Not amused.

[lisa]

Originally posted by jaguar
Is this a good thing? Its sure got allot of people pissed. FUck it gets to me, sure it makes good busienss sense but fucking hell what the pointof life if you cna't enjoy it, do we need to maxamise, rationalise and cost-cut absolutely everything.....

Well, that's a common complaint for a lot of people... The free market gives them what they say they want -- with actions. Which is often, unfortunately, not what they want in their hearts.

For example, I have a friend who thinks the airline industry should be re-regulated. He doesn't think prices were that much more expensive than they are now, but the service is much less, meals are worse, seats are smaller, etc.

So, I asked him an obvious question: "Last time you flew, how did you decide which airline to take?" He said "I did some price shopping and went with the best deal." I asked, "Did you ask any of them about the quality of their food? Size of seats? Etc?" He replied, "Of course not."

I explained to him (in nicer language) that he was part of the problem. He was looking for the cheapest airfare and not even, apparently, investigating anything else. By not even asking he was effectively telling the airlines that all he cares about is price.

And, how do the airlines minimize price? By searving cheap (or no) food, putting more seats in the same space, etc, etc. All the things that he hates.

Unfortunately, in a large industry, it's hard for one person to make a difference. It's easy to say "I can't change it, so I'll just save the $$$." But it's like voting for someone and then complaining that s/he got into office.

If you don't like chain stores, go out of your way to NOT shop at them. Find the "mom and pop" stores and buy there. Help them stay in business. Don't let the large conglomerates think that they can make money in your area.

Anyhow, that's what I try to do. I try to buy books at a small stores rather than Dalton's or Barns & Noble's. I dunno if it'll work, but I sure feel better when I do.