Bits Bucket for October 26, 2012
Post off-topic ideas, links, and Craigslist finds here.
The Housing Bubble
Examining the home price boom and its effect on owners, lenders, regulators, realtors and the economy as a whole.
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Name:Ben Jones
Location:Northern Arizona, United States
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Price History
PRES12_WTA
10/25/12
DEM12_WTA 4,484 2,841.471 0.580 0.662 0.634 0.645
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I’m American and like America best but I just bring Brazil up a lot because I just happen to live here now. It is a trip of a country and I am just going along for a big ride. Labels don’t mean that much here. They’ve had there share of socialists and fascists. Most people here just want to have a better life.
Brazil has become one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world, with one in four adults self-employed in some manner.
Brazil’s Entrepreneur-In-Chief
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexisglick/2012/08/22/dilma-rousseff-brazil-entrepreneurs-power-women/
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff recently encountered a young couple in their 30s, with a brood of young children and a hopeful outlook on the future. Until recently the father had driven a bus in Brasília, but thanks to an expansion of electricity and irrigation infrastructure, he turned previously unusable land in the countryside into a thriving vegetable farm, along with a side business raising chickens.
“How much do you make?” Rousseff asked him.
“Four times what I used to earn as a bus driver,” the independent farmer responded. More money was coming in, and the costs of raising a family in the countryside are lower as well. His new goal for his children: degrees in agricultural science.
“We are wagering,” smiles Rousseff, sitting in her minimalist, art-filled office in the Presidential Palace in Brasília as she recalls that conversation, “that people will be able to stand up on their own feet and walk by themselves.”
Her wager–Brazil’s wager–is on entrepreneurship. The past two decades have been formidable for her country: curbing inflation (by creating the real and pegging it to the U.S. dollar), privatization (notably, the state-owned telecommunication and mining companies) and a commodities boom (soybean and iron ore). Twenty years ago Brazil’s GDP was at $358 billion and ranked 11th in the world; today, at $2.5 trillion, it’s between sixth and eighth, depending on who’s counting. No other BRIC balances democracy and widespread wealth nearly as well. Half of Brazil’s population now occupies the middle class–their output alone surpasses the entire economy of neighboring Argentina. “There has been a shift, a change in the way we are [perceived],” says Rousseff, 64, whose position atop this shift now makes her the third most powerful woman in the world, according to FORBES’ annual rankings.
Brazil has become one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world, with one in four adults self-employed in some manner. Small businesses create two out of three jobs in Rousseff’s private sector–Brazil’s unemployment rate is an envious 5.8%–and 49% of entrepreneurs with companies less than 42 months old are women; the global average is 37%. In bustling São Paulo alone, 1.8 million small-business owners ply their trades, wares and ideas.
What can bus driver look forward to in America?
$12hr and layoffs or if they are municipal, driver, complaints about their expensive 28k a year pension… and layoffs.
(dang it, I hate when I type Engrish first thing in the morning)
Driver salaries fueling deficit
By: Joshua Sabatini | 02/22/10 2:00 AM
Reporter
The average base pay for a Muni operator — those who drive buses, cable cars and light-rail vehicles — is roughly $60,000, which is determined by a City Charter mandate that says they must be among the top paid in the country.
And Muni’s 2,350 operators are almost guaranteed a bevy of overtime pay. In calendar year 2009, 622 Muni operators raked in more than $80,000 in total pay, including 82 who brought home more than $100,000.
Below are the top 15 highest-paid Muni operators in calendar year 2009. Operators are allowed to accrue overtime despite not clocking a 40-hour workweek. Last week, the union rejected a concession that would have changed that rule.
Total pay Salary Overtime Other pay*
$210,548** $50,605 $2,630 Unavailable
$157,312** Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
$146,498 $64,506 $78,722 $3,269
$141,196 $67,986 $71,420 $1,789
$135,878 $65,614 $66,322 $3,941
$133,776 $71,811 $59,206 $2,758
$133,091 $73,295 $56,171 $3,623
$131,088 $65,101 $63,112 $2,875
$130,077 $64,205 $61,868 $4,004
$129,114 $65,660 $58,694 $4,758
$126,073 $70,189 $53,286 $2,597
$125,167 $63,515 $58,717 $2,934
$123,873 $67,452 $53,923 $2,497
$121,483 $66,393 $52,349 $2,740
$121,034 $64,260 $53,413 $3,360
$119,678 $64,229 $52,158 $3,290
Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/driver-salaries-fueling-deficit
Has the tech bubble burst: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2223165/The-technology-bubble-burst-warns-tycoon-Sorrell-firms-cold-digital-advertising.html
Up with China and down with China. BTW, what did we find out with my last post, defining middle class at what $6,000 a year?
how come brazil has so many good bull riders in the PBR?
Per capita GDP CIA 2011 Brazil, $11,900 Chile 17,400 and U.S. $49,000. GDP growth expected 2012 Brazil 1.5% (Economist) Chile 5.0% for last quarter Chile 5.5% and Brazil .5%.
In the race between free enterprise Chile and left leaning Brazil, Brazil is being left in the dust.
Their pension system is particularly interesting (from wikipedia)
The Chile Pension system (Spanish: Sistema Previsional) refers to old-age, disability and survivor pensions for workers in Chile. The pension system was changed by José Piñera, during Augusto Pinochets military government on November 4, 1980 from a PAYGO-system to a fully funded capitalization system run by private sector pension funds. Many critics and supporters see the reform as an important experiment under real conditions, that may give conclusions about the impact of the full conversion of a PAYGO-system to a capital funded system. The development was therefore internationally observed with great interest. Under Michelle Bachelet’s government the Chile Pension system was reformed again.
Their pension system is particularly interesting
Yes, they privatized it, and the new system failed for most of those on it. Thus, “Under Michelle Bachelet’s government the Chile Pension system was reformed again.” Here’s the rest of the story:
In other words, the privatized system failed all but the wealthy, and they had to replace most of it with something that sounds a lot like our Social security- with a minimum pension for all.
In the race between free enterprise Chile and left leaning Brazil, Brazil is being left in the dust.
Both economies are very dependent on commodities and raw materials.
FWIW, Chile has had its set if financial hiccups along the way. Brazil’s growth has plummeted in the past year, but it was doing better than Chile’s prior to its slowdown.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/chile/gdp-growth-annual
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/brazil/gdp-growth-annual
Proximity to Argentina?
“Most people here just want to have a better life.”
That’s the case everywhere, but religion usually gets in the way.
Actually - usually government - as in WAY more government that is needed for people to have a better life.
Especially when they stand in the way of Wall St, right?
Back in the day (before the 1990s) - government regulated banks making sure they had enough reserves and that they had proper accounting methods. Banks would eat their losses (either when they serviced bad loans or tried to resell them to OTHER banks for what they were worth).
A good, proper and LIMITED role of government. And things worked pretty well.
From 1990s forward (but especially in the last 5 years with TARP and the Stimulus) government GOT INTO the business of buying mortgages, guaranteeing mortgages, directing banks who to lend to and buying CR*P from the banks at par. And Government did NOT make sure banks had proper reserves and good accounting methods.
And it became a total FAILURE. Why? Government got way too involved and too big in the housing market by trying to “help people” in ways that government (by the US Constitution) was never meant to help people. Today, the US Government now guarantees upward of 90% of all mortgages in one shape or another.
NOT a limited role of government. A total failure of government. And we STILL have not learned our lesson.
And so here we are.
And not one Church was involved.
Stop harshing on banana boy’s daily anti-government rant!
3 decades of financial deregulation resulting in the Savings and loan disaster and the Great Recession AND current record bank profits say you should stop talking and fetch me that drink, cabana boy and stop skipping classes.
