Stupid is as stupid does and stupidity votes Obama

[Hauldren Collider]

Catholics believe that anyone can be redeemed, but you have to actually mean it and do something to atone for it. If you murdered someone, it's not as simple as saying 20 Hail Mary prayers a night for a month and eating a wafer.

I am no longer Catholic, and I don't believe in the theology, but I remember some things from Sunday school. They taught me that god judges you and knows whether you are truly sincere in your confessions. Considering that they believe he's omnipotent and omniscient, I think he'd be hard to dupe.

They also teach forgiveness for people who wrong you. I think that these are reasonable life philosophies.

[kentonio]

This is repulsive and further anchors my and Jaguar's point. The reason they are able to "destroy" local businesses is that they provide superior service to customers. Otherwise people would not shop there. You are hurting the poor by preventing low cost businesses such as Wal-Mart from occupying the city, and protecting the incumbent, inefficient, wealth destroying businesses by preventing them from being overtaken by something superior.

[Hauldren Collider]

Do you disagree with that, Kentonio? Do explain.

[Lorizael]

4) By the time a given city finishes having this argument, self-driving cars have already rendered cab drivers obsolete. (This is by far the best possibility.)

[Jaguar]

[Elok]

On the tangent, earlier, which I found interesting: Ben is right that some do find Catholic views on forgiveness of sins to be incredibly lenient. However, I find it more from athiests than, say, Evangelical Christians. A lot of, oh you could kill millions, but just say your sorry and you are off to the pearly gates - that sort of thing.

I think that's more of an objection to Christianity in general (and one that misses the point, natch). I find Catholicism's particular take on things, to the limited extent I've been exposed to it, rather harsh.

[Ben Kenobi]

Self driving cars.

[Hauldren Collider]

Robots

[kentonio]

Do you disagree with that, Kentonio? Do explain.

What you just posted only makes any sense if you consider low prices to be the only indicator of 'good service'. Completely setting aside the whole wage slave aspect of Walmart, there are a few other side effects to wiping out local small businesses that tend to have pretty nasty effects on local communities too.

I'm also interested in how it's particularly conservative to want to replace small business with all its beneficial effects on income equality with mega corporations that enrich a tiny, tiny minority while leaving everyone else poor.

[Lorizael]

Self driving cars.

Luddism.

[Ben Kenobi]

I find Catholicism's particular take on things, to the limited extent I've been exposed to it, rather harsh.

How so, Elok? From my limited understanding of things, you folks are expected to go to confession as well, just like we do.

[Hauldren Collider]

What you just posted only makes any sense if you consider low prices to be the only indicator of 'good service'. Completely setting aside the whole wage slave aspect of Walmart, there are a few other side effects to wiping out local small businesses that tend to have pretty nasty effects on local communities too.

I'm also interested in how it's particularly conservative to want to replace small business with all its beneficial effects on income equality with mega corporations that enrich a tiny, tiny minority while leaving everyone else poor.

I consider revealed preference to be the indicator of good service. Low price seems to be a sufficient factor for Wal-Mart to drive these businesses out, and if it weren't, they would not be afraid of its presence and competition.

[onodera]

I award you no points, and God have mercy on your soul.

What, not a single one? I guess I'm not a good troll.

[kentonio]

I consider revealed preference to be the indicator of good service. Low price seems to be a sufficient factor for Wal-Mart to drive these businesses out, and if it weren't, they would not be afraid of its presence and competition.

They are afraid of its presence and 'competition' because a huge megastore can source goods from around the world at the very lowest prices, force suppliers to accept very low prices for their goods, artificially keep prices on some items low and generally undercut any small business they choose.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm also interested in how it's particularly conservative to want to replace small business with all its beneficial effects on income equality with mega corporations that enrich a tiny, tiny minority while leaving everyone else poor.

Well - I was 15 when we had our first experience with Walmart vs local businesses. Prince George went from zero large stores to about 5 or so. The effect has drastically changed the business centre of the city - out towards the suburbs and have driven most of the downtown businesses out of work. Not only are the big boxes more convenient for their customers to get to - they also undersell everyone else - they have larger selection, etc.

I would argue based on my experience that the reason Walmart does so well - is that it meets real demand of people. It sells what they want to buy, and at a price they are willing to pay. It's accessable and convenient. Wealth equality is actually a bad thing - everyone in PG is better off with Wal Mart, although some are much more better off than others.