Understanding Your Split Brain | Robert Reich
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
- Robert Reich examines the competing values that inform Americans' views of the economy.
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I never thought I’d consistently be watching lessons in a Berkeley Classroom. 🧐
Isn't the internet grand and lovely? And isn't the school so wonderful as to offer the information and ways of thinking freely? :)
@@zackcohn I'm thinking it's Robert Reich's doing. Still great!
ibo or maybe you watched youtube videos which have very little basis in reality.
What a great teacher and a great human being.
Everyone in the world need a grandpa like robert
Great class! Thank you. Local shops and bookstores are practically gone. The pressure to keep prices low has also caused appliance manufacturers to make junk appliances that only last a few years. It is practically impossible to buy a refrigerator, stove, washing machine or dishwasher that is durable and long lasting.
A lot of people are missing the point on Reason #3, which is really *the most important* mechanism to understand in economics in this day and age. While it is true that we should pay some attention to hypocrisy in values vs action, the fact is that hypocrisy is the RATIONAL choice within the system. It is the prisoner's dilemma. While we say we want to preserve small shops, paying more for goods when there is no guarantee that others will do the same, only puts you at a financial disadvantage compared to your peers. Especially if you don't have a lot of disposable income, you will be competing with those others on food, housing, transportation, and other necessities, and they will have a leg up. As in the prisoner's dilemma, where you have a choice to snitch or not, it is irrational to choose not to snitch, even if it is the non-hypocritical approach.
The only workable solution* to this problem is through collective action, which is implemented as government. The incentive structures need to change. There's mathematically no other way to do it. Even conservative economic idols (e.g. Hayek) concede these points.
*=Public shaming of hypocrites is what a lot of people think is a good solution, and it is a form of collective action, but it only gets you so far. Especially when so many actions can be done without anyone noticing. I also find it silly to shame people for making the rational, if selfish, decision.
Dude what your describing is not the America I was born into and grew up in, however I will concede that the old "Greed is Good" mantra from the movie is what America is all about now. Just Saying
@@donaldhlebert55 is this not self evident? If you grew up in an America without the opportunities to compare, at a glance, the cost of what appears to be the same item from potentially huge numbers of suppliers then you _could_ not have availed yourself of the opportunity to measure cost against delivery time (or whatever else you consider important) and thereby make such decisions. It is also, possibly, true that in the past you were hostage to the vagaries of your local suppliers, who could (using the same rationale) maximise _their_ income at customers' expense. These are the two extremes; in reality forcing prices down does push the less effective local suppliers out of business, which can be a problem, but might also provide the buyer with inferior products. The other thing here is that many retail outlets, and the large ones here especially, use their immense buying power to force the prices down across the board for all of their suppliers (local and third world), thus increasing the race to the lowest pricing structures. It is in the local retailer's interest to maintain a good 'added value' margin with their customer base, partly as a unique selling point, whereas it is not in the interest of large multi-national retailers to do the same; they are the Greed is Good/God merchants and it is their competition with one another that has led the charge for lower pricing.
This, by the way (in case you we're wondering), is in no way an attempt to defend where we now find ourselves.
@@erict.watson2460 this is what I have done in my life as a rule, that is spend my money where my mouth is(how I believe) and that is if a certain company such as Stater Brothers super markets that happens to be an Union Shop type business I would spend my money there as opposed to say a Walmart. Because the worker who is most important in my eyes as how "good" a company is, is what I hold dear. In other words Yes I spent more on what I bought because how you treat a worker is more important to me than "low prices" or any other dynamic. Oh and that is why I have yet to buy anything from companies such as Amazon. again just my way of living my conscience
@@donaldhlebert55 and I applaud you for it. Not all are in a sound enough financial position to do so, and I understand their drivers also though, depending on what some choose to purchase, I may not agree with the choices made.
The issue is that a lot of people are far enough below the poverty line that these "choices" aren't really choices at all. It's a lack of options.
Shaming the poor is about as useful as yelling at a tomato because it's too expensive. (And to onlookers just as likely to disturb and amuse)..
A thus publicly chastised tomato will still have the exact same pricetag.
What a great lecture. It makes me wish I were back in college.
Aristotle wrote years back there will always be 2 warring classes in a democracy... the rich and the poor - “Aristotle’s Politics”
Thank you so much Mr. Reich. Needed to be reminded of this.
