[Jim Thompson]

SO? You give it to a group that doesn't have a high overhead, and
squeezes every penny. I KNEW that there was some reason why I liked
you. ;-)

It's the Scottish ancestry ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[Eeyore]

Yes!! That's feedback--incentive for parents to raise good kids!

I reckon it's somewhat presumptive to suggest it's that simple.

Besides, it's a false question--parents should save enough for their
own futures. That was the norm here a few decades ago, but now the
majority, banking blindly on Social Security, feel free to waste their
$$ on nonsense. They trust their retirements to the government, even
though they don't understand it. It's an act of faith. The fallacy
being that Social Security isn't a bank and there isn't anything in
it: it's a pay-as-you-go program.

Do they do this ? The idea of relying on the state pension alone even in the UK where
it's a fraction more generous is recognised to be a poor choice.

A simple improvement would be for the government to run a better pension scheme
(preferably with compulsory extra contributions that transalte to a better income in
retirement for the better off). And before you say that's the job of private business,
I suggest to you that private companies are actually not very good at providing this
service.

I don't see how, but I am mulling John's point--that it's repayment
for education & other benefits reaped.

There are all manner of notional 'debts to be repaid' if you want to go down that
route.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Lobster was originally only fed to prisoners ;-)

It's over-rated.

Shrimp OTOH are tasty.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Anything that's less than 20 years old, and sctually runs, has an
engine control unit, a catalytic converter, a bunch of sensors, and
likely air bags that are worth $1000 in scrap value.

Besides, a year's insurance will cost a lot more.

More than $1000 for insurance ?

Graham

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

TWENTY years ago? Mike, are you suffering from the same
problem I have - that what you're thinking of as "just 20 years
ago" is more like 30 or 40? I can't imagine what sort of
"decent used car" you would've found for fifty bucks in
1987, which, believe it er don't, IS now a full twenty years
ago!

Bob M.

They might have a dented fender or bumper, but you could find one
without too much trouble. That was in Middletown, Ohio, and yes, 1987,
in the months before I moved south. It was a steel town, and lots of
older but usable cars were sold by private owners. If they coul;dn't
get $50, for it, it went to a junk yard, for $50.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Anything that's less than 20 years old, and sctually runs, has an
engine control unit, a catalytic converter, a bunch of sensors, and
likely air bags that are worth $1000 in scrap value.

Besides, a year's insurance will cost a lot more.

My 1987 Ford Ranger truck insurance is under $700 a year, and it was
bought used for $700 in 2000. Then it was given to me three years ago,
when the radiator blew. The AC doesn't work and it needs new paint, but
I've driven it for six years now. I put about 5,000 miles a year on it.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

It's the Scottish ancestry ;-)

One of the WORST charities is reported to be the 'Christian
Children's Fund' where they beg for money to sponsor kids. It was
reported that they spend 90% of the money they collect on advertising
and overhead. They changed their name to CCF, then changed it back.
Not tactics of a 'charity' I would send money to.

The oldest of my hurricane supplies are a couple years from the 'Best
use by' date. If they get close to expiring I will will donate them to a
food bank, where they will be used before they 'expire'.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Richard The Dreaded Libertarian]

If you want to protect liberty, restricting voting rights
is a good idea. Democracy and liberty conflict, more
that they overlap. You do see that, right?

All our problems can be traced back to the
19th Amendment. (with the formation of the
central bank a close second, but I digress)

Actually, the vast majority of the problems in the US are caused by:
---------<quote>----------
AMENDMENT XVI

Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment
16.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from
whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States,
and without regard to any census or enumeration.
----------</quote>---------

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Eeyore]

My 1987 Ford Ranger truck insurance is under $700 a year, and it was
bought used for $700 in 2000. Then it was given to me three years ago,
when the radiator blew. The AC doesn't work and it needs new paint, but
I've driven it for six years now. I put about 5,000 miles a year on it.

Heck, my Saab's insurance is =~ $660 and that's 'fully comprehensive' (meaning
it covers repairs to my car in any accident I'm at fault for) and includes
business use too, despite the Saab being insurance group 15 out of a possible
20. I do have a good driving record though and the price dropped hugely when I
reached 50.

Graham

 

[Richard The Dreaded Libertarian]

:
: > A story:
: > Some years ago, I'm entering a Safeway, a
: > pretty girl accosts me, she wants a signature
: > on a petition to nuke the baby seals or
: > something. I retort: "We have enough taxes
: > and feelgood ecoprograms, I'l pass."
:
: > She answers: "It won't require new taxes, it
: > willl be funded by bonds."
:
: Obama was asked during the AFL-CIO candidate session whether he
: thought that his support of a stadium project in Illinois was a good
: idea. His response that it was because it put union people to work.
:
The Union is my Shepherd, I shall not work.
It maketh me to lie down on the job; It leadeth me beside the still
factories,
It restoreth my pay-cheque. It leadeth me in the path of idleness for its
name sake.
Yea, tho' I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of unemployment
I shall fear no hunger: for it art with me, its representative and his
staff,
they comfort me. It preparest a table before me in the presence of
my bosses: it anointest my head with beer, my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Union for ever.

ROFLMAO!!

This is _DEFINITELY_ a keeper!

Thanks!
Rich

 

[Simon S Aysdie]

What's this "we" shit, fat boy?

