Off topic...I love this man's intellect

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Good that you have it all figured out, Michael. Call a few economists and politicians and tell them that you, an engineer, figured it all out on your side rule!!..........NUMBERS will not tell the whole story.

Where does the government cut, Michael. BTW, how do you outcompete China, Phillipines, Bangladesh, India to bring back those jobs that left home?

" In effect, our country has been behaving like an extraordinarily rich family that possesses an immense farm. In order to consume 4 percent more than we produce — that’s the trade deficit — we have, day by day, been both selling pieces of the farm and increasing the mortgage on what we still own." — Warren Buffett

Eliminate all of these, and you wouldn't know the difference,

• Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Department of Commerce (DOC)
• Department of Defense Inspector General
• Department of Education (ED)
• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Department of Labor (DOL)
• Department of State (DOS)
• Department of the Interior (DOI)
• Department of the Treasury
• Department of Transportation (DOT)

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Lets deal with the poor and disabled as numbners only....emotion means we have to really check our own consciences....and we don't want to do this in the land of consumerism, unreality shows, and greed.

It was mentioned that in the recent weekend very few folks were watching political shows discussing your budget problems but were watching the royals, Khardashians, and others....SAD!! Is no one really concerned?

As to the poor and the disabled, there are many programs. It is impossible for people to starve or go without shelter in the U.S. unless they want to, such as the chroniclly "homeless" (we used to call them bums).

The U.S. is the only country where the "poor" have cars and color TVs. In the U.S., the poor are overweight and their most prevanent disease is diabetes.

As to the "politically disengaged", I agree. They are called "moderates" and are the key swing voting block. It is, indeed, sad that many elections are determined by the politically ignorant and lazy.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by wdecker

As to the poor and the disabled, there are many programs.
Are they working or are they basically subsistance?

It is impossible for people to starve or go without shelter in the U.S. unless they want to, such as the chroniclly "homeless" (we used to call them bums).
Sounds like more $$$$ and programs are needed!! From 1/4 to 1/3 of the "homeless" on any given night are "vets". http://www.nchv.org/background.cfm


The U.S. is the only country where the "poor" have cars and color TVs. Really?? All the poor in your area have cars? They must go an vacations also!!! With the plasma/LCD flatscreens, a colour TV now is essentially free as we "better off" throw our old TV's out. I see this at out local re-cycling center.


In the U.S., the poor are overweight and their most prevanent disease is diabetes.
I think even a Fox show (OMG....they're getting soft) addressed what happens with the poor in ghetto areas.....there's no place to buy decent foof except at corner stores where chips/candy/etc, the good foods, are all that are available.
http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/save-a-lot...ts-in-chicago/

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news...esert-20100511

http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/a-fre...o-food-desert/

We "better off" don't want to be bothered with this stuff. It interferes with our consumerism driven agenda to have "made it" and have all the goodies. Quantity not quality, right?

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

We "better off" don't want to be bothered with this stuff. It interferes with our consumerism driven agenda to have "made it" and have all the goodies. Quantity not quality, right?

Brian, you live in Canada and, therefore, may have a very scewed view of the U.S., from your vantage point. You can't always rely on the news to represent actual facts.

In one apartment building that we owned and rented, some 50% of the neighborhood population were on welfare, and had been for 2 or 3 generations. Yet, almost all had cars, all had color TVs and the women would go to the hairdresser at least once a week. In other areas of Chicago (poor areas, what you would call "the ghetto") there were "beauty supply stores" on every block, along with liquor stores and rib / chicken joints.

You have to understand how entrenched "being poor" is in the Chicago area, and how people, either by choice of by government "programs" suffer through generations of poverty. LBJ's so-called "war on poverty" has created a cycle of dependancy. Used to be that the people who lived in "the projects" (Like Cabrini Green) would be married and have jobs, bit now they are completely on "welfare" and food stamps and these areas a crime ridden. Jesse Jackson, the supposed hero of these people, is nothing more than a welfare pimp, extorting corporations for his own financial benefit. There is big money in being a "community organizer".

Also, most "homeless" are either addicts or mentally disturbed. There was a recent article that exposed a guy who made his living begging near one of our expressway ramps. He pulled down $45,000 per year and had a house that was bought and paid for. He said that begging was more to his liking than actually working. What you see is not always what is real.

Besides, you are Canadian. Complain about your own country, not ours.

Hope this helps;

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by wdecker

Brian, you live in Canada and, therefore, may have a very scewed view of the U.S., from your vantage point. You can't always rely on the news to represent actual facts.

In one apartment building that we owned and rented, some 50% of the neighborhood population were on welfare, and had been for 2 or 3 generations. Yet, almost all had cars, all had color TVs and the women would go to the hairdresser at least once a week. In other areas of Chicago (poor areas, what you would call "the ghetto") there were "beauty supply stores" on every block, along with liquor stores and rib / chicken joints.
Ah!! The good food!

