romanP romanP:
Of course he benefits, did you think he was in business to not make money? I'd rather let the camera shop guy make some extra profit than give my money to some box store in another country, whose owners barely even care about the community their business resides in.
But why should I let him gouge me? Why should I be the patsy for his greed? And why is this guy any more civic minded for nailing me for his profit?
$1:
“This is totally contradictory of the first paragraph. Who benefits, the camera company, or the guy who owns the shop? The answer is actually both, but while you give your money to the guy down the street, he can give the money he made from you to other local businesses, thus supporting the local economy.”
It’s not contradictory at all, but thanks for trying. My point was and still is, I’m not solely supporting the private business owner, but also and mostly giving money to the parent company. If my local shop charges outrageous prices, I’m not about to support his profit margin AND the foreign company that also profits. You prattle on about patriotism but you'll throw your money at foreign companies? Now who's being contradictory?
And you’re assuming that the local business is going to support the local company. This is based on what? I know, as an individual, what my spending habits are, but you’re naïve to assume that the guy that gouges his customers is somehow now going to reverse that trend and be, what, economically altruistic (despite the fact that he’s screwing his customers on price point?)? Please.
$1:
“But that's not the argument you're making. In fact, you've just agreed with me.”
Huh? Keep up, here. I suggested that no one realistically makes the kind of quasi-patriotic nonsensical decision on big-ticket purchases like cars. They shop (unless it’s for a prestige vehicle) for the most reliable, engineered, safest, affordable vehicle in their desired market segment. You think they worry about where the car was made or the impact on the local economy? If that were the case, consumers would only buy, Toyota, Suzuki, Honda/Acura, Ford and GM. Screw cheaper brands –at the expense of shopper’s wallets- because that would hurt the local economy? Gimmie a break.
$1:
“Well, you don't have to believe it, but I do check labels on everything and buy accordingly. If I can't buy a locally made product, I'd at least rather support a local business.”
That’s absolute hogwash. What shoes do you buy? Where do you buy them? How about the car? Or T.V.? And already you’re making concessions because if you can’t buy locally made products (which in a globalized economy is pretty difficult) you’re shopping at local businesses, which may be foreign-owned, union-free and buy from sweatshops. Sorry, but you’re argument sounds more like the prattle of the idealistic, uniformed junior consumer trying desperately to project the en vogue 21st century ethos.
$1:
“As for faux patriotism, check your cynicism at the door and go project on someone else, it's rather unbecoming of someone who thinks so highly of themself.”
Sorry, my uniformed chum, that’s not cynicism, it’s called pragmatism and leave your naïve, idealistic, faux patriotic garbage at the door at it’s starting to stink
CKA Super Elite 
CKA Elite 
