[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Platt Holden]

> [Arlo previously]
> The potential for more rewarding activity is destroyed when Walmart moves into
> an area. It limits choice, by relying on mass production in overseas markets,
> and as other business go under, and more and more Walmarts are built, the
> opportunities for employment that can lead to greater wealth, not to mention
> more fulfilling careers, are destroyed. 
> 
> [Platt] 
> Nonsense. The more Walmart saves it's customers money, the more that money can
> be spent on what you would consider more "worthwhile" endeavors. 
> 
> [Arlo]
> Truth. And you buck savings is a false savings. Consider the following articles
> examining the economic impact of Walmart (among other "box stores") on local
> communites. I realize they are not written by radio talk show commentators, and
> so by your reasoning are dismissable based on that fact alone, but
> nonetheless....

Effect on local economies? Not only are these stories cherry-picked for their 
anti-Walmart effect but completely ignore other areas of the economic life of 
the country and the world. I'm surprised that an avowed academic would have 
such a narrow focus. But on second thought, I'm not surprised. Walmart  has put 
other stores out of business thanks to economies of scale passed on to 
consumers. That's how capitalism and the free market work. In a free market, 
companies that offer the best value for the dollar win. Your anti-Walmart 
position reveals your anti-capitalist bias, reflecting the prevalent view of 
the liberal professorial class.   

> Yep, you can save a buck. But then watch your town collapse around you. But hey,
> that buck is all that matters in America, right?

In economic matters what else would you want to matter? Regulations to promote 
your ideas of quality perhaps? 

> [Platt]
> What I object to is no conservative professors in the liberal arts section of
> many universities, including those state universities directly supported by
> taxpayers whose views are not given a fair hearing.
 
> [Arlo]
> So there's a hiring conspiracy now? Where are all these "conservative liberal
> arts professors" that are being discriminated against in the hiring process? 

Where are they? Making a living in business I guess.

> I wonder, is this a similiar conspiracy keeping "liberal CEOs" out of the
> boardrooms?

Who says liberals aren't in board rooms? There's a whole market for investing 
in "socially responsible" corporations. Ugh.   

> [Platt]
> What's your objection to having diversity of views on campus anyway?
 
> [Arlo]
> I have no problem with the diversity, and I've never once been in a classroom
> where a "conservative" view was shot down simply because it was "conservative".

Conservative views get shot down by falsely attributing their basis to talk 
radio and other "suspect" conservative media, as you have so amply demonstrated 
in these posts.

> Many of the professors I work with closely (in the liberal arts) are hunters,
> sportsmen, etc. Many are self-described "fiscal conservatives". Oops, but again,
> that's coming from someone working in the academy, and not a radio talk-show
> host, so I'm probably lying.

You see what I mean?

> [Platt]
> Because you and your fellow travelers always appeal to the heavy hand of
> government to fulfill your agendas. I have no objection if you want to protect
> and preserve natural resources for future generations. Just don't think you have
> a monopoly on good works so that you feel justified to impose them on me. That's
> Rigelism -- fullof ideas how others ought to behave at no cost to themselves.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Pot, meet kettle.

Promoting freedom is not exactly telling others how to behave.

> [Arlo previously]
> In short, we need to value "people over money". Something I wonder if I'll see
> in my lifetime.
> 
> [Platt]
> If America wants to keep its high standard of living and remain open to
> innovation, we need to viligently protect the free market from those who think
> they know how to spend someone's money better than she does.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Don't do your "he's trying to take away the free market" tactic. I never said a
> solution was to control the market. I've said in a plethora of posts that
> overcoming this infectious mercantilian language by focusing our cultural light
> on things greater than "money", like identification and care, is the way to go.
> The market will adjust accordingly.
 
Focusing "our cultural light?" You mean propaganda from the lectern, right? No 
different from propaganda from the pulpit if you ask me. But, always glad to 
hear you defend the free market and pledge to stay out of the way of Walmart.
 :-)

Platt