The NBA and China

[mu03eng]

Yeah, Nike has acted just like Lebron.....making stands when it is at worst economically neutral. Take the Betsy Ross shoes they pulled because CK objected, yes it got bad press initially but it gives them further cred with the folks they are trying to sell too. Lebron's problem is that with this China thing the folks who are providing the revenue are on the opposite side of the principled stand instead of the same side.

[buckchuckler]

Yeah, Nike has acted just like Lebron.....making stands when it is at worst economically neutral. Take the Betsy Ross shoes they pulled because CK objected, yes it got bad press initially but it gives them further cred with the folks they are trying to sell too. Lebron's problem is that with this China thing the folks who are providing the revenue are on the opposite side of the principled stand instead of the same side.

Whether it is the NBA, or Lebron, or really anyone else, those with great wealth will step on and exploit whomever they need so they can maintain and build that wealth. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27852132/protesters-trample-burn-lebron-james-jerseys-hong-kong

[jesmu84]

Whether it is the NBA, or Lebron, or really anyone else, those with great wealth will step on and exploit whomever they need so they can maintain and build that wealth.

Ding ding ding. Capitalism.

[buckchuckler]

Ding ding ding. Capitalism.

No.  It is avarice. 

[jesmu84]

No.  It is avarice.

Tomato, tomahto

[GooooMarquette]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27852132/protesters-trample-burn-lebron-james-jerseys-hong-kong

Good!

LeBron is the ultimate self-serving a$$hat. This quote seals it for me:

"Yes, we do have freedom of speech," James said. "But at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you're not thinking about others, when you only think about yourself."

So he doesn't realize that Morey was thinking of others (like, oh say, maybe the oppressed citizens of HK) when he tweeted? If LBJ was being honest, his quote would say "negative things can happen when you tweet without thinking about ME."

[wadesworld]

LeBron has always been a phony.

[forgetful]

If LBJ was being honest, his quote would say "negative things can happen when you tweet without thinking about ME."

Honestly, if he said that instead, I might respect him a bit more for at least telling the truth.

[Lennys Tap]

Tomato, tomahto

Tomato, tangerine.

[jesmu84]

Tomato, tangerine.

Both fruits!

[buckchuckler]

Tomato, tomahto

Yeah, we should totally be communist.  Then we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

Because it would be highly regulated by the government elites and any semblance of dissent would result in being put in a reeducation camp or prison.  That would be sweet.

[buckchuckler]

LeBron has always been a phony.

You telling me this isn't legit????

[Pakuni]

Yeah, we should totally be communist.  Then we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

Because it would be highly regulated by the government elites and any semblance of dissent would result in being put in a reeducation camp or prison.  That would be sweet.

It's a real shame that dog-eat-dog capitalism and totalitarian communism are the only options.

[buckchuckler]

It's a real shame that dog-eat-dog capitalism and totalitarian communism are the only options.

You come up with something else and I'll listen.  So far, capitalism has worked better for more people than anything else. 

That being said, it isn't perfect and leads to exploitation.  Though in some degree, this exploitation is the result of communist China completely controlling their markets to keep labor costs low, therefore artificially attracting capitalist companies to seek their lowest costs.  It is all greed that is leading to strange political bedfellows.   

[Pakuni]

You come up with something else and I'll listen.  So far, capitalism has worked better for more people than anything else. 

My point isn't a knock on capitalism, but a knock on the extremes of this discussion, which are framing it as a choice between either accepting/embracing the worst aspects of capitalism or becoming North Korea.
The rejection of the former does not lead to the latter.