❤❤❤ your lectures!
I absolutely love the videos where i get to sit in on yr class! Taking one of yr classes would be a dream come true. When I was in college I used to sit in on classes that I didnt actually belong in because I liked the professor but either couldn't afford more classes or already had a full schedule. Even after I ran out of money for school I still went and sat in the back of the bigger classes. Sure I didn't get credit but a good class is a joy in itself and hey I was getting free education, right?
Thank you
I only buy things online if I cannot find it in a store in my community. I strive to help businesses in my community.
Question #3 yes
I always wanted to go to Berkeley and now I get a chance!
Mr. Reich,
Thank you so much for allowing me into your classroom to learn with all of your students. I appreciate your articulate language, attention to detail, and inspiring ideas and teachings. Thank you for making a substantial positive impact on our society, world, and future. Thank you for fighting for the majority of Americans and the world while teaching us how to modify our behavior to change it ourselves. You're truly one of the people who inspire me most and possibly the most trusted person I watch.
First the small shops were overcome by walmart. Then you couldn't get what you needed outside of walmart. Then the online shopping started to get the things you need. Now it's all switched to online so of course we shop online. We have to take back this situation.
I don't have enough wealth to afford anything other than the cheapest prices. That is why I usually don't buy what other people buy should I be unable to afford it. I also care about quality, but it can be expensive. It is a good thing that I am frugal. I don't buy from companies I don't agree with if I can afford it.
It's inevitable that jobs will be replaced by automation. We need a way to share wealth in a better way. A global socialism.
motoquasi and / or taxes for machines. Or shift taxes away from income to resources and pollution.
Like Star Trek. :)
Global? Let's take care of the 4% here first. 🤔❤️
Basic Income Guarantee
We are bargain hunters from day one. Makes us feel good in the moment.
I believe the collective action you refer to is influenced by the American built environment, characterised by car dependent suburban sprawl and curated shopping malls, not some internal disconnect between a consumer brain or civic brain. The lifestyle created by the American built environment reduces local neighbourhood production and consumption. Online shopping and consumption of global brands is simply easier and more convenient.
Local consumption has been built out of the economy by federal highway spending and poor state/local urban planning.
The problem is so fundamental to the American environment and the lifestyle that environment creates, I’m afraid it will be impossible for most American communities to reverse the damage.
American here. I would agree that the issue is heavily attributable to this.
Robert is giant man. His ideas will be first steps of new era. Clean, pure and understandable ideas.
Question #1 A very important
Your right about the deal seeking and creating a war. Not sure if it's intentional yet becomes a fist full of something.
Super lecture, I love Dr. Reich he is the best Labor Secretary since Frances Perkins. I worked in big-box store management during the 1980s when apparel manufacturing was offshoring. The retail company carried foreign apparel along slide racks of domestic made apparel. There were signage stating, "Proudly Made in the USA" all around/on/over the racks made in the USA. We sold Lee & Levi's jeans (at the time was domestic sourced) - Lee @ $19.99/pair and Levi @ $24.99. The next rack were jeans made in the Philippines @ $16.88 and marketed as "fashion apparel" as today's new style. We needed to replenish the cheaper imports weekly and the more expensive American jeans monthly. The local Ladies Garment Workers Union held an event at the store one weekend offering information brochures and stickers (bumpers & shirts) stating "Buy American". Customers expressed lots of support for the "Buy American" campaign. A few months later, the local Levi plant closed (moving operations to Mexico) and customers continued buying the cheaper import brand of jeans. People experience cognitive dissonance when making decisions and are able to convince themselves that they behave in one way when they actually act against their own benefit. Behavioral economics studies are beginning to shed some light on how/why people behavior against their own interests.
+Tim. There are very good Supply Chain Management decisions for outsourcing. However, those times are changing, but not for the reason you would want.
Within the textile business "lead time" is now a very important thing. Lead time is the time it takes for a planed product to reach the market and is, somewhat, separated from cost. Point is, currently fashion is moving so fast that if you are "late to marked" you will most likely sell less within whatever fad that is current, but you will also then be left with a higher risk of obsolete products you cant sell. Both affecting your bottom line.
So because of increased wages in the far East and lead time or restock time being more import, connected with increased usage of robots. Factory tasks, not to be confused with jobs, are coming home to lower the lead time products have to market.
