Is Capitalism Working?

[dodger]

First off I believe in capitalism and what it based off. But is the system imploding?

Just look at where we are now. Remember when appliance manufacturers took pride in having the longest lasting best built appliance. Now, you don't want this to happen as you need the consumer to keep buying your product. Think Maytag! So like everything it's made cheaper with a shorter life cycle.

Food, how much water can they pump into our chicken, beef, and pork to keep an artificial weight up for pricing? How much filler can go into a Big Mac, Subway chicken, before IRS not beef or chicken? How small of a box of Fruit Loops can they sell you and only fill it half way before it's negligible to buy? Anyone notice the size of a package of bacon now? It use to feed a family and then you could save the leftovers for a snack, now you got to think should I grab 2 packages to cover supper for the family.

Some recent purchases - A electric frying pan made by GE, the same model as my old one that died but the newer pan has thinner metal walls, shorter plug in cord, no rubber pad on legs to prevent sliding on the counter, no washer on the screws to hold the legs snug, the plastic legs are so thin they have cracked because there is no washer on the screws to keep them snug. All this on a stupid frying pan. Remember when a roll of thread tape was a full roll, then a 3/4 roll, then a 1/2 roll. Went to the food court at the mall. Grabbed a quick plate of fake food and a pop, the straw is so small and thin I darn near had a stroke trying to suck back my drink, plus the straw is so short I'm kissing the top of my cup. Then I go and spike my fake food with the plastic fork and it's so thin the fork breaks, same happens to my wife's fork. Plus I'm a "bigger" guy and my utensils are the size of baby utensils. Buy a loaf of bread and the loaf is smaller but the bread is cut thin as paper so it appears you have plenty of slices, you literally have to peel the bread apart from each other.

Anywhoo, how small, how cheap, how fake (food), can we go. Companies need to show growth or no more investors. But when do they hit a wall of to small, to cheap, etc before there is nothing left to sell.

I have done well and live comfortable. I do see a large shift with the middle class slowly being reduced. The more this happens the more government steps in to save the people. A larger lower class of earners does not help our society. But our capitalistic economy is strangling the middle class as the money that is left after brutal taxes buys less. Me thinks this is a double kick to the boys and we know 2 kicks is a bit harder to recover from than one kick

Just some ramblings from:

Dodger.

[Trochu]

I think capitalism works just fine, they are just catering to a middle class that has less disposable income. You could have spent more an a kitchen appliances, but chose the cheaper model. I think the bigger issue is the shrinking middle class, which I largely blame on big government. My property taxes went up, my assessed value of the home went up, our power, gas, water, sewer, garbage bills went up, insurance went up, income due to being in a recession, went down.

[bobtodrick]

I agree with you completely.
Twenty-five years ago you bought a product and expected it to last a decent amount of time.
In 1998 I bought a good espresso machine. Paid about $600 for it. All metal construction and it has made 1000's of drinks. I figured it out awhile ago and it would have cost $15000.00+ at Starbucks.
Paid about $150 to have it serviced a couple years ago.
Awhile back I thought maybe it was time to retire it for one of the newer model with built in grinder and such. Figured with inflation I should be looking in the $1200-$1500 price range.
Turns out that gets you something with a ton of plastic and about 1/2 the weight. They just feel 'flimsy'.
Guess I'll keep her for another twenty years.
I blame 'us' as much as the manufacturers. Most of us constantly demand more for less money. People nowadays want everything but have limited incomes. I'd rather have less 'stuff' but know it's going to last.

[dodger]

Originally Posted by Trochu

I think capitalism works just fine, they are just catering to a middle class that has less disposable income. You could have spent more an a kitchen appliances, but chose the cheaper model. I think the bigger issue is the shrinking middle class, which I largely blame on big government. My property taxes went up, my assessed value of the home went up, our power, gas, water, sewer, garbage bills went up, insurance went up, income due to being in a recession, went down.

