Politics

[BobD]

I agree with you!!!!! (that felt good)....but like every other "group" expect a lawsuit about discrimination.


Fat folks are already doing it to airlines.

Weight has always been an issue for me as an adult. When I was young I played football and baseball , then I was in the Army, but after that I got married and POOF! That's why I started the fat@ss thread last year and dropped some tonnage.

I don't think people who take care of themselves should pay higher premiums because I can't resist a buffet line.

 

[irishpat183]

Weight has always been an issue for me as an adult. When I was young I played football and baseball , then I was in the Army, but after that I got married and POOF! That's why I started the fat@ss thread last year and dropped some tonnage.

I don't think people who take care of themselves should pay higher premiums because I can't resist a buffet line.

I don't think people who have jobs and take care of themselves should pay higher taxes because someone can't get a job.

 

[BobD]

I don't think people who have jobs and take care of themselves should pay higher taxes because someone can't get a job.

Being health conscious doesn't require the help of others.

 

[Buster Bluth]

No guys, THIS is why we need infrastructure...

Arlington's Million Dollar Bus Stop | wusa9.com

thank god we trust government to do the right thing with our money...

As silly as that was, it's certainly not as bad as the federal government deciding to pay for 90% of freeway construction costs, and in the process rip up trillions of dollars worth of buildings. It's considered the single biggest misallocation of resources in the history of mankind.

But yeah, complain about the stupid bus stop stupidity. That's the big picture...

 

[Black Irish]

Being health conscious doesn't require the help of others.

I'd be happy to wrestle you away from the buffet line if it helps, though. I'm a charitable guy.

 

[Black Irish]

As silly as that was, it's certainly not as bad as the federal government deciding to pay for 90% of freeway construction costs, and in the process rip up trillions of dollars worth of buildings. It's considered the single biggest misallocation of resources in the history of mankind.

But yeah, complain about the stupid bus stop stupidity. That's the big picture...

So what's the big picture solution to the interstate highway system that is not going anywhere?

 

[WaveDomer]

How do you guys feel about smokers and chubbies paying higher health insurance premiums? I tend to agree with the idea. Money is a motivator for me and if my premium could go up or down 25%, I'd probably be more apt to reach for a carrot than the bacon.

If you're still smoking my friends, please quit. It IS killing you.

This is part of the issue with health insurance really not being insurance in the classic sense. You don't use car insurance to get an oil change. Why do we use health insurance to get a checkup? Before you say, "Because it's expensive" part of the reason it's expensive is because insurance and gov't pay such a huge portion. That's the third payer system I referenced above. Your car insurance goes up or down depending on your driving record or lack of one if you just got a license. Your health insurance goes up or down depending on the gigantic pool of users. So a 30 year old health nut will pay the same as a 30 year old guy who smokes 2 packs a day and is 50 pounds overweight. Consumers are so far removed from the cost so that removes them from making decisions based on that cost. So we over consume healthcare and drive up costs. Can you imagine if an oil change cost you $5 or a brake job cost you $25. I'd get it done every month. For health, people make the choice to take a pill for cholesterol rather than change their diet. Insurance should be for big issues. Check ups and things like that can be done out of pocket.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iRWPs--j9k4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

As silly as that was, it's certainly not as bad as the federal government deciding to pay for 90% of freeway construction costs, and in the process rip up trillions of dollars worth of buildings. It's considered the single biggest misallocation of resources in the history of mankind.

But yeah, complain about the stupid bus stop stupidity. That's the big picture...

Wanna look at the financial books for Amtrak? lol

 

[Buster Bluth]

Wanna look at the financial books for Amtrak? lol

Yeah, I do.

And then I want to ask why it's important for Amtrak to be in the black when the interstates aren't?

 

[chicago51]

For those of you keeping score we have had 3 Tar Sands spills this week in NA. Alberta, Minnesota, and Arkansas; the latter 2 being in the United States.

As Administration Decides On Keystone, U.S. Experiences Two Tar Sands Spills This Week | ThinkProgress

 

[chicago51]

Exxon not allowing media into certain areas right now.

Here is a link to a video a local resident filmed.

Taboola - Viral Player

Huge mess! Homes destroyed!

 

[Buster Bluth]

Huge mess! Homes destroyed!

Hardly a "huge mess." This is the cost of living in a civilized world, this happens occasionally. It's not like those home owners won't be taken care of. Proper regulation would make sure that damages are paid and the place is environmentally clean.

This is basically a non-story, we just looooove to bash oil.

 

[chicago51]

Exxon not allowing media into certain areas right now.

Here is a link to a video a local resident filmed.

