Quote:
The big box effect reduces payroll dollars, thereby reducing payroll tax revenues, while increasing employment in uh, well, other countries. They contribute to their profits and they contribute to the global economy, and they provide us with an excellent reason to practice the very spend thrift consumerism that politicians like to keep us occupied with so we don't vote all of the morons out of office.


I think that you are applying a general to a specific. You are generally correct. But specifically, in this case, WM, you are not necessarily correct. If you eliminate WM something of the same will fill that void. Thus, your argument doesnt apply to WM beyond the circumstantial.

Now, if you want to argue that our economy is in dire shape, I agree. The Chinese own huge amounts of our dollars. If they chose to flood the market with those dollars we are in deep poo.

The points you make about the Consumer Economy are also true, at least to the degree that they accurately portray potential risk. They arent true to the point of being absolute predictors though. It is as if you are saying that the world will end tomorrow on the bet that if you are wrong people will quickly forget and if you are right you will be seen as a prophet. I realize that isnt what you are saying, but if falls in the category of doomsday predictions.

It is entirely possible that the Consumer Economy will work when you consider the fact that the value of money is a reflection of faith-in-the-economy, not in its base of gold. Economic activity, the exchange of money, is the only accurate measure of an economy. Im with you in the sense that I believe that we have veered to far into that assumption, but the assumption itself is correct.

Now, WM allows small towns access. Do you really believe that causing small-town/rural people to drive further for goods will increase the strength of our economy? That is basically what you said, and in so doing you diffused the context of my original statements.

I appreciate your arguments about retail sale-wage model. But isnt that a variation of the zero sum fallacy?

Joel.