Back in the day (before the 1990s) - government regulated banks making sure they had enough reserves and that they had proper accounting methods
You mean, back in the Glass Steagall days. I agree, the banks were much better regulated in those days. Hence the complete lack of wide-scale credit bubble busts for over half a century.
Agreed. Christianity was a major factor in the promotion of democracy and the free enterprise system. It was no coincidence that Europe and America came to dominate economic activity in the world and were Christian nations.
The Founding Fathers were mostly agnostic and made it a POINT to separate the church and state.
Wrong on both counts. They just prohibited a state religion. The separation of church and state was a judicially created doctrine of the 20th century. They believed in God given rights as explained in the Declaration of Independence, to have those rights you need to believe in God.
From http://www.adherents.com
Name of Signer
State
Religious Affiliation
Charles Carroll
Maryland
Catholic
Samuel Huntington
Connecticut
Congregationalist
Roger Sherman
Connecticut
Congregationalist
William Williams
Connecticut
Congregationalist
Oliver Wolcott
Connecticut
Congregationalist
Lyman Hall
Georgia
Congregationalist
Samuel Adams
Massachusetts
Congregationalist
John Hancock
Massachusetts
Congregationalist
Josiah Bartlett
New Hampshire
Congregationalist
William Whipple
New Hampshire
Congregationalist
William Ellery
Rhode Island
Congregationalist
John Adams
Massachusetts
Congregationalist; Unitarian
Robert Treat Paine
Massachusetts
Congregationalist; Unitarian
George Walton
Georgia
Episcopalian
John Penn
North Carolina
Episcopalian
George Ross
Pennsylvania
Episcopalian
Thomas Heyward Jr.
South Carolina
Episcopalian
Thomas Lynch Jr.
South Carolina
Episcopalian
Arthur Middleton
South Carolina
Episcopalian
Edward Rutledge
South Carolina
Episcopalian
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Virginia
Episcopalian
Richard Henry Lee
Virginia
Episcopalian
George Read
Delaware
Episcopalian
Caesar Rodney
Delaware
Episcopalian
Samuel Chase
Maryland
Episcopalian
William Paca
Maryland
Episcopalian
Thomas Stone
Maryland
Episcopalian
Elbridge Gerry
Massachusetts
Episcopalian
Francis Hopkinson
New Jersey
Episcopalian
Francis Lewis
New York
Episcopalian
Lewis Morris
New York
Episcopalian
William Hooper
North Carolina
Episcopalian
Robert Morris
Pennsylvania
Episcopalian
John Morton
Pennsylvania
Episcopalian
Stephen Hopkins
Rhode Island
Episcopalian
Carter Braxton
Virginia
Episcopalian
Benjamin Harrison
Virginia
Episcopalian
Thomas Nelson Jr.
Virginia
Episcopalian
George Wythe
Virginia
Episcopalian
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia
Episcopalian (Deist)
Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania
Episcopalian (Deist)
Button Gwinnett
Georgia
Episcopalian; Congregationalist
James Wilson
Pennsylvania
Episcopalian; Presbyterian
Joseph Hewes
North Carolina
Quaker, Episcopalian
George Clymer
Pennsylvania
Quaker, Episcopalian
Thomas McKean
Delaware
Presbyterian
Matthew Thornton
New Hampshire
Presbyterian
Abraham Clark
New Jersey
Presbyterian
John Hart
New Jersey
Presbyterian
Richard Stockton
New Jersey
Presbyterian
John Witherspoon
New Jersey
Presbyterian
William Floyd
New York
Presbyterian
Philip Livingston
New York
Presbyterian
James Smith
Pennsylvania
Presbyterian
George Taylor
Pennsylvania
Presbyterian
Benjamin Rush
Pennsylvania
Presbyterian
Oh, but they didn’t really believe that stuff, you know…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States#Religion
[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
U.S. Constitution, Article 6, at the end of the third clause.
The words “Jesus” or “Christ” are not found anywhere in the founding documents (Declaration of Independence or the Constitution).
The founders understood religion was a competing power structure to government. Christianity allows a good Christian to live under a secular government. Islam however combines government and religion into one construct.
to have those rights you need to believe in God.
They never said which god.
What’s the difference between Christianity and Islam that allows the one to be compatible with democracy, and the other not?
Oh my goodness… look at all those congregationalists. Guess who else is a Congregationalist?
Hint #1 he is NOT a Muslim.
Hint #2 the Congregationalists got folded into today’s United Church of Christ. Which is very active in social issues. (as Jesus taught).
hitler, mao and stalin were realy born agains.
any central authority whether it be the church or government usually gets in the way. in the case of that guy that created that anti muslim video…it was both.
Or in the case of Wall St, catastrophic.
Politico - What third-party candidates want:
“There are a slew of third-party contenders running for the nation’s highest office, pleading with the media and voters to give them a chance. Their chances of winning are virtually nil, but they — especially libertarian candidate and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson — could affect the close Obama-Romney race in key swing states.
Besides Johnson, other major third-party contenders include Jill Stein of the Green Party and former Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode representing the Constitution Party.
Johnson has the most potential to play spoiler in states like Colorado, Nevada and even New Hampshire. But he is actually polling highest in his former state of New Mexico, where some polls show him taking up to 6 percent of the vote in a state Obama is expected to win. Goode may perform well in his former Virginia congressional district, stealing votes from Romney in the tight state.
All three third-party candidates are vastly underfunded compared with the major-party candidates, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Fundraising totals thus far show that Goode raised a total of $104,852, spent just under $94,000 and has about $11,100 left on hand. Stein has raised approximately $398,000, spent just under $474,000 and has a negative balance left. Johnson comes out on top of the other two candidates, having raised and spent more than $2 million. He has a little more than $29,000 left, but has debt of just about $406,000.”
Goode raised a total of $104,852, spent just under $94,000 and has about $11,100 left on hand. Stein has raised approximately $398,000, spent just under $474,000 and has a negative balance left. Johnson comes out on top of the other two candidates, having raised and spent more than $2 million. He has a little more than $29,000 left, but has debt of just about $406,000.”
Judging by their campaign spending, it looks like Goode would be best at controlling spending, Johnson the worst.
Article today noting The One has raised $1 billion to date, and Romney not far behind:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/barack-obama-mitt-romney-fundraising-capaigns_n_2021029.html
How much money each campaign has left? That would be the most important question. I can’t read the whole article. Major fire to put out at work. We screwed up a milestone on the project I am running earlier this week, now I have to face the firing squad.
Ask for something that’s hard to get for your last meal.
*Applause*
Thanks, I guess.
Survived the little grilling. The big cheese from the client side didn’t make it, so there’s a chance it will continue next week.
didn’t make it to the meeting.
The longer it goes on the better, if it goes on long enough every one will forget why they are having meetings about it and will schedule another meeting to discuss why they needed the original meeting.
In the same way we see politicians holding inquires into inquires about some inquiry, into some issue they have forgotten about.
Thinking about it your futures bright, I predict a promotion and a small pay rise and remember most importantly avoid work have a meeting.
P.S Don’t let work get in the way of your career; let someone else do the work
Hang in there, Ross. You’d be amazed at what people can quickly forget.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/world/europe/greek-unemployed-cut-off-from-medical-treatment.html?_r=1&hp
Greek unemployed cut off from treatments
”
ATHENS — As the head of Greece’s largest oncology department, Dr. Kostas Syrigos thought he had seen everything. But nothing prepared him for Elena, an unemployed woman whose breast cancer had been diagnosed a year before she came to him.
By that time, her cancer had grown to the size of an orange and broken through the skin, leaving a wound that she was draining with paper napkins. “When we saw her we were speechless,” said Dr. Syrigos, the chief of oncology at Sotiria General Hospital in central Athens. “Everyone was crying. Things like that are described in textbooks, but you never see them because until now, anybody who got sick in this country could always get help.”