I bought a Samsung washer/dryer set. A piece goes on the washer and it's $330.00 installed. New washer on sale at $999.00. Do you fix your 5 year old washer or just start out new? Should I have bought a $2500.00 washer? How long would it last? Not the same as it use to be for quality choices.

Dodger.

[Redfrog]

Well, I think we have the best of both worlds. The ingenuity and ambition of capitalism fueled by greed, coupled with the relentless meddling of inept government bent on self preservation and expansion.

Was your frying pan made in Guelph ON., or in Gue Pho On?

We want oldtime capitalist quality while demanding throw away off shore pricing.

At one time you could 'vote' with your wallet. Junk got passed over for the 'Good stuff" . The good stuff lasted and lasted.

I was raised with little or nothing for extras. We repaired stuff or made do instead of replacing with stuff we had no money for. There was credit and there in lies the rub in government and our private lives. We have allowed the media to come into our homes and sell us the salvation of 'never never'.

A dollar down and a dollar a week until the second coming. While that may sound like a catchy phrase, it's kinda scary when we look at the national debt and when it will actually be paid off.

I fight the good fight and resist the religion of consumerism as best I can while enjoying the benefits of a modern society that gives us automobiles that scrunch the passengers, and still can't deliver decent fuel economy or comfort. They cost more than ten houses in my childhood neighbourhood, Really, $5000 would have bought a decent 2 bedroom house in the city.

I don't remember ever answering a questionnaire that asked , how big do you want you chemical laced dirt burger? And did you want fake fries with it?
Stupid sized of course.

On the plus side, most of us don't live long enough to see the end result of the experiment. My parents were not ecstatic about the future of society and neither were their parents. I'm not saying they were correct but I have a question.

Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket???

[rugatika]

What capitalism?

There are way too many barriers to market entry to call what we have capitalism. Too much government picking winners and losers. When a company like Bombardier or the auto manufacturers can access government money, while small companies and individuals are used to supply that money...it makes me think we've strayed from capitalism.

How many small to mid-sized energy companies could have kept people employed if they had the same access to government funding that Bombardier does? Is that capitalism? When giant corporations are on the welfare doles they can screw up over and over again, but the small companies aren't afforded the same opportunity. It makes competition very tough. Never mind all the regulations you have to meet. A giant corporation has teams of lawyers and accountants to navigate regulations and tax law, that just isn't available to a mom and pop venture.

Socialism is when government controls the means of production. Which it now does to a not insignificant extent through regulations, taxes, fines and levies etc. We are in some weird socialism/capitalism hybrid.

As always...generally, but not totally.

[Sloughsharkjigger]

Originally Posted by dodger

First off I believe in capitalism and what it based off. But is the system imploding?

Just look at where we are now. Remember when appliance manufacturers took pride in having the longest lasting best built appliance. Now, you don't want this to happen as you need the consumer to keep buying your product. Think Maytag! So like everything it's made cheaper with a shorter life cycle.

Food, how much water can they pump into our chicken, beef, and pork to keep an artificial weight up for pricing? How much filler can go into a Big Mac, Subway chicken, before IRS not beef or chicken? How small of a box of Fruit Loops can they sell you and only fill it half way before it's negligible to buy? Anyone notice the size of a package of bacon now? It use to feed a family and then you could save the leftovers for a snack, now you got to think should I grab 2 packages to cover supper for the family.

Some recent purchases - A electric frying pan made by GE, the same model as my old one that died but the newer pan has thinner metal walls, shorter plug in cord, no rubber pad on legs to prevent sliding on the counter, no washer on the screws to hold the legs snug, the plastic legs are so thin they have cracked because there is no washer on the screws to keep them snug. All this on a stupid frying pan. Remember when a roll of thread tape was a full roll, then a 3/4 roll, then a 1/2 roll. Went to the food court at the mall. Grabbed a quick plate of fake food and a pop, the straw is so small and thin I darn near had a stroke trying to suck back my drink, plus the straw is so short I'm kissing the top of my cup. Then I go and spike my fake food with the plastic fork and it's so thin the fork breaks, same happens to my wife's fork. Plus I'm a "bigger" guy and my utensils are the size of baby utensils. Buy a loaf of bread and the loaf is smaller but the bread is cut thin as paper so it appears you have plenty of slices, you literally have to peel the bread apart from each other.

