Politics

Politics

  • Obama

    Votes: 4 1.1%
  • Romney

    Votes: 172 48.9%
  • Other

    Votes: 46 13.1%
  • a:3:{i:1637;a:5:{s:12:"polloptionid";i:1637;s:6:"nodeid";s:7:"2882145";s:5:"title";s:5:"Obama";s:5:"

    Votes: 130 36.9%

  • Total voters
    352

IrishLax

Something Witty
Staff member
Messages
37,545
Reaction score
28,995
In the nineteenth century, newspapers here used to be pretty partisan, some responded to the highest bidder.

This is true.

I think there are a lot of studies that show that American news media had/has ownership on average that is more conservative than the center of the road American citizen, maybe by a bit. And that those that work for the media magnates are a bit more liberal than their bosses.

But I don't see the majority of the mainstream media as really being 'liberal' at all. Several articles have come out, and there has been discussion of the fact that since the 1980's, conservative talk radio has pushed the bias people hold to the right, so those that listen to it think that media is 'liberal.' But with that kind of relentless campaign, anyone left of John Wayne or Charlton Heston, would be considered liberal.

I don't think this is true. From people putting "money where there mouth is"... in 2008, donations from the media were almost 90% to Democrats. Source: Obama, Democrats got 88 percent of 2008 contributions by TV network execs, writers, reporters UPDATED! | Washington Examiner
The Democratic total of $1,020,816 was given by 1,160 employees of the three major broadcast television networks, with an average contribution of $880.

By contrast, only 193 of the employees contributed to Republican candidates and campaign committees, for a total of $142,863. The average Republican contribution was $744.

So there is a lot of evidence that people in media from top to bottom lean towards the left. And there was a comprehensive study out of Dartmouth in the 2000s that proved liberal bias, as well as many other such studies since then.
 

connor_in

Oh Yeeaah!!!
Messages
11,433
Reaction score
1,006
This is true.



I don't think this is true. From people putting "money where there mouth is"... in 2008, donations from the media were almost 90% to Democrats. Source: Obama, Democrats got 88 percent of 2008 contributions by TV network execs, writers, reporters UPDATED! | Washington Examiner


So there is a lot of evidence that people in media from top to bottom lean towards the left. And there was a comprehensive study out of Dartmouth in the 2000s that proved liberal bias, as well as many other such studies since then.

#alternativefacts
 

RDU Irish

Catholics vs. Cousins
Messages
8,623
Reaction score
2,727
I'm not sure I understand you here. You think fiduciary duty is bs, but warn of advisors with a used car salesmen approach? What do you think fiduciary duty is there for in the first place?

What do you mean by "skin"? Who are you referring to, the bank or the person applying for the loan? Because under current regs, they both do have skin in the game (lenders=provisions & mortgagee=down payment)

This is bullshit. So get rid of regs and costs for small banks so they can right shitty loans and sell them to the big banks? You do realize that small banks don't have the balance sheets to carry the debt they underwrite, right?

This is simply regurgitated non-sense. What exactly is this "inane garbage" that they are asking for from you?

Totally agree. Bankers need to choose whether they're George Bailey or Gordon Gecko. They cannot be both.

Do tell.


Many of them did. But people getting bad loans isn't even half the problem. The loans need to be correctly underwritten by those "box checkers" you seemingly admire. They need to be correctly rated by the agencies. Then the institutional banks need to be responsible with their trading.

Glass-Steagall solve a ton of the problem - we can both agree.

You talk out of both sides of your mouth (must be an I banker for one of the big dogs) you do it so well you fool yourself. Banks sell their loans, "provisions" are nothing more than CYA boxes to check to keep the sold loan from boomeranging back at you. Why write a loan if you are not going to own it (or at least a significant amount of it).