…”The development is new for Greeks — and perhaps for Europe, too. “We are moving to the same situation that the United States has been in, where when you lose your job and you are uninsured, you aren’t covered,” Dr. Syrigos said.
The change is particularly striking in cancer care, with its lengthy and expensive treatments. When cancer is diagnosed among the uninsured, “the system simply ignores them,” Dr. Syrigos said. He said, “They can’t access chemotherapy, surgery or even simple drugs.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/world/europe/greek-unemployed-cut-off-from-medical-treatment.html?_r=1&hp
“We are moving to the same situation that the United States has been in, where when you lose your job and you are uninsured, you aren’t covered,” Dr. Syrigos said.”
Says. It. All.
And when they die a debate studio audience of teabaggers will roar with applause!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED1JUyKhQ0E
In Greece, you are expected to tip your doctors and nurses to receive good care.
Says. It. All
Yep. Greece, the poorest of the euro nations, now in an economic free-fall, has sunk so low that they are now forced to adopt our health care insurance system. Welcome to the bottom of the crab bucket.
Yep. It’s the fault of the United States. Always is.
I wonder if the guilt level of the milions of freeloading 50-year-old Greek retirees exceeds that which Turkey Lurkey possesses?
I doubt it.
Newsflash: The social welfare system Greece willingly subjected itself to has led to this result.
And all this time I thought it was the criminal banking deals.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/u-s-is-building-criminal-cases-in-rate-fixing/
http://jonkirby2012.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/former-greek-politician-sold-his-country-to-cut-deals-with-banking-industry-found-dead-which-was-1-of-36-under-investigation-for-unusual-amount-of-wealth-gained-no-honor-among-thieves-confirmed/
The former Pasok MP was named last week as one of the 36 politicians under investigation by the Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE) for financial irregularities and suspicious acquisition of wealth.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-06/goldman-secret-greece-loan-shows-two-sinners-as-client-unravels.html
Shall I continue?
“Shall I continue?”
Yes, please. I had the same thought as you did, but I am way to tired to hunt down the countless articles I read over the years about Megabank, Inc’s successful efforts to destroy Greece’s economy through subprime lending.
I’m even more tired of people who easily do the same, yet remain willfully ignorant.
This is NOT directed at you. although I don’t read all your posts, I grasp their general flavor and direction and commend you on your efforts. (damn, that sounded kinda stilted, didn’t it?)
“…could easily do…”
Oops. Back to Engrish.
“Yep. It’s the fault of the United States. Always is.”
Since the U.S. Dollar has world reserve currency status, maybe it is our fault.
The change is particularly striking in cancer care, with its lengthy and expensive treatments. When cancer is diagnosed among the uninsured, “the system simply ignores them,” Dr. Syrigos said. He said, “They can’t access chemotherapy, surgery or even simple drugs.”
Welcome to America, Dr. Syrigos. Where you’re supposed to have all sorts of screening tests with that high deductible and then it doesn’t cover shee-t insurance. Then you’re bankrupted by the cost of treatment.
Oops. It wasn’t the Bank of America branch that closed in my neighborhood. It was the Capital One branch. What’s in your empty store front?
lots of empty blockbusters around here. big lots moved into an old circuit city finally. I’ve seen some buildings vacant for years.
same here
Our closest Blockbuster has been closed for about two years now. The old WaMu branch that was next to it has been closed even longer.
Tucson is full of empty storefronts. With more on the way.
Unless you have to have one, you’re better off keeping your biz at home. And I’m not the only Tucsonan who thinks this way.
What would we looked like if we switched to a form of government were your vote always counted?
Lebanon?
Somalia?
Or, what if you had to pass a test in order to become a citizen of another state? For example, if I wanted to move to South Carolina, I had to submit an application, be interviewed, pass a test…
The Feds won’t let the states compete. If they did, people woul vote with their feet.
I was with you until the last sentence and then it all made no sense.
Turkey Lurkey, what I meant is, what if the states functioned more like “small countries” but they were still united on some larger level?
Right now, because of the Feds, your state can’t be really too different from any other. But if they could be more diverse, we could see what works and what don’t.
And people would choose what works with their feet (and passing a test) to become part of the “what works”
Do you think the Founding Father didn’t think of this? Are you not familiar with the what happens to any system that tries to use non-conforming standards. The very term it elf becomes and oxymoron.
Did you miss that whole Civil War thing? Or maybe the wholesale civil rights violations most states willfully, even to his day, execute against their citizens?
It was done and discarded because it does not work. You are either a separate country or you are subject to the greater commonality. We are NOT a confederation, we are a NATION.
we are a NATION
Especially important considering all those teabagger red states can’t pay for their own food stamps and Medicaid without federal tax dollars from California, New York, Illinois, et cetera
Isn’t it the Federal government the ones telling them to spend that amount of money that way in the first place?
Well Carl, yes and no. The Federal government generally asks nothing of the states except to abide by the Constitution, respect citizens rights and cause no damage to the nation on the whole. Generally. There are of course, exceptions.
However, the Federal gov also tries to allocate money to both motivate and facilitate this better “behavior”. Congress often curtails that funding in order to eliminate a particular program or mandate that is personally affecting their state or states, thus blaming the Federal gov itself for creating hardship.
Other situations are that states ask the Federal gov for money, not as a loan, but as grants. These non-required grants often come with conditions that they be spent on projects that can be somewhat not to the liking of the states, but nobody is forcing them to take the money. don;t like the conditions? Don’t take the money.
These 2 scenarios are the cause of 99% of the complaints that the Federal gov is telling the states how to spend money federal money.
However, the Federal gov also tries to allocate money to both motivate and facilitate this better “behavior”.
And where do they get that money?
“And where do they get that money?”
An ever popular question meant to frame the proper response, but here’s the thing, we live in a republic and once taxes are paid, you have no say over them. The only say you have to vote in someone who agrees with your desires regarding those taxes.
But your question was about the Federal gov forcing states to spend money how they say they should and I have explained just that and not a question about taxes.
Sooo…you take money from people and then give some of it back on the condition that they spend it how you tell them to. Then you make fun of some of them for ending up with more than they put in, even though they have to spend it the way you tell them to and would probably opt completely out if allowed to. Then when they object to the whole idea of having their money (plus a little more) held hostage for manipulation purposes you say hey, it doesn’t matter where it came from…it only matters that you need to do what we say because we have money and you don’t. Does that about cover it?
and would probably opt completely out if allowed to.
Oh, they’d kick out the military bases?
I can only speak for Wyoming. They would do just fine without Federal money including military bases, unless an army of significant size attacked them. There aren’t enough of them to repel an invasion, although holding it would be like holding Afghanistan…
Sooo…you take money from people and then give some of it back on the condition that they spend it how you tell them to.
You’ve got that a little mixed up, Carl. The federal government takes money from the taxpayers of Wyoming and then gives some of that money to the state government of Wyoming. That’s a distinction that any good red state conservative should appreciate. Also, any state could decide to opt out of food stamps, Medicaid, etc. The federal government doesn’t force the state governments to participate in such programs.
When it comes to the relationship with the Feds, I’m not seeing a big difference between the people and their state government. I don’t know the details of what could be opted out of. I just know that some people keep harping on red states getting more back than they put in, and I keep bringing up that it’s being done in an effort to coerce them…
Kansas is doubling down on a “Supply Side/Trickle down” tax reform plan.
Cutting rates for the rich, cutting services for everyone else……but hey, we’ll make it up on volume.
Cutting rates for the rich = cutting rates for those that pay the most taxes. Liberals get so upset that tax cuts to to taxpayers. Whom do they thing would get tax cuts.
“Did you miss that whole Civil War thing?”
You mean the war to make black people need money?
