US Debt Ceiling and The American Expat
Well, it is getting harder not to tread into US politics but the debt ceiling will crush some American expats if the US defaults on its debt. The effect on the dollar to Philippine peso is obvious but it is worse than just that. I believe the fear is already showing up in currency trading circles.
I think the US will default unless the new move to give President Obama the power to raise the debt ceiling himself. There is no way the Republicans can now agree to a tax increase and there is no way the Democrats can back off no tax increase. So it will take a special act to allow Obama to do it. Congress is not capable of doing it. There will be a tax increase if there is to be reduction in the deficit. It can’t be accomplished by cuts alone.
We need cuts and the Democrats need to get use to that idea but with the Republicans holding that a tax increase is off the table there can be no movement. The Republicans are not going to give in on that.
PBS News is reporting that some Republican don’t see a default on US debt as something that must be avoided. “It might be okay.” You’ve got to be kidding me. Now I will believe that some Republicans would love to see a default as long as there is a Democratic president in office.
Now Obama has said that we can’t guarantee social security payments on August 3rd. I know expats living in the Philippines that have nothing but their social security payments. I suspect that most people living on $700 to $1000 a month don’t have a great deal in savings. Most probably have virtually nothing in savings.
If they loose their funds for even a short time, they will be hungry. They will not be able to pay their rent, they will not be able to pay their visa extensions fees. The American expat’s life will be in chaos if he depends on his social security pension which he paid for!
The Debt Ceiling and the Dollar to Philippine Peso Currency Trading
The dollar to Philippine peso is back under 43 today and that shouldn’t be a huge surprise. If it doesn’t fall to 41 over the next week, I’ll be surprised. I’m actually considering all my money to the Philippines now. I probably should. However, I think congress will agree to give the President emergency power to raise the debt ceiling himself. If they don’t, I will transfer my savings to the Philippines.
In fact, I may have no choice, I probably should do it now, but I hate to pull money out of savings and watch it go poof! I could do that though and then if things go okay, put my next paycheck back into savings. I just don’t like the sound of that.
I may have no choice because I’m a civil service retiree. I don’t know if this will affect my pension or those in the military. Under the old Civil Service Retirement system we are not paid through social security. We have our own system. That changed only about two months after I was hired. If I was under the new system, I’d either be working or dead or maybe fired because I was missing a lot of work. I wouldn’t have qualified for social security disability.
I don’t now if my pension check can be counted on next month. I’m not counting on it. I’m putting off a purchase because of it. Jessie needs a new computer. Putting that off is not devastating for either of us. For other expats living in the Philippines, this is a very troubling time.
Of course, both Moody’s and S&P have warned that if the USA tries to pay only its interest on its debt that this will put the US bond rating in jeopardy. It certainly should. If it were any other country, the bond rating would have already been lowered due to our inability to raise the debt ceiling.
The USA enjoys low interest rates now because the chance the USA would default on its debt has been impossible up until this point. If the USA to default on its debt the US dollar will never again be held in the same high regard that it is now. The deficit will grow even large because the horrendous debt we have will require more to service. Further requiring more tax increases. The idea that a default will be okay signifies me we have morons in congress.
A default on the US debt is not caused by finances. It is caused by political issues. That should not be acceptable to the American people. I don’t think it will be.
Without the special measure not being considered, I consider a US default on its debt unavoidable myself as I don’t see congress increasing the debt ceiling before the August 3rd deadline.
Best Selling DSLR Cameras on Amazon
|
||
|
||
|
Tagged with: Currency Trading • Dollar To Philippine Peso • Expats • Philippines
Filed under: Living In The Philippines
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Get
To The Philippines Faster
Obama did say that he cannot guarantee social security, federal retirees and retired military payments. I’m looking for a video that I can share. The only one I found on CBS news and it can’t be shared.
A Republican actually that the debt ceiling is Obama’s problem. That’s insane and another Republican stated this problem can’t be solved as long as this president is in office.
Can the American people really not see what is going on? It is blatant and it wrong.
Yes, Obama did say “no guarnatees” on Social Security. But he lied like hell, No way he will prioritize other payments to displace Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid.
When the liberals in America run out of logic and common sense, they drag out the bogey man to scare the average Joe into voting for them.
However, that gimmick is now running out as the proverbial tit dries up like a fried egg that cannot be sucked for its nutro-economic value is gone.
Rusty… Let me add a couple of other salient points :
Since it was the Democrats who invented Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare (which they shoved down the throats of Americans in the midst of a gigantic depression), don’t you think that Democrats should be the ones to get the blame for the huge debt that these programs incurred ?
How is it logical to blame Republicans for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid debt? Did you Democrats really think that Republicans would shoot Santa Claus ?
Now that it is time to pay the piper for these fantasy programs you Democrats want to blame the Republicans.
NO SALE,AMIGO !!!!!
Carlo,
I see no need to play the “blame game”ok?
As long as human beings pull on opposite ends of the rope on issues, these problems will persist. Vanity, jealousy, lust and greed..these are the elements of human nature…
Pay the blame game ?
Look John, liberals like yourself have created this huge debt problem by inventing Social Security, Medicare,Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps and then spending and throwing away tax money for seven decades by increasing the size of these programs and the expenditures.
Now you liberals say “no need to play the blame game” after you have wrecked the economy. Now I suppose you want the same economy wrecking liberals to solve the problems that they themselves created.
The socialism of Germany, Russia, China, Greece, etc. are proof positive that socialism is pipe dream.
John,
I agree with you both sides must compromise. However, Carlo wants a blame game let’s give it to him. Fact, Republicans have, since Reagan, slashed taxes (mostly to the wealthy and corporations) and exponentially increased defense spending. This has added to the deficit. Fact, blaming entitlement programs for our current debt ceiling debacle is dishonest or shows ignorance on what our government does with its money. Social Security is solvent. Other entitlements are funded within the payroll tax. How did GWB fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? I can tell him how. He borrowed money. Money hat accrues interest. Money that has created our economic crisis. Fact, socialistic principles are working quite well in many countries including, Germany! He will, however, keep up his mantra that liberals are bad because he is angry. Angry people tend to deal more in emotion than in logic. The Republican party loves that angry rhetoric!
HI Brian, Obama has compromised many times and I think the Republicans think he will do so again. He will, but he’s going to hold firm to tax increases because they are 100% required.
Yeah, I agree going back more than 50 years to Roosevelt? Actions that clearly took the country out of a depression, are you freaking kidding me?
I wasn’t wealthy and the tax cuts helped me during the Reagan years. I got about a 25% reduction in taxes. When tax cuts are done in the proper environment, you can raise revenue. The Republicans are borrowing this from Kennedy. The problem is this is not the same environment. We are not in a period of growth and with the low confidence level we are not going to get there any time soon.
What makes shop owners expand is a store full of shoppers. A tax increase now of any significance is also not a good idea. Oh some of the craziness that is going on out there needs to be addressed. Profits are up and growth is down. Unbridled capitalism has always results in abuses from the rotten meat Americans were eaten in the 1800′s to the bankers operating to increase their bonuses knowing full well that it would result in losses later. Too much socialism is a bad thing. I like competition. it motivates me, it drives me and it makes business and people do things better. Not saying you don’t agree, I don’t know.
I don’t see anything in your comment that I disagree with. Just adding to it.
Hi Rusty,
First time posting here, sorry it’s about politics. I am a US expat (military, retired) living in Davao City. I wish I had introduced myself somewhere first, lol.
I fully support competition. I also fully support a society that protects and helps its peoples. I support a strong infrastructure and social nets. I support education.
The constant bloviation about ‘liberals’ and ‘socialism’ as if liberty or social responsibility are dirty words is tiresome. Large corporations enjoy tax benefits from the government. Many actually receive money rather than pay any into the system. This must be addressed before cutting into peoples lifelines.
Nothing is perfect. We cannot achieve a Utopia. That is a pipe dream (to borrow a phrase). We are, however, thinking people and can come up with ideas that borrow from all facets of idealogy to improve daily life and we should.
We are better off when our neighbors are healthy, fed and employed. We are worse off when our neighbors are sick, hungry and have no means to provide for themselves.
In sum, I think holding hostage programs like SS, medicare, troops paychecks and veterans benefits is the wrong path for America. I believe taxes must be raised on corporate gains and loopholes closed for large corporations.
phew.
Brian, I completely agree with you.
I think the government should do as little as possible but it should take action where needed.
I see government as a necessary thing, almost evil but I won’t quite say that.
The government is required to protect the minority from the majority and for those so-called conservatives that don’t know any better, check the Federalist Papers fro which I took those words.
I am closest to a libertarian than anything because I want the government to butt out but I also recognize the government has a role and that sometimes include spending and taking care of people. Often includes spending. I prefer to see spending in areas that encourage growth in a capitalist economy.
Having people fed and taken care of is a moral obligation. Sure, let the private organizations do it if they will but they often don’t.
I would like to agree and expand on Brians comments. Anyone who has spent much time in the Philippines, especially the larger cities knows what it is like to have exposure to people who who desperately poor. When you are walking down the sidewalk and have to detour into the street to avoid desperate families thin dirty dressed in rags and living completely from a spot on the sidewalk. Walking down the street and being surrounded by beggars. The annoying kids maybe you can ignore but when you see a filthy young mother dressed in rags and holding an obviously malnurished baby its upsetting and difficult to ignore. however you know if you give you will be mobbed by beggars coming from everywhere. Or you will have the experience of eating in a restraunt and having the faces of thin dirty desperate children pressed up against the glass begging for food. Believe me it detracts alot from the enjoyment of your meal. Anyone with money used to have experiences like that in this country at one time. programs were set up to give some basic minimum income to keep people from ever sinking to that level of desperation.
As Brian commented people realized then that their wellfare and happiness was linked to that of their fellow citizens. Now we have forgotten how bad it can get for some and many want to eliminate all social programs that would give people some minimum help who can’t help themselves. to do so would mean a return to the conditions in our country like are still seen in Philippines. The very rich and the very poor. I for one don’t have that vision of America and hope that if they realize what they are proposing that those more fortunate in life realize that maybe programs need fixing but to eliminate could lead to an America none of us want.
So you think the Philippines has the ability to solve this? The Philippines government does not have the ability to solve this. It would go broke if it tried. I don’t wish to tread into the right or wrongness of the Reproductive Health Bill because Filipino do not want foreigners meddling in their politics. So I respect their wishes. I will say though that the poverty is part of the reason the present administration is backing the legislation. The opposition seems to be saying that wont help it and that there is no population explosion at all.
I know that I’ve been living in the Philippines long enough now that I’ve come to accept it as part of the conditions here. I’ve never gone a different way to avoid a beggar and if I tried, I don’t know where I’d go.
I surely don’t think poor me, I have to see this and it is disturbing for ME. I’ve seen some poverty on the street that has haunted me for years but I never thought poor me for having to see it.. Your not the great savior form the West. You can’t solve this.
The Philippines has some programs but it simply doesn’t have the funds to feed and house the masses. Their programs are more likely to be something along the lines of the Filipino help dredge the river in Mandaue and will have businesses donate food. That was an actual program, it may still be ongoing.
I’ve watched Filipino and how they respond to it. I watch Jessie and take ques from her. Jessie really doesn’t like it at all and she knows what hunger is. Not like some of these people though. She wont give money but she will help. in her way. That’s really the key accepting ones limitations and doing what one can. Jessie often says though that she wont give them money because they need food and it wont get spent on food. I see Filipino that can give to the beggars. I see most of them walk past without acknowledging them. That’s where I prefer to learn about the Philippines, from Filipino.
I do often ask, “where is the church?” Jessie just scoffs. If the church helps, I can’t see it. When I arrived, I looked for a United Methodist church. I couldn’t find one. I check their website and none was listed here. That was more than three years ago, I don’t know if it changed. Why is it not here. I asked my Methodist minister that question, someone I think a lot of. Sometimes he answers my question and sometimes he does not. I didn’t get an answer. There are some good people in that organization but I can’t help but wonder why they are not here. is it because there is not a lot of money? I hope not. The question lingers.
The Philippines doesn’t have the ability to create massive government programs like you’re talking about. We have a huge amount of homeless people in the USA. If you are where I think you are, I know you know that. The USA is still the richest nation on earth and we have beggars in the big cities too. In the Philippines, we have them in the big and small cities too. Think, there is one highway from Cebu to Bogo. How many ways are there to travel 100 miles in the USA? If the USA cant’ solve hunger and homelessness, why do you think the Philippines can with an economy that is minuscule compared to that of the USA.?
hey Carlo, good for you! I’m a bird lover and envy them. They don’t have the vices and hang ups that human beings do. Let’s all talk till where blue in the face here, noboby gives a damn but their own agenda. Did u ever stop to think that God’s creation of man is the only living being that needs to be “saved?” from our sins?
FYI Carlo,
i’m very conservative. The thought is that people cannot work together to solve problems. It’s motivated by power and control and ego since the beginning of time. This isn’t anything new. I am not for either party. I AM for working together to solve problems, and not create additional problems.
Bird lover ?
You have the last word John.
Carlo,
Sadly, yes. A war will help create jobs and improve the economy. This is a terrible indictment of the human race when hatred and killing has to occur in order to lower the unemployment rate and put money into the pockets of workers and the government coffers.
I say give everyone 40 acres and a mule and learn to produce instead of consume. After you’ve plowed the field all day and ready for a brew, too tired to hate ur fellow man and make war…
Rusty,
Even thought the country is defiantly in dire straights due to many different reasons, and I don’t like pointing fingers, I would hope ( and believe) that the U.S. will not let their selves go into default. It has not happened yet and I do not believe we as a country would let it happen now.
I am convinced that congress will not raise the debt ceiling. They might give Obama the ability to do it so they can continue to use their mouth piece known as Fox News to tell their lies.
I really don’t think it is working. Polling indicated the people are with Obama on this.
So people need to contact their congressional offices to be heard. I’m about to go do that right now.
u should have been a politician, Rusty. You’re words are full of hot air, speculation, suppositions, and double talk! lol
John, it is abundantly clear that you don’t like me or my website. Everyone knows that now.
I only wish you could actually understand what it is I’m saying.
I feel zero desire to justify anything to you. I’d love to have you here, your thoughts and your criticism, but I’m done with your hate and attacks. There are many places on the web where that is welcomed and even encouraged but this is not one of them. Any more of your personal attacks will be a complete waste of your time.
John is very uncouth but, nevertheless, he is on the right side of logic Rusty. Look, I, like many other senior citizens, am drawing a check from SS that I worked for and was promised. However, I am realistic and know that Santa Claus only comes at Christmas and then only for kids.
Obama was totally rebuffed by his own party in the Senate back in February(bet you don’t know this because the liberal MSNBC,NBC,ABC,CNN etc. don’t report it) 97-0. That means that Obama couldn’t get even one Democratic senator to vote for his 10 trillion dollar budget increase.
Also, it is a fact that there is no Democratic proposal on the table and hasn’t been this year. You are quite incorrect in thinking that the American people are with Obama on this as you are hearing the polls on the liberal TV stations and you are being propagandized.
Off the subject, I envy you and Jessie having so much fun in life. I think you have found a great spot to retire. Good luck.
All I know Rusty is if the average Joe spends more than they earn or take in..sooner or later there is a day of judgement. This has to apply to the goverment as well..they can not keep spending way more than they take in like there is no end to the supply of money [yes they can print more and then the dollar buys less ]..Yes, they can increase taxes..but how to you get taxes out of millions who do not work and depend on that food stamp card every month and etc and etc…I just read on the news that even thou the US goverment is broke the are going to go ahead and give more money to this one country that has no food??, now that makes a lot of sense…there seems to be a certain few or many that continue to do things that continue to make things bleaker for any kind of future for the average person…What are they doing to try to find a way to help people become employed again?, Nothing much in my mind..the big bail out a year or so ago…ended up mostly in the hand of the have’s and the have nots continued to slide down hill…There is only one real answer in my mind ( do not ever seeing it happen ) and that is for the goverment to not spend any more than they have or take in and to start doing away with all these entitlements that so many have got used to over the years….in a lot of ways the USA is a Socialist country and many of us can not even see it…Some want to tax the rich more….that will never work very long…a big share of the rich did not get that way by being stupid. So maybe a lot of the ex pats living in the Phillipines are lucky in one way and maybe not so lucky in another way….if they have no back up plan other than that goverment check each month…things could get pretty rough..hope not, but could…..Is there any real answer…well I really do not thing so..History has shown since the begining of man kind that there are halfs and have nots or masters and then slaves…so maybe its a good time to light up one of those big cigars Rusty and tune out the world for a hour or so………
Welcome to the USSA!!! What was at one point a free nation has become a socialist one. IT IS A SHAME!!!
