Cafe Hayek - Latest Comments in Don't Be Sari

Re: Don't Be Sari

triticale — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:59:58 -0000

So, when are you going to start buying your suits at Wal-Mart?

Setting aside the fact that I am fortunate enough not to need to wear a suit, I will start buying clothing at Wal-Mart when their prices are better than what I pay at Goodwill or Value Village.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Practitioner — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:06:17 -0000

"Free to Choose" is also available for free on the Web. You should be able to find the link if you go to Reason magazine's Hit & Run blog and search for Free to Choose.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Dr Subroto Roy — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:38:44 -0000

Speaking of sari-makers, it may not be widely known that the origins of all software technology (via punch cards and the old IBM more than 100 years ago) comes from the textile industry. I gave a lecture about this at the Indian Institute of Information Technology in Bangalore in November 2000.

I have not seen the Washington Post article referred to about sari-making, but I wonder if they noticed how much "implicit software" exists within the sari-makers' skills as shown in the ever-changing and very complex patterns of saris.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Dr Subroto Roy — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:26:17 -0000

Hello, it is interesting you speak of India and of FA Hayek. You will find his letter to me of February 1981 referring to India's economy at my blog www.independentindian.com.

Sincerely

Subroto Roy

Re: Don't Be Sari

Anshu Sharma — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:26:01 -0000

Candle makers in USA are out of jobs too. Let's get rid of electricity. Some of this stuff is so self-evidently ridiculous that its hard to even argue with a straight face. My niece growing up in India today has 100 times more opportunities than my Dad or I ever had. If anything, Indians want more progress, better homes, more automobiles, more air conditioners, faster and cheaper. We can always set up a small park to teach future generations how Saris used to take 15 days of manual labor and cost 3 months salary.

Those who want the old India can always travel to some of our states (in India) that are lagging in progress with starving farmers, etc.

Re: Don't Be Sari

bartman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:50:59 -0000

What Niraj said. Here in the Middle East, hand-made Persian (or Afghan or Baluchi) rugs are priced about 10 times higher than Belgian machine-made ones, but the merchants seem to have no difficulty selling them.

Re: Don't Be Sari

SheetWise — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:56:51 -0000

Of course the unseen effects are seldom reported - whether good or bad.

Good reports don't have victims.

Victims are a necessary catalyst for change. It doesn't matter that your policies created them -- only that they exist.

What makes you think that they're unforseen?

Re: Don't Be Sari

Rick — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:58:16 -0000

Brilliant and succinct as usual!

Of course the unseen effects are seldom reported - whether good or bad.

Re: Don't Be Sari

True_liberal — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:43:50 -0000

Swimmy, you beat me to the punch.

To all others; "Free Yo Choose" on video is a must to watch. If you don't have your own copy, check your public library.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Practitioner — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:08:58 -0000

I already buy my khaki pants at Wal-Mart. My wife found that Wal-Mart carries an all-cotton brand for $15(!). Yes, fifteen dollars. So far, they're indistinguishable from the brand I used to pay three times as much for.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Ed S. — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:40:39 -0000

So, when are you going to start buying your suits at Wal-Mart?

Re: Don't Be Sari

Jon — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:19:50 -0000

Typical bitching from a typical source.

Alas people have yet to understand what is known as "YOU AREN'T STUCK IN ONE JOB!"

Re: Don't Be Sari

Brad — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:58:22 -0000

First it's the traditional Sari makers, then it'll be the traditional bloggers... those who actually write (or type) their own blog postings. Commenting has already been automated.

Re: Don't Be Sari

CTD — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:26:08 -0000

The do-gooder will build an observation deck.

And bemoan the piteous condition of those he observes drowning as the attempt to ford the river.

Re: Don't Be Sari

colson — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:20:34 -0000

It would seem to be a consistant thread amongst do-gooders to ignore the full implications of where heart-strings and emotion cross the dangerous and often busy tracks of reality. The terrible capitalist will build a bridge and charge a toll for safe crossing. The do-gooder will build an observation deck.

Re: Don't Be Sari

dave smith — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:20:02 -0000

It is interesting, Swimmy. And ironic. Surely these reporters would run a news story proclaiming up is down, and down is up.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Niraj — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:16:20 -0000

These weavers can focus their efforts on marketing to premium buyers-- people who will a pay pretty penny to buy them.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Swimmy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:12:44 -0000

Interestingly, this is exactly the example Friedman used in one of his Free To Choose videos to show the damages of protectionism: Footage of Indian loom workers, outdated since the 60s but protected by their government, and their miserable villages.

Re: Don't Be Sari

CRC — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:52:14 -0000

"People losing jobs makes the news, people getting jobs does not."

Isn't that the essence of the "seen and unseen" issue?

Re: Don't Be Sari

Sam Grove — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:39:46 -0000

People losing jobs makes the news, people getting jobs does not.

Re: Don't Be Sari

Russ Nelson — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:43:24 -0000

I would have said 'evil' rather than 'foolish' because I believe in ignoring motives and going straight to the effects. "You shall know them by their fruits."