OP ED-"Little Timmy Wants to Know Why Nobody Likes Airplanes Anymore?

[Andy95W]

I think we have a bigger problem than the government. It's the people and their attitudes in this country.

And probably the real reason that "Little Timmy Wants to Know Why Nobody Likes Airplanes Anymore?"

[AndyFromCB]

Sigh. O.K. I would wonder on the conservative side who she aienated. I can understand completely why an establishment type would despise her whether on GOP or Dem side. I don't know that intellect is what we need in the whitehouse. I would rather have a conservative with ability to frame ideas and lead others toward a goal that can surround her/hisself with competent "doers" or should I say "un-doers".

Wait for the new GT350. It will be "awesomer" than the GT. Yes, I get that. I bought a book on the Boss Mustang's just because I love the look, sound of the breed. Regrets on not getting one for cheap back in the day. A backseat to for others to share the fun.

 

Yeah, but what I like about the Mustang GT is the $35K sticker. I'm sure the GT350 will an amazing car, but one you push into $50s, there are more choices. 

 

We do need intellect in the white house. We need it badly. Have not had any in there since Clinton, before then it was Bush, before then Nixon, you have to go all the way back to Eisenhower, then FDR. Yes, I exclude Obama, Bush Jr, Reagan, Carter, JFK, Truman from the type of intellect I am talking about. We've had it from both sides of the isle. We've had two administrations in the row that can barely manage now. If you want someone to untangle the web, without a total complete chaos ensuing, someone of Sarah intellect and pettiness is not the answer.

 

To quote Nixon talking about Ike, that's what we need:

 

"He was a far more complex and devious man than most people realized, and in the best sense of those words."

 

If you want to get anything done or undone, you need to be able to disarm/convince/bribe the other side. The system is set up in such a way, that even with majority in power in all congress and white house, it's impossible to get anything done or undone without at least a super majority behind it. I want someone cunning, crafty and sly.

[jkhirsch]

If I could trust Romney to run country like a business and leave the useless political/social issues out of it, I think from a speculative economic perspective he could do the country well.

 

I don't claim to have any facts to support that, that is merely the impression I have formed of him.

 

Maybe that is the intended view carefully managed by political wranglers, maybe there is some truth in it, we have no way of knowing unless he's elected.

[AndyFromCB]

If I could trust Romney to run country like a business and leave the useless political/social issues out of it, I think from a speculative economic perspective he could do the country well.

 

I don't claim to have any facts to support that, that is merely the impression I have formed of him.

 

Maybe that is the intended view carefully managed by political wranglers, maybe there is some truth in it, we have no way of knowing unless he's elected.

 

Well, he is not running anymore.

[carusoam]

Dp

[jkhirsch]

Well, he is not running anymore.

Sure, I'm just using him as a proxy for what I perceive as a useful candidate, especially at this point.

 

I'd like to as much as possible see a candidate that's not afraid to leave political agendas behind and try to actually accomplish something, or give the government a direction that economically makes sense.

 

I have never thought social issues had any place in the government, with the acknowledgement that based on things that have been done in the past you cannot eliminate them completely.

[flyboy0681]

How about by doing what I have done...by living within your means! There is no mystery to it. Work hard and save. No big fancy vacation. Save. No eating out. Save. No big fancy new car. Save. No Big fancy house. Save. No hanging at the bar. Save. No going to concerts, sporting events. Save. No having a bunch of kids....

No credit card debt. No lottery tickets. No cigarettes. No tatoos. No fancy cloths. No smart phone. No satellite. No cable.

That's how.

Life has consequences. I made a lot of sacrifices. Don't come to "Big Government" expecting deliverance. Go out and work, save and watch your savings grow...

Or just say "I deserve it"...Like the Federal government does every single frickin' day...

and live for the moment instead of planing for the future.

 

Even by saving, the 47%'r can't save enough for a "reasonable" retirement. I've posted this statistic before, but the current numbers show that a person retiring now would need $240k just to pay for their out of pocket healthcare needs once they are on Medicare if they live to 85.

[flyboy0681]

If you did your research you would know how much of the U.S. debt China really owns ... (yawn)

 

Which ain't much.

[AndyFromCB]

If you did your research you would know how much of the U.S. debt China really owns ... (yawn)

 

About a trillion aka pocket change but it keeps both us dancing...

[John Pleisse]

I was watching Charlie Rose last night...he interviewed former Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers. He seemed to think that the Saudi oil being so much cheaper, was the direct result of American oil production and not much else. And this guy was a CABINET member, in charge of our dollars!!!!! He then went on to suggest with oil prices so low....."...this is our big chance to get the carbon tax into law"........ more drool...... "yes....now is the best time for a fracking tax, a fuel import tax and new gas taxes"........

