A free market lesson

[Peter1469]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/05/06/frustrated_owners_try_to_unload_their_guzzlers/

Here is a good article to read for a reminder of how the free market works.  I do not agree with the one statement that SUVs are on their way out for good.  Once a new fuel or propulsion system is perfected, and is cheaper, Americans will return to the larger vehicles. 

[gunit_sangh]

yeah ... and the HUGE tax breaks small business owners were given to go out and buy the damn things had no impact huh 

[Peter1469]

Expand on your argument in the context of the article. 

Tax breaks are ways that the government encourages behavior.  It is an artificial manipulation of the free market.   

[scarlett]

like i said before,companies are moving to canada due to the national heallthcare system. they don't have to pay employees health premiums.

[Peter1469]

And Canadians are coming to the US for medical care.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070914/belinda_Stronach_070914/20070914

Liberal MP Belinda Stronach, who is battling breast cancer, travelled to California last June for an operation that was recommended as part of her treatment, says a report.
***
the decision was made because the U.S. hospital was the best place to have it done due to the type of surgery required.

http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html
Socialized medicine has meant rationed care and lack of innovation. Small wonder Canadians are looking to the market.

http://blog.acton.org/archives/2220-Will-Socialized-Health-Care-in-the-US-Kill-Canadians.html

More than 400 Canadians in the full throes of a heart attack or other cardiac emergency have been sent to the United States because no hospital can provide the lifesaving care they require here.

 

Of course if business has to provide health care for employees they are going to suffer a competitive disadvantage.     

[scarlett]

at least canada has a healthcare system in place. Forget canada, what about a solution for tha USA.We could argue canada's system till the cows come home but that will not solve our problem.

[Peter1469]

I just posted a response to that in the Ask Pitty section. 

Although I particularly liked the one link: will national healthcare in the US kill Canadians? 

[Vermouth]

I agree. High gasoline prices are the best thing to motivate Americans to change.

[SDML]

Exactly. I think the only place Grumpy and I disagreed on this was whether we needed to hit $5/gallon or $6/gallon before people REALLY changed their behaviors.

Thanx for posting this, Peter.

[gunit_sangh]

Expand on your argument in the context of the article. 

Tax breaks are ways that the government encourages behavior.  It is an artificial manipulation of the free market.   

free market at work ...

http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/drivingtipssafety/a/aa041603a.htm

Free SUVs For Small Business Owners - Pros and Cons of New SUV Tax Break

Pros and Cons of New SUV Tax Break
Dateline: April 2004
In hopes of encouraging more business spending to help jump-start the economy, President Bush's new Economic Stimulus Plan would triple the equipment deduction currently available to small business owners (from $25,000 to $75,000) -- enough to make some of the largest, most luxurious SUVs fully deductible.

Back in 1996, in an effort to change tax laws "to encourage business investment," Congress made it possible for business owners to claim $17,500 in accelerated depreciation on equipment (such as trucks). That amount increased in '01, '02, and '03 from $20,000 to $24,000 to $25,000, respectively. Now, Bush's plan calls for up to $75,000 "accelerated depreciation" for business owners.


While this was going on the tax breaks for buying hybrids was being phase out.

[spunkloaf]

I was really getting sick of seeing all these big, bad-ass trucks driving around anyways.  It's like American men need to buy big boxy, expensive pick ups to impress everybody else.  Maybe because they all have small penises and they want to make up for something?   And then their WIVES have to buy one, too...of course, with personalized plates and pretty decals.  It seems women these days have an equal size issue with their penises.  Oops...
Now they are looking to sell their big gas-guzzling treasures.  They are having trouble with that, and it makes me laugh.  Honestly.  They got what they paid for.  As Nelson would say...Ha-ha!

Now they'll have to find something else to pull their ATV's and marine crafts, all of which probably loaned out from the same banks that loaned out for their trucks.  Or credit cards, similarly.

I have an '85 GMC Sierra 1500 half ton, and I don't plan on selling it.  It's as old as I am, it runs ok and it gets 9 MPG.  I stick by my purchases, and I'm running the fucker into the ground.  Gas-guilty?  Yeah.  But I'm also not making big trips to Texas to buy cowboy boots to impress people, or anything.  I use it to go to work, a half mile from where I'm living.  Once in awhile I go for a ride outside of town and....er...relax.  Yeah.  Relax.

[gunit_sangh]

you are obviously an islamofacist loving commie. you are unamerican. How DARE you drive a 23 year old vehicle. You should be going into debt up to your ass for a new vehicle and owe your soul to the company store.
</snark>

While you're probably right on the penis envy thingy ... one of the main reasons you saw so many is that the rules were loose enough that ANY independent contractor or businessman/woman could take advantage of the tax break. Hell even an amway distributor could get it.

And of course, these vehicles provided huge profits to the auto industry ... the tax breaks encouraged behavior that was harmful in the long run but great for Detroit in the short term and was even better for the campaign coffers of those who voted for it 

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

spunk, gunnit would you two like to get a room so that you might further explore your feelings re male genitalia?   take pittypat with you and you can have at least a foursome depending upon how many personalities she brings to the party

[spunkloaf]

Grump, stop un-dressing us with your fantasies.

[gunit_sangh]

I'm used to ... he's come on to me several times