Double standards

[humble soul]

Victim mentality is a false mentality.

Not totally with you on this one. Yes we all need to toughen up. And not blame others for our failures or misfortune. But we need some compassion for real victims. Example ...women stuck with violent partners. Women try to end relationship. Then ex partner continues to harass and control. Police need to help these women more imo.

 

[humble soul]

This year was not a good year for hay making for us so we had to buy some to get enough to last through the year. You can bet we shopped around. Prices ranged from $3.00 per small square bale up to $6.00 per bale. Some bales were a little smaller or lighter than others plus it is important not to feed moldy hay to horses. Some farmers felt their hay was worth more than we were willing to pay.

When I am shopping for the things I need, whether it is groceries, hardware, lumber, fishing gear, etc., I always shop around. I am not required to make my purchases at any one retailer's outlet. Sometimes I make my purchases at the local small store because the fuel and time it would take to drive all the way to Alexandria where there is more competition between retailers is not worth the savings.

I retired almost two years ago from an industrial packaging machinery manufacturer. When I first began working for them in 1990 we held almost 30% of the total market in the US. During the next 10 years I began to notice that we were not moving forward with our products. In other words, we were content with where we were and felt we had a good product that didn't need any improvement. I expressed my concerns by placing my comments in the suggestion box at work. I know they received them because the CEO thanked me for them.

Well, our competitors began investing in newer technologies and upgraded designs and by 2002 our estimated market share had dropped to about 15% and getting worse and we were facing the possibility of layoffs. The market was also in a slump at that time which didn't help. The COO was replaced and the new administration came in with innovative ideas. They increased the budget for R&D and began to upgrade technologies throughout the company, upgraded the technologies on our products, redesigned our logo and our mission, and so forth. The results were almost immediate. New equipment sales increased, aftermarket sales increased, and our market share increased. The value of our stock (company) has increased at an average rate of 19% annually through today. In fact, the company's growth in 2017, 2018, and 2019 was 24%, 26%, and 48% respectively and last I heard they are still very busy. That is unbelievable growth when 10% annual average is exceptional.

Victim mentality is a false mentality. Trying to dominate is the way of business. When in business, we want to own the larger share of the market. It increases our sales and thereby increases our buying power so we can obtain our materials at lower cost and that can either mean better profit or allow us to be even more competitive or a little of both. We the consumer want the best return for our buck so we shop around to find the best quality at the lowest prices or maybe we accept a lower quality for less or maybe we are willing to pay more for higher quality. Our habits drive the retailers marketing decisions because if they can't sell their products, they go bankrupt. In the final analysis it always comes down to what the seller and the buyer can agree on. Big businesses got big because they learned what the consumer needed or wanted and gave it to them at the best price. We consumers responded by making our purchases from them more than their competitors.

It's a dog eat dog world though. How do you reconcile being part of that and your Christian faith? You think Jesus wanted bigger market share? Did he try to dominate?

 

[jasonc]

It's a dog eat dog world though. How do you reconcile being part of that and your Christian faith? You think Jesus wanted bigger market share? Did he try to dominate?

we didnt need electricity ,cars ,the internet either .persons dreamed of an,idea ,others built on,that

i.e. cars ,and electricity ,telephones came first and also telegraphs.

many utility grids were simple ,one tiny shcan with a ford model a powering a turbine then built into,a powwe plant or got too much and with fpl sold to them .

fpl acquired these cities that I know of from that.cocoa,Titusville and many more ,the depression did those in and many cities also sold their grids to private investors ,perfect ?no but its history .

here

Our History - Fort Pierce Utilities Authority

In 1972, the citizens of Fort Pierce voted by referendum to create Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA). By City Charter, FPUA is governed by an independent board, consisting of five members. Four members are appointed by the Fort Pierce City Commission with four-year overlapping terms. The...

fpua.com

that is really,a large grid ,bigger then the one I worked for that tied In to and just because it's a govt,fpua was higher then the city I worked for years in both water and electric ,they won't shaft ,history has shown ft pierce badgered my county into seperation ,how is it that a grid that old ,1911 and Vero 1919 ,less then 14 miles apart had to be ,granted it might have been due to the economics and also lack of roads to run power along .oddly in 1920 fpl was already serving my county then as st Lucie .hmm interesting if I ever stumble upon old electric tranmsisiion plans of that time ,

also the consumer also paid a lot if out if the way to get power my wife's aunt did that in 1946,400 dollars to run power miles west from the diesel plant to her house and its why Vero served that area .fpl either wasn't interested or it wanted to much . so yes men dreamed and things got done ,we don't need a lot


I'm sure you wouldn't want power for just lights ,and ironing .that limited power avaibikty is a common story ,Vero had it ,Titusville and cocoa

 

[Corn Pop]

It always a blame game.