You have to understand how entrenched "being poor" is in the Chicago area, and how people, either by choice of by government "programs" suffer through generations of poverty. LBJ's so-called "war on poverty" has created a cycle of dependancy. Used to be that the people who lived in "the projects" (Like Cabrini Green) would be married and have jobs, bit now they are completely on "welfare" and food stamps and these areas a crime ridden. Jesse Jackson, the supposed hero of these people, is nothing more than a welfare pimp, extorting corporations for his own financial benefit. There is big money in being a "community organizer".
Seems that a lot of people are making big $$$$$ from religion in the US. On Sundays, I occasionally view "Vision TV" with the professional beggars.....what to say about that???

Also, most "homeless" are either addicts or mentally disturbed.
So let's leave them homeless or to die including the vets?

There was a recent article that exposed a guy who made his living begging near one of our expressway ramps. He pulled down $45,000 per year and had a house that was bought and paid for. He said that begging was more to his liking than actually working. What you see is not always what is real.
So this one person is indicative of all your poor? POOR example, Will!!

Besides, you are Canadian. Complain about your own country, not ours.

Hope this helps;

I started this thread because a very successful American (and his friend Bill gates) has made some statements that strike a chord with me. They apply somewhat in both our countries.....and may more so in Canada in the future now that we have a Prime Minister that wants to build up our military and prison systems, and reduce government/taxes at the same time .....sound familiar?

Anyways, I was surprised that an icon of the free enterprise system is held in such low esteem......especially when he suggests folks chip into help in the financial crisis that has developed/still is developing. throughout your country.....where's the patriotism?

[Michael Larson]

Brian, I commend your concern for the poor and and disadvantaged but who is talking about not helping them?

This country has a long history of taking care of those who are unable to help themselves but those of us who see the abuse of the system are not willing to fund sloth.
Frankly private charity should be the oder of the day and not government checks.

Pretending that all who receive benefits are unable to work deserve them is ridiculous and using that as a bludgeon to oppose tax increases is nothing but leftist scaremongering.

Welfare reform is long overdue as is stupid government spending on the myriad of useless programs and over regulation that only increases cost of compliance and produces few measurable gains.

This country is not taxed too little.

It spends too much and politicians re more than willing to assure their reelection by funding programs that buy them votes.

Enough all ready.

We cannot continue to borrow 42 cents of every dollar government spends and hope to continue and imaging that higher taxes will fill the gap only demonstrates some peoples inability to do math.

No politician is even discussing what tax rate it would take to fully fund our present spending because they know there would be a revolt and so they are content to talk about taxes while intending to keep borrowing us into oblivion.

It's a math problem.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

I started this thread because a very successful American (and his friend Bill gates) has made some statements that strike a chord with me. They apply somewhat in both our countries.....and may more so in Canada in the future now that we have a Prime Minister that wants to build up our military and prison systems.....sound familiar?

Let me tell you a little story about Bill Gates.

Bill Gates started Microsoft, and created a whole new market. This is wealth creation.

But, as Minrosofty grew to become one of the largest companies in the world, he failed to realize that his company also needed to get some governmentg lobbyists. What did he know, he was a very talented geek and had no interest in politics.

So, the Clinton administration sicked the Dept. of Justice on Microsoft, all kinds of charges that were BS. The problem was that Gates was not doing any political contributions. So, he got himself some lobbyists and they made political contributions (both parties) and, low and behold, the legal problems went away.

Politicians cannot stand to see businesses grow rich and not be able to get some of that money for their political campaigns. It's not about Dem vs. Rep, it's all about getting re-elected and they need money to do that. It's just political extrotion, which those in Washington have the power to do.

That is why they trump up all these wedge issues. Did you know that the recent Obama "hoophole", the accelerated deduction schedule for corporate jets was put into law by Obama's "stimulus" bill? Look it up for yourself. Who did Goldman Sachs politcally support with money? Obama. Yet, he keeps slamming all those "hedge fund" millionaires. Why? Toe get campaign contributions. Why do you think that the stimulis money went, mainly, to support government workers in states? Because, the governmentg worker's unions and teachers would funnel it back to the Dem campaign coffers.

So, Gates and Buffet, being very rich, know how it all works and they play along. Wouldn't it be better if they could choose who they want to politically support?

[Nick Gromicko]

There are three simple rules that one should follow so as to never be poor:

1) Finish (at least) high school (not GED).
2) Don't get married until you are (at least) 21.
3) Don't have children until you are married.

If these three rules were enforced, 90% of all poor would not be poor.

I prefer a GED to a high school diploma.