I do think the debt limit needs to be raised A LITTLE, BUT we MUST cut MAJOR amounts of spending. I think (even though it really isn’t much) it should start with the 455 members of the senate and congresses pay, take away about $40K a year each. Also put in term limits, if they are good for the highest office they are good for them as well!!! Military and Social Security SHOULD NOT be touched, PERIOD!! THEY EARNED THAT MONEY!!! I think that our government needs to start to live within its means and stop spending money it does not have. We would all be in jail for living like the government spends.
I also think that welfare must be ended as it is today. How is it good to pay a person to sit at home and do nothing but smoke the drugs and make babies? If you are an able bodied person then you MUST work for the money, just as I have to do. We should start drug testing them, limiting funds for kids to two, and have them cleaning up the streets and parks of America. That was how the National and State Parks where built to begin with. Why can’t it be done that way today? There is NO REASON a construction worker making over $10 an hour should be holding up a stop/slow down sign all day, that should be a “welfare worker”. Welfare workers should also NEVER be paid “Minimum Wage”, if they want that they need to go get a REAL job then. But maybe I am just dreaming because I have worked for a living ALL of my life…..
Hear..Hear on all of that Gary…Loud and clear..and for those that say raise taxs? on who? The real person that is all ready working or has been working is all ready getting a bad back from paying so many taxes…2 many free loaders in the USA is a big part of the problem but then that is to me because of how the goverment has been working for how many years now? To me the only real solution is for all goverments from city to county to state and up to the fed can not spend any more than they they take in…so the next few years will be interesting to say the least….
IS 40k a year all they get??, if so that seems a fair pay for that job to me it’s really not that much considering the other jobs they could get in the private sector. SSI definitely needs to be looked into a bit more many other things have been added to it since it’s creation that pushed the cost way up. Welfare is also a very valid program but their definitely needs to be stronger restrictions on it. Like drug testing and I really do like your idea of working for it (“welfare worker”) I would say to a much lesser degree like 10 or 20 hrs a week as that gives them time to actively seek employment and get out of the situation they are in.
The problem of course with Welfare is the same with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid;namely, government administration of the program.
Because governments are always so very wasteful and fraudulent of the people’s revenue, their activities should be limited, as much as possible, to simple, necessary functions which only a central authority can manage. National Defense, Postal Delivery, Court Systems etc. come to mind. But what doesn’t come to mind is my personal affairs, the education of my children, my mortgage, Social Security, Welfare, Unemployment Compensation, etc.
Personal affairs such as retirement preparation, health, pregnancy, housing, etc. are not, and have proved not to be, the proper, prudent or pragmatic dominion of sensible government. Social Democrats are about to find out that there is no Santa Claus once you are over 18 years of age and no free lunch.
We find ourselves presently and extraordinarily dominated by a central authoritarian government that has encroached upon the fundamental rights of States, restricted freedom through excessively broad legislation and regulation, and, in general, become more of a threat to ourselves than to any foreign nation.
Our government overpays itself by overpaying its employees especially those who are elected to serve the people. Our government overbenefits itself; especially, again, its elected representatives. Our government squanders the fruits of our labors thru excessive taxation, fraud, and incompetence.
I could go on and on….However, let me give you one example which could be replicated by anyone capable of thought. Imagine the tremendous number of lawsuits that government settles every year and their high cost due to the eagerness of government to settle quickly and secretly in order to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Now think of whose resources will be used to settle those disputes. It will not be the resources of government nor the fruits of its labor. Government will use your tax dollars to settle the dispute as quickly and quietly as possible and will not be either fair nor ungenerous in the distribution of your tax monies.
Every day government spends billions of your tax dollars WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
You are too damn sensible Gary. You make sense and that is the last thing spending liberals, who believe Uncle Sam is Santa Claus in disguise, want to hear.
yeah, have Rusty light up that cancer causing cigar! The terrorists won. We spent trillions since 911. With the
Global economy, it’s a whole new ball game, isn’t it? Trump
is right, the US is taking a back seat to countries like China
and India who want prosperity like this county used to enjoy.
I say good for them. They work hard for small amount of money
compared to spoiled workers here.
“yeah, have Rusty light up that cancer causing cigar!” – That seems to be an unwarranted attack
“The terrorists won.” – What does that even mean?? is it linked to the following sentence either way that seems to be a dumb statement to me. I wonder what you meaning actually is.
“Trump is right, the US is taking a back seat to countries like China and India who want prosperity like this county used to enjoy.” – Sure their is great validity in the fact that those countries are gaining in wealth, but look at how China is doing it. Robbing it’s people of health, money and happiness. That is not how anyone in USA will ever live and I don’t wish it on anybody.
During the Cuban missle crisis in ’62, the Soviets predicted we would “bury ourselves”
and that Capitalism was on the way out.
When I say, “The terrorists won” is with regards to all the trillions we spent in a “knee jerk” reaction to 911. This country is treading close to a near depression. We have buried ourselves with corruption, greed, wars, overindulgence and “irrational exubeance” as Greenspan once said.
I believe the quote was “We will Bury You” and it made the soviet premier alot less popular in usa than he had been previously. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_will_bury_you I agree with your other comment Materialism is the sin
to: Big $$ Bruce:
With regard to cigars, Rusty is already in poor health, so why encourage him to light up a cancer causing cigar? What good is wealth without health?
They are called ENTITLEMENTS because you are ENTITLED to something that you already paid for .. or ARE paying for. It’s not freebie, it’s like insurance that you already paid for. Hell yeah I’m entitled to those funds (SS etc) because I paid for it!
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are indeed referred to as entitlement and many, like myself and you, Troy, worked many, many years as we were promised that we would be entitled to them at 62 and 65.
However, Troy, unlike you, I always knew that I was being lied to by the liberal Democrats because that is what they always do to achieve their ends. And Troy, unlike you, I always voted against the liberal liars but was outnumbered by those, like yourself, who thought that Santa Claus would come down the chimney every day when you reached old age.
Unlike you, Troy, I wanted to kill Santa Claus and you were susceptible to the fiction that Santa would be there for you in your senior years. You thought Santa would be there for you while I grew up and knew Santa Claus was just a wonderful Christmas story.
Now you are surprised that you have “been had”. I am not surprised at all.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
The economists stated if obama was elected the economy will be in shambles. Looks like they are right.Our government is way out of line.When they took all the money out of social security there should have been a revolution.The government is only concerned about how they can line their pockets.They dont care about the little man.How does 455 people controll millions of(sheep) american people? Old people that cant work or are disabled both civilian and military,are being told they may not have a next month check.I am really a peaceful person but enough is enough.I have heard that people with disability checks from the gov. will not be getting them if they live outside of the 50 states.
I know some rich owners of industry. There address is canada.It really cuts down on their taxes.The rich are not stupid,and they also have the money to buy government employes if needed.
The problem is the confusion in the american voters as evidenced in these comments. We put the foxes in charge of the henhouse for 8 years. The republicans used their control to benefit their constituency which is the richest 15% of the population. How can a party designed to serve the interests of 15% of the population get elected? By using their money to flood the airways with carefully designed talk shows and news networks designed to manipulate the rest of the people to vote against their self interest. The country was in its worst financial crisis in history when Obama took office. Measures he took allowed us to avert the worst possible outcomes and to gradually stabalize and turn around the system. But recovery is slow because the tax cuts and benefits we poured onto the richest that were supposed to lead to growth again failed to do so. They are holding tight to their wealth and investing it in other countries rather than the U.S. They should pay more as their fair share of the bills the country that facilitated the growth of their riches ran up in doing so.
Hi Jordan, it isn’t just he ads and talk show, though one could call Fox News a talk show but I prefer to call it a joke.
I do agree there should not be a tax increase now. But it needs to be done but kicked down the road abit to get use out of the recession, we still seem to be in or about to double dip it.
i’m glad to see that the brits are about to hand Murdocks butt to him. I’m glad we have our free speech as strong as it. i’d rather people be wrong and fooled rather than shut anyone up.
I’m trying not to let it get to me.
Write my letter or email to congress, I’ve done my part. It is not okay to default on our debt. it isn’t even okay for the richest 5%. It would be damaging to all of us.
I don’t think that is going to happen, but it is alarming that some members of congress seem to think it is okay.
Fox Boobs … where the men “are” and the women “show” ‘em
haha
Rusty looks like you accept the dogma that making the rich pay their fair share will somehow lead to less jobs. The rich have been cutting jobs despite all the tax breaks and rate cuts given them. Read this article and then try to think how it was we all became so brainwashed by the constantly yelled nonsense that making the rich pay more will harm the economy. History says the opposite is true. http://www.businessinsider.com/do-low-tax-rates-on-rich-people-ruin-the-economy-2011-7
What history says that the opposite is true ?
Be very specific……
Jordon…son, get your facts straight. First, When Obama took over Tarp was already in progress for four months. To say that “measures Obama took allowed us to avert the worst possible outcomes” is factually incorrect.
As for the fictional foxes, it seems to me that the Republicans didn’t control all of Congress for those 8 years Bush was in office.
As for “using their money to….manipulate the people to vote against their self interest” you are wrong again because the airways are, everyone admits, controlled by a liberal media–not FOX. However, there is a reason why FOX dominates its hours on the air and the liberal news is, and has been, losing market share.
“Tax cuts were poured onto the richest” you say ? Wrong again, the Bush tax cuts, extended by Obama, favored the middle guy much more than the rich guy and what about the STIMULUS money, a trillion dollars almost, spent on the unions, ACORN, General Motors, union pensions, and given cart blanch to the Democratic Governors to do as they wish ? Forget that?
As for the rich, they pay the preponderance of the tax bill already. 51% of all Americans pay absolutely no taxes at all and are free-sucking the tax dollars of those who work.
Finally, how many jobs can Government create >>Hint…the answer is 0. How many jobs do the poor and stupid create ?
Answer again is 0. So who do you think is creating the jobs ? Hint…..do you think it is the private sector ?
ok so by your words you admit that a eight year Republican regime, that came to power at a time of a booming economy, and a federal budget that actually had a surplus not a deficit, so mismanaged the economy in eight years, that the last couple months was spend in a desperate cash giveaway to the rich in an attempt to prevent total collapse. How did they manage that? By using the war on terror as an excuse to launch the Bush personal revenge war on Iraq which cost a trillion dollars to cause great human suffering and add tens of thousands of strong young men to the will always need government help list, and firmly entrench El Queida in iraq where previously it didn’t exist. Rather than paying for it they reduced the tax rate for the upper four income brackets, borrowed and doubled the nations debt in their time in office. This during otherwise not bad economic times. Is it any wonder that during more difficult times when 8 million jobs where lost on bushs tab before the Democratic policies could be put in effect. That deficits continue to soar? I am no kid am 61 save the calling people son to those kids uninformed enough in life to be impressed by your bluster and “been frightened by Rush alot” views. Alot of us look to the fifties as a pretty idealic time in alot of ways to be growing up. People didn’t have alot of money but enough and it seemed that everyone was kinda equal. Thngs weren’t booming but everyone looked forward to a better future . At the time the upper income tax rates were 90%. Somehow that didn’t make the smart and ambitious think that it wasn’t worth being that way. Now the upper tax rate is 25% and regulations on business have been cut to the point that the smart and ambitious put their brains to manipulations as a way to quick easy wealth of taking solid old american companies and turning equity into debt and walking out the door with their pockets filled with the differance. Remember Enron Those were the -”smartest guys in the room ” right? The smartest now don’t make jobs they think of ways to get a 4 dollar a day person in asia do them rather than a support a family wage person in the USA.
What is your proof of a “personal revenge war” by George Bush ? The surplus you speak of was engineered by the Republican Congress led by Newt Gingrich and his ten point plan. The Clinton years were extraordinarily prosperous because Reagan ended the Cold War military expenditures and the dot com revolution.
I am going to answer but one more of the points you are raising because by now it is obvious that you are very, very confused, uninformed and unable to synthesize information in such a way as to arrive at logical conclusions.
Deficits continue to soar because of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. If you don’t know that, then you are just plain stupid so I hope you do know that.
$.41 cents out of every Federal revenue dollar is spent on servicing the interest on the national debt. This is a little less than the amount of money that is disbursed annually to sustain present payments to recipients.
These programs,including literally dozens of appended ones, were invented by Social Democrats who thought Uncle Sam was Santa Claus in disguise.
So the rest of your essay is sheer and utter social democratic nonsense.
Do the math.
What is the “proof” of what goes on inside anyones head? The best u can do is look at what they do. The world saw a group of guys hell bent on war who wouldn’t let anything disuade them from that course of action. Saddam had a plot to kill daddy so junior was going to get him. No matter if inspectors who could go anywhere could not find WMD’s. The word to the CIA was give us an excuse for war or we will find people who will. This from a group of men the prime age to have served in Vietnam but who slimed their way out of it. In other words cowards not willing to put their own butts on the line but having no problem sacrificing tens of thousands of common people so they can play “great war leader” which is the pinnacle of self glorifying ambition for those political types who spend their entire lives climbing the ladder of power.
Reagan ending cold war military expenditures? 180 degrees south of the truth – to save typing let me cut and past from history.com web site -Over the years, many analysts have scrutinized Reagan’s credibility as a military planner. Some critics have maintained that he engineered the greatest military force of all times, but did so with much waste — tripling the national debt. Such projects as taking World War II battleships out of mothballs and modernizing them were of questionable military value to some. Furthermore, reviewers have noted that the president fell short on some objectives, such as his goal – get that tripled the national debt on wasteful government spending – Reagan was the original borrow your way to a semblance of prosperity president. Only it was on military waste such as spending hundreds of millions un refurbishing 40 yr old battelships so these dinausars could sail for a few years uneeded untill again being mothballed. You see its Republicans who think that is ok but howl if money goes to people who didn’t earn it like a disabled child. it was clinton who ended wellfare as we knew it and cut military spending by closing uneeded WWII bases usually to howls of protest from Republicans.
Star Wars that was cutting cold war military spending??? you throw alot of names around at people maybe look in the mirror and say those names and hear the ring of truth that echoes
yeah and the Republicans know how to keep an economy going? ROFLMAO!
Remember …. 8 years of Bush? hello-oooo? McFly!!!!
Troy….
Do you only posit interrogatives ? Is criticism the extent of your input ? Let me give you some facts of life….
The average Republican is older, smarter, wealthier, and pays more taxes than the average Democrat and jobs are not created by poor people or dumb people but by rich people and smart people. All government “jobs” are paid for by tax dollars that come from the private economy.
Wise up and remember “if you are not a Democrat between 18-30 you have no heart; if you are not a Republican after 30, you have no brain.”
I was a Republican when I was young and then I learned that Republicans think they know what is best for us poor middle class, funny that so many of them are middle class.
Funny, as I got older, I defiantly stopped being Republican.
But you’re comment really does a fantastic job of what drove me away. I’m educated, well educated actually (Millsaps College), worked as an accountant, worked as a computer analyst both for the Feds. I can’t spell worth a flip but then I never could and never will. Yeah, you and the Republicans, you’re just smarter than us. Oh well, I can live with it.
At least you are smart enough to be honest Rusty.
If you can show me a better measure of intelligence than the amount of wealth a person can accumulate during life, please do so.
Remember….the dumb and the poor don’t create jobs. Only the rich and/or smart can do that.
How many jobs have you got from a poor person or a dumb person ? Speaking for myself, I never got one job from a poor or dumb person and, when I was poor, was grateful as hell for the jobs and opportunities that were made available to me in this great country.
Your points about Republicans generally making more and being better educated are not that far off. As well as contributing to the creation of more jobs. But I feel as many do if you have a little extra food u should share it with those less fortunate and not horde everything that you will never use. Wealthier people can afford to pay a larger portion without having a major life change where as those making less cannot.