 

[Corn Pop]

Lots of complainers.

 

[humble soul]

Lots of complainers.

Hey..hope you are not insinuating I'm a complainer. If there is one thing I can't stand it's complainers complaining about other complainers.

 

[Corn Pop]

Hey..hope you are not insinuating I'm a complainer. If there is one thing I can't stand it's complainers complaining about other complainers.

Just talking in general. Was not directed at you or about you.

 

[humble soul]

Just talking in general. Was not directed at you or about you.

Ok alright then. I will let you off with a warning. No worries.

 

[Corn Pop]

Im trying to figure out how this works. I thought the fish in the country are the people in the countries yet few big companies own most the quota. Even recreational people can fish the double standards are amazing, i mean if i keep a 25cm snapper i get in trouble and if a commercial snapper boat keeps a 25cm its legal. There is a 5cm difference thats huge.

What do the people get back from commercial fishing?, $40 a kilo for snapper in the supermarket how is that justified. Its a complete joke.

 

[humble soul]

Im trying to figure out how this works. I thought the fish in the country are the people in the countries yet few big companies own most the quota. Even recreational people can fish the double standards are amazing, i mean if i keep a 25cm snapper i get in trouble and if a commercial snapper boat keeps a 25cm its legal. There is a 5cm difference thats huge.

What do the people get back from commercial fishing?, $40 a kilo for snapper in the supermarket how is that justified. Its a complete joke.

Fish is expensive. Just bought some salmon at 20 bucks a kilo.

 

[Corn Pop]

Fish is expensive. Just bought some salmon at 20 bucks a kilo.

We pay top dollar for fish while hauls of it from our ocean gets exported. Its ok to export but give the people something for there asset. I mean they probably just say well the industy gives jobs for the people , what low wage factory procesing jobs so they can buy there fish back at 40 a kilo.

 

[humble soul]

We pay top dollar for fish while hauls of it from our ocean gets exported. Its ok to export but give the people something for there asset. I mean they probably just say well the industy gives jobs for the people , what low wage factory procesing jobs so they can buy there fish back at 40 a kilo.

At least you save some money by fishing. One thing that turned me off fishing was you have to be so organised with sinkers and floats and reels and bait and all the rest. Also dealing with snags. I last fished about age 12 and caught eels in a nearby river. Yuk. I don't eat eel.

 

[Corn Pop]

At least you save some money by fishing. One thing that turned me off fishing was you have to be so organised with sinkers and floats and reels and bait and all the rest. Also dealing with snags. I last fished about age 12 and caught eels in a nearby river. Yuk. I don't eat eel.

I dont use sinkers when i fish as i dont fish deep water. I only ever strayline. Even in a boat i only go the shallows.

I got 20kg King in 2 meters of water off the dock. I need beat it this year. I hooked one the other day but i done a paranoid early strike, my reel is crap and not much line so when i got a take i striked the fish too early thinking i was going to run out of line and lip hooked it, big powerful fish, then i locked the drag so i didnt lose much more line and must have pulled it out its mouth. Paranoid strike and not thinking.

 

[Corn Pop]

Each individaul need start with themself.

 

[WIP]

It's a dog eat dog world though. How do you reconcile being part of that and your Christian faith? You think Jesus wanted bigger market share? Did he try to dominate?

How does any of us reconcile it? Do you give everything you have to those in need to the point that you yourself are now in need? Do you think that is what Jesus preached? It doesn't matter how much one has, there is always desire for more. Literally every time I encounter someone claiming they are poor and struggling to make ends meet, I find the real reason is because they are spending on things they don't really need. Even homeless you find smoking, drinking, doing drugs, etc. Those things are not needed no matter how much they claim they are. We live in an entitlement society and we believe society owes us a living. This is not true.

