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paraclete · Oct 20, 2009, 06:45 PM

How sophisticated is our thinking anyway? One commentator thinks that our economies are run by cavemen and caveman economics
Ross Gittins

George_1950 · Oct 20, 2009, 08:46 PM

I was able to make it about 1:45 into the video, and the bull filter stopped things up, so I had to depart.

paraclete · Oct 20, 2009, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by George_1950

I was able to make it about 1:45 into the video, and the bull filter stopped things up, so I had to depart.

I see you are not true to your motto. This fellow is right; our self control doesn't match our abilities, we are cavemen in instinct and smart enough to overcome our basic problems of supplying our needs and wants. So you think it is bull to stop gorging ourselves with food until we become like the oompa loompa's of the Wonka Chocolate factory. I just want someone to supply me with the answer

Catsmine · Oct 21, 2009, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by paraclete

I just want someone to supply me with the answer

So does everybody else. Nobody seems to have come up with one that works yet. Jesus and Mohammed got the scarcity equations pretty close. I don't see Friedman or Marx or Keynes as being in their league.

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 04:08 AM

Originally Posted by Catsmine

Jesus and Mohammed got the scarcity equations pretty close.

Those were slightly different times. Not sure if many economic principles carry forward from a society that used a horse and cart as the peak of speedy transportation.

tomder55 · Oct 21, 2009, 04:54 AM

Not sure if many economic principles carry forward from a society that used a horse and cart as the peak of speedy transportation.

Perhaps not ;but Joseph ,long before Jesus and Mohammed interpreted the Pharoah's dreams in Genesis 41 and came up with a pretty decent remedy for the issue of scarcity that would work well today .

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 05:01 AM

Which is...

tomder55 · Oct 21, 2009, 05:25 AM

In a nutshell since you probably don't want to read the passages... People tend to forget the times of plenty when there is scarcity . Joseph was able to prevent a catastrophy and famine during a time of scarcity by proper preparation and saving during the times of plenty for the bad times.

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 05:31 AM

So... save money? That's it? That's doesn't seem to be the American way.

tomder55 · Oct 21, 2009, 05:42 AM

Unfortunately that is the case for most of America. But it is still the way I handle my personal finances.

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 05:44 AM

Same here and yet without having to consult a bible. How odd.

tomder55 · Oct 21, 2009, 05:48 AM

just proves you can't easily separate traditional western values from the lessons in the bible.

excon · Oct 21, 2009, 06:32 AM

Hello tom:

Saving money is a WESTERN value learned from the bible??

Dude! Asians save lots more than we do.. Does that mean their values are better??

Dude!

excon

tomder55 · Oct 21, 2009, 06:41 AM

I can't help it if frugality has become unfashionable, unpalatable in our rush to secularism.

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by tomder55

I can't help it if frugality has become unfashionable, unpalatable in our rush to secularism.

Correction: it's a rush to materialism and consumerism and greed. You think it's only the non-religious types that are not frugal? Har-har! That'd be putting the blinders on all the way.

ETWolverine · Oct 21, 2009, 06:56 AM

Actually, what Joseph came up with was more than simply "save in the good times to get you through the bad times".

He actually set up the first central bank, wherein wheat was the currency.

He collected every scrap of wheat throughout Egypt during the 7 years of plenty, and he "banked" it in central locations. People were able to purchase wheat with trade goods, and wheat itself became a valuable comodity, even during the years of plenty. By controlling the supply of wheat in the market, Joseph was able to control the PRICE of wheat, both in the years of plenty and in the years of famine. And by controlling the price of wheat, which had become the de-facto currency of the time, Joseph was also able to control inflation.

He essentially set up the first Federal Banking System, with all the monotary controls that the Fed has today, but using wheat as the currency. It was actually quite brilliant, and he had none of the historical economists' knowledge on which to draw.

Yes, saving was a huge part of his plan to get through the famine. But so was control of supply and value.

You guys underestimate what Joseph accomplished when you relegate it to simply advising people to "save".

(See Genesis 41. Specifically, see verses 34-37... Joseph suggests that the wheat not just be saved, but rather that it be stored under Pharaoh's CONTROL... a central banking system for wheat.)

It's a point that is often overlooked... unless you happen to be well-versed in the Bible AND a professional in economics or finance.

Elliot

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by ETWolverine

... unless you happen to be well-versed in the Bible AND a professional in economics or finance.

Elliot

OMG, like you are! You're amazing! Plus I hear you're a tough guy too! The internet is a wonderful thing isn't it? :)

ETWolverine · Oct 21, 2009, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

OMG, like you are! You're amazing! Plus I hear you're a tough guy too! The internet is a wonderful thing isn't it? :)

Yes, I know. You should agree with me more often too.

inthebox · Oct 21, 2009, 09:06 AM

There are more references to money in the bible than even love.

Pity the secular evolutionist who believes that humans as a species will evolve enough to develop self control, or be able to use pure self control as the solution. Our creator knows our nature, that is why advice from Proverbs still holds true today.

G&P

NeedKarma · Oct 21, 2009, 10:05 AM

Too bad most christians don't even bother to follow that advice.