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The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

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Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#11

Post by bdcravens »

debatem1 wrote: post #9

The point about both helping create the race to the bottom and also catering to those it leaves behind is, I think, an important and often overlooked one. It's why Walmart is beloved in many of the small southern towns where I grew up. Sure it relentlessly exploited poor people elsewhere, but when you're poor yourself you can't help but be grateful for its low prices. And the belief that finally, finally someone is g…

This sums up well Trump's ascension: there are a lot of people who have real needs and real opinions, and whose votes count as much as someone's in California or New York. An environment where we insist on leaving those voices unheard is what enables someone to have extreme influence.

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#12

Post by icelancer »

debatem1 wrote: post #9

The point about both helping create the race to the bottom and also catering to those it leaves behind is, I think, an important and often overlooked one. It's why Walmart is beloved in many of the small southern towns where I grew up. Sure it relentlessly exploited poor people elsewhere, but when you're poor yourself you can't help but be grateful for its low prices. And the belief that finally, finally someone is g…

Very well said. I grew up in a below-average income family and this is exactly the viewpoint much of my extended family has. Yet they're just considered dumb for voting against their own interests and told they don't know what's good for them. Leftists have an odd way of convincing the very people they're trying to help by making fun of them; it hasn't worked out too well in the last 20 years and I don't expect it will going forward, either.

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#13

Post by ransom1538 »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #6
Paperweight wrote: post #5

[flagged]

You better own the robots or the land. It’s going to be bad news bears for people who don’t own either.

Rad quote. BUT! Why is land going to be valuable? Robots will not use much land. People will lose salary over time as their skills are automated - which will lead to lower land prices.

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#14

Post by themodelplumber »

Animats wrote: post #4
themodelplumber wrote: post #3

> we racked up hours roaming fluorescent lit aisles, inhaling the smell of off-gassing pleather. Funny. And if I had to bet on one term that could completely change the materials of which consumer products are made, possibly sparking a consumer materials revolution, "off-gassing" would be it. Once you learn about it, it's always there, nagging you to ventilate or throw out. In fact I'd say that along with terms like…

It's "out-gassing", as the plasticizers leach out of the vinyl. The "new car smell".

As an industrial specialist term, sure. I'm not sure if you've noticed but the term "off-gassing" now has a more general meaning & life of its own outside of that domain. I've heard people use it for situations up to and including stinky clothes and flatulence over the last few years.

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#17

Post by pascalxus »

Shoes is one of those things I almost never need to buy, now that I'm an adult and fully grown. Even the very cheapest ones can last me 10 years or more without wearing out.

Actually, it's the Nikes that wear out much faster, it seems.

PS:(edit) I walk around a decent amount and even go running 6 to 9 miles per week. Even a super cheap pair of running shoes won't show any holes in it for 4+ years at least. The Nike ones I had started falling apart in just in less than 2 years.

And yes, I do have about 10 pairs, but tend to stick to 4-5 pair at a time time. and I don't throw them away until the wear is so low that an actual hole forms or even multiple holes/rips form. most of time just get some plimsolls, those tend to last forever.

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#18

Post by richardhod »

icelancer wrote: post #12
debatem1 wrote: post #9

The point about both helping create the race to the bottom and also catering to those it leaves behind is, I think, an important and often overlooked one. It's why Walmart is beloved in many of the small southern towns where I grew up. Sure it relentlessly exploited poor people elsewhere, but when you're poor yourself you can't help but be grateful for its low prices. And the belief that finally, finally someone is g…

Very well said. I grew up in a below-average income family and this is exactly the viewpoint much of my extended family has. Yet they're just considered dumb for voting against their own interests and told they don't know what's good for them. Leftists have an odd way of convincing the very people they're trying to help by making fun of them; it hasn't worked out too well in the last 20 years and I don't expect it wi…

Well to be fair, they are in long-term stakes, wrong since these companies do end up impoverishing them. It's the problem that nobody without a backup and savings can think strategically, which is the paradox and issue with a predatory capitalist system .

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#19

Post by debatem1 »

bdcravens wrote: post #11
debatem1 wrote: post #9

The point about both helping create the race to the bottom and also catering to those it leaves behind is, I think, an important and often overlooked one. It's why Walmart is beloved in many of the small southern towns where I grew up. Sure it relentlessly exploited poor people elsewhere, but when you're poor yourself you can't help but be grateful for its low prices. And the belief that finally, finally someone is g…

This sums up well Trump's ascension: there are a lot of people who have real needs and real opinions, and whose votes count as much as someone's in California or New York. An environment where we insist on leaving those voices unheard is what enables someone to have extreme influence.

I'm not sure where to go with this, honestly.

From an electoral perspective it's counterfactual: my family in the midwest have roughly 1.5x the electoral power I do. Historically speaking this has led two democrats in my lifetime to win the popular vote but lose the presidential election. So I don't think there's an issue with those voices being unheard in elections-- quite the opposite in fact.

On the other hand, I see where you're coming from. The loci of money and power in the United States speak loudly and listen poorly to the half of us that see stars at night. I think this has been to conservatives' advantage, although that seems to have more to do with preexisting cultural affinity than shared policy goals.

Re: The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource

#20

Post by [deleted] »

bdcravens wrote: post #11
debatem1 wrote: post #9

The point about both helping create the race to the bottom and also catering to those it leaves behind is, I think, an important and often overlooked one. It's why Walmart is beloved in many of the small southern towns where I grew up. Sure it relentlessly exploited poor people elsewhere, but when you're poor yourself you can't help but be grateful for its low prices. And the belief that finally, finally someone is g…

This sums up well Trump's ascension: there are a lot of people who have real needs and real opinions, and whose votes count as much as someone's in California or New York. An environment where we insist on leaving those voices unheard is what enables someone to have extreme influence.

[deleted]
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