I am amazed how much brand loyalty there is in the truck market. You hear people say things (or bumper stickers) like "I'd rather push a Chevy than drive a Ford" or "I'd rather eat worms than drive a Chevy."

Speaking of trucks, there was a funny story on the radio this morning. Two guys in the L.A. area went into a convenience store at 3 a.m. and stole the ATM machine. I don't mean they robbed it, I mean they took the machine itself. 1500 pounds. I have no idea how two guys managed to lift it into the bed of their truck (or how they thought they were going to get the machine open) but they did. Off they go. A cop sees them and decides for some reason this seems suspicious. A chase ensues. The driver of the truck then drives down a dead end street, where they are cornered like rats. They get out of the truck and take off running. Well, one of them does. He got away and remains at large, or was this morning. The other guy gets about three steps when his PROSTHETIC LEG falls off and he is captured. Now I am *really* curious how they got that 1500 pound ATM into the truck, one of them with a bum leg. Don't you just love these exploits of criminal masterminds?


>But isn't advertising just part of the market? People derive value in a lot of different ways. Take the decision to buy a truck. The difference between a Ford, Chevy, Dodge is pretty subjective. There are pretty good road-test reviews and Consumer Reports stats available for those whose decision depends on that kind of fact base. But there is also satisfaction to driving a truck one perceives to be whatever the truck commercials are pushing. If you drink beer because you like the taste, you'll drink what you like, if you drink beer to be cool you'll drink what they tell you the cool guys drink.
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>And guys will buy pretty much anything they think will get them laid. People buy hope - however misplaced < g >
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>The important thing for a free market is contract law, tort law, a stable banking system and a stable currency ( and nobody planting bombs in the market ) . Everything else is just the fish monger shouting his wares.
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>>>I agree Charles, however, free trade only works if it is fair free trade for all. Somehow good ideas seldom get implemented fairly.
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>>The idea of free trade is that the market will make sure that the best guy wins, and that any merchandise will find a customer when the price meets the will to pay.
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>>Then the whole advertising industry is poised to beat that idea. Its sole purpose is to manipulate the market, contrary to letting the market decide for itself. And then the big guys, who can buy the best advertising weapons, win in this armaments race. These weapons cost millions, and guess who's paying for them.
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>>Since pretty much everyone has to advertise in order to sell, am I right to conclude that nobody believes in fair and free market?