Airline Screws

[JFENG]

Japan Airlines was privatized in 1987, it is profitable, it is a pleasure to fly them.

Sure, I LOVE flying in JAL and AlNippon. To your point, Japanese capitalism is better due to Japanese culture.

As a good friend in Tokyo once said, “we are polite on the outside and rude on the inside.”

John

 

[Gary Knox]

The main point of my original post is that consumer protection in the U.S is a farce. Oil companies, Bank Fees, Utility fees, cell phone taxes. Delivery fee, destination fee, recovery fee, sports channel fee, disability fee, line fee, you wanna chose a airline seat so you can sit next to your wife fee.

Might even add a myriad of taxes and now accelerating inflation to those items!!! I read today in 'The Economist' that the cost to meet all the regulations for building a residential property in California is typically 4X the cost of the land which will be built upon. Lots of government entities involved in those regulations and of course CA has a huge housing shortage, partially as a result of these regs.

 

[JFENG]

cost to meet all the regulations for building a residential property in California is typically 4X the cost of the land which will be built upon.

Seems like a classic case of sensationalist journalism.

(1) near where my folks live, vacant land is worth about $1.8m per acre. Hard to imagine $1.8m of regulatory added on cost

(2) !how are regulations interpreted? For example , if there’s a regulation for wall insulation, is the economist counting the entire cost of insulation or the delta between the amount necessary to attract buyers at a profitable sale price and the regulation.

While there will always be some somewhere regulations that make no comon sense, many of the most costly are there to protect the consumer by ensuring the home is safe, energy efficient, and durable.


John

 

[bavbob]

John, we know that is not true in Ca. Is a home built better in Ca (excl earthquake areas) than in Ma? Why does SF insist on copper piping even for home water drainage that is low pressure? There is capitalism but when it is aided by regulations that exist because of lobbyists, then that is where consumer protection gets lost.

I had to pay the state a fee to allow me to hire and pay an independent contractor to dig a hole and do a perc test for a septic system, then pay an inspector to look over the test results done by a lab that paid the state for it's license...the term BOHECA comes to mind.

 

[JFENG]

had to pay the state a fee

Yes, there is lots of over regulation, especially for folks who actually know something about how houses are built and work. And yes many regulations are there purely to profit some business interest.

I’m just saying that some of our regulations help and protect the typical
consumer. You and I are not typical. What % of home owners can calculate the correct stress loading on their homes structure and redesign the beams and footings? I’d say 1%, so the regulation to hire a PE unnecessarily cost me close to $1000. But for the average person, that PE might be preventing a structural collapse from a dumb ass design.

(2) I do believe the cost of all the regulations involved in the construction of a home usually will not exceed the value of the land. Especially in places like desirable urban areas in CA, CO, and MA.

The statement I am responding seems like some misinformation masquerading in a thin veneer of truth.

 

[HonaloochieBoogie]

Capitalism is by definition inhumane, right?

Gas prices: i guess we are still on the inelastic part of the price/demand curve.
At some point people will start driving a lot less for long enough that it will create downward price pressure. I’m working 1 day remote to reduce my fuel use and have lowered the thermostat 1 degree.

Gas stations: IIRC in part they use replacement cost pricing (kind of like NPV). Haven’t yet tried to negotiate a fuel contract with my corner gas station.

I recently took three trips via commercial airline.

United: treated me very well, but only because I spent a gazillion hours on their long haul international flights and am now branded as a “valiant sufferer” whenever I buy a ticket.

Delta: surprised the lavatories aren’t coin operated.

Southwest: roomier than other airline’s SR’s economy seats. You only pay to board earlier, and seat selection is whatever you can find. Is it more equitable?

John

I tried to not post this, but can’t help responding to your comments about capitalism. I agree capitalism is terrible but it’s still the best system for governing.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I tried to not post this, but can’t help responding to your comments about capitalism. I agree capitalism is terrible but it’s still the best system for governing.

Capitalism is an economic system. It can exist under any governing system (democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, etc)

 

[HonaloochieBoogie]

Capitalism is an economic system. It can exist under any governing system (democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, etc)

Actually it’s both. But I get your point. And I wasn’t clear about MY point, which is…is there a better alternative to capitalism? Despite the flaws I believe not.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Certainly lots of politics involved with capitalism . My point was that it is not a governing system (although a countries economic system does for sure influence their governing system...and visa versa)

 

[Arde]

Sure, I LOVE flying in JAL and AlNippon. To your point, Japanese capitalism is better due to Japanese culture.

As a good friend in Tokyo once said, “we are polite on the outside and rude on the inside.”

John

Nice line!
Culture is the biggest force in nature...