A secondary aspect is that while far East factories can do very very large macro production. Which Europe etc cant compete with. This macro production is not as important for many fashion brands anymore because, usually for women, the reduced number of a given item actually increases the value of it in the eyes of the consumer. Therefor its more important to have factories that can quickly swap between types of products being made and here "domestic" or regional factories can compete better and therefor provide BETTER profit margins than mass production and mass shipping from the East.
Future aspects that is also a risk to Eastern production is CO2 environmental taxation. Because 20 of those ships pollute as much as all the cars in the world. There are around 1000 of these ships globally. With a very revenue volatile marked were even big companies can go under by one mistake. Example Kodak who continued to focus on film rather than digital because they had the facilities in place already and therefor went under a few years later. Such future considerations is something modern leaders will take into account when planning their global supply chain.
Point is, factories will then in many regards return, but that wont necessarily mean more jobs because those few extra jobs a modern factory creates. Will most likely be reduced at the ports.
Frederic Bastiat your name sounds foreign, are you working for the Russian trolling American sites looking to cause trouble between good citizens? Either you are working for Mr. Putin or are handicapped by severe non-educated training. Being able to read with understanding and construct a coherent paragraph demonstrates average education training.
Frederic Bastiat That's why Bastiat was burgoise charlatán like Von Hayek. The idea that freedom Is just a market concept...
It's obvious you know who Bastiat was and are making a joke of it
Tim.. starting in the 1980's wages failed to increase over and above inflation... (with no help from Reagan of course, he bashed unions) in short they stagnated. Millions of women entered the workforce to make up for the stagnated wages. Wages, to this day, inflation adjusted have not risen! Think about the downward pressure of that fact... after almost 4 decades... choosing the cheapest is now an automatic behavior response without thought.
MR REICH,IT'S TIME YOU ENTERED THE PRES RACE.
Economic behavior is determined by economic structure rather that values. Let us accept that as a fact and focus on finding the economic structure that serves our values instead of simply asking consumers to behave non-economically. Moving toward a situation in which most workers own their means of production, as in co-ops, would represent an incremental modification of capitalism that fulfills our citizenship objectives without turning society upside down.
The “situation” ie solution? Boycott big CorP Monopolies, because by breaking up big CorP Monopolies it will promote economic competition which in-turn will drive costs down!
I go to book stores quite often. 85% of time buy books there, the other 15% online. Same w shopping 75% small shops 25% big stores. I do it for the reasons Prof. Reich points out. Thank you for all you do Prof. Reich.
I call it "clashing values."
Prof. Reich, every time you address the camera, I lose some of my concentration.
As a constant viewer, I am already more than grateful to be able to watch your regular class. Please don't worry about drawing our attention, we are already all listening ears.
Keep on the good work, good man!
When I don't buy in local stores I do it because they don't have the things I want. Which is very often the case for things like tools, kitchenwares and computer hardware.
Also buying something cheap vs expensive is not a good indication of the labor conditions at the retailer (and even less so further up the supply chain). So it makes no sense to pay more unless you actually know that's the case.
that’s kinda unfair. my wife and I are both former union members and naturally we want to save on products we buy. However, if the supermarket workers go on strike we will support their strike and shop at the more expensive market until the strike is over. Plus, we pay 150% more for eggs for eggs that are free range and would be willing to pay more for union manufactured items but it’s nearly impossible because of the outsourcing. if manufacturing jobs ever come back we’ll gladly pay more for them, assuming of course that the quality is equal.
We are always 'buying' something. When we go for cheapest we create that kind of marketplace and good quality leaves the market offering. Then those of us who want to buy good quality have difficulty find it
Dude that split brain concept is scary m8 what if you lose that citizen part of the brain so much that all you do is consume. Like imagine just walking around your house not interacting with your mother father wife husband brother sister and just ordering shit online and selling shit online
alexandru benza ...and the while you are ignoring people in your home you only interact with a device called Alexa...?
P.S. that’s not a riff on you alexandru.
Thanks!
Great venue and focus group for his survey yielding precise data. Lovely provoking.
I don't shop online, and do support our local businesses, so they stay here! My books also sell only online, by me, and Amazon. They like me to sign them, so I sell them personally. I had a frame shop, something that you can't have online! I'm now retired, so maybe my value of small shops is different that the younger generation. I like that the shop knows me, and the personal experience. Jobs here are failing in wage, and many stores closing.