Anywhoo, how small, how cheap, how fake (food), can we go. Companies need to show growth or no more investors. But when do they hit a wall of to small, to cheap, etc before there is nothing left to sell.

I have done well and live comfortable. I do see a large shift with the middle class slowly being reduced. The more this happens the more government steps in to save the people. A larger lower class of earners does not help our society. But our capitalistic economy is strangling the middle class as the money that is left after brutal taxes buys less. Me thinks this is a double kick to the boys and we know 2 kicks is a bit harder to recover from than one kick

Just some ramblings from:

Dodger.

Don't forget bacon... oh so sweet bacon. Used to be 1lb (500grams) now most come in 375gram slabes for the same price or even more as to what 500grams was priced at.

If I recall correctly, these exact circumstances were brought forward years ago. Gasoline is a good example, I recall paying 10 to 15 dollars to fill a tank all the while having to listen to mainstream saying "enjoy" cause 20 years down the road that same fill is going to cost you $60 or $70... well here we are folks. Same with bread... 50cents a loaf 30years ago with the warning expect to pay $4.00 per... well here we are. All this seemed ludicrous to even think about.... but here we are.

Bottom line is the capitalism model is a perpetual system. The more it costs to manufacture/produce is proportional to the amount you have to pay which is then proportional to the amount you need to earn to pay for said item... then the cycle repeats itself. Three competing forces that can never balance/stabilize without one, two or all three self destructing.

With the current model clearly demonstrating that the cost of consumer goods has increased by 500%, 600%... over the last 20years with no sign of stabilizing or decline... by the year 2040 expect to pay dearly... hopefully wages, pension, CPP, OAS, EI and every other source of income can keep up.

[ReconWilly]

Awesome break down Dodger, it's a sickness and it's everywhere.

Free market capitalism has not had a fair chance since the virus infected the system.

Closet socialism in the shade of the shadows covertly replaced capitalism while the goyim were entranced under the hypnotic spell of the talking heads and were to busy worshiping celebrities that kept them distracted while the rug was pulled out from under us.

[Map Maker]

I think its all on the consumer.
For some reason, the majority want disposable stuff.
I dont know how many lawnmower, tillers, i got from the junk yard that just needed fresh gas or clean air filter.
People would rather just buy a new one than deal with an older one.

One thing i always get a kick out of is antique furniture.
Big beautiful oak furniture that is handmade. Everytime i buy a piece, the seller says the same thing. " i told my kids they can have it for free but they dont want it" they would rather have ikea crap.

Consumer robots.

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

it's kinda scary when we look at the national debt and when it will actually be paid off.

There is no intention of ever paying the debt off. The intention is to continually grow the debt as justification for eternal and ever increasing taxation.

[huntinstuff]

Its our fault

When the company decided to make cereal box contents smaller, it was an experiment to see if we would still buy it. And we accepted it and kept buying.

When they designed your fridge/stove/washer etc to croak after 5-7 yrs, it was an experiment. And we accepted it and kept buying.

The water soaked chicken, overly fat bacon, tasteless bananas. Same crap. And we accepted it and kept buying.

New Coke. The 80's lead balloon. People started saying "rum and Pepsi"....and like magic, Coke Classic was born.

When people start doing something about it things usually change. Problem now is, many citizens are now just mindless consumers, spending $ they dont have on sh...t they dont need. Willing to go into debt just to have what they are told to buy........

It wont correct itself. Its too far gone. Nothing will change because you will never convince enough of these zombie like consumers to make a stand.

Its a lot like trying to get a consensus here. Good luck. Guys cant even decide whether or not u can shoot a handgun on private property 🙄

[propliner]

It's a corporatocracy, fuelled by quantitative easing (money printing), resulting in massive inflation and is doomed to failure.