Although I find it difficult to argue against your logic, it is also true that totally involuntary, forced, programs like Social Security and Medicare are sapping the country dry by taking $.41 of every dollar and servicing a national debt that is growing like a time bomb.
So why should the rich pay for such wasteful programs that are killing the goose that laid the golden egg ?
If we keep sustaining these social programs we will end up like Greece before 2020 and that is just simple provable mathematics.
Is that what you want ?
Human nature being what it is that is why they attract enough “wanna bees” to win elections. Those brainwashed by right wing, clear channel, rants into thinking you are superior and know all the answers. The fact is unless you make a quarter million a year or more its foolish to support the republican economis agenda. The super rich becoming super dooper rich would help the economy? not according to history – http://www.businessinsider.com/do-low-tax-rates-on-rich-people-ruin-the-economy-2011-7 I for one am not ashamed to say i owe what I have to the solid men and women that won the world war and came home to work hard and join unions to make sure they got their fare share. The average person getting their fair share of the wealth is what made this country special.
Now the Republicans are willing to see this country and its currency go into the toilet rather than have millionaires and billionaires pay even a little more to help reduce the decicit. i hope that wakes voters up to whare their real loyalty lies. With the rich who they are beholden to not to their country.
No, Jodon, the average person shouldn’t just get their fair share of the wealth. as you put it.
They should earn it; not aspire to take away some one else’s wealth like your President says but actually earn it themselves.
So stop complaining. You had the same opportunities that were available to all Americans as they grew up. Some made it, and some didn’t.
That’s life. One way or another, social democracy in America is over.
New era.
I went to your above recommended source/site and found out that the article you quote was written by Henry Bloget who was banned by the Securities and Exchange Committee for fraudulently managing securities. See:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Blodget
This guy not only has an ax to grind but he found another person to victimize. YOU.
Remember what I said about you don’t synthesize information very well ?
It is not my intention to tick you off but to make you think which may tick you off anyway.
He wrote good things about some stocks in companies that were overvalued in 1999 dot com craze. While also recomending to his investorsnto not put more than 5% of their portfolio in dot com stocks. Gee everyone put in jail who recomended and tried to sell overvalued securities if that were enforced 3 years ago Wall street would be a ghost town and all the big investment banks would be padlocked. But let those more knowledgeable than I defend the guy –http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2004/11/24/the-rehabilitation-of-henry- . But you don’t need a wall street anylist to decide wether times of low rates on rich were the best of times or wether times of very high rates on the rich were. Just
The rich Republicans and companies aren’t producing jobs either. They all suck !!!!!!!!!!!
Tank,
Companies are producing jobs, just not in the USA. My own company that once promised to create a total of 19 positions similar to mine, instead laid off 3, reducing the headcount to 4, which is where we stand in 2011 now. Technical, middle class jobs that pay reasonably well and require a college degree.
My employer did actually create those 19 total jobs, but their expansion was done in China and India. They replicated the Engineering facility completely. I am told by one of our Engineers who has seen the China facility that it is more modern and up to date than the US facility. Outsourcing, for pure greed. Companies have been saying f***you for more than a decade. WHOMEVER can’t see it isn’t looking, for it’s in plain sight.
So, companies ARE creating jobs, you just have to speak Chinese and work for much less pay, far away to get one of them. Make no mistake, the jobless recovery that the U.S. experiences has been fully Engineered that way, on purpose.
WE find ourselves in a jobless recovery in 2011 because of globalization and outsourcing. Workers will always lose. The middle class is nothing more than a side of beef hanging up at a packing plant, slowly moving down the line while it is eviscerated, and it’s best parts picked clean. America = poverty going forward. THAT’S THE PLAN!
As of today, I refuse to fall for all this political posturing. this budget stuff happens every few years. Back when I was in the service we were told once that, “hey guys, you may not get paid, but don’t worry, you can’t be evicted from your homes”. I said, “great, who’s going to feed my kids and wife?” Ofcourse they signed the budget just under the wire, and that is what I am seeing not. We have a bunch of freshmen in the House and Senate and everyone is testing the limits of the President, and other members, to see what they can get away with. I see them signing next week, and you’ll see the stocks starts climbing, and the peso rising again.
No, need to complain. You guys that are living in the Philippines, just enjoy your days and nights there, and ok, you may have to buy one less beer or one less girlfriend, but in the end you still live in Paradise. Let us who are still working toward our chance to a life there worry.
Just my opinion.
Take care Rusty.
Andrew in Wisconsin
This isn’t the budget, this is different. Not approving a budget doesn’t have long last negative impact.
I enjoyed the budget debates and got a few days off with pay when the budgets were not approved.
I don’t think congress will approve the debt ceiling but I do think they will give Obama the ability to raise it himself. If I didn’t think that, I would have already transferred my money to the Philippines.
No one is gonna vote for any kind of immediate tax increase, that is political suicide and it is also not good for a faltering economy. A tax increase is required.
Of course what is needed is not so much a tax increase but a tax enforcement … making the top 2% pay what they actually should already be paying …. for starters.
Hehe I wish there was a LIKE button here ala facebook.
You are incorrect Rusty when you say that”Congress won’t approve the debt ceiling”. Congress will do so.
You are also incorrect Rusty when you say Congress “will give Obama the ability to raise it himself”. Not in a million years. Remember Rusty that the Senate struck down Obama’s proposed budget in February by a unanimous vote of 97-0 which, of course, included every, repeat every, Senator of his own party.
You are right that no one is going to vote for an obvious tax increase but you are incorrect that a tax increase is required. Tax increases followed by indiscriminate spending is exactly how we got into this mess. The way out is to downsize government by not only stopping spending but decreasing spending.
Rusty,
Like your site. especially the walk about videos. To me, I think you may be overly worried. I think there are too many vested interests in the USA to let it go down in flames. Too many people playing hardball and the fact is Washington is full of 100% cowards. They are spineless and do not want to rile the recipients of SS and military checks, yours as well. Too many people with large bank accounts and/or large banks have vested interests to protect.
I suggest scrapping Bush tax cuts, cut military spending 20% and do the same for social spending. No new tax cuts without a way to pay for them. No new benefit enhancements without a way to pay for them. Cut government workforce thru attrition by 20% and offer government agencies the chance to do more with less or be privatized. Leave it to those who have most to lose. I bet the suggestion box will be overstuffed with ideas.
I’ll even go further. As long as I’m at it, anyone in the U.S. government with the title of Czar…is out of a job today, starting now. I’d limit everything that cost the government money either thru fraud or inefficiency and I’d get rid of it.
I’d increase the time anyone in government can go to work for private industry and lobby their old department to double what it is today. I’d propose cutting lobbying influence by 20% in terms of money spent and if lobbyists didn’t stick to it, I’d ban their organization. I’d publicly do it.
I’d also raise taxes on those very wealthy who die. Greatly raise them. No more family dynasties to exert influence or corrupt. If Heinz Ketchup goes out of business, so what. Others sell Ketchup too. Enough with the 200 foot long super yachts…..not when people are starving or suffering.
I’d also suggest we stop making so damn much war on other countries. I love my country too, but why are we everywhere in the world. Get out of Afghanistan, Iraq, and 1/2 the other countries of the world where our military are stationed. We don’t have the resources.
Getting back to our country-forced balanced budget amendments. Since money is what gets us into so much trouble make the above cuts stick. Make the taxes stick. If not impose a balanced budget amendment in 10 years that cannot be changed. Give Washington a decade to fix it and then take the right to fix it away from them.
I’d also go so far as to greatly reduce, restrict and change the court system. Make all court systems in all 50 states reduce their costs. I’d also end the unfair bias that women get in courts when it comes to divorces. Make prenuptial agreements a requirment before getting married. No one sided custody granted or outrageous situations whereby men have to live in their cars to afford child support. Sorry, that one is personal.
In all, effect common sense change that hurts everyone. Did I mention Medicare or SS? No, cut their benefits by 20% as well. If they can’t or won’t do it, privatize the entire beauracracy.
I’d mandate fuel efficiency targets on vehicles that are the toughest in the world. You want a 300 hp sports sedan or a remake of a muscle car-pay for it with higher fees. Americans need to realize they are consuming a disproportionately high share of the world’s oil. 50 years ago, ok. Now, not ok.
We can do tons of things over here to improve our own lot in life. Sadly, i don’t think they will come anytime soon. I can hope. I can vote.
Theres my two cents, Rusty. And, brace for impact. The cowards in D.C. may just play chicken too long. I agree with the go smoke a cigar comment. Its not our fight and we’d lose anyways. Hope I get over there one day. I’m years away from even thinking about leaving. For now just a dream.
take care Rusty,
Greg
Hey Greg,
thanks for the kind words.
I think people are misreading what I’ve said. They are seeing my fears about what will happen if their is a default. I think I said that I don’t think that will happen, maybe I should have made that more clear. Not sure what I said now.
I don’t think congress will be able to raise the debt ceiling and I still think that. I could be wrong, it wont be the last time if I am.
Actually, I’ll be okay myself in Aug since I’m due to get paid on the 1st. When I kept seeing the date of the 3rd, I assumed the first was on weekend. So it wont affect me personally as far as my retirement check is concerned.
the main reason I wrote the story is it appears many don’t care about this issue. This isn’t just an expat issue but expats will be effected the most in the short term.
What compelled me to write this is when PBS reported that some members of congress think a default “might be not so bad.” Or something like that.
I’m just one tiny voice but I just couldn’t let that go without saying something. I don’t even like to get into politics here but it is of importance to expats and this isn’t an economic issue it is a purely political one.
I’m going to have to read the rest of your comment later, I’ve having internet connection issues.
This is exactly what I wrote about in another reply.
This fellow XXXX that wrote to the site would kill the geese that lay the golden eggs. He thinks that stealing money from the rich and even robbing their graves is perfectly okay. He mentions nothing about making money himself and nothing about the fact that no poor man or dumb person or government ever created one job for his fellow man. It takes brains and money to do those things, something this fellow ignores so that he can dream about stealing money from the intelligent and rich amongst us.
Remember, America is the land of opportunity and what Greg and his likes are advocating is to take from those who make it—rather than earn it themselves.
You truly have a lot of good ideas Greg. However, it is the Democrats and liberals that have and still are blocking your common sense solutions. Remember, Greg, that liberals invented the Social Security monster and the Medicare and Medicaid monsters as well as welfare, food stamps, housing subsidies, aid to dependent children, aid to unwed mothers and, in general, the American welfare state.
Now their “SUPERNANNY” has grown so large that her tits are busting at the seams and the liberal are asking for more milk from the same tits that are busting at the seams.
You nailed it in both comments, I tried to post three times to this but it never went. I just gave up. It would be pointless anyway, can’t educate those with only mush between the ears.
Carlo and Gary G:
Lets see, I have mush between my ears, can’t be educated and responding to me is pointless. I disagree.
And I also dream about stealing other people’s money and I want to take it from those who make it, rather than earn it themselves. I also think you are misinformed.
For you both, I am an Engineering grad (so much for mush between my ears). I have worked for a manufacturer in the midwest for 25+ years (take it from those who make it rather than earn it themselves). I have served my local township government in a leadership capacity for 7 years helping to develop zoning codes for a small community (takes some smarts). I have survived layoffs in 2009 of my mentor and several peers (might say something about the mush between my ears again).
Last year in 2010, I sat down with the 10 or so executives in the local division of a Fortune 100 company and being the lowest paid guy in the room, I accepted a patent award for 5 years of research and development of a product that is made in u.s.a. and is now the finest performing product in the world. When I developed it, I was swimming against the grain, defying everyone else’s idea of another design that I knew would not be accepted in the market place. My patent is not final, however it generates more than $2 million in sales each year and helps keep my fellow citizens employed. (what was the comment about it takes brains??)And gentlemen, as we speak I am midway thru filing a new patent disclosure form with my employer for another new idea that I hope helps more fellow employees in another state to retain their own job security by improving on a product they make. I hope I’m not boring you both.
Best part is yet to come. I don’t care about wealth. It doesn’t matter to me. I have worked 14 hour days, I’ve canceled vacations for my employer and also written technical reports for them in Federal court that resulted in other manufacturers who were illegally copying our designs,paying out a six figure award and ceasing their sales in the U.S. of the offending products. I don’t call in sick and have never so taken more than a zip tie from my employer. My work, ensures that guys who drive BMWs continue to get their company bonuses. My work also generates at least 40 jobs related to the patent. Guess which group matters more to me? Not the guys who swear and bitch in meetings about not making 60% gross profits. I care about the guy who goes home to his family and quietly lives his life. I could care less about money. Its the root of all evil and those who have it, pursue it and lust for it, can’t see anything but greed. I’m not about that gentlemen. I’m about living a faithful, honorable, decent life free of selfishness. I have been honored by the same executives with an award given annually to 1/10th of 1% of employees, but the best thing I ever did in my life was to save an elderly lady from freezing to death in a snowbank, where she fell outside her house as I drove by at 55mph. That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen happen. How I knew, in a snowstorm that something really a feeling out of the corner of my eye, made me stop and turn around and come back to find her, only her arm above grade and herself in a ditch full of snow. My faith knows who made that miracle happen. I was just driving the car.
Best to you Gary and Carlo. I’m glad you found Rusty’s site as I did. Maybe one day we can all share a beer with him there. I’ll buy.
You used the word “I” about thirty times as you described your wonderful self-serving accomplishments.
By the end of your reply, you sounded broke so perhaps I should buy the beer.
Good job of putting the know it alls in their place Greg. I for one try to take common sense approaches to ploblems also and that means unbiased. I pour over media on both sides of questions. i have subscribed to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journel. The National Review as well as more leftist publications. In my state I supported a Republican governor who ended wellfare here with workfare. Also a young republican governor of recent fame scot walker who smashed public employee unions in order to balance out of control public expenditures. He came to power in a solidly Democratic area in response to terrible democratic party coruption. Which saw government workers getting as much as a million dollars cash at retirenment and thousands a month pension retiring in their fifties after 30 yrs on job. The tab for this coruption damaged terribly a basis for a good way of life set up by socialist mayors who had power till the sixties. I give this background to show the differance between my way of thinking and the dogmatic narrow minded right wingers like carlo. We saw in norway the other day and in tuscon a year ago and in germany 80 yrs ago the evil that happens when that dogmatic type of thinking is caried to its extreme.
Greg … AMEN Brother! right on!
I hope you are joking Troy…
I think Greg used the word “I” so many times because he felt personally offended by the comment you and Carlo made about his and all democrats lack of intellect, money generating capability and job creation skills.
Democrats generally are not as smart, not as wealthy and they are generally not the ones who create jobs.
Fact is I don’t like the above facts but facts, as they say, are stubborn things.
We must live with the facts which is why Santa Claus hasn’t died in over a hundred and fifty years.
Hey Troy,
Thank you for serving your country in the Navy. I go to 3 Memorial Day services in 3 separate communities each year. When we are lucky enough to host active duty or retired Veterans, it is my goal to be the last one clapping. Sorry gents, I believe every soldier deserves our respect and help when they need it. I’ve written Senators and Presidents when I’ve read how poorly Vets were treated in hospitals. Actually, not much gets my ire up as when people who risk their lives for me and my family need help and don’t get it. I just get really ugly very fast.
That said, I think that like Rusty says, this will all blow over. If so, all of us can get back to enjoying Rusty’s site again as we should be doing. Gentlemen can also always agree to disagree. I respect everyone’s opinion here and of course I have mine as well. That doesn’t make mine right. It would be great if the wealthy found a way to help reform government for the greater good of all. It would be fantastic if they liked their work and respected everyone else’s sacrifice that they ponied up more of their own resources as a show of confidence. In general terms, minus specific targets, I truly think it would be good for all. And the more opinions the better chance that an agreeable solution can be arrived reached. I’ll vote for that.
God love you for saving the elderly woman’s life. That’s what’s important, not material possessions and the all mighty dollar vs PI peso as Rusty continues to beat a dead horse about!
I’ll be beating it some more very soon.
John G,
I actually wrote 5 pages and then deleted them. There is a story, an amazing thing that happened afterwards. Suffice to say, “thank you for your words”. I don’t get to take credit for it. I can’t.
I am thrilled that God blessed me for a few minutes that day to be his servant. I saw his work,I am certain. I hope and pray he blesses me again and that I never forget the lesson that was taught. I can submit this much.
