I have been a college grad for 3 years now

[KrazyHorse]

This entire discussion displays the absolute ignorance of the desert view of economic outcomes. If employers can find suitable employees willing to go unpaid during an initial training period then that's what they "should" do. If they can't, then not. This assumes, of course, that there are no laws preventing them from doing so.

I have no idea what the solution would be for the military if they behaved rationally. Not that it matters for my original point: albie didn't produce anything during his training. The cost he represented was expected to be paid by the benefit he would have provided amortized over his career.

[giblets]

Albie wants taxpayers to bear the risks of his next attempt at joining the marines

[The Mad Monk]

Then I'm just wondering what you're bringing to the conversation.

There was a time when you were so much better than this. What happened to you?

[Aeson]

If I write an option, and someone is willing to buy it, have I produced value? (Honest question that came to mind when reading this thread. I would think that the answer is yes, but I am not sure on accounting rules on this.)

[KrazyHorse]

Only ex post, not ex ante...

[KrazyHorse]

We are ex post on albie, and he ended up not paying off...

[Aeson]

But Al's value is counted at the point of sale, isn't it? He sold the US military an option of future employment for an agreed upon price. Al upheld his end of the agreement AFAWK. The loss is due to the US military's incorrect evaluation. Isn't this how it would be accounted sans personal vendetta?

[Aeson]

So the question remains, if I write an option, and find a buyer, have I created value?

[Aeson]

Only ex post, not ex ante...

Missed this at the page turn. Thanks for answering.

[DaShi]

There was a time when you were so much better than this. What happened to you?

I'll be here whenever you feel like returning to the topic at hand. However, I will apologize, if I've coddled you in the past. After seeing more of what kind of person you are, I probably should have been much less forgiving.