What would the U.S look like today if the civil war never happened?
Do you assume a person such as I would not exist?
Or would there be more of me?
I honestly have no idea…the first question is, would slavery have actually ended on its own or would it be going stronger than ever? I assume it would have ended, but I don’t know how that would have happened without a war. My guess is that “we” would be multiple countries right now instead of one.
W.E.B. Dubois wrote about this, more or less. NC and Va legislatures long considered getting rid of slavery, but SC and Ga had brought in so many more slaves that they were in too deep and afraid of a Haiti-style revolt. Interesting stuff.
Spook, you are refreshing as h@ll!
I’m into your posts. Some are quite jarring. Thank you!
What would the U.S look like today if the civil war never happened?
There is a mockumentary about just that: The Confederate States of America.
Actually, the mockumentary is a what if the CSA had won.
“You mean the war to make black people need money?”
You are being deliberately obtuse.
“What would the U.S look like today if the civil war never happened? ”
Moot. These kinds of question are just mental masturbation. It DID happen. Asking “what if a bad thing continued” pretty much answers itself.
Right now, because of the Feds, your state can’t be really too different from any other.
I’m not so sure about that, especially after reading about states where 5 figure property tax bills on non Wayne Manor houses is far from uncommon.
Plus there’s all the “right to work for less pay” states.
And what about Massachusetts? Don’t they have Romneycare?
There’s plenty of significant differences.
“There’s plenty of significant differences.”
and they all add up to
broke!
Something is wrong. In a big nation like this I watch you guys discuss finding a decent, safe AFFORDABLE place to live…
It shouldn’t be that difficult?
Same thing with money/wealth; getting it is only half the battle, you gotta work to keep it?
This ain’t workin for me, Im ready to try something different.
Something is wrong. In a big nation like this I watch you guys discuss finding a decent, safe AFFORDABLE place to live…
It shouldn’t be that difficult?
It isn’t. What’s difficult is finding a place like that where they have good paying jobs.
It isn’t. What’s difficult is finding a place like that where they have good paying jobs.
The general lack of good paying jobs would translate into low cost of livings, no? The government is sure mad as hell in making everything more “affordable.”
Sure, the jobs pay less here in Oil City (south), but the IRS tax brackets are the same nationwide. So in a low COL area you are paying 15% on most of your income in the high COL it’s 25%. That’s for a similar middle class lifetyle.
I have posted on this in the past…If anybody is interested, here is the latest on San Bernardino…
Excerpt;
Until fairly recently, public-employee pensions were considered sacred – and participating cities and counties faithfully made their payments to CalPERS.
Vallejo considered lowering benefits after going bankrupt in 2008, but backed off after CalPERS made threatening noises.
That attitude is changing as municipalities cope with sluggish tax revenue and escalating retirement costs. In Stockton, CalPERS is under assault from two bond insurance companies facing heavy losses in that city’s bankruptcy case. The two companies are trying to cut off the city’s payments to CalPERS.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/26/4939929/calpers-challenges-san-bernardinos.html#storylink=cpy
Nope. Nobody trying to through grandma under the bus there. No siree!
(pssssst - there’s no money.)
psssst - bond holders by CONTRACT and LAW are first in line.
If public unions wiggle to the front (just like the UAW in obamamotors) to demand their insane pensions through their muscle with the city/state politicians then municipalities are going to pay around 15%/year to borrow money to COMPENSATE bond holder for this new risk.
And we will see a slew of city bankruptcies the day after that happens.
God protect you if own a house in one of these cities. The public unions have painted a HUGE bulls-eye on your house. Yes - they will expect you to pick up the tab.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-23/new-yorkers-pay-highest-tax-followed-by-new-jersey-connecticut.html
“psssst - bond holders by CONTRACT and LAW are first in line.”
What are the meanings of these terms “CONTRACT” and “LAW” that you speak of?
Rumor is once these terms meant something but that was a long time ago.
You do know that most public employees also contribute to their pension?
That’s right, THEIR money into THEIR pension.
You DO understand it’s also THEIR money and they have first rights of ownership, right?
As for the lack of money, the municipalities mismanaged them, not the unions.
Now fetch me a towel, cabana boy.
psssst - bond holders by CONTRACT and LAW are first in line ??
I don’t think so….If so, why would the bondholders be so nervous and threatening lawsuits ?? Its CAPERS that is suggesting that they are first in line…If this muni bankruptcy thing starts accelerating like Meredith suggested, then a supreme court test may need to decide it…
“As for the lack of money, the municipalities mismanaged them, not the unions.”
It does not matter who mismanged the money, if there is no money then there is no money.
Turkey…the math doesn’t work based on other insane rules. If it was simply the employees $ to pay their pension, I’d have no problem with it.
What I have a problem with is someone who:
For 90% of their career pay into their pension based on their $50k salary. And in the last three years (say, 10%) they are made “Manager” and make $100k.
Their pension is not based on $50k for 90%, and $100k for 10%…it’s 100% based on the $100k.
For this, games are played in small departments to have a revolving door at the top…the guy getting closest to retirement, gets to be the “head” of the department for the last few years of his career.
The other game is selling back unused vacation to increase that last year’s salary, so in the same example, the pension is based on an average of the last 3 years of something even higher than $100k.
If the pension was based on the wage-inflation-adjusted, weighted average salary, then your argument that the employees paid in, they should get out, holds 100% true.
Unfortunately that’s not how the corrupted system works…and while in CA, Jerry Brown passed some pension “reform”, it’s a tiny move in the grand scheme…far too little, IMHO.
You do know that most public employees also contribute to their pension?
So what exactly constitutes an “insane pension” anyway?
I know a bunch of retired public school teachers and none of them are living high off the hog.
My mother is a retired civil servant (city worker) and she’s not jet setting around the world.
Do we need pension reform? Yes.
Does the fact that some people game the system mean that everyone with a pension is the cause of the economic downfall of our country? Uh, no.
Would we all be better off investing our own money in the rigged stock market? No thank you.
Same goes for unions. There is all kinds of shady business going on with unions, as there is with any business, but that doesn’t mean that we should get rid of all organized labor.
I’m one of the first to criticize my own union when it does things I do not think are legit (particularly how difficult they make it to get rid of bad teachers), but as an employee of a school district with 6,000 teachers, the union has been more than helpful many times.
Jeez, just dealing with HR is enough to make me want to pull my hair out. Dealing with a mistake on your paycheck? Benefits office acting stupid? They can’t be bothered with you. The union has helped me out more than once in instances where one tiny prole (me) dealing with their inane bureaucracy could accomplish nothing.
SFHomeowner:
With respect to pension reform, what do you think of the view that the abusive practices (pension spiking, etc.) should remain in place for current employees?
My biggest beef with Jerry Brown is that when he put forth his pension reform plan, he:
1. Made the formulas/contributions, etc. change for future employees, but generally impacted current employees much less (this I think is just fine); however,
2. When it came to reforming practices that are widely seen as “loopholes” and “abusive” (with pension spiking being the most egregious), he likewise didn’t want to touch the current employees. The give-away will continue on these practices for DECADES.
#2 IMHO, is a symptom of unions having too much power and influence.
Until we get everyone (government and unions) to admit that the abusive practices are just that (abusive) and not the result of some reasonable negotiation/intent, I will be anti-public union and vote for every proposition that will reduce their power. Just my feelings on the matter.
+1 RW
“Would we all be better off investing our own money in the rigged stock market?”
And where do you think your pension fund is investing your money?
There will never be NO MONEY….instead you should put it that there may never be enough money coming in to pay out 100% of what is owed.
So when the Money “runs out” everyone will get say 80% and an IOU for the other 20
It does not matter who mismanged the money, if there is no money then there is no money.
“And where do you think your pension fund is investing your money?”
