Saffron: I'll die. Mal: Well, as a courtesy, you might start getting busy on that, 'cause all this chatter ain't doin' me any kindness.

'Trash'


Natter 64: Yes, we still need you  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Jesse - Aug 24, 2009 9:53:53 am PDT #5320 of 30001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Well, Dick Cheney has a wing named after him in the hospital where my Mom works. I don't think he has to wait for appointments.

Hmph!

So my question is, Are production costs getting so low that the world economy could feasibly house and feed everybody in the world?

I don't understand how you get there from where you started. Please elaborate.


tommyrot - Aug 24, 2009 10:06:04 am PDT #5321 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

So my question is, Are production costs getting so low that the world economy could feasibly house and feed everybody in the world?

Food production costs have been going up a lot worldwide, as they are largely dependent on the cost of fuel (for fertilizer, fieldwork, transportation, etc).


Jesse - Aug 24, 2009 10:07:26 am PDT #5322 of 30001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

In other news, my poor coworker is like 14 weeks pregnant, and showing so much! Everyone has to talk to her about it, including some relative who was like, "Are you SURE you're not having twins?" Here's the thing: she's a wee person -- there was nowhere else for the placenta to go but straight out! She's got a long road to hoe.


DavidS - Aug 24, 2009 10:15:33 am PDT #5323 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

I don't understand how you get there from where you started. Please elaborate.

As I see the internet eliminate local market inefficiences, I suspect I'm seeing something closer to the actual production value of things being sold.

In sum, it really doesn't cost that much to make the things we buy. That market values are manipulated to maintain profits. (And I'm not arguing that in an OMG! I'm shocked to find profiteering in a capitalist economy! I just think that's inherent to the system.)

Food production costs have been going up a lot worldwide, as they are largely dependent on the cost of fuel (for fertilizer, fieldwork, transportation, etc).

Yeah, but fuel costs are subject to a huge amount of collusion and market manipulation.

eta: The more cynical part of my assumption is that free market forces aren't allowed to work because (as 19th century industrial barons noted - "Competition is death to profits.") But that's not my main point. I just have the feeling that if you divided the wealth of the world economy by the population then everybody would have plenty.

Of course, I can't really imagine how the economy continues to work without rich people having all their dosh and other people striving to get theirs.

But I think the spectacle (in Debord's sense) necessary to maintain continued economic growth is harder to maintain when there's a saturation of abundance.


tommyrot - Aug 24, 2009 10:32:14 am PDT #5324 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Someone invented a new food thingie! The "Silly Rabbit," which is "French toast breaded in crushed Trix cereal."

[link]


Frankenbuddha - Aug 24, 2009 10:33:51 am PDT #5325 of 30001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

Yet another example of "just because you can doen't mean you should". See also, sandwiches that put fries IN the sandwich.


DavidS - Aug 24, 2009 10:34:48 am PDT #5326 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Someone invented a new food thingie! The "Silly Rabbit," which is "French toast breaded in crushed Trix cereal."

This kind of supports my theory that we have achieved a state of More Than Enough.


DavidS - Aug 24, 2009 10:35:44 am PDT #5327 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

See also, sandwiches that put fries IN the sandwich.

But that's like an old English tradition. I remember the Bay City Rollers making "chip butties" on Dinah Shore's Show. t /is old

Also they've been doing that in Pittsburgh all-in-one sandwiches for decades.


Frankenbuddha - Aug 24, 2009 10:36:41 am PDT #5328 of 30001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

But that's like an old English tradition.

So was scurvy, once upon a time.


Jesse - Aug 24, 2009 10:42:40 am PDT #5329 of 30001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Now I want a potato sandwich.