WWTBAM Bored

Jeff Bezos wrote:I’m writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages.

We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.

There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.

I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.

I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t “hell yes,” then it had to be “no.” After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision. We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.

I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.

BackInTex wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 8:44 am

This has to be one of the dumbest ideas yet.

If folks would not consume anything on a single day, then that might have some affect on the companies, but just shifting the purchases forward or back a day or two does nothing but hurt the part-time minimum wage employees who had shifts on Friday and are now being sent home becuase of a slow day (if in fact no one shops on Friday).

Weyoun wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 1:49 pm

BackInTex wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 8:44 am

This has to be one of the dumbest ideas yet.

If folks would not consume anything on a single day, then that might have some affect on the companies, but just shifting the purchases forward or back a day or two does nothing but hurt the part-time minimum wage employees who had shifts on Friday and are now being sent home becuase of a slow day (if in fact no one shops on Friday).

Oh, now we’re worried about people being employed? Too bad we didn’t think of that when the government started firing important seasoned workers, or we started tariffs, which are going to cause more inflation.

flockofseagulls104 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:26 pm

Weyoun wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 1:49 pm

BackInTex wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 8:44 am

This has to be one of the dumbest ideas yet.

If folks would not consume anything on a single day, then that might have some affect on the companies, but just shifting the purchases forward or back a day or two does nothing but hurt the part-time minimum wage employees who had shifts on Friday and are now being sent home becuase of a slow day (if in fact no one shops on Friday).

Oh, now we’re worried about people being employed? Too bad we didn’t think of that when the government started firing important seasoned workers, or we started tariffs, which are going to cause more inflation.

Did we worry about that when people were fired for not wanting stuff injected into them? How about when the entire economy was shut down by the government for a week 'to stop the spread'?

Why are you defending the OBVIOUS and IN YOUR FACE waste, abuse of taxpayer money, fraud and corruption that we all know exists in government? And attacking those who are not only qualified, but are motivated to find it and stop it? What are your arguments?

I, for one, was terminated when my company was acquired by a bigger company. They didn't believe they needed me. But a couple of months later they realized they did and called me back. I negotiated a better deal.

If it is discovered that any of these people that were let go are actually needed, they can be rehired. But, you know and I know, that most of them were hired to justify the continuation of their department's budgets, and that there is no incentive for productivity in government jobs. This is LONG overdue.

Weyoun wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:56 pm

By the way, your comment comparing this to the Covid lockdowns is offensive and stupid

Weyoun wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:56 pm

By the way, your comment comparing this to the Covid lockdowns is offensive and stupid

I agree, it is difficult to balance at what point do you shut down the economy too long and hurt people in other ways. But over 1 million people died and many more would have died had we not taken some kind of measure.

On the other hand, you’re comparing this to willy-nilly firing of federal employees, many who are folks who do important things, just so Congress can free up several billion dollars in funds for tax cuts to the rich. The savings turns out to be pretty minimal, and certainly nothing that appears to be worth it long-term. For example, the national parks are our profitable. Why would you hinder their ability to function?

So, not really the same.

flockofseagulls104 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:33 pm

Weyoun wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:56 pm

By the way, your comment comparing this to the Covid lockdowns is offensive and stupid

I agree, it is difficult to balance at what point do you shut down the economy too long and hurt people in other ways. But over 1 million people died and many more would have died had we not taken some kind of measure.

On the other hand, you’re comparing this to willy-nilly firing of federal employees, many who are folks who do important things, just so Congress can free up several billion dollars in funds for tax cuts to the rich. The savings turns out to be pretty minimal, and certainly nothing that appears to be worth it long-term. For example, the national parks are our profitable. Why would you hinder their ability to function?

So, not really the same.

How about the 10,000 that lost their jobs when biden's handlers shut down the Keystone Pipeline on day one of his fraudulent regime? That offensive and stupid enough for you?

Bob Juch wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 04, 2025 6:24 pm

flockofseagulls104 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:33 pm

Weyoun wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:56 pm

By the way, your comment comparing this to the Covid lockdowns is offensive and stupid

I agree, it is difficult to balance at what point do you shut down the economy too long and hurt people in other ways. But over 1 million people died and many more would have died had we not taken some kind of measure.

On the other hand, you’re comparing this to willy-nilly firing of federal employees, many who are folks who do important things, just so Congress can free up several billion dollars in funds for tax cuts to the rich. The savings turns out to be pretty minimal, and certainly nothing that appears to be worth it long-term. For example, the national parks are our profitable. Why would you hinder their ability to function?

So, not really the same.

How about the 10,000 that lost their jobs when biden's handlers shut down the Keystone Pipeline on day one of his fraudulent regime? That offensive and stupid enough for you?

You're a worse liar than President Orange.

TC Energy said more than 1,000 people are out of work because of Biden’s executive order. In October, the company said it expected to employ more than 11,000 Americans in 2021 and generate more than $1.6 billion in gross wages.

But both TC Energy and the State Department have said the majority of those jobs would be temporary. A 2014 report found that the company would need only 50 employees to maintain the Keystone XL pipeline once it’s finished, 35 of them permanent.