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally Posted by Trochu

I think capitalism works just fine, they are just catering to a middle class that has less disposable income. You could have spent more an a kitchen appliances, but chose the cheaper model. I think the bigger issue is the shrinking middle class, which I largely blame on big government. My property taxes went up, my assessed value of the home went up, our power, gas, water, sewer, garbage bills went up, insurance went up, income due to being in a recession, went down.

You're close to the mark. It would have been nice to buy a more expensive model, IF:
1) there was the funds left after the tax drain
2) there was actually a better option that was built better.
3) the more expensive unit didn't offer more bells and whistle electronics to fail at a much higher repair cost.

The options are to pay more for nothing more than bragging rights and fancy brands.

I tried to buy a better washing machine. And did pay more. But it just as much junk as the cheap ones. Plastic pump housing (the damn wear part) made of plastic. Can't buy just the pump housing.....have to buy the motor and pump as a unit. At 5X the normal cost. And toss out a perfectly good motor.

It would have cost them nothing for either a replaceable pump or one made out of pot metal. This was designed to screw you. And if you couldn't figure it out or weren't handy, the cost would be 1/2 a new machine. Forcing many to toss what could be repaired and used.

If we really are worried about carbon footprints, and the environment, this garbage of built in obsolecense should be taxed for the damage this crap does. That way the free market would now make machines that don't have this criminal scam/fraud of built in obsolecense a cheaper option and consumers voting with their walket would correct the situation.

[Newview01]

The problem with any type of economy / political system is human nature.

Human nature is greedy and materialistic. The dollar is what counts, as well as keeping up with the Joneses.

As long as human nature is involved, everything is bound to fail at some point. History has shown this.

[CNP]

I remember when you couldn't buy a car that didn't rust out in 5 years. I remember when there were only a handful of companies making a handful of the items that are now made by legions of companies making countless products in all sizes, colours and options. There are top end products and low end products where there was once one product. Capitalism has done good.

[purgatory.sv]

Originally Posted by dodger

First off I believe in capitalism and what it based off. But is the system imploding?

Just look at where we are now. Remember when appliance manufacturers took pride in having the longest lasting best built appliance. Now, you don't want this to happen as you need the consumer to keep buying your product. Think Maytag! So like everything it's made cheaper with a shorter life cycle.

Food, how much water can they pump into our chicken, beef, and pork to keep an artificial weight up for pricing? How much filler can go into a Big Mac, Subway chicken, before IRS not beef or chicken? How small of a box of Fruit Loops can they sell you and only fill it half way before it's negligible to buy? Anyone notice the size of a package of bacon now? It use to feed a family and then you could save the leftovers for a snack, now you got to think should I grab 2 packages to cover supper for the family.






Some recent purchases - A electric frying pan made by GE, the same model as my old one that died but the newer pan has thinner metal walls, shorter plug in cord, no rubber pad on legs to prevent sliding on the counter, no washer on the screws to hold the legs snug, the plastic legs are so thin they have cracked because there is no washer on the screws to keep them snug. All this on a stupid frying pan. Remember when a roll of thread tape was a full roll, then a 3/4 roll, then a 1/2 roll. Went to the food court at the mall. Grabbed a quick plate of fake food and a pop, the straw is so small and thin I darn near had a stroke trying to suck back my drink, plus the straw is so short I'm kissing the top of my cup. Then I go and spike my fake food with the plastic fork and it's so thin the fork breaks, same happens to my wife's fork. Plus I'm a "bigger" guy and my utensils are the size of baby utensils. Buy a loaf of bread and the loaf is smaller but the bread is cut thin as paper so it appears you have plenty of slices, you literally have to peel the bread apart from each other.

Anywhoo, how small, how cheap, how fake (food), can we go. Companies need to show growth or no more investors. But when do they hit a wall of to small, to cheap, etc before there is nothing left to sell.