Taboola - Viral Player

Huge mess! Homes destroyed!

News link to the story: Taboola - Viral Player

Look I understand this the cost to our lifestyle. Things like this are going to happen. I also understand oil is still king of the day.

The question is when are we going to say that we don't want this 25 years from now?

 

[chicago51]

Hardly a "huge mess." This is the cost of living in a civilized world, this happens occasionally. It's not like those home owners won't be taken care of. Proper regulation would make sure that damages are paid and the place is environmentally clean.

This is basically a non-story, we just looooove to bash oil.

I sort of agree with you granted to a small extent but we wouldn't be saying that if it was our house, or our town's water supply. Well maybe you would I shouldn't speak for you.

Taboola - Viral Player

Again that is two Tar Sands oil spills this week. There was one in Minnesota this week too. Although the blame for this one is largely on Canadian Pacific Railroad not the oil industry.

Train Derailment Spills 30,000 Gallons of Oil in Minnesota -- Was it Tar Sands? | Alternet

It does go to show there is no fool proof way of transporting this stuff. We had two spills one from rail one from pipeline.
I wish there was some way I could blame our out of date rail infrastructure but I haven't find any cause for that yet.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I sort of agree with you granted to a small extent but we wouldn't be saying that if it was our house, or our town's water supply. Well maybe you would I shouldn't speak for you.

I would of course be pissed, but I'd realize that it's just part of the deal. As you said, there's no 100% malfunction-proof way to do it.

 

[irishpat183]

Two aspects of the ACA every American, no matter which party, should just come out and call horse ****.

1) "We have to pass the bill so you can see what's in it." --- Pelosi

2) The first thing the Democrats did after signing it was exclude themselves from it. "The people" down there can live with this. Elite, righteous politicians like ourselves bestowing such generosity on the country need not be subjected to that. We get our own private health care up here.

Disgusting. And they got away with it because not enough people were outraged.

Yet not ONE democrat will explain this.

If it was SOOOOOOO great, why the waivers?

 

[irishpat183]

I would of course be pissed, but I'd realize that it's just part of the deal. As you said, there's no 100% malfunction-proof way to do it.

Just like the capitalism...it's not perfect. There are going to be casualties.

 

[Black Irish]

Here's a link to an article about David Stockman's new book. Stickman was a Congressman and OMB director under Reagan. Stockman contends that the handling of the recent financial crisis was terrible and only perpetuated the problematic entwining of Wall Street and Washington. As a free-market conservative, I agree with him that it's shameful how the banks were, as he puts it, shielded from the downside but still allowed to reap any profit benefits.

DAVID STOCKMAN: We've Been Lied To - Business Insider

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Yet not ONE democrat will explain this.

If it was SOOOOOOO great, why the waivers?

To the Democrats' credit, their lap dogs in the media/ press room won't dare bring it up or push the button on that.

 

[phgreek]

Here's a link to an article about David Stockman's new book. Stickman was a Congressman and OMB director under Reagan. Stockman contends that the handling of the recent financial crisis was terrible and only perpetuated the problematic entwining of Wall Street and Washington. As a free-market conservative, I agree with him that it's shameful how the banks were, as he puts it, shielded from the downside but still allowed to reap any profit benefits.

DAVID STOCKMAN: We've Been Lied To - Business Insider

Totally agree..

 

[phgreek]

Just like the capitalism...it's not perfect. There are going to be casualties.

...the entire point really...capitalism is HEAVY on the Risk side of the continuum of Risk and Security...ALWAYS HAS BEEN, is supposed to be.


We gave it this a cool word "OPPORTUNITY"...but on a percentage basis, the system is likely to lead to any given individual's failure...so more Opportunity to fail than succeed wildly. The difference maker is work, intelect, and balls.

On a macro scale this leads to a nation of competitive Mfers...all good.

Not only are there casualties...there are SUPPOSED to be alot of them...

oh, and yea...spilling **** sucks...they should be pummeled to oblivion so someone else can come take up the business who will do it w/o effing it up ....I'm that odd duck who thinks Fracking is frickin STUPID, and when you spill **** you are over...done...next contestant. Ever think the reason we have a GIANT EPA is because we try to regulate and mediate with them...screw it...you spill...you end. Don't need an EPA for that.

 

[GoIrish41]

...the entire point really...capitalism is HEAVY on the Risk side of the continuum of Risk and Security...ALWAYS HAS BEEN, is supposed to be.


We gave it this a cool word "OPPORTUNITY"...but on a percentage basis, the system is likely to lead to any given individual's failure...so more Opportunity to fail than succeed wildly. The difference maker is work, intelect, and balls.