+1 Exactly!
(pssst, then maybe it should be your grandmother, right?)
No? Why not?
The issue isn’t about whose grandmother it is , the issue is there is no money.
This issue is ALL about whose grandmother it is and who is being denied their promised due and its direct consequence of life or death.
(psst….grandma can move in with you.)
“… their promised due…”
And this is the problem; Promises were made but these promises cannot be kept because these promises were unfunded.
Why? If you are charging your grandma too much rent, that’s her problem, isn’t it?
It’s always interesting that “promised due” always trumps the livelihoods of future generations.
How old are you Turkey Lurkey?
ME generation indeed.
But thanks for showing us your sociopathy…
It’s always interesting to run across hypocrites who think other people should be denied what was promised if it now inconveniences them.
Wait, I think they call that theft.
It is not a matter of inconvience, it is a matter of a lack of money.
“…the issue is there is no money.”
+1 No reason to argue the case in court.
“Wait, I think they call it theft.”
Now you are beginning to get it.
Take America Back!
Who said anything about charging grandma rent? The ME generation strikes again……
If the people you know would charge down-and-out Grandma rent, find other people to associate with.
Not everyone is like that, Turkey.
A lack of money and theft often go hand-in-hand, as the latter is a solution of convenience for the first problem.
I’m not the one that said grandma should HAVE to move in.
Don’t feel bad, BigMac, Marie Antoinette didn’t get it either.
Presumably, we are talking about grandma having to move in if BigMac’s folks stole her pension, right?
“It’s always interesting to run across hypocrites who think other people should be denied what was promised if it now inconveniences them.”
Wow…I don’t even know what to say to this…this is so unethical.
Are you saying that today’s 10-year-old should be on the hook for promises made to YOU by people your age and older?
And yet you believe that you speak on behalf of the little guy.
Wow. Just wow.
“A lack of money and theft often go hand-in-hand, as the latter is a solution of convenience for the first problem.”
Of course, but it’s still not the fault of the retirees, who were promised this money. It IS their money, whether it exists or not and it’s up to those who mismanaged it to make whole, because that mismanagement was actually malfeasance.
Bondholders are investors and NO investor has ANY guarantee to profits.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_%28finance%29#Investing_in_bonds
“Presumably, we are talking about grandma having to move in if BigMac’s folks stole her pension, right?”
That’s rich.
How many current California retirees have benefitted mightily by passing laws that locked in their low property taxes for decades while bilking younger generations.
Who exactly benefits from that little coup de grace?
Those X times higher property taxes for younger generations and new arrivals goes into whose pockets?
It was mismanagement of the funds by the trustees and criminal actions by the banks, not taxes, that has caused this problem.
“…the issue is there is no money.” ??
Sure there is money…Just not enough to cover the obligations and no reasonable way to raise enough to cover it…
+1 No reason to argue the case in court ??
Just the opposite…You will need it decided in the courts if you have one saying “no cuts here” I come first…
You DO understand it’s also THEIR money and they have first rights of ownership, right. As for the lack of money, the municipalities mismanaged them, not the unions ??
Turkey…..If you think it through, private pensions that people contribute to are not guaranteed…They can be mis-managed or the company could go BK and those pensions be subject to a hair-cut…So, unless you are suggesting that because its a “public” pension program and they are imune from any risk of loss, then they (at least in my mind) could/should be subject to the same exposure that a private pension would be exposed to…
Life insurance is kind of the same thing…You pay into it for some future benefit but the insurance is only as good as the company that you buy it from…
The best thing that can happen for the United States is for those born from 1935 to 1955 to finally die off.
If this thread doesn’t prove it, nothing will.
Generationally speaking, your selfishness and lack of wisdom is off the charts.
And, rather than recognize it for what it is, you tirelessly seek to excuse it by pointing fingers at those who behave even more abysmally than you.
Congratulations. You won. Tell me, what was the prize again?
No, its using a return rate on the invested money of 7 to 8% a year, when the stock market was flat.
“It IS their money, whether it exists or not, and it’s up to those who mismanaged it to make whole, because that mismanagement was actually malfeasence.”
What a great idea! I’m all for it!
But, uh, just how is this supposed to be done?
“It was mismanagement of the funds by the trustees and criminal actions by the banks, not taxes, that has caused this problem.”
You mean it caused YOU problems. The problems for future generations were baked in the cake. They’ve known it for decades now.
You’re upset that the grand Ponzi scheme your generation nurtured and furthered has begun to bite you in the hindquarters.
That has come as a genuine surprise. It’s amazing, but true. You thought you’d be dead before the piper arrived.
“You’re upset that the grand Ponzi scheme your generation nurtured and furthered has begun to bite you in the hindquarters.
…
You thought you’d be dead before the piper arrived.”
That’s rich. Now not only is a whole generation at fault for the mess we’re in, but a whole generation is about to get its comeuppance for collectively conspiring to create this great big pension mess.
Can’t speak to other late Baby Boomers, but I did see this coming for the past quarter century.
“Can’t speak to other late Baby Boomers, but I did see this coming for the past quarter century.”
Ditto, hence cash.
Well, Cantankerous….generationally speaking, if you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
I see no tenable solutions being offered from the
1935-1955 crowd. Stick a fork in the idea that solutions interest that generation, when taken as a whole. They’re too involved generationally in tit-for-tat culture war crap to offer anything of value.
Individually speaking, many of that generation have proven dumb enough - quite a few of them willingly so - to believe in candy-crapping unicorns and their Ponzi schemes.
Uh, gee hate to break up this circle jerk, but most seniors are hurting just like everyone else.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/12/20/what-social-security-gets-you-a-minimum-wage-lifestyle/
http://www.ehow.com/about_5132878_average-retirement-income-united-states.html
http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/average-retirement-savings-how-does-your-savings-stack-up/
“… most seniors are hurting just like everyone else.”
Yep. Many have depended on empty promises made to them over the years by strangers.
These people could have paid attention to what was going down but for whatever reason they choose not to.
And so there they are.
Pogo was right, you know. So was Barnum.
Can’t speak to other late Baby Boomers, but I did see this coming for the past quarter century.”
yes and now it’s here
we talked about this once,, there seem to be alot of late boomers on this blog for some reason
I was born in 1960
They DID pay attention, but it was forced on all of us.
NOBODY wanted jobs offshored except the corporations. NOBODY wanted the end of pensions being replaced by Wall St., gambling, except the corporations. NOBODY wanted the Savings & Loan disaster, excepted the FIRE sector.
People WERE made aware it, even by the MSM, but billion dollar lobbying, and more lying than truth telling by the MSM trumped voters, every time. Just as it did again this time.
In Corporate Communist Capitalism, you just THINK you have a choice.
And nobody wanted to save money.
Go re-read the posts you posted above and then get back to us.
And NOBODY called public pensions insane in the 70′S and early 80’s, when corporations still offered pensions.
NOBODY called public pensions insane in the 90′S when their 401k’s were going up ten-fold and their employers were matching.
From the story: “Ultimately, CalPERS could terminate San Bernardino’s pension program, which would almost certainly leave the city’s municipal retirees with less-generous benefits than they were promised.”
The crux of the argument.
“Ultimately, CalPERS could terminate San Bernardino’s pension program ??
Which they must do “if” San Bernardino quits making contributions…So, who is going to blink ??
In Vallejo’s case, the city blinked….
Third of three articles in an excellent series from the Washington Post - The Permanent War:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/remote-us-base-at-core-of-secret-operations/2012/10/25/a26a9392-197a-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html?hpid=z2
And despite this, the Post endorses The One for re-election.
Presidential Kill Lists can be cool!
Do the candidates differ in any meaningful way on this issue, other than that Obama has received a Nobel Peace Prize and Romney has not?
Nope.
