Skip to main content

Were Econ Cha-Cha Opponents Forced to Buy Luxury Products When They Have the FREEDOM to Buy More Affordable Products?

Do econ cha-cha opponents have no choice because FDIs "unfairly" own the means of production (read here)? There's always the tendency to say that they participate in capitalism because they have "no choice" but to participate in it to survive. The screenshot above is of Rosario Guzman of the IBON Foundation. They say that the business owners "unfairly" own the means of production (read here). The photo above makes me laugh because why in the world are they using a MacPro? I ask, "If you hate capitalism, why use Apple?" They have their usual rhetoric that it's because the workers should own the means of production as if workers were the ones who bought the equipment. It's as if the workers become the most liable for bad business decisions. One wrong check mark and the company may go south. Another question to fire is, "Did society force you to buy Apple products which you know for well, is rather expensive?" 

This may make one ask, "Did you think the expensive was always the best?" If so, they may think they can spread their message better with more expensive stuff. Investopedia also sheds light on why people are prone to buying luxury goods.

Are Higher-Priced Goods Really of Higher Quality?
One possible explanation for this is the human tendency to overemphasize the positive elements of a product and ignore its disadvantages. For example, in the case of Apple Inc. (AAPL), consumers wait overnight for new releases of iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. This despite the fact that Apple products are not technologically unique or superior.

In fact, Samsung makes phones with better features (compared to most models of the iPhone), and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) and Xiaomi make phones that typically have a cheaper price point. Nevertheless, Apple experiences a high degree of brand loyalty and seems to break sales records year after year.

Because some people perceive non-luxury goods as inferior simply by virtue of them being non-luxury (and not on the basis of their characteristics or qualities), they also come to the irrational conclusion that higher priced goods are of better quality. Contrary to the evidence, they may believe that you get what you pay for, regardless of whether the goods are actually better than their more affordable counterparts.

If they did better research on finances, they could buy laptops from Samsung and Xiaomi at a lower price. In the free market, there's the choice of whether one wants to buy an Apple product or if they want to buy the more affordable alternative. For example, I might buy the "Communist" Xiaomi phone over an iPhone for a lower price and better battery life. I might buy an HP laptop instead. They should've done some research on gadgets that cause. In finances, the principle is never to buy a bag worth USD 500.00 with nothing inside it. Instead, buy a USD 75.00 bag with PHP USD 425.00 on it. They had their free choice and it had consequences to follow. 

Their purchasing habits may prove their financial illiteracy. If one thinks that more expensive is always better--I can expect them not to know basic economics. That's why discussing economics with an overspender can be a futile exercise (read here). An overspender only knows how to spend--not how to budget. Even more ironic is overspending on imported luxury goods while supporting policies discouraging FDI (read here). The person can buy a Gucci bag, an iPhone, and all branded goods but goes to rally against FDI. When asked, "You hate FDI but why buy imported luxury stuff?" Again, if they say they're just forced to participate, were they forced to buy the iPhone, the MacPro, or the Gucci bag when they had a choice for more affordable goods--local or imported? 

They don't see the real beauty of the free market. In a free market, even in a Communist country like Vietnam, there's the choice between luxury goods and non-luxury goods. If I were in Vietnam, I could choose whether or not I'd like to eat gold-leaf steak or I could choose to eat more affordable steaks. I could choose to eat more affordable chocolates or high-class chocolates. Vietnam's current president To Lam ate a golden steak after laying flowers on Karl Marx's grave. To Lam could've chosen to eat at the Sichuan Restaurant instead of Salt Bae's Nusr-Et Steakhouse. Nobody forced To Lam to eat at Nur-Et Steakhouse. To Lam ate that golden steak of his own free will. 

I'm laughing at people who buy luxury products while saying they're just forced to participate in capitalism. It's not like capitalism doesn't give people a choice between different products under fair government regulations. I can buy a luxury or a non-luxury product because I have that choice. I can criticize capitalism under the Customer Protection Act or my right to review businesses. I can complain if a business establishment fails to meet the required safety standards. That's why we still need government to regulate all forms of economic activity. Even Communist countries like China and Vietnam can now enjoy the free market's choices to a certain extent. 

