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Posted
11 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

You're never going to 100% fix something but social security for example has greatly reduced homelessness among the elderly.  When I said education I meant child nutrition programs (free breakfast, lunch, after school food programs).


Why I put “fixed” in quotes.  With all the piles of money we’ve thrown at these problems poverty, homelessnes and people unable to retire are still huge problems. 
 

Yup I knew you were going to say social security. That net has, in many cases, given people a false sense of security.  I gotta ask you. Pre SS what was the homeless rate of the elderly?  We took care of our elderly family members prior to SS.  Now we turn our backs on many of them become “oh the government will take care of them!”  
 

The best safety, in my opinion, we used to have that pretty much no longer exists, which had nothing to do with the government, was the private pension.  

9 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Glad you can afford it.


I know I’ll take ***** for this but here goes. You can’t afford to feed a human don’t make any. 

Posted

Private Pension LOL...nothing preventing our capitalist structure from providing them right?.....I think you can find a fossil of one if you look hard enough

Posted
6 minutes ago, TH3 said:

Private Pension LOL...nothing preventing our capitalist structure from providing them right?.....I think you can find a fossil of one if you look hard enough


Controlling your retirement is a much better way to go than relying on your employer. You just need to actually do it!  Personal responsibility is so hard. 

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Posted
13 hours ago, Buffarukus said:

 

what do you think of the millions of open jobs that are now offering a min of $15 a hour with signing bonuses. my place has been looking for employees for years, well before/ during/ and presently in the pandemic, essential through it all. union benefits. well over min wage. easy access to a bus route with nothing stopping anyone besides basic reading writing and standard drug test, that doesnt care about marijuana anymore as well.

 

when your in a industry seeing that hire sign everyday. that simply cant find stable employees. while also being a person who worked 50-60 hour weeks for just enough to get by while going to college fulltime. this was years and years after most of my inner city education so i again had to work hard just to competently get in starting at community and then bachelors.

 

has this effort corrupted my view on whats going on in this country? was that experience what made me more conservative? personally i think its because the left has shifted the overton window waay off, most of my liberal beliefs are still intact. but knowing that i climbed the hurdles that others complain can not be reached is pretty irritating. the fact race is used when i applied for the same low income loans offered to ANYONE but was EXCLUDED from many of the GRANTS that were based on race, tells me they are wrong. 

 

you seem logical, which is why im asking. how is it people look at the situation in this country and especially at PARENTS who should be willing to die to provide in a attempt to give them a better life and not lose empathy for the incredibly contradictory way that opportunity is at a all time peak yet there are still those who are making excuses for others not fighting there azz off to grab it right now.

 

in this moment and time as long as good jobs are available i have to think its changing alot of peoples minds on why MANY, not ALL but many are "struggling" as every story i see has me asking. WHY ARENT YOU WORKING?!! your kids are counting on you! maybe thats wrong, but its honest.

 

how are you justifying it? has your outlook changed due to the circumstances?

 

if you read all that. lol 

I'm not an economics expert.   Lol.  Our country has never intentionally shut down our economy so there's no history you can draw off of to explain why you're seeing so many job openings that aren't being filled.  There's been many theories people aren't going back to work to match the prepandemic employment level (enhanced unemployment benefits, older people retiring early, not being able to rely on schools to babysit their kids, fear of Covid infected work areas, etc.).  I read the jobs report in July was encouraging though and suspect things will eventually return to normal.  The unconstitutional eviction moratorium extension kind of pissed me off because there was no reason for it.  From a distance it seems the more moderate wing of the Democratic party (which is the majority) need to stop caving to the progressive wing as the Overton window is slowly shifting and they'll pay for it electorally in '22 and '24.

 

5 hours ago, Chef Jim said:


Why I put “fixed” in quotes.  With all the piles of money we’ve thrown at these problems poverty, homelessnes and people unable to retire are still huge problems. 
 

Yup I knew you were going to say social security. That net has, in many cases, given people a false sense of security.  I gotta ask you. Pre SS what was the homeless rate of the elderly?  We took care of our elderly family members prior to SS.  Now we turn our backs on many of them become “oh the government will take care of them!” 

The one thing I like about social security is it provide a cushion against an unlikely market crash.  It's a guaranteed source of income not subject to investment risk and market fluctuations that can wreak havoc on a 401k.  I don't know the pre ss homeless rate but it was during the height of the Great Depression in the 30's so it was probably high.  As far as taking care of our elderly family members, that's great but not all old people have that family support structure and for many of them their only source of income is social security benefits.

