[BMWCSRegistry] (Friday WOB) How smart is Art? (and Steve, Gary, and Rubbermaid et al)

[crcote at mindspring.com]

(I really wanted to send this last Saturday, when I saw the latest of Art's long posts, but since it was Saturday by the time I had a chance to read it, I decided to hold off until today.)

Once again, to avoid any appearance of the impropriety of participating in a "personal attack", I will refrain from revealing my answers to the following questions.


1. What do Pepperidge Farm, Purina, Pedigree, Milk Bone, Tide, Hamilton Beach, Rubbermaid, Rotella, Havoline, Pennzoil, Prestone, and Quaker State have in common?

a. They are several of many well-known name brands sold at Chuck's local 24-hour Wal-Mart, at low prices.

b. They are all cheap crap sold at Chuck's local 24-hour Wal-Mart. Therefore, Art is very smart, since he frequently comments on the cheap crap sold at Wal-Mart. Gary, by virtue of chiming in, is also very smart.


2. If Rubbermaid was truly "crushed" by Wal-Mart, as Steve's beloved FRONTLINE reports, why are they still doing business with Wal-Mart?

a. Rubbermaid somehow adapted to being leaned on by Wal-Mart's purchasing department to lower prices and/or manufacture items overseas. FRONTLINE didn't get the story quite right.

b. Rubbermaid likes being "crushed" by Wal-Mart, and continues to do business with Wal-Mart, even though it loses money on everything it sells to Wal-Mart. Therefore, Rubbermaid, FRONTLINE, and Steve are very smart.


3. Does it seem possible that Art, Steve, and/or Gary have never actually been in a Wal-Mart?

a. Yes

b. No


4. Was Bill's announcement of some attractive pricing on aluminum floor jacks at Wal-Mart last week an attempt to sing the praises of Wal-Mart, thus justifying Art's "equal time" commentary, or was Bill just passing along a friendly "heads up" to fellow gearheads on the CS List, who might wish to take advantage of a good buy?

a. Yes

b. No


5. Is there something inherently evil about a company that makes every effort to keep costs low, in ways that often offend Art, in an ongoing effort to benefit consumers, particularly the lower and lower middle class ones whose interests that liberals like Art purport to champion, and still manages to make a profit doing so?

a. Yes

b. No


6. Should the lower and middle classes be allowed the opportunity to shop at Wal-Mart if they so choose, allowing them to stretch their tight budgets farther than if they had no alternative but to shop at higher priced stores?

a. Yes

b. No


7. Should "exotic" car owners be allowed to shop at Griot's Garage if they so choose, even though many have complained that their prices are excessive?

a. Yes

b. No


8. Should certified divas, like Chuck's wife, be allowed the opportunity to shop at Wal-Mart if they so choose?

a. Yes

b. No


9. Does allowing the consumer freedom of choice benefit the economy as a whole?

a. Yes

b. No.


10. Art claims to advocate freedom of choice for the consumer, but tacks on the caveat that it should be "informed" freedom of choice. Should we all thank Art, the CS List's own august commentator on what is right and wrong in the world, for helping us become more "informed"?

a. Yes

b. No


11. Should we also all thank Art for repeatedly attempting to "inform" the CS List of the same thing, over and over again, like a skipping LP record (remember those?) ?

a. Yes

b. No


12. Is it preferable to buy the exact same brand-name product (produced along with the ones Wal-Mart sells, in the same conditions, at the same facility; that Art objects to so) for a higher price at a different retailer? 

a. Yes

b. No


12. Does Art think that Wal-Mart should pay their employees more?

a. Yes

b. No


13. Even the "greeter" that he despises so?

a. Yes

b. No


14. Do you think that the executives of Altria (Philip Morris) should be in jail, for forcing Art to smoke and suffering from health complications as a result?

a. Yes

b. No


15. Do you ever wonder if Art subjects his geology students to similar commentary about the ills of the world in general, instead of spending all of the valuable available classroom time teaching them geology?

a. Yes

b. No 


16. Do you think David Woodham of the SSR List got tired of hearing Art's rants and raves about non-car topics?

a. Yes

b. No


17. Given the opportunity to turn Art off, which Mr. Woodham apparently recently took, would you do the same?

a. Yes

b. No



ChuckATL