Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by KRamsauer
So you're a protectionist from a purely self-interest perspective (already objected to by me)

---

I'm not sure where you're pulling that from. I'm not protectionist at all. If I were, I think it unlikely that I'd be driving a Japanese car (with another in the garage). What I am saying, though, is that an economy based solely upon service is based upon a shaky foundation and leaves itself wide open to the fickle winds of change. But, it's obvious you're just being difficult.

quote:

---

but where do you place the importance of other countries who depend on us for trade?

---

It depends on the country.

quote:

---

It has been conclusively demonstrated (to me, at least) that trade is mutually beneficial.

---

I never said it wasn't.

quote:

---

This hints at my argument that Western trade policies have killed millions of Africans over the years.

---

I think Western charity policies have probably killed just as many. In the words of Sam Kinison, "we shouldn't be sending them food. We should be sending them U-Hauls and move them where the food is."

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
I'm not sure where you're pulling that from. I'm not protectionist at all. If I were, I think it unlikely that I'd be driving a Japanese car (with another in the garage). What I am saying, though, is that an economy based solely upon service is based upon a shaky foundation and leaves itself wide open to the fickle winds of change. But, it's obvious you're just being difficult.

---

__________________
<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1062

quote:

---

Originally posted by stanne
I think this shows how little cultural intelligence the Americans have.

The term "french fries" has nothing to do with French (from France). It comes from the verb "to french" which means (or at least meant) 'to cut into lengthwise pieces'. And, it were the Belgians who invented the french fries. You can read the whole story on www.belgianfries.com.

---

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by KRamsauer
The "However, I think in the end, we'd wind up better off because of it. " comment made me think as much.

---

That's your prejudice towards me shining through. Thinking that we'd be better off by being less dependent overall does not equate to we shouldn't have any trade with other countries or that we should enact a protectionist government program. As a consumer, I tend to buy based on quality of goods weighed in with overall value for cost. Origin of item is rarely on the radar. That being said, if things come to producing good X locally and having to pay a higher price as opposed to sacrificing sovereignty to appease a boycotting former trade partner, I'd lean more towards the former. While I think boycotts on either 'side' a bit silly and extremist at this point, both 'sides' are fully within their prerogative to be as silly as they want to be.

quote:

---

On a side note, I'm saddened we have to go to war to help people in the third world while merely opening markets and allowing farmers to go out of business (flat subsidies, not marginal protection would accomplish the same good without having the farmers starve) would do much more.

---

But but but what about the people who depend on the grain that those subsidized farmers overproduce?

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
That's your prejudice towards me shining through

---

__________________
<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by KRamsauer
It takes guts (and ignorance) to call someone prejudice because they assume you want to do something that you believe would make us better off...

---

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
And it takes prejudice (founded out of ignorance and apparent lack of comprehension) to so drastically misunderstand what exactly someone believes and then further assume that they want to do any particular thing based on that misunderstanding. But again, you're already predisposed to certain assumptions about me, so what's the point.

---

__________________
<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by KRamsauer
You continue to amaze me. It seems reasonable to me that if someone says "I think we'd be better without X" that they would actually be in favor of doing away with X.

---

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
My position is more in the vein of 'that which does not kill me makes me stronger'. You are taking it as a request to be killed.

---

__________________
<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Ok, boys take it easy...

On Kramsauer's defense I can understand how he misinterpreted your post, at first I read it that way too...
Toby clarified his stance so lets shake hands and play nice again

__________________
<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

---

Originally posted by ToolkiT
Ok, boys take it easy...

On Kramsauer's defense I can understand how he misinterpreted your post, at first I read it that way too...
Toby clarified his stance so lets shake hands and play nice again

---

You have too little faith in us. Look at our games from previous thread and you'll realize there's nothing to worry about here.

__________________
<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

---

Originally posted by KRamsauer
You have too little faith in us. Look at our games from previous thread and you'll realize there's nothing to worry about here.

---

Thats what you say now, I've got intellegence that shows that you have plans to invade toby's backyard to gain control ove his BBQ

__________________
<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by ToolkiT
Thats what you say now, I've got intellegence that shows that you have plans to invade toby's backyard to gain control ove his BBQ

---

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
Cher, I got rid of the BBQ pit when my communist PhD acquaintance tried to burn my house down with it. Unfortunately, I have no evidence to prove that I no longer have this weapon of mass destruction, so PETA will just have to accept my word for it.

---

That does it! Krammy, send it those pork chop missiles!

__________________
<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
For all those laughing at the 'freedom fries' and Dixie Chicks debacles, I'm wondering if you find this just as laughable.

---

__________________
"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1062

quote:

---

Originally posted by ToolkiT
That does it! Krammy, send it those pork chop missiles!

---

Pork chop missiles!?

I, too, have WMD!! Fire away!!

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

---

Originally posted by ToolkiT

Thats what you say now, I've got intellegence that shows that you have plans to invade toby's backyard to gain control ove his BBQ

---

__________________
<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by K. Cannon
Pork chop missiles!?

I, too, have WMD!! Fire away!!

---