I hope you can get to the Phil greg. Unless i am mistaken sounds like maybe you are a casualty of the changing roles between the sexes in the USA. By that I mean that being a fair man perhaps you fell under the wheels of the “women know whats best about everything” bandwagon and resisted obeying your better half on every detail of life. Followed by getting it up the ass in divorce court. Talk about those who get more than they deserve divorce court is the epicenter for that movement, Right up there with the wellfare office. Well if that scenario sounds in any way familiar join the planeloads of us who have sought relief in the Phill. and found it in the throngs of slim, sweet, beautiful young women willing to serve you and give you their sweet love and adoration out of gratitude for you improving their lives. Which in dollars and cent will cost you less in a month than an ex’s whim while passing a shoe store at the mall cost u in an hour. The Phil as a country is a third world shit-hole but maybe a smart engineer type like you can engineer a comfortable life here, and the filipina will make it a delightful one. Just remember they want u by the thousands and take your time chosing one and dont make same mistakes of past by ceding power in the name of love. Also don’t be like me resist overindulging they are jelous and fierce in their possesiveness and who needs more trouble.
Jodon,
I smiled big the entire time I read your post.
Divorce in America baffles me. If its indeed “a man’s world” then divorce is surely one avenue women excel at like no other. Divorce is, sadly, seemingly, a rite of passage for some U.S. women these days.
American women initiate something like 60% – 70% of all divorces filed in the U.S. Sorry guys, odds are you won’t win the lottery either. Facts don’t lie.
Gentlemen, I cannot simplify it better than that.
There is no divorce in the Philippines. One of the ways in which the Catholic church exerts their considerable influence. Maybe that is one reason why women there still expect that they have to give in order to get from a man. Instead of knowing that once the ring is on they are entiteled to get no matter what. Also there is no child support which leaves a woman there screwed unless she can be nice enough to keep her man. Also there is no birth control readily available which means be careful in this terribly overcrowded country.
There is a requirement to support your child in the Philippines. Failure to do so can land you in jail but I never heard of anyone that was jailed for it.
I am not shocked at Jodon’s willingness to publicly state that he is an exploiter of women–and poor third world women at that.
The more Jodon writes the more he exposes of his lack of intelligence and humanity while propagating to everyone that he is brilliant beyond belief and the most caring and sharing liberal in southeast Asia.
Actually I have compassion for the poor guy as he really is a very confused and troubled person.
Carlo, are you sure you’re not standing in front of a mirror? Minus the caring and sharing part of course.
Rusty… I will admit that when young I would go after a skirt in a second –without regard to what I was going to do with it when I got off.
I am a little older now and can look in the mirror and be more honest.
Or they have exploited me, It kinda depends on your viewpoint. All I know is that every one that has met me seems very happy that she has and most remain friends. I am glad I met every one of them with only one or two exceptions. That said… yes after ending up on second visit to Phil proposing to the first girl I met there, and finally after 7 months having her admit that she has and always did have a pinoy lover, I did go a little crazy that way and let myself fall into the sin of lust. However now i have chosen a wonderful, beautiful young woman of 21. I have known her for almost 2 yrs and we have lived together for months. She is absolutely wonderful, and I hope to spend the rest of my days with her. Yes I admit I hated guys who would go there just for sex vacations, and crush the hopes of many girls. For a time i became almost as bad as them although I would never lie to a girl. It was wrong and I regret.
I agree it does happen both ways.
As long as consenting adults are involved it ain’t none of my business what others do.
Enjoy what you enjoy. Dishonesty for me that’s probably my most beaten down flaw. If anything I’m a little too honest maybe. Getting better about that too.
We all just improve on who we are as best we can. I didn’t see anything exploitative in your comment. I don’t think the USA will become that. It is on the verge of permanently damaging itself. In the end the USA will be okay. Other nations will become stronger. The USA will likely loose some of its dominance regardless of it getting it right or getting it wrong. Other nations are coming to the forefront. Can they maintain it?
Everyone seems so afraid of China. China has some indicators of major economic troubles ahead. Its banks are over extended and when the slow down comes from China, its banks will have defaults just as the US did. There will be an economic slow down in China and in the end I have more more faith in a capitalist free society than I ever will in a communist one.
China has another problem, no matter how much it tries, it can’t stop the Internet. Information will be shared and those not involved in the riches will resent it.
Rusty … we need a new thread … returning back to how and why to move to the Phils. (Philippines) … a little more info about me…
Former US Navy … was in Olongapo and Manila and QC back when Marcos was leaving, I was arriving.
Anyway … just did one hitch in the Navy and I’ve had ups and downs ever since….
In 2008, I lost 2 jobs, 2 cars, 2 vans (the vehicles were all paid for, no debts there) and more importantly … I lost my house in Albuquerque. And I was married to a Mexican National (still legally married but separated).
So because of the financial melt down and my bad planning … one thing led to another and the strain broke us up.
Now I am in rebuilding mode, and I have to work for a living (only 47, no pensions)
and I am back in college to attempt to double my low income in 2 years.
My long term plan is to go to the Philippines, but I have a lot of prep work to do.
There are lots of articles on the website about moving to the Philippines, any time I can think of something new to say about that I do.
Did you try using the search for moving to the Philippines and move to the Philippines. And of course there is my eBook which is 150 pages or so of living in and moving to the Philippines.
But if I think of something new to say, I’ll do it.
Your situation sounds a lot like my situation in 2008 but I had a pension, got a divorce and ran away from home. Smartest thing I have done in a long time, perhaps ever done. The only thing that competes with the wonder and importance of the Philippines are my kids.
Still trying to think of a new approach to moving to the Philippines that I’ve not already said.
I’m not going to comment further on who’s fault this is.
To try to lay it on the Democrats means only that you’ve been getting you’re news from Fox news and other one sided and often lying news channels.
It is a fact that the tax bush cuts created the deficit. This is not disputed by anyone that knows what they are talking about. The numbers come from the GAO.
Now, to make it worse we also had two unfunded republican wars, one of which I support.
The increase in prescription benefits was also unfunded.
The tax cut was beneficial in the short term,it did clearly stimulate the economy but it solved nothing. A growing economy is the best way out of a deficit. So it wasn’t entirely bad.
However, deregulation, dating back to the Reagan years and all presidents since created a boom but also created the bubble that burst when Bush just happened to be in office.
F
If some want to stick your heads inside the vacuum of Fox news,it isn’t my problem and I know those people will never accept any view contrary to the views Fox takes.
Yeah, go robert murdock……go straight to jail.
Rusty…sorry. Tax cuts don’t create deficits, period. You need to think that one over.
Deficits can only be created by over-spending, period again.
Now we have a basis for discussion and that basis is to discuss what expenditures were made by the Fed that constitute over spending ?
That is the logical starting point.
Ok carlo, i was skeptical then u said period and that emphasis made me realize you must be right. ok you have bills and you have income. reduce income and that would have nothing to do with not being able to pay your bills. The only problem will be that there are bills. no bills and no income and you would be ok. See I am coming around to your way of thinking.
Yes you are Jodon. I noticed.
However, You said, “you have bills and you have income. Reduce income and that would have nothing to do with not being able to pay your bills”.
The logical contrapositive of what you said would be ” reduction of income would have everything to do with the ability to pay your bills”.
I could agree with that.
Good, because I was being sarcastic about the evidence of the terrible indoctrination you have inflicted on yourself that led to the illogical ridiculous statement I was commenting on. My suggestion to you is to half your exposure to right wing indoctrination like Fox News and make equal or to make up for past indoctrination triple that in exposure to left slanted media. Harpers magazine, New Yorker articles, New York Times, are some that have excellant inciteful articles. Not always correct” but useful in understanding the problem. Frontline is an amazing TV show also for example in how it sheds light on some of todays concerns.
If you can get over your need to feel superior and part of the “better class” of people. Quit trying to demonstrate that by adhereing strictly to the self-sering dogma they put out and start caring more for your country and for your fellow man rather than your own inflated self -image, then maybe you will come closer to finding the truth than you have demonstrated in your writings here. The truth usually lies somewhere in between the two extremes.
There is always a temptation to respond to and balance out the extreme positions of one side by being extreme and absolute with our views in response. To do so is to demonstrate that it is not about finding truth and a workable compromise that you are about but instead what you are about is a stuborn need to have it all your way.
Its the cause of this mess about the debt and the reason why the newly elected tea partiers who sneere at compromise are so wrong and leading this country to disaster
The US is the laughing stock of other nations. I’m still proud to be an American at age 61, yet I wonder what kind of life the next generation will be dealing with here? The bus is far beyond being “driven into the ditch” as Obama would say. It’s buried and a search party needs to be organized. Can this and the next generation solve the mismanagement, greed, and comsumption that is a sobering reality now? I refuse to speculate on that.
What I DO see is China propering and the standard of living here continuing
to slide. Glad to be moving to the PI soon and getting back to the basics of loving and simple life. Pay your dues here and do the same.
Rusty…God Bless you and your family. I mean that.
However, you are so incorrect in your politics that I am stunned. I might have to come to the Philippines just to straighten you out.
Look at the larger issues of Entitlement Spending and welfare,unemployment compensation, aid to dependent families, aid to dependents on welfare, chapter 8, housing subsidies, etc. All these social programs have but one unhappy ending aka “The Greek Tragedy” if you know what I am talking about.
The United states borrows $.41 of every dollar the Fed spends. Now, surely you understand that entitlements account for over 50% of our annual budget.
Do the math….quite simple. Entitlements, created and nurtured by the liberal Democrats for 70 years, have to be reigned in….or we become “The Greek Tragedy”. Remember, those Greeks in the streets never thought it would come down to this…..
Carlo,
Looking down on the poor, the unfortunate and the frail from your vantage point seems easy for you, Carlo.
Dismissing my accomplishments as you do without offering your own or explaining how you would fix things either short changes the rest of us or reveals yourself to be nothing more than a troll.
Money isn’t everything Carlo. I just wanted you to see that my contributions, though small, help line the pockets of the wealthy, not the other way around as you opined.
And the wealthy aren’t any better than the poor.
You should share your accomplishments. Tell us what you value. Tell us your greatest accomplishment. Educate us, Carlo. How would your plan work? And what would it’s result be?
I’m all ears, sir.
First, you are a typical Liberal Greg for you challenge me to defend that which I did not say.
No sale there.
I did not dismiss your accomplishments sir. I pointed out that you are egoistic using your own essay.
Calling me a troll diminishes you while proving nothing about me. By accusing me of being a troll did you really think that I would be forced into a position of denial ?
That you are boasting or saying that your accomplishments helped line the pockets of the wealthy while you extoll your poverty is either a contradiction or a mystery to me. I am truly befuddled at that construct.
I was pointing out that the wealthy are more economically better off –not just better than the poor. For clarity, go back and re-read.
Why should I feel egoistically compelled to “share” my accomplishments just because you are so egoistically disposed ?
I don’t think you are all ears at all. Unlike others that post here you seem to have something between those ears so I will elaborate on “my plan” just a little. If I thought you were stupid, I would not bother. Your egoism is not a problem for me at all; I am simply an neutral observer of it.
First, as you will see in coming months and years, Entitlement Programs will be given a generous haircut. That would be the first part of my plan for the reasons I have already stated.
Existing Entitlement obligations must be met, as much as is possible. For those under 55, they need to be told the truth by the Social Democratic liars about the seven decade old Ponzi Fraud called Social Security and Medicare that the Social Democratic liars invented and pushed upon the American people who were too damn busy in the middle of a depression to perceive the consequences of such Marxian folly. By the way, Obama and this generation’s version of Social Democratic liars repeated history by shoving Obamacare down the throats of the American people who would have to pay for such Marxian nonsense. And they did it by compromising a tried and true, long standing procedural rule of the United States Senate; namely, reconciliation and a poisonous dose of their classic lying techniques. I do note that they were successfully rewarded for their lies and deceits.
Next, those under 55 should have the choice to opt out of Social Security and for those entering the work force there should be no Social Security program because it is a proven failure.
I could go on and on with modifications such as no annual increases, cracking down on fraud, eliminating appended programs, etc.
I could also go on to Medicare and swing a specific ax to that pile of crap that we can’t afford as well.
And not because I am so damn smart or I hate Social Security or Medicare; we just can’t afford to be a welfare state and a democracy simultaneously. As for me, I will choose freedom any day over the tyranny of majority anthropoid electorate many of which should not be voting because they don’t have any skin in the game aka they don’t even pay taxes and worse, they actually are sucking on the tit of the rest of us hard working Americans.
For the record,I am not smart but, unlike the Madoff suckers and millions like them, I am not stupid and believe that Santa Claus is real.
The problem with medicare and medicaid isn’t that it is fundamently wrong to help those who can’t otherwise afford health care but that costs have gone out of control for 3 basic reasons. 1)people are living longer and the massive costs for the last couple months of a persons life has to be rethought. Does it make sense to spend maybe a hundred thousand to keep a terminally ill old person alive for an extra three months hooked up to machines and suffering?? Try to make some common sense changes in that and for political purposes Republicans will scream that “Obama wants to pull the plug on grandma” or big brother government wants to chose who lives and who dies!
2) fraud and waste – billing for care not delivered – the biggest place for this is republican districts in southern Florida and California. Fraud in those areas are ignored as a way to discredit the entire program by those against medicare. 3) Americans are too fat – medicare was not designed to be able to afford to give everyone artificial knees and hips and pay for oxygen and expensive meds for people whose problems are causedor agravated by the fact that they are carrying around too much weight. Treatment of these conditions should be predicated on the successfull completion of a weight loss program .
Jodon, some of your message are going into spam. I’ll keep watching and pull them out! Just wanted to let you know.
Just read an interesting article in the web version of “New Yorker” magazine. In it a smart young caring physician comes up with a way to dramatically cut medicare costs. It is a good article also in the way it focuses on the types of cases that cause the highests costs.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/24/110124fa_fact_gawande
Carlo,
The point you are making are all valid. However, I think the way you present them (calling people stupid) detracts from your argument.
Regarding Social Security-for those who who continue to believe and say that those benefits are “entitlements” that people “paid for” simply demonstrates how effective the scam artists in FDR’s administration were when they sold Social Security back in the 30s. And, make no mistake. It had to be SOLD. There was no public clamor for an old age pension system run by the government. It was concocted out of whole cloth by FDR and then rammed down the throats of the American people through deceit.
People were told that they had personal “accounts’in which their contributions would be put to draw interest until they retired. LIE!!!!
There never WERE (and still AREN’T) individual accounts. Social Security has always been a “pay as you go” system in which current retirees are paid from the contributions of current workers. If there was any money left over it was/is invested in “special purpose bonds” issued by the Treasury. These bonds were created ONLY for Social Security and cannot be bought or sold on the open market. Then, the Treasury simply spends the money on operating the government day to day. The Social Security “Trust Fund” simply holds all those IOUs.
Ida Mae Fuller was the very first recipient of a Social Security check. She paid in a grand total of $22. Then, she lived to be almost 100 and collected over $20,000. THAT is what is happening now. The number of current workers supporting each current retiree is dwindling and the unfunded liabilities (IOUs) will have to be redeemed to pay future retirees. But, there’s no money to redeem those IOUs.
Now, just carry this same Ponzi scheme forward to the 1960s with the creation of Medicare and the expansion of Aid To Families With Dependent Children, Food Stamps, etc. You’ve simply piled more debt onto an unsustainable Ponzi scheme.
In 1848, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote a short little book which was a blueprint for destroying capitalist systems and bringing about the workers utopia. Two of the steps they outlined to bring this about were 1) a progressive income tax and, 2) an inheritance tax.
Our current income tax system, put in place by Woodrow Wilson, instituted the progressive income tax. The inheritance tax soon followed.
Now, since we’ve already seen that Socialist/Marxist/Communist systems around the world have been failures, it’s curious why there are still those who have posted here who favor these Marxist ideas.
To Colonel Mac….
First, I am heartened to see that someone that posts here has a solid cerebellum and is well informed. I learned but little from the other posts but quite a bit from yours, especially the history portion of Social Security and the two basic components of Marxian Socialism.
Your intelligence is greatly appreciated as you are able to see thru the mistakes of history while others simple keep repeating them.