Quite Important as the tools to develop and expand to future goals.
Some of us don't understand that if we shop for economics and not quality we loose. It is getting hard to find that extra good product because people are driven by the next gimmick that is on the market. The markets have our # and they are not only not paying us but bilking us for products they make available for our ever unsatisfied need to get the next new thing. We are poor because we allow them to influence us in our WANTS part of the brain. choose well and be satisfied. You will be happier longer. In may cost a little more up front but it will pay you back in the long run. Phones cost $1000 today because you have to have the next better device, you drive the price not the cost of making it. We have to get smarter or keep making them richer. It is our choice.
Not all online purchasing is the same. Amazon is a mega-corporation, but Etsy supports small business in a real way, and many small-time retailers make up the difference via online sales. The real problem is that large companies afford more rent, rents go up, and small business suffers. Capitalism.
Can't forget that for National Security reasons, we need to keep factories and manufacturing in this country, If, god forbid, there's a war we have to be able to produce everything we need in this country. We're living in unstable trump times now!
+Mocki. Military production does NOT fall under the same laws as production of jeans or whatever. You cant outsource tank production like any other business.
Keeping these national security critical businesses alive is also why a nations military, for example, order 30 tanks a year rather than the needed 20. Because only ordering 20 would mean that the tank production company would not stay financially viable. Shutting these down and starting them up again during war times is NOT an option because you need specially trained workers. You cant just put a trained welder to do armor welding job or similar. Therefor it can take decades to restart something like that if it was shut down... etc.
There are some Nato alliance oriented things that might look like exceptions, but really are not, but the point is. You dont need to worry about ICBM etc production being outsourced.
+Mocki. Did you mean Security of our Nation? Meaning, if war were to happen and cut us off from countries we get our imports such as electronics and clothing.... and even produce(food)... We would not be able to sustain ourselves on a basic level?
If there's a war we won't need factories and manufacturing anymore...most of us will be dead.
There's always money and capacity for war production. People always find resources for their addictions.
The collection action problem is arguably as the great American sociologist George Carlin described in his classic stand up routine - Stuff - we all have an insatiable need for stuff. Any values we have are supplanted by the need to have Stuff!
He didn't say that any values we have are supplanted by stuff. I don't know many people who live that way or who would agree with that.. The issue is far more layered than that as well, imo..
Survival brain vs. Creative brain.. survival brain kicks in when money or resources are minimal or very important to them to lose or not have enough of them..
Subconscious mind is survival part.. conscious mind is creative.. it generally just justifies/ rationalize what the decisions/behavior of the subconscious mind...
Best possible deals: Answer - A
I try to buy things that help here. I'm prepared to get what I need, and sacrifice on things that aren't made here. I don't want everything as it comes out. Just what I need.
Always great to see you in your element,Professor!
Good job Robert! I see place is packed! Thumb up!
I want a debate between John Stossel and Robert Reich
Could the question possibly be which larger or national companies Do Not use outsourcing, wage reduction, union busting, machinery/AI replacement etc? For example I do prefer Southwest Airlines as their prices are competitive And they are employee owned to a degree that seems to be effective. How do I find a health system like this? A department store or super center like this?
There wouldn't be an inconsistency if small shops and bookstores were in our neighborhoods but they are not and I can't find the things I want in the bodegas and small convenience stores and shops that are available. I tried to shop on eBay and avoid Amazon. And I do shop in what few local stores have the things I want
Good videos thanks
Reich for the right way. President 2020
Companies tend to underpay workers AND keep the job security at a minimum AND overcharge consumers AND overpay the upper management. Consumers tend to pay as little as possible AND take the path of least resistance (a click is so much easier than a walk through the store). There should be some form of intervention to keep both the suppliers and us consumers from doing too much harm. Social shaming often used to do the trick both with individuals and with companies (you won't believe that if you're too young to remember it). But with the rapid growth of corporate ownership of government, the consolidation and sheer size of companies, the widening income gap, and sociopathy as an unwritten prerequisite to run a business, shaming isn't that effective anymore. Executives and boards of directors don't care if they're perceived as bad citizens because the profits are so attractive. We consumers feel justified in going for the cheap deal because money is scarcer here in the 99%. I think it would take a law to make any difference.