There was a time in my life when I was making good money. I had more than I needed and I spent it too but not necessarily on helping others. It was in the early 1980's. I shared a place with two other guys and my portion of the rent was $50. My portion of the electricity was about $7. My monthly food costs were about $30. We cut firewood for heat so I had no out-of-pocket costs there except maybe a little gasoline for the chainsaw. Auto insurance and license was probably about $20 per month. Gasoline for my vehicle to get back and forth to work was maybe about $80 per month. Total monthly living expenses was maybe $190.00 give or take. My take home pay from my job was about $1,300.00 per month leaving me with $1,110.00. By anyone's standard I was wealthy, yet, I regularly found myself writing checks that put my bank account in arrears four days before payday knowing that it would take at least that long for all my checks to clear my bank and I expected my next paycheck would be deposited in time. Why? Because I was also paying for a motorcycle that I purchased and spending my time partying and having fun. If anyone would have asked me if I was living paycheck to paycheck the answer would have been a resounding, "Absolutely!"

In 1982 I was laid off and I was wondering how I could possibly live on my unemployment insurance which would be about 65% of my regular salary. Then, when the UC insurance money ran out I picked up a job that paid minimum wage or less than half my previous salary and I was panic-stricken. How could I possibly live on that little income. Funny thing is, I managed just fine but it took a serious change of lifestyle and attitude.

 

[WIP]

My point is, God calls us to love one another and use what we've been given wisely and to help our neighbors that need help. We are all called to be like the Samaritan that helped his neighbor. To what degree should we help? Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends. I don't recall reading anywhere in Scripture where Jesus suggested that we are to feel sorry for ourselves and demand others take care of us. Ask, yes, but demand it or expect it, no.

 

[humble soul]

My point is, God calls us to love one another and use what we've been given wisely and to help our neighbors that need help. We are all called to be like the Samaritan that helped his neighbor. To what degree should we help? Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends. I don't recall reading anywhere in Scripture where Jesus suggested that we are to feel sorry for ourselves and demand others take care of us. Ask, yes, but demand it or expect it, no.

You are painting the poor and victimised as very one dimensional. All I can say is, you might need compassion one day. You will have to swallow your pride and ask for help.
That hard heart of yours might need to soften.

 

[jasonc]

You are painting the poor and victimised as very one dimensional. All I can say is, you might need compassion one day. You will have to swallow your pride and ask for help.
That hard heart of yours might need to soften.

no,there is a lot of truth

fact
I,myself have filed chapter 13 much of that was due to me overspending ,yes medical hit me but well no bank forced me at all,to get a credit card .

lesson learned .
two .my parents would use credit cards,dad ,loved to eat ,100 dollar meals on himself in 1980s money while we did without power or water at times ,it was worse then that ,no toilets too .

my neighbors can't pay rent but have toys ,motor cycles and blew their stimulus on toys .
I quit my second job a month ago ,yet I manage ,perfectly?no
but I ha've more then I need in,food.I have water and power ,the house needs minor repairs .I,have to choose between surgeries or that ,to qualify for aid I would have make less .

 

[jasonc]

the u.s.govt itself has a credit problem .you can't keep spending ,yes trump too,like that and not pay the piper in the future ,the u.s.dollar with be worthless ,it takes 10 months of taxation to reach the interest paid on borrowing before amy funding of the federal level .a state ,county ,city can't fund like that .they can use bonds but not borrow like that

 

[humble soul]

My point is, God calls us to love one another and use what we've been given wisely and to help our neighbors that need help. We are all called to be like the Samaritan that helped his neighbor. To what degree should we help? Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends. I don't recall reading anywhere in Scripture where Jesus suggested that we are to feel sorry for ourselves and demand others take care of us. Ask, yes, but demand it or expect it, no.

I get the impression you are proud of your success in the past. Your level of independence and survival skills. Life gave you lemons and you made lemonade? Sorry that was too saracstic.
But many of us might be the same as you. We have much pride. We are proud of our independence. We don't need no handouts, right?
Might we need to be grateful for our successes? That actually we had a lot of opportunity and luck?
That we haven't been seriously sick enough yet to realise how much we depend on others.
Ego and capitalism and the self made man often go together. Not that full blown socialism is the answer I know. Still I think one of the important themes in the Old Testament is the danger of having a hard heart. The Egyptian Pharaoh I think it was ?
So we need to find a way to avoid the same mistake in our lives. Any success we have in life needs to be shown gratitude instead of " see I handled a tough time. Why can't you do the same?"