 

Now a Harvard professor, so he must know. Then there's this:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/us/health-care-fixes-backed-by-harvards-experts-now-roil-its-faculty.html?_r=2

[flyboy0681]

I was watching Charlie Rose last night...he interviewed former Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers. He seemed to think that the Saudi oil being so much cheaper, was the direct result of American oil production and not much else. And this guy was a CABINET member, in charge of our dollars!!!!! He then went on to suggest with oil prices so low....."...this is our big chance to get the carbon tax into law"........ more drool...... "yes....now is the best time for a fracking tax, an fuel import tax and new gas taxes"........

 

Now a Harvard professor, so he must know. Then there's this:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/us/health-care-fixes-backed-by-harvards-experts-now-roil-its-faculty.html?_r=2

 

 

The problem we will now face, and which has been mentioned here before, is that the price of oil is now cheaper than the break-even point for fracking. That concerns me.

[John Pleisse]

The problem we will now face, and which has been mentioned here before, is that the price of oil is now cheaper than the break-even point for fracking. That concerns me.

 

 

Don't be concerned. This is strategic price fixing by the Saudis to impede Iran's provocative behaviors. Everything starts going back up mid summer...sharply. What the Saudis giveth, they will take back.

[rob]

 

BTW, back to cars for a little bit. I test drove a new Mustang GT yesterday and I am absolutely in love. What an amazing American car. It handles beautifully without losing that muscle car feel.

 

Yes. back to cars. Are you in the market? Going to consider a Hellcat?

[rob]

I completely disagree with your $240k number. You don't need to show me graphs and articles etc. You have an agenda. I do not support it.

 

If you disagree, wouldn't it be prudent to state why you do? Just because you think someone has an agenda does not absolve you from showing a logical reason why you disagree. Do you have another number other than $240? What is it and how did you come to it?

[AndyFromCB]

I completely disagree with your $240k number. You don't need to show me graphs and articles etc. You have an agenda. I do not support it.

 

That's only 12K a year. Are you really telling me that it's unreasonable to expect to spend that much on healthcare between age 65 and age 85? 1 grand a month on average? I'm 35 and I already spend half that much at the dentist each year. I assume it's not going to get any cheaper as I get older to keep my pearly whites (more a shade of yellow, I have a coffee habit). Aren't the premiums alone close to $300 a month between B, C and D coverage? There is $72K. 

 

You might be deceiving yourself on what it's going to cost you to remain in a tip top bird shooting shape but I agree that $240K might be an excessive number, however, the number is still fairly high.

[AndyFromCB]

Yes. back to cars. Are you in the market? Going to consider a Hellcat?

No, not in the market. I was bored, I was at Menards to pick up some electrical boxes for a project this weekend and there is a Ford dealer next door and the salesmen looked not very busy so I asked for a drive. Have some other plans for my money over next few years other than cars. Really want an airpark house.

 

Hellcat looks like a rather cretinous car from my perspective. The only reason why I wanted to test drive a Mustang was to feel the new suspension. It works. It really does. 

[jkhirsch]

Why are we concerned if someone believes differently?

Because they want to take our wallet to pay for their socialism ... err ... I mean safety nets ...

Because they really believe in economic theories that espouse taxing and spending ourselves into prosperity ...

Because they really really want more and more government regulators with power that has no checks or balances ...

And now we have entered reality! People trying to force their beliefs on others, that's my whole point.

 

Accountability is not a belief, grow up and take care of yourself and stop forcing the burden on others.

 

You're parents being idiots and incapable of raising you properly is nothing but an excuse to feel entitled.

[AndyFromCB]

You're parents being idiots and incapable of raising you properly is nothing but an excuse to feel entitled.

 

I disagree a bit. Puts you at a continual disadvantage through out your life. Certain things are a lot easier to learn at a young age and if you don't learn them, prison is where you are headed. It's nature and nurture. This is why I am a big proponent of prison education and major time off for those willing to better themselves while inside (obviously first strike only). It's cost effective, good for the people inside and good for the society as a whole. But our punitive mindset prevents us from doing anything about. There seems to be a major mind block to spend an extra $3K a year in vocational training in prison for 4 years in order to save millions down the road. No early release for just good time. Early release for proving yourself to want to rejoin productive society by earning a degree. The cycle can be broken and can actually save us cash, major cash.