Question #2 A
I do shop online for many things because i CAN'T get them here any more! There is not a single place like radio shack to get electronics i need. There are no used bookstores since 2nd & Charles left town. There are NO local guitar stores and this is Athens! Only place to get games is gamestop or Walmart...the shops are GONE! I refuse to use Amazon for anything I can get here but its getting hard to buy anything locally!
im still trying to figure out who in their right mind would want a retail job. the horror. the horror.
electronic gadgets are cheap, living is expensive
Oddly small stores products are not more expensive .... postage is expense
Smaller, independent shops always have higher prices on my planet, neverminding postage.
The sad fact is because of their depressed wages most folks don't have the luxury of spending more to improve their neighborhood.
Just because you pay more for something does not mean that someone in the lower 70% of the income scale derives any significant benefit. I work for a pricey retail fruit themed Phone and computer store, and after working there for 10 years and selling over a million dollars of products per year for most of those years, I am still making less than $20/hr. I am sure that there are many far worse off than me in this chain of manufacturing/selling, but I feel like I am being exploited and I hate it. On the other hand I can't afford to pay the prices for goods in my local stores if I can get them for 40% less online. The sad truth is that most local storefronts can't afford to compete with online stores for products that are not needed immediately. Of course there are exceptions in tourist areas and for local specialties and experiential stuff like restaurants and massages, but with Amazon introducing same day deliveries, there are few safe havens.
Not the 42 people who felt steady jobs and good wages wasn't important 💀
Why don't I support neighborhood book and clothing stores? Because they don't exist. I shop at the neighborhood hardware store, the neighborhood grocery store, the neighborhood dry cleaner, the neighborhood restaurant or pizza place - all places I can walk to. But if I need new jeans or underwear, or I want a new book, or a new refrigerator, there is no place in my neighborhood to get these; I need to get in my car and drive twenty minutes to the mall, which is a pain in the neck - and doing so does not support the mom and pop local store his survey addresses.
Excellent video on aligning actions with expressed beliefs. You really have to look at the big effects of your actions, society often makes the easiest or cheapest choice the worse possible one if you are a progressive (or conservative for that matter)
"Why does the citizen side of our brain so often wins out over the consumer side of our brains?"
(1) Humans do not automatically assume the very worst. Given a choice of several equivalent widgets, the immediately assumption is they were produced under similar labor practices; no one immediately asks 'which one is linked with toxic dumping?' or 'was this made by child/slave labor?
(2) Unless citizen values are a major part of a brand, the only information available about values imbued in a product must be inferred from brand reputation and price. If consumers think all brands have same values, the only consumption pivots are product features and price.
Yes, the consumer side often wins... but not always. The organic food sector has been growing for years despite significantly higher prices and frequently less selection. One major difference between organic food and manufactured goods is that consumers are much more aware of associated values. Animal welfare, ecosystem effects (bee health), personal health and labor issues are more transparent in the food industry.
Regulation have allowed Americans to be trained for generations by marketing/advertising campaigns to consume for selfish reasons (be sexy, beautiful, get the guy/girl, smart, etc.). The problem with regulating citizen values into production is *all* regulations are subject to those in power and that more often than not means money. When money regulates, those with money eventually cycle back into power.
Depends
SOME PPL LIVE IN ONE-HORSE TOWNS THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO BUY, LEAVING PPL FORCED TO BUY ONLINE.
a lot of small companies sell online with their own webshops. I do that all the time.
Or the disabled ... very often, that’s how you get your prescriptions and needs filled, especially if you are unable to leave your residence
We should not have to pay a premium to buy products that dont rely on say child labour. Firms should not be allowed to use child labour as a compeditive advantage.
The problem of the tendency towards monopoly capitalism however is intrinsic to capitalism itself, it cannot be saved by more moral consumerism.
Ah the contradictions of Capitalism, nice and subtle way to introduce them.
The option is to break away from the system almost completely and create a barter system.
We do have a barter system.
Shopping online: Answer- A
I don't think it's about us. I think it's about how our businesses are structured. Our businesses are privately owned and controlled, which means business decisions are made by people completely disconnected from community accountability. Tying the business to the community it serves might change that.
Preserve neighborhood communities: Answer - A
The “situation” ie solution? Boycott big CorP Monopolies, because by breaking up big CorP Monopolies it will promote economic competition which in-turn will drive costs down!
