Comments on: The Future Is Grim: Ben Stein http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:01:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Norman Doering http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-138697 Norman Doering Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:01:20 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-138697 "Why would we not just build more hospitals?" Because hospitals aren't enough. You also need doctors. They take a lot of money and time to train. However, I find it hard to take anything Ben Stein says too seriously. He has a theocon agenda: http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2008/02/ben-stein-crouching-theocon-hidden-nit.html http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2008/03/ben-stein-admits-he-has-only-little-pea.html “Why would we not just build more hospitals?”

Because hospitals aren’t enough. You also need doctors. They take a lot of money and time to train.

However, I find it hard to take anything Ben Stein says too seriously. He has a theocon agenda:
http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2008/02/ben-stein-crouching-theocon-hidden-nit.html
http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2008/03/ben-stein-admits-he-has-only-little-pea.html

]]> By: Terry Leeders http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-90322 Terry Leeders Fri, 30 Mar 2007 01:45:59 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-90322 Standards of living? If consumers actually write down what they spend on each month, and add it up over a year, they would be amazed on the money they are throwing away on non-necessities. I wouldn't have half the bankruptcy clients at my Chicago based bankruptcy law firm as I do if people set budgets for themselves. Do you really need to spend $30 a week buying that low-fat, latte with double whip cream and a shot of espresso every day on the way to work. Invest in a coffee pot and make a good 'ol cup of joe like they did in the good old days! Standards of living?

If consumers actually write down what they spend on each month, and add it up over a year, they would be amazed on the money they are throwing away on non-necessities.

I wouldn’t have half the bankruptcy clients at my Chicago based bankruptcy law firm as I do if people set budgets for themselves. Do you really need to spend $30 a week buying that low-fat, latte with double whip cream and a shot of espresso every day on the way to work. Invest in a coffee pot and make a good ‘ol cup of joe like they did in the good old days!

]]> By: Bruce Kroeze http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-2005 Bruce Kroeze Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:37:06 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-2005 So, won't there be tons of opportunity for "road clearing crews"? People who make things easier for wealthy retiring folks wont be in that poverty wave, that's for certain. So, won’t there be tons of opportunity for “road clearing crews”? People who make things easier for wealthy retiring folks wont be in that poverty wave, that’s for certain.

]]> By: Matt http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-2004 Matt Wed, 08 Mar 2006 20:29:45 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-2004 Ben Stein sounds like a cranky old man a lot of the time... "Back in my day, things were so much better". Yes, personal service has definitely taken a turn for the worse, but the market should level it out if people seek out better service. That's a big reason why Dell took off in the late 90's (and then sucked for a few years). If United's service is bad, switch to an airline that puts a premium on taking care of customers. I've had fantastic experiences with Continental and I've heard great things about JetBlue. He is right about the standard of living stuff. We may be closer to a massive wave of poverty than we think. Ben Stein sounds like a cranky old man a lot of the time… “Back in my day, things were so much better”. Yes, personal service has definitely taken a turn for the worse, but the market should level it out if people seek out better service. That’s a big reason why Dell took off in the late 90′s (and then sucked for a few years). If United’s service is bad, switch to an airline that puts a premium on taking care of customers. I’ve had fantastic experiences with Continental and I’ve heard great things about JetBlue.

He is right about the standard of living stuff. We may be closer to a massive wave of poverty than we think.

]]> By: JLP at AllThingsFinancial http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-2003 JLP at AllThingsFinancial Tue, 07 Mar 2006 07:28:55 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-2003 Jeremy Siegel talks about all this stuff in "The Future for Investors." He's cautiously optimistic. Jeremy Siegel talks about all this stuff in “The Future for Investors.” He’s cautiously optimistic.

]]> By: Herb http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-2002 Herb Tue, 07 Mar 2006 01:24:01 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-2002 Why would we not just build more hospitals? The same could have been said after WW2 "woe is us, what are we gonna do with all these new kids?" and yet the last 50 years were the best on record. There are something like a billion+ people in China making less than $3 a day. What happens when they can afford to buy more stuff? Why would we not just build more hospitals? The same could have been said after WW2 “woe is us, what are we gonna do with all these new kids?” and yet the last 50 years were the best on record. There are something like a billion+ people in China making less than $3 a day. What happens when they can afford to buy more stuff?

]]> By: FMF http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-future-is-grim-ben-stein/comment-page-1/#comment-2001 FMF Mon, 06 Mar 2006 23:44:10 +0000 http://wp.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=925#comment-2001 I read that too. However, if things get too bad, there will be money to be had and businesses will adjust, build more, etc. I'm not as down on the future as he is. I read that too. However, if things get too bad, there will be money to be had and businesses will adjust, build more, etc. I’m not as down on the future as he is.

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