I have done well and live comfortable. I do see a large shift with the middle class slowly being reduced. The more this happens the more government steps in to save the people. A larger lower class of earners does not help our society. But our capitalistic economy is strangling the middle class as the money that is left after brutal taxes buys less. Me thinks this is a double kick to the boys and we know 2 kicks is a bit harder to recover from than one kick

Just some ramblings from:

Dodger.

Simple answer.

Only if you are in control.

[bessiedog]

Our common understanding of capitalism bears very very little resemblance to the which was written by Adam Smith.

Adam Smith was very much against corporatism. Small business was the only way 'natural human sentiments' would help regulate negative 'externalities' that we all experience in today's consumer market...

Most of you see this guy as a 'commie'... but his interpretation of both The Wealth of Nations and Theory of Moral Sentiment are pretty accurate.

Watch the first 5 min or so.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxp_wgFWQo

We need to go back to small businesses mostly methinks.
Any change is going to happen... depends on little ole us... as it should.

[fishtank]

Capitalism is hurting right now ... There was a time when its was great , but now it's just a false advertising. now we simply get less for more , the balance seem to have shifted in recent decade the mom and pops store have gone the way of vhs tapes and small brick and mortar business are getting the big squeeze

[CaberTosser]

I blame executives at the various manufacturers, they figure that the bonuses they get for shaving a little here and a little there more offset the lost local jobs, being as now they've moved the manufacturing to China, India or Mexico. These people are cumulatively undermining the strength of their very nations, which can be an extremely important thing. If one stops to consider how WWII was won in the factories of Canada and the USA just as much as it was in the air, the oceans and the battlefields these people are basically shipping out our respective national security too. Money leaving the nation and getting exchanged for low quality goods that will soon need replacement is practically a street corner shell game.

.
Remember back when Japanese-made stuff was considered low quality?

If a massive global war (conventional arms) was touched off which nations manufacturing capacity would secure its eventual victory?

[colroggal]

Biggest problem is we used to get by just fine with one frying pan. Now we need three. Thus they have to be one third the price and by d3fault one third the quality. Need I go one?

Colin

[raab]

Originally Posted by dodger

First off I believe in capitalism and what it based off. But is the system imploding?

Just look at where we are now. Remember when appliance manufacturers took pride in having the longest lasting best built appliance. Now, you don't want this to happen as you need the consumer to keep buying your product. Think Maytag! So like everything it's made cheaper with a shorter life cycle.

Food, how much water can they pump into our chicken, beef, and pork to keep an artificial weight up for pricing? How much filler can go into a Big Mac, Subway chicken, before IRS not beef or chicken? How small of a box of Fruit Loops can they sell you and only fill it half way before it's negligible to buy? Anyone notice the size of a package of bacon now? It use to feed a family and then you could save the leftovers for a snack, now you got to think should I grab 2 packages to cover supper for the family.

Some recent purchases - A electric frying pan made by GE, the same model as my old one that died but the newer pan has thinner metal walls, shorter plug in cord, no rubber pad on legs to prevent sliding on the counter, no washer on the screws to hold the legs snug, the plastic legs are so thin they have cracked because there is no washer on the screws to keep them snug. All this on a stupid frying pan. Remember when a roll of thread tape was a full roll, then a 3/4 roll, then a 1/2 roll. Went to the food court at the mall. Grabbed a quick plate of fake food and a pop, the straw is so small and thin I darn near had a stroke trying to suck back my drink, plus the straw is so short I'm kissing the top of my cup. Then I go and spike my fake food with the plastic fork and it's so thin the fork breaks, same happens to my wife's fork. Plus I'm a "bigger" guy and my utensils are the size of baby utensils. Buy a loaf of bread and the loaf is smaller but the bread is cut thin as paper so it appears you have plenty of slices, you literally have to peel the bread apart from each other.

Anywhoo, how small, how cheap, how fake (food), can we go. Companies need to show growth or no more investors. But when do they hit a wall of to small, to cheap, etc before there is nothing left to sell.