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Venezuela as a Cautionary Tale on #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba, Nationalistic Pride, Welfare State Economics

The Sunday Guardian Years ago, I wrote about Venezuela's pride and protectionism , under a more "formal" style of writing compared to my latest posts. I decided to use an even "less formal" and "less academic" tone since I'm not writing a term paper. Instead, it's like how a professor and a student discuss the thesis using first person over third person, using contractions, etc., while the thesis doesn't use such tones. Back on track, I thought about the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro can spark debate. Was it a violation of sovereignty? I'm no expert on international law. However, Venezuelans can be seen celebrating Maduro's arrest. Right now, I'm using Gemini AI and Google search to help me find some sources for this blog. It's because I don't want my blog to become another gossip central, but a place to discuss facts with my own personal opinions (making sure they don't  derail the facts).  I used Venezuela ...
Read more

The Philippines will NEVER Get Richer by Blaming Its Richer Asian Neighbors

Gemini AI Updated: September 27, 2025 It would be nice to talk about the typical blame game in the Philippines. I could remember that, as a child and a teenager, I had this habit of blaming people I disliked for my failing an exam. The reasons are mostly imagined. What I remembered in my later college years was when I met a couple of super irresponsible students. They had this attitude to say something like, "My parents don't care if it'll take me 20 years to finish my bachelor's degree." Some people even say something like, "It's the fault of the rich that we are poor." It was a backfire when I told such people, "Isn't it any wonder why your finances are down? It's because your parents don't even value the money when they don't care if it'll take up to 20 years to finish college!"  Understanding the blame game and why it feels so good Psychology Today presents this on why some people will always blame others . These fin...
Read more

Davide vs. Mahathir: Which Lolo Should Filipinos Take Economic Advice From?

The real issue isn't that something is old or new. Instead, if something old or new still works, or doesn't work! Many modern laws are built on some ancient principles, while adjusting to the current times!  The Constitution of Japan is actually older than the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. However, it's more effective for the reasons that (1) their constitution is silent when it comes to regulating economic activities (ex., protectionist measures), and (2) it's a parliamentary system. Honestly, it's a pretty straightforward constitution compared to ours! As Mahatir Mohamad turned 100 today, I would like to raise up Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr. once again. The problem isn't Davide's age but his unwillingness to embrace change when needed (read here ). This time, it's time to bring up a contrast between wise old people and unwise old people. A young person can be right where the old person is wrong. A young person can be wiser because he or she lea...
Read more

The Socio-Economic Cost of Pinoy Pride Economics

Tomorrow is what's commonly referred to as Philippine Independence Day (although the Philippines really became independent on July 4, 1948 ) which falls on a Sunday. Granted, some people will either be in church (or at least online church) so I decided to write this article a day before tomorrow. I feel like writing this article because some people want to achieve "economic independence". I feel this article is badly needed. I may no longer be taking my MBA classes (since I graduated last October 2014) but I feel like writing these essays after recovering (in part) from the disaster known as Typhoon Odette).  I read some stupid people on Facebook have said that the Philippines may become richer without foreign investments. I read the posts of protectionist thought leaders of people from Bayan Muna, IBON Foundation (which claims itself to be an economic think-tank), Kabataan Partylist, League of Filipino Students, and the like. It even made me laugh to see how one of the L...
Read more

It's a Common, Broken New Year's Resolution Among Filipinos to Do Better with Their Finances and Economic Knowledge

Happy New Year, right? There's this statement in Cebuano that says, "Sa Disyembre nag lipay-lipay. Sa Enero, naglikay-likay." For non-Cebuano speakers, it means, "Enjoying all December. Fleeing in January." It's because of the bad habits that are common during the Christmas season. I wrote an entry talking about when a Merry Christmas leads to an Unhappy New Year . After Christmas vacation, it can be common to talk about New Year's Resolutions. Sadly, there are resolutions meant to be broken or resolutions on paper only. Several people finish high school, go to college, get a job, but never gain the necessary knowledge of economics and finances. Instead, they continue to live the same habits year after year. Even worse, the same foolish behavioral patterns get passed down f rom parent to child to grandchild. Still stuck with financial habits that put one in a financial dodo The New Year starts and it can get funny. I tend to hate December because of the ...
Read more