Comments on: Bread and Circuses in Egypt http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/ What is seen and what is unseen. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:23:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matthew Ortego http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-10719 Matthew Ortego Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:26:18 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/#comment-10719 I think this is a crude form of free enterprise. I also believe that those who participated in thses activities were doing so to feed their families. I dont beleive the Egyptian government intentionally started this program to give a specific group this profitable opportunity. Like in all government "handouts" such as foodstamps, medicare, etc, some people take advantage of these programs to enrich themselves without having to work for their money. Government monitoring of this program could correct this program if they wanted to. I think this is a crude form of free enterprise. I also believe that those who participated in thses activities were doing so to feed their families. I dont beleive the Egyptian government intentionally started this program to give a specific group this profitable opportunity. Like in all government “handouts” such as foodstamps, medicare, etc, some people take advantage of these programs to enrich themselves without having to work for their money.
Government monitoring of this program could correct this program if they wanted to.

]]> By: Christopher Boudreaux http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9668 Christopher Boudreaux Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:35:12 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/#comment-9668 I believe this is a result of government dependence and fixed prices. If free markets exist then better opportunities should result for everyone. For most cases, this should be the better alternative for the economy as a whole. If prices are fixed, it will benefit some and impose costs on others. I believe this is a result of government dependence and fixed prices. If free markets exist then better opportunities should result for everyone. For most cases, this should be the better alternative for the economy as a whole. If prices are fixed, it will benefit some and impose costs on others.

]]> By: Morris Coats http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9047 Morris Coats Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:36:18 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/#comment-9047 Hey Alex, The Egyptian people do not buy from the American government at controlled prices, but from their own. I am sure you just mis-wrought there. Bread shortages are not certainties, as we will soon see, but are the normal result of price ceilings. It is not clear to me that reselling the bread, particularly as sandwiches, is all that illegal. -MC Hey Alex,

The Egyptian people do not buy from the American government at controlled prices, but from their own. I am sure you just mis-wrought there. Bread shortages are not certainties, as we will soon see, but are the normal result of price ceilings. It is not clear to me that reselling the bread, particularly as sandwiches, is all that illegal.

-MC

]]> By: Alex Hatch http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-8958 Alex Hatch Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:31:15 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/19/bread-and-circuses-in-egypt/#comment-8958 I definately would say that this article is strictly positive economics. There is no question or emotional belief about what might happen in this situation. The author of the article states that it is occuring, not whether or not it should be. Its very simple really. First come first serve. Survival of the fittest, I would say. If the people of egypt are starving and in desparate need of money, then of course some will figure out a way to profit from the situation. They know that there will always be a shortage of bread, and the people will always want more of it. They buy as much as possible from the American government at controlled prices and resell to those who weren't so fortunate to make it to the better half of the waiting line. Quite illegal, but quick easy money if you ask me; I'm sure the people of egyptian culture (starving and poor) could care less about ethical politics in relation to the law... I definately would say that this article is strictly positive economics. There is no question or emotional belief about what might happen in this situation. The author of the article states that it is occuring, not whether or not it should be. Its very simple really. First come first serve. Survival of the fittest, I would say. If the people of egypt are starving and in desparate need of money, then of course some will figure out a way to profit from the situation. They know that there will always be a shortage of bread, and the people will always want more of it. They buy as much as possible from the American government at controlled prices and resell to those who weren’t so fortunate to make it to the better half of the waiting line. Quite illegal, but quick easy money if you ask me; I’m sure the people of egyptian culture (starving and poor) could care less about ethical politics in relation to the law…

]]>