That Marx challenged capitalism because of a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa. Apparently this condition prevents the sweat glands from expelling properly leading to inflammation. Communism has always been the nasty armpit of economics so I guess its unsurprising that a malfunction of this body party brought the communism into existence. It’s science, so it has to be true that hiradentis suppurativa caused communism. Intuition doesn’t tell me that. Rationality does.

I was at a lame-o orientation today and the benefits representative was going over the retirement packages we could choose from. Paraphrasing, he stated that those with a higher salary will have a larger portion of what they put away for retirement matched by the university than compared with those with lower salaries.

The actual statement he made was longer and used numbers so it took us all a second to process the meaning. There was a girl at my table from across from me that was painfully liberal. Me and the liberal girl both got to the meaning pretty quickly. Effectively, the more the university pays you, the more it will give towards your retirement.

Once I got to the meaning of the statement I immediately thought that I needed to work on getting rich so I can enjoy that benefit. The liberal girl made plain here thought because she blurted out: ‘the rich get richer’. The libertarian sees a benefit of wealth and thinks about how they would like to acquire that wealth. The liberal sees the benefit of wealth and thinks about its injustice.

Libertarians in conjunction with Conservatives have built the single greatest system of reducing poverty by focusing on giving benefits to the wealthy. We call it capitalism and we understand the basic concept that you must reward those that would use wealth most efficiently. In so doing, everyone gains.

Liberals in conjunction with Socialists have built one of single greatest systems of reducing wealth by focusing on distributing it equally. They call it socialism and they foolishly believe the basic concept that you must take from the wealthiest for a just society. In so doing, no one gains.

The liberal instinctively recoils at rewarding those the market deems most valuable while the libertarian instinctively invents ways to be deemed more valuable by the market.

That’s the difference.

It’s unsurprising for me to learn that the Chronicle is responsible for breaking this expose regarding the 49ers. The chronicle has proven to go to any means to get the vital stories San Francisco, nay, the whole Nation must know. Furthermore, they have their pulse on America knowing which stories need to be really scrutinized and which need no further investigation. That is why they are regarded as one of the most even handed prestigious newspaper organization in America. Heck, they were the first to expose America to the painful shame that our great pastime has become by obtaining court sealed documents revealing Barry Bonds use of athletic enhancing drugs.

Some people might think that major news organization should focus their investigative energies on politics and business but I say hogwash! I need to know how Barry affects his body to hit little balls behind green walls and how, a fraternity for masculine men, whose chief job is to either tackle or avoid being tackled by other grown men, leads to womanizing, racism, and homophobia. Who cares if the president of the world governing body used his power to influence the selection of a company for managing the oil for food program so he and his son could get some kickbacks along with the French and Russians? I don’t need to know politicians are abusing their power I need to be constantly reminded that sports are so beneath ‘us’ here in the global village.

Bettina writes in my post concerning copyright:

I hate to break this to you, Steve, but with the purchase of a 15$ CD from the Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) you supported 15 German unemployed top-managers with an unemployement-wage of 8000 Euros each, 25 German seniors being cared for in high quality nursing homes, 35 stay-at-home Moms who get paid for staying at home and get 125 Euros extra for each child and furthermore, you supported my counselor of course, and all the other clinical psychologists in Germany who provide treatment to the needy FOR FREE.

Amazing. Inflation must be rampant in your nation. Yet another lovely benefit of Socialism.

Trampage writes:

Maybe that motor vehicle professional operator had been working for hours wiithout lunch or breaks and could not go any further without food…Did you ask him? or did you just jump to your inaccurate opinion.

Well now I considered this notion. That this poor guy was just so starved and that one more second without food and he would pass out. But I’m more inclined to think this was a bold act because no consequent would of befallen him. I base this judgment on the past history of the bus drivers of San Francisco.

Consider:

1) At points in the day bus drivers switch when their shift is over. This transition happens halfway through the route so that their is a pile of people all waiting on the bus during the switch. Under these conditions I have seen the bus drivers just chat for up to 10 minutes while we all wait.

2) I have seen countless times bus drivers not stop the bus and pick people up. Often times the bus is full but other times the bus is only half full. Or another classic is to have a guy run up to the bus just as the driver shuts the door and refues to open it up again.

3) I have seen a bus driver, and this is no lie, urinate into a cup and throw the cup out the window. This was done when the bus driver was at the end of his line when noone was on the bus. But at the same time, when busses are at the end of the line they must wait 15 minutes. This driver very easily could of gotten off the bus and gone to the Caltrain public rest room. Instead he turned off the light and went to town in a cup.

4) The vast majority of the bus drivers do not care if you pay to get on the board. And they rarely check to make sure you have a fast pass.

5) At the end of their route the bus driver will turn off all his lights and just sit in the bus. Normally this wouldn’t bother me but there are times when its is really cold at the stop. Some of the bus drivers are oblivious to this and will not permit entry. So 5-10 people are sitting outside a bus freezing to death while wait for the bus line to start up again.

This all points to a general apathy the bus drivers have towards their riders. I believe the bus drivers have no fear of losing their job and as a consequent they don’t worry about the riders. Arguably the ridership is what justifies their job. However, this is a contentious statement. That’s because these are government jobs where city administrator determines drivers worth. In contrast the business sectors enables the consumer to determine your worth in labor. Piss the consumer off and you lose your job. Piss the rider off and the city subsidizes your losses.

Socialism places determination of the value of labor in the wrong hands. The driver must prove to the administrator his value even though his labor is intended for the rider. As long as the bus driver can keep the administrator happy he can pee in a cup even when riders are just ten feet away.

Let me also say not all Muni bus drivers lack any consideration for their riders. I have ridden with two bus drivers for sure that were kind and considerate and made an effort to take care of their riders. Its just a shame these kind of drivers are few and far between because socialism might just possibly work then.

And while im thinking about it what the fuck is up with Muni’s logo. The sixties called and they want their ugly back. If this is doesn’t prove socialism will fail then something is wrong with you. Seriously wrong with you.

(a sign artist’s rendition of the axiomatic equation: Socialism = Failure)

The bus lines 15 and 30 in San Francisco are almost always busy mid afternoon. Several days ago as im boarding the bus I am greeted by a wall of people and everyone is patiently waiting for the light to turn green. Well not everyone. You see, while everyone else is eagerly waiting for the bus to get rolling, the bus driver has put the bus in park and is getting out of his chair. With the bus still running, he shuffles off the bus and heads into a nearby dim sum shop to pick up some pastries. Meanwhile, the light has turned green and cars behind the bus are understandbly honking. After a minute or so the bus drivers hurries back onto the bus with pastries in hand. He buckles in and right as he is ready to go just the light turns red. Again. Wonderful. I wonder why the automobile is supreme in California?

The next time somebody tells me a goverment bureaucrat can do a better job than capitalism at labor distribution, I will strap them down to a Muni bus and let them enjoy the efficencey of a state paid emoloyee that has no fear of losing their job.