AndyFromCB

So do, so do I. Flying out tomorrow to look at a house at 46U I don't like to work too hard...

Now you're talking my language. Good luck touching that third rail, police pensions and military benefits. And if it was only 3/4, it might be sustainable. Ever heard of pension spiking? Yes, you did.

Essentially you prove my point every time, that Europeans are smarter, fitter and better looking than Americans…Apparently Europeans being better educated, make better choices and that's why they get to live, better, longer, richer lives. Which brings us back, as to why, since even you apparently agree with my underlaying premise. What you are saying is that "freedom" apparently only works for about 20% of the population. I agree. Most people are too effing stupid to live and I pay for it. And you pay for it. And 6 weeks vacation would probably be a big boost to the economy... And actually, we are sick from cheap calories. Those in the know don't eat cheap food. When I go to a grocery store, it's scary what I see on conveyor belt. It's funny when the cashier has to ask what this and that vegetable is. We don't buy shit in boxes or cans. Cheap calories is a government policy, one I directly benefit from, being in the crop insurance business. Answer one question and answer it as a human and as a catholic. Who pay's for Timmy cancer treatment if his father and mother are poor, uninsured white trash that likes TV dinners and hotdogs. Or do we just let Timmy die? I have no major problems with Timmy croaking…But as long as you do, we need to fix little Timmy on the cheap and that requires that we quit pretending 80% of population is entitled to any sort of freedom.

I'm sorry, but the french have a considerably smaller debt as percetange of GDP than we do. And at least their debt numbers are real, including all levels of government, unlike ours, where only federal debt is included. Our true debt is closer to 300% of GDP. And once again, all we ever got for it was a B2 flyby. Greece's problem has always been taxation. The greeks and italians simply refuse to pay taxes. And greeks were never shining example of socialism, more of an anarchy, if anything. But I'll guess you've never been? Have you.

So why not share the country where the cancer treatment occurred for all of us to make informed choices. That always appears to be the catch with you all, informed choices.

John, It comes down to what you consider infrastructure and basic obligation to economy. You make everything too simple and confuse what is necessary to compete in global economy. Ask any business owner with employees what it's like to spend an average of 16K a year on benefits for their employees when the French employers only pay about half that. Your simple ideas are flawed, because the world is not simple. It's as simple as that. Simple enough even for a conservative in understand. We have a fully privatized health care system, guess what, costs twice as much and under delivers. Health care is infrastructure in global economy. So is basic nutrition and education of population. Why do we have to be special and so fucking hard headed. We cannot invent everything. There are many ideas around the world worth imitating. Read this, explains everything, actually, a pretty conservative system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France

Dave, Like I said, called your BS made up anecdote. There was no man, brother, sister and mother. You made it up. Don't bring up Venezuela and try to compare it first world countries. Either become informed on any topic and if you're going to make shit up, at least make it plausible, which means, once again, become informed on the topic. French have what is probably one of the best health care systems on this planet, with both public and private insurance and both public and private hospitals. People pay for their health care and get reimbursed, just like in United States. And they spend half of what we do for essentially the same outcome. What they don't have is uninsured and people going bankrupt when cancer or heart attack strikes. Many do here even with insurance. You should take a vacation outside of US of A and realize the western europeans are not walking around in chains. They are just as free if not freer than most of people living in US of A. Sorry, but that's the case. Actually, I just checked, the French have #1 best rated heath care system in the world and their doctors have considerably more freedom than US doctors because they are not constrained in any way, shape or form by insurance companies in treatments offered. Also, their networks are larger and an average citizen has an access to a much larger pool of doctors than here in the US of A.

What country? Would it be so hard to say. And please, quit calling a guy who's run some of a business or another since the age go 15 a socialist. You have no idea what that word means. All advanced countries, including US of A are socialistic in some aspects and capitalistic in others. Common roads are a form of socialism as well as public schools. Military and police are a form of socialism.

I wear short Asolo leather hikers and always wear thick jeans. Ultra comfortable, light, leather, toe protection, non-slip Vibram sole. Best shoe I've ever worn. Wear them to work, to run, to hike: http://www.asolo-usa.com/men/access-footwear-for-men/agent-gv-men-s-graphite.html Cotton and leather make for pretty good fire suits. Yeah, I also have a smoke hood in my airplane too. Shows you what I fear the most.

Well, There you go John, Europe started their QE, like I said they would. Do you really think we are now going to raise interest rates and make everything we make unexportable to old continent. There will be no interest rate increases for the forseeable future. It will be fiscally responsible little countries like the Swiss who will suffer. I said before and I'll say it again, virtue is not a commodity that goes up in value as it becomes scarce. When in Rome, do as Romans do. And it is Rome, all over again. Virtue is for mythology.

You live in a neighborhood of trust fund adults, am I reading it correctly? My parents gave me quality education and 50 bucks when I moved out with an understanding that it was the last dollar I will ever see from them. Great folks. Still alive, still kicking, still spending whatever dollars they have. My offsprings will enjoy the same. Quality education, quality travel time all over the world and a swift kick in the ass upon reaching a certain age. I will leave them nothing unless they are disabled. I didn't believe in inheritance even way back when I was a republican. Hereditary wealth is very unhealthy to any sort of lasting system of government, especially, a republic.