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

I'm not an economics expert.   Lol.  Our country has never intentionally shut down our economy so there's no history you can draw off of to explain why you're seeing so many job openings that aren't being filled.  There's been many theories people aren't going back to work to match the prepandemic employment level (enhanced unemployment benefits, older people retiring early, not being able to rely on schools to babysit their kids, fear of Covid infected work areas, etc.).  I read the jobs report in July was encouraging though and suspect things will eventually return to normal.  The unconstitutional eviction moratorium extension kind of pissed me off because there was no reason for it.  From a distance it seems the more moderate wing of the Democratic party (which is the majority) need to stop caving to the progressive wing as the Overton window is slowly shifting and they'll pay for it electorally in '22 and '24.

 

The one thing I like about social security is it provide a cushion against an unlikely market crash.  It's a guaranteed source of income not subject to investment risk and market fluctuations that can wreak havoc on a 401k.  I don't know the pre ss homeless rate but it was during the height of the Great Depression in the 30's so it was probably high.  As far as taking care of our elderly family members, that's great but not all old people have that family support structure and for many of them their only source of income is social security benefits.


You take the amount of money you’ve put into SS over the 40 or so years you’ve worked and invest it in a tax deferred vehicle of properly diversified and allocated equities and debt and at 67 put it into an annuity your brain will explode as to how much more guaranteed income you’ll have. SS is a ***** rip off Ponzi scheme. 

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Posted (edited)
7 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I'm not an economics expert.   Lol.  Our country has never intentionally shut down our economy so there's no history you can draw off of to explain why you're seeing so many job openings that aren't being filled.  There's been many theories people aren't going back to work to match the prepandemic employment level (enhanced unemployment benefits, older people retiring early, not being able to rely on schools to babysit their kids, fear of Covid infected work areas, etc.).  I read the jobs report in July was encouraging though and suspect things will eventually return to normal.  The unconstitutional eviction moratorium extension kind of pissed me off because there was no reason for it.  From a distance it seems the more moderate wing of the Democratic party (which is the majority) need to stop caving to the progressive wing as the Overton window is slowly shifting and they'll pay for it electorally in '22 and '24.

 

The one thing I like about social security is it provide a cushion against an unlikely market crash.  It's a guaranteed source of income not subject to investment risk and market fluctuations that can wreak havoc on a 401k.  I don't know the pre ss homeless rate but it was during the height of the Great Depression in the 30's so it was probably high.  As far as taking care of our elderly family members, that's great but not all old people have that family support structure and for many of them their only source of income is social security benefits.

 

ha yeah i went off on a tangent again didnt i? i agree 100% with your assement on the moderate liberals needing to step up big time against the far lefts more radical agenda. unfortunatly they are the only ones left to do it. the right is seen as the enemy and the media and corporate america have fully embraced there ideas. it will require the moderates alone to reign that segment in or i predict a slaughter at midterm elections. i dont think it will happen as the moderates see the far left as opposition to conservatives. any enemy to my enemy is a friend deal. one can only hope that if the republicans do get major control, they dont advocate using it to solidify their own power the same way i see dems currently advocating. super packing the supreme court lol 

 

nice to know that there are still objective people on the interwebz. we as a society need to get back to that as holding people in (power) accountable should always be the objective regardless of the letter in front of their name. the ratings crash of the major media gives me hope that the propaganda from both sides is being questioned and tuned out. 👍

Edited by Buffarukus
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Posted
8 hours ago, Buffarukus said:

 

ha yeah i went off on a tangent again didnt i? i agree 100% with your assement on the moderate liberals needing to step up big time against the far lefts more radical agenda. unfortunatly they are the only ones left to do it. the right is seen as the enemy and the media and corporate america have fully embraced there ideas. it will require the moderates alone to reign that segment in or i predict a slaughter at midterm elections. i dont think it will happen as the moderates see the far left as opposition to conservatives. any enemy to my enemy is a friend deal. one can only hope that if the republicans do get major control, they dont advocate using it to solidify their own power the same way i see dems currently advocating. super packing the supreme court lol 

 

nice to know that there are still objective people on the interwebz. we as a society need to get back to that as holding people in (power) accountable should always be the objective regardless of the letter in front of their name. the ratings crash of the major media gives me hope that the propaganda from both sides is being questioned and tuned out. 👍

I apologize for the "glad you can afford it" response.  It brought back memories of when I worked in Buffalo and would save dry cereal to send home with kids on the weekends because I knew it's all the food they'd have until Monday.

 

As for the midterms, the party in power (Dems) will get slaughtered (like every midterm since '06) but whether it's 10 seats or 50 seats depend on how far the swing district Democratic incumbents can distant themselves from the progressives.

