Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016) • Hacker News Board

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#301

Post by FpUser » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 11:44 AM UTC

gotorazor wrote: post #297

FpUser wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"What's worse, manufacturing cheap junk for pay, or filling your home with cheap junk?" Thanks to modern economy in Canada for example people with median and below income currently can't afford to buy anything but junk. Same goes for quality food. Price of accommodation, food and many other things have skyrocketed. This is what is "worse"

Just did a trip to Loblaws in Toronto yesterday. I disagree. Organic groceries -- sure -- median income people can't really afford it. The traditional, raw items common to the Anglo-Irish diet like potatoes, corn, flour, butter, cabbage, etc are super cheap in Canada. Meat pricing has been super challenging since the pandemic started. Canada don't really have the same kind of agricultural subsidies that the United St…

>"potatoes, corn, flour, butter, ... doritos"

Making those your main source is highly unhealthy. It does not matter if it is called "Anglo-Irish".

Greens, veggies, decent fruits, meat, fish - through the roof. In Loblaws in particular as I often shop in one.

Vine tomatoes - $5 (used to pay $2). Fucking green onions - $2 for pathetic bunch (used to pay $0.5 for a bunch at least 3 times as big). Smaller box of mixed greens - $6 (used to pay $3-$3.50). Etc. etc.

All of this regular, never mind organic.

Meanwhile median income in Toronto is just below 40K - https://wowa.ca/average-income-canada#Toronto . Combine it with the cost of accommodation and you get an idea.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#302

Post by jvnnmfjvfjvflkj » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 11:47 AM UTC

nivenkos wrote: post #275

ozim wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You did not have to go as far as USA to see that. Trip to western Berlin would be enough. Countries that got under USA sphere of influence had it much better. They got lots of money with Marshall's plan to rebuild economies after war. So even if they would knew there is a better life it was all decided at Jalta and they were most likely not able to do anything about it without straight out starting new war against So…

Except those in the "USA sphere" that had pro-US dictators forced upon them - like Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Indonesia, etc. - even Spain, Portugal, South Korea, Taiwan and Brazil suffered greatly under US-supported (to varying degrees) dictatorships.

No they haven't. They have all lifted millions out of poverty.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#303

Post by throwaway290 » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 11:51 AM UTC

diimdeep wrote: post #255

throwaway290 wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You chose the worst place to get your numbers. Try browsing avito and see if any of the 10000 rub/month flats in city center are available. The numbers are there only to attract you. But for the record none of the .ru links you gave work for me currently. Does hh even host a representative amount of jobs for cleaning staff, shop salesperson, cooks and other jobs many regular people have? How many people don't have th…

How is publicly traded job marketplace company (hh.ru) is the worst place to source salary numbers ? Here is another superjob.ru, yeah Avito you mentioned[0], Somehow, you argue without even bothering to access websites in question. Are you trolling ? [0] https://www.avito.ru/all/vakansii/polnyy_den-ASgCAQICAUCQCxS...

Not sure if you got my point that numbers on these platforms are a scam, it's pretty well known that they are unrealistic and posted to attract attention (aside from select few like Yandex maybe). You keep picking bad biased sources, and you have yet to clarify how to feed a family on 5600 per month

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#304

Post by jvnnmfjvfjvflkj » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 11:52 AM UTC

FpUser wrote: post #286

valleyer wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's a bit harsh to call them xenophobic, but I did have a similar thought recently. What's worse, manufacturing cheap junk for pay, or filling your home with cheap junk?

>"What's worse, manufacturing cheap junk for pay, or filling your home with cheap junk?" Thanks to modern economy in Canada for example people with median and below income currently can't afford to buy anything but junk. Same goes for quality food. Price of accommodation, food and many other things have skyrocketed. This is what is "worse"

This is absolutely untrue. Beans, rice, corn, potatoes, cabbage and salad are cheaper than junk food.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#305

Post by jvnnmfjvfjvflkj » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 11:54 AM UTC

FpUser wrote: post #301

gotorazor wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just did a trip to Loblaws in Toronto yesterday. I disagree. Organic groceries -- sure -- median income people can't really afford it. The traditional, raw items common to the Anglo-Irish diet like potatoes, corn, flour, butter, cabbage, etc are super cheap in Canada. Meat pricing has been super challenging since the pandemic started. Canada don't really have the same kind of agricultural subsidies that the United St…

>"potatoes, corn, flour, butter, ... doritos" Making those your main source is highly unhealthy. It does not matter if it is called "Anglo-Irish". Greens, veggies, decent fruits, meat, fish - through the roof. In Loblaws in particular as I often shop in one. Vine tomatoes - $5 (used to pay $2). Fucking green onions - $2 for pathetic bunch (used to pay $0.5 for a bunch at least 3 times as big). Smaller box of mixed gr…

A single meal at McDonald's is still pricier. What junk food is cheaper?

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#306

Post by FpUser » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 12:01 PM UTC

jvnnmfjvfjvflkj wrote: post #305

FpUser wrote: post #301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"potatoes, corn, flour, butter, ... doritos" Making those your main source is highly unhealthy. It does not matter if it is called "Anglo-Irish". Greens, veggies, decent fruits, meat, fish - through the roof. In Loblaws in particular as I often shop in one. Vine tomatoes - $5 (used to pay $2). Fucking green onions - $2 for pathetic bunch (used to pay $0.5 for a bunch at least 3 times as big). Smaller box of mixed gr…

A single meal at McDonald's is still pricier. What junk food is cheaper?