...
Why do you hate the Constitution?

He doesn't. The Constitution has posed little barrier to the growth
of Leviathan. So as a power adoring nationalist who loves a big
powerful state, I'm sure Jim dearly loves the Constitution. It has
made so much possible.

The Articles of Confederation posed more of a barrier to Leviathan,
which is precisely why they had to go. "Your" Constitution was
created by delegates exceeding their commission -- a classic Leviathan
move. (Why do you think they locked the doors at the convention?)
They said "federalist," but it had nationalist/Leviathan written all
over it. People like Hamilton, Marshall, Clay, Washington, et al
immediately began punching holes in that crusty old piece of paper.
It is unrecognizable.

Today we just keep it around as soma for the masses. One shouts
"unconstitutional! unconstitutional!" and it has a bizarre calming
effect when it really shouldn't.

http://www.amazon.com/Politically-Incorrect-Guide-Constitution-Guides/dp/1596985054/

You're the guy who should hate it. A real libertarian (lol) relies on
natural law (human nature) more than dead paper. Whatever was good
about the constitution is dead, killed by politicians, lawyers, and
especially judges.

 

[Simon S Aysdie]

... the lefties do have jobs, good
technology-driven capitalist jobs, and they're raising
more money from more donors than the bankrupt righties.

I think you said it all. Leftists rely on donors.

 

[Simon S Aysdie]

Personally, I almost never use a car any more - I walk or take the
bus. I work at at home and I don't travel except for a vacation every
5 years or so. ... I got rid of the
central air-conditioner and put a fan in the attic instead (only 150
watts!).

Do you believe this behavior has one iota of difference in the
aggregate (global) "carbon footprint?" If so, why?

Do you believe this behavior has one iota of difference in aggregate
(global) energy consumption? If so, why?

The one real
contribution I've made is having no kids,...

That actually might help.

 

[Simon S Aysdie]

What's really sad is people squandering their children's future on
today's mindless consumption.

Mindless? Hardly. The wise legislators designed it that way by
embracing Keynesian economics, which basically says "go shopping if
you want a better job, life, etc." I mean, if the federal reserve
inflates the currency -- which it does -- a good strategy is to spend
since today's dollar will buy more than tomorrow's. It makes sense,
given the circumstances.

 

[Richard The Dreaded Libertarian]

More than $1000 for insurance ?

Yes, some states have mandatory insurance, which amounts to granting the
rich fat white insurance executives a license to steal.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Eeyore]

Yes, some states have mandatory insurance, which amounts to granting the
rich fat white insurance executives a license to steal.

Insurance is mandatory here but doesn't have to cost anything near that much.
Competition it seems may actually work.

Graham

 

[krw]

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:41:57 -0700, Jim Thompson
[snip]

This will get the leftists weenies all in a twist and screw up their
image of me...

The ONLY charity that I give money to is the St. Mary's Food Bank
Alliance... food and shelter for the homeless, and a Catholic
organization to boot ;-)

...Jim Thompson

We give about $20K a year to various charities, mostly foreign, like
Doctors Without Borders and some organizations that run schools for
girls in Africa. Locally, we support one of the few homeless
organizations that gets actual results, the MS society, and a few
minor local things.

Catholic organizations do seem to be unusually efficient.

Isn't that amazing! They also seem to run hospitals rather well.

I'm being bugged to endow a scholarship at Tulane's new
science/engineering department, which would allow me to aim it at
potential circuit designers!

John

I'm not at the endowment level, but I contribute to an MIT scholarship
for a "married student in electrical engineering"... knowing full-well
the economic struggles of such a student ;-)

...Jim Thompson

The minimum endowed scholarship takes $20K. 5% of that goes to a
student, only $1K per year at first, and the rest is invested with any
excess return dumped back into the fund. One can of course add more
any time. The giver is allowed to make stipulations as to what sort of
student he's prefer to get the bucks, but that's usually just a
preference, not a hard rule. I might also wind up with summer interns
and even employees some day, which would be worth it from a pure
pragmatic view.

IBM has what they call the "Watson Scolarship". It's a scholarship
for the kids of employees and is awarded to National Merit
Scollarship winners. The winners are also guaranteed summer
internships while they're in school. Sometimes the particular jobs
aren't great (in lean times the only positions may have have been
warehouse workers) but they were usually pretty good and paid well.
Internships are a good well to draw future employees. If they're on
your scholarship it can be even better.

 

[Eeyore]

Scolarship
scholarship
Scollarship

 

[krw]

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:33:57 -0700, James Arthur


Depends on whether you account for it before of after it's drunk.

Speaking of pissing away your assets...

When I was a kid in New Orleans, we had to eat shrimp because meat was
too expensive.

Bubba Gump's?

 

[krw]

They might have a dented fender or bumper, but you could find one
without too much trouble. That was in Middletown, Ohio, and yes, 1987,
in the months before I moved south. It was a steel town, and lots of
older but usable cars were sold by private owners. If they coul;dn't
get $50, for it, it went to a junk yard, for $50.

I gave a car to a cook who worked for a friend rather than bothering
to sell it for $50. He needed a car, more than I needed the hassles
of selling a car or the $50. It was 14 years old, at the time, and
had 140Kmi, on it but passed NYS inspection so wasn't total junk.