So, I went to the DMV

[Ginger]

To tag & title my BMW. I actually had a great experience... except for the LaRouch'ies outside. I wrote and email to Rex and RJ to tell them about it... here it is, enjoy:

I went to the DMV to tag & title the BMW. And you know what? Most
painless DMV visit in recent memory.

...except for one thing. The LaRouchies had a table set up out from of
the office to try and get people to sign a petition. The peititon was
to get action taken to stop forclosures. One of the ladies pounced on
me and I politely said "you know, not to be rude, but you're probably
not going to win my support."

"Why?" she said.

"Because I'm a Chicago School economist."

"And where do you work, what do you do?" She asked.

"I'm an accountant."

"Where - a big government organization?"

"No, a big credit union."

"And what do you think that means, Chicago school economics?" I think
she said this because she had no idea, herself.

"I'm hands off."

And there was some unintelligble banter from her mouth about Adam
Smith [sidebar: I think it's really depressing that the average
American only knows enough economics to know that a) Supply and Demand
exists and b) Adam Smith was a man]. She ended with "laissez faire"
and I decided that her incredibly dumbed-down understanding was good
enough. I said:

"yes."

She handed me a paper and said "well, at least read this." I took the
paper, commented on how it would give me something to do in the DMV
and took a step to leave.But then she said something that I still
can't get over. In retrospect I would have enjoyed stopping and giving
her an education, but at the time getting back to work as more
important. She said "so, Adam Smith, you know we fought the revolution
against that."

I cringed.

"No, I don't think you're right."

"Yes I am!" and she started in, in her protesting voice (the one they
adopt when they want everybody to hear) about personal property rights
trumping the laws that allowed these evil, evil foreclosures to happen
in something that didn't use any kind of discnernable sentance
structure.

I said "no, you're incorrect." I turned my back and walked away; even
as the door was shutting behind me I could hear her yelling at my
back.

On one level this whole interaction was really amusing... how could
people, theoretically, educated political activists, really be this
dumb? But on the same token, that's really depressing

[.RJ]

[Andy]

Milton Friedman is the devil but that's just me

[Ginger]

Milton Friedman is the devil but that's just me

But even you don't think that we fought the revolution against Smithian economics...

nor have I seen you lining up to table-sit in front of the DMV in December I think of you more highly than this retard of a woman.

[.RJ]

I think of you more highly than this retard of a woman.

Careful - he's got shifty eyes

[Andy]

I don't know anything about Lyndon Larouche except I see his signs up during election years.

What revolution was she talking about? Revolutionary War? That is pretty crazy especially because our Founding fathers loved them some Adam Smith

[Evan]

Andy is such a socialist.


Good work Andrew. I usually just smirk and ignore those people because Im lazy and dont feel like telling people how stupid they are.
Like the time this past fall on an unseasonably warm day, Anne and I were sitting outside at Famous Dave's eating and an ooold man decided to strike up a conversation and tell me how it was warm that day due to global warming, and he worked for nasa and studied it for 30 years. Anne thought I was going to make the old man cry but I just smirked and pretended to agree.

[Andy]

I think of you more highly than this retard of a woman.

Careful - he's got shifty eyes

Your asian jokes, much like your dick, is beat to death.

[Kaan]

I think of you more highly than this retard of a woman.

Careful - he's got shifty eyes

Your asian jokes, much like your dick, is beat to death.

someone is bitter!

[Andy]

Andy is such a socialist.

But but but I'm not.

I'm not too familiar with Friedman's work, but if you advocate that the corporations are amoral whose main objective is to generate profits/value for its shareholders, then you also have to advocate that corporations should not be treated as a legal entity with all rights that pertain to it.

He advocated the former without the latter which is essentially saying that a corporation has all the rights but none of the responsibilities of a citizen.

[Evan]

Andy that is a pretty insignificant topic that the overlooks the vastly more important teachings of Milton, but what you are saying doesnt really mean anything without context or an example of why that is a bad thing. You're sounding like you think corporations are inherently evil without any real reason.
The core of economics is the study of incentives. Any corporation's most important incentive is in fact to generate profits and revenue.

