page 2 is ballin' out of control

4/21/2006 11:50:39 AM

TIME TO LEAVE, RICHERS

4/21/2006 11:52:21 AM

Quote :

"this article fails to adress the current trends because it was done in 98. violent crimes on a national level started to dip in 94, but i dont know what income inequality looked like between 92 and 98."

The 91 recession ended in 92. Recessions invariably reduce income inequality because when businesses go bust the owners are invariably hurt far more financially than the layed of workers (human suffering asside). As such, looking back through history, American society has never been more income equal than it was at the bottom of the Great Depression.

So, to answer your question, national income inequality increased dramatically between 92 and 98 thanks to record corporate profits and record growth of equity markets (things the poor invariably have nothing to do with). Income inequality peaked in 2000, dropping dramatically thanks to the 2001 recession.

Lots of people credited the drop in crime to the booming economy (there is significant disagreement over the causes of crime elimination during the 90's, ranging from abortion to broken windows). The booming economy dramatically increased income inequality. It seems to me, if both these statements are true, that crime has nothing to do with income inequality. Crime is negatively related to economic prosperity (more prosperity means less crime) and economic prosperity is in turn positively related to inequality (more prosperity means more inequality).

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 12:09 PM. Reason : 90s]

4/21/2006 12:07:35 PM

i dont know that its true to say that economic prosperity always has a positive correlation with economic inequality.

other than that i cant really argue with your logic.

4/21/2006 12:52:17 PM

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 12:52 PM. Reason : fuck]

4/21/2006 12:52:17 PM

Quote :

"Why? because Wal-Mart's pay and benefits suck? Because they drive small time businesses out b/c they can't compete with the Evil Empire's efficiency and economy of scale? I personally am not bothered by that. "

I know you, as one of the supposed "most respectable" posters on here, didnt just use the "well, i feel this way so that must be how most would feel" argument.

weak.

theres noone on this board thats respectable anymore. just a bunch of libertarian circle-jerkers and weak moderate-liberals.

4/21/2006 2:35:29 PM

Wal Mart will steal your babies.

4/21/2006 7:14:19 PM

Quote :

"then again, if the average person w/ a conscious and knew more about walmart's situation, they might think twice."

wait a second, how am I the one making the "this is how most would feel" argument?

I mean, I even specified that "personally, I am not bothered by that."

It was partially a counter-argument at YOUR "this is how most would feel" argument, in that I, for one, have a conscious [sic] and know at least a little about Wal Mart's situation, but don't really object...and it's not like I have some sort of really oddball, far-out ideologies or political leanings.

It was also partially taking a shot at the line of reasoning that takes moral offense at Wal Mart to begin with.

4/21/2006 7:24:04 PM

If you love China...... shop at WAL MART!!!

4/21/2006 7:31:37 PM

I have my own little theory about China...

They'd probably be kinda torn about what to do if shit got real between the U.S. and North Korea.

as long as we owe them money and run a trade deficit with them, they'd probably be more likely to either side with us, or at least look the other way and be like "Do what you need to do, just keep us out of it."




and regardless, Wal-Mart isn't to blame for U.S./China trade policies and markets. They just operate on that market along with tons of other companies, under the governing trade policies.

4/21/2006 7:36:43 PM

China exports more shit to Wal-Mart than to any other country or business.

i think thats kinda big. Wal-Mart has no alligence to the USA and if anything happens they will bail and fuck us in the ass. They are the enemy.

4/21/2006 8:54:34 PM

I've always wanted to hijack a wal-mart truck.

4/21/2006 9:00:26 PM

if you had my luck, you'd open it up and it would be filled completely with summer's eve

4/21/2006 9:16:34 PM

I always use walmart as my store of choice to buy shit that i need for a one time use and then return when i'm done.

4/21/2006 9:34:59 PM

^^haha

4/22/2006 12:43:17 AM