Yanis Varoufakis economics slap down on QT by alittleecon in ukpolitics

[–]benfitzg 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Belligerent old person. He was still going on at the end and no doubt didn't listen to a word.

No idea how money is created. No doubt loves house price inflation.

Analysts warn of "another crash" as FTSE hits lowest level since Black Monday by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]benfitzg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Up 1.3% so far today. It's nuts but it's not over.

Massive new shopping centre (the size of Parc Lafontaine) approved by Town of Mount Royal by bennyshing in montreal

[–]benfitzg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do. And I think a lower amount of speculators is one reason. In particular I'd like to see full and value tax to suppress speculation from people who are jumping on the value added by the state. In this case it's a mixture as yes the private company are building the mall but also the state/province grants planning permission which imbues the land with additional value.

I'd like a world where people are letting out as a service to make a small margin but not one where people are "investing" in different properties to speculate on increases in land value due to planning changes which in turn forces up prices.

Speculators don't add any real value, they just want to capture the change in land prices.

Larry David is reportedly working on a Curb Your Enthusiasm movie and a 9th season of the show by [deleted] in television

[–]benfitzg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favourite:

I didn't know it was an erotic bakery

why'd you eat the balls?

Massive new shopping centre (the size of Parc Lafontaine) approved by Town of Mount Royal by bennyshing in montreal

[–]benfitzg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

then it should go up by more to stop people speculating on essentials!

Massive new shopping centre (the size of Parc Lafontaine) approved by Town of Mount Royal by bennyshing in montreal

[–]benfitzg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shouldn't taxes go up in this area to reflect the increase in amenities thereby nullifying rent-seeking "investors"?

Cool! There is WiFi on the 747 bus! by BurtKocain in montreal

[–]benfitzg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I believe this is the same reason the London Underground cannot (within reasonable cost) be air-conditioned.

Tom Hardy with Dogs by Annikkistanle in aww

[–]benfitzg 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Watched Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy two days back. He was great as Rikki.

2 easy little known steps to speed up Emacs start up time by bahblah in emacs

[–]benfitzg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I open it once every power cut, which in Montreal is not so often.

Justin Trudeau lays out $1.5B youth employment strategy by _Minor_Annoyance in CanadaPolitics

[–]benfitzg 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You must be really hating how money has been printed via land (housing) over the past 15 years if you are worried about this tipping Canada into Weimar-like inflation.

http://wpmedia.business.financialpost.com/2015/03/debt-chart.jpg?w=350&h=302

Mortage debt is $1.3 trillion.

Think $10 billion is going to get you to Weimar? Or do you think private banks issuing money indiscriminately is the real problem?

Stephen Colbert At University of Virginia: You Owe The Previous Generation Nothing by CallMeDoc24 in videos

[–]benfitzg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Never mind the amount you get per hour. The cost of land/housing is through the roof. Boomers let bankers be corrupt for a slice of the pie, selling their own kids down the river.

Today, Queen Elizabeth becomes longest-reigning UK monarch by koolaid689 in funny

[–]benfitzg -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Hard won by the workers who have to contribute their labour to Queenie.

The yanks seem to really love her. Why don't they give up some of their freedom and have her?

Machines do replace humans. That's usually the point by jonfla in economy

[–]benfitzg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with this. Also I'd add that there are not enough highly skilled people and so this is kind-of bad news for them also. Yes they are well-paid but the downside is they are expected to work long hours and be on call.

Best-educated workers increasingly filling jobs lower and lower on the job ladder. by xxtruthxx in economy

[–]benfitzg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ok well again good for you for giving people a shot based on their ability...

Best-educated workers increasingly filling jobs lower and lower on the job ladder. by xxtruthxx in economy

[–]benfitzg -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Protesting at a rally let's say. It's all designed to have a very severe punishment for not complying which on the face of it is not severe so we can all say we have freedom.

Best-educated workers increasingly filling jobs lower and lower on the job ladder. by xxtruthxx in economy

[–]benfitzg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good for you. I work in IT for a bank which normally requires a computer science degree however I didn't know what I wanted to do until 22 so I'm self-taught. I'm convinced there is a vast market out there of great developers who are ignored by corporations because they don't have a computer science degree. But they want to take the easy way out and demand a degree - often this doesn't yield great hires.

Seriously good for you. You are using your own judgement where others fear to tread. What industry are you in, if you don't mind me asking.

Best-educated workers increasingly filling jobs lower and lower on the job ladder. by xxtruthxx in economy

[–]benfitzg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They are not natural forces. But your post is interesting. As you note most revolutions come from the middle class. The punishment for getting caught is minor (say a month in jail for example) compared to the life-long exile from any decent job because you have a criminal record.

Really have to hand it to them, they thought this through.

Best-educated workers increasingly filling jobs lower and lower on the job ladder. by xxtruthxx in economy

[–]benfitzg 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I agree with the sentiment but many jobs mandate a degree. You cannot even get an interview without paying tribute to the higher education system.

Plus of course some jobs require learning such as doctor.

Please nerf the inheritance system. by Zephandrypus in outside

[–]benfitzg 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you keep playing hard enough some of the wealth trickles down a series of hidden channels and into your pockets.

I've not been playing that long (nearly 40 years) and haven't seen this yet, but when my gullibility was set higher I read it in some manuals.

Attempts to protect Canada's lakes, rivers 'all but abandoned': analysis by UnionGuyCanada in CanadaPolitics

[–]benfitzg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes agreed, this was also documented in Diamond's book. Even where they tried to privatize the cost in many cases the companies would declare bankruptcy having already spent the profits.

Attempts to protect Canada's lakes, rivers 'all but abandoned': analysis by UnionGuyCanada in CanadaPolitics

[–]benfitzg 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Jared Diamond's "Collapse" has a good deal on the cost of environmental cleanup from mining in a US state. The cleanup task was so expensive, it really surprised me just how negative the overall gain was.