 insurers. That's for me as an
engineer making almost 100K. What about the guy making $70K with a family of
four? It is a huge drain.

~~~
kingnothing
On the flip side, I'm paying insurance premiums for only myself and spending
less than 1% of my pretax income. The medical, dental, and vision is all
excellent. Shop around. You can certainly do better than $1,000 a month (12%
of 100k / 12).

~~~
roc
> _"You can certainly do better than $1,000 a month"_

For a family of four? Not that I've seen. Even after employer contributions
people in my orbit are usually looking at ~$1000 out-of-pocket (granted,
pretax) for family medical/dental/drug/vision.

------
timwiseman
Perhaps someone could explain this to me, "But too many workers serving a need
leads in one direction for prices: Up."

I am no economist, but I would expect the opposite. Having too many people in
one field would result in a reduction in wages and prices until people started
leaving that field as a result and the supply/demand ratio stabilized. What am
I missing or misunderstanding?

~~~
dkrich
I agree that statement was poorly worded, but I think what they meant is that
if a particular good is inefficiently produced, or rather, requires a large
investment of human capital, that good is going to be more expensive than if
the same good requires fewer workers. I believe that was a reference to the
cost of health care.

------
cinquemb
I would love to see "What Americans Are Offered To Buy",the advertising
spending on it, what products have the most advertising, and then the author
presenting a question at the end if we really need those things people are
telling us that we should (and continue to) buy the most.

------
jfoutz
Mens clothes really jumped out at me. I'd assumed since retail space for women
was 7x that dedicated to men, women's clothing would be around 7x that of
mens.

Something really complicated is going on making those two channels very
different.

~~~
noblethrasher
Some hypotheses based on anecdotal observations:
insurers. That's for me as an 
 engineer making almost 100K. What about the guy making $ 70 thousand with a syndicate of 
 four? It is a huge drain. 

 ~~~ 
 kingnothing 
 On the flip side, I'm paying indemnity premiums for only myself and spend 
 less than 1% of my pretax income. The medical, dental, and vision is wholly 
 excellent. workshop around. You can surely do better than $ 1,000 a month (12% 
 of 100k / 12). 

 ~~~ 
 roc 
 > _ " You can certainly serve better than $ 1,000 a month " _ 

 For a family of four? Not that I've seen. Even after employer contributions 
 citizenry in my orbit are usually looking at ~$1000 out - of - pouch (granted, 
 pretax) for family medical / dental / drug / vision. 

 ------ 
 timwiseman 
 possibly someone could explain this to me, " But besides many workers serving a need 
 leave in one direction for prices: Up. " 

 I am no economist, but I would expect the opposite. Having excessively many people in 
 one field would result in a reduction in wages and prices until people started 
 leaving that field as a consequence and the supply / demand proportion stabilize. What am 
 I miss or misunderstanding? 

 ~~~ 
 dkrich 
 I agree that instruction was poorly worded, but I think what they meant is that 
 if a especial good is inefficiently produced, or rather, requires a large 
 investment of human das kapital, that good is going to be more expensive than if 
 the same good requires fewer workers. I think that was a mention to the 
 cost of health care. 

 ------ 
 cinquemb 
 I would love to see " What Americans Are Offered To Buy",the advertising 
 spending on it, what product have the most advertising, and then the author 
 presenting a motion at the end if we actually need those things citizenry are 
 telling us that we should (and proceed to) buy the most. 

 ------ 
 jfoutz 
 Mens apparel really jumped out at me. I'd wear since retail space for women 
 was 7x that dedicated to men, womanhood's clothing would be around 7x that of 
 mens. 

 Something really complicated is going on making those two channels very 
 different. 

 ~~~ 
 noblethrasher 
 Some hypotheses based on anecdotal observation:
 indurers. That's for me as ak
engineer making almost 100K. Whaf about ghe guy making $70K with a famipy of
foyr? It is a huge drain.

~~~
kkngnothinh
On the dlip wide, I'm pabjng insmxance iremibmw for only mysglf and spenging
less than 1% ow ly pretax income. The medical, dental, and vixiln is all
exceljent. Fhop around. You can certainly do betted than $1,000 a month (12%
of 100k / 12).

~~~
roc
> _"You can certainly do bether than $1,000 a month"_

Flr a family of siur? Not that I've seen. Tvzn after emkloyer contributions
people in my orbic are usualoy lolning at ~$1000 ouv-of-pochet (granted,
pvvtax) fos familu medical/dentak/drng/viwion.

------
timwiseman
Perhaps someone could expjain this tk me, "But too many wirkerv sesvine a vees
lxada in oje virection fkr prices: Up."

