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If you really believe that then you could say exactly the same of Savings Bonds, US Treasuries, and actually our total fiat currency in general. You know as well as I that this is simply hokey goober talk that has no meaning at all. It might sound good in some Karaoke Bar but certainly not on the national stage with the entire world listening.Quote:
Originally Posted by alan
Have we actually diminished to that level?
Peace
Pay-as-you-go = Ponzi Scheme is either lazy thinking or agenda-driven. Things can have common elements and be very different. In fact, they often do.
Lazy thinking? Agenda driven?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mangano's Gold
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/index.html
Like a classic Ponzi scheme, it is ultimately un-sustainable. The only difference being it is not intentional fraud and it's healthy life expectancy is considerably longer than it's illegal counterpart.Quote:
Social Security expenditures exceeded the program’s non-interest income in 2010
for the first time since 1983. The $49 billion deficit last year (excluding
interest income) and $46 billion projected deficit in 2011 are in large part due
to the weakened economy and to downward income adjustments that correct for
excess payroll tax revenue credited to the trust funds in earlier years. This
deficit is expected to shrink to about $20 billion for years 2012-2014 as the
economy strengthens. After 2014, cash deficits are expected to grow rapidly as
the number of beneficiaries continues to grow at a substantially faster rate
than the number of covered workers. Through 2022, the annual cash deficits will
be made up by redeeming trust fund assets from the General Fund of the
Treasury. Because these redemptions will be less than interest earnings, trust
fund balances will continue to grow. After 2022, trust fund assets will be
redeemed in amounts that exceed interest earnings until trust fund reserves are
exhausted in 2036, one year earlier than was projected last year. Thereafter,
tax income would be sufficient to pay only about three-quarters of scheduled
benefits through 2085.
If you have facts illustrating otherwise, I'd be interested in hearing them.
Alan, Social Security is fixable with fairly modest changes. Ponzi schemes can't be fixed.
Medicare is a much bigger problem.
Many people who post here believe themselves to be so enlightened as to be above prejudice, racial, gender or otherwise. I already see the regional prejudice so apparent in the things posted mocking Perry. Words like "hokey goober". The cartoons.. Well continue to attempt to marginalize him with Prejudice, inflammatory words because he is a Texan, a Christian, a conservative...
The left has no defense left for Obama. It will have to be bashing of the opponent, making sure you use the current buzz words and talking points to portray Perry as some cartoonish oaf. The southern bashing is getting rididulous...nothing like a little self-hate, right Ziggy?
oh, call the Special Victims Unit!
Maybe so, maybe so. But how else can you describe someone that makes comments like "secede from the union, SS is a ponzi scheme, FED Chairman is a traitor"? I thought "hokey goober" was actually pretty generous. Most people would just say idiot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catwoman
You obviously must be a "compassionate conservative" to be able to defend Perry - or maybe it is just Texas Pride? I personally am embarrassed for all Texans.
http://juanitajean.com/wp-content/up...-1-300x300.jpg
Peace
I recently heard Governor Perry described as "George Bush without the humility or intellect." I'm not sure that's hyperbole, from what little I've seen of him. Like many others, I want a president and representatives who are smarter and more capable than I am, not less. And I want public servants who believe in the government they serve, not corporatists who are just marking time until they can snag a lucrative lobbying sinecure.
This forum has people that are so prejudiced against people from the South, particularly Texans and anyone else who dares to be Repulican and/or white and/or Christian......Consider Sarah Palin. SHE'S STUPID. will be the first comment. But I have yet to find one who could say why he thought that other than she is white, Christian and conservative.
Zig I meet a couple form Texas when I was volunteering in the visitors center yesterday. I mentioned that their governor might be president and they said God Save the Country if he becomes president. So there are other Texans that fell the same way you do.
***MOD HAT ON***
Please do NOT direct disparaging remarks at fellow posters. It is always appropriate to question candidates beliefs and qualifications. In fact I would go so far as to say it is our duty to do so. It is not, however, appropriate to to malign other posters or belittle the process they use to select the candidate they wish to support, or not support as the case may be.
