tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post4937495195522438860..comments2023-12-20T04:18:41.617-06:00Comments on The Hunting of the Snark: The Free MarketSusan of Texashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-9427564839315212802011-10-20T07:21:27.526-05:002011-10-20T07:21:27.526-05:00Susan, I respectfully disagree on how to make sens...Susan, I respectfully disagree on how to make sense of Megan.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ressentiment<br />describes her way of life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-22088578450117614472011-10-19T16:35:27.941-05:002011-10-19T16:35:27.941-05:00Note to Emily: Yes, you are right. I didn't ...Note to Emily: Yes, you are right. I didn't stop to consider larger companies or government entities, both of which might tend to have enough personnel to cover the absent person's workload, and in the case of government entities, would be more inclined to treat jury service with respect.<br /><br />I should have thought of that. It's just that most of my working life has been spent in smaller companies or law firms, and none of them would have considered retaining an employee throughout a 9 month trial. Even if they were willing to hold the job open, they would not be in a position to pay my wages, especially if they needed to hire someone else.<br /><br />And in my most recent employment, the firms had already cut staff down to the bone, with those of us remaining being worked to exhaustion, or at least distraction. If they thought for a seconds that they could do without me for 9 months, they'd have laid me the hell off before now.<br /><br />I'm concerned because I know how important this is. I was a juror for a three day trial some years ago, and I had a similar experience to yours. We <i>have</i> to have jurors and alternates from the community. I'm just not going to be able to do this one, and it upsets me and makes me feel ashamed.<br /><br />The end. Sorry to hijack your comments, Susan!Larkspurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-40478085774914517382011-10-19T13:08:28.932-05:002011-10-19T13:08:28.932-05:00Well, sure. That's because of her academicall...Well, sure. That's because of her academically intimidating household, or whatever.Lurking Canadiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-400749162392567152011-10-19T09:21:50.903-05:002011-10-19T09:21:50.903-05:00That might be the only way to make sense of McMega...That might be the only way to make sense of McMegan. She is not at all rigid in her ideology; her philosophy is a bit of this, a bit of that, with no internal consistency. She makes decisions based on what she thinks the elite response would be; that's how she ends up saying she's pro-choice without believing in a woman's right to choose. Or say she's libertarian while believing the government should do whatever benefits her personally. Or see the world as a struggle of the elite versus the masses dragging them down, but still take non-Randian perks such as mortgage deductions. She'll even <a href="http://agonyin8fits.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-memories.html" rel="nofollow">throw her husband under the bus</a> if it makes life easier for her.<br /><br />McArdle is not amoral and is not utterly without empathy but she is unable to do anything but protect her own self-interest. She must always look out for number 1, which implies that she feels she must protect herself at all costs because nobody else will. That implies that she was thrown into a frightening situation without emotional support in childhood.Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-75884209896763505232011-10-19T08:27:56.636-05:002011-10-19T08:27:56.636-05:00I think it goes back to one of Susan's themes ...I think it goes back to one of Susan's themes about McMegan. Principles are all well and good, right up until they become a personal inconvenience. Then right out the window. If she is still smoking, then the idea that there is an instance where free market might make her life less convenient, then maybe the market shouldn't be quite so free in that particular case.fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522672049371678717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-23945617106590133052011-10-19T08:05:27.691-05:002011-10-19T08:05:27.691-05:00I am baffled by the notion of Megan taking the pos...I am baffled by the notion of Megan taking the position that the boss doesn't have the right to fire anybody, at any time, for any reason. Isn't that the libertarian ideal if the flexible labour force, guaranteed to lead to piles of gold in the land of the unicorns?<br /><br />I think the only way to read this is as pure Randianism. Doctors are Galtian supermen and the untermenschen just don't have any right to tell them what to do. Otherwise, I just can't see Megan writing it.Lurking Canadiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-83596081876360297312011-10-19T06:52:08.653-05:002011-10-19T06:52:08.653-05:00Larkspur: I served on a jury for a trial that las...Larkspur: I served on a jury for a trial that lasted about four months. We were about half retired and half working for big companies or govt agencies that paid us our full salary during the trial. We jurors all got to be pretty good pals and as far as I could see, nobody was wealthy.<br /><br />I realize that jury duty for a trial this long is a big sacrifice for lots of people, but for me, it was one of the most interesting things I ever did.Emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-36803729809832340242011-10-19T01:03:29.478-05:002011-10-19T01:03:29.478-05:00Ugh. I read the comments section over there. Whe...Ugh. I read the comments section over there. When it comes to "no-fault" afflictions like diabetes or MS, they suggest that people purchase supplemental policies before they get those diseases, and that parents should purchase such riders before they have kids. Genetic testing was also suggested as an aid to helping prospective parents make their insurance choices. The discussion then moved along without reflecting on whether in their new world, abortion would still be legal, or if there should be some kind of penalty for people who procreate while actuarily at risk (like there's diabetes in the family, or mom is older and thus statistically more apt to have a Downs baby).<br /><br />In unrelated matters, I had jury duty today and had to fill out a long questionnaire for what could be a nine-month-long murder trial with multiple defendants. Seriously, who can do a nine month trial who isn't retired (with no grandbaby duty) or wealthy (without having to earn the money by working)? And yet somebody got killed and some other people are on trial for it, and you have to have jurors. Meanwhile, I won't know until December whether I have to either serve or flee the jurisdiction.<br /><br />Well, I guess one anti-stress remedy would be for me to never look at McMegan's comments section again.Larkspurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-13874338000223282432011-10-18T20:40:12.479-05:002011-10-18T20:40:12.479-05:00Maybe she's just so goddamned dumb that she th...Maybe she's just so goddamned dumb that she thinks the free market makes people more free no matter what.<br /><br />You have to admit the possibility.Substance McGravitashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04118764163822188800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-26238133743322258272011-10-18T16:52:38.620-05:002011-10-18T16:52:38.620-05:00she has to smoke. mistress ayn declared it a mora...she has to smoke. mistress ayn declared it a moral obligation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-56329465431328936292011-10-18T15:58:11.408-05:002011-10-18T15:58:11.408-05:00Run Megan, Run!
