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New Jersey Teens Just Learned What Happens When You Start A Business In America

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Simon Black via Sovereign Man blog,

When I was a teenager, it was pretty common for young people in my lower-middle class neighborhood to find work.

 

I was a waiter myself… though probably one of the worst in history, as I may still hold the record at Tippin’s Restaurant and Pie Pantry for the most cups of coffee spilled on patrons.

 

A lot of other kids would do odd jobs like cutting the grass and whatnot. And some of them were pretty successful at it.

 

I remember two kids in my class, Ryan and Will, had a very successful lawn mowing partnership.

 

One of the reasons they did so well was because they realized how much more efficient and profitable they could be if they could maximize the number of clients within a single neighborhood.

 

Instead of wasting time driving around from neighborhood to neighborhood, they could focus on servicing as many yards as possible within a few blocks.

 

This was an extremely important lesson for them… and one they would never learn in school.

 

It’s obvious that doing things like this provides incredible and in many cases life-changing lessons for kids.

 

It’s the whole idea of having the freedom to start something from scratch out of your own sweat and labor, to provide a valuable service and to work hard, and stake your reputation on the quality of what you do.

 

This concept is at the very foundation of the American Dream. Or at least it used to be.

Case in point, last week, two teenagers in New Jersey were going around their neighborhood advertising their snow-shoveling service right before the big storm hit.

Seems pretty enterprising. But in the New America where security trumps all else, a local resident called the police to report about the teens’ “suspicious activity”.

 

It’s the starkest example of how “if you see something say something” is one of the most enslaving, destructive mantras in history.

 

Police actually came out to investigate since, apparently running a snow-shoveling business is something that only criminal terrorists would do.

 

Even when the police saw that it was just two harmless kids trying to earn some money, they didn’t let them go on about their business.

 

Instead they forced them to stop. Because in the Land of the Free, it seems you need a permit in order to offer to shovel snow for people.

 

And so these two entrepreneurial teenagers were sent home by the police for their lack of permitting after being suspected of suspicious activity by a local resident.

Just think about the lesson that’s being reinforced here: if you get off your ass, go out there, and try to take charge of your financial future, you’ll end up with nothing but a bunch of headaches, accusations, and unpleasant encounters with the government.

These kids just learned that in the Land of the Free, they’re better off staying home.

It’s a terrible thing to teach people, especially kids in their formative years, and it happens all the time; we constantly hear these stories now about little girls getting run off from their lemonade stands, etc.

Entrepreneurship and enterprise are good for everyone, creating successful businesses, jobs, wealth, and valuable products and services for an entire society.

You’d think that a government drowning in debt would bend over backwards to encourage people to get out there and hustle.

Instead they’ve done just the opposite.

Whether intentional or not, they’re waging a de-facto war on one of the last remaining cultural values that made America what it once was.

 

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Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:43 | 5736425 DontGive
DontGive's picture

Doesn't everyone know you gotta bribe to stay in business?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:48 | 5736446 power_shift
power_shift's picture

They are just teenagers so give them a break. Soon they will learn that bribing city councilmen with "campaign contributions" is the American way. The mafia won't touch them after that.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:50 | 5736461 CrazyCooter
CrazyCooter's picture

Y'all do realize how hard ranching would be if cows actually tried to improve their lot, start up businesses, and work for prosperity, don't cha?

Same as it ever was ...

Regards,

Cooter

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:53 | 5736480 Surly Bear
Surly Bear's picture

Why the fuck would anyone 'do' anything? I mean, I know two young adults -- mid-twenties -- with two kids. He 'works' part-time at a grocery store for about $100 dollars a week. She stays home to rear the next brood. The rest of their monthly 'income' comes from the state. They just got a $6,000 dollar refund check. The guy makes less than that a year. Why the fuck do I work?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:54 | 5736486 MillionDollarBonus_
MillionDollarBonus_'s picture

I strongly disagree with the sentiments in this article. The truth is that regulations enforce high standards in business, allowing only top quality companies such as Goldman Sachs, GM and Verizon to serve Americans. Regulations are quality controls - they ensure that consumers get nothing but the best, and can safely spend their hard earned money, knowing that they're getting the best possible products and services at the best possible prices. Regulations mean that Americans don't have to worry about quality or choosing between 1000 different companies for the same product. Instead they are presented with a few established companies with proven track records.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:05 | 5736553 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

When you need your walk shoveled immediately, service is only a few hours away.  Kinda like the popo.

Maybe we can unionize these folks as well.

Keep up the good work MDB

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:17 | 5736600 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

Is why I checked out long ago.  I relish being considered a crazy in a crazy society.

I am Chumbawamba.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:23 | 5736624 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Now if they had said they were shoveling for free, they wouldn't have had any problems at all.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:31 | 5736675 USisCorrupt
USisCorrupt's picture

Why not just rob some houses instead, easier work and if you get caught you get 3 squares a day.

 

Don't worry be happy.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:34 | 5736687 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

The squares probably taste about as good as they sound...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:03 | 5736790 Gaius Frakkin' ...
Gaius Frakkin' Baltar's picture

Well, this just pisses on the illusion that all young people are lazy and don't deserve the traditional low-end, entry-level jobs that the older generations have been forced to take, doesn't it? Time for new propaganda sessions at community college kids. High school obviously wasn't enough to brain-wash your minds.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:06 | 5736798 nuubee
nuubee's picture

These kids made the mistake of not being mexican while trying to find simple work, that's all. If they had been total beaners, the cops would have left them alone.

 

Best response to a cop asking you to stop mowing the lawn or shoveling snow... "No Habla Ingles."

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:29 | 5737271 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

This story has been in the local news/talk radio shows for a few days now in the Philly area.  Most people are outraged, as I think any rational person would be.  So, it's not like there's a lot of people on the other side of this issue.

Cops showing up and harassing them is only the front of the story.  The township/borough were this takes place is WELL KNOWN for draconian regulation.  It's a LOCAL thing and it starts with the town council/board of supervisors who just love to cause people grief with what are ordinarily pretty common and tame Peddlers/Solicitors ordinances (many towns have such ordinances).  The cops were under strict orders to shut this kind of stuff down- even kids by the board of this town, however.

(To top it off, I think there are ordinances you must have your driveway cleared within X hours of a snow storm.  So they're double-dealing here.)

My question, which I never got answered, is how could kids who are under 18 even be ALLOWED to sign a legal document (local business license) and have it be in any way binding, even if they had the $50 to pay for it?

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:20 | 5737416 checkessential
checkessential's picture

NoDebt:  They probably need to have an attorney look over the documents at $350/hr, have it notarized and stamped, and then send in their application for a business license to shovel snow . . . which should arrive by August. 

MillionDollarBonus:  Spoken like a true bureacrat.  

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:57 | 5737560 FEDbuster
FEDbuster's picture

Hire a kid to shovel snow?!?!?  He slips on the ice, breaks his arm, next thing you know he owns your house, car and savings account....

At least they weren't caught selling cigarettes on a street corner, they might have been killed by the cops.

They should just stay home, play video games, go to Princeton to study economics, collect their allowance from their parents into their mid-thirties, then kill their parents for the inheritance money.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:04 | 5737740 palmereldritch
palmereldritch's picture

Instead, the entrepreneurs should have gone door to door and convinced everyone, shaman-style, that the homeowners were at fault for the snow because of their property ownership and if the customers wanted the snow to stop falling they would have to pay the shovelers a monthly fee.

Shit...How do these amateurs expect to be tooling around in their own private jets if they don’t learn to commit to saving the planet?

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 01:06 | 5737862 Manthong
Manthong's picture

Sounds to me like maybe “Officer Friendly” has jackboots and a full US/Uke-Nazi gear-load on nowadays.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 05:45 | 5738149 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

What surprises me is that the evil homeowners aren't being TAXED for the snow that is collecting on their roof.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:04 | 5737744 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

Getting a job always makes my head hurt.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 05:06 | 5738123 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

pardon me for bringing a foreign point of view

"The township/borough were this takes place is WELL KNOWN for draconian regulation.  It's a LOCAL thing and it starts with the town council/board of supervisors who just love to cause people grief with what are ordinarily pretty common and tame Peddlers/Solicitors ordinances "

this is all about regulations on how to conduct trade and business

this is also about the experience, made everywhere on this planet, that local authorities can be... maddening, in their use of trade/business regulations. I have been a small entrepreneur for most of my life and can sing a song or two about this

one fantastic example is cup sizes in NY and another beer can sizes in FL

in the EU, we came to an astounding solution: make one damn trade/business regulation for a whole continent. sure, rubbish regulations will still be issued. that's human. but then, they are easier to shoot down then in such "whack a mole" situation where snow showelling gets prohibited in one borough, and by the time some media picks it up and they get thrown in the rubbish basket the next five boroughs have new ones

a kind of centralism? perhaps. nevertheless, I'm more confortable with this specific centralized approach. I call it the Cloaca Maxima Approach: if it smells badly, centralize. on the other side, if it smells of roses, decentralize

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 17:31 | 5740565 MayIMommaDogFac...
MayIMommaDogFace2theBananaPatch's picture

It seems to that it is error in thinking to judge a question of centralized vs decentralized without also considering scope / size.

The larger the scope or size the central authority is attempting to 'control, coerce, cajole, manage' (use whatever term you like best) the lower the likelihood that the effort will succeed, long term, in any meaningful way.

There was a lot editorial flying around ZH a couple years ago that meant to draw attention to an inverse relationship between cetntralization and redundancy -- and by extension that redundancy is not at all a 'bad thing' when it comes to any sort of complex, dynamical system.

I found these articles to be thought-provoking, giving me a what I believe is a broader way of thinking about questions of centralized vs decentralized.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:35 | 5736691 MarketAnarchist
MarketAnarchist's picture

This happened right in my neck of the woods.   Made it easy to start discussions on the intrusiveness of governments.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:35 | 5737293 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

When I was a kid I ran a landscaping company.  Every spring I'd drive around and stuff fliers in every mailbox within miles of my house (hundreds).  Eventually, the Post Master called me in and threatened me with federal stuff that was plenty scary for a teenager.  You're not allowed to put stuff inside a mail box without paying postage, apparently.  Even if you do it yourself.

But they never said anything about putting stuff on the OUTSIDE of the mailbox.  So I started tucking them between the mailbox and the little flag on the side of the mail box.  Never a complaint after that.

Oh, and I never had a business license or insurance or paid taxes.  I ran that business "naked as a jay bird" from a legal perspective.  FOR 10 YEARS!

That was the best 10 working years of my life.  I paid for a lot of my college expenses with the money and still had plenty of "party money".  Fuck the government.  They need us, not the other way around.

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:30 | 5737489 Lore
Lore's picture

What you say goes totally against the wishes of the COLLECTIVE.  According to the precepts of Agenda 21, your venture is TOTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE.  I mean, your lawnmower alone is probably releasing VAST AMOUNTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE.  At very least, I hope you paid your carbon tax and separated out your compost and kitchen scraps!

 

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 01:58 | 5737921 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

You probably had more take-home pay back then compared to now.

Fuck the government.

So when to the mass work stoppages begin?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:34 | 5736692 MarketAnarchist
MarketAnarchist's picture

This happened right in my neck of the woods.   Made it easy to start discussions on the intrusiveness of governments.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:10 | 5736820 BuddyEffed
BuddyEffed's picture

If Internet Explorer can be given away for free, then snow shoveling should be free too.  /sarc

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:22 | 5737253 ImReady
ImReady's picture

Yeah but these kids actually work!!!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:26 | 5737268 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

If they weren't terrorists before, they are well on their way to becoming them now....

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:09 | 5737392 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

That is the intent.

 

You must look at it from the perspective of the Local Government...

 

For every walk that these kids shoveled was a walk where the Township could not collect a fine.

 

The Government hates competition and these kids were undercutting potential projected revenue from fines levied.

 

The bottom line is about the buck and whom will collect them.

 

This is the reason why that behemoth Governments do not work.

 

This is also DEMONSTRATIVE THAT LOCALIZED GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO NOT WORK.

 

Shoot the politicians. Bomb them into oblivion. There are no solutions as the entire system has been corrupted from the core.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:02 | 5737572 Nemo DeNovo
Nemo DeNovo's picture

Wish more 'folks' would get this as There is NO Peaceful Solution left at this point, Fight or be a Slave, your choice,

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:25 | 5737628 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

There is no violent solution either.

 

What? Overthrow this and allow something worse to take its place?

 

The best option is to OPT OUT. Become as geographically isolated from this as possible.

 

If you choose arms then you will give them the excuse to become even more draconian.

 

There are NO SOLUTIONS. There are only outcomes but you can minimize your involvement.

 

I am not writing that you shall not protect yourself or your interests from aggression.

 

But offensive moves serve their interests. They want revolt. It works to their goals.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 02:01 | 5737925 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Windoze 10 is even going to be "free." The apps however, will be another matter.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 02:02 | 5737927 demur
demur's picture

Plus free medical care, education and fitness facilities.  

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:32 | 5736678 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

If they were shovelling for free a team of lawyers from the company that already paid-off the mayor to have the exclusive shovelling rights would make them wish that the cops had just shot them.

Nobody gets it for free.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:41 | 5736715 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Well there's two things you can't complete with, insanity, and free.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:37 | 5736700 UselessEater
UselessEater's picture

Regulations are perfect vehicles to over ride the rule of law. So much easier to introduce with the consent of the majority mob, so much more conducive to global governance. Technocracy trumps sovereign law with a majority blessing and yelling for more regulation...this looks rather similar in Australia - no surprise, we need global regulations to order the chaos of the individuality of formerly sovereign nations.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:38 | 5736916 QQQBall
QQQBall's picture

I still think you need to pay for a permit, show proof of insurance and attend periodic State-mandated CE snow shoveling classes to keep your Free Service legal. 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:35 | 5736696 Hype Alert
Hype Alert's picture

There is another side no one is discussing.  Neighborhoods around me have had teens (aka gang members) ringing doorbells pretending to be young entrepreneurs.  If no one answered, their business was to clean out the house. 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:42 | 5736718 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Camera's are everywhere and the jails are full.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 20:07 | 5737002 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture
Sugar Land to install 27 license plate recognition cameras

 

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) --

The city of Sugar Land is significantly expanding its use of cameras to help catch criminals.

Soon, if you drive through the city, there's a good chance police will have a picture of your license plate on file, whether you've committed a crime or not.

 

http://abc13.com/news/sugar-land-to-install-license-plate-recognition-ca...

 

Response to the soaring assaults on Chinese-Americans there by thugs who know they carry lots of cashola. What's this welt coming to?

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:08 | 5737752 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

<< ...  ringing doorbells pretending to be young entrepreneurs.  If no one answered, their business was to clean out the house. >>

 

Solid business model; when can i start !

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 05:20 | 5738132 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Here it is a criminal offense to let your registration lapse, fail to get your car inspected, or to violate arbitrary speed limits.

 

The future? Welcome to it.

America? FUCK YEAH!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:55 | 5737553 Rock and Hard Space
Rock and Hard Space's picture

Once again, just because 5% (or whatever) of the population MAY break a law, we need regulations criminalizing the non-criminal behavior of the other 95%.

My won't people like you be shocked when your favorite things are all outlawed because less than 5% of the population MIGHT become sick or MIGHT abuse it.

I hate this place more everyday.  Rationalizations like yours is why.

You CANNOT be legislated into security. 

You CANNOT legislate away stupidity either.

Guess we are willing to try.

Wonder where your heirs will work?  Hopefully the Solyent factory will still have openings for people shovelers with PhDs.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:17 | 5737775 Dragon HAwk
Dragon HAwk's picture

there i was sitting on the hopper cleaning my gun, when the door bell rang  couldn't answer it, by the time i wiped off, one or the other, i hear the door crash open..

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:04 | 5737215 August
August's picture

Somehow, Simon's little story post may be a watershed item for me. 

Today I find myself actively hoping that Modern Urban Amurican Society collapses quickly and completely.  Whereas before, I just didn't give a shit either way.

Maybe that story I saw yesterday about an entire brood of home-schooled children being taken from their parents by Arkansas "Child Protective Services" was the set up.

You can now color me "actively hostile".

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:20 | 5737782 nc551
nc551's picture

Holy crap, I had to look it up.  They removed the kids due to a non-FDA approved mineral supplement in the house that the father used to purify water for the garden.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 04:43 | 5738103 drunkfish
drunkfish's picture

In England we used to have 'bob-a-job' for cub scouts to go around the neighbourhood cleaning cars, yards and houses for a few pence to support the local group.

No cancelled due to people who sue the cub scouts if anything gets damaged.

Now if you are late to school the parents are reported to the council. Snoops can report you if they think you are not bringing up your kids in line with their views on the world.

The sooner this modern society of lawyers, government and banker thieves getting involved in what should be local community issues the better

 

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 04:43 | 5738104 drunkfish
drunkfish's picture

In England we used to have 'bob-a-job' for cub scouts to go around the neighbourhood cleaning cars, yards and houses for a few pence to support the local group.

No cancelled due to people who sue the cub scouts if anything gets damaged.

Now if you are late to school the parents are reported to the council. Snoops can report you if they think you are not bringing up your kids in line with their views on the world.

The sooner this modern society of lawyers, government and banker thieves getting involved in what should be local community issues the better

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:53 | 5737349 Down to Earth T...
Down to Earth Thinking's picture

It is why I left ZH quite some time ago ? 67 up signs for such moronic diatribefrom MDB ?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:06 | 5737406 Down to Earth T...
Down to Earth Thinking's picture

nott just MDB but the 67 that agreed with him ? WTF ? the insanity has permeated everything and everywhere  ! Soon I will be back outside on horseback as the weather changes a bit for some fresh air and no such garbage intrusions to even consider !

 

I will be writing a new page at my site about what America actually needs and much of it will be from a horseback view/perpsective on 125,000 thousand plus acres of wild lands ! so some serious clear points of view from reality based perspective with no such bullshit at all ! HA HA HA !

anybody that thinks more government rules.regulautions are a good thing deserves a serious god old fashioned ass whoopin ! Most here at ZH are NOT capable of sucjh but I am ! Mostly just a bunch of fat , lazy,  pussies ! QWake up assholes.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:14 | 5737415 Wild Theories
Wild Theories's picture

they are not agreeing with him

they are uparrowing the comedy(I didn't vote any eitherway)

btw, did you notice this one has a little _ on the name? hint hint...

 

or just take a chill pill, step back, and read it again... 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:21 | 5737448 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

..and get a good laugh.

 

Hell I uparrowed it...because I disagree with everything he wrote.

 

When it is so outrageous that it cannot be serious then you can reasonably conclude that it is not serious.

 

(They have not been around here much if they are reading him as serious.)

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 20:37 | 5741186 Down to Earth T...
Down to Earth Thinking's picture

actually I have been gone since before you were here most likely ? but whos counting ?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:16 | 5737428 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

MDB writes satire.

 

You probably took Jonathon Swift's, "A Modest Proposal" literally too.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 20:34 | 5741173 Down to Earth T...
Down to Earth Thinking's picture

the wisdom of ZH , Hey ? and just what is accompished ? Most competely missed my point although just a bit tongue in cheek, but not much at all.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:42 | 5737688 The Wizard
The Wizard's picture

I relish being considered a crazy in a crazy society.

 

For years I have said, in order to be sane in an insane society one needs to be insane.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 20:32 | 5741153 Down to Earth T...
Down to Earth Thinking's picture

is there any question we live in insanity ? a sort of controlled insanity .

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:19 | 5736613 TrafficNotHere
TrafficNotHere's picture

Liberalism - if you don't support big governement, your a tea party terroist. How dare these young men try to start a business and not file thier papers so the government can take its fair share!

Sigh...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:00 | 5737382 Debt-Is-Not-Money
Debt-Is-Not-Money's picture

"...so the government can take its fair share!"

so the mob can take its vig!

More accurate, no?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:07 | 5736559 HughBriss
HughBriss's picture

God, I LOVE your posts!  :D

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:04 | 5737721 Element
Element's picture

Indeed, MDB's hit the nail on the head again, but he forgot to mention how these teens were taking the work away from a working man who is probably trying to support a family, or at least the alimony payments, and also that they're undercutting him, and the market, harming everyone and building unrealistic expectations of deflated prices for services in the minds of home owners, and probably providing a far inferior service as well. The truth is you always get what you pay for, and if you want the job done properly you should use an accredited, registered approved professional, and pay a lot more for a better job. The police really should have gone after these guys here, and made an example of them, so others are not tempted to take on such selfish and anti-social initiatives.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 05:33 | 5738145 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

The new Community College Degree:  Advanced Snow Shoveling!

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 17:39 | 5740601 MayIMommaDogFac...
MayIMommaDogFace2theBananaPatch's picture

The new Community College Degree:  Advanced Snow Shoveling!

$5 says they train them on a simulator.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:15 | 5736589 Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights's picture

I guess that quality control was on a ciggerete break when I was at the market to purchase a pound of bacon and between the bacon and the wrapping was a hair about 6 inches in length clearly visible

You must be the one in the family everyone talks about behind your back ..

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:15 | 5736595 Clowns on Acid
Clowns on Acid's picture

MDB - you have a proven track record. So no one should read any other posts....

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:27 | 5736655 Blano
Blano's picture

Nah, it never gets old. 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:25 | 5736631 astroloungers
astroloungers's picture

The chowder heads that down vote MDB should probably leave.......if you don't catch the sarcasam at this point you're way to stiff.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:33 | 5737499 Hopeless for Change
Hopeless for Change's picture

What about the chowder heads who actually post scathing criticism of anyone who votes him up?  Like the ones who left a long time ago...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:46 | 5736727 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

~"The truth is that regulations enforce high standards in business,..."~

I should know better than to buy into your trolling, (because you really are a riot), but your thinking is faulty, and I'll prove it with just one question:

Will it never snow again in the neighborhood these kids were trying to work in?

If they do a crappy job, they don't get to shovel snow for money. What regulations are going to enforce quality of service?

Lastly, it's been a while since I've seen anyone from Goldman Sachs, GM and Verizon out offering to shovel snow for folks for money. Maybe it's just my neighborhood, I don't know.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:52 | 5736961 Dead Man Walking
Dead Man Walking's picture

Uh.. Goldman and JP Morgan sell snow shovelling futures, and options on a snow accumulation index are coming as well.  Perfect foir the teachers union retirement funds...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 20:49 | 5737150 Gent
Gent's picture

Not to mention hedging the downdrafts in GDP estimates

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:01 | 5736780 Fiat Envy
Fiat Envy's picture

"The truth is that regulations enforce high standards in business, allowing only top quality companies such as Goldman Sachs, GM and Verizon to serve Americans. Regulations are quality controls - they ensure that consumers get nothing but the best"  That is just comedy gold.  it is so good to see you back.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:06 | 5736801 NOZZLE
NOZZLE's picture

Excellent satire, fucking die to the 23 morons who gave you a down arrow.

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:40 | 5736917 acetinker
acetinker's picture

Back on your game, MDB!  You really oughta run for public office.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:40 | 5736921 FIAT CON
FIAT CON's picture

YA Right, Look at the recalls from gm in the past few years.

Now how is it that GM cannot make an ignition switch after making them for nearly 100 years?

 Are they driving the quality out for extra profit?

Or do they even care about the quality?

Didn't the CEO know about the faulty switches before they were forced to recall them and let them pass.

Or is it because the wages & benifits and CEO/Boardmember salaries and benefits have raped the companies profits for so ong that this is what's left.

No wonder manufacturing has gone overseas.

Unions play a major role in this.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:15 | 5737430 Thirtyseven
Thirtyseven's picture

I'm surprised you got so many thumbs down.  Talk about a bunch of lemmings who probably didn't bother to read your post.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:11 | 5737594 acetinker
acetinker's picture

It still amazes me that ppl like you can't see that MDB is making fun of you.

He/She already knows you're an idiot who will draw "facts" from the mainstream and spew forth this propaganda.

GM has not given the first flying fuck about 'quality' since the 1960's

And you're too stupid to know why.

Pay attention son.  To do otherwise can be fatal.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 20:10 | 5737001 Beowulf55
Beowulf55's picture

Hey MDB,  Wouldn't be better just to buy a service that tells you the innovative companies are and who builds lemons?

Wouldn't that widdle down the non-proformers?...

....wow..wait a minute.............my head is starting to spin.....I am having visions of...

...free choice....caveat epmtor....darwinism....individualism.......no government...innovations.....

...what a concept!  My mind reels at the possibilities.............Where I travel, there are no roads.................

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:27 | 5737265 texas sandman
texas sandman's picture

The USA...the land where nothing is allowed.  

 

It's high time for people  doing perfectly lawful activities to tell our "betters" to kindly fuck off and maybe go find some real crime to stop.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:37 | 5737516 stacking12321
stacking12321's picture

MDB is correct, as always.

additionally, there is the risk of illegal activity: if they charge $10 to shovel someone's driveway, and they take 2 hours to do it, then they are only making $5/hr, which is a violation of federal minimum wage laws.

i don't want illegal activity to be going on, in my driveway - do you?

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:52 | 5737720 InanimateCarbonRod
InanimateCarbonRod's picture

um...people...MDB is being sarcastic...

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 01:02 | 5737854 ThirteenthFloor
ThirteenthFloor's picture

MillionDollar I need my daily laugh and you provided it. GM provided us with quality ignition switches, Ford with Explorers that roll over, and fueled Goldman Sachs with tax payer bailouts so they can migrate their downright criminal execs over to keep the US treasury staffed at the top level. Regulations are a tool to prevent open market competition. Just look how good regulation keeps the markets honest, and guys like John Corzine off the street (sarc.)

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 01:36 | 5737898 Condition 1SQ
Condition 1SQ's picture

You forgot the /sarcasm at the end.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 01:56 | 5737915 ebear
ebear's picture

Boy, that's a disturbing number of downvotes there.  I thought people around here were smarter than that.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 17:18 | 5740489 MayIMommaDogFac...
MayIMommaDogFace2theBananaPatch's picture

allowing only top quality companies such as Goldman Sachs, GM and Verizon to serve Americans

You've outdone yourself.  Fucking hilarious!  Stop it -- you're killing me.  </no sarc>

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:13 | 5737421 Thirtyseven
Thirtyseven's picture

Co worker of mine: ~$20/hr.  27.  Decent for a millenial with HS diploma right?  Girlfriend, works fast food. One kid his, one kid another man's.

Classified as an UNMARRIED single mother.  Two kids & two dads so no questions asked.  EBT, fucking CASH allowance from the state, and free healthcare for the kids.

Free house inherited from the guy's father, no mortgage, no rent.

You'd think they could make ends meet right?  Nope: alcohol, cigarettes, rims, nfl jerseys, movie a week, restaurant twice a week...you name it they'll spend on it.

Trash breeding more trash.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:01 | 5736481 MillionDollarBonus_
MillionDollarBonus_'s picture

I'm also personally glad that we no longer have child-labor in the 21st century. Thanks to the efforts of political activists, kids are now free to study and learn about the world at top quality colleges, and then get a corporate job at a top company or in government. Instead of emerging as burned out and exhausted victims of child-labor, young adults are now entering the economy bright, eager, educated and ready to make a difference.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:08 | 5736558 t0mmyBerg
t0mmyBerg's picture

LOL.  God damn MDB I actually have a tear in my eye reading the canned excrement with which you so reliably efface the boards.  Makes me realize it has to be prepared in advance and you or the bot you are just pull the right canned phrases for any given situation.  I really do think you are an expert system crafted by Kurzweil or one of his minions.

In any event in the fullness of time you will learn that the Government of the United States is the enemy of the United States and that the locals are just as bad, though at least they can argue that they actually have the police powers to abuse any way they see fit and you can fucking move somewhere else if you dont like it.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:21 | 5736620 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

MDB is apparently human, someone figured it out and exposed him on ZH a couple years back.

And BTW, wrt "efface", I don't think that means what you think it means.

I am Chumbawamba.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:45 | 5736730 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Also a goldbug, which he admitted once,prolly drunk.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:36 | 5737483 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

He actually went out of character, dropped his online persona, and became real?

 

Wow.

 

I think that he might be one of the Tylers actually...shilling...making for some good dialouge...

 

But he is entertaining and I look forward to his posts.

 

Now where is Liberal???

 

Where is Boris Alotovkrap? I miss that one.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 02:00 | 5737923 ebear
ebear's picture

But he is entertaining and I look forward to his posts."

Roger that.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:54 | 5736741 t0mmyBerg
t0mmyBerg's picture

yes you are right.  smear would have been a better choice or some synonym thereof

also, as astroloungers pointed out is MDB really just super sarcasm?  I mean it has to be.  never mind.  It must be

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:27 | 5736878 Overfed
Overfed's picture

It's pure sarcasm, and fairly subtle.  A true progressive libtard would buy it at face value, nodding in agreement, and not realize that he/she is being viciously mocked. That's what makes it so funny. Try reading his blog sometime. It's comedy gold.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:02 | 5737201 BigJim
BigJim's picture

It's accredited!

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 02:00 | 5737922 stacking12321
stacking12321's picture

http://accredited-times.com/

Accredited Times Legitimate news from accredited writers

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:22 | 5736867 NihilistZero
NihilistZero's picture

You just don't get it, do you?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:28 | 5736648 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Education in this country sucks, Plus if want to buy anything you have to do their homework or you will buy a defective product that is advertized as the best, no industry is absolved from this trend and I proved they were not.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:30 | 5736670 SofaPapa
SofaPapa's picture

That was a good one!  Thanks, MDB!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:38 | 5736705 Onan_the_Barbarian
Onan_the_Barbarian's picture

Sadly, businesses are still suffering because the cream of the crop, as always, rises toward government jobs.

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 20:15 | 5737028 Beowulf55
Beowulf55's picture

OK MDB, I've come to the conclusion that you are not human.  I'm thinking you are an Archon or maybe a some reptile....  even a govt shill can't be that full of shit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib_5nnWbb_4

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:41 | 5737320 TheGreatRecovery
TheGreatRecovery's picture

MDB, your sarcasm is delicious!  :-)   :-)   :-)

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:56 | 5737846 noben
noben's picture

It's simple really, Simon and peeps. It's about conditioning the sheep and reinforcing the mindset (Jedi Mind Trick) as to "WHO'S IN CHARGE: THE ELITE"

The minute people do not challenge it openly and strongly, it reinforces their Jedi Mind Trick.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:51 | 5736462 I MISS KUDLOW
I MISS KUDLOW's picture

yeah forget any grunt work in joisey u need to find jobs where u can shut down bridges and control traffic flows, they are the power positions in that state

You can get big hugs if your a dallas cowboys fan as well

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:52 | 5736464 El Oregonian
El Oregonian's picture

Sounds like those gov-statists are shoveling more B.S. than those two teenagers could ever shovel in snow...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:59 | 5736526 blabam
blabam's picture

No snow shovel ready jerbs?! 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:16 | 5737236 Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day's picture

if they were 2 mexicans shoveling snow, the white folks would have not even given it a second glance...but a couple white kids and we got serious threats.  I bet a further investigation would probably lead to a local landscaper/contracter that was just marking his territory

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:27 | 5737629 MASTER OF UNIVERSE
MASTER OF UNIVERSE's picture

The 'Mafia' probably called the cops in the first place so that the teenagers would not appropriate market share for snow removal

which the Mafia typically controlls all over New York City, BuckO.

The American way is the way of the Mafia and always has been

since the Mob took over BIG government and the entire USA Ponzi.

Hell, even Ponzi was a Mobster. Al Capone is as American as apple pie and baseball IMHO.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:23 | 5736628 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

It's New Jersey, liberalville, they regulate everything that moves along with NY, IL, and CA.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:36 | 5736695 Bloppy
Bloppy's picture

Saw a kid on my street shovelling driveways for money, guess we forgot to call the police? Should've nailed that kid! He should be doing drugs and running with gangs instead.

 

Rand Paul in EPIC on-air tirade against CNBC:

http://tinyurl.com/ov46ttr

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:36 | 5736699 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

Why didin't they just go ahead and ignore the "cops"?  If these teens were white, the cops won't shoot them.  /s

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:12 | 5737219 Cornfedbloodstool
Cornfedbloodstool's picture

They were probably shiffty looking nigs.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:40 | 5737309 rubiconsolutions
rubiconsolutions's picture

Some journalist should ask Chris Christie about this at a news conference, get his take on it since he aspires to be emperor of the US and all.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:38 | 5737502 ZH Snob
ZH Snob's picture

on Charles Bukowski's tombstone are two wise words:

                             Don't Try.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 02:50 | 5737995 FallenOne
FallenOne's picture

"Doesn't everyone know you gotta be tribe to stay in business?"

there fixed it for ya filthy dog goy

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:45 | 5736430 FieldingMellish
FieldingMellish's picture

Go across the river to Manhattan and steal from people legally (or don't go to jail if you do it illegally). Moral of the story? There are no morals anymore.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:46 | 5736434 10mm
10mm's picture

What do you expect from that parasite of a commie state called "The Peoples Republic Of New Jersey". Same across the river in New Yawk.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:56 | 5737845 FreedomGuy
FreedomGuy's picture

The point is that we live in the "Permission Surveillance State". Name anything outside the walls of your home that you can do without government permission and a thousand pages of regulations?

You need authorizations, licenses, certifications, documentation, passports, proof of insurance, tax receipts, Form 1099, etc. documents that say the government has reviewed your activity and approved it.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 05:36 | 5738148 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

But they would never look inside your house...

 

Oh wait.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:44 | 5736436 rum_runner
rum_runner's picture

I should hope the police took what moneys they had under civil asset forfeiture since they are operating an illegal, unregistered, unincorporated, tax-free business.  Beyond that I hope the IRS conducts a full audit and hits them with back taxes for all possible prior operation of the illicit enterprise.

 

This is America, people, not 'Nam.  There are rules!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:50 | 5736453 Pabloallen
Pabloallen's picture

Why wern't these free market terrorists choked to death ?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:14 | 5736588 Clowns on Acid
Clowns on Acid's picture

They could not have been illegals becuase then the cops wold have had to let them go.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:29 | 5736665 Dark Space
Dark Space's picture

And why didn't they shoot their dogs? 'Murica!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 19:17 | 5736836 prefan4200
prefan4200's picture

Damn straight, rum_runner !  Give em hell !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyFpOp8Ft0Q

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:47 | 5736442 GreatUncle
GreatUncle's picture

Call it for what it is a permit is a tax to work but could be worse they might need qualifications to wield a deadly shovel that would cost also.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:55 | 5736499 serotonindumptruck
serotonindumptruck's picture

Here's a Darwin Award winner who decided to do exactly what you just implied.

(Hint to criminal morons: If you're going to attack a cop with a shovel, try using one that isn't made of plastic.)

http://fox13now.com/2015/01/09/video-body-cam-footage-from-fatal-officer...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 23:31 | 5737564 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

I met a man today at the Pawn Shop below my place. I was proud to shake that man's hand. His name was Paul.

 

Paul is an American Indian, probably Navajo, from his appearance. He even has served in the US Military.

 

Anyway he was arrested in Maricopa County, Arizona, for being an "Illegal Alien".

 

Since I attended University at Northern AZ University we had quite a few Navajo attending NAU. They were here before the European.

 

But it seems that Sheriff Joe Arpaio, while Paul was wrongfully and illegally incarcerated for being an "Illegal Alien" cannot differentiate American Indians from "Illegal Aliens".

 

So Sherrif Joe got in Paul's face and began to rant at him about how he could be so bold as to invade the land where Arpaio's grandfather lived.

 

Well Paul just had enough of that shit and smashed Joe's face. He broke bones. Of course he was beaten by the Sheriff Joe's deputies.

 

At least Sheriff Joe did not press charges as he deserved to get his face smashed for his big mouth. (Actually I do respect that. I really did not expect that from Joe Arpaio.)

 

And this American Indian, this Navajo, well...He is going to get some really big bucks. I hope that he sues Maricopa County into bankruptcy.

 

Yes. I was proud to shake that man's hand.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:47 | 5736443 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

Strayer College has a course which will teach you how to become a "Housewives of New Jersey Shore" contestant...

 

Sign on the dotted line... [Obama.gov will approve the loan].

 

What could possibly go wrong?

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:41 | 5737524 a common man
a common man's picture

Ought to be good for about $50,000.00 in student loans!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:47 | 5736445 trader1
trader1's picture

centrally planned entrepreneurism                          OR

oligarchic, (shadow) nation-state capitalism (status quo)

 

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:48 | 5736447 i_call_you_my_base
i_call_you_my_base's picture

Wouldn't be surprised if one of the cops' relatives was in the plowing business.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:47 | 5736449 masaccio
masaccio's picture

I call BS. There is no license required for kids with snow shovels. Anywhere in the Country.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:54 | 5736489 Oleander
Oleander's picture

You cannot go door to door soliciting without a permit. It is that way in many towns in America.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:26 | 5737795 Dragon HAwk
Dragon HAwk's picture

the way the local paper reported it, kids under 18 get a free ride  adults 18 or over need the permit

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:48 | 5736450 jepicza
jepicza's picture

They can't do that without a proper license and the state certification. Starting this year, the new and free 2-year public universities will offer a 2-year snow-shoveling curriculum with the proper license and the graduation certificate. Thank you for the opportunity to clear ut this issue.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 21:37 | 5737305 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

Under water snow shovelling.

 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:50 | 5736463 me or you
me or you's picture

This shows us how fucked the US future is. RIP America.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:52 | 5736468 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

They might be able to open a snow cone stand (with the proper permit).

 

In a normal uncrazy US, the police would have ripped the complainer a new one.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:53 | 5736470 zipit
zipit's picture

Door-to-door posing as a service person looking for work (snow shoveling, lawn mowing, gutter cleaning, painting, whatever) is perfect cover for ringing a doorbell to see if someone is home or not.  If the residents are home, they size up the situation and either home invade or offer their cover services.  If the residents are not home and no dog is barking or other deterent is present, they consider breaking in.  Boom.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:14 | 5736586 serotonindumptruck
serotonindumptruck's picture

It's also perfect cover for a fascist, out-of-control, dictatorial government to convince you to relinquish what few Constitutional Rights that you might have left.

Amerikans have become frightened little mice who freak out if they unexpectedly catch sight of their own shadows. A bunch of paranoid weaklings who call 911 if their neighbor farts too loud.

This country deserves what's coming.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:37 | 5736697 HughBriss
HughBriss's picture

But...but...but...If you SEE something, SAY something!  ;)

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:29 | 5736664 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

Hope they shovel after they leave to remove traces of their footprints.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:53 | 5736472 mrdenis
mrdenis's picture

New Jersey police would rather kids break the law ,it gives them work so as to justify their unholy pay ,pension and benifits ....

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 18:54 | 5736755 UselessEater
UselessEater's picture

so they found a new way to criminalise kids

one of many news ways - don't leave your dog in the car for 1 min is summer; don't let your kids wonder too far on the beach while reading a book; explain why you need a little cash from your bank.........

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:52 | 5736476 Quirkel
Quirkel's picture

Thats Jersey. You'd better grease some palms if you want to start something there. Ill bet if they claimed they hurt their backs they could get disability...

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:59 | 5736522 Withdrawn Sanction
Withdrawn Sanction's picture

Oh, and if you try to leave Jersey...there's an exit tax.  They've got you coming and going...ba da boom.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:54 | 5736478 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

There is a HUGE overhead of regulations, laws, taxes, fees, and permits required in the US to do anything.  And each step of the way costs the productive worker more money as that level of non-productive worker collects the money needed to pay their own wages.  The losers in this are the old folks who would otherwise be trapped in their homes until the snow melts. 

The kids need to change their strategy if they want to prosper in today's world: Go to a doctor and complain you hurt your back and neck while shovelling snow.  Then go apply for Medicare Disability.  Live a lifetime in your parent's basement drinking Pepsi and playing Xbox!

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 22:29 | 5737469 August
August's picture

>>>>Go to a doctor and complain you hurt your back and neck while shovelling snow.  Then go apply for Medicare Disability. 

The above info should be widely publicized, wherever young people and disability attorneys congregate.  A "disability" allows the victim-patient-client to enter the Medicare system, after a two year wait, and thereby achieve lifetime exemption from the purchase of Obamacare "insurance".  In addition to freedom from other nuisances, such as having to "earn a living".

And believe me, I've met enough "disabled" cops trailering their jetskis to the beach to know that staying in your parents' basement will NOT be a requirement.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 00:18 | 5737772 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

My wrist hurts from doing this mouse thingy reading zh ... and the keyboard, that's it, the keyboard syndrome ...  I think it's carpool tunnel disease....

 

Now that I think of it, I hurt my neck from look at this article ....

 

... and my eyes... Oh God! My frigg'n eyes!! Going blind from zh ...

 

None of this would have happened but for ZH and this author... Now I'm screwed for life ... I'll never become Anything due to all this disability caused by zh and the author .... they deprived me of being a rock star guitarist making Billions .....

 

The Pain !! ...

The Suffering !! ...

 

Anyone know a good Jewish lawyer ?

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