On a macro scale this leads to a nation of competitive Mfers...all good.

Not only are there casualties...there are SUPPOSED to be alot of them...

oh, and yea...spilling **** sucks...they should be pummeled to oblivion so someone else can come take up the business who will do it w/o effing it up ....I'm that odd duck who thinks Fracking is frickin STUPID, and when you spill **** you are over...done...next contestant. Ever think the reason we have a GIANT EPA is because we try to regulate and mediate with them...screw it...you spill...you end. Don't need an EPA for that.

I'm with you on this.

 

[DSully1995]

...the entire point really...capitalism is HEAVY on the Risk side of the continuum of Risk and Security...ALWAYS HAS BEEN, is supposed to be.


We gave it this a cool word "OPPORTUNITY"...but on a percentage basis, the system is likely to lead to any given individual's failure...so more Opportunity to fail than succeed wildly. The difference maker is work, intelect, and balls.

On a macro scale this leads to a nation of competitive Mfers...all good.

Not only are there casualties...there are SUPPOSED to be alot of them...

oh, and yea...spilling **** sucks...they should be pummeled to oblivion so someone else can come take up the business who will do it w/o effing it up ....I'm that odd duck who thinks Fracking is frickin STUPID, and when you spill **** you are over...done...next contestant. Ever think the reason we have a GIANT EPA is because we try to regulate and mediate with them...screw it...you spill...you end. Don't need an EPA for that.

The market will punish bad companies: "The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 initiated a sharp decline in share prices, and BP’s shares lost roughly 50% of their value in 50 days"

 

[DSully1995]

I sort of agree with you granted to a small extent but we wouldn't be saying that if it was our house, or our town's water supply. Well maybe you would I shouldn't speak for you.

Taboola - Viral Player

Again that is two Tar Sands oil spills this week. There was one in Minnesota this week too. Although the blame for this one is largely on Canadian Pacific Railroad not the oil industry.

Train Derailment Spills 30,000 Gallons of Oil in Minnesota -- Was it Tar Sands? | Alternet

It does go to show there is no fool proof way of transporting this stuff. We had two spills one from rail one from pipeline.
I wish there was some way I could blame our out of date rail infrastructure but I haven't find any cause for that yet.

Chicago, its oil sands, thank you,

Albertan and Canadian

 

[phgreek]

The market will punish bad companies: "The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 initiated a sharp decline in share prices, and BP’s shares lost roughly 50% of their value in 50 days"

Don't get me wrong. I love me some wall street and big oil companies...I am tickled when they make absolutely "obscene" profits...and it is utterly stupid to think thy somehow don't deserve them...but when they lose, yes the market should beat the hell out of them... and uncle sugar should STFU and sit down....same case with Wall street.

If they engage in conduct that is criminal or negligent...and it bankrupts them to make it right...SO FREAKING WHAT ...I want the shot to be, or invest in, the replacement company or technology...markets may pile on a bad actor...but not always. And markets don't decide when is good enough for cleanup of spills. I hate the EPA, but one of the FEW things they need to deal with is when is it cleaned up regardless of the cost (in terms of money or market place). The sad part is the EPA is used like a shotgun hindering alot of industry, not a like a rifle to kill the bad actors.

 

[Buster Bluth]

oh, and yea...spilling **** sucks...they should be pummeled to oblivion so someone else can come take up the business who will do it w/o effing it up ....I'm that odd duck who thinks Fracking is frickin STUPID, and when you spill **** you are over...done...next contestant. Ever think the reason we have a GIANT EPA is because we try to regulate and mediate with them...screw it...you spill...you end. Don't need an EPA for that.

That's just silly.

 

[phgreek]

That's just silly.

No its not.

...it would appear pretty short-sighted to simply shut someone down if they have the means to pay for cleanup, and the ability to carry on...I'll give you that...

Other than that...

 

[DSully1995]

No its not.

...it would appear pretty short-sighted to simply shut someone down if they have the means to pay for cleanup, and the ability to carry on...I'll give you that...

Other than that...

Try being the politician to tell Exxon's 83k emloyees they out of a job, not to mention its partners

 

[Buster Bluth]

No its not.

...it would appear pretty short-sighted to simply shut someone down if they have the means to pay for cleanup, and the ability to carry on...I'll give you that...

Other than that...

And they all do. They're OIL COMPANIES. And the ones that don't would go out of business regardless...

 

[Buster Bluth]

Try being the politician to tell Exxon's 83k emloyees they out of a job, not to mention its partners

lol

The federal government should all be out of a job for getting us into two stupid wars.