Monday, January 05, 2004

A parable on government, from The Claire Files: The Hanover Street Shoe-Shine Boys By OWK May 27, 1999 Now it wasn't too long ago (or so I allow myself to believe), that I embraced the mantle of manhood, and went in search of my first job. I got one too. It was an acceptable job as jobs go, but it didn't pay me all too much. It was just an honest day's wages, for an honest day pumping gas. After my first week (which included a hard lesson on the difference between oil and transmission fluid that I'd rather not discuss) I recieved the object of my greedy little teen-aged desires. I got my first paycheck. When Mr. Gaston put it in my hands and said "Good work son", I have to admit I was filled with a sense of pride at my accomplishment, but only for a moment. Pride is a fleeting thing in young men, so it was off to the bank to cash my prize as fast as my legs would get me there. I was whistling a tune, and there was a noticeable spring in my step, as I flung open the door to the bank, and swaggered up to the teller. She counted out my $97.32 with the precision of a machine, and then with a wink offered me the customary loli-pop usually reserved for the children of customers (which I must admit took a bit of the swagger from my gait). Still though, I had my hard-earned money, and it was good. So out the door I went. After only three steps, or maybe four, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to face a man with a gun in his hand. Behind him, were dozens more. Street toughs from the look of 'em. "Can I help you?" I asked, doing my best to look menacing. "You sure can" he said with a smile and a flourish. To my amazement, he turned to his associate and barked "Shine his shoes Mickey". At that point a little rat-faced fella with a wooden box and a brush scampered up, and plopped himself unceremoniously at my feet. I simply stared at him. He returned my gaze with expectation, and after awhile he complained, "I can't shine your shoes if you don't put your foot on the box". "But... but, I don't want a shoe-shine" I protested, "I'm wearing sneakers". "It don't really matter what you want" he shot back. "We had a vote, and decided that everybody needs a shoe-shine". Now I was just about to smack this weasel out of my way, and go about my business, when I caught sight of the gun-toting man who started it all. "It'll only take a minute" he said, "and it goes much easier if you cooperate". Then he wiggled his sidearm, and smiled a wry little smile, and I knew I was licked. So I put my foot up on the box, and suffered the humiliating spectacle of black shoe-polish being slapped on one sneaker, and then the other. I bit my lip, and endured. And he was as true as his word. It really only did take a minute. So I thanked him kindly for ruining my shoes, and turned to go. "Just a minute" I heard from over my shoulder. I turned again at the sound of his voice, and offered a somewhat annoyed "Yes?". "Well there's the small matter of payment" he declared. "Payment?" I shot back incredulously, "I didn't want the damned shoe-shine to begin with". "I thought my associate made that clear already" he said. "It doesn't really matter if you want a shoe-shine or not". 'We took a vote, and decided everybody needs a shoe-shine". So at this point I was beyond mad, but I didn't have too many options. The guy had a gun. "Ok" I conceded, "How much do I owe you?" "How much was your paycheck?" he asked without batting an eye. Now I must admit that at this point I thought about lying, but the gun made me think better of it. So I lowered my head and mumbled "$97.32". "Calculator" he bellowed, as another of the thugs rushed forward to put a calculator in his hand. "Now lets see, that's 34 percent of $97.32, so it comes to.... $33.08" "Thirty-three dollars?" I yelled. "For a shoe-shine?". "Well ya see, its not just as simple as a shoe-shine" he offered by way of explanation. "Mickey, he needs to stay well-stocked in shoe-shine stuff, and me and the boys need equipment so we can keep order while we're helping folks out with their shoe-shine problems" "Plus, we all gotta eat too". "So when you take all this stuff into the picture, we figure 34 percent really ain't all too bad" "We like to call it paying your fair share.... Plus, we voted on it". "Ohhhh... well since you voted on it and all" I quipped "how can I refuse". I handed over my $33.08, and resigned myself to the fact that I'd lose a few dollars, but manage to save my skin. I turned again to go about my business, when again I felt a hand on my shoulder. "One more matter to take care of" he said curtly. "What is it now?" I asked. "Well ya see, me and the boys, we're kinda concerned that some folks don't get on so well in their old age. So we come up with this system, where you give us a bit of your money to look after for ya, until ya get old." he explained "Then we give it back to ya a bit at a time, when you need it". "I need it now" I answered. "It don't matter what ya think ya need now" he said. "We voted on it". "How much?" I groaned... "Only 13% of your original paycheck" was his answer. So I coughed it up, and ran like the wind, lucky to escape with half my check and my life. I found out that day what it was like to become a man in a world which doesn't care about what's yours because they "voted on it". And I found out too, the very next week, that those Hanover Street shoe-shine boys are there waiting for their "fair-share" every week. And I found out that they really DON'T care whether you want a shoe-shine or not. They voted on it. And as the years rolled on, I tried using different banks, and different streets, but those damned shoe-shine boys are a pesky bunch. I found out that as you get older, and make a bit more money, they take a bigger "fair-share". They even let you vote with 'em if you don't make too much of a fuss. I always vote to keep my own money, but my vote doesn't seem to count for much. Yeah, they offer to dust off your jacket AND shine your shoes now, but I still don't want a shoe-shine, and I still donât want my jacket dusted. I really don't want them holding my money till I'm old either. (and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever see that money again). It don't really matter though. They voted on it (and they've got guns). 