You really think small banks wouldn't enough deposits to underwrite their own loans if they could offer more competitive interest rates than the big boys? If the three branch Podunk Bank down the street had a 3% 5 year CD while Bank of America and the other big boys were offering 2% for the same CD you think they wouldn't pick up business from the big dog? That can easily be done through deposit insurance fees and you would see the big banks split up in no time (most likely after they try non-FDIC insured CDs to beat the small bank rates and fail to capture the same deposit base).

As for stupidity of underwriting - someone can walk in with a W2 from some junk startup company in the middle of failing to get follow up funding to keep the lights on. Literally everyone is out of work in a month if they don't get an investor. That W2 is treated like gold with virtually no other documentation needed. All W2s are not created equal - but they are in the eyes of regulators. Joe Blow Bank who works closely in the area would be well served to understand this and let Wells Fargo take that loan while they give a better rate to the same profile person working for IBM. As you so eloquently point out - Joe Blow writes both and sells the garbage knowing it will get rated AAA. Check the boxes, get your check. That is not underwriting - that is manipulating a process to your advantage.

To the original Fiduciary rule - if you think your advisor is looking out for your best interest because it is required by law then good luck to you. It is already a highly regulated industry - yet crooks are everywhere. Granted, it is SELF regulated so the crooks just get passed around from firm to firm - as long as they produce revenue there is always someone there to pick them up. Whose f-ing money is it? People have full access to "fiduciary" solutions but choose not to do it - so the government should force it? As I stated - It would help my business as I already do it, however I am morally opposed to government telling people how they have to manage their money.

Don't doubt that the long game is opening up IRAs to some new direct Treasury IRA as they need new buyers for govies when SS & Medicare go in the red, lots of foreign purchasers already drying up. Govies do make up a large part of most model portfolios out there as the "safe" AAA bond ballast. Going to be great when everyone invests identically as regulated by Big Brother.
 

RDU Irish

Catholics vs. Cousins
Messages
8,623
Reaction score
2,727

I remember watching that in real time - he is being heckled by the anchors who cannot comprehend the vitriol and common sense. Almost ten years ago - this is Trump vs. Establishment.

They came back to him regularly afterward and fed the beast b/c of ratings - anchors were much less condescending - except for Kudlow, he might as well as had pom-poms.
 
B

Bogtrotter07

Guest
This is true.



I don't think this is true. From people putting "money where there mouth is"... in 2008, donations from the media were almost 90% to Democrats. Source: Obama, Democrats got 88 percent of 2008 contributions by TV network execs, writers, reporters UPDATED! | Washington Examiner


So there is a lot of evidence that people in media from top to bottom lean towards the left. And there was a comprehensive study out of Dartmouth in the 2000s that proved liberal bias, as well as many other such studies since then.

I've got it! I could agree with that, except for one thing.

I started looking at the election results and started pondering things, and all of a sudden, it stood right out to me!

There is an easy explanation for that.

I looked at all the information I could on breakdowns, and tendencies. Pew had some good stuff.

Political Polarization & Media Habits | Pew Research Center

Political Party Affiliation | Pew Research Center

And then I started to get onto it!

What is the biggest difference between journalism of the past, versus journalism of the present? And what is the biggest difference between 'mainstream media' and alternative?

Education. In the past, few reporters started with any specialized training, or higher education, that has totally reversed today. Also, in past, those with advanced education of any kind were far more distinct (fewer), and far more likely to have paid for their own education. In days where most people had to earn by 16, there wasn't the luxury to obtain a college education, so only the rich could really afford one.

As journalism developed from partisan to objective, the ability of the underclasses to attain increasingly higher levels of education expanded. And then to follow that, working as a journalist, required more and more specific credentials, based upon education.

Journalism lost its attachment to the more conservative upper class and followed groups regardless of income or privilige, base upon intellectual ability, skill and talent.

Moving forward to the 2016 Election I took a look at the voting results. If you rate the states and DC by their highest level of academic achievement (per capita) of the states, HRC won 1 through 19 and two more in the top 25. Everything else went to Trump, including the bottom 25 states in advanced degrees per capita.

Ohio - 33 wasn't close as anticipated. The top of the educational strata had really soft numbers.