I am reading the Federalist Papers for free at :
http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fedindex.htm
Thought you might be interested. P.S. You are correct that my choice of words is somewhat acerbic but I know from experience that most liberals don’t respond to vocabulary therapy because they are too damn stupid. Damn I did it again.
Carlo,
Why do you have to degrade your own intellect by calling anyone stupid, let alone, “damn stupid”?
You don’t have to be like anyone else…..but why does everyone else have to be like you?
Or you ridicule their politics or call them stupid.
Your posts here are the very definition of a troll.
Your words are your own worst enemy….
From Wikipedia
Troll (Internet)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
Carlo = Troll
How about more content, less name calling? Seriously, dude.
Greg, I wouldn’t worry about Carlo any more.
I have learned that people that attack are like grade school bullies. Lots of big talk to impress because they lack confidence in themselves and their words.
Have you noticed that I generally ignore attacks on me? I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
I must admit he tends to draw out the worst in me. It is hard to be nice to some people. I’ve had enough of the attempted bully.
I had to laugh when I read Rusty write that if anyone felt bullied they could email him.
Big brother Rusty will protect all you sissies from big bully Carlo. Amazing.
There must be some secret code words that you liberals use to attach to each other.
Always remember that the good Lord made humans in such a way that when they are dumb they really don’t notice it at all.
Carlo, if that’ is how God made us, he excelled in your case.
You wouldn’t know a true conservative if he bit you on the ass. You’re not conservative, your selfish. Not the same thing at all.
Let me guess Rusty. Apparently, by soliciting bloggers to reply about “being bullied” on your site you are encouraging liberals, as so you yourself are disposed, to write in to you so you will have “evidence” to censor me from your site.
I am guessing because I don’t know the internet rules for internetsite oversite but I strongly suspect this is what you are up to.
If so, you should be quite upset with yourself.
If not, post otherwise so I will be educated…..
No Carlo, I put you in moderation after you told someone not to reply to you and called them stupid.
You’ve stopped doing that so I was ready to remove that. Carlo, you wouldn’t know a conservative if he bit you on the ass.
If anyone feels insulted by another comment, please email me at rusty@cebuexperience.com and let me know. I might miss it.
I know there have been some arguments but I am not looking closely at what is going on.
I knew that political discussion would go like this but this is an important topic and especially important for expats.
I know some have insulted in general but I didn’t see anything that was a direct insult to someone else. If that happens, let me know and I’ll make sure there is no repeat. That goes for others, I don’t care if I’m insulted.
Just goes with having a website and daring to state a position.
Mine won’t fit with most expats and I know that but that’s okay too.
Well there are nine days left and the fighting gets worse.
I haven’t heard anything lately about giving Obama the power to raise the debt himself. I am still with my original position that that is the only way this will happen. They finally came up with the right plan, cuts now, revenue increases later. Can’t raise taxes during a recession. That’s foolish.
I did get a glimpse of reports that house starts were up recently? That is surprising if it is accurate. I’ve been so far behind though that I may have read it wrong.
Hi Rusty,
Heard another 3-4 years for foreclosures/short sales to
resolve. Likelyhood that house will be a home after that, not
an ATM.
With regard to humans governing themselves…you can fill in the blanks! I do believe that if humans obey just ONE of the 10 commandments (thou shalt not kill), we could feed all the hungry cos no need for war or “national security,” arms, military, etc.
When does the real meet the ideal? Rarely.
John, I agree with you that we humans mostly look out for ourselves. When we know people are watching, we do a little better. There is an Alice Cooper song that I often think of. It includes a tiny little line that that has deep and big meaning. “Its the little things.” Those little actions we take, like when someone pulls out of us in traffic, or bumps into us on the street that really tell us who we are. I should say re-actions.
I am less cynical about it than what you seem to have expressed at times. I don’t think you’re wrong really. I think most of us want to do good but most of us are getting through life the best way we can.
If you want to make it biblical, “Only the Father is good.” Something like that.
I try to do better, many people try to do better. Many would like to reach the ideal but all of us fall short, each and every one of us. Our subconscious plays such a huge role in our lives. Some of us know that and try to look inside but the subconscious is impossible for us to get to without someone that can help us see it. Most refuse to see it and I think for most of us that do manage it, we are not at all happy with what we find.
Even Mother Teresa struggled. We are human and we are clearly flawed.
Great comment Rusty!
I’ve read many of your posts and have seen numerous times where you and Jesse do something that helps someone. It is not easy, but I’m sure you could have more “things” if you didn’t share, weren’t as generous and were completely selfish with your money, time and concerns.
Generosity comes in many forms, such as encouragement, a smile, greetings, a few minutes of your time. They are as much a gift to someone as money. Some understand that and some don’t.
I think its good to struggle, to keep struggling with these issues. The poor are only disadvantaged, not flawed as others seem to believe.
I liked this comment. You are a good person.
Thanks Greg, one of my flaws is that I don’t take compliments well.
I really don’t see myself as a good person. A good relatively good heart, yeah, I think I have that.
There is another song I sometimes think of along the lines of that Alice Cooper song. Its all about peace and love and is called Tick-Toc By Stevie and Jimmy Vaughn.
Sometimes when my reaction to being bumped into a busy and hot airport after dragging luggage around is not up to the ideal.
And I think t myself, “Yeah Rusty, a brotherhood of man.” I haven’t listened to that song in a long time. I need to do that, if I have it, I’m not sure.
I will say that some of the comments in this post test my patience. Some extremely vile things have been said but so far I’ve managed not to engage, well once I did and then I deleted it.
My reaction is not always good either.
The other day we had a squatter on our steps. A female. I never saw her. My first reaction was no way, then it was “what does she look like.” LOL So that human male came shining through, huh?
I never saw her. I wanted to let her stay but I know that’s a really bad idea. I’ll probably write an article about it soon so I wont go on about it here.
John I agree that eliminate the waste from war and military expenditures and we could all be living comfortable and national debt would be managable. There is no greater intrusion by government into a persons life than to send them off somewhere and tell them they need to kill others that they have no personal dispute with. Then pay for the massive cost of doing that by taxing and borrowing. Unfortunately that is one area where government intrusion into our lives is ok with the rich because they make money off it and never have to risk their personal safety.
Jodon,
Amen brother. Nailed it.
I have a nephew, he went to Iraq and one day while driving down a road his vehicle was hit by an IED. He was literally blown up.
Brain damaged, cannot even stand on his own without help more than two years later. He is a mess and I remember him when he was a curious 5 year old. Now, still in his 20′s his future is bleak. Its taken a toll on his family too.
There is a cost for all these wars upon wars and increasingly they are fought, not for the American way of life, but for the corporations and the wealthy. They are paid for by young men and women and their families. Those that start these wars think of us as fodder.
That, gentlemen makes me sick.
I guess that last sentence didn’t make sense. Being behind causes me to rush and increases the chance to I got it wrong.
Carlo,
I envy birds. They are happy and soar in the sky w/o concern for OPEC, politicians, debt or greed. Simple creatures/simple pleasures without corruption. All of us could learn something from God’s cretion.
I’ve owned and raised amazon parrots for 24 years. They are loving beings you can trust. The same can’t be said for many people these days…
Good for you. Birds feel some need within you.
I don’t like a particular species of birds that, like parrots, think and talk, but, unlike parrots, cannot fly and are despicable creatures.
Of course I speak of homosapienseviliptus; or simply “jailbirds”.
You bleeding heart libs Wanna know where a lot of your tax dollars go?
go to >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6ok5ykyuQ
and its on U-tube so it must be true lol
generally speaking, it’s amazing how money drives a man to develope a pompous, all knowing, omnipotent attitude. One
feels the need to drive home their opinions in search of
recognition and respect…
jodon…u-tube sometimes is ok and sometimes not….but mostly ok. For you to just dismiss this video out of hand without and laugh without giving any evidence of it being fraudulent is astoundingly naive. For this reason, I will not respond again to your postings.
Notice that I gave concrete evidence, which you did not refute, concerning the author Henry Bloget who wrote the article you posted to support your point. Bloget was disbarred by the SEC and therefore his integrity is totally suspect.
But, I did not dismiss Bloget out of hand and just laugh at this work like you did with the u-tube video. I totally undermined his work by undermining his integrity. He cannot be trusted according to the SEC.
Adios, amigo.
Carlo, I really dislike moderation so I won’t do it twice.
If you wish to continue to post here, I’d actually like to have you regardless of what I think of what you have to say. Three things will be required.
1. Do don’t tell someone not to reply to you.
2. Do not call anyone stupid or any other negative name, we out grew that at 4.
3. The Philippines is the land of respect, don’t attack anyone.
Some of your messages went into the spam and I left them there because you broke all three of the above. Your next messages will likely to there too. I will pull them out if you can act like a civilized person.
Rusty Let me defend Carlo in saying that you are making a mistake in censoring his posts. People should be allowed to vent online and to stir things up if they want to. His and others doing so, if you notice the progression of the topic, led to more and longer and better thought out posts. Yes we aren’t 4 year olds so it didn’t progress to stupid back and forth cruelty so much as it did trying to be more logical and back up better what it is we believe.
I used to write alot for a differant online forum. As is here, it started with taking exception to right -wing positions and it led to many long and vigorous discussions on a variety of topics with many chiming in who never contributed before. In other words it was interesting. Then the creator of the site I believe started to feel it was not going the way he was comfortable with. The emphasis was less on him and what he thought. He wanted more of a sort of back and forth short chummy little quick ongoing comment thing, with the focus on him and what he was interested in. He started to critisize and censor and delete others efforts. I didn’t like this and pulled my comments. My foils didn’t have anyone to battle with so they disappeared. Those usually just inclined to hoover on sites like that and not participate went back to doing just that. Now the visits to that reduced site can be counted on your hand per week and the last post on any topic was months ago.
Unless its true about younger generations having super fragile egoes because of the positive re-inforcing way my generation raised them. Then I wouldn’t worry about it. No one is going to be shattered because Carlo calls them stupid! But if it raises the hackles just a bit and stimulates better efforts in response, then it can even be a good thing.
You can defend him all you like. It was you he asked not to reply to him any more and then he flung a few direct insults at you. I don’t know what his positions because I don’t care. The article I wrote was about the debt ceiling. IF you guys want to take it someplace else, have it. I’m not going into political debates with you on every topic under the sun.
Rusty…Really, I am very sorry that you are considering censorship of my postings.
Not sorry for myself but sorry for a person who feels so threatened by ideas expressed by words that he feels relief thru his power of censorship.
Jodon may be lacking some experiences in life but I do see evidence of a willingness to learn and express his own ideas and a deep seated sense of fairness in his posts that he easily accords to others….as so do I.
I actually like you posting here when you’re not insulting anyone but just keep pushing me and I’ll show you censorship.
Like Jodon, I never thought that anyone’s words and ideas “were pushing” it.
For the record, I never referred to anyone specifically as “stupid” or “damn stupid” and, as far as insult is concerned, I didn’t do that either; rather I did engage in some veiled implications to, as Jodon states, sort of says “stoke the fire” a little but certainly nothing that would require site censorship under internet rules.
I certainly would lodge a formal protest if such were to occur.
You are on notice.
You can seek help from a big brother government authority to keep from being censored by Rusty on his site but I don’t think there is such an authority. Perhaps you could petition to have another regulatory government agency created to make sure your free speech rights are enforced on any site online.
Greater-than-forecast tax revenue might give the Treasury until Aug. 10 before it runs out of cash, Barclays Capital said in a report last week.
“Tax-receipt inflows from July 14 to date have been considerably stronger than we were expecting,” New York-based Barclays analysts, including Ajay Rajadhyaksha, said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-25/u-s-can-avoid-default-at-least-until-september-silvia-says.html
Rusty maybe its natural to wonder if your personal share of the 80 million government checks that go out every month will get to you, and when. It’s a detail to be concerned about for sure, Another is – will the dollar be worth 42 or 44 pesos? or is it ever going back up to 45, remember when it was 50, you know that kinda thing.
However how about TEN pesos to the dollar? What kinda lifestyle would you have in Bogo with that? If the world loses confidence in the dollar that possibility could be very real. That is the deeper concern posed by this financial crisis. The gridlock, political posturing and brinksmanship are creating uncertainty and threatening the foundation of what you and I and other non rich americans absolutely need to maintain our soft comfortable lifestyles. —– the worlds CONFIDENCE in the american dollar. –
As it is now the clothes on our back, the tools we work with, everything in our homes, alot of our cars and what we need to run them, comes from other countries. In return they get green paper. That green paper means alot to them and they are willing to work around the clock to get it. That green paper has financed the greatest and quickest development in human history the last 20 years in china,korea starting in India and before that Japan. However if the world starts to see us as maybe we really have become, fat, lazy, cant keep our financial house in order and sort out our finances right anymore kinda screwups. Then we will be using our green paper and any available leaves to roll our own cigars or maybe just to wipe our asses with. Because no one will want it anymore.
I will stay in the Philippines because this is where Jessie is.
I wont have a very good life style if the dollar goes to 35. If it did go to 10, I probably couldn’t leave if I wanted too.
Yes, that was the point of the story. The world is on the verge of losing confidence in the dollar, even I am loosing confidence in the dollar. You won’t have to go very far back in the history of this website where I expressed complete confidence in the dollar.
I still have confidence in the American people, though I must admit, the amount of greed and racism is putting that in danger too.
Rusty said:
I will stay in the Philippines because this is where Jessie is.
My goodness……she IS good to you.
Hi Greg, yes she is. I have great faith in my ability to drive a woman off though. Someday, I may manage to do the same thing to Jessie but so far, no sign of it. For now though, she is good to me and probably beyond your wildest dreams.
Man she’s good to me.
She has plenty of opportunities to go with others. I think it was you that said I was a good person. I don’t know about that but I do try to treat people well. I’m extremely honest. Honesty is the one thing I’ve never been able to find in another person. It is the thing I most need from another person. Jessie and I are comparable in many ways.
She’s not doing so great right now. She’s having a reaction to something. It started the day we got back from Palawan with a small rash on her leg. Now her face is swollen a bit and whelps on her arm and a fever last night. She needs to go to the doctor but she wont go. I could get a story or two out of this as soon as I figure out how to approach it. A few stories about culture.
Is this Jodon that has authored the above, very conservative oriented and excellent essay upon the reasons why the U.S. must get its fiscal house in order ?
I am shocked grossly but please immensely.
But, Jodon, let’s be fair. How did the country get to this point of fiscal irresponsibility, laziness etc. that you speak of so eloquently >
And why have the Democrats not addressed the root causes of this Damoclean Sword for 70 years? The makings and the earmarks of economic disaster have been obvious now for decades.
You will acknowledge I am sure, that, only now, that the Tea Party has forced, thru their historic power-splitting victory in the 2010 elections, the emergence of a national debate on a balanced budget amendment and entitlement reform and that Democrats are finally admitting that, at least partially admitting, that the entitlements of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps, Section 8, etc., are the root cause of the destruction of the American economy.
This debate is way, way overdue and it will surely dominate our politics for the next decade.
Predictably, the slow alteration and elimination of vast parts of our entitlement programs and the down-sizing of our Orwellian government are inevitable; else we are doomed to go the route of Greece, and, probably much worse so for our cherished diversity is, in fact, our greatest Achilles Heel.
There is plenty of blame to go around on all sides for the situation we are in. If people could admit that simple fact, then finding a workable compromise to the present crisis would be easy. However, one side with their eye on next years election, wants to assign all blame to a president 2 1/2 yrs into his term. A term that started in the deepest pit of the crisis after 8 yrs of republicans haveing it their way.
They want to take advantage of the common american characteristic of having short memories, and no sense of history. If you never admit or mention your contributions to the problem, and take a remedy to some of your contribution to the problem off the table before you even start negotiating, then the focus will stay on the other sides short-comings only.
Rusty…
I really don’t want you to be blindsided by the inevitable and very drastic devaluation of the American dollar.
However, you must have noticed that gold is again soaring and the Swiss franc has accelerated immensely in the last two years as well (although it did not receive the publicity of soaring gold prices). In fact, it is very difficult to buy the Swiss franc now because of huge, huge demand.
In the foreseeable future, because of our failure to deal with run-away government social programs for 70 years, absolute economic global competitive pressures will force increasing interest rates (which are poisonous to the stock market), which will, in turn, force inflation to rise to at least the 20% range annually.
