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Should politicians know the price of a pint of milk?

Should politicians know the price of a pint of milk?

  • Yes, it's critically important.

    Votes: 3 15.8%

  • Yes, but only marginally important.

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • I don't want a politician to be an average person.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Meh. A factor, but a lesser factor.

    Votes: 3 15.8%

  • No, not really important at all.

    Votes: 11 57.9%
  • Total voters
    19
Who buys milk by the pint? I have no idea how much it is.
 
This thread has proven something to me. The fact that so many people got caught up in the particular unit of measure, to the point that they were seemingly completely incapable of grasping the concept, it's no wonder that the rest of the world perceives the average American voter as a bunch of fricken dolts. Because, apparently, so many are. In the future if someone says Americans are idiots and morons, I'll be tempted to hang my head in shame and say, "Yeah, I know."

The article was written in Britain, so of course they're going to use a unit of measure common to them. So what? Does that change the concept of a politician being in touch with the everyday issues of their constituents? No, it does not. The article also mentions Bush I's infamous milk pricing episode, and specifies gallons in that part. They (the Brits) didn't seem to have an issue with differing units of measure in the same article. Are we really this effing stupid that we can't consider the concept or point of a discussion without getting wrapped up in meaningless minutiae? Oh, look, an effing squirrel.

If this thread is an example of the intellectual capacity of the average American, then it makes perfect sense why we have the dysfunctional government that we do.

God help us.
 
radcen said:
This thread has proven something to me. The fact that so many people got caught up in the particular unit of measure, to the point that they were seemingly completely incapable of grasping the concept, it's no wonder that the rest of the world perceives the average American voter as a bunch of fricken dolts. Because, apparently, so many are. In the future if someone says Americans are idiots and morons, I'll be tempted to hang my head in shame and say, "Yeah, I know."

The article was written in Britain, so of course they're going to use a unit of measure common to them. So what? Does that change the concept of a politician being in touch with the everyday issues of their constituents? No, it does not. The article also mentions Bush I's infamous milk pricing episode, and specifies gallons in that part. They (the Brits) didn't seem to have an issue with differing units of measure in the same article. Are we really this effing stupid that we can't consider the concept or point of a discussion without getting wrapped up in meaningless minutiae? Oh, look, an effing squirrel.

If this thread is an example of the intellectual capacity of the average American, then it makes perfect sense why we have the dysfunctional government that we do.

God help us.
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Remember, this is a nation where Kim Kardashian posing naked is bigger news than a probe landing on a comet for the first time in human history.
 
radcen said:
This thread has proven something to me. The fact that so many people got caught up in the particular unit of measure, to the point that they were seemingly completely incapable of grasping the concept, it's no wonder that the rest of the world perceives the average American voter as a bunch of fricken dolts. Because, apparently, so many are. In the future if someone says Americans are idiots and morons, I'll be tempted to hang my head in shame and say, "Yeah, I know."

The article was written in Britain, so of course they're going to use a unit of measure common to them. So what? Does that change the concept of a politician being in touch with the everyday issues of their constituents? No, it does not. The article also mentions Bush I's infamous milk pricing episode, and specifies gallons in that part. They (the Brits) didn't seem to have an issue with differing units of measure in the same article. Are we really this effing stupid that we can't consider the concept or point of a discussion without getting wrapped up in meaningless minutiae? Oh, look, an effing squirrel.

If this thread is an example of the intellectual capacity of the average American, then it makes perfect sense why we have the dysfunctional government that we do.

God help us.
Click to expand...

Er...I took a "pint of milk" to be a metaphor for the cost of living for the average American. I had no idea we were actually discussing a literal pint of milk.
 
Wow, i just binged watched the first 2 seasons of Alpha House- great show- and this was something they made fun of. One of the main characters was in a debate against Penn Jillette and asked him this question. Penn then turned the pint of milk into a puppy, I believe. :lol:
 
Cardinal said:
Er...I took a "pint of milk" to be a metaphor for the cost of living for the average American. I had no idea we were actually discussing a literal pint of milk.
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We weren't. Well, some were, for reasons that defy reason. You took correctly, the unit of measure is wholly irrelevant.
 
Taking it literally I couldnt tell you how much milk costs, I need it so I buy it. I only really pay attention to prices of things that I consider treats. Even then I tend to just buy on sale and if they jack up the prices before hand and say 2$ off well they got me. What can you do. I have to eat, I have to buy gas, I have to pay for my home energy use. I have no control over any of these prices only how how much I consume. To a limited extent at least.
 