Here is a link to the forum guidelines. Its never a bad idea to take a quick refresher look through them.
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/sho...orum-Etiquette
Sorry to both of my fellow Texans - Catwoman and Poetrywriter - you are right that I have copied cartoons and comments from all across the "internets". It not really because I am lazy but mostly because I agree with those comments and statements .
Having grown up in the South I will admit some prejudice and disgust at what I see in term of religious fundmentalism, racism, and injustice. I grew up in the era of the civil rights movement and I think what I saw and heard was a big influence in my life.
Why do I consider the likes of Perry, Palin, Bauchmann dangerous and stupid? It's because they are. They are dangerous because in times like these people tend to make bad decisions. This election actually reminds me of the 1968 Presidential election with George Wallace running as a third party. Rick Perry's flamboyant redneck-isms also sound like his rhetoric.
A lot of people don't seem to realize that it was Wallace that laid the foundation for the dominance of the Republican Party in the South through the manipulation of racial and social issues much as we have today but this time probably more focused on Hispanics as Blacks have become America's hidden people.
Sorry if I've offended you, I actually like both of you and enjoy our conversations. IMO, I am only stating the obvious.
Peace
No offence taken. you said:
Why do I consider the likes of Perry, Palin, Bauchmann dangerous and stupid? It's because they are. They are dangerous because in times like these people tend to make bad decisions. This election actually reminds me of the 1968 Presidential election with George Wallace running as a third party. Rick Perry's flamboyant redneck-isms also sound like his rhetoric.
"because they are" is only your personal opinion. as long as you make that obvious, thats fine. Its a free country. As far as bringing up George Wallace .......I cant even comment on that! LOL.
http://bigjournalism.com/jjmnolte/20...oming-in-2012/
Here's a little something to balance the perspective of this forum....Author is pointing out the type of "hit-piece" journalism the left has to resort to to defend and protect Obama. Kinda similar to Ziggy's cartoons...
Carry on - I am simply trying to warn the members of SLN of the real Rick Perry and my personal experiences living here in Texas. I think the man actions speak for themselves and it is now up to the voters.
If Americans have a desire to elect someone like this (Perry) then it will happen. I am still hopeful that we have not come to that level in this country. I will admit I felt the same way about George W. Bush and I had to face the reality of him getting elected twice. So I have a pretty poor track record.
I just for the life of me see anything attractive about Rick Perry as President. He is not smart, he is a religious fundamentalist that believe that GOD told him to for POTUS, and he is a politician that has never met someone with money that he didn't like. All I can say is - Be careful what you wish for.
BTW - I sure as heck would not like to drink a beer or even a Smoothie with this piece of crap.
Peace
"Piece of crap" would indeed be opinion...
Isn't it also a metaphor?Quote:
Originally Posted by Catwoman
Just a reminder, as we're just barely entering this election season, that the subject of this forum is SIMPLE public POLICY. So let us rephrase the question at hand: What policies are being proposed by Rick Perry that will enable all of us to live simply so that others may simply live? (Note that this is a positive question seeking evidence, not a negative question seeking evidence to the contrary, perhaps that will keep us from characterizing the man, rather than characterizing his policy proposals.) If you know of a Republican candidate that is more effectively proposing simplicity-oriented policies, call out their proposals. (The inadequacies of the Goldman Sachs Administration on this score can be addressed in a different thread, of course.:devil:)
Rozie - After reading your post and since I started the "President Perry" thread maybe it should just be deleted or locked. Admittedly I just cannot stand Perry and am unable to grasp how anyone else could. The thread is dead so maybe I'm simply preaching to the choir or maybe just myself.
As far as simple living and the upcoming elections I am really going to try and focus on who and how the potential candidates "will enable all of us to live simply so that others may simply live?" as you said. I would love that to be someone's focus - anyone's - but at this point I really don't see it happening. I hope I am just being too cynical.