How does the president receiving a Nobel Peace Prize mean that there is any difference between them on the issue? The prize is the opinion of a committee.
Sorry, I was being flippant there. Didn’t mean to offer a legal opinion…
I didn’t accuse you of offering a legal opinion. I accused you of saying something stupid. If you want to be flippant, you better use one of the icons that indicate you are joking. You aren’t very good at communicating it through your words.
“I accused you of saying something stupid.”
Thank you for the non-legal opinion, thou great arbiter things of all things wise and just.
“If you want to be flippant, you better use one of the icons that indicate you are joking. You aren’t very good at communicating it through your words.”
Don’t assume that just because you are too dense to get the joke, nobody else gets it.
Honey, you ain’t Oscar Wilde. I know you have some sort of delusion that your ironic intent comes through in every post in which it is intended, but it doesn’t. Some of it is the nature of written, not spoken speech. Some of it is just your inability to get your meaning across (combined with a mind numbingly large number of article links combined with barely related questions/comments). If you want us to read it ironically, just let us know.
“Honey, you ain’t Oscar Wilde.”
And you ain’t no Albert Einstein.
(Actually, I wasn’t joking, but thought I would throw in the symbol for your enjoyment.)
There shall be no bickering amongst my favorite posters! (The lady and the bomb thrower).
I’m ducking out of here. I hate dealing with attorney “thinking” when I get paid to do it, and I don’t get paid to post…
Funny - I do not remember this argument when it was Bush and Obama.
Back then - we HAD to get Bush out.
The differences were NIGHT and DAY.
The fate of the WORLD depended on it.
But today - there is not much difference. So we might as well leave the total FAILURE we have in power as we already know him.
Do the candidates differ in any meaningful way on this issue, other than that Obama has received a Nobel Peace Prize and Romney has not?
How much do they pay you to hammer Obama night and day?
I am about at the 10% level of the anti-Bush and anti-Republican posts that used to be on the HBB.
Funny how all the democrats are now silent on:
The wars
The death toll of the wars
Cindy Sheehan
The debt
Balanced Budgets
The debt we leave to our children
Government Corruption (speaking of which - why no posts on Corzine?)
Government bailouts
The homeless
AIDS patients
Starving children
Presidential Kill lists
Closing Gitmo
Predator drone kills
Puppy juggling (ok - I made that up)
Cantankerous Pseudo-Intellectual Bomb Thrower
“How much do they pay you to hammer Obama night and day?”
How much do they pay you to hammer Republicans night and day? Additionally, I think you are also collecting a government paycheck while you do it.
2 banana-
You’ve not seen the obvious here.
Equating Obama and Romney accomplishes two things:
1. It allows you to ignore anything Romney might say.
2. It allows you to ignore all Obama deficiencies.
Mission accomplished!
Additionally, I think you are also collecting a government paycheck while you do it.
Cantankerous, a.k.a. Professor Bear, a.k.a. GetStucco is in the higher education field, but what makes you think he works for a State U. vs. a private University? And even if he did work for State U., many of us read and post while at work. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
“Funny how all the democrats are now silent on:
The wars
The death toll of the wars
Cindy Sheehan
The debt
Balanced Budgets
The debt we leave to our children
Government Corruption (speaking of which - why no posts on Corzine?)
Government bailouts
The homeless
AIDS patients
Starving children
Presidential Kill lists
Closing Gitmo
Predator drone kills
Puppy juggling (ok - I made that up)”
If only Romney can get himself elected, all those problems can be remedied. Let’s keep hope and change alive, and elect Romney for president!
“How much do they pay you to hammer Republicans night and day?”
Not a nickel. That’s why I generally focus on pointing out the stupidity of the anti-Obama posts on the HBB, rather than foaming at the mouth about all the EEEVIL things the Republicans (and Democrats) stand for.
“Equating Obama and Romney accomplishes two things:”
The gotcha-Liberal media is doing it again: If we’ll get hope and change with either candidate, why not stick with Obama?
In echoes of Obama, Romney seeks to adopt mantle of change
By Sam Youngman
AMES, Iowa | Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:50pm EDT
(Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney attempted to adopt the mantle of change on Friday in an economic speech in which he vowed to bring a fresh start to Washington to generate stronger job growth.
Romney’s address in the swing state of Iowa was an effort to take on the role that President Barack Obama played in 2008, that of an outsider who would represent an abrupt change if he wins the tight 2012 presidential race.
…
Permanent war? From Wikipedia-
Nineteen Eighty-Four is a novel by George Orwell published in 1949. It is a dystopian and satirical novel set in Oceania, where society is tyrannized by The Party and its totalitarian ideology. The Oceanian province of Airstrip One is a world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public mind control, dictated by a political system euphemistically named English Socialism (Ingsoc) under the control of a privileged Inner Party elite that persecutes all individualism and independent thinking as thoughtcrimes.
Any of this sound familiar?
Yeah, USSR circa 1949.
Yes Bill. I went to Catholic church growing up. VERY familiar.
Despite much diversification in recent years DC still is a one company town with the feds being the company. Big gov. have been very very very good for the local economy.
A Question.
A massive hurricane slams into NJ, NYC and/or LI.
They have not had a real hurricane in 50 years.
Buildings have been built where they never should have been built. The infrastructure is not ready.
Massive damage occurs.
Does this finally pop the RE bubble in New England?
Or does the federal government come in with another massive bailout?
And do they help wealthy beach homeowners rebuild houses and resort towns where they should have never have been built in the first place?
It can’t happen.
“this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow” — President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_York_hurricanes#2000_and_after
AYRTSIA?
Been through many hurricanes along Florida’s east coast and work in urban planning.
Question one: No
Question two: Yes
Question three: Yes
John Stossel has talked about this subsidy for the rich. But for government all that would be on the beaches would be inexpensive cabins since people learned not to spend too much on a building that would be wiped out by a storm. That all changed when government was willing to back stop the risk.
Wow - the bigger government gets the more problems we have.
And you are right.
I have know people who have built multimillion beach houses right on the beach at the Jersey Shore. All made possible by cheap and massively subsidized flood insurance by Uncle Sam.
Some I know in NC have rebuilt several times on the same lot. All made possible by the taxpayer being an idiot.
Thank you big government! The bigger government gets, the better our lives will be!
Rich people getting handouts from the Fed??
Where is John Gault?
You will find that at the state legislative level, this was heavily lobbied for by… wait for it, wait for it… wealthy people who wanted to build those expensive beach houses and defray THEIR liability.
Wealthy people who often back candidates and/or run for office themselves.
“Does this finally pop the RE bubble in New England?”
Why?
If there are lots of older buildings that were dilapidated, I’d be surprised if they are going to be rebuilt. In the meantime (before they are rebuilt), there will be lots less physical supply of space for people to live/work, but people won’t simply leave the area. They will try to make do…
Demand will not fall as much as supply…will not crash prices.
I agree with ragerunner on his answers…no, yes, yes.
Indeed, it may spur the bubble on as almost everyone has insurance of one form or another.
I can tell you that I would jump for joy if my 112-year-old multi-family was to be flattened by a Hurricane. I don’t have the cash on hand to do all the work that needs to be done, but my insurance does…
In the 11 swing states, Mitt Romney earns 50% of the vote to Obama’s 46%. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and another two percent (2%) are undecided.
This is now the fourth day in a row - and the sixth time in the past seven days - that Romney has hit the 50% mark in the combined swing states. This survey is conducted on a rolling seven-day basis, and now most of the interviews for today’s update were completed after Monday night’s final presidential debate. Romney has held a modest lead for 15 of the last 18 days; Obama was ahead twice, and the candidates ran even once.
In 2008, Obama won these states by a combined margin of 53% to 46%, virtually identical to his national margin.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2009/01/16/limbaugh_i_hope_obama_fails
You got your wish.