[John Pleisse]

I disagree a bit. Puts you at a continual disadvantage through out your life. Certain things are a lot easier to learn at a young age and if you don't learn them, prison is where you are headed. It's nature and nurture. This is why I am a big proponent of prison education and major time off for those willing to better themselves while inside (obviously first strike only). It's cost effective, good for the people inside and good for the society as a whole. But our punitive mindset prevents us from doing anything about. There seems to be a major mind block to spend an extra $3K a year in vocational training in prison for 4 years in order to save millions down the road. No early release for just good time. Early release for proving yourself to want to rejoin productive society by earning a degree. The cycle can be broken and can actually save us cash, major cash.

 

And currents efforts to restore voting rights to felons? Maybe we could let them have firearms too. You confuse punitive with protecting the public.

[AndyFromCB]

And currents efforts to restore voting rights to felons? Maybe we could let them have firearms too. You confuse punitive with protecting the public.

You confuse a lot of things John. Are you just being a prick on purpose? How do you even call yourself a Catholic? What happened to turn the other cheek? There are felons and then there are FELONS. Training people in prison to be productive members of society is all about protecting the public. And what's wrong with civil rights restoration after a certain period of time, yes, including the rights to own weapons. Do you really want a permanent underclass? I think if a human being proves and improves him/her self, we owe to them a second chance and shot at a decent life. We sure as do a great job at throwing away the key. With attitudes like yours, we will never save a single penny and our taxes and debt will just continue to go up. The far right attitude towards human beings makes me ill. Seriously, you make me ill. I love how a guy who openly admits to doing 120mph on a public highway in an S2000 then has the balls to claim a teenager who does the same but does not get away with it and causes a wreck, should suffer for the rest of their life. People can change. Bet you committed quite a few felonies in your youth. You just never got caught. 

[jkhirsch]

I think you'd have to eliminate all violent crimes from the eligibility pool as well.

It's kind of like when you say something you shouldn't to someone, it changes things, and you can never go back to the previous way things were, because you'll always know "what they really think."

 

The bottom line is basically a paradox.

If your able to recognize you're screwed because of your parents and better yourself, you don't need any help in the first place.

Those who need the help aren't able to recognize or assimilate that information even when it is correctly presented to them.

 

c'est la vie

[AndyFromCB]

I think you'd have to eliminate all violent crimes from the eligibility pool as well.

It's kind of like when you say something you shouldn't to a friend, it changes things, and you can never go back to the previous way things were, because you'll always know "what they really think."

 

The bottom line is basically a paradox.

If your able to recognize you're screwed because of your parents and better yourself, you don't need any help in the first place.

Those who need the help aren't able to recognize or assimilate that information even when it is correctly presented to them.

 

c'est la vie

 

I call bullshit. Does not work like that, otherwise there would be no need for parents. It's not all nature. Amazing things happen when you present people with alternatives. You would be amazed how many kids don't know there is another way. Male brains do not truly mature until early 30's. The armies of all over the world know this, hence they don't try to mold 30 year olds. Yes, there are sociopaths and psychopaths for whom nothing can be done. Guess what? With a proper plan we'd have more space to keep them locked up forever. 

[jkhirsch]

That's what I'm talking about Andy. I posit that the people presented with alternatives, are predisposed to figure it out on their own given time.

 

This kind of goes back to the behavioral economics of, 'Does education change people's ways?' and the answer is fairly well proven that for the vast majority of those people it doesn't. Well since education doesn't change everyone's ways there is obviously something else going on that makes that information sink in.

 

So presenting information to people won't change their minds, unless they are wired to have it [change their minds]. The wiring can and will be affected by the parental oversight, as you mentioned cognitive development. However my position is that cognitive development is different for different people and it is something that is hardwired and affected by parenting, but it cannot completely change a person's genetic predisposition to their tendencies.

 

...Getting deep in here

[flyboy0681]

I completely disagree with your $240k number. You don't need to show me graphs and articles etc. You have an agenda. I do not support it.

 

 

Sounds to me like you are under the assumption that Medicare pays 100%. Even with Gap coverage you are still left short, and that estimate does include the Gap policy itself. Based upon expenses that I've seen my own parents shell out, there is definitely something to it. 

 

I know you didn't want the article, but here it is anyway. 

 

 

http://time.com/money/2792504/your-health-care-costs-in-retirement-240000/

 

http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-12-2012/health-care-costs.html

[flyboy0681]

 There are felons and then there are FELONS.

 

I believe wholeheartedly that most of those incarcerated deserve to be there, but what I have a problem with are those that are incarcerated and are entirely innocent. To date Barry Scheck's Innocence Project has resulted in the exoneration of over 300 people, and those are just people where there was DNA evidence left behind at the crime scene and saved in some warehouse for a few decades.