August 14th, 2007

GAP and the Gap

I don’t think I’ll ever walk by another GAP store or see one of their commercials without thinking of this boy.

The gap (or disparity) still nags at me…

15 Responses to “GAP and the Gap”

  1. Dan
    August 14, 2007 at 3:08 pm #

    Capitalism at work dude. Welcome to the world of capitalism. Poor black boys in Africa are going to wear ripped up Gap shirts. This is the world of capitalism. This is at its heart. There are winners and there are losers.

  2. Dan
    August 14, 2007 at 3:09 pm #

    PS: are you sure that’s a boy? Is that a skirt he/she is wearing?

  3. Chris
    August 14, 2007 at 3:15 pm #

    Hey, Dan.

    What does this have to do with capitalism. Seriously? Do tell. Is it capitalism that’s keeping him down or is it democratic ideas of welfare that feed a man but don’t teach him to fish.

    Figure it out.

  4. Connor
    August 14, 2007 at 3:16 pm #

    Capitalism at work dude. Welcome to the world of capitalism. Poor black boys in Africa are going to wear ripped up Gap shirts. This is the world of capitalism. This is at its heart. There are winners and there are losers.

    Wow, now that’s heartless…

    PS: are you sure that’s a boy? Is that a skirt he/she is wearing?

    Yes, it’s a boy. Yes, it’s a skirt. “Welcome to the world of capitalism,” where some boys have to wear girls’ clothing because it’s all that they can obtain…

  5. Dan
    August 14, 2007 at 3:35 pm #

    Chris,

    What do you mean what does this have to do with capitalism? Connor is bemoaning the disparity gap, something brought on by capitalism.

    Wow, now that’s heartless…

    I’m glad we both agree what is at the heart of capitalism, heartlessness. Thank you.

  6. Chris
    August 14, 2007 at 3:39 pm #

    @Dan:

    “Connor is bemoaning the disparity gap, something brought on by capitalism.”

    Again, do tell. Come on Dan give it to us. So far you’re all style and no substance. Please educate us. I mean you really seem to have it figured out.

  7. Chris
    August 14, 2007 at 3:46 pm #

    For those out there who have their brains on (unlike Dan) here’s an interesting article on a company making a difference in Africa:

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HNN/is_9_19/ai_n6245129

    Pixel Corps does video production state side then sends their post production work to a shop they set up in Africa with 50 technicians they’ve trained to do post production video work. They are teaching some people in Africa a new skill and helping to build and educate their society. This also helps Pixel Corps to reduce costs to their state-side clients. All the time making money under “evil capitalism”

  8. Dan
    August 14, 2007 at 3:46 pm #

    I mean you really seem to have it figured out.

    Yep. But in the spirit of capitalism, I’m keeping it all to myself. šŸ˜‰

  9. Dan
    August 14, 2007 at 3:48 pm #

    Chris,

    Ah but Alex Lindsay is a liberal at heart. Of course he would do something nice for Africans.

  10. Connor
    August 14, 2007 at 3:52 pm #

    …something brought on by capitalism.

    Again, as I’ve argued in another recent post, I would challenge your definition of capitalism. Like many others, you perhaps seem to feel that capitalism includes government intervention, corrupt politicians, supranational policies, and other external factors. Capitalism has not done this; lack of opportunity, corrupt politicians, the intervention of the IMF and World Bank, and AIDS has.

    If anything, capitalism is helping the situation. Free trade, local enterprise, microloans, and other initiatives that stimulate the economy, encourage trade, and offer employment are providing a leg up for those who need it.

    I’m glad we both agree what is at the heart of capitalism, heartlessness.

    Ha! Heartlessness is the intervention of central planners and socialistic plunder. To be sure, there are greedy “capitalists” who hoard their money and refuse to help—but they have only made their money through employing others and participating in the economy. As such, others benefit as well. Atlas Shrugged taught us just that—that the wealthy are not to be hated nor the object of envy, but instead should be appreciated for their position to provide employment and opportunity to those “beneath” them.

    Ah but Alex Lindsay is a liberal at heart. Of course he would do something nice for Africans.

    How’s that for segregation? Are you implying that liberals are charitable and conservatives are not? I’m a conservative that considers myself charitable (and a capitalist to boot!). How do you reconcile that, Dan?

  11. Dan
    August 14, 2007 at 3:53 pm #

    I’m sorry Connor. I’ve been a bit trollish today. I’ll leave you be.

  12. Chris
    August 14, 2007 at 3:56 pm #

    Liberal or conservative its capitalism that’s the issue and in the case of Mr. Lindsey its capitalism at work to help Africans – not liberalism.

    Think about it, Dan…

  13. Frank Staheli
    August 14, 2007 at 4:02 pm #

    Dan,

    Thank you for being the agent provocateur on this site. Okay, you provoked me.

    Capitalism has not caused the problems on the African continent. Unscrupulous Western socialists (read European colonialists) and oriental (read Soviet and Chinese) socialists have aided and abetted unscrupulous African socialist dictators in their lust for domination over others.

    And they have succeeded.

    Get rid of socialist domination of man over man, and young boys wouldn’t be wearing tattered GAP shirts and skirts in Africa. They would be wearing new, clean clothes, having eaten a full meal, and their housing and other comforts of life would be much greater.

  14. Curtis
    August 15, 2007 at 11:30 am #

    Frank and all,
    I hope by saying that socialism is the problem in Africa, you mean the state supported multinational corporations. I agree that Capitalism isn’t the true form of economic policy we follow here. Connor complains often about the entitlement mentality of socialistic policies, but the biggest recipients of such entitlement handouts are the richest corporations in the world. As Dewey once said, our government is the shadow cast on society by big business.

  15. Frank Staheli
    August 15, 2007 at 8:15 pm #

    Curtis,

    You make an excellent point. I agree with it. The richest corporations are guilty of receiving government largess. It doesn’t matter in what way government exercises control over the economy; even if it is to subsidize large corporations, it is still socialism.

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