tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post2038527385939208274..comments2024-01-05T06:18:18.086-05:00Comments on CommentaramaPolitics: Presidential Debate Re-CapAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-75314049235170434812012-10-05T23:06:48.706-04:002012-10-05T23:06:48.706-04:00Andrew, I realize this is a little late, but I'...Andrew, I realize this is a little late, but I'm surrounded by bozos. If it isn't friends or neighbors, it's family. There is no refuge here. So, I must be guilty by association/relation. I hope that helps explain some of my responses here.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-62863275267927930502012-10-05T00:28:48.733-04:002012-10-05T00:28:48.733-04:00Tryanmax, I came to the same conclusion. With that...Tryanmax, I came to the same conclusion. With that being said, I really hope she doesn't vote. <br /><br />She's not dumb, but there are some things that she knows nothing about, and I have tried to help her understand. One of these areas, and totally OT would be dairy cattle, and things that a person should pay attention to. They had beef cattle until they added to the herd with some they bought from me. I taught her do and do nots, along with other stuff. She was totally clueless about a disease I told her about, and why I follow certain practices. The good thing about it is, she does remember what I tell her.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-21173579490629085582012-10-05T00:17:06.782-04:002012-10-05T00:17:06.782-04:00Jen, your friend is all over the board. One of the...Jen, your friend is all over the board. One of the more dismal realizations I've come to lately is that most people don't understand simple cause and effect.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-43151005978702667142012-10-05T00:14:22.297-04:002012-10-05T00:14:22.297-04:00I don't think she even realizes that she's...I don't think she even realizes that she's a liberal in that sense. She's always complaining about people who abuse gov't assistance, and yet still thinks this way. WTF???<br /><br />I commented about her last week with this (in reference to food stamps):<br /><i>My friend was telling me about Schwan Foods taking them as well. She said the stuff isn't cheap (she will buy things on occasion). She also gets upset when buying groceries. She looks for reduced price, store brands, or specials, only to see someone with name brand items, and they pay with their EBT card.</i><br /><br />It's funny about what she thinks when it comes to Bush. She doesn't like the guy, but thinks he's sexy, and gets more so every year. LOL! She wouldn't be very happy with me right now if she read this. Oh well.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-24556025419381302412012-10-05T00:12:59.503-04:002012-10-05T00:12:59.503-04:00That is good.That is good.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-40148674955367030502012-10-05T00:04:39.693-04:002012-10-05T00:04:39.693-04:00Joel, I heard similar things about Roth IRAs. But ...Joel, I heard similar things about Roth IRAs. But I think the Tea Party scared most politicians away from those ideas. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-92008351904419097972012-10-05T00:03:44.821-04:002012-10-05T00:03:44.821-04:00If she's worried about people making bad choic...If she's worried about people making bad choices for themselves, then she's a lost cause. People may make bad decisions, but the gov't invariably makes worse ones on their behalf. I'm sorry, but your friend is a nanny-state liberal if that is the crux of her reasoning. <br /><br />If she loves JFK so much, she must somehow have missed the part about "Ask not what your country can do for you..." Liberals seem especially prone to the idea that all of a party's leaders are ideologically identical. Just look at the way they compare all Republicans to Bush. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-13331271399949764762012-10-04T23:58:19.266-04:002012-10-04T23:58:19.266-04:00She thinks that it's too risky for SS money to...She thinks that it's too risky for SS money to be in the stock market. I've suggested those other things you mentioned, but she thinks that if someone is foolish with their money, then they won't have anything left for retirement, and then what will they do?<br /><br />I think Andrew may have triggered something. He mentioned the loyalty to FDR. Her oldest is big into all things JFK, and she <i>really</i> likes to hear him speak in the old videos she watches. She wasn't even born until long after he was gone. I'm sorry, but I was never impressed with his speaking.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-39601990421233034742012-10-04T23:55:47.228-04:002012-10-04T23:55:47.228-04:00The last I heard about this was 401k was going to ...The last I heard about this was 401k was going to be raided by the government. <br /><br />That is, all 401k are going to be nationalized to shore up SS. This was before Obama was elected and also before the Tea Parties. Now, I think the furor has died down. Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-15312968045698803292012-10-04T23:49:32.539-04:002012-10-04T23:49:32.539-04:00BTW, if anyone wants to jump in and fact-check me,...BTW, if anyone wants to jump in and fact-check me, they are more than welcome to do so. This is my understanding of things, but I only claim to be human. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-73588384353806968162012-10-04T23:44:28.885-04:002012-10-04T23:44:28.885-04:00First of all, there is no compelling reason why SS...First of all, there is no compelling reason why SS should not go into the stock market. The market always grows in the long run and there are mechanisms that can be put in place to ensure that a crash does not destroy anybody's retirement. You hear all these Democrats talking about "betting on America." Well, to an extent, that's what putting money into the stock market is. <br /><br />But to answer your question, yes, there are other things people could do with their money in a private system. You could put it in a simple savings account and draw the piddling interest that brings. You could invest directly into things outside the stock market. The plans proposed by those who suggest privatizing SS would basically make it manageable like a 401K is. People would be able to direct their money in a way that makes them most comfortable. No one is proposing a one-size-fits-all solution to the current one-size-fits-none problem. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-9491383580818534342012-10-04T23:36:17.112-04:002012-10-04T23:36:17.112-04:00Tryanmax, thanks for your input. I knew about the ...Tryanmax, thanks for your input. I knew about the IOUs, but didn't recall if there was anything else I should know.<br /><br />My friend kept saying, that SS money shouldn't be put into the stock market. I didn't hear just that reason. Is there another way? I can't think of what it is right now.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-75037495255240904062012-10-04T23:33:01.464-04:002012-10-04T23:33:01.464-04:00Another way to look at it is this: every time the ...Another way to look at it is this: every time the gov't borrows money out of social security and replaces it with these securities, it is effectively printing more currency. So even if the securities are repaid with interest, they've been inflated to worthlessness. <br /><br />The SSA is very proud to say that the government has always repaid SS with interest as a way of saying that the securities are sound. But that's like saying that the sun will never burn out because it hasn't yet.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-45776603832917506122012-10-04T23:30:02.800-04:002012-10-04T23:30:02.800-04:00I used to work somewhere represented by a union. I...I used to work somewhere represented by a union. I didn't want to join, but at the time, we weren't a Right to Work state, so I know what you said is true.<br /><br />Every election cycle was the same ol', same ol'. The only literature that would be on the breakroom tables was Democrat propaganda. The union even <i>told</i> everyone who they should vote for. It really ticked me off to be insulted like that--as though I didn't have a mind of my own, and could think for myself.<br /><br />The fortunate thing was, I transferred to a department that was polar opposite of this thinking. We used to trash the Dem stuff (figuratively). We just disregarded every bit of garbage that these people (Dem voters) would say. I live in a red county, but it was starting to turn purple.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-43147992261799416752012-10-04T23:27:23.587-04:002012-10-04T23:27:23.587-04:00As I see it, it's either privatize SS or kiss ...As I see it, it's either privatize SS or kiss it goodbye. There is no money in the SS system. It's literally stocked with IOUs. Technically, they are called "special issue securities" and they are backed by the "full faith and credit of the U. S. Government" for whatever that is worth these days. They are roughly equivalent to U.S. Savings Bonds, which no competent investor would recommend these days. And to further compound the problem, these are bonds that the government has issued to itself. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-84800376394578019152012-10-04T23:19:03.718-04:002012-10-04T23:19:03.718-04:00The union thing might be part of the explanation. ...The union thing might be part of the explanation. If nothing else, you have to be expert at keeping your blinders on to even be in one. My experience with unions (by proxy through my dad) is that they jack the members around, all the members know it, but they still blame the employer for all their beefs. It's not at all dissimilar to the way the Democrats jack their base around but their base still blames the GOP. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-18167209284013208432012-10-04T23:18:28.766-04:002012-10-04T23:18:28.766-04:00I've got another question. This subject may ha...I've got another question. This subject may have been brought up here before, but I haven't been around long enough to know about it. What is the thought about Social Security and privatization?<br /><br />My friend thought it was a very bad idea to privatize SS, and I did question her about why she believes that way. I'd just like additional opinions from here. Thanks!<br /> <br />Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-53673498723698944412012-10-04T23:13:22.963-04:002012-10-04T23:13:22.963-04:00Jen and tryanmax, West Virginia was full of those ...Jen and tryanmax, West Virginia was full of those people too. They didn't share a single belief with the national Democrats, but they voted Democratic because the local Democrats were excellent at lying about what they believed and then voting differently in Washington. They also traced their loyalty back to FDR.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-54277616830396836532012-10-04T23:13:19.705-04:002012-10-04T23:13:19.705-04:00Tryanmax, I've never asked her which party she...Tryanmax, I've never asked her which party she votes for. I've only known her less than two years. I really thought she was on my side, but some of her beliefs defy logic to me.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-29867154039307045022012-10-04T23:09:23.840-04:002012-10-04T23:09:23.840-04:00Afterthought: of course there's always plain f...Afterthought: of course there's always plain foolishness for an answer. It seems folks who are fooled in one area are fooled in all areas. It really is like a mental disorder. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-19527774076780797332012-10-04T23:09:21.893-04:002012-10-04T23:09:21.893-04:00Andrew, Something else I want to add. Her husband ...Andrew, Something else I want to add. Her husband is in a union, and she supports that, yet complains about the guys who make note of every time the company "violates" something in the handbook. Her husband will operate any equipment they want him to, and couldn't care less about what is in the union handbook.<br /><br />Last year, her husband's union was threatening a strike over having to contribute to their health insurance (yeah, one of those). My neighbor across the road wasn't very sympathetic to their cause (he met her, but only told me about this).<br /><br />That union was also wanting to cause trouble over the <i>Right to Work</i> vote that came up. As luck would have it (against them), my state is now <i>Right to Work</i>. LOL!Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-56857582862244687772012-10-04T23:06:18.568-04:002012-10-04T23:06:18.568-04:00Jen, I know what you're talking about, the typ...Jen, I know what you're talking about, the type who is conservative in every facet of life but votes Democrat. My grandparents are poster-people for that. My only insight is that it is a strange loyalty thing. I can't figure out exactly what it is these people thing the Dems have done for them, but it's apparently a helluva lot better than a free sandwich for every five votes. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-51502993835174118922012-10-04T23:03:01.606-04:002012-10-04T23:03:01.606-04:00Jen, If she swings left, then you have your answer...Jen, If she swings left, then you have your answer. :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-77275847008659541582012-10-04T22:58:23.795-04:002012-10-04T22:58:23.795-04:00Andrew, I was all ready to say something to her to...Andrew, I was all ready to say something to her today, but she had her youngest son with her, so I couldn't.<br /><br />I asked the question earlier in the day because my mind drew a blank at the time. Then, I couldn't get back online to check. It wouldn't have mattered anyway (because of her son being there), but she is supposed to stop by tomorrow.<br /><br />Believe me, I've even sent her links to different things, and even to this blog. Politics is the only area she tends to swing left for some reason, unless it's something else I don't know about.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-1338851371175337592012-10-04T22:48:33.126-04:002012-10-04T22:48:33.126-04:00Jen, There's your answer -- she's a bozo. ...Jen, There's your answer -- she's a bozo. The people who believe the conspiracy theory stuff are typically very poorly informed, have really extreme and often contradictory opinions, and attack all the mainstream candidates with invective rather than logic because they have no reason for their opinions except conspiracy crap they know no one else will believe.<br /><br />You should ask her to back up her statement. What scares you? Do you have any proof? Where did you hear that?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com