[la_senorita_azul]

Whoa@watch.

But still, even if there was a person who was able to make a watch from scratch, there is no doubt in my mind that people would rather just head over to Macy's and pay 50 bucks for a new one. That's what most people in my area would do. We're a bunch of lazy New Yorkers. Sure, if a watch gets wet or the battery dies or something obvious happens to it, they'll get it fixed, but real, major problems, they'll just buy a new one. Even if there was an amazing watchmaker/repairman in town the demand would still probably not exist.

We have shoemakers, but the shoemaker finds himself being more of a tailor of stiff fabrics than somebody who makes shoes. I don't know anyone who has custom shoes. I know many people that go to the shoemaker to get a sole reattached or a tent sewn back together. The demand for custom artisan goods is not really significant.

[mister_clockwork]

la_senorita_azul wrote: Whoa@watch. But still, even if there was a person who was able to make a watch from scratch, there is no doubt in my mind that people would rather just head over to Macy's and pay 50 bucks for a new one. That's what most people in my area would do. We're a bunch of lazy New Yorkers. Sure, if a watch gets wet or the battery dies or something obvious happens to it, they'll get it fixed, but real, major problems, they'll just buy a new one. Even if there was an amazing watchmaker/repairman in town the demand would still probably not exist. We have shoemakers, but the shoemaker finds himself being more of a tailor of stiff fabrics than somebody who makes shoes. I don't know anyone who has custom shoes. I know many people that go to the shoemaker to get a sole reattached or a tent sewn back together. The demand for custom artisan goods is not really significant.

I can understand that. People who do custom items do well in areas that are doing well. But, you'd be surprised at what people do with items that hold sedimentary value to them. A guy came in with an old Mickey Mouse watch that he wanted fixed. My teacher told him it wasn't worth the cost; he could buy 10 of them for the cost of repairing that one and he said he didn't care, he wanted THAT watch repaired and running again because it held sentimental value to him.

There could be a reason why the shoemaker lives where he does. He would do much better in the city though, or even where he was if he was good at advertisement and self-promotion. There's a lot of wealthy people (namely businessmen) who will pay a lot for custom made shoes. But, at least he has a job and is able to make the money he needs from it.

[mizu_ratiosu]

i_moan wrote: The whole "distribution of wealth" situation is completely ludacris. We live in a country where you make your own wealth. If you take the time to go to college for 10 years or however long a doctor goes and then become good at your profession, there is no reason why you should have to be critisized for it or taxed more because people less wealthy then you are complaining.

In this time period, the American dream is dead. How are you going to make your own wealth when you get laid off of your job, the center of how to cover all of your expenses?

You're acting like the middle class and the poor aren't getting criticized in this corrupt system, too; many get criticized for supporting government programs and systems that would give them a helping hand to help them get on their feet again. Also, when you look at the gap between the rich and the poor at this very moment, you’ll see why distribution of wealth is necessary.