Now we hope Romney wins, and we hope he FAILS!
I look forward to Romney blaming obama for four years on why things are getting worse.
And having all the democrats and lefties here remain silent.
What is that you say? Democrats are going to sequel like a stuck pig?
But then they would be hypocrites…
hypocrisy is the foundation of political partisanship.
How can he fail? Bush came THIS close to starting WW3 and half the nation still wants him or his doppelganger back.
The half that you’re referring to must be those who voted for Obama.
Obama has continued Bush’s presidency. They will share the same legacy. In fact, they should build a joint Bubama Library.
This is the reason why people are switching to Romney. They are hoping that Romney won’t be a carbon copy of either Obama or Bush.
At the same time, they recognize that Romney will be similar to both in a variety of ways. Unfortunately. Hiopefully, he’ll be just different enough in a few key areas.
Good for you ascribing contents to empty suits.
just different enough in a few key areas
Specifically, for the parental rights of rapists
Blue-
You don’t yet know whether that suit is empty. Neither do I. It might be. It might not.
Unlike others here, I don’t profess to know what will happen during a possible presidency that has yet to occur.
You are right, I don’t know what will happen. It remains that I would rather a man with principles than a man with principals. Let’s play Russian Roulette.
Mitt sent thousands of American jobs to communist China. He is more communist than you will ever dream Obama is.
But I guess that’s just one of the SMALL difference.
half the nation
Technically, only a third. The other two thirds are Independent and Democrat…
Did you catch the big pro-Obama bounce in last night’s IEM 2012 US Presidential Election Winner Takes All Market prices?
Perhaps Romney’s third debate strategy to rubber stamp everything Obama stands for in the foreign policy arena backfired?
More likely George Soros making another bet to try to stop Romney’s momentum.
I don’t think so. Somebody is playing only one side of the market…Soros is smarter than to do that.
Could they be like FB’s? I mean they bought it at the peak and don’t want to sell low now.
Soros?
Goodwin.
Game changer:
President Obama and Mitt Romney are now tied in the critical battleground state of Wisconsin.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters shows the president and his Republican challenger each earning 49% support. One percent (1%) likes another candidate, and two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
I think you are relying way too much on one polling firm. I agree Ras is one of the better ones. There’s a chance it could be wrong this year.
Well even this year he seems to be the most accurate, no wild swings. A few months ago, he seem like an outlier to some but now most all the polls seem to be very close. Why did the polls change so radically? I do not believe that so many people changed their minds. A few days ago, we had a poll changing PA. but I said that I would believe it when Rasmussen confirmed it and he never did. Until I find some reason to change, I think it is best to go with one accurate poll since averaging inaccurate polls does not really make for better accuracy than using one historically accurate poll.
Rasmussen Reports?
I’ve explained and proven before that they are about as riech wing as they get.
More likely George Soros making another bet to try to stop Romney’s momentum.
How would that work? The Winner Take All Market is virtually unknown to the masses. What would rigging it accomplish?
The one point that Rove made in his Op-Ed yesterday (yes, I’m ashamed to say that I read part of it), is that overwhelmingly, undecided voters at this point in an election go to the challenger, not incumbent.
This makes sense…if Obama hasn’t convinced someone after 4 years of being in the forefront of the nation, and 3 debates, what will convince that person now?
I just don’t know if “overwhelmingly” means 80%, or 55%.
In any event, I doesn’t sound like Obama can count on grabbing more undecideds that Romney at this point…which further supports the view that Romney has a real shot at winning.
They traditionally break two to three to one to the challenger.
Thanks for the math behind the statement. 2-1 or 3-1 makes sense to me (66-75%).
I don’t know how it feels in other places, but in Colorado it has felt like he had a real shot since the first debate. Not so much before that.
It’s not surprise that they’ll keep the 50/50 numbers going up until the bitter end, teeteing from one candidate to the others. It serves two purposed: The first is two keep the millions in campaign/ad revenues flowing to the MSM. If it was a landslide, you’d see a huge drop-off, including viewership ratings of People Magazine News - oops, I mean CNN/FOX.
The second would be that people are more inclined to vote for, and perpetuate, the ridiculous duopoly that we have going with the Obama/Romney party and not consider a viable third party, since it would be a”wasted” vote.
I don’t see how anyone can vote for either of these candidates with a clar conscience. And now I hear this morning on the CBC how Romney is the “change” president? Gimme a break.
Peggy Noonan has just weighed in on this exact topic.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204530504578079232194509700.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion
Marie Antoinette didn’t get it either…
———————–
Spending on White House dinners soars under Obama
Washington Examiner | 10/25/12 | Richard Pollock
President Obama has spent far more lavishly on White House state dinners than previous chief executives, including nearly $1 million on a 2010 dinner for Mexico’s president, according to documents obtained by The Washington Examiner.
Presidents have long used formal dinners to court foreign heads of state and to dish out fine food and wine to reward political, financial and show business celebrities and supporters.
But current and former government officials said the documents obtained by The Examiner point to an unprecedented upsurge in White House spending on such events.
The Obama extravaganza two years ago for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, which included a performance by pop star Beyonce, cost $969,793, or more than $4,700 per attendee, the documents show.
$4,700 buys a lot of dog meat.
Looking forward to R/R serving ramen noodles on paper plates as they Restore Our Future!
Hey, if it’s good enough for Obama, it’s good enough for you!
Importantly, Our First Lady has bestowed dog meat the Official Governmental Food stamp of approval.
It’s healthier than fast food hamburger, apparently.
Geez, I remember when Democrats lambasted Nancy Reagan for spending money on china for the White House. It was quite the story….
I wonder how much money Obama spent hosting parties for 400+ people in Columbia and Spain? On golf binges?
That money could have been better spent tossing Wall Street cons in the pen. Oh, well.
Because Carter sold it off LOL!
Did they adjust that spending for inflation? I’m sure Obama spent a lot more nominally on state dinners than, say, JFK also.
Well, we don’t know, do we. After all, we have to take someone else’s word that there ARE documents and they show an “unprecedented upsurge” as compared to… some other documents we can’t see.
I think you and I agree on this…I’m not sure you got my point…
So? The cost of my groceries went up, too. A LOT.
And, uh, where are those document to show the “unprecedented upsurge” so we can, you know see the proof?
Mitt Romney sent thousands of American jobs to communist China.
To bad it wasn’t as treasonous as spending more on state dinners.
AND thanks again for proving the point that Marie Antoinette didn’t get it either.
calm down everybody, he’s spending for the first and last black president there will ever be.
OK - Another Question.
Who is obama going to pardon during his lame duck session?
Corzine?
Holder?
Terrorists at Gitmo?
Can you pardon someone before they are convicted of anything?
All black federal prisoners?
One wonders about the hundreds of criminals Clinton sprung from the brig on his last day in office.
How many ended up on Wall Street?
How many work in Washington, D.C.?
How many are lobbyists?
Where does Scooter Libbey work??
Rod Blagojevich?
James Holmes?
Jerry Sandusky?
“Can you pardon someone before they are convicted of anything?”
Ford did.
Twice. Pardoned the draft dodgers as well.
Charles Manson.
Ted Kaczynski.
Fox News has learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. consulate and subsequent attack several hours later was denied by U.S. officials — who also told the CIA operators twice to “stand down” rather than help the ambassador’s team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11.
Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods was part of a small team who was at the CIA annex about a mile from the U.S. consulate where Ambassador Chris Stevens and his team came under attack. When he and others heard the shots fired, they informed their higher-ups at the annex to tell them what they were hearing and requested permission to go to the consulate and help out. They were told to “stand down,” according to sources familiar with the exchange. Soon after, they were again told to “stand down.”