I have done well and live comfortable. I do see a large shift with the middle class slowly being reduced. The more this happens the more government steps in to save the people. A larger lower class of earners does not help our society. But our capitalistic economy is strangling the middle class as the money that is left after brutal taxes buys less. Me thinks this is a double kick to the boys and we know 2 kicks is a bit harder to recover from than one kick

Just some ramblings from:

Dodger.

Socialism and the taxes involved with it are killing the middle class.

With true capitalism we'd see other producers pop up that dont water their chicken and fill the cereal boxes. We see it a bit but we definitely dont have enough competition in the food market.

[dodger]

So, I get into work this morning and there is a note on my desk. A gate valve on production line 1 is broken. So I have spent the last couple of hours changing it out.

Now the valve does get a lot of abuse. People open it all they way until there is resistance, then close it until there is resistance plus a little more to make sure it is not leaking.

I use to do this replacement every other year when it broke. Here I am doing it the 3rd time in 6 months. the stem in the valve has snapped. I pay for the premium valve to prevent down time and here I am.......

CaberTosser made a good point. Boys we are going to war against China! "But sir we need more tanks and all the parts come from China" oh oh! "Ok boys lets skip the ground war, fire the missiles"! " But sir we are waiting for igniters from Taiwan and they will not except our P.O because we owe to much and our credit rating is...".

More ramblings: So here I am in a manufacturing job. I receive bonuses for efficiency and cost savings. I have said let's cut a little of this and a little of that out and we can save money. Great idea. Next time how about we shave a little of this and a little of that out. Great idea. Who truly in manufacturing does not do this? We have to stay competitive. So along comes Joe consumer who has not received 188% more money to match "X" amount of years of inflation and tax increases just bought a product from company ABC and he gets less for his hard earned dollar. Where is the breaking point for "all" involved.

Dodger.

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Well, I think we have the best of both worlds. The ingenuity and ambition of capitalism fueled by greed, coupled with the relentless meddling of inept government bent on self preservation and expansion.

Was your frying pan made in Guelph ON., or in Gue Pho On?

We want oldtime capitalist quality while demanding throw away off shore pricing.

At one time you could 'vote' with your wallet. Junk got passed over for the 'Good stuff" . The good stuff lasted and lasted.

I was raised with little or nothing for extras. We repaired stuff or made do instead of replacing with stuff we had no money for. There was credit and there in lies the rub in government and our private lives. We have allowed the media to come into our homes and sell us the salvation of 'never never'.

A dollar down and a dollar a week until the second coming. While that may sound like a catchy phrase, it's kinda scary when we look at the national debt and when it will actually be paid off.

I fight the good fight and resist the religion of consumerism as best I can while enjoying the benefits of a modern society that gives us automobiles that scrunch the passengers, and still can't deliver decent fuel economy or comfort. They cost more than ten houses in my childhood neighbourhood, Really, $5000 would have bought a decent 2 bedroom house in the city.

I don't remember ever answering a questionnaire that asked , how big do you want you chemical laced dirt burger? And did you want fake fries with it?
Stupid sized of course.

On the plus side, most of us don't live long enough to see the end result of the experiment. My parents were not ecstatic about the future of society and neither were their parents. I'm not saying they were correct but I have a question.

Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket???

I agree with you, RF.

Up until Edwardian times, or the late 20's capitalism had its run through the industrial revolution. The general populace was seen as a resource to be leveraged like any other resource. And the rich built empires (Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Astors, Carnegies, the English Peerage, etc).

"Government meddling" goes farther back than the labour movement, but gained most traction through people like Samuel Gompers, Eugene Debs, "Mother" Jones, etc.

So, ya, RF. The best of both worlds at the moment.

Yes, buy local. Every dollar spent locally, generates 1.4 to 3 times its value. Invest locally, in Alberta owned companies, for the same reason.

Every generation complains about the coming end of the world/society, and they're more often wrong than right.

We're not in a handbasket.

