http://abcnews.go.com/Business/IndustryInfo/wireStory?id=4868744
Little do most Wisconsinites know, but our own lovely city of Reedsburg contains a water bed factory. Big deal. But this isn't just an ordinary water bed factory; the kind people of Reedsburg focus on ensuring that the nation's cows are comfortable and happy.
Another little known fact that is almost worthy of a Snapple cap? Cows that sleep on water beds or sand produce, according to a recent study, 6 percent more milk that those that have uncomfortable bedding. And, what's more, mattresses are the worst sort of bedding as they make the cows' legs swell up.
Kirk Christie of Iowa has not only installed temperature controlled water beds for each of his cows, but has also installed multiple flat screen TV's around the barn so that his cows may watch Oprah and Dr. Phil. (I'm not even being sarcastic, he said they watch Oprah and Dr. Phil.) Now, this doesn't really have a direct link with anything we've studied thus far in class, but I think this story is a prime example of how personal morals and beliefs can play into a person's economic mindset.
The issue that I think would have a major impact on these transaction is one's view on animal value. Now I am personally against animal cruelty and abuse, but, in this situation, a cow is a cow. A cow does not need a water bed or a flat screen TV. According to the article, each water bed costs $200, plus the cost of pumping either hot or cold water through it depending on the weather conditions. Flat screen TVs run for a couple grand depending on the size. I would never spend this much money making sure a cow was comfortable enough to produce milk. Yet there are people that are so obsessed with their animals that they purchase massages, clothing, and special hotel rooms for them. These people spend a HUGE amount of money making sure their precious pooches are properly pampered (ha! alliteration!) Without people having extreme views or values, would our economy have as much of a constant flow of money as it does? Take the animal issue again. There are those that spend thousands of dollars on their dog's hair and nails each year, but then there are also people who have strong views towards saving the endangered animals and poor money into those funds. As well as those who for some reason enjoy wearing the dried skin of dead animals as fashion accessories, who spend thousands on their crocodile/snake skin boots and gloves and their mink/baby seal coats.
In a way different political views work the same way. We spend money on of for causes we agree with; and since people have different opinions, there is more money needed to ensure that your personal view comes out on top.
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3 comments:
HAAHAHHA I haven't heard of anything for a snapple cap in FOREVER. Thanks for that one.
Now onto your subject, I think that the farmers buy this kind of stuff so that they can abuse their cows but not get into any trouble because they bought them a damn waterbed. That might not be it but it sure as hell went through my mind.
Oh and why should we even care? because those people making those waterbeds could be out saving the fricken world thats why! Or they could just be helping out by making very special goods that we could market to the world and finally have something to attack those bastard oil barons with so they are forced to lower their prices.
Im not going to get into oil any more than that, people's dumbass views are already pissing me off thinking about it.
first of all the image of holsteins lounging on waterbeds with dr. phil in the background cracks me up. i wonder if they have a remote?
and i think this is a prime example of specializtion coming full circle. the people who work in the water bed factory, do the presumable terrible and boring job of putting together water beds so that people can go to school and become scientists. Those scientists then come out with this kind of research, thereby encouraging us all to go out and buy more water beds to make our bovine buddies beam (there's some alliteration to match yours), and pumping more money back into the economy.
ahh the cycle of economics...
Oh man! that's crazy. i wish i was one of those cows!
I like the idea on the money flow due to personal feelings, like taking care of your animals. People argue that there should be restrictions on the crazy things that people spend their money on, that there is better causes to spend it on. I agree that there is better things to spend money on than flat screens for the bovine populations but doesn't that kinda come with the free economy. the idea that there is so many different options and things to spend money on, it seems like that is what keeps us going and circulating money.
Having said that, if any one would like to help our economy and spend some money on a waterbed and flatscreen for my dorm next year, you'd be doing a good deed.
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