure he told me the next day. Apparently not nearly enough kids have been playing that game or a newer one like it.

Posted by: epobirs at October 13, 2011 09:59 PM (kcfmt)

41 Of course you are correct, Mr. Lips. I apologize for getting short with Rex. He's certainly not a troll of the toxic variety and that was inhospitable of me.

Posted by: lauraw at October 14, 2011 04:10 AM (DbybK)

You know a devout Muslim by the callus on his forehead from rubbing the prayer rug.

You know a leftie brainiac by the calluses on his chin.

You know I've read the whole Reddit comment section by the calluses on my temples.

Posted by: 666chevelle at October 14, 2011 05:40 AM (QjSgY)

43 Found in one of the responses at REDDIT Economics in one lesson by Henry Hazlitt.

It is a free pdf of a book written in 1946 on the economics of DOOM

Posted by: Buzzsaw at October 14, 2011 06:12 AM (tf9Ne)

44 But no one can say with any credibility that they won't achieve ANYthing.

They won't achieve anything.

Posted by: toby928©: Perrykrishna and Credible Commenter at October 14, 2011 06:13 AM (GTbGH)

Why of course capitalism comes so easy to us...it is evolution in action.

Capitalism is survival of the fittest.

Posted by: Uncle Jefe at October 14, 2011 08:02 AM (+3fAP)

Dont be too hard on them young socialist hippies!

They "want their MTV!" They "want money for nothing and their Chicks for free!"

Of course Ive seen some of those chicks...uggghhhh!

Posted by: The1WalkingDude at October 14, 2011 08:21 AM (Kf7gH)

47 Excellent blog, thanks for the share. I'll be a regular viewer.

Posted by: The Magic Maker ePub at October 14, 2011 04:55 PM (/0ay9)

48 I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?

Posted by: The Cold Commands iBooks at October 14, 2011 05:10 PM (3kk88)

49 Yep! I was agreed, I'll keep in touch to your blog.

Posted by: Cavalier Queen AudioBook at October 14, 2011 05:21 PM (SvEWy)

50 Thanks for sharing, please keep an update about this info. love to read it more. i like this site too much.

Posted by: The Train of Small Mercies ePub at October 14, 2011 05:31 PM (+5KYu)

Surface treatment

Polishing

zinc plating

nickel plating

chrome plating

powder coating

e-coating