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[Bobby Isosceles]

Success is measured in more than dollars for one, and for two there's more to that than just hard work.  Even a first year econ student will tell you that Capitalism is bound to create people who "lose" as well as "win"; it has to just to survive by its nature.

Not true and I suggest you look into Ricardo.

Moreover, here is an ideal free market scenario (highly simplified): I am a vegetarian who raises cattle and you are a meat eater who grows plants. I sell you the cow's meat for you to eat and the manure to raise the plants: you sell me the fruits and vegetables to eat and the roots and stems for the cows to eat. Who's the loser between us?

Failures to properly implement a free market doesn't imply a failure in the market either. If economic reading is too dry for you (and it is, for many) i suggest reading "Eat the Rich" by P.J. O'Rourke, which is a great read.

[misterqueue]

Moreover, here is an ideal free market scenario (highly simplified): I am a vegetarian who raises cattle and you are a meat eater who grows plants. I sell you the cow's meat for you to eat and the manure to raise the plants: you sell me the fruits and vegetables to eat and the roots and stems for the cows to eat. Who's the loser between us?

Certainly, however, an ideal free market does not exist because of the human element.  There will always be those who foster a surplus of demand or a surfeit of supply to drive profits up due to their own wont or greed. If we want to operate in dreamtopia then full-fledged communism is just as much a winning idea because we're tossing away the inherent selgiraffeness of most people.

How in the hell did this discussion start by the way?

[wombat]

How in the hell did this discussion start by the way?

Indeed.  And Bobby has a new avatar that is cute. WTF?

[jough]

Even a first year student of economics knows that success isn't a zero-sum game. PA's success doesn't stop this unknown from achieving success.

In a certain sense, though, success for a business is a zero-sum game.  People only have so much income to devote to one thing.  People who buy Coke aren't also going to buy Pepsi.  People who buy one cartoonist's t-shirt or book aren't necessarily going to buy another's.

People using AAA aren't going to switch to another auto service, etc., unless they have reason to do so.

I agree that attacking the competition isn't the best way to win hearts and minds, especially if you're looking to win support from people who already like the thing you just insulted, thereby insulting them for liking it.

My way of dealing with competition is to just be better.  Hopefully they will come.

[theinevitable]

actually, the loser would most likely be the vegetarian who sells food animals-- the amount of resources necessary to raise a food-animal is much larger than the amount necessary to grow (normal) crops.


also: I didn't really read it as a swipe at PA. all of the guest comics I've read have been kind of jokey put-downs of various characters. it is their way.

[nuero]

It's much easier to assume that, rather than a swipe at the PA guys for being popular, the guy is just trying to be on the cutting edge of hilarity by making various cartoon characters give each other blowjobs. That is the cutting edge, right? Gay jokes?

My point is basically that the guy that drew it is probably a horrible idiot.