Cleaned by Capitalism XVI

by Don Boudreaux on September 8, 2009

Insects are both bothersome and unsanitary. Here’s yet another inexpensive anti-pollutant brought to us by capitalism.

Comments

{ 8 comments }

Karol September 8, 2009 at 7:16 pm

As a routine saver of spiders, moths, lady bugs, crickets, etc., etc. I must disagree with your comment that insects are “both bothersome and unsanitary.” Only to some!

Anonymous September 9, 2009 at 1:23 am: Aw Christ! Really Karol?

And, how many Mosquitos, Ticks, Fleas, Tsetse Flies, Common House Fly, Gnats, Lice, Body Crabs, Black Widows, Brown Recluse, Yellow Jackets, Red Wasps, Scorpions, Centepides, Northern Black Flies, Cane Spiders, Fire Ants, etc. do you “catch and release”?

Bah Humbug, I puke on your sweetness to pests.

foolish notion September 8, 2009 at 9:48 pm

Do other economic systems not have insecticides?!

Anonymous September 8, 2009 at 10:31 pm

I’m sure they do.

To me, the better question to ask is, “How freely available are these common (to an American) products in the command economies?”

Perhaps you’ve heard about the toilet paper shortage in the Socialist Utopia of Cuba? According to Yasafi’s hero, Michael Moore, Castro provides his subjects with better health care than is available to average Americans, but can’t provide people with a sanitary means to clean their backsides.

It amazes me that Yasafi and friends want a Dear Leader to provide them with health care and toilet paper. It amazes me that anyone would want a Dear Leader.

Anonymous September 9, 2009 at 1:29 am

The Elephant economic system has insecticides and repellants.

The insecticide is called swat and kill, and the repellant is called “Caked In Mud.”

Funny but the Rhino economic system has the repellant, but not the same insecticide. The Rhino economic system insect repellant is called, “Tick Bird”.

So, yes, other economic systems have insecticides, but you have to dig deep to see them and understand them.

Meanwhile, back at the prosperous and happy ranch, Everyone was thrilled that they were a capitalist!

Anonymous September 9, 2009 at 1:30 am: To self and others:
The Rhino economic system insecticide is called “Tick Bird”.

Not an economist September 9, 2009 at 11:32 am

Dear Dr. Boudreaux,

You should list feminine hygiene products and disposable diapers in your series “Cleaned by Capitalism.” The old-fashioned cloth versions are notorious for contributing to rashes and leaking, because the moisture stays close to delicate skin until changing time. Furthermore, during the usage of cloth diapers, accidental stabbing of the baby, even with a safety pin, happens at some time with every user, unfortunately. Some of them now have Velcro just because of such incidents. Home laundering of multiple feces-filled diapers in the family washing machine is probably not nearly as beneficial as just disposing of the diaper, and keeping and storing diapers in the home, even in a seemingly airtight container, is probably not good for all the little hands and paws that go everywhere and get into everything in a home. I actually don’t have any hard facts and evidence about what I am about to say, but it doesn’t take a genius or an NSF grant to realize that most people do not own a home washing machine that is capable of the high temperatures required to sanitize large loads of diapers correctly.

Name September 9, 2009 at 3:50 pm