Government-imposed prices for real estate

[Victor Galis]

Yea, that's the "hiding the long tails" strategy N.N. Taleb has two books out dealing quite fiercely with the subject.

Still, existence of gullible fools with money does not mean the "markets have failed".

No, but it means current method for compensating hedge fund executives is terrible.

Imagine, if you will, what the Republicans would say about paying regulators millions of dollars.

It's probably the same thing we should be saying about executives being paid that much.

The problem with government is that they try to treat everyone equally and pay everyone on the same scale (more or less). Why should someone working for the Post Office get paid the same amount as their peer at the SEC?

Because realistically very few employees at the Post Office should be at the same pay grade as the important people at the SEC.

[Naked Gents Rut]

Because realistically very few employees at the Post Office should be at the same pay grade as the important people at the SEC.

I don't think this is the case.

[Victor Galis]

Because realistically very few employees at the Post Office should be at the same pay grade as the important people at the SEC.

I don't think this is the case.

Hence the word "should" instead of the word "are." I'm certain the current system is all kinds of screwed up.

[Saras]

Which is the lesser evil - some government employees getting paid a thousand times more than others or Bernie Madoff and similar crooks slipping right under supervisors' noses with monumental ponzi schemes?

[DanS]

The US Postal Service is huge. 700,000 employees. If the post office were a private company, its executives would be paid handsomely.

[Saras]

And there would be 300 000 employees, all getting paid 2x more than now, but some butthole, Arizona would not be getting any mail or amazon shipments for free

[Agathon]

Go jerk off to Naomi Klein fantasies.

Look, I don't deny that she's reasonably shaggable, but I'm on record in these forums as being an official disliker of her books, so what's your point?

[Agathon]

The problem with government is that they try to treat everyone equally and pay everyone on the same scale (more or less). Why should someone working for the Post Office get paid the same amount as their peer at the SEC?

Because the postal worker is more productive?

[Saras]

It's a nice blanket response to leftwing loons. Agree on the shaggability.

[Agathon]

It's a nice blanket response to leftwing loons. Agree on the shaggability.

So how's your economy doing? All your women on the game yet?

[Kidlicious]

The real estate market has proven not to be a stable market and price controls need to be imposed or these crisis will be repeated.

[Saras]

So how's your economy doing? All your women on the game yet?

Economy is ****. I'm married.

[Arrian]

That it's a good idea? There are plenty that think it's a bad thing we underpay govt workers.

Really? The modern Republican party has "government sucks" as a core message. It seems to me, then, that it would be hard for them to simultaneously sell the idea of paying high-level government workers big bucks.

If I'm wrong about that... great! I agree that the government would be better off paying properly for talent. Good luck explaining the higher taxes required to fund that (at least until those talented new gummint employees start saving us money... we hope) to the base of the Republican party.

-Arrian

[Kuciwalker]

So, in broad strokes, you have the elitist Republicans and the populist Republicans. The elitists would generally be in favor of what I said.

[Naked Gents Rut]

Populist Republicans want smaller government, not necessarily cheaper government. They're perfectly willing to spend tons of money on the aspects of government they feel are truly vital to the nation, like national defense. I don't see why they wouldn't support paying people at the SEC more; they'd just want the Department of Education cut, as well.