{"id":47993210,"user":"WalterBright","time":1777780798,"time_ago":"12 hours ago","type":"comment","content":"

And the buyer tries to pay as little as possible. Negotiating is a skill well worth learning (lots of books on it).","comments":[{"id":47993941,"user":"9dev","time":1777789232,"time_ago":"10 hours ago","type":"comment","content":"

This discussion is perverse. Negotiations require leverage, which the average grocery buyer in the USA does not have. As a society we don't benefit from min-maxing absolutely every opportunity.","comments":[{"id":47994007,"user":"WalterBright","time":1777789964,"time_ago":"10 hours ago","type":"comment","content":"

[flagged]","dead":true,"comments":[{"id":47995280,"user":"RandomLensman","time":1777801764,"time_ago":"7 hours ago","type":"comment","content":"

Government stores are fine then?","comments":[{"id":47997898,"user":"WalterBright","time":1777822052,"time_ago":"an hour ago","type":"comment","content":"

The PX is subsidized by the taxpayers, and it's a benefit provided to members of the military and their families. A military base is a socialist paradise, which only works because taxpayers pay for it.

My dad grew up a socialist. He was cured of that affliction after living on military bases for years. For example, the economy on a base on the surface looks like a money based economy. But it isn't. The actual economy is based on rank and a currency of mutual favors. For example, the guy who allocates base housing to you obliges you to return a favor if you get better quarters.

Having a higher rank means you can grant more favors, and so get more favors in return.

The USSR economy ran like that, too, on a massive scale.

P.S. The USSR's actual prices on things included the time spent waiting in line. People would pay others to wait in line for them. Talk about inefficiency!","comments":[{"id":47997953,"user":"RandomLensman","time":1777822379,"time_ago":"an hour ago","type":"comment","content":"

Not sure what the means of production are that are under societal ownership with respect to the military.

Anyway, how non-human relationship driven do you think the private economy is?","comments":[{"id":47998183,"user":"WalterBright","time":1777823542,"time_ago":"30 minutes ago","type":"comment","content":"

Personal favors do play a role in the private economy, but money is still the dominant currency. Under socialism, the dominant currency is favors. Favors are a form of barter, and barter economies are inefficient. I can explain why if you like.","comments":[],"comments_count":0,"level":5,"url":"item?id=47998183"}],"comments_count":1,"level":4,"url":"item?id=47997953"}],"comments_count":2,"level":3,"url":"item?id=47997898"}],"comments_count":3,"level":2,"url":"item?id=47995280"}],"comments_count":4,"level":1,"url":"item?id=47994007"}],"comments_count":5,"level":0,"url":"item?id=47993941"}],"comments_count":6,"url":"item?id=47993210"}

Comment by WalterBright