It is the governments job to regulate such that any company is not doing harm to the greater population. (and to pressure trade partners to similarly regulate)
Relying on any company to make decisions as "citizens" and for the greater good isnt living in reality. Incentive is the major motivator for companies and citizens. Dont pretend that people make the best decisions or uphold their responsibility without laws either.

[Andy]

You're sounding like you think corporations are inherently evil without any real reason.
The core of economics is the study of incentives. Any corporation's most important incentive is in fact to generate profits and revenue.

It is the governments job to regulate such that any company is not doing harm to the greater population. (and to pressure trade partners to similarly regulate)
Relying on any company to make decisions as "citizens" and for the greater good isnt living in reality. Incentive is the major motivator for companies and citizens. Dont pretend that people make the best decisions or uphold their responsibility without laws either.

I think you might be filling in the gaps with what you perceive my politics to be. I agree with you on all parts. I was talking about the current situation where a corporation is treated as a legal entity, e.g. the equivalent of a human being.

[Apoc]

My last trip to the DMV was met with "Impeach Cheney" gibberish. As much as I hate the guy, I couldn't even take them the least bit serious. I mean the majority of people who go to the DMV don't seem to speak much english so isn't spouting rhetoric about politics and economics sorta a waste?

What really amazes me is that everyone seems so educated and intelligent (sometimes) but when we talk at the track it's all dick and fart jokes.

[Ginger]

I've heard people make that argument before, but I've never heard them attached to any firm examples. I'd be happy to hear one if it were provided.

But my intent wasn't to incite economic war... I was just really shocked at the intelligence level of the presentation of the argument. Although I don't agree with intervention in this case, I could make a really good point for it if necessary. Not: "our vague notion of non-existant, inherent morality trumps property rights, and the foudning fathers fought against Smithian militants."

[.RJ]

My last trip to the DMV was met with "Impeach Cheney" gibberish. As much as I hate the guy, I couldn't even take them the least bit serious.

All of these protestors are just lemmings and sheep. IMO, they all lack the ability for critical independent thought, and just regurgitate whatever was fed to them. When you challenge these ideas they get the deer in the headlights look and start repeating only what they know really loudly.

hrug:

You'll leave the DMV and go back to your real job and they are still there handing out flyers.

[Ginger]

My last trip to the DMV was met with "Impeach Cheney" gibberish. As much as I hate the guy, I couldn't even take them the least bit serious. I mean the majority of people who go to the DMV don't seem to speak much english so isn't spouting rhetoric about politics and economics sorta a waste?

It occurs to me now that they were hanging out to get signatures for their petition from idiots who don't know any better... but I still don't understand why they'd pick a battle with me after I declared my education and economic orientation. Regardless of whether or not I am/was right, I was certainly a lot smarter than this lady.

[Apoc]

All of these protestors are just lemmings and sheep. IMO, they all lack the ability for critical independent thought, and just regurgitate whatever was fed to them. When you challenge these ideas they get the deer in the headlights look and start repeating only what they know really loudly.

+won

[Evan]

You're sounding like you think corporations are inherently evil without any real reason.
The core of economics is the study of incentives. Any corporation's most important incentive is in fact to generate profits and revenue.

It is the governments job to regulate such that any company is not doing harm to the greater population. (and to pressure trade partners to similarly regulate)
Relying on any company to make decisions as "citizens" and for the greater good isnt living in reality. Incentive is the major motivator for companies and citizens. Dont pretend that people make the best decisions or uphold their responsibility without laws either.

I think you might be filling in the gaps with what you perceive my politics to be. I agree with you on all parts. I was talking about the current situation where a corporation is treated as a legal entity, e.g. the equivalent of a human being.

Im not filling in the gaps with any kinds of politics, Im filling in the gaps with the context of what you are saying. Maybe you can explain yourself further so I dont have to fill in any gaps and write way too long posts because Im bored at work :p
so yeah, Id like to hear more detail about what exactly you mean, and why its a bad thing.

[ScottyB]

i kind of wish you didn't walk off but instead firmly shut her down in front of a croud. woulda been cool.

[Evan]

What really amazes me is that everyone seems so educated and intelligent (sometimes) but when we talk at the track it's all dick and fart jokes.

you're right.


we need more dick and fart jokes here.


Ive been busting ass ALL day. my coworkers must hate me. I dont even bother to crop dust, because if I did Id never sit down.