The net result will be a disaster to the Phillipine Peso whose value has been linked to the American dollar, your currency of origin, for over a hundred years. I would be very surprised if the PP can maintain a 35/1 ratio in the next three years.
Plan accordingly.
Sorry Carlo but again I have to take exception. Currency devaluation, rising gold and the swiss franc, inflation. Those are all the same thing. One means the other almost exactly. Also you are wrong about the peso being linked to the American dollar. In history it was linked in that most foreign exchange in the Phil was american dollars. Now the prevalent foreign financial exchanges there are with Korea, Japan and China. American industry as it is increasingly in other countries as well is hard to find. The currencies are not linked. The peso like the American dollar “floats”. It’s value is whatever currency markets give it. All curencies in the world are linked to the american dollar in that the American dollar is the worlds “Reserve Currency” and needed by all to buy oil and used exclusively for certain economic activities.
Jodon,
Your article is right on. Technology is amazing. Think how far this world has progressed in 100 years. Or have we?
We now “worship the works of our own hands,” as prophecy predicted, instead of worshiping the Creator.
Money is the root of all evil and humans are motivated
by vanity, jealousy, lust and greed. Realistically, we
are all on a collision course with the second coming of Christ, and frankly, He’s got to be pissed!
John, the love of money is the root of all evil. Personally, I think pride is the seed of that root.
Rusty,
Pride? Ok. But the seeds of pride are founded in sin, and sin is defined as the separation from God.
Joden, I’m going to suggest you look a little deeper and that you start by logging up the seven deadly sins and study them. You’ll find my few is not unigue.
whenever there is a human crisis at the basis of it there is uaually a basic sin which caused it. Greed, lust materialism, Pride,Sloth, whatever. Identifying the basic sin can be useful first step in finding solutions to the problem. Remember Hannibal Lecter sought out by the FBI in the movie because of his knowlege. They started to make progress finding their killer when Hannibal told them that the killers basic sin was that he Covets.
john…I have also wondered quite often if, as a species, we are heading for an industrialzation disaster. The Unabomber’s manifesto was not void of logical reasoning although his means of attaining his goals were pretty pathetic.
The only true reason for life is purpose and each of us have our own definition of that. Personally, like yourself, I believe in a Creator.
One thing that disturbs me greatly about Socialism is that it is always punctuated with contempt, censorship and repression of all religions.
its not true about socialism, We had socialist mayors in milwaukee until 1960. If you wanted to talk to the mayor you could sit next to him on the bus he took every morning to work and he would be willing to listen to your views. The man never owned a car. Like his personality the administrations were austere and exhibited the true christian values that were their core beliefs.
The many Socialist administrations focused on improving the well-being of the common person. Spending on beautiful parks and public services for the worker and his family.Even now I can chose between seven excellant public golf courses within 15 minute drive. Workers being able to leave the factory at 3pm after 8 hours and play a round of golf in the remains of the day was the wonderful way of life that kind of “enlightened” government led to. The city was a a center for heavy industry that made industrialists rich. The industrialists acquieced in these policies because it meant happy, healthy, and productive workers. Look into Germany where those same ideals still hold sway and look at their economy and way of life.
Eventually the big money greedy targeted the socialists for elimination. As they did the labor unions in the eighties, and now the liberal benefits payed to the needy. They don’t want to fix. They are against all at a fundamental level. They want to eliminate because they aren’t the kind of “enlightened” capatalists say that a Henry Ford was, but instead just greedy with the very unchristian idea that they are entitled because of their superiority. We need to fix things for sure but privatise? All that means is that their will be a group of elitists at the top who will set up everything to maximize the ammount of cash they put in their own pockets. The capatalist way in its purest form.
http://m.factcheck.org/2011/07/factchecking-dueling-debt-speeches/
Dollar to Philippine peso 07/27/11 USD United States Dollars 42.2200012207. That’s a decline of about 1 peso in a week. Sending $2000 to the Philippines you just lost $238.00.
Still think I’m over reacting?
Read a report recently that predicts a low of 38 php/dollar within one year, then rises to as high as 52 php/dollar. Encoraging if that scenario unfolds.
38 is certainly possible in the not too distant future.
55 is possible, it wasn’t that long ago it was there. We are a long way from there and honestly, there is nothing to indicate it will go back to that in the current circumstances. Will it? I think we’ll see 50 again. Do I think it is a sure thing any more? No, I do not think it is a sure thing. If the US defaults, and surely they will find a way to prevent that, it will be a long time before we see 45 again.
If the US defaults, we may never see it again.
Rusty,
The uber-weathly have weighed in on the subject and told everyone to get it done. They will kick the can further down the road.
Too many people with money in the U.S. or markets to manipulate, er, I mean protect.
They do love their money.
[greg, since you reported this link as not being free, i just went ahead and removed it. Anytime you include a link it will be held for moderation]
Sorry folks. Link above isn’t free. My bad. Hope this works better.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/28/usa-debt-banks-idUSN1E76R0J020110728
Rusty…The U.S. will not default.
There is plenty of cash on hand to pay bond obligations (although it was noted that Apple has more cash on hand, 88 billion, than the U.S. Treasury).
Therefore there will be no default. Nor will there be non-payment of Social Security or Medicare as these are covered also.
The reason for the Standard and Poor and Moody’s historic threats to the U.S. government are a shot over the bow to warn the U.S. to get its fiscal matters in order-or else. No more kicking the entitlement can down the road and no increases in taxation either.
This means entitlement reform, downsizing of government, and no increases in spending that result in more debt.
We have now entered the world of economic reality and no more Santa Claus; auspicious austerity is our lot for years to come.
redo ur math rusty
Jodon, yeah you’re right, I fell to sleep about 5 seconds later. I knew I should not be thinking in that state.
I thought that seemed WAY too much. Some where in my sleepy logic I thought it was a P10,000 drop. It is only a P2,000. Well I hope, now I just woke up. haha
rusty what happens to posts here? I have lost several and since worth it or not i spend a fair amount of time thinking them through and trying to write them in somewhat readable form, its dicouraging to see an hour of thought and effort go poof, it has happened several times and others have mentioned it happening to them. If you are censoring or disallowing some I would assume that since you seem like a nice guy you would inform a person that there contribution to your site was disallowed and for what reason. and return it to them. I mean to copy to a differant form so they aren’t lost but sometimes forget and just click submit comment.
Sorry Jodon, please see the other two comments I left for you about this. One was last week though.
Someone told me the reason I wrote this article was to scare people. To scare them into buying my book and moving to the Philippines. That is absurd because a falling dollar is the best reason NOT to move to the Philippines.
A lower dollar value reduces the benefits of living here.
In the mid 90′s the dollar was in the mid 20′s. When I got here it was below 40 but not for long and then climbed back above 50 before it started it plunge downward again.
I wrote this story because I have friends living in the Philippines and they live on $700 a month from social security. If the dollar goes to 30, I’ll be okay. I would probably be moving into a cheaper place, much smaller, I won’t be taking many, if any trips on my present income. I will be okay.
The story is not about me because I don’t think of myself all the freaking time and it is counter productive toward selling my book. I’ve known several people that say they are putting off moving to the Philippines because of the falling dollar. I don’t think that is sound reasoning but it makes more sense than moving to the Philippines because of a falling dollar.
Then again, it actually could be sound reasoning to put it off. It depends on your circumstances. If you’ve got deep pockets and you’re planning on investing in a business here, it might make very good sense.
For most of us, just wanting to increase our opportunities on a smaller income the falling dollar will lower your opportunities but you’ll still be able to do more here than you can back in the USA.
You’ll be able to buy less gasoline though, its at around $5 a gallon here.
If the peso were to drop to 35, as is highly likely, the math is that this would represent a drop of about 20% from where it is now. A pension income of 30K would then be worth 24k.
For those of you living now in the PI, keep in mind that the U.S. doesn’t compute commodity inflation in their inflation index.
This is a very significant omission as commodity inflation is hyper here in the U.S. Commodity inflation will be followed by the most insidious form of inflation; namely, wage inflation.
At that point, all of us will really feel a genuine bite in the ass.
yes I remember when in the sixties or so people were able to travel around europe and indulge in the good things there on the cheap. “Do Europe On $10 a day” books were their guide and it could be done. Staying in comfortable inns, drinking great wine and sampling the worlds best food. Just be careful of those european women who just want to find a way to USA. Then Europe rebuilt and regained their former status and now if you pulled out $10 at an average french restraunt you get maybe a cup of coffee and an insult.
Asia has been developing at amazing speed. Even in Cebu its surprising all the construction projects going on. If we continue to stagnate or decline and if they keep moving forward in the future the same type of change will occur in the relative value of the dollar. Maybe because of our huge debt that kinda change is inevitable. The only way we will ever be able to pay it off is with a devalued currency.
The day may come when our young women, our daughters and neices are scrambling to the airports in hopes of meeting one of the old , fat, chinese guys getting off the plane to chose which one of the white skinned round eyed beauties he wants to [this a Family Site]. With our young women pushing to the front of the crowd in hopes of meeting a man with a pocket full of the precious “yuan” which she knows will make her life better.
Jodon, I THINK this is the message Carlo was referring to.
Perhaps you wish to defend him more. I don’t know what is going on but it seems to me if I said something was black, you’d say it is white. That’s fine. At least you don’t degrade yourself with comments like Carlo does. I don’t care what his position is. I love to have opposing viewpoints. This site has always been friendly and I don’t like the tone that has developed over the last week and it will stop.
Like most self absorbed people he is incapable of understanding what he reads.
Yes, I’ve been nice as long as I can take it.
Rusty:
In your above posting you wrote about me “Like most self absorbed people he is incapable of understanding what he reads”
Do you really think I am incapable of understanding what I read ? Or was it an attempt to strike back ? I think the latter.
I am quite capable of understanding what I read-as I think you are. We simply politically disagree because you are a liberal and I am a conservative. There is not much more to it than that.
Recognize that you are a liberal who no longer is in close touch with American politics but, even if you were, you would probably still react quite liberally as per your upbringing and life-long associations. I understand all that.
On the other hand, I am a conservative (raised in a very liberal household)who, although I have had the unfortunate experience of working with liberals my entire life, I, nevertheless, remain open minded and respect their opinions.
With few exceptions, liberals, at some point, let words like “hope”, “dreams”, “love” etc. interfere/dominate their logical ability to the point of being irrational and the only thing that jolts them out of this pipe-dream paranoia is a reality punch right in the face. (notice that conservatives never use words like “dream” and “hope” in a political context).
Liberals have both of their feet planted firmly in the air. I understand that.
Liberals are faced now with the reality of an Obama presidency that is virtually a total failure and they are having great difficulty(as is Obama)reconciling their core liberal leanings with economic reality. They should have been able to see this social policy/Santa Claus style social problems disaster coming but the power of their social emotions overwhelmed them as they voted for a gifted orator who neither had the executive experience or capacity to lead this great country.
Just as a side, have you ever noticed how liberals are constantly wanting “change” ( as if all change is good). They even want “change” so much so that they, unlike conservatives, want to change the name of their philosophy from “liberal” to “progressive”. And this is not the first time they so desired. Conservatives are not ashamed or apologetic of the word “conservative”.
By the way, Rusty, unlike you predicted in your July 15 posting, the debt ceiling will be raised as I told you then–even though it appears less likely now.
Not only that but Entitlements Programs will be overhauled and existing recipients should expect not only no increases but rather significant inflationary devaluation of their current monthly checks. Ditto for all pensioners.
And count on it.
Hey Carlo,
How much does Rush pay you each time you use the word, “liberal”?
As for the self absorbed comment. I notice you didn’t attempt to refute the obvious, did you.
For your predictions of dire cutbacks in programs and entitlements, you forget the simple fact as more & more numbers of people struggle to remain middle class, who do you think is going to vote for the candidates sponsored by the very wealthy you so admire?
Will it be the newly poor? Nope!
Will they vote for the office seekers who cut their benefits? Nope!
How do you think the Republican party will survive, when they dismantle middle class America? I don’t!
I don’t think they can fool enough people again. Even if Hillary Clinton runs!
I think your Republican party is kaput going forward, if indeed what you predict happens, will happen.
Democrats can hang with the poor, sing songs and slow dance into power. Not that I want that mind you, but do you seriously think they forgot how to control Washington after doing so for decades? Not me. As the middle class goes away so will Republican party votes. I guarantee it. Refute that!
The only way the Republicans can stay in power going forward is if they can somehow get the Diebold company to help them steal elections. Oops, Wally already tried.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm
I would love to hear how Carlo thinks the Republican Party can even be a contender going forward in a poorer (and obviously dumber) America. They are burnt toast.
I don’t like it either because it means either a third party emerges or the Dems run wild for decades and I’ll hear Al Gore’s name again. Pleeez!
Sneaks a secret liberal handshake to Greg even though I don’t know the handshake…..
I wish I could agree with you that the republicans are toast. I just see so many people with head stuck up the Fox News boob tube.
If people can watch that trash and believe it, they can continue to vote just as blindly.
Also at least 20% of what is going on is hardcore racism. People can deny it all the want. I grew up in the south and I know there is strong racism and it is on both sides of the color line.
I do think most see clearly what is going on. I think if Obama caved and gave the Republicans what they wanted 20% of them would still try to cause a default.
Rusty.. If you went to an elite school in the U.S. then you were most certainly exposed to an extraordinary dose of liberalism.
Maybe you just didn’t notice it at the time but the fact that you say you de-converted to a liberal Democrat is more evidence that you had such leanings all along.
Although you have said that you do not take complements well, the fact that you had to pay and work hard for your education is commendable.
Greg says…
“For your predictions of dire cutbacks in programs and entitlements, you forget the simple fact as more & more numbers of people struggle to remain middle class, who do you think is going to vote for the candidates sponsored by the very wealthy you so admire? ”
I respect both wealth and intelligence, the latter usually causing accumulation of the former.
First note that I never forgot the simple fact that you accuse me of forgetting. Of course the Republicans have, and have had, a voting numbers problem in the past. But the recent 2010 election has introduced a new dynamic into American politics; namely, the Independent. All polls have shown a sudden surge in voters who do not want to identify with either major political party or prefer the Tea Party to either one of those.
Second, in answer to your valid question, you should note the following:
(1) The rapid and historic ascendancy of the Tea Party, as evidenced by their sudden and historic 2010 seven decade crushing victory over the incumbent Democrats led by Obama is evidence enough of a tremendous rise in Independents and a corresponding loss in voting strength of the Democrats–from whence the majority of the new Independents cometh.
If you are not thus swayed, then I can assure you Mr. Boehner and the Republican party is so moved as evidenced by their demurring to the power of the Tea Party in the House of Representatives over the inclusion of the Balanced Budget Amendment in their Bill to the U.S. Senate.
Both parties are feeling the heat of the Tea Party and struggling to maintain their stranglehold on power, especially the purse strings where the real power resides.
So, I hope I answered your question.
One last thing, historically, most of the real election stealing has historically come from unions and the Democratic party city “machines” in the big cities, especially New York(Tammany Hall) and Chicago (the Daley Machine)and many, many others.
I presume that you just forgot this.
RUSTY LOST ARTICLES I WROTE AGAIN ANOTHER HOUR WASTED? WHAT HAPPENED TO IT DO U KNOW?
HAS HAPPENED MAYBE 4 TIMES IN PAST AND OTHER SAY SAME THING HAPPENS TO THEM PLS TRY TO FIGURE WHAT IS WRONG AND EXPLAIN IF U CAN SO A PERSON KNOWS IF IT WORTH MORE THAN A QUICK SENTANCE OR TWO COMMENT
Jodon, I told you a week ago that you’re messages are sometimes getting flagged as spam. This usually happens when several websites have flagged you for spam as the spam system is shared with most WordPress sites.
I have been pulling your messages back out of spam every day. I’m sorry that is happening to you but it isn’t me. It could be you’re IP if it is shared. I haven’t traced it but it looks like a USA IP so probably it isn’t. Mine is shared with half of Cebu Province. It is a problem all over the net.
All caps wont help, reposing the same message over and over again will only make it worse. if you keep posting and I keep marking them as not spam, it will eventually resolve. Right now the WordPress system doesn’t like either you’re email or your IP address.