Using a large store, to support several small shops in it, makes good sense to me, but i don't see it yet.
Retail is a crime. Reward productive / creative people, farmers market, manufacturers directly.
Retail is a crime? Problem solved. Where have you been hiding this intellect of yours? Don't deprive the world of your genius.
I'm guilty of the mind split. I only make 'x', and my expenses are 'y', leaving discretionary spending 'z'. I need to stretch 'z' to the moon and back, not to impress others, but just out of good stewardship. It seems though, that the self-serving stewardship is contributing to fewer small businesses, or lower wages. Hard for me to look that in the mirror.
A
I would love to buy more locally, problem is I can't afford the time to go to 10 stores looking then give up and still have to order it online. A million stores and that all sell the same stuff that I don't need or want. TheReaper!
I love you Robert and hope you can achieve change thru education rather than holding office. Btw your faces at Trumps spaceforce announcement are priceless. Keep it up !!!!
Sometimes
It's a vicious cycle: Employees living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford to vote with their wallets, which in turn makes corporations able to continue their greedy business practices. Short of all-out revolution, I don't know what we're supposed to do about it.
small business owners have less money to , because of greedy Government
If all out revolution is the only option, I guess that's what we'll do.
I did vote for the local business's and people as to who I would shop and buy from, also that steady jobs and good wages is the most important. In fact I have consistently bought from companies I absolutely know have good worker relations and wages and benefits, even if it meant paying more(Not a whole lot more). Also I shop local for a lot of things. Yes I go online a lot, however it is to find the local business near me. And only if I can't get it or it is outrageously high in price or low in quality will I then go to the internet to buy, and I have NEVER bought from Amazon, although I have from e-Bay. Point Being isn't it important that Our Country remain strong by having strong people in most all areas of the work force, NO I don't think that is socialist or bad. I do know that the rich already have socialism as they get bailed out and paid bonuses even after not only dam near Bankrupting their own companies but also dam near Bankrupting America yet they received High pay, benefits, and HIGH BOUNUSES! Go Figure
Small shops, bookstores and, especially artisans, can actually find a larger market via the Internet using Etsy, ebay, Amazon etc. than relying on walk-in traffic. Also, some things move us to pay more out of deep moral commitment & the hope that our choices will allow, for instance, humane / economically concerned businesses to survive and grow. I don't eat meat, pork, poultry, etc. but at one time believed that when the majority who do became aware of current livestock practices they would be moved to pay the higher price for certified humane beef, etc. But time and time again, even my well-heeled carnivore acquaintances choose to feign ignorance rather than pay more for " humane" and organic food. As pointed out in the lecture, laws are the most efficient and certain means of ensuring consumer choice of what might (at least initially) be a more expensive choice. Laws have effectively enlarged the market for cage free eggs, energy efficient light bulbs & appliances, AC systems that do not use freon, etc. and could be used to broaden the market / demand for "certified humane" meat, poultry, pork, etc. by requiring all suppliers to meet more stringent standards.
Yes. The changes he discusses are organic and other means of earning a living come with that change. Chimney sweeps? Milkmen? Pony Express riders? Those transitions are fundamentally no different than what's happening now.
wrg
1. a
2. a
3. b
4. a (usually)
Up to 50% of all jobs are predicted to be online jobs within 10 year, or so some say. There go the small shops. You have to market yourself and your skills online.
@14:39 b/c of low pay and trying to stay within our means. Vicious cycle.
Job destruction through e-commerce and automation would be alright as long as local communities had basic income or at least a jobs guarantee to fall back on.
I've seen and enjoyed a ton of Robert's videos and agreed with many of them but he's dangerously wrong here. There is no economic incentive for companies to spend more on workers just because they got more money from the customer. Nike use sweatshops every bit as much as the cheapest knockoff brand does. These issues cannot be fixed or improved or changed by guilting the consumer. The consumer and corporation need to be given appropriate incentives to behave in a desireable pattern or nothing will ever change.
Furthermore jobs are not a resource. The invention of the wheel was not some great disaster because it reduced the amount of effort needed to get around. Setting aside environmental concerns everything we can do to reduce the amount of human labour needed to do things is universally positive. We just need to adjust the system so everyone gets to share in these benefits rather than the top 0.0001%
"Well....if those bloody books where not so expensive ..By the way ..why should I pay more ***so the bookstore owner earns more ..He richer then me anyway.'. etc,etc ...Split brain or s 'split '' system ?
