Hmm... I don't know how exactly it is working in USA, but wouldn't they just pocket $400 - well, I mean, use them on new shiny toys - and just ask federal or state government for more money on the "legal hurdles"? Seems pretty logical thing to do.
"Hey, it's a nice organised crime ring you have here. It would be a shame if someone... made some law equating it to the terrorist organisation. You know, we can't let the terrorists win, now, do we?"
Oh, you do underestimate the fragility of position of any Russian leader, do you? Look up in Wikipedia how fast did some Czar, Prince or General Secretary encountered "health problems" when they showed any sign of weakness. It's all much more sinister than "I-do-what-I-want-because-fuck-you" typical dictator situation.
Some of us are even more sorry right now. Not that it matters - several lonely voices of reason wouldn't stop this juggernaut of madness that our media had become. And people here still mostly do believe our media.
Matter of perspective. If Russia manages to scare them strongly enough they would shut down 1/4th of their GDP to prevent worse things from happening. Not every world leader has a mindset of a typical American CEO.
That's even more true in Russia. How Putin could pull out of Ukraine without some serious reason and not "lose his face" now? His 85%+ ratings are hanging on the very thin line now. Imagine - he declares that he stops all support of the separatists in the morning and resigns due to the "health problems" by the lunch.
Ah, that's just made my monday! Pity I've ran out of modpoints yesterday. If we'd had more people with similar views within our society, it wouldn't be so fucked up.
Hmm... and how you'll be able to grow your own food when all patents on it would belong to Monsanto and other corporations? And patent infringement would become a capital crime?
I wish I had some mod points - there are so many misconceptions about Marx and communism that it is sometimes painful to watch. Although, if we'll take anarchism or libertarian capitalism in their extreme (and unattainable) forms, they'll result in a really nice societies as well. We'll just need a different types of people for each of these systems to work properly. Right now it seems that we have the system that we deserve, no more, no less.
Hmm... you wouldn't buy some cheap knockoff, would you? If your phone costs less than $800, it's not "premium" or "VIP" or how do they call these things nowadays. So no, prices would remain the same because people are already buying phones at current prices, and even if it will go up they'll gladly pay for the magical "status item". Lawyers and marketologists could ask for a raised salary, though.
That's the difference in the mentality - when we say "government corruption" or "lack of freedoms" we don't mean the same things as citizens of Canada or US do. They just don't get it why are we laughing so hard when they tell us about their "outrageous" problems at DMV or somesuch.
Yeah, no argument here. I'm afraid that for the equation "most ethical business = most profitable (or should we say most rewarding?) business" to work we'll need a different society. More insightful, more long-term thinking as a whole. But I don't think that even the best engineers in the world could manage such an accomplishment.
Wait, are you implying that Bezos and Musk are the same? Well, why not just throw in Larry Fucking Ellison - great futurist and visionary. Amazon and Walmart are working hard on becoming the monopolies, using so many dirty tricks in process it's mind-boggling. They are on the level of Monsanto now. While Tesla opens up their patents, Amazon still holds it "one-click buy" stupidity as a Holy Grail. And you think that future with this kind of people at the helm would be bright? Sorry, no sell.
We don't need "cutthroats", we need engeneers and architects.
Well, to really succeed, this process has to start from the both sides: some well-motivated guys on top have to support some blue collar workers, who, in turn, have to use this power in constructive way. You know, when every one, from the "big boss" to the last janitor's assistant would be really proud to do they work, create something meaningful, help to build better future, etc. Not so likely in current conditions. And that's not even bringing in the problems of outsourcing jobs or even eliminating them completely with the help of robots.
Still, only time will tell how this problem is going to solve itself.
Well, that's the core problem of post-industrial society vs. industrial society. Maybe even post-modern world vs. modern world. Maybe people like Elon Musk (sorry, I know that everyone are already grew tired of his name, but I can't take another example from the top of my head) can renew the popularity of actually achieving something, rather than "great, we've secured the profit for our shareholders for the next quarter, fuck everything else". I, for one, would really love to see a beginning of a "neo-modern" era.
Slashdot Mirror
Heh... And I thought that "Interstate 60" was a satirical comedy with little basis in reality.
Hmm... I don't know how exactly it is working in USA, but wouldn't they just pocket $400 - well, I mean, use them on new shiny toys - and just ask federal or state government for more money on the "legal hurdles"? Seems pretty logical thing to do.
I'm surprised it's not the other way around.