YES!
~<i>Run Megan, Run!</i><br /><br />YES!<br />~ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©https://www.blogger.com/profile/06252371815131259831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-28915705994554808822011-10-18T14:34:16.145-05:002011-10-18T14:34:16.145-05:00Ken Houghton:
We do know her BMI means she is ove...Ken Houghton:<br /><br />We do know her BMI means she is overweight. She has discussed it endlessly and because she is tall, she is considered overweight.<br /><br />Likewise, we know she smokes despite claiming to have quit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-89758499550207583002011-10-18T13:45:26.771-05:002011-10-18T13:45:26.771-05:00She must be reacting to this as a smoker.She must be reacting to this as a smoker.atatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-72928496144571658482011-10-18T12:43:39.618-05:002011-10-18T12:43:39.618-05:00In fairness, McMegan is not obvious out of shape. ...<i>In fairness, McMegan is not obvious out of shape. </i><br /><br />Easier to do when you are smoking...fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522672049371678717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-36271949010935104172011-10-18T12:08:14.740-05:002011-10-18T12:08:14.740-05:00Selection bias will produce good results for the s...<i>Selection bias will produce good results for the selecting organization, but you cannot replicate its results on a nationwide scale; fat, smoky people have to work somewhere (or go on welfare). </i><br /><br />It's touching, how MM declines to suppose that fat, smoky people might decide to become thinner and less smoky when faced with market conditions punishing their fatness and smokiness. But that's our Megan: a libertarian softie who, in the end, doesn't give a fig for the market, and just wants people to be happy.Mr.Wonderfulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-62422784693862927122011-10-18T11:57:01.439-05:002011-10-18T11:57:01.439-05:00One problem may be the Cleveland Clinic is non-pro...One problem may be the Cleveland Clinic is non-profit.<br /><br />Another is that she doesn't seem to understand that the doctors were canned for repeatedly smoking on hospital grounds.<br /><br />Plus, <i>Smoking in the Boys Room</i> is her favoritest song.Downpuppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10312490198813632190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-75232678182828520762011-10-18T11:55:48.033-05:002011-10-18T11:55:48.033-05:00So Logan's run is a Good Scenario for Megan? ...So Logan's run is a Good Scenario for Megan? (Sorry can't help but bring up old scifi - where these ideas are first encountered/examined)<br /><br />Isn't she over 30? Does she not understand the consequences? <br /><br />Run Megan, Run!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-2052319564059371032011-10-18T11:36:32.148-05:002011-10-18T11:36:32.148-05:00In fairness, McMegan is not obvious out of shape. ...In fairness, McMegan is not obvious out of shape. (What her BMI may be, I do not know or speculate.)<br /><br />If we applied her Alzheimer's argument to all, of course, we would conclude that medical research is a bad idea (could lead to higher EOL costs as, e.g., asthmatics survive longer). All of the progress of the second half of the 20th century--reducing death by lung (pneumonia, TB) and heart (stroke, attack) diseases--has just led to higher EOL costs of people who Should Be Dead Already!<br /><br />(Same problem as seat beats--the guy who should have died in his first car crash instead lives to have a second or even third or so.)<br /><br />Strangely, the IBs have given such perquisites as part of their (often self-funded) health care plans. I don't remember her ever suggesting that GS should stop such behavior. (You must have been on vacation that week.)Ken Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01440837287933536370noreply@blogger.com