PA - 20 was much the same way, the soft vote from the top was very evident.

GA - 23 has a lot of college graduates and a fair number of advanced degrees, but it has a low number of total high school graduates. Guess what? Voting in the state played out totally along educational lines! Georgia had a better turn out of their more educated voters, and the state was closer than anticipated.

I am working on an article for another source, and it shows a stark divide in who of what educational level voted for what candidate.

I don't want to sound incendiary, but more educated people have a greater likelihood of not being conservative, I am not talking about traditional Republicans. I am talking about Alt-Right, to unemployed, under-educated, and whites that have economically been passed by.

So if that is what we are discussing, and media comes up, I believe more 'media workers' are more 'liberal' than likely 'Alt-Right', or the Trump base.

In fact, I will take it a step further and say that the Trump campaign sought people out by this one criterion, and focused on them with one message that was a mantra, everything will be wonderful again, and sent mixed messages, misinformation, lies, and all other manner of media 'white noise' out their for everyone else.

Thus Trump got nearly 100% of the under-educated, with whom his message could resonate, without too much resistance, and his campaign sought to disinterest the more educated, which weren't going to be as likely to buy in as what became his base.

That is why post general election, and post inauguration, there is so much resistance to his message, and he has doubled down on his lies, and ridiculous contentions!

For further on that see Charles Sykes. I understand he has some good information on that!
 

RDU Irish

Catholics vs. Cousins
Messages
8,623
Reaction score
2,727
Charlie Sykes went off the deep end this election cycle - he used to have a decent radio show in MKE and lost half his audience being an off the charts Trump hater.

Mark Belling is the real deal in that town though.
 
B

Bogtrotter07

Guest
Charlie Sykes went off the deep end this election cycle - he used to have a decent radio show in MKE and lost half his audience being an off the charts Trump hater.

Mark Belling is the real deal in that town though.

Interesting, the guy wrote one of the most straightforward, truthful, well researched, and factual opinion pieces ever, and you have to try to slam him with some vague reference that he went crazy, clearly meaning mentally ill.

I understand your familiarity with these issues. Do you have a PhD? Or is it something else?
 

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433

have really enjoyed Rubin's stuff...he has had some really interesting guests. His format rocks because he asks questions and....wait for it...lets people answer fully. He seems genuinely curious, which leads to really good followup questions. Glad he's out there.
 

connor_in

Oh Yeeaah!!!
Messages
11,433
Reaction score
1,006
C39sfskXAAEEA0p.jpg
 

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
Tried to Rep you...Comedic gold I tell ya...

Thanks man....I can always count on you to bring the humor Bigly...or Big League...whatever the right word is....anyway, you rock.
 

Bishop2b5

SEC Exchange Student
Messages
8,929
Reaction score
6,160
Connor, these were all great! Wish I could rep you for them... especially the last one.
 

BleedBlueGold

Well-known member
Messages
6,269
Reaction score
2,492
With the release of the Tesla Powerwall, I started looking into getting a solar system for my home. Duke Energy in Indiana is already paying off politicians to change the laws on net metering because they say it's "unfair" for them to have to buy back electricity at the same retail price they sell it for even though they aren't the ones who provide it. LOL. Phasing out net metering and decreasing the reimbursement price on solar generated electricity significantly effects the break-even date on a solar system investment, rendering it utterly impractical unless you just have money to burn (and even still, Duke comes out ahead).

Free market my ass. When the big companies pay off politicians in order to change laws so they can crush the little guy competition, we have a problem. That destroys innovation and it destroys market adjusted pricing.

As a middle finger to Duke, (and if I can get my wife on board), I'd love to just go off grid completely so I don't have to give them a dime of my money.
 