I have a number of companies and employ a lot of people. I do almost all the hiring personally and go to extraordinary lengths to avoid anyone with a formal education (thank goodness for resumes! ). It's the reason so many of my current employees began working for me as children... I tried to catch them while they still had as little education as possible. For you see, although schools offer a good education, they provide it at a horrible cost. A cost that they can't offset. That cost being that they emphasize to children, hour after hour, day after day, year after year, question after question, quiz after quiz, exam after exam... to be afraid of being wrong. I have no use for an employee who fears being wrong.

I confess, I have PhD's, attorneys and engineers who work for me, but I don't let them run anything, I don't put them in charge of anyone, and I certainly don't pay them much (I don't have to, they're a dime a dozen these days). I save the big bucks for my senior managers... they're mostly dropouts and fearless.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I prefer a GED to a high school diploma.

I have a number of companies and employ a lot of people. I do almost all the hiring personally and go to extraordinary lengths to avoid anyone with a formal education (thank goodness for resumes! ). It's the reason so many of my current employees began working for me as children... I tried to catch them while they still had as little education as possible. For you see, although schools offer a good education, they provide it at a horrible cost. A cost that they can't offset. That cost being that they emphasize to children, hour after hour, day after day, year after year, question after question, quiz after quiz, exam after exam... to be afraid of being wrong. I have no use for an employee who fears being wrong.

I confess, I have PhD's, attorneys and engineers who work for me, but I don't let them run anything, I don't put them in charge of anyone, and I certainly don't pay them much (I don't have to, they're a dime a dozen these days). I save the big bucks for my senior managers... they're mostly dropouts and fearless.

I worked for someone a few years back with the same mentality...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00443.htm

[Kathleen Luuk]

Originally Posted by wdecker

As to the poor and the disabled, there are many programs. It is impossible for people to starve or go without shelter in the U.S. unless they want to, such as the chroniclly "homeless" (we used to call them bums).

The U.S. is the only country where the "poor" have cars and color TVs. In the U.S., the poor are overweight and their most prevanent disease is diabetes.

As to the "politically disengaged", I agree. They are called "moderates" and are the key swing voting block. It is, indeed, sad that many elections are determined by the politically ignorant and lazy.

Your joking right! The poor in Canada have cars, the poor in Britain have cars, and I am pretty much sure that anywhere there is a welfare system to be abused the poor have all these luxuries. In the 80's the only people in my neighbour hood that could afford a sky satellite was the welfare people two doors down from us. They also had a car, and were never hard up for anything.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by kluuk

Your joking right! The poor in Canada have cars, the poor in Britain have cars, and I am pretty much sure that anywhere there is a welfare system to be abused the poor have all these luxuries. In the 80's the only people in my neighbour hood that could afford a sky satellite was the welfare people two doors down from us. They also had a car, and were never hard up for anything.

Exactly Kathleen I have seen how the system works here too.
They have homes and rent homes and abuse the system big time .
I see them when we go to check on their homes they say they need work done ad the Government will pay , Some are discussing .
I have only seen one who deserved to be on welfare he went to get Diastalsis twice a week and never complained Nice person . We had new a person very well and he bragged about how he was treated food baskets at Christmas 4 turkeys we were married 4 years 3 kids and just managed like many others to get by.
He had 3 kids and more snow suits and clothes they never needed .
We have a habit for humanity home near here 2 years old grass never cut ,garbage every where and a $500;00 puppy .
I have many more stories .

[Kathleen Luuk]

The stories you hear at pharmacies across town of women trying to draw 6 months of birth control being told no, one month at a time, only for them to respond with but i'm going abroad for 6 months. LOL, must be nice, I wish the working folk could afford to go away for 6 months. I hear Australia's great during our winter time.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by kluuk

The stories you hear at pharmacies across town of women trying to draw 6 months of birth control being told no, one month at a time, only for them to respond with but i'm going abroad for 6 months. LOL, must be nice, I wish the working folk could afford to go away for 6 months. I hear Australia's great during our winter time.

There is no constitutional right to wealth. It must be earned or inherited. That's how it works. Get over it.

[Kathleen Luuk]

The people I am talking about are people on welfare that abuse the system and can still afford to Vaca for 6 months, that's not wealth thats taking the p!$#. The only people that their prescriptions are governed in that way are people claiming benefits, people that need to be actively seeking employment, you know, in the country.

I am from a working class family, I have never thought that anybody had the right to wealth, wealth in my mind is a mind set anyway. I am a wealthy person because I have a family I love and that loves me, a roof over my head, and my health, I don't see it in $ signs. I have happiness in life. A lot of that I am sure comes from knowing that we don't cheat, lie or steal.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Is this guy promoting class tension!!!

"There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Warren Buffett in a 2006 New York Times interview with Ben Stein.