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Posted
18 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I'm not an economics expert.   Lol.  Our country has never intentionally shut down our economy so there's no history you can draw off of to explain why you're seeing so many job openings that aren't being filled.  There's been many theories people aren't going back to work to match the prepandemic employment level (enhanced unemployment benefits, older people retiring early, not being able to rely on schools to babysit their kids, fear of Covid infected work areas, etc.).  I read the jobs report in July was encouraging though and suspect things will eventually return to normal.  The unconstitutional eviction moratorium extension kind of pissed me off because there was no reason for it.  From a distance it seems the more moderate wing of the Democratic party (which is the majority) need to stop caving to the progressive wing as the Overton window is slowly shifting and they'll pay for it electorally in '22 and '24.

 

The one thing I like about social security is it provide a cushion against an unlikely market crash.  It's a guaranteed source of income not subject to investment risk and market fluctuations that can wreak havoc on a 401k.  I don't know the pre ss homeless rate but it was during the height of the Great Depression in the 30's so it was probably high.  As far as taking care of our elderly family members, that's great but not all old people have that family support structure and for many of them their only source of income is social security benefits.

Jim mentions the problem with SS and here it is a real example. Several counties in Texas opted out somehow in the 80's and if you read the article the returns they have received are 50% to 100% better than SS. All while being in secure investments.

Posted
10 hours ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

Jim mentions the problem with SS and here it is a real example. Several counties in Texas opted out somehow in the 80's and if you read the article the returns they have received are 50% to 100% better than SS. All while being in secure investments.

Those returns aren't guaranteed in the future though.  That includes the most diverse mutual and bond funds.  Also, imo the people that have to rely on social security as their sole means of surviving are the least likely to make wise investment decisions if given private retirement accounts.

Posted
5 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

Those returns aren't guaranteed in the future though.  That includes the most diverse mutual and bond funds.  Also, imo the people that have to rely on social security as their sole means of surviving are the least likely to make wise investment decisions if given private retirement accounts.


This is why financial planning needs to be a requirement in high school. Not just investments…planning.  
 

 

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Posted
29 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:


This is why financial planning needs to be a requirement in high school. Not just investments…planning.  
 

 

No crt theory is way more important. 😉

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Posted
44 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

Those returns aren't guaranteed in the future though.  That includes the most diverse mutual and bond funds.  Also, imo the people that have to rely on social security as their sole means of surviving are the least likely to make wise investment decisions if given private retirement accounts.

I did not include the article but the way it was described was banks or investment firms bid for their money and  guaranteed a decent return every set of years 

Posted
15 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

I did not include the article but the way it was described was banks or investment firms bid for their money and  guaranteed a decent return every set of years 

I’d have to see the article but if banks and investment firms are involved it would have to be heavily regulated.

11 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:


Good point. Teaches the blame game for when they have no money. 

They require an economics class to graduate high school but it’s too little and inadequate imo.

Posted
4 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

I’d have to see the article but if banks and investment firms are involved it would have to be heavily regulated.

They require an economics class to graduate high school but it’s too little and inadequate imo.


I took Economics. I couldn’t even balance a checkbook. Why we get married right guys. 

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:


I took Economics. I couldn’t even balance a checkbook. Why we get married right guys. 

I remember having a project where I had to track GE stock by looking the opening and closing cost in the newspaper.  Had to make charts, calculate P/E ratio, etc..  My how things have changed.

Posted
2 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

I remember having a project where I had to track GE stock by looking the opening and closing cost in the newspaper.  Had to make charts, calculate P/E ratio, etc..  My how things have changed.


I have no idea what that taught is.  
 

All you have to tell an 18 year old is if they have dollar cost average $100 a month into a diversified fund of world class companies you will have a million dollars at retirement and chicks dig guys with money they’ll do it.  The chicks part is the most important part of the equation. 

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Posted

There is no easier decision than to invest in a 401K if you have the chance.  A - take the money today and have the government tax you to death.  B- keep it away from the idiot politicians and have your day in the sunset when you are older.  If you tip over, your family gets it.  Just play government keep-away.  What a mess.  

Posted

 House Democrats are in a "difficult position" over infrastructure because of a series of politically charged votes Senate Republicans forced last week on the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, according to a new memo authored by Sen. Mitch McConnell's team. 


Among the measures Republicans listed as successes are GOP amendments to block federal funds from being used to promote the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT), another to prohibit the Biden administration from banning hydraulic fracturing and a third to ban taxpayer dollars for funding abortions. 

 

In one instance not mentioned in the memo, Democrats rejoiced at the chance to go on the record and support Sen. Tommy Tuberville's amendment against defunding the police. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said he wanted to give Tuberville a "hug" for putting to rest "scurrilous" accusations that Senate Democrats want to strip law enforcement of money. The final vote on that was unanimous approval – 99-0.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-memo-infrastructure-house-democrats-difficult-position

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