ahhhh, capitalism

[arguchik]

"if you price something below its worth, it will get used up."

not sure who said that originally...my libertarian (not to be confused with librarian) ex-husband used to quote it all the time, so it's probably milton friedman or someone like that. it's sad, but apparently true. for the month of october, my building manager gave us a "free laundry" special. today i'm trying to do some laundry that i have been waiting to do for about a week, because the laundry room has been completely busy, night and day. unfortunately, people have done so much laundry that they have nearly burned out the belt on the washer. it's still plugging away, squealing like a m-----f----- and raising a burnt rubber smell. if it goes today, it won't be fixed until monday or tuesday.

oddly, this has me feeling amused rather than annoyed. probably because i had fun last night.

happy hallowe'en everyone.

Comments

[the-kender.livejournal.com]

What a nice quote -- can that apply to the self as well?

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

but of course. i think that old phrase, "why would a man buy the cow when he gets the milk for free?" is a version of it. a very outdated and sexist version, but a version nonetheless. i think everyone has a relationship (romantic or otherwise) at some point, in which they feel like they are undervalued, like they are doing all of the giving and should stick up for themselves and their needs more vigorously. (uh...note my use of the plural pronoun as a gender neutral pronoun, mr. grammar guy. :-) )

[the-kender.livejournal.com]

Hmm... that's quite the polar opposite of the previous quote though...

Thanks for spreading the wonders of plural pronoun usage as singular gender neutral pronouns.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

how is it the polar opposite? seems to me that it's saying the same basic thing: price yourself high or you'll get used up, abused, taken advantage of (like the poor washing machine!). but...not *too* high or you'll be alone in your gleaming tower of superiority. lol.

gotta love economic metaphors for human relationships.