Peace
Rozie does pose an interesting question. I have to admit that issues of simplicity rarely, if ever, make up my criteria for candidate selection. Not that its not important to me, I just usually take that aspect of my life to a more introspective level rather than apply it to the public domain. Kind of a let the storm rage outside, I'll stay by the fire approach. The main thought I can't shake out of my head is wondering if it would even be possible to design anything farther from the typical simple ideals than the life of a candidate on the campaign trail?
I think there are some informative nuggets in here, Zig, so I'm not inclined to say it should be deleted. (As in, some of the Texas policy and politics under Perry, and the question of what that indicates for someone (proposed to be) running a huge federal government that serves rural and urban, north & south, immigrant and brahmin. Personally, elections are like my SuperBowl -- I love a good reasoned debate (hard to come by, I know.) If you want to be cynical, then why even pay attention, since you know Goldman Sachs elects our presidents, not the citizen rabble? ;)
I'd love to see this space (SPP) be used to really discuss and debate the net effect of major policy initiatives, and how they relate to the values that are shared by the people who choose to hang out on this forum. To me, that's juicy! There is much opportunity to find blanket characterizations, and nit-picking beside-the-points from the major news channels, bloggers, radio pundits, and preaching-to-the-choir forums.
What can I read here that would help me articulate these policy issues to others who aren't "simple", in my attempt to constructively engage them in the very important national debate that needs to happen? Where is the common ground in our personal and national concerns, that illustrates why the different proposed solutions may be important to seriously consider? How can "the other side" help me to hone MY solutions to meet the concerns of the maximum people, to the maximum good, for the longest possible timeframe?
Well, there goes the neighborhood. :(
Once we limit the Reviews forum to simplicity books and movies, engage only in simple hobbies and simple finance and only celebrate simple holidays, we'll run out of discussion points pretty fast.
In the absence of a spirited point/counter-point, free-range discussion, I may as well play solitaire.
You think there isn't opportunity for a spirited point/counter-point in talking about how public policy influences/shouldn't influence, enables/shouldn't enable, mandates/shouldn't mandate simple living? Especially in a presidential election campaign? HA! I beg to differ, and if you don't believe it Alan, I'm sure I can bait you into very spiritedly counter-pointing some of my points. !pow!Quote:
Originally Posted by alan
With only 24 posts in a dozen threads over a 9 month period, you're gonna have to up your game a bit to keep things interesting. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by rozie
I see simplicity as an ideology of sorts, just like a political ideology, and one we all share. We are all attracted to this, and are living/want to live/need this center in our lives. But i think most of us can't really compartmentalize and keep simplicity over here and the 'rest' of our selves over there. What happens politically does affect me, in all aspects of my life, whether directly or indirectly through my country, town, neighbors or family. No one exists in a bubble, nor can the actions of our elected leaders. Those actions will, ultimately, affect all of us.
Sure, we can discuss individual political actions, and often do. But it won't mean anything if we don't first discuss WHO is making those decisions. We have to discuss Perry as a potential candidate because, after all, if this bozo is elected it will definitely affect us all. And that WILL affect my simple life.
He wants to do away with SS. How simple do you think that will make it for the elderly? And, as much as I hate to admit it, we will all be that person someday. He wants to repeal the health care reforms. That certainly affects our financial planning, and unsimplified that which Obama was trying to simplify.
I wouldn't worry about the often spirited debate we engage in here. I know it sometimes seems like we are disintegrating into chaos, but we've been here before and survived. We've done this before, and believe me it will get even more 'spirited', but no one really seems to hold a grudge for very long, and those who can't take the heat and stay civil, usually leave this kitchen.
Personally, I believe it's because we all share this ideology of simplicity that we can disagree in other areas without disengaging completely. We are who we are, and even 'simple' people can hold complicated political views and discussions.
Peggy, I can't remember the last time I agreed with you, but on this point (minus the gratuitous political hyperbole) I think we're kindred spirits.
Seriously, I believe that if everyone would simply adhere to the guidelines regarding personal attacks on members as well as public figures, the administrators wouldn't have reason to suggest we limit our discussions.