What is your point? I've heard that fast food places had become way more expensive. So yes average Jane/Joe would have nothing left after covering basic expenses. Myself I do not go to places like this at all. We either cook at home or on very rare occasions go to some restaurants where I can get some really good food.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#307

Post by somethingreen » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 12:14 PM UTC

jhoechtl wrote: post #212

pavlov wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now the challenge for us is that we’re still stuck thinking stores full of Chinese junk is the pinnacle of civilization and we’re unable to know any better despite accumulating evidence of planetary destruction.

But where lies the middle ground? Soviets having one sort of butter vs. 20 sorts of butter (yoghurt, drills, ...) many of which were produced abroad? Maybe we can correct (economic) future by simply insourcing some goods and therefore work and forget about the knowledge society boloney?

Both of you are missing the point. Soviets didn't have one sort of butter in the way west had its 20. You couldn't go to the store and buy however much of that shitty butter you needed when you needed it. You had to catch it when it's there and get in line before it runs out, or know someone who'd tip you off, or know someone who'd sell you from the back door. And then somewhere else (not where it was produced) they'd be dumping excess butter into the ditch because it went bad.

It really isn't something you want to find middle ground with. That's like looking for middle ground between wearing nail polish and having a gangrene.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#308

Post by gotorazor » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 12:18 PM UTC

nivenkos wrote: post #275

ozim wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You did not have to go as far as USA to see that. Trip to western Berlin would be enough. Countries that got under USA sphere of influence had it much better. They got lots of money with Marshall's plan to rebuild economies after war. So even if they would knew there is a better life it was all decided at Jalta and they were most likely not able to do anything about it without straight out starting new war against So…

Except those in the "USA sphere" that had pro-US dictators forced upon them - like Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Indonesia, etc. - even Spain, Portugal, South Korea, Taiwan and Brazil suffered greatly under US-supported (to varying degrees) dictatorships.

Except that, materially, those in the "USA sphere" -- even those with pro-US dictators forced upon them -- are better off comparatively than their neighbours or a comparable country.

Just to look at the countries you listed and their GDP per capita:

1) Asia

Taiwan vs Mainland China South Korea vs North Korea Indonesia (under Suharto) vs Indonesia (under Sukarno)

2) Europe

Spain & Portugal vs Eastern European countries (These two are weird. They were originally old facist countries that stayed neutral during WWII. They were also rural and not industrial compared to every other Western European country until recently)

3) South America

Guatemala vs Nicaragua Brazil vs India (This is tough, since no country can really compare itself to Brazil in South America. I think Indonesia is probably most similar, but they are also on the list. India was more Soviet-aligned) Argentina & Chile vs every other Spanish-speaking South American country.

It's not all rainbows and sunshine, but everybody struggles to some degree during the cold war. Those that the CIA kept propping up are much much better economically than those that didn't receive US funding and arms. I can't believe I am defending the CIA in 2023. But here we are.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#309

Post by gotorazor » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 1:01 PM UTC

4ad wrote: post #271

Waterluvian wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lost me at cars. Cars used to be horrible. They’ve never been better.

Cars have never been more reliable and safer, however "better" is a woefully underspecified and subjective thing. Things I don't like about modern cars: they all look the same, crappy capacitive controls and touchscreens inside the car, constant tracking mandated by law, much harder to work on the car if you are a car enthusiast. To me, a classic car from the 80s, or even early 90s is a far nicer vehicle to be in and…

As a kid from that era, I disagree.

> To me, a classic car from the 80s, or even early 90s is a far nicer vehicle to be in and drive, and provides a far better subjective experience, both in and out of the car, so in a sense, modern cars are "worse" for me.

Just to get this point out of the way: I believe that you are talking about enthuiast cars and not the the Oldsmobile, Taurus, and Chevy Calvaliers I rode around in as a kid.

If you are talking about a "fun-looking car", and you miss the 3-series from the 90's vs those today, buy a mini cooper. That's basically what they are now.

If you want to give up safety, reliability, affordabilty, and fuel efficency, you can still buy a 911. Move up the price range and you can buy Lambos and Masseratis.

Re: Boris Yeltsin's visit to a suburban Houston supermarket in 1989 (2016)

#310

Post by gotorazor » Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 1:13 PM UTC

gnarbarian wrote: post #216

pavlov wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now the challenge for us is that we’re still stuck thinking stores full of Chinese junk is the pinnacle of civilization and we’re unable to know any better despite accumulating evidence of planetary destruction.

we have a big cultural problem. our current economy is great at optimizing for low cost mass produced items that last 6 months and then get thrown in the dump. a pair of shoes that lasts years isn't as profitable as a pair sold every 6 months. a coat or car that can be repaired is one less customer shopping for a new one. engineers design cars they don't have to work on or repair, and will never drive. in a healthy e…

Have you gotten your Redwings resoled? Assuming you live in a 1st world country, how much did that cost? How much did you pay for the pair of Redwings?

Goodyear welted soles are expensive. You can buy 6 pairs of workboots from Walmart or hiking shoes from Decathlon at the same price. Resoling welted shoes cost more than double compared to going to buying a new pair of cheap Timberlands on discount.