Woods and at least two others ignored those orders and made their way to the consulate which at that point was on fire. Shots were exchanged. The rescue team from the CIA annex evacuated those who remained at the consulate and Sean Smith, who had been killed in the initial attack. They could not find the ambassador and returned to the CIA annex at about midnight.
At that point, they called again for military support and help because they were taking fire at the CIA safe house, or annex. The request was denied. There were no communications problems at the annex, according those present at the compound. The team was in constant radio contact with their headquarters. In fact, at least one member of the team was on the roof of the annex manning a heavy machine gun when mortars were fired at the CIA compound. The security officer had a laser on the target that was firing and repeatedly requested back-up support from a Spectre gunship, which is commonly used by U.S. Special Operations forces to provide support to Special Operations teams on the ground involved in intense firefights. The fighting at the CIA annex went on for more than four hours — enough time for any planes based in Sigonella Air base, just 480 miles away, to arrive. Fox News has also learned that two separate Tier One Special operations forces were told to wait, among them Delta Force operators.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/26/cia-operators-were-denied-request-for-help-during-benghazi-attack-sources-say/#ixzz2AQLKgi00
The 3 AM call came…
and obama went to fund raise and party in Las Vegas.
I think he took a quick peek at the carnage unfolding on the secure video feed, he then shakes his head and says… “that’s a shame”… right before walking down to the helicopter.
Fox News has also learned that two separate Tier One Special operations forces were told to wait, among them Delta Force operators.
I said it before and I’ll repeat it now. Obama is another Carter and this is Obama’s Operation Eagle Claw. Obama’s administration failed the Ambassador and his team on every level. Instead of owning up to what was (or wasn’t) done, all the Obama administration can do is try and obfuscate the truth or outright lie to the American people.
WOT?
Obama needs to throw somebody under the bus; designate someone the “fkup” and fire them.
Having Hillary step up and “take responsibility” is a fail because it looks phony.
The longer he waits, the more he looks like Bush.
A head needs to roll.
A head needs to roll.
Yeah, that will fix everything.
“Having Hillary step up and “take responsibility” is a fail because it looks phony.”
Only to people who have no understanding of how chains of command and responsibility work.
“Only to people who have no understanding of how chains of command and responsibility work.”
Oh, like you?
miss me with that nonsense. What country you from?
You can’t hold females to account because they lack an organic understanding of the concept.
daughter, girlfriend, wife, mother… they always got some guy for bkup when they fkup.
Males?
don’t make me laugh.
“They were told to “stand down,” according to sources familiar with the exchange. Soon after, they were again told to “stand down.””
Working for diplomatic services under this administration just leaped to the top of the world’s most dangerous jobs list. I would be a little nervous as a young starry eyed progressive locked up in a foreign consulate.
Here is my theory;
CIA knew it was gonna happen and the plan was to let it ALMOST happen in order to follow the trail to the “big fish”.
But something happened and it DID happen.
Now the administration can’t tell you the truth.
I suspect this scenario has occured before such as allowing drugs to be smuggled on a plane and the drugs get switched for a bomb…
i’m not a woman but i have to admint…i regret my first time.
I wonder how she feels about that.
she? there wasn’t a she running at the time.
is this some kind of dog whistle thingy?
I’ve previously posted about the developing student housing bubble here in Tucson. Something like 50-60 floors of luxury student apartment building in design or under construction.
Now, here’s an inconvenient truth, courtesy of Dr. Richard Vedder from Ohio State University:
Why a college degree isn’t the best route for everyone
I was at a conference just west of the University of Arizona yesterday. During one session, I was talking to a local guy who started a very successful optics company with $200. Yes, he’s college educated, but…
…when I broached the topic of the UA raising its admission standards, he agreed with me. Right now, the UA lets in too many kids who have no business being in college, let alone a four-year research university.
I think that making the University of AZ more difficult to get into would be unpopular with the voters. They want to be able to send their kids to the local school to get a degree so that they can get a job. If the university became more selective, a lot of parents in the Tucson area would pay more money to send their kids up to Tempe. The typical Arizona parent thinks of a college education in purely financial terms and would see no benefit in having a more selective U of A.
From the story: “Fourth, colleges may in some cases be pricing themselves out of the market.”
A friend’s daughter is at UA-Tucson right now; out of state tuition is $40k/yr!
Mitt Romney likely win in November indicated by latest polls
If the election were held today Mitt Romney would win 321 electoral votes while Barack Obama would win in states worth 217 electoral votes according to the latest polling data available today.
…
269-269.
President - Romney
Vice President - Biden
Examiner - 10/21/2012
This must be why Romney is already claiming victory.
Do most voters choose their candidate on the basis of whom they think will win the election?
October 25, 2012, 10:25 am
Oct. 24: In Polls, Romney’s Momentum Seems to Have Stopped
By NATE SILVER
The term “momentum” is used very often in political coverage — but reporters and analysts seldom pause to consider what it means.
Let me tell you what I think it ought to mean: that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. That is, it ought to imply that a candidate is gaining ground in the race — and, furthermore, that he is likely to continue to gain ground.
As a thesis or prediction about how polls behave, this notion is a bit dubious, especially in general elections. In races for the United States Senate, for instance, my research suggests that a candidate who gains ground in the polls in one month (say, from August to September) is no more likely to do so during the next one (from September to October). If anything, the candidate who gains ground in the polls in one month may be more likely to lose ground the next time around.
…
I think it’s true for a small segment of the society. Notice how there are supporters coming out of woodwork if a team starts winning in sports.
Notice how there are supporters coming out of woodwork if a team starts winning in sports.
San Francisco has gone baseball crazy. Even the little old ladies at the grocery store are wearing Giants hoodies.
In the bizarro world of broken window economics, not only is war good for the economy, but so are hurricanes!
I’m guessing the stock market will go up in the event of a direct hit on NYC, due to Plunge Protection Team activity…
Oct. 26, 2012, 12:47 p.m. EDT
New York faces most intense storm in history
City would actually benefit from a direct hit, forecast say
By Eric Holthaus
Jean Marie Brennan walks along the jetty at Lighthouse Point Park as Hurricane Sandy passes offshore in Ponce Inlet, Fla. on Friday.
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — As we’ve all heard by now, there is a big storm brewing on the East Coast. Looking at the latest weather models, that may be a bit of an understatement.
The National Weather Service has labelled the hybrid gyre that may result from the merging of Hurricane Sandy and a Midwest snowstorm a “Frankenstorm.” When it hits, the storm could have truly scary implications befitting the Halloween holiday it will coincide with.
…
Shades of the Great Hurricane of 1938. Close friends of my aunt’s lost their summer house. And I do mean lost. Thing disappeared during the storm.
It will be interesting to see what happens to gasoline prices. Big Oil must be trying to help The One win re-election ‘cuz gas prices here have been going down about a nickel a week for at least the last three weeks. Anybody else notice the same thing?
The sewars in Manhatten dump raw sewage into the streets when there is a lot of rain.
Did you actually read the article? (Short answer : No, you did not.) They were saying that the winds blow west on the northern part of the storm and east on the southern part of the storm, so a direct hit on New York, or a hit north of NY would be MUCH better than a hit to the south of New York, since the north part of the storm will be blowing waved into the shore, and the southern part of the storm will be blowing AGAINST the waves coming into shore, therefore the storm surge is likely to be much lighter on a direct hit or a hit to the north. They are NOT saying that New York will have an increase in net worth because the storm hit them.
It’s an interesting example of how what you think might be the worst thing that could happen (Direct hit of hurricane) is actually better than quite a few of the alternatives (any landing site to the south.)
I would just like to ask has everyone seen the 3rd party debates.
It doesn’t have to be a choice between a fascist and a corprotist.
I think Jill Stein’s pretty good. Thx.