I see NO reason for your messages to get marked as spam. I’m sorry this is happening to you but it is not me nor my site and I’ve spent quite a bit of time going through the 500 spam messages this site gets every day because I want you to contribute.
OK HOURS AFTER i SEND, THERE THEY ARE, MAYBE IN UR SPAM AGAIN GO AHEAD AND DELETE THE ONES I SEND MULTIPLE TIMES TO TEST OUT
I suggest you stop typing in all caps too. That isn’t helping.
Wow, the dollar is crashing:
Dollar to Philippine peso = 42.0999984741 07/28/11
So, Jodon’s thoughts are testing out as spam. Who would ever have thought that ?
Rusty…Unless the liberals start getting serious about spending cuts, the dollar will sink even further.
Yes, sometimes I am a little short with posters like Jodon who have little regard or capacity for logic. You, on the other hand, are quite liberal but seem to be open-minded and I have no reason to doubt your logical ability. Honestly, I think that you were just another person who grew up in a liberal environment, went to liberal schools, and is trapped in the liberal philosophy. I also think that you don’t pay as much attention to the U.S. political discourse as you could or should; maybe partly because you are 8000 miles away in the PI.
Just keep in mind that the liberal Democrats created Social Security, Medicare, Obamacare, Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps, Section 8, Aid to Dependent Children, etc. and, although I accept that a good argument can be made for all these programs, the fact is that they are destroying the economic base of our country–just like they did in Greece.
Will you choose the path of the Greeks and continue to demand Santa Claus government or choose the road back to prosperity by endorsing spending cuts ?
Life is full of choices.
Carlo,
It’s obvious there’s a power struggle going on in Washington. Power? “For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,” as the Lord’s prayer says. Prideful humans have no power, just vanity. Henry David Thoreau once said, “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desparation.” How true those words represent human beings today…
Socialist governments have, exclusively, always curtailed freedom of religion.
You appear to embrace Social Democracy which, unmistakeningly curtails and represses freedom of religion where ever it has been in charge of government.
Surely you are aware of this.
Every time I read through theese threads a new gem of dishonesty rears itself.
Firsly, Theocracies have, almost exlcusively, curtailed religous freedoms. I have been to Kabul, Rhiad and Tikrit. Try espousing your religous freedom there. I dare you.
Secondly,
Social Democracy, which is in practice today in many nations, does not repress freedom of religion.
Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweeden, Germany all guarantee freedom of religion rights in their constitutions.
Finland established their freedom of religion act in 1923.
Lastly,
I am not a religous man. In fact, I choose not to discuss religion in certain places as to not offend.
However, this lie that Carlo is purporting cannot go unanswered. This is a tactic used to scare religous minded peoples.
The funny thing is that if anyone believes a monetary policy will defend any rights at all (not just religous freedom – think any kind of freedom) they need their head examined.
Carlo, you have me completely wrong from how I grew up to the school I went too. I went to a school for the wealthy. I was probably one of the poorest people there because I worked my butt off to get there. That and the grants and loans i got to get there. I worked three jobs while going to one of the most academically challenging schools in the country too. I was married at 21, had a baby and owned a home that the government helped to pay for. I was a Republican.
My family was too poor to care about politics, I never remember it being discussed.
I used to be solidly in the Republican camp when I came out of school. It was Ed Meese that first opened my eyes to the tyranny of the Republican party, the moral majority and others that want to tell me how to live. Even if i agree, i will not be dictated too. Most of the time, I prefer Republicans when it comes to financial matters. However, i’d rather be a poor free person that a rich slave. Life isn’t about money it is about being able to life it the way I want to live and that is not part of the Republican way of life. Oh sometimes the Democrats go down this path too. I remember Al and Tipper Gore on one of the morning shows talking about how they wanted to regulate the music industry. Then I watched Al Gore try to distance himself from that and the original position.
I am not better than anyone else and neither are they. They don’t know what is right for me and they seem to think they know what is best for everyone. I’m not a liberal at all but most people think so. That is because most so called conservatives are only concerned about their own pocket book and they are concerned about it right now. I don’t want to see the government do anything that people can do for themselves but there is a lot of things people can’t do for themselves. We should help where there is a need for help.
Carlo, this mess was made from Republican policies. It is a fact that the Bush tax cuts created this deficit. Get your head out of Fox news.
I really am not interested in politics on this site that doesn’t have to do with living in the Philippines. I have no desire to change anyone else’s thinking because I have better things to do. And even if Jodon are someone else does press your buttons, that doesn’t make you better than them. Many people here have told you that you hurt yourself with such insults and they are right. You’re mind is closed tighter than a bank fault.
Rusty,
I’m betting on 38 php/1 USd before the dust clears. Hopefully, we’ll see light at end of tunnel for the less than Almighty dollar…
If the US defaults, I am too if not worse. if it doesn’t, I don’t THINK it will go that low.
But who knows, the dollar has gone back up a little in the last few days. That is because stocks are doing even worse than the dollar. Once stocks make their corrections and level out, the dollar will fall again. I haven’t looked yet today at what it is.
Makes no sense to me the dollar would rise at all right now. Not much but still up. It has not fallen below 41 yet and I thought it would.
Rusty said….”Carlo, this mess was made from Republican policies. It is a fact that the Bush tax cuts created this deficit. Get your head out of Fox news.”
I do watch Fox news but I also watch Matthews, Ed, Maddow, etc, on MSNBC as well as CNN and ABC.
Rush Limbaugh, O’Reilly,and Hannity, all FOX news, are the most watched, by far, of all the networks although in actual air time use they are way below average. All polls show this as air time viewing is electronically monitored and very accurate.
MSNBC and the NY Times are going broke and the above liberal stations have been losing market share for years.
Keith Olberman was fired for good reason and Juan Williams was just another example of vicious liberal censorship by the liberal media in America. So much for that sub-point. Note that no conservative media receives government funding as does the very, very liberal NPR.
Both liberals, like yourself, and conservatives, like myself, are incorrect to say that the deficit was caused by “Bush tax cuts” or that the deficit was caused by “entitlements” such as Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps, Section 8, unemployment compensation etc..
Current Treasury deficits were caused by both of those and a few other things such as monumental government fraud and waste, excessive government benefits to government unions, interest payments on the national debt, costs of war(not a particularly high expenditure as most think, etc.
So,let’s discuss the cost of the two largest offenders that are capable of economic reform that will not impact our economy negatively.
That would be entitlements and the interest on the national debt. (I exclude the “Bush tax cuts” that you mention not because they were not, at the time they were created, negative and excessive. They most certainly were. I exclude them because now that the economy is in serious trouble, any, repeat any, taxation is very problematic and most likely counterproductive.) Even Obama and his party admitted to this harsh fact back about a year ago when Obama re-instated the Bush tax cuts himself. Furthermore, notice during the recent political tug of war over the Debt Ceiling notice that taxing the rich has been dropped as was Obama’s criticism of corporate jets etc. and class warfare.
All that stuff is counterproductive unless one is a believer that the government, the poor, and the un-smart(trying to avoid the word “stupid”)create jobs and wealth for the country.
Our economic reality/problem is not that we tax too little but that we spend too much on entitlements, government waste and fraud, and down the drain huge interest payments on the national debt.
Those are the reasons that the debt ceiling has been raised 38 times in the past and, until we settle those issues politically, we will continue to have this historic struggle we are witnessing between socialism and capitalism.
By the way it is the Tea Party that has been both the catalyst for debate of the economic reforms aforementioned and the reason why both parties, Dems and Reps, have united to defeat the Balanced Budget Amendment.
So far, I have avoided mentioning of the possibility of Civil War II (notice II) as a consequence of the clash of Socialism and Capitalism in America.
Let it suffice to say that such a possibility, for the second time in our history, is very real as we now see both the racial and economic demarcations that characterized Civil War I.
The reason that the programs and networks you mentioned are not doing as well as fox and others is that they try and believe like traditional news networks always did that they should try to present things in an unbiased manner. That said it was obvious to anyone viewing for awhile that there was a bit of a left of center slant to their presentation. Fox the radio talk shows and others make to pretense of being unbiased they are straight propaganda rags bought and paid for by the rich to foster views which benefit themselves.
Since people have become lazier and they have the traditional american ignorance of history and non-interest in politics and policy unless its obvious it effects them personally and right now. they are attracted to the absolutist views of these right wing propaganda outlets. There is many examples in history of the same thing Germany in 1931. Terrible financial times for the average person, people worried, confused, looking for simple easy answers that make them feel superior and promise an easy path to a better future. So much less work than tackling issues one by one, reforming and solving problems based on a need for common sense and discipline.
Many of your message went to to spam as well Carlo.
Brian, the military is not “run” by the government.
The actual “running” of the military is by the military itself with governmental oversight in the form of Armed Forces committees that are chaired, more often than not, by ex-military politicians.
The military is “run” if you insist on using that term by the commander in chief (president). With a specific chain of command going all the way down to the lowest private and that everyone understands in the military down to the lowest private and their place in that chain of command.
The greatest thing our military has going for it is that it is non-political. There is a wide variety of political opinions in all levels of the military. They have nothing to do with the one mission of the military which is to be prepared to and quickly do so when necesary -destroy the enemy as that enemy is described to them by civilian authority in the person of the President.
I understand.
Someday we all will go to spam; but first, before we are deleted, our hard drives will go limp.
Carlo,
Power struggle and vanity go hand in hand. God has the only real power. He will come soon and establish His Kingdom, praise the Lord!
Let me ask you some honest questions John.
When will He come ? You said soon. How soon will He come?
How can you know for sure that “He will come soon and establish his Kingdom ? “
Faith. You either have it or you don’t.
Hello again!
I have read through the posts today (while sober-;>) and decided to provide some light in the midst of all this heat.
How is it that the Government is so incompetent yet should manage our defense? Makes no sense.
If the private sector is so competent how is it that large corporations fail? Corporations, not unlike government, are filled with people. People do dumb things. At the very least we have a checks and balance for government and a way to protest (vote) and adress grievences (courts).
Social Security has been mentioned repeatedly and, of course, is wanting to be raided by the Republicans. I do find it ironic that one of the main protaganists here advocating cutting the program actually receives benefits from said program. Social Security has a $2.6Tn surplus. That’s right a surplus. Something must be done to ensure future benefits (2037) are able to be paid. Today, however, it should be a non-issue.
Medicare and Medicaid are two seperate programs (state, federal). Lumping them into an agument for less Federal spending shows more about a posters idealogy than their interest in our nation. The rising costs of healthcare in the Unitd States must be addressed. We must find a solution. I would support a system similar to Canada or Denmark.
The idea that having government oversight and regulation makes one supportive of a nannystate or believes in santa claus is just cheap ad hominem. The argument that we need to give states more rights to govern themselves and federal regulations should go away is frightening. I would like to posit scenarios if we did not have federal regulation.
Slavery. A state issue that was only settled by seccession and civil war with the U.S. federal government.
Jim Crow laws. State laws that were only struck down through federal intervention. Maybe those that aspire for a minarchistic federal government actually want “Whites Only” water fountains, I don’t know.
We would have states like kansas, texas and others forcing religious nuttery into our science classrooms. Only by federal intervention and our federal courts do we keep psuedo-science out of our science classrooms. Just barely, I admit.
These are merely the tip of the iceburg.
Strong nations require strong governments. The idea that the largest economy in the world should reduce its government to 1700s stylings is ridiculous.
Furthermore, if you are using the internet (I know you are as you posted!) you should thank a socialist. The taxing and spending brought about packet switching as it was developed in the DoD, ARPANET.
Appreciate your well written comments Brian. The surplus in the SS system is in the form of IOU’s. The money was spent as soon as it came in. Any surplus is a bookkeeping thing tecnically yes they have taken in alot more than they have given out but its gone.
I heard one of CNN’s regular economic commentators yesterday say that maybe default would be a good thing. defaults are actually not that rare. Mexico, Argentina, Russia, are some of the countries that have defaulted on their debts in recent history. After a couple years of disruption and restructuring it has always led to a period of strong sustained growth. maybe that is what the entrepaneurs (tea party) in congress want. But those of us living on our pensions , compensations , disabilities or whatever government check will be on skid row.
The military is quite different Brian for it is “run” by the “military industrial complex” that Eisenhower spoke of circa 1959.
The military is “run” by conservatives and votes conservative–unlike the rest of the U.S. government which is “run” by liberals.
Also, keep in mind that, typically, ex-military politicians on the Congressional civilian military oversight panels, dominate such civilian control.
Very, very different. You make an incorrect assumption that leads you to an incorrect conclusion.
Carlo,
You are arguing a strawman. The Military is run by the federal government, fact. I served and retired in 2006. I am a contractor for the Army today. The argument about a military industrial complex is moot. Moreover, I do not support the overspending and far reaching military we are fielding today. We should close bases in Europe. We should close bases in central america (war on drugs? republican) and expedite leaving mesopotamia.
Also, most of my friends are still serving or have served with me and the majority do not vote conservative. Many switched after GWBush and Rumsfeld gutted their ranks in favor of privatizing.
My point, as it seemed to elude you, was that many people (perhaps not you) support spending like madmen on defense but oppose social spending. The arguments are the same as yours. The government cannot manage money.
You seemed to skip over the meat of my rebuttal.
The facts are we have many nations that have successful socialist-esque monetary policies today. What we do not have are minarchistic, libertarian, on-the-gold-standard countries. What nation is successful without taxation?
Dear Carlo,
You appear to have eloquence of speech and take pleasure in displaying it, which is fine. However,
you also come across as being omnipotent in your
writings, which is a big turn off. The Lord who
created man in His own imagine is the real saviour
of this sinful world, and not your ideological agenda
and opinions. Humble yourself and seek favor in the
Lord’s eyes…
Birdbrain
Carlo,
The Bible says no man knows the day or hour of
Christs’ return. It’s supposed to be in this generation
however. I believe the Bible is the true Word of God…
and teaches us all how to behave like Christians (Romans 12). Our choice. Witness the problems we have in this country. Human nature is front and center everywhere…
I don’t know why this thread sends so many messages to spam but it does. Usually WordPress’ spam filter is very accurate.
I will continue to rescue them.
Something I wrote a while back:
Date: April 29th, 2011
Something else i wrote:
Around the same time.
This technique of blaming a poster for playing the “blame game” is unproductive, irresponsible and accusatory. It has been used several times on this post to “blame” the poster himself for playing “the blame game”.
There is no such thing as the “blame game”.
People are simply assigning responsibility for some action that they disagree with and, if so, they have an incumbent responsibility to present the evidence that supports their case.
As for me, I will continue to assign responsibility to those who try to evade responsibility by falsely accusing others of playing “the blame game” and will also continue to assign responsibility to those who had a hand in wrecking the American economy–be they Dem or Rep.
First, notice that during this entire speech, Obama emphasizes bi-partisanship thus deviating totally from his usual class warfare political posture of demanding “redistribution of the wealth” by higher taxation of the “rich”. No mention of corporate welfare and government subsidization of corporate jets. Very, very unusual.
Second, in so doing, Obama is posturing to project himself as a bi-partisan leader rather than a partisan political hack which has been his modus operandi projection for two and a half years.
Third, Obama hints that he will support “an enforcement mechanism” determined in a bi-partisan fashion by Congress. This is very important to note as it says that Obama is not opposed to a Bud Lite version of the Tea Party’s Balanced Budget Amendment demand. The Tea Party’s political clout is much stronger than most people realize.
These things are positively striking coming from a President who has characterized his Presidency with partisanship rather than leadership. And, although absolutely striking for its 180 turnabout, it was dictated by Democratic Polling that showed that Obama is not considered a “leader” and, in general, long term consistently negative polling results concerning his Presidency.
When I need a breaks, I will often review stats to see what people are searching for to find my website.
I get ideas on what to write about from it, especially when people are not finding what they are looking for or finding old pages that are no longer relevant. So it is a working break.
But also, I get a kick out of some of the searches I see. Today someone was searching for “and the democrats will kill santa claus” haha haha and guess what they found, this page. It was ranked number 10 on Google.
Now I have to go find out what the first nine are.
The liberal Democrats will never kill Santa Clause as he is the heart and sole of socialism as is “change” an “love” and “redistribution of wealth”.