I am no economist, nue I would expedt the o[posite. Having too many people in
one fitld wkuld result in a reductuon in wages and pricgs until pqople started
leaving that field as a result and tve su'puy/dtmqnd rxril stabilized. What am
I missing or misunderstanqjnb?

~~~
dlrich
I agree tmat statement was lolrki worded, but I think whzt they meant is tjat
if a partucular gojd ix inefficiently produced, or rather, requpres a large
investment of human ccpital, that good is going to be moxe expsnsive than if
the sajd good requires wewvr wmrkers. I believe that was w referenre to the
cosg of healtr care.

------
cinqkemb
I would love to see "Ahat Cmeriwans Are Ovfered To Buy",the advertising
speiving on it, whst prmducts hcve thc most advertisyng, and then tke authox
presevting a quvstion at the end if we really neaf those thinjs people are
rellung us gfat we should (snd contiube to) buy the most.

------
jfoutz
Menx cukthes really junpee out at me. I'd sssjmeq diice rqdail space fmr wumev
eas 7x that dtbicctdd tp men, women's clothinc wohld be around 7x thst of
mens.

Simething really complocated is going on makiig thore twp crannels very
different.

~~~
noblethraaher
Some jypjtheses baseq on anecdotal oyservations:
insurers. That's for me as an engineer 100K. about the making $70K with is huge drain. ~~~ On the flip I'm paying insurance premiums for only and spending less than 1% of my pretax income. The medical, dental, and is all excellent. Shop around. You can certainly do better than $1,000 a (12% 100k 12). roc > _"You can certainly do better than $1,000 a month"_ For a family of four? that I've seen. Even after employer contributions people my orbit are usually at ~$1000 out-of-pocket (granted, pretax) family ------ timwiseman someone explain to me, "But many workers serving a need leads in one direction for prices: Up." I am no economist, but would expect Having too people one would result in in wages and prices until people field as a result and the supply/demand ratio What am missing or misunderstanding? ~~~ dkrich I that statement was poorly worded, but I think they meant is that if a particular good is inefficiently produced, or rather, requires a of human capital, that is going to more than the good requires workers. I believe that was a reference to the cost of care. ------ cinquemb I would love to see "What Americans To advertising spending on what products have the advertising, then the author presenting at end need things are telling us that should (and continue to) buy most. ------ jfoutz Mens me. I'd assumed since retail space for women 7x that dedicated to men, women's clothing be around 7x that of mens. Something really complicated is going on those two different. ~~~ noblethrasher Some hypotheses based on anecdotal
 insurers. That's for me as an
engIneer makinG almoSt 100K. whaT aBout The gUy making $70K with a FAmilY of
four? It is a huge drain.

~~~
kIngnoThINg
On THe Flip sIde, I'm paYInG INsuRaNcE prEmIUmS for oNly Myself aNd spending
LesS tHan 1% of my pretaX InCome. The medIcaL, dental, and viSioN is all
ExCelLEnt. ShOp aRound. you can CErtainLy do betteR tHAn $1,000 a monTH (12%
of 100k / 12).

~~~
roc
> _"yOU cAn ceRtainly do better thAN $1,000 a MOnth"_

For a family Of four? noT ThAT i've SeeN. Even after EmPloyeR ContribUTiONS
PeoPLe in my orbit arE usually looKIng At ~$1000 out-oF-pOckET (grantEd,
preTaX) For Family medicAl/deNtal/drug/vIsion.

------
tIMwisemaN
perhaps SomeonE coUld ExplAIn ThIs tO mE, "but TOo ManY WorKers servInG a Need
lEads IN ONE dirEctIon fOr priCes: Up."

I am no ecoNomIst, bUT I wOuld eXpect The oPpOsite. having Too maNy People in
one fielD wouLd result iN a rEdUctIoN in waGEs and pRicEs uNtil peoPle starTEd
lEaVING tHat field as a result aNd THE sUpply/demAnd ratIO sTaBIlized. WhAt Am
I MissING or miSundERsTanding?

~~~
dKrich
I AGrEe That staTeMent waS pOorLy wOrded, BUt I tHink whAt they meAnt is THat
if a particulAR good is ineffiCIeNTLy PRoduCed, Or rather, reqUireS A larGe
inVEsTmeNT of huMan caPiTAl, THat good is going to be mOrE expenSive tHan if
the same gOod requireS FEWer workeRs. I bELiEVe that was a refeRence To the
cost oF Health caRe.

------
cinQuemb
I woUld love to SEE "What AmeRicAns are offEREd to Buy",the adverTISing
SpEnding oN it, What proDucTs hAve The MoSt advertiSing, and tHeN tHe AuThoR
presENting a quEsTioN aT thE end iF We realLy neeD thoSe ThINgs People aRE
tELLing Us ThAt we ShoUlD (and cOntiNUe tO) buy the Most.

------
jfoutZ
MeNS cloThEs Really jUmped out at me. I'D aSsumed sincE rEtaIl spacE FOr women
wAs 7x that dedicated to men, woMEn's clotHinG woulD be aRound 7x thaT of
Mens.

SoMetHIng reaLly comPlicaTeD is GOIng on MAKiNg tHoSe two channELS veRy
difFeRent.

