Years ago one of my Dad’s friends, a “small holdings” farmer (i.e., one with a few hogs, a few steers, some corn, beans, milo, and 2 unstyled IHC’s) remarked to me that, “A farmer is a bid’nessman who buys ever’thing at retail and sells ever’thing at wholesale.”
I was in small business for 25 years. The suppliers (producers and wholesalers) I bought from were not what most people would call rich and neither was I. We were all working to provide for our families and were middle income. However people who were not in business, particular those with government jobs, thought of us and spoke of us as rich. Envy can be dangerous.
I get that it’s fun to make sport of middlemen, just as people really get a bang out of lawyer jokes, but they serve a real purpose in any economy. If you’re out on your boat fishing every day, who’s got time to tend the fish shop? That’s why you need a fishmonger. And if the fishmonger’s shop is 5 leagues away from the harbor, who’s gonna truck the fish out there?
As we’ve learned lately while watching some of the wheels fall off the economy, it’s a complex mechanism, with many moving parts. As the old aphorism has it, the status quo didn’t get there by accident, somebody PUT it there.
Kurtass over 4 years ago
Is that the trickle down egonomics we’ve been waiting for?
I Mad Am I over 4 years ago
Either… that is a Bear in disguise…
Or… that Finance Shark has way too many teeth! (Grin!)
hermit48 over 4 years ago
I think he already has a cart full of that.
The Old Wolf over 4 years ago
If man is the producer, and woman is the consumer, would Professor Divine kindly name the sex of the fat party in the middle?
Packratjohn Premium Member over 4 years ago
First rule; Never pay retail
hitmouse over 4 years ago
A mixture of economics and ergonomics – when YOU pay to do work!
A# 466 over 4 years ago
Years ago one of my Dad’s friends, a “small holdings” farmer (i.e., one with a few hogs, a few steers, some corn, beans, milo, and 2 unstyled IHC’s) remarked to me that, “A farmer is a bid’nessman who buys ever’thing at retail and sells ever’thing at wholesale.”
Masterskrain over 4 years ago
A “Robbin’ Hood!”
Michael G. over 4 years ago
Sounds sweet to the guy with the honey cart.
boydjb47 over 4 years ago
I was in small business for 25 years. The suppliers (producers and wholesalers) I bought from were not what most people would call rich and neither was I. We were all working to provide for our families and were middle income. However people who were not in business, particular those with government jobs, thought of us and spoke of us as rich. Envy can be dangerous.
sandpiper over 4 years ago
Guy still has 3 years left on the cart loan.
John Wiley Premium Member over 4 years ago
Robin Hood stole from the government and gave it back to the taxpayer.
johnec over 4 years ago
Someone’s gotta facilitate the transfer back to the rich of all the riches that Robin Hood stole from them and gave to the poor.
What are the poor going to do with all those riches, anyway? Buy stuff? There you go.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
The “middle class” is made up of middle men making up middle management making a muddle of everything. God bless us.
Linguist over 4 years ago
“No thanks,” thinks the peasant. “I’ve got a cartload of what you’re selling!”
Honorable Mention In The Banjo Toss Premium Member over 4 years ago
“Now, friend, I happen to like you, so tell me, what’s it gonna take to get you into a new dung cart?”
rlaker22j over 4 years ago
trickle down economics is urine the purchasers
VickiP123 over 4 years ago
that’s the stopper in the trickle
mopa65 over 4 years ago
note the load of manure
scaeva Premium Member over 4 years ago
The solution is in his cart …
RobinHood over 4 years ago
I will not be made useless
I won’t be idled with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know,
But they’re not yours they are my own
But they’re not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
Jewel Kilcher
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 4 years ago
I get that it’s fun to make sport of middlemen, just as people really get a bang out of lawyer jokes, but they serve a real purpose in any economy. If you’re out on your boat fishing every day, who’s got time to tend the fish shop? That’s why you need a fishmonger. And if the fishmonger’s shop is 5 leagues away from the harbor, who’s gonna truck the fish out there?
As we’ve learned lately while watching some of the wheels fall off the economy, it’s a complex mechanism, with many moving parts. As the old aphorism has it, the status quo didn’t get there by accident, somebody PUT it there.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member over 4 years ago
Bid and asked.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member over 4 years ago
I am enamored by trickle-up economics, which should work much better:
1. Pay workers higher wages.
2. Workers spend more money buying things.
3. Companies see a higher profit margin.
4. Owners, CEOs, shareholders get more money for their toys.
Everybody is happier.
keenanthelibrarian over 4 years ago
What would Robin have to say about that?
adrianrune over 4 years ago
Looks like the “poor” has a cart full of what the rich give us.