4:27:10 PM    comment () Questions:  Did the weblog world do anything other than amplify the pre-war Bush propaganda campaign on Iraqi WMD?  Are we in the worst of all worlds when the mainstream media (our former gatekeepers) buys into a completely false propoganda campaign and that same propoganda is supported online by tens of thousands of mini-Limbaughs? [John Robb's Weblog] I would say the answer is "no." During the buildup, the mainstream media did faithfully pass along the latest propaganda--but they also reported on instances where the truth came out. Take the infamous "Nigerian uranium deal," for example. The mainstream media reported quite openly that it was a hoax at the time, it just didn't do any good. The fact that politicians are now proclaiming themselves to be shocked at being misled doesn't change the fact that the truth has been on the front page of the newspaper all along. It's true that the media didn't always report the truth (they went along with the Feds' claim that Saddam had kicked out UN inspectors, which never happened), but they told enough of the truth that it was obvious to anyone who didn't want to be fooled what was going on. Likewise, there was no shortage of weblogs protesting against the war before, during, and after--including this one. My position on the subject of "weapons of mass destruction" before the war was that it didn't matter if Iraq had them or not, because Iraq had just as much right to own whatever weapons it wanted as any other nation--including the US. 12:28:56 PM    comment () The price of gold has jumped significantly again. It's now well over $420/ounce. 9:48:20 AM    comment () U.S. Discharges Troops for Abuse in Iraq [AP World News] Brig. Gen. Ennis Whitehead III, the acting commander of the 143d Transportation Command, found the three soldiers had maltreated prisoners at Camp Bucca, southern Iraq, on May 12. He demoted two of the soldiers and ordered that all three forfeit their salaries for two months. All three were also discharged. It appears that the Army is following the example of American police forces in slapping the wrist of those who commit serious crimes. These people should have been sentenced to up to eight years in prison. 6:32:22 AM    comment () Inflation and price control quirks in an artificial economy.   The Venezuelan economy is truly full of surprises. The effect of the oil income is remarkable, introducing a number of artificialities that make the country a laboratory for economic concepts like no other one. I understand that the Japanese Government even has a full time economist just studying and attempting to understand the Venezuelan economy. This year was no different in having the economy exhibit quirks. The country exhibited what may be the largest percentage difference between wholesale and retail inflation ever anywhere. According to the Venezuelan Central Bank, wholesale inflation was 48.9% while consumer inflation was 27.1% a whopping difference over 80%! I have certainly never heard of such a huge difference anywhere. The explanation is apparently quite simple, with the economy shrinking by 11% for the year, the contraction in demand has been so strong that price increases can simply not be transferred to the consumer. This is the second year in a row that this happens. In 2002, wholesale inflation was 37.9% while the CPI went up by a smaller 31.2%. This would appear to indicate that there is a dangerous potential for inflation to increase as price increases are passed on to consumers as the economy recovers a little in 2004. A second phenomenon worth mentioning is the fact that most months, regulated and unregulated prices went up by similar amounts. This is simply a reflection of the fact that the Government has been quite lax about enforcing price controls as it was clear that they would result in shortages. While I am strongly opposed to price controls, it seems like the lax enforcement is somewhat ridiculous. As examples, pork is being sold at Bs. 7,000 per kilogram, but is regulated at Bs. 4,000. Meat is being sold at Bs. 7,000 per kilogram, but sold at Bs. 5,000. Chicken is being sold at Bs. 3,500 per kilo, while it is regulated at Bs. 2,000 per kilo. Eggs are regulated at 4,200, sold at Bs. 6,000 per dozen. The products where controls are being followed are exactly those that exhibit shortages regularly. Even with the artificialities, all this proves is that the laws of economics work no matter how artificial the environment. [Miguel Octavio: Venezuela] If they aren't already, Venezuelans should be putting their savings into gold, or at the very least into some more stable fiat currency. Otherwise anyone with money in the bank will see it become worthless very quickly. 6:26:04 AM    comment () Apple planning iTunes Music Store for Japan?. Apple Japan Inc. may be planning to launch a localized version of the iTunes Music Store in Japan the coming months. [MacCentral] It would be nice if people in the US could access the Japanese store when it opens, and even nicer if the inventory of the Japanese store became available through the American store. I suspect that Apple won't bother doing that, though. 6:16:13 AM    comment ()

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