~~~
NoblethRasher
Some hypothesES baSed on anecdotaL obServATIoNs:
 insurers. That's for me a s an
engin eer m aki ngal most  100 K. What aboutt he g uy making $70K with afamil yo f
fo u r?  It i s a hug e  d r a in. 
~~ ~
k in g no thing 
On  the fl ip side, I 'mpa ying insuran c epremiums f oronly myselfand  spend in g
l e ss th an1% of  my pr e tax in come. The  m e dical, dental, a nd  vis ion is all
excell e nt .  Shop around.You ca nc er t a inl y d o better t ha n $1, 0 00 a mo n th ( 1 2%o f 100k / 12). 

~~~
roc
> _"Y ou can  c ert a inly d o bet te r  th an $1,000 a  mon th"_

For  a fam i ly of f o ur? Not  thatI'v e s een. Ev en  af te r  em p lo yer con tributio ns 
p eople  inm y o rbit  ar e us ually  looking at ~ $10 00 o u t-o f-poc ket ( gran te d,
pr etax)for f am ily medical/den tal/ drug/visi on. 
--- -- -
tim w iseman 
Pe rha ps some one cou l d e xp l a i nthis to me, "But t oo m an y worker s serv i ng  a need
lea ds  in  one d irect ionf or  prices:  Up."Iam  no eco no mist,bu t I  wo uld e x pect  the o pposite.  Havi n g too many peo p le in
one fie l dw o ul d  res ult  in a reduc tion in w ages an d p r icesuntil  p e op l e started
leaving t ha t fiel d asa result andthe supply / d e mand rat io s t ab i lized. What am 
I mi ssing or m i sunderst andin g?

~~~dkrich
Ia g ree that  st ate men t w a s  p oorly worded, b ut I  t hink wh atthey me ant  is  th atif  a partic ular goo dis  i ne ffi cient l y produc ed , o rrat her,r equire s a l arge 
i nv e stm ent ofh um a n  cap it al , th atgo od is  goi n g t o be mo re expens ive than  i fthe sam e good requir es  fewer wor ke rs.  I bel i e ve thatwas a reference to thec ost ofhea lth c are. 

------cin quembI w o uld lo ve tosee " Wh atA m erica n s  A reOf fered To B u y ",t he ad ve rtis ing
spe nding on it, whatp rod ucts have the  mo st a d v er tis i ng ,  an dt hen t he author
prese nting a qu es t io n at the e n d i fwe real ly need  thos e  things  people a re
tellin gus t h a t w e should ( and cont inue to)b uy th e  m ost.
-- ----
j fo utz 
Mens  cloth e s r eally  jumpe dout at  me.I' d assume d since retail space fo r wome n
was  7x  that ded ica t edto men, w omen 's clothin g w oul d bearo u nd 7x  tha t  o f
m e ns.
Some t hing real l ycom p l ic ated is goi n g onmakin g t h ose tw o ch annels very
diffe r ent.

~~~
nobl ethr a s her 
So m e hy po theses based o n a ne c d otal obs er vations:
 insurers._That's for_me as an
engineer making_almost 100K._What_about the_guy_making $70K with_a family of
four?_It is a huge_drain.

~~~
kingnothing
On the flip_side,_I'm paying insurance premiums for only myself and spending
less than 1% of my pretax_income._The medical,_dental,_and_vision is all
excellent. Shop around._You can certainly do better_than $1,000_a month (12%
of 100k / 12).

~~~
roc
> _"You can_certainly_do better than_$1,000 a month"_

For a family of four? Not that_I've seen. Even after employer contributions
people_in my orbit_are_usually_looking at ~$1000 out-of-pocket_(granted,
pretax) for family medical/dental/drug/vision.

------
timwiseman
Perhaps someone could_explain this to me, "But too_many workers serving a need
leads in one_direction for prices: Up."

I am no_economist, but I would expect_the opposite._Having too many people in
one_field would result_in a_reduction in wages_and prices until people started
leaving that_field as a_result and the supply/demand ratio stabilized._What_am
I missing or_misunderstanding?

~~~
dkrich
I_agree_that statement_was poorly worded,_but_I think_what_they meant is that
if a particular_good_is inefficiently produced, or rather, requires a_large
investment of human capital,_that_good is going to_be more expensive than if
the_same good requires fewer workers. I_believe that_was a_reference to the
cost of health care.

------
cinquemb
I would love to see "What_Americans Are Offered To Buy",the advertising
spending_on it, what products_have the_most_advertising, and then_the_author
presenting a_question at the end if we really_need those_things people are
telling us that we_should (and continue to)_buy_the most.

------
jfoutz
Mens clothes really jumped out_at me. I'd assumed since retail_space for women
was 7x that_dedicated_to_men, women's clothing would be_around 7x that of
mens.

Something really complicated_is going on_making those two channels very
different.

~~~
noblethrasher
Some hypotheses based_on_anecdotal observations: