What do you consider to be the best "con" of recent years?

[ColinEssex]

I realise this may prompt answers that may not be relevant in other countries, but what is the best rip-off you have seen.

I think that in the UK, it has to be bottled water. The UK water providers supply perfectly pure drinkable water through the taps (or faucets). The water is tested thousands of times a day and is perfectly safe and healthy.

Why do people in the UK drink so much bottled water?

Col

 

[Vassago]

I have to agree with you on the bottled water. What really irks me about bottled water is the range of prices different "brands" of water charge. Evian is the worse, you know where it gets it's name? Reverse it's name and you'll know just who buys it.

 

[David Eagar]

THE CEO's of major finance organisations have done a pretty good job of conning us they were worth their extravagant salaries

 

[Mike375]

In Australia, what is known as Financial Services Regulations. That protects consumers against insurance salesmen

It still staggers me that the average person has yet to realise that the regulations mean the insurance salesman/financial planner's first duty, under the regulations, is to cover his arse. And people are now paying for it big time, with recent financial issues.

On the world stage, I guess [Iraq] & " " & [GeneralMotors] & " " & [Israel] & " " & [etc]

 

[Mike375]

Col, and since you said recent years....the gun buy backs in Australia. All up it is just under 1 billion....while people wait for medical treatment etc and etc. And the 1 billion does not include the ongoing costs.

It is really fucking amazing that the average person thinks..yes it was good idea..even though it drained 1 billion and made no difference...except of course to areas that could of use the 1 billion

This maybe hard on my part, but I will be honest, I quite enjoy seeing the stories on our current affairs TV where money is trying to be raised for "this person" etc. fuck them, they supported the 1 billion waste.

 

[TessB]

Well, it's nothing new, but my vote has to go to insurance.
Home owner's insurance. What are the odds your home will be utterly destroyed and yet we have to pay over $1000 a year for it. Health insurance... people who have health insurance through my work pay over $400 for family coverage a month. Who spends $400 a month in dr visits? It's only a saving grace if something major happens! And by the time you REALLY need health insurance, when your body starts falling apart, it's impossible to get at an affordable rate. Your health insurance is usually connected to your employment but you REALLY need it when you retire and your body starts to fail on you.

That is my opinion anyway.

Of course the biggest and best con in my opinion has to do with organized religion, which is definitely the oldest con. But that's a pretty volitile subject. So... lol... I'll go with insurance.

 

[Mike375]

Well, it's nothing new, but my vote has to go to insurance.
Home owner's insurance. What are the odds your home will be utterly destroyed and yet we have to pay over $1000 a year for it.

So how much to you think the premium should be?

 

[ColinEssex]

Of course the biggest and best con in my opinion has to do with organized religion, which is definitely the oldest con. But that's a pretty volitile subject. So... lol... I'll go with insurance.

I wasn't going to mention religion or the USA specifically. I thought I might try to keep this thread on track

Insurance is a good one though.

Going back to water. If you ask for tap water in a restaurant, they look at you as if you crawled up from the sewer. Do you get charged for the water? Some do and some don't. Others have water already on the table - for free. (or at least not itemised on the bill)

Col

 

[ColinEssex]

So how much to you think the premium should be?

Wouldn't Tess's $1000 a year give cover ranging from minor issues through to a full rebuild?

I recall a couple of years ago with contents insurance I caught my sheepskin coat on a nail (the coat was £10 from a charity shop) - I rang my insurers, they said I could spend up to £400 to get a new sheepskin, so I went to Somerset and had a new sheepskin flying jacket made at a cost of £375 and it is beautifully warm especially on the bike. (as I write this, it's -5.7c outside at 9:20am)

Anyway, I thought I got a good deal from the insurance company and no premium rise the following year.

Col

 

[Rich]

The "American dream"

 

[Mike375]

Col,

I don't know about Mother England or the US of A but in Australia (and I think the others would be much the same) most general insurers do well to break even on underwriting, that is, premiums coming in equal premiums going out. The profit comes from investment of the premium.

One of the greatest fallacies is that insurance companies would like to see an end to car theft, the love it and for a simple reason. Let's say car theft represents $100 of the premium. If car theft stopped then the next day insurance company A would reduce its premium and the others would follow. Thus the amount available for investment would be reduced on every policy by $100, billions of dollars.

Of course some of the biggest benefactors of car theft are the car makers, the car repairers and the car sellers

In short, if everyone becomes honest tomorrow the unemployment would be huge which would mean that people have to steal which would mean we were back to the start

So perhaps the biggest con of all is the need to end crime, the economy can't afford to end crime.

 

[Len Boorman]

The biggest con
Hmmm may be a bit controversal here

How about the predictions on Global Warming. Now before the greenies jump all over me.

I am not against halting pollution.
I am not against reducing CO2. I say if you do not burn it you do not produce CO2.
Wind farms are not a solution. Currently -4 C and not a breath of wind. How is your heating system to run.

Wind Farms require standby generation. However they allow the Government to say "We are doing this...." and gives the energy companies some return on least expenditure.

The money should be going towards cold fusion or similar technology development,

Anyway biggest con is in my opinion still Global Warming.
Clsely followed by this government of course

L

 

[Mike375]

The biggest con


Anyway biggest con is in my opinion still Global Warming.
Clsely followed by this government of course

L

2008 was the coldest year on record for Australia or it might have been Sydney, can't remember. This year and last year were very mild summers and very cold winters

 

[statsman]

I don't know how far you want to go back but WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION has to be in the Top 10.

Gas prices. Gas went up 4 cents a litre at the pump today. Crude went down 40 cents a barrel.

Insurance: if you don't have it, you'll need it. If you do have it you won't.
Murphy's third law of auto/home ownership.

 

[SQL_Hell]

New Labour

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

2008 was the coldest year on record for Australia or it might have been Sydney, can't remember. This year and last year were very mild summers and very cold winters

That's why it's starting to be called anthopogenic climate change instead of 'global warming' - which is a misleading term, because a rise the the global average temperature doesn't actually mean the weather will be warmer everywhere.

For example, one of the possible scenarios arising from a global average temperature rise is disruption of the gulf stream and other ocean currents - if that happens, the UK could experience very much colder conditions.

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

Insurance: if you don't have it, you'll need it. If you do have it you won't.
Murphy's third law of auto/home ownership.

I've been paying a small premium for insurance to cover my mortgage payments in the case of loss of income. I started to resent it, seeing it as just wasted money... until I was made redundant last year - when suddenly it looked like a great idea after all.

I have another job now, but that insurance turned a potential crisis into a mere inconvenience.

My nominations/votes for the biggest scams: Yeah, WMDs. I never believed that was anything more than a smokescreen, right from the start. I just couldn't believe people were taken in by it, and supported the invasion of Iraq on such an obviously flimsy and fabricated piece of allegation.

And credit cards (credit in general, in fact). With certain notable exceptions (i.e. mortgages and possibly loans taken out for essential transportation, etc), it's just not a good idea to spend money you do not have.

 

[Rabbie]

And credit cards (credit in general, in fact). With certain notable exceptions (i.e. mortgages and possibly loans taken out for essential transportation, etc), it's just not a good idea to spend money you do not have.

I find my credit cards useful to avoid carrying large amounts of cash. However I make a point of paying the full amount every month so it doesn't run up debts.

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

I use a debit card for that. Knowing I can't spend more than I have keeps my enthusiasm in check.

(I have an upgrade on the account it draws from that carries the same kind of protection and extended warranty stuff that you get with a credit card. I pay extra for that, but it comes with stuff like travel, breakdown, mobile phone insurance etc - just cancelling the AA cover paid for the upgrade and I get a lot more out of it)

 

[Mike375]

That's why it's starting to be called anthopogenic climate change instead of 'global warming' - which is a misleading term, because a rise the the global average temperature doesn't actually mean the weather will be warmer everywhere.

For example, one of the possible scenarios arising from a global average temperature rise is disruption of the gulf stream and other ocean currents - if that happens, the UK could experience very much colder conditions.

It seems to me there are two parts to global warming:

1) Is it happening

2) If it is happening is due to man's activities