3 ms·

You can't exit the food market, either, and yet there is clearly a thriving free market for food. How does your theory account for this?

jewayne 5y ago
45 million Americans are on the SNAP (food stamp) program. Does your definition of "thriving free market" account for this?
wcfields 5y ago
I think you're being purposefully obtuse, but here's why: - SNAP / EBT / Foodstamps for people making so little money. Add onto that, Food banks. - Farm subsidies for many cheap foodstuffs (Corn) causing massive cheap, albeit junk food that can sustain. - I can literally grow food in the ground for "free", put it in mason jars and save my food for a year. I can't open a fresh can of broken-arm at the fixed cost. - Food is fungible, if I'm hungry, I can wait 2, 3, 8+ hours to eat, or have a quick snack until meal time. It's not like I need a Big Mac infusion in the next 10 seconds or else I'll die from lack of special sauce. - You have many options of food. You can eat Soylent, rice&beans, or steak for every meal at various price points. You don't really get an ala carte when it comes to Chemotherapy. - You can always eat monkey pellets [1] [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/moreplatesmoredates/comments/qbfkfl/4chan_user_eats_diet_of_monkey_chow_is_absolutely/ https://www.reddit.com/r/moreplatesmoredates/comments/qbfkfl...
- asimilator 5y ago
  > I can literally grow food in the ground for "free", put it in mason jars and save my food for a year. This is true only in an extremely pedantic, unrealistic kinda way. If it was easy/free everyone would be growing all their own food.
  - germinalphrase 5y ago
    At least here in the Midwest, people grow food all the time. Can’t grow strawberries in December, of course - but we eat up canned goods from friends/family throughout the winter.
Sohcahtoa82 5y ago
This is a bad faith question asked without any basic thought. Within 5 miles, I have at least 10 different grocery stores to shop at. Each will carry hundreds of products at less than $10 each. Not only do I have tons of choices, but the pricing is completely transparent. And that's just grocery stores. Add restaurants (Both sit-down restaurants and fast food), and that number quickly reaches over 100 within a 5-mile radius. If I'm in a medical emergency and someone dials 911, I'm likely just being brought to the nearest hospital. I have zero choice in the matter, and will come out with whatever bill they want to charge me. Even in non-emergencies, good luck shopping on price. Doctor offices don't like giving that out. There's competition in the food market, but not healthcare.
- marcusverus 4y ago
  > This is a bad faith question asked without any basic thought. Where ad hominem is a hallmark of good faith discussion. > Within 5 miles, I have at least 10 different grocery stores to shop at. Each will carry hundreds of products at less than $10 each. Not only do I have tons of choices, but the pricing is completely transparent. And that's just grocery stores. Add restaurants (Both sit-down restaurants and fast food), and that number quickly reaches over 100 within a 5-mile radius. This makes sense if you're aware of the fact that each human being eats three meals per day. > If I'm in a medical emergency and someone dials 911, I'm likely just being brought to the nearest hospital. I have zero choice in the matter, and will come out with whatever bill they want to charge me. Even in non-emergencies, good luck shopping on price. Doctor offices don't like giving that out. I clearly conceded the point that you can't exit the healthcare market. > There's competition in the food market, but not healthcare. Are you under the impression that I disagree with this statement? Consider reading (and, ideally, understanding) the thread in which you are participating prior to commenting.

jewayne 5y ago

45 million Americans are on the SNAP (food stamp) program. Does your definition of "thriving free market" account for this?

wcfields 5y ago

I think you're being purposefully obtuse, but here's why: - SNAP / EBT / Foodstamps for people making so little money. Add onto that, Food banks. - Farm subsidies for many cheap foodstuffs (Corn) causing massive cheap, albeit junk food that can sustain. - I can literally grow food in the ground for "free", put it in mason jars and save my food for a year. I can't open a fresh can of broken-arm at the fixed cost. - Food is fungible, if I'm hungry, I can wait 2, 3, 8+ hours to eat, or have a quick snack until meal time. It's not like I need a Big Mac infusion in the next 10 seconds or else I'll die from lack of special sauce. - You have many options of food. You can eat Soylent, rice&beans, or steak for every meal at various price points. You don't really get an ala carte when it comes to Chemotherapy. - You can always eat monkey pellets [1] [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/moreplatesmoredates/comments/qbfkfl/4chan_user_eats_diet_of_monkey_chow_is_absolutely/ https://www.reddit.com/r/moreplatesmoredates/comments/qbfkfl...

asimilator 5y ago
> I can literally grow food in the ground for "free", put it in mason jars and save my food for a year. This is true only in an extremely pedantic, unrealistic kinda way. If it was easy/free everyone would be growing all their own food.
- germinalphrase 5y ago
  At least here in the Midwest, people grow food all the time. Can’t grow strawberries in December, of course - but we eat up canned goods from friends/family throughout the winter.

Sohcahtoa82 5y ago

This is a bad faith question asked without any basic thought. Within 5 miles, I have at least 10 different grocery stores to shop at. Each will carry hundreds of products at less than $10 each. Not only do I have tons of choices, but the pricing is completely transparent. And that's just grocery stores. Add restaurants (Both sit-down restaurants and fast food), and that number quickly reaches over 100 within a 5-mile radius. If I'm in a medical emergency and someone dials 911, I'm likely just being brought to the nearest hospital. I have zero choice in the matter, and will come out with whatever bill they want to charge me. Even in non-emergencies, good luck shopping on price. Doctor offices don't like giving that out. There's competition in the food market, but not healthcare.

marcusverus 4y ago
> This is a bad faith question asked without any basic thought. Where ad hominem is a hallmark of good faith discussion. > Within 5 miles, I have at least 10 different grocery stores to shop at. Each will carry hundreds of products at less than $10 each. Not only do I have tons of choices, but the pricing is completely transparent. And that's just grocery stores. Add restaurants (Both sit-down restaurants and fast food), and that number quickly reaches over 100 within a 5-mile radius. This makes sense if you're aware of the fact that each human being eats three meals per day. > If I'm in a medical emergency and someone dials 911, I'm likely just being brought to the nearest hospital. I have zero choice in the matter, and will come out with whatever bill they want to charge me. Even in non-emergencies, good luck shopping on price. Doctor offices don't like giving that out. I clearly conceded the point that you can't exit the healthcare market. > There's competition in the food market, but not healthcare. Are you under the impression that I disagree with this statement? Consider reading (and, ideally, understanding) the thread in which you are participating prior to commenting.