"Hey, it's a nice organised crime ring you have here. It would be a shame if someone... made some law equating it to the terrorist organisation. You know, we can't let the terrorists win, now, do we?"
Am I only one to instantly remember this novel?
Oh, you do underestimate the fragility of position of any Russian leader, do you? Look up in Wikipedia how fast did some Czar, Prince or General Secretary encountered "health problems" when they showed any sign of weakness. It's all much more sinister than "I-do-what-I-want-because-fuck-you" typical dictator situation.
Hah! That's the funny one. I'll go tell my friends who visited both cities.
Some of us are even more sorry right now. Not that it matters - several lonely voices of reason wouldn't stop this juggernaut of madness that our media had become. And people here still mostly do believe our media.
Matter of perspective. If Russia manages to scare them strongly enough they would shut down 1/4th of their GDP to prevent worse things from happening. Not every world leader has a mindset of a typical American CEO.
That's even more true in Russia. How Putin could pull out of Ukraine without some serious reason and not "lose his face" now? His 85%+ ratings are hanging on the very thin line now. Imagine - he declares that he stops all support of the separatists in the morning and resigns due to the "health problems" by the lunch.
That's not a typo, they are just some long-lost cousins of Illuminati. More green-oriented, I presume.
So true. Sorry for not engaging in conflict, but I really have nothing to add here )
Ah, that's just made my monday! Pity I've ran out of modpoints yesterday. If we'd had more people with similar views within our society, it wouldn't be so fucked up.
Hmm... and how you'll be able to grow your own food when all patents on it would belong to Monsanto and other corporations? And patent infringement would become a capital crime?
Masses of armed drones will, though.
I wish I had some mod points - there are so many misconceptions about Marx and communism that it is sometimes painful to watch. Although, if we'll take anarchism or libertarian capitalism in their extreme (and unattainable) forms, they'll result in a really nice societies as well. We'll just need a different types of people for each of these systems to work properly. Right now it seems that we have the system that we deserve, no more, no less.
Hmm... you wouldn't buy some cheap knockoff, would you? If your phone costs less than $800, it's not "premium" or "VIP" or how do they call these things nowadays. So no, prices would remain the same because people are already buying phones at current prices, and even if it will go up they'll gladly pay for the magical "status item". Lawyers and marketologists could ask for a raised salary, though.
Well, according to Dilbert it's not too hard to imagine.
That's the difference in the mentality - when we say "government corruption" or "lack of freedoms" we don't mean the same things as citizens of Canada or US do. They just don't get it why are we laughing so hard when they tell us about their "outrageous" problems at DMV or somesuch.
Yeah, no argument here. I'm afraid that for the equation "most ethical business = most profitable (or should we say most rewarding?) business" to work we'll need a different society. More insightful, more long-term thinking as a whole. But I don't think that even the best engineers in the world could manage such an accomplishment.
Wait, are you implying that Bezos and Musk are the same? Well, why not just throw in Larry Fucking Ellison - great futurist and visionary. Amazon and Walmart are working hard on becoming the monopolies, using so many dirty tricks in process it's mind-boggling. They are on the level of Monsanto now. While Tesla opens up their patents, Amazon still holds it "one-click buy" stupidity as a Holy Grail. And you think that future with this kind of people at the helm would be bright? Sorry, no sell.
We don't need "cutthroats", we need engeneers and architects.
Well, to really succeed, this process has to start from the both sides: some well-motivated guys on top have to support some blue collar workers, who, in turn, have to use this power in constructive way. You know, when every one, from the "big boss" to the last janitor's assistant would be really proud to do they work, create something meaningful, help to build better future, etc. Not so likely in current conditions. And that's not even bringing in the problems of outsourcing jobs or even eliminating them completely with the help of robots.
Still, only time will tell how this problem is going to solve itself.
Well, that's the core problem of post-industrial society vs. industrial society. Maybe even post-modern world vs. modern world. Maybe people like Elon Musk (sorry, I know that everyone are already grew tired of his name, but I can't take another example from the top of my head) can renew the popularity of actually achieving something, rather than "great, we've secured the profit for our shareholders for the next quarter, fuck everything else". I, for one, would really love to see a beginning of a "neo-modern" era.
Curse these godless heathens! Now all of Young Earth Creationists will have one more fact to ignore. It ain't easy already!
It is still the same fallacy:
"Nae true Scotsman doesnae ken abit Docker, laddie"
For many years, this extra strength was seen as an adaptation to a tough diet...
And not even one joke about "knuckle sandwich"?