Quag said:
Taking it literally I couldnt tell you how much milk costs, I need it so I buy it. I only really pay attention to prices of things that I consider treats. Even then I tend to just buy on sale and if they jack up the prices before hand and say 2$ off well they got me. What can you do. I have to eat, I have to buy gas, I have to pay for my home energy use. I have no control over any of these prices only how how much I consume. To a limited extent at least.
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You don't have control over unit prices, but like you say you have control over much you consume, so you do have control over how much you spend on a given product. Everybody has a "price point" where something gets too high, at which point they will cut back their consumption to reduce costs, or eliminate it altogether.
 
radcen said:
You don't have control over unit prices, but like you say you have control over much you consume, so you do have control over how much you spend on a given product. Everybody has a "price point" where something gets too high, at which point they will cut back their consumption to reduce costs, or eliminate it altogether.
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I cant really cut back on gas, I dont go for pleasure drives in my car I drive when I need to. I am not the type of person who enjoys driving for me it is a means to an end only and I waste as little time in a car as I can. I see no way of cutting back on milk or other staples without adversly impacting my health. I can cut back on "luxury" food items such as filet mignon, lobster, fine cheese etc. but milk, rice, veggies, flour, bacon (man cannot survive without bacon)etc. not really.

However as to the implied and not the literal question in the OP. I do notice my grocery bill going up over time but I really dont pay attention to individual prices. Gas prices I do notice because well it is displayed so prominetly and I am only paying for gas when I fill my tank not a bunch of seperate items like when I buy groceries.
 
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Quag said:
I cant really cut back on gas, I dont go for pleasure drives in my car I drive when I need to. I am not the type of person who enjoys driving for me it is a means to an end only and I waste as little time in a car as I can. I see no way of cutting back on milk or other staples without adversly impacting my health. I can cut back on "luxury" food items such as filet mignon, lobster, fine cheese etc. but milk, rice, veggies, flour, bacon (man cannot survive without bacon)etc. not really.

However as to the implied and not the literal question in the OP. I do notice my grocery bill going up over time but I really dont pay attention to individual prices. Gas prices I do notice because well it is displayed so prominetly and I am only paying for gas when I fill my tank not a bunch of seperate items like when I buy groceries.
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Granted, and per a previous post, I don't expect a politician to be spot on. But I do think they need to be aware and knowledgeable. The average person isn't making policy, but the politician is.
 
radcen said:
Granted, and per a previous post, I don't expect a politician to be spot on. But I do think they need to be aware and knowledgeable. The average person isn't making policy, but the politician is.
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Problem is that for many of them even if they did "know the price of a pint of milk" it wouldnt mean much to them. A multi-millionaire regardless of whether they are a politician or not will have a hard time relating the price of necessities as it affects the average person. It is just such a small part of their wealth/income. Even those who spend their entire life in the middle class can not fully appreciate just how much small increases can affect the poor. Not that they cant relate at all, it just doesnt affect them as much.
 
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Quag said:
Problem is that for many of them even if they did "know the price of a pint of milk" it wouldnt mean much to them. A multi-millionaire regardless of whether they are a politician or not will have a hard time relating the price of necessities as it affects the average person. I is just such a small part of their wealth/income. Even those who spend their entire life in the middle class can not fully appreciate just how much small increases can affect the poor. Not that they cant relate at all, it just doesnt affect them as much.
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Yep there is a big difference in what you can buy and if you can buy. Someone with buckets of money most likely doesnt understand that economical changes could mean the difference between eating beans 24/7 or at least being able to have a choice.
 
radcen said:
In an indirect way, you hit upon the point of the question... probably without even realizing it.

They don't know what's going on in the world in which they are legislating. And that's the point, they have more of a need and responsibility to know more so than an average citizen. You or I may not know what's going on in our markets, and that's not a big deal because our lack of knowledge affects only ourselves, but it is imperative that those who are legislating the markets know.
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Is not knowing your grocery list really the same as not knowing what's going on in the world in which they're legislating?

I don't want Washington micromanaging my life. I want them to protect my rights and push an atmosphere conducive to to economic prosperity while I live my life the way I want to.
 
I don't know what the price of a pint of milk is. Who buys milk by the pint?
 
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