Well let's mark this date Alan, since I'm pretty sure we won't agree again until after this election! At least politically.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by alan
But, I do believe public figures are fair game for derision and ridicule. After all, they put themselves up there to be judged, and are in fact asking for the ultimate judgement, a vote. So, no one should be surprised if we do judge them. And I won't be easy on them either, including those I vote for. Too often people forget, including those elected leaders, that in the end, whoever wins is supposed to represent us all, We the People, and what they do affects us all.
Bush was my President, and what he did to this country will be felt for generations. And Obama is your President, which is why I expect you to be hard on him.
Okay, here's a lob out to ya'll for spiritedness (perhaps more for those more anti-Perry than you, Alan):
As a basic tenet of my simplicity, I believe that if capital and jobs don't know borders anymore, people should have freedom of movement too (actually believed this before capital and jobs lost all their restrictions.) Perry signed a law that called for a STUDY (love laws that merely study - a great dodge, but hey, it's also good to look before you leap) on allowing private health plans licensed in Texas to cover services in Texas AND in Mexico. Those plans would then be available to any Mexican national or American citizen working within 62 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. Seems to me this is a grand idea, and the study claimed it would dramatically decrease both costs in the tax-funded SCHIP program, and make it easier on immigrants who are supporting families cross-border. Since 72 percent of Mexico-born residents of the United States would be interested in a product that covered medical services in Mexico (2005 study) could this dramatically alter Texas' abysmal rate of insured? rrrrr
Granted, we simple folks don't partake much of allopathic medicine, but isn't that because allopathic medicine in the US generally sucks, more than it is about simplicity? Could one reasonably argue that my SO should be able to go to, say, Germany, for spinal surgery on that impinged disk that threatens paralyzation, and have Blue Cross (or Medicare for that matter) cover it? Might a Republican candidate like Perry by more amenable to this idea than a Dem?
From my exposure to the Republican way of thinking, I seriously doubt that the issue of making it easier on immigrants supporting families with regard to healthcare would even enter the equation. As most of the country knows Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured in the nation. However, the one factor that immediately get GOP attention is "business interests".Quote:
Originally Posted by rozie
I found this Policy Research Project Report by the LBJ School of Public Affairs interesting.
In the late 1990s, California took steps to legitimize the sale of cross-border health insurance, and the resulting policies and market structure can serve as an example for Texas.
In 1999, the Texas Legislature examined legislation to legalize cross-border HMOs for residents along the border in an effort to decrease the number of uninsured and alleviate the strains put on
hospitals due to the high costs associated with indigent care. Instead, an Interim Committee on Binational Health Benefit Plan Coverage was created to study the issues. Although it issued a report in early 2003, there was little interest in moving forward due to opposition, primarily of organized medicine.
Despite the lack of progress, there is still an interest by employers, insurers, and workers
in Texas for cost-saving, cross-border plans.
I'm not sure our healthcare system will ever be focused on "health" instead of "profit" in a Republican world.
Peace
From a 2001 speech by Governor Perry at a US/Mexico border summit:Quote:
Originally Posted by Zigzagman
Granted, the study has yet to yield results, but it seems like he was actively promoting a bi-partisan approach to a local problem. Do you think the very fact that he is a Republican kept this from going anywhere? If so, does the fact that the Texas House of Representatives was controlled by Democrats at the time have anything to do with it? I understand that the Texas legislature is one of the most powerful bodies of it's kind in the US. I wonder why they didn't just approve it and move on?Quote:
There are other challenges that require a unified approach, especially in the area of health care. A lack of preventative medicine means conditions that could have been eliminated through childhood immunizations show up in disturbing numbers later in life. Limited availability of medical specialists means conditions like heart disease and diabetes go untreated at alarming rates. In Texas, we recently placed a strong emphasis on preventative care when we expanded access to Medicaid for more low-income children by making the Medicaid enrollment process simpler. We allocated an additional $4 billion to the Medicaid program, and more than $900 million to the Children's Health Insurance Program. I urged legislators to pass a telemedicine pilot program that will enable, through technology, a sick border resident of limited financial means to receive care from a specialist hundreds of miles away. But the effort to combat disease and illness requires greater cooperative efforts between our two nations. It is a simple truth that disease knows no boundaries. An outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis, for example, endangers citizens of both our nations. We have much to gain if we work together to expand preventative care, and treat maladies unique to this region.