It's not either-or.
@@dontaylor7315 It never is.
vote 1-a, (yes)
Yin Yang?
The insinuation is that things would be better off for everyone if we became protectionist, only hired and bought American, banned automation of jobs and unionized to the point where everyone could have a stable high-paying job. Sounds great, but that would immediately result in inflation which would eat away at those higher nominal wages and reduced investment in the only real way to grow prosperity (productivity gains). We need more not less creative destrution. Disruption is the engine of progress.
All of the later questions are maybe a bit too fuzzy...
Answers amongst the modern society are quite nuanced.
Steady Jobs/Good Wages: Answer - A
You have to listen to a lecture by me that I’ll probably do in Mandarin in the future.
But I mean if the common good isn’t my good, how is it my good?
I but mostly used things from consignment and thrift shops so I have more money to buy books.
The issue is certainly laws and enforcement - not consumer choices. We need laws that ban companies from selling products that take advantage of unfair labor policies in developing nations. We need to subsidize small business education so people can compete or work with large companies like Amazon. We need to subsidize education in general so retail workers can adapt to the changing work environment.
Most of all, we need to limit the amount of donations made to political campaigns and enable tax rebates for donating to campaigns. Opinions of the wealthy shouldn't matter more than other opinions, but in America, they do. We need to change from a oligarchy to a democracy.
Why use government regulation which often leads to crony capitalism opposed to using our consumer choice to vote for the types of companies to succeed?
Kevin Mullen Both are good solutions, but government regulation is far more likely to succeed. Businesses don't want to screw people over, but they have to be as ruthless as the law allows or they will be beat out by their competitors. As far as government corruption goes, we need to solve that problem first. Have you heard of the American Anti-Corruption Act?
Have you ever tried to buy from good companies? Merely finding the information is hard, let alone inspiring and educating millions of low wage people on the costs of cheap goods.
small business owners aren't wealthy , its the taxes on imported goods locally makes them expensive to buy
There certainly should be a robust guest worker policy for those people coming from Mexico and Central America and do those jobs that most Americans won’t. That is harvest our agricultural products. Those who have done this for prolonged periods of theme have earned the right to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship. Before slavery immigrants came to this country as indentured servants to pay for their passage. This is about as close to indentured servitude as one can get in modern America.
There are other industries that have thrived on illegal immigrants too. Those immigrants came because there was work for them. This black market system exists because the laws of the country have not kept up with the reality of modern America. Of course there must be some sort of balance between those positions offered and the working conditions. If it were possible to get a guest pass and all workers had to have documentation then the system should work.
At present the United States looks like Mr. Grinch. The United States does have a diplomatic core or at least they did until recently. We also have foreign aide and an interest in the welfare of our neighbors to the south and elsewhere. Most people would much rather stay in their own countries. It is a big transition to move to a place that speaks a different language and will resists accepting foreign born people as equal members of society. Why go through all that hassle? The US has tools to deal with immigration that are not being used. I would venture to say they are purposely not being used to make the situation worse for political reasons. It is time that we came back to our senses.
I understanding the frustration and desire to attack the circumstances; however, we need to deal with the real world as it exists. I tell my undergraduate students at the university everyday, "it is what it is". When business students take Marketing classes they are thinking they will study how to sell goods and services - students have to take one of the micro-classes like Salesforce Management to get that information. The semester is used studying the mega-trends impacting global trade, industries, and countries. Topics like, external marketing environment, social factors, demographic factors, growing ethnic markets, economic factors, technology and innovation, political and legal risks, and competitive factors. An understanding of the macro-environment aids personnel make product development decisions, understand consumer behavior, how to segmenting and targeting market members, marketing channels, logistics, creating a sustainable supply chain, and then communicate the marketing message. My point is simply, this is a complicated business and decision makers face contradictory and incomplete information with imperfect knowledge during confusing and risking conditions. Public policies must be made by officials on evidence based information using the scientific model. This is what is alarming about the Trump administration - the modes of operandi is to ignore evidence based information and use proveable bad information that harms people and institutions.
Please consider replacing the expression “it is what it is” with “it cannot be changed”.
If only financial choices were more akin to those of herd immunity, with a clear advantage for those electing to behave in a manner consistent with their claimed values.