However, their leaders will now do an emergency political dance around the necessity to make some “adjustments” to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid(as well as Obamacare). It will be interesting, as was Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ohio, etc.) to watch Dem leaders squirm as they have to be quasi-honest and tell their flock that, alas, there is no Santa Claus at all.
I suppose they will call it the “tweaking” of entitlements.
I agree, it would be the Republicans that would kill Santa as the Christian Coalition or Wildmon (sp) will tell he becomes God like and may lead our children astray. So I completely agree.
Have to disagree with you that it will be the Republicans that will kill Santa Claus entitlements, Rusty.
Republicans didn’t invent Santa Claus entitlements so why would they be the ones to legislatively kill it ? To do so would excoriate themselves and exculpate the liberal Democrats. No way.
But let it be said that the Republicans are, to a moderate degree, somewhat complicit in the maintenance of the Santa Claus entitlements and, in the case of Bush II, even outright guilty of supporting Medicare Prescription Drugs.
However, from Social Security all the way to Obamacare, the Dems are universally accepted as responsible for the creation and maintenance of these programs.
No getting around it.
Carlo,
When you made the comment that wealth is a measure of intelligence, I found it unworthy of comment. It is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. The reason is obvious.
But something occurred to me tonight. I find it unlikely that you are as wealthy as Obama. So does that mean he is smart than you? A democrat smarter than you? If wealth is a measure of intelligence and you don’t have many millions in the bank, MANY millions then Obama is much smarter than you and how can you possibly justify criticize someone that is smarter than you.
Since I have not responded to that incredibly stupid idea (the idea, not you. I don’t think you’re stupid) I’ve known plenty of very smart people that are not wealthy. They teach in our high schools in many cases for example. I’ve known some people dumber than a can of worms that have more money than Obama. Come on man, you gotta be kidding me.
OK Rusty I am going to put you on the hook. Sorry to do that but if you think that saying that wealth is not good or valid measure of intelligence.
Then would you tell what is ?
All ears here.
There are many Democrats that I know that I consider smarter than myself. Obama is certainly not one of them although he is certainly a much better public speaker than I.
Intelligence is a tricky subject Rusty.
Saying that wealth is the best indicator of intelligence is not to say that it is the only indicator of intelligence. There are indeed others as you point out. However, they are not at all pragmatically provable as is the possession of tangible wealth.
Hence I would not argue that, as you say, certain high school teachers you have had are very intelligent. They may have been but the measure of that intelligence is not provable as is the wealth of a person. It is as elusive as the age at which you first observed.
It is this distinction of provable tangibility of wealth that makes wealth a better index –for there simply is not a better one.
Incidentally, how did you know I am wealthier than Obama (whose net worth is about 8 million according to his latest filing) ? Now will you hold this against me ?
I should really ignore this and I did most of it.
So then either you’re richer than Obama which I highly doubt or your intelligence measurement system is flawed.
I can understand your comment on the sub-thread that you found it unworthy to comment on my statement that wealth is a measure of intelligence.
You said that “my comment was one of the dumbest things you have ever seen”.
Referring to my commentary as “dumb” is something I can understand. Not offering a better measuring index for intelligence, as I respectfully invited you to do, is quite another.
Therefore, since I gave you an opportunity to explain what your intelligence index is and you declined the opportunity, am I correct to presume you have capitulated ?
Rusty = common sense.
Carlo = nonsense.
There isn’t universal agreement on what intelligence actually is much less how to measure it. However, I’ll take a stab.
Paris Hilton has a ton of money. I would not refer to her as intelligent. Crafty? Perhaps. Lucky? You bet.
IQ tests and their subtests provide the most insight into a persons intelligence. The size of their checking and/or savings account provides the most insight into…the size of their checking and/or savings.
The dilemma is that bright people can be quickly outdone by aggressive and/or motivated people. Desire > Intelligence more often than nought. Certainly in a capitalistic environment.
You don’t have to be smart to buy goods from countries that treat their workers poorly (pay and conditions) and then sell them in a country that values low, low prices over the idea of human rights.
haha Brian, I wish I had thought of Paris Hilton…. Oh well, she makes lovely naughty videos.
“Leave Paris Alone” I love it Brain.
Well if you have Christian beliefs then you believe that our soul is what is important. Our souls is eternal and its time here on earth is the merest partial eye blink of its existance. But that brief moment determines its fate. Jesus said that –it would be easier to fit a camel through an eye of a needle, than for a rich person to get into heaven”. meaning I believe that it is essential to rid yourself of earthy things in order to be able to “fit’ in heaven. Since eternaty in heaven is the goal of christians — then logically the rich here on earth who spend their time focused on increasing their riches and sneering at giving to those less fortunate — are the stupidest people on earth.
Rusty, “Who is the smartest, etc?”
Two of Christs disciplines tried to lift themselves
up above the other ten. Jesus said, “if you want to be great, be the servant of all.” One has to be humble and not prideful in order to serve others…
I mean to say how long did you live in the Philippines, just those five months you mentioned before?
Lets not forget to tweak the tax rates upward for the wealthy and the global corporations who have brought us to where we are today. I’d at least double what they pay now.
Theyve earrrrnnnnned it!
Can’t raise taxes too much on anyone.
We don’t want to make it more profitable for physical product companies to setup shop in another country and send it back to us. If we raise taxes above the cost of shipping it back to us, they will move.
I never thought of this before, I don’t like sales taxes because they tax the poor more than the rich, a regressive tax. The idea that one would cut back on the size of the IRS is silly, it would make the IRS bigger. Enforcement problems would be just a bad if not worse.
It has never dawned on me before, but it might help keep jobs in the USA. I’m not sure, I never thought of it that way.
It would be really nice if we could talk about the Philippines. All this who is the smartest is getting really old.
Not that I’m reading it all. I really don’t want to close comments on this thread but I’m nearly there.
The debt ceiling was the original topic and was initiated by Rusty Ferguson.
Since then, as you have correctly observed above,there have been several sub-threads that deviated from the original thread.
Among the participants in the several sub-threads have been you yourself which, of course, encourages continuance of the sub-threads of which you are now disparaging.
However, I must say that simply to close the thread at the very point where resolution of the crisis that participated its opening is at hand, would be entirely unfair to the threads participants.
Surely, if closing of the thread be your intention, a delay until shortly after resolution would be more appropriate because it would allow posters an opportunity to mutually evaluate the accuracy of their commentary and that of others.
I have come to realize that I made things worse by engaging when it would have been better to ignore.
I’m sorry for making that mistake and making matters worse.
Those that are subscribed may notice, I have at least twice even deleted my own comments after realizing I should have just let it go. A couple of times I should have deleted or better yet, just not engaged in the first place.
I will do better in the future. (That is the standard answer one is to give after screwing up at work at the IRS. Even if you were not wrong, that is the proper answer. I wonder if it is in the IRS manual someplace. lol)
The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the White house and congressional leaders had reached a verbal agreement on a deal to raise the debt ceiling. It appears they got their information from Bloomberg.
They have the framework in place but no signed deal. The reported deal does not have a tax increase.
However, at the same time, in public the leaders continue to say they are not close.
I got paid early. I normally get paid on the 1st but my money was in the bank yesterday or the day before. Didn’t look that close.
Obama getting back involved gives me pause. We will see what happens but I think some of the Republicans will not give Obama the opportunity to look like he saved it. On the other hand, no tax increase is a clear Republican win on the matter. So that will give the Republicans something to hang their hat on and possibly vote for this.
Earlier in the day, I thought they’d get this done, now I’m quite unsure of that.
Me, I don’t care who wins or looses, I just want them to pay their bills.
Oddly, over the weekend the dollar has risen against the Peso. Many expected the central bank of the Philippines to raise interest rates again this week. They didn’t. Instead they ordered banks to increase their reserves. That means fewer pesos in the market place. That should mean a stronger peso.
The dollar has been rebounding some though because stocks have been doing poorly over the last few days. Stocks are doing poorly because of default fears and because of more indications of a possible double dip recession. Some other economic indicators improved but what those were, both the good and bad escape me. I only recall mixed signals. If I recall correctly, tax revenues are up and NEW job claims are lower than expected.
I have a friend here in Bogo that gets a SSA check after the third. I’ve not talked to him but he’s bound to be a bit worried. Most expats have additional sources of funds but some have only SSA pensions.
Rusty is right on the money on his comments above about the current status of debt ceiling discussions.
As I have posted many times, the debt ceiling will be raised, Government obligations will be met, and there really is no immediate cause for alarm.
However, no matter how our three political parties settle now, the problem will still remain unresolved until we start balancing the budget and paying down debt which, of course, means chopping spending and downsizing because revenues won’t increase until consumption increases which forces unemployment to decrease which, in turn, increases tax revenues.
There is one exception to what I just wrote above and that is the onset of massive war which then drastically increases production which triggers the onset of consumption increases followed by employment increases which increase tax revenues. In which case downsizing and spending chops won’t need to be on the table.
I’ve been thinking of setting up a forum to go along with the website for a while now.
Maybe now is the time to do that. I had one for it three years ago but it didn’t do much. If I set it up again, it would take time for it to develop into anything probably.
It would be a good place for people to talk about whatever they liked to talk about.
Voice of American is reporting a deal as been made to raise the debt ceiling. The deal is with Congressional leaders. So it still has to pass both houses.
Will it pass the house? I don’t know.
To Jodon : There is no “reply” space afforded your commentary so I have appended this reply where, of course, you find it. In so doing, I may tick Rusty but your time and effort deserve at least a reply so I will have to balance your deservedness with Rusty’s blog management. Perhaps he will be tolerant considering the topic you raise for which he has expressed considerable empathy. To wit.
Your essay on poverty in RP was moving and descriptive of the poverty there. Contrastingly, in the United States, the liberals here worry now about obesity and are creating program after program to “combat obesity”.
Certainly you will observe and acknowledge that some liberal irony exists in that contrast.
While I myself acknowledge the unsightliness of poverty and starvation as well as the human sadness it instinctively provokes, I also must acknowledge that there are reasons for poverty and starvation and so consider actions that effect solutions for minimizing it.
Out and out abolition of poverty, in any society, has never been achieved and I suspect never will be achieved.
Not only in the RP, but world over, more affluent people on the streets typically ignore beggars for the same reasons you have observed in RP;
namely, a sympathizer/donor, by his act of generosity, inevitably invites other beggars to petition him for a similar act of generosity. It would seem that the donor is thinking that the more generous he becomes the more the problem will grow and persist.
Thus is the harsh reality of pragmatism.
No one in their right mind enjoys watching children starve or enjoys watching the pain of a mother who cannot provide for her children.
But there is another side to this story of which you do not know or did not accidentally acknowledge; i.e. all over the world, governmental attempts to “cure” poverty and starvation have failed miserably –especially in the 20th century.
Care packages to India have only increased poverty over decades and exploded the population to over 1.2 billion. Similarly, in China. the population has exploded but, unlike India(until recently), China has managed to avoid wholesale poverty and starvation by moving away from Marxian socialistic programs dedicated to serving need and incorporating basic tenets of capitalism dedicated to inspiring competitiveness and minimizing the suppression of the natural greed that dwells within us all.
My point is that, as you have agreed to by your own avoidance techniques when confronted with beggars in RP(and I am not in condemnation of such),Government, by subsidizing poverty, in the long run, actually proliferates and maximizes it.
Government attempts to solve poverty in the U.S. thru Welfare, food stamps, section 8 housing, Addenda to Social Security legislation, Medicaid, and hundreds more have only led to more and more failed programs, more and more in poverty, and the further deterioration of a thus consistently weakened economy.
Hence, in the U.S.. where entitlements and interest on the national debt caused mainly by entitlements amount to over half the annual budget, there is great political movement to reform the entire Government entitlement program.
So what is the solution to poverty on earth ? I for one don’t know if there is a solution but, if there is, it lies in a reduction of the population and not a massive increase in the population of the poorest among us.
I am a very wealthy person but I will not leave this earth without passing on most of my wealth to my son and daughter(as will Warren Buffet who is so highly regarded for his philanthropy)and not leaving the bulk to the impoverished and starving masses for I know, like Warren Buffet and George Soros, that such action will only generate even more people and more poverty.
Hi Carlo,
You can reply to the above poster wherein lie the subposts. That being said you do have a reply button. Here goes.
The poverty an obesity link in the United States is, sadly, ironic. I actually prefer difficult at face value. Many equate obesity to laziness or choice. I think it’s deeper than that. Food is inexpensive, for the most part, due to subsidies. Many use food as comfort. When you can buy bags of crap for less than a dollar and you have less than a dollar, you will.
I would point out the virtually everything you eat in the US is subsidized. Want a steak? Government subsidized. You seem to be an advocate of the tea party. Michele Bachmann, a darling of said movement received farming subsidies. I guess she wants a smaller government when it doesn’t affect her family.
Holding China and India up as beacons of capitalism holds more irony than the aforementioned in this post.
I have travelled to both India (2004) and China (2009)
China and India have indeed expanded their capitalistic ventures. China, specifically, has lowered state control on most industry. The results? People are being brutally exploited by both foriegn and domestic capital. Drinking water is polluted in both of these nations, as well. The market doesn’t care about pollutants. That takes a ‘nanny’. I prefer clean water and not to have my children making soccer balls for pennies a day.
To combat poor we must promote education. The only way out, in my opinion is providing knowledge. Your logic is that we cannot combat poor, threfore, those with wealth must have more wealth. I don’t buy that.
Brain, a lot of messages on this thread go to spam. i pull them out several times a day. It may happen again and I will rescue it.
Once the nesting of comments becomes five levels deep, WP wont allow another reply to the comment.
It becomes impossible to read is the reason. What Brian said is a good way to do, just mention the person name you’re reply to and it becomes clear. I wish there was a better way, I tried playing with the settings a while back and it was a mess to read. So I leave it at the default now.
I’m in the process of setting up forums, as soon as I can get them done. I spent a lot of time on it yesterday and most of the solutions sucked. I considered buying VBulletin but I saw prices of $400 and decided nope, I don’t think so.
Carlo In other words let them starve, reducing population and poverty. nice solution hope St. peter buys it.
I saw an interesting segment on brazil on 60 minutes. – brazil although always a country with alot of potential had a long history of defaults, inflation, terrible poverty and over population, among its many problems. Many differant schemes to improve things were tried, all the right wing fixes attempted. Nothing seemed to work.
In desperation the people elected a charismatic, new ideas man president. His name was Lula De Silva. He WAS A SOCIALIST, METAL WORKER, WITH A FOURTH GRADE EDUCATION!! The first things he did was give every poor person a direct cash subsidy and raised taxes across the board.
He spent the extra revenue toward making Brazil energy self-suffiient through the use of bio fuels. To make a long story short.
Brazil underwent an economic miracle in his eight years in office with amazing growth every year. Their currency has appreciated their industry is booming, their automotive and commercial aircraft industries especially. Poverty is way down, employment way up, and he left office with an 83% approval rating and was able to hand pick his succesor because of his popularity.
Even the bravilian billionaire they interviewed also, could not find fault with him. With the discovery of huge new oil deposits off its coasts, there is even some experts who say Brazil will surpass the USA in the future.
I tell you this because brazils example is one which defies your absolutist views concerning the only possible way to lead a country to a better future.
Tell you
You make it look like Brazil is a paradise on earth.
Fact is that, as of this very moment, Brazil, despite the rapid development of the last 1.5 decades, still suffers from high levels of corruption, violent crime, functional illiteracy and poverty.
Source: Wikipedia
Maybe I am incorrect, but would not a site overseer want to attract as many hits to his site in order to maximize the existence of his site and therefore maximize outside advertising as well as his own product ?
Closing attractive threads and blogs doesn’t seem to me to be effective towards that end.
It passed the house so it will become law now.
The Christian Post… Its currently number one story in Google news for me.
I noticed that your next to last comment on this thread was taken down after I posted my latest comment which questioned the accuracy of your statement that the bill had become law.
When one makes an error, it is simply only a stepping step to making less errors and should not be hidden from view.
The only comments I ever took down were comments to you. Comments I wish I hadn’t said because I didn’t hold up to my own values.
If you are too ignorant to understand that once the bill passed the house it would become law then I have given you too much credit.
Here this is something for the conservatives to hate: http://rustyferguson.com/politics/us-politics/who-won-the-debt-ceiling-debate/