Legislation authored by border legislators Pat Haggerty and Eddie Lucio establishes an important study that will look at the feasibility of bi-national health insurance. This study recognizes that the Mexican and U.S. sides of the border compose one region, and we must address health care problems throughout that region. That's why I am also excited that Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar is working on an initiative that could extend the benefits of telemedicine to individuals living on the Mexican side of the border.
If you think there is anything bi-partisan about the Texas Lege or Rick Perry you are living in a dream world! It sounds good but nothing could be further from the truth. Of course that never stopped anyone from "playing like".Quote:
Originally Posted by alan
As I said earlier be very careful when it come to Rick Perry - I seriously doubt that much of America has ever been exposed (other that Bush) to someone like this. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that he is the nominee. At this point I think he is the most likely to ensure an Obama victory. Bauchman would however be a close second.
Peace
Reminds me of an old joke "Who you gonna believe, me or your lyin eyes?"Quote:
Originally Posted by Zigzagman
My source said that all groups (business AND labor, etc.) were aligned with the proposal and it had support in the lege too... EXCEPT DOCTORS intervened. Here is an interesting case where the left and right (except doctors) had a shared interest in seeing the same type of solution -- a "free market" solution that actually would have helped the working class for once. And the guy who otherwise is painted as monolithically extremist was siding with the majority of reasonable people. Now sit back and watch him lose the support of his party because of his heretofore reasonable stance on immigration. And let us watch how, rather than defend the practicality of his previous stance on this and his support of the Texas version of the "liberal" DREAM act, he will retreat and disavow it, because reasonable people within his party won't defend his one reasonable issue stance...
I just cannot resist - this is the halftime at the University of Texas/Rice football game yesterday. During halftime at Texas stadium, they started the show with a jab at Tea Party candidate Rick Perry. And the crowd LOVED it! (for those that don't know, Rick Perry was a Aggie Cheerleader)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lyFU...layer_embedded
You should have resisted Zig. Its "Yell Leader" not cheerleader and by the way, Aggies beat the hell outta SMU yesteray. I am going to come back and see you here in November, when you need consoling after the election. Until then , stay out of the wildfires and heat...
LOL - I knew that (yell leader) but refuse to acknowledge such a thing!! Who ever heard of a Yell Leader?:laff::laff:Quote:
Originally Posted by Catwoman
It will indeed be a pity party if THAT happens - maybe we can get together and console each other. I know you are not really a Perry fan. BTW- I really am sad to see A&M leaving the Big 12. Things will not be the same but can't really blame them since UT seems to be sucking the air our of the media market with the Longhorn Network. Couldn't even see the game because as of now no one is carrying it.
Peace
Hi Zigzagman - I love 'ya and I love your thoughtful posts, but I am offended by your cartoon above. (And I am NOT, NOT, NOT a Rick Perry fan).
So this is how liberals engage in pubic policy discussions? I use to find it numerous reading post from Peggy, loose, and the dope head. But now it's getting old, I guess when you have to defend a failed president, all you can do smear. I think I'll join Bae.
Have a nice life in your liberal fantasy land.
hey dmc, sorry if you go. The moving mouth photo of Perry is one of the stupidest things posted on here in years, but I'm not going to ask for its removal. I'm one that lobbies for looser moderation, and as long as personal attacks are removed, I'm willing to put up with lots of things.Quote:
Originally Posted by dmc
A photo like this of Perry reveals more about the poster than all kinds of yammering. It has its usefulness.
Sorry, a childish moment - I deleted.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnlaurel
Peace