IrishLax

Something Witty
Staff member
Messages
37,545
Reaction score
28,995
With the release of the Tesla Powerwall, I started looking into getting a solar system for my home. Duke Energy in Indiana is already paying off politicians to change the laws on net metering because they say it's "unfair" for them to have to buy back electricity at the same retail price they sell it for even though they aren't the ones who provide it. LOL. Phasing out net metering and decreasing the reimbursement price on solar generated electricity significantly effects the break-even date on a solar system investment, rendering it utterly impractical unless you just have money to burn (and even still, Duke comes out ahead).

Free market my ass. When the big companies pay off politicians in order to change laws so they can crush the little guy competition, we have a problem. That destroys innovation and it destroys market adjusted pricing.

As a middle finger to Duke, (and if I can get my wife on board), I'd love to just go off grid completely so I don't have to give them a dime of my money.

I'm interested to see if solar really does become viable as a primary energy source in places like Indiana. I haven't done much research on it recently, but had a fair amount of experience with it back in 2010 in Arizona. Our remote tower sites for CBP were powered by solar arrays linked into a battery system... and even in a place as sunny as the desert there were issues in maintaining them, and issues with long term efficiency. Regardless, it was more cost effective to power something in the middle of the desert through means that didn't involve extending the power grid to somewhere it isn't naturally near.
 

BleedBlueGold

Well-known member
Messages
6,269
Reaction score
2,492
I'm interested to see if solar really does become viable as a primary energy source in places like Indiana. I haven't done much research on it recently, but had a fair amount of experience with it back in 2010 in Arizona. Our remote tower sites for CBP were powered by solar arrays linked into a battery system... and even in a place as sunny as the desert there were issues in maintaining them, and issues with long term efficiency. Regardless, it was more cost effective to power something in the middle of the desert through means that didn't involve extending the power grid to somewhere it isn't naturally near.

I think for places like Indiana that only average around 5 hours of direct sunlight per day over the course of the year will need to figure out a way to do solar, battery storage, and still use the grid. Essentially, this is what I want to do. Mainly because the system I would need to go off-grid would have to be pretty large (and costly) to adequately power my house. But if I could eventually get a system that includes the Powerwall to help offset some of the cost of my electric bill, that I'd be interested in. It's just that IN is about to do away with net metering so anyone with solar (or considering solar) are about to go into battle with Duke and lawmakers.
 

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
I'm interested to see if solar really does become viable as a primary energy source in places like Indiana. I haven't done much research on it recently, but had a fair amount of experience with it back in 2010 in Arizona. Our remote tower sites for CBP were powered by solar arrays linked into a battery system... and even in a place as sunny as the desert there were issues in maintaining them, and issues with long term efficiency. Regardless, it was more cost effective to power something in the middle of the desert through means that didn't involve extending the power grid to somewhere it isn't naturally near.

For my professional uses, initial investment is prohibitive. Although, residential has come a long way, for sure.

The powerwall is sweet, clean...BUT, does anyone know if that is part of the installation that subsidies pay for, or is it like tier 1 medicine, where you are allowed some but not all costs.
 

Legacy

New member
Messages
7,871
Reaction score
321
Alabama's Governor, Robert Bentley, has appointed their AG, Luther Strange, to fill the Senatorial seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, the new U.S. AG. Alabama is mostly governed by one party. Bentley has been investigated by Strange for improprities that could lead to his impeachment. Recently, Strange put a hold on those investigations.

Bentley will now appoint a new AG who will make the decision that could impeach him - or not. Some members of the state legislature feel this is a new low in Alabama politics.
 
Last edited:

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
Alabama's Governor, Robert Bentley, has appointed their AG, Luther Strange, to fill the Senatorial seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, the new U.S. AG. Alabama is mostly governed by one party. Bentley has been investigated by Strange for improprities that could lead to his impeachment. Recently, Strange put a hold on those investigations.

Bentley will now appoint a new AG who will make the decision that could impeach him - or not. Some members of the state legislature feel this is a new low in Alabama politics.

...well, we've moved on from Blago type approaches to vacant seats. Sad thing is we all KNOW that wasn't a new low in Illinois politics.

It would seem Alabama has a problem. I don't know how it all works there, but couldn't the people recall him???
 
Top