What difference does it make.

You see, this only proves my point that inheritance tax needs to be 100%. There is no way any of these people made their own money. Or that making money only requires large quantity of ignorance and arrogance combined.

No, however I would lose not sleep if let's say W2 or like incomes over let's say, $1 cool even million were subject to 99% tax. That would put a stop to it pretty quickly. And lower the cost of childcare in NYC. You want income like that, it has to come thru dividends, not paychecks. You want dividends, you have to own the stock. You own the stock, you don't do jack ass moves. I read about Target in Canada. What a cluster fuck.

I'm going to call BS on this one because that's not how it works in Europe. Even with private insurance in Europe, you would not receive any substantial different or better care with private insurance. Private insurance only covers extras like an individual instead of shared room, etc. The basic chemo treatment would be the same, regardless. What country are we talking about. And please don't say France, because then I will really call it BS. Have no idea how things work in South America, so if that was the case, then I don't know. BTW, in most Europeans countries, even France, the health care is handled by 'insurance companies' too. France has 5, Germany like 300. No different than here with exception that everyone pays the same premium in proportion to their income. In France, it's 5%. On top of that, most employers then also offer private insurance to cover the little niceties. ACA is not government healthcare, it's a small set of regulations on few outrageous practices of insurance companies plus a small subsidy for the lower middle classes. That's all. Nobody is demonizing insurance companies, but I'm not going to glorify them either. I can give thousands of examples of people in US who lost their coverage mid-treatment prior to ACA when a health insurance company just simply dropped them. Prior to ACA, it was legal. Or could never get coverage again.

And you wonder why people have to stay at home and collect foodstamps.

With leaders like that, I cannot wait for another conservative president. Is a US of A ETF I can short?

Thanks. I guess now I know how the natives must have felt. What's next, a blanket with smallpox?

Well, I don't really know, however, any police officer using the word "fuck" in commission of his duties should be immediately terminated. As simple as that. Fucking professionalism at its best.

Childcare around here is about $6K a year. A $3K is a big dent. Big enough to go back to work and get off food stamps, even at min wage. Would be a lot smarter if it was done as a voucher instead a tax credit where one has to wait a year. Then you'd be amazed how many people would consider going back to work, even at 8 an hour instead of taking care of kids at home and collecting food stamps. I mean here you have a perfect example of something that would actually stimulate the economy and you hate it, simply because Obama proposed it. Like I said, want immediate effect, make it a voucher.

Here you go: https://ccmis.dhs.state.ia.us/providerportal/ChildCareRequirements.aspx Anybody with 3 brain cells can meet these regulations. Excessive, I don't think so. Point one out on the one page matrix you consider excessive. And with $3000 a year credit, maybe more people will as the demand will increase and more women will enter workforce or school for whom it previously made no sense. Guess what, government assistance can and does drive the economy. Ask any rocket scientist. Essentially un-employable otherwise. Ask their housekeepers and the in keepers are their favorite vacation spot.

So now you want unregulated, un inspected day care centers. Every time there is a news story around here about a kid getting injured or killed, it's always an unregulated, un inspected day care center. I actually wrote a piece of software for the state to track licenses, inspections and violations. The shit I have seen in that database would make your head spin.

Please don't. I'd rather stay of his radar.

As to the Lord, I am not throwing bombs. I truly believe that religion is at least 50% responsible for current state of this country. This is my belief and I fight the death cult followers on daily basis with my contributions and my politics. Nothing against you per se, just against the entire institution and its followers.

There you go again. Taxation and regulation stops anyone from starting a business. Where do you get that bullshit from? What business? Drilling oil wells? Laying high voltage power cables? Those are not businesses started by little guys. They take millions in capital and millions in capital can afford lawyers to deal with regulation and skirt it. Most small business are exactly that, small. Mom and pop. They are the $50K a year household. Their taxation is exactly the same as anybody else and they are not, in any, way, shape or form regulated on federal level unless they are selling guns, explosives or drugs. I've started many, 2 in the last 2 years. File articles of incorporation, call paychecks, call my benefit manager. 4 times a year submit an Excel spreadsheet to my accountant, once a year sign a tax statement. Fuck me, I am overly regulated. All my regulations come from state level aka the insurance commission making sure the taxpayers don't get stuck with a failed insurance company. Is that the regulation you want to eliminate? In my software businesses, I face no regulation what so ever. None, zero. Or are you talking about a roofing business for example and evil OSHA? Do you know why workman's comp rates are 30% for roofing companies. It's not because Scott and his company is making a ton of money. All you ever present is bullshit anecdotal evidence overheard on conservative TV or radio. No major regulation is stopping Johny from becoming an independent florist. A ton of regulation and millions of dollars in capital are stopping Johny from becoming a pipeline owner. Thank The Big Guy in the Sky. Another giant cluster fuck on an oil spill into the pristine Yellowstone river over the weekend. If anything, these business' are severely under inspected, under fined and under regulated.