Comments on: August break

By: jbernar

jbernar — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:40:47 +0000

I’m not surprised that the price of high-end Bordeaux is manipulated: it’s a textbook example of a geographically restricted, cartelized luxury market. I’m sure that Bordeaux producers appreciate the growth of wealth inequality, and are acting accordingly. It may be just the scale of the price manipulation that is different now.

The only infallible law in the global economy of luxury consumption is that the higher the price of the product, the more scope is offered for reasonably decent Chinese knockoffs.

By: GRRR

GRRR — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:44:03 +0000

In the fairy tale world of Economic Theology aka Hayek aka Conservative Dogma aka Fox News aka Tea Party, there is no such thing as being wrong…there is only Right and more Right.

By: walt9316

walt9316 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:19:07 +0000

Consumers can “short” 2009 and 2010 Bordeaux by buying only minimal amounts for “library” references and buying more for routine consumption if the prices come down later. I suggest Sonoma Co pinots in the meantime.

By: BRM_3

BRM_3 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:56:16 +0000

Two things:

1) I’m stunned and humbled to finally, without caveat, agree with you on a tax policy comment. Everyone knows what an utter mess the current system is. Find someone worth $100 million who makes it into the top bracket by the second week of February each year and ask them what their effective income tax rate is. I happen to be a proponent of a flat tax but anything would be better than what we have now. The debt ceiling bill will only make the system more convoluted and likely more susceptible to manipulation.

2) Don’t ever respond to a Charlie Gasparino foray ever again. Please. I prefer to see you at eye level, even when I think you’re madly wrong. because even then, at least you’re not a cold-calling, name-dropping, sensationalist.