Wal-Mart and more

[Dan M]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: brin-l-bounces at mccmedia.com [mailto:brin-l-bounces at mccmedia.com] On
> Behalf Of David Hobby
> Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 11:43 PM
> To: Killer Bs (David Brin et al) Discussion
> Subject: Re: Wal-Mart and more
> 
> Dan M wrote:
> ...
> > Would you consider this an reasonable, non right wing source?  Or, how
> about
> > Paul Krugman....he has made a statement that frames the question in a
> way
> > that I think could lead to a very fruitful discussion. I'm not saying
> that
> > he and I agree on everything, but a good thread could be started from
> what
> > he wrote.  He is well know as a leftist economist turned columnist.
> 
> Dan--
> 
> I read Krugman regularly, and usually agree with him.

The quote of his is at:

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2005/12/paul_krugman_wa.htm
l

I don't think it's unreasonable....and gives a sketch of the questions I
think should be asked concerning Wal-Mart

> ...
> > But, simply stating that Wal-Mart is evil and greedy, when its profit
> margin
> > is 3.4% and an operating margin of 5.8% of sales and Microsoft is not,
> when
> > its profit margin is 22.9% and an operating margin of 40.7% is not, as
> self
> > evident doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
> 
> Let's see:  "evil" does not have much explanatory power
> or actual meaning, and as for "greedy", corporations
> usually have to be greedy, or their shareholders object.
> 
> Different business sectors tend to have different profit
> margins.  That explains some of it.

Sure it does, and I'm fully willing to state that the difference doesn't
mean Bill is Greedy and the Walton kids are not.  Microsoft and Wal-Mart are
in different positions, and the massive difference in profit margins reflect
their business type as much as anything.  Retail is usually low margin. High
Tech software can have high margins. 

 
> 
> How exactly does a pronouncement thwart a discussion?

Well, to me, I want to understand the ideas supporting the arguments of
others.  Even though I engage in a thread with a full out argument, I always
reflect on the points that countered mine afterwards and recalibrate my
position.  You may have noticed, as Robert did earlier, my positions are not
the same as they were 10 years ago.  I have been persuaded by good arguments
that have countered mine in threads I've been involved with here.
> 
> > 2) Are you interested in a discussion of how and whether statistics play
> a
> > part in developing greater understanding vs. reading stories, having
> them
> > touch your heart, and then coming to an understanding of truth?
> 
> Hmmm...  Sounds like a pretty fuzzy topic for discussion.
> It almost sounds like the problem would be that not everybody
> shares the same definition of "truth".

I think so....or how to relate mass numbers to the lives of all the folks
who make up the mass numbers.  I think we/I can do better at that....and
consider how to do it something worth exploring.


 
> Sure, but it may not be a long discussion.  Some people
> lose, and other gain, when Wal-Mart comes to town...

But, the question I want to ask is "does the average lower income person
gain."  Articles and analysis like the one by Kerry's advisor address the
subject.  If there are other factors worth considering, I'd be interested in
seeing them.  But, at the moment, his argument looks pretty
persuasive....especially since I think I can do a simple economic model that
illustrates the underlying principal.

Dan M.