[pikergolf]

Capitalism works just fine. Companies have figured out how to squeeze the most out of consumers, whether it be making disposable items or smaller packaging or food that is crap. We still buy it because it is cheap. For those that want quality, it's still there in the so called "commercial" lines of appliances, or the small butcher shop, or the Mom and Pop restaurant. But all these things cost, most are not willing to pay.

[hillbillyreefer]

Don't forget the labor side of the equation. Labor has squeezed their profits out of the system too. Cost cutting in production helps the workers maximize their profits too.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by CNP

I remember when you couldn't buy a car that didn't rust out in 5 years. I remember when there were only a handful of companies making a handful of the items that are now made by legions of companies making countless products in all sizes, colours and options. There are top end products and low end products where there was once one product. Capitalism has done good.

Bingo!!!
There are good quality products out there.
But the mentality of the average consumer is (and I'll use a firearms analogy)...why would I pay $3000 for a Cooper when I can buy four inexpensive rifles in different calibres? The Cooper will get handed down to your children and their children...the four entry level rifles will end up in landfills.

[bsmitty27]

I personally feel the stock market has added a negative element to capitalism. I'm no expert in the field and it is a very complex area. Interested too hear any oppionions on the market influencing capitalism.
Brad

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by bsmitty27

I personally feel the stock market has added a negative element to capitalism. I'm no expert in the field and it is a very complex area. Interested too hear any oppionions on the market influencing capitalism.
Brad

Something to that, the market says make money or die. Lots of Co. are walking dead. Sears comes to mind, could not adapt and they are dying. Somehow a piece of crap like the Brick continues on and makes money. The power of advertising and marketing.

[colin455]

Huntinstuff,
The Coke thing was a product downgrade. They were changing from sugar to the cheaper corn syrup crap but needed all of the old coke to go away so you wouldn't notice the flavour difference. They held out for a couple/three months and then miraculously brought out Coke Classic. Everybody remarked it tasted different and didn't have the same fizz. Corn syrup.
Unfortunately, we all kept buying it and voila, it became accepted.

I find the big one I notice is "Then Incredible Shrinking Product".
Everything is getting smaller but the price. They are pretty sneaky in doing it too with "sales pricing" that nobody bothers to check.
Jeeze, $12 for a block of cheese, $15 for a thin steak, $1.50 per orange and apple, $4.99lb for green grapes............
Products are getting flimsier and more inferior quality.
Sometimes I have trouble even finding a better quality item.
Let's not forget the plastic items that are off-gassing so much they are affecting the flavor of the items they are holding. We've tossed glasses and icecube trays that just couldn't get the smell out of from washing.
There is no way that can be good for you.

[JustMe]

I think you are close to the truth, especially here in Canada.

I have been b1tching about the ridiculous gas price fluctuations here in Canada for ages. In other jurisdictions, prices have remained stable and constant; here they fluctuate up to 15 cents a litre almost weekly. Why? Because we as Canadians will put up with it, other countries won't. They just had riots in Mexico when they tried to raise prices by only ~20%. Here it's nothing to jump by more than that (0.88 to 1.02) nearly every week or so and we just say oh, well.....

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

Its our fault

When the company decided to make cereal box contents smaller, it was an experiment to see if we would still buy it. And we accepted it and kept buying.

When they designed your fridge/stove/washer etc to croak after 5-7 yrs, it was an experiment. And we accepted it and kept buying.

The water soaked chicken, overly fat bacon, tasteless bananas. Same crap. And we accepted it and kept buying.

New Coke. The 80's lead balloon. People started saying "rum and Pepsi"....and like magic, Coke Classic was born.

When people start doing something about it things usually change. Problem now is, many citizens are now just mindless consumers, spending $ they dont have on sh...t they dont need. Willing to go into debt just to have what they are told to buy........

It wont correct itself. Its too far gone. Nothing will change because you will never convince enough of these zombie like consumers to make a stand.

Its a lot like trying to get a consensus here. Good luck. Guys cant even decide whether or not u can shoot a handgun on private property 🙄