Originally Posted By cape cod joe Jim--What you say is true as I am a man of statistics and percents as we discussed last month. Beau--You are right with most things> I don't like the pigeonholing of dems as........... or whatever BUT why the huge discrepancy? I think its the natural disenchantment that sets in with ANY President's second term. Sure you can say that Bill lied, etc but the economy was great then too albeit not for me personally. And you can say that there is a certain stench that seems to be settling over the beltway even as I type> not even an indictment but even Beau can smell it, I think. It's just a natural phenomenon in this 2-party country that malaise will naturally happen after a President has been in office for a while, no matter who it is. Just my feelings as this is not a black and white thing?
Originally Posted By mrichmondj <<<< BUT... ask these people WHY they think the country is going in the wrong direction, to really give a solid example of why they FEEL this way and they will not have an answer >>>> Really? Why would you FEEL something and not know WHY? That is ridiculous. How about: 1) Cost of gasoline pinching consumer budgets, while ExxonMobil reports nearly $40B in annual profits. 2) Housing prices unaffordable for most Americans unless they do exotic mortgages that don't let them pay down priciple. 3) A quagmire in Iraq that has no end in sight. 4) A string of political scandals involving administration cronies. 5) Ballooning budget deficits, looming social security crisis, rising cost of health care -- with no solution to any of those problems being addressed. 6) Continued decline in manufacturing jobs that used to pay a decent wage, while the service sector continues to be driving the employment boom at cut-rate wages and benefits. 7) Rising interest rates that are cutting into consumer budgets and increasing the costs of credit card debt, mortgages, auto loans, etc. Those are just a few that come to mind off the top of my head.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy And everyone of your reasons I could explain away as negative thinking that could easily be viewed in a totally different light. But at least you make my point about crtain people looking at the world in a negative way and seeing nothing but despair and soup lines. What a bunch of bunk. If my kid ever gave me one of those reasons for not being able to make it in todays America he would go to his room with....gasp...NO gameboy, gamecube, DVR, DVD, Playstation, Ipod or any of the other stuff he has in this oh so horrible world that Bush created.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy And everyone of your reasons I could explain away as negative thinking that could easily be viewed in a totally different light. But at least you make my point about crtain people looking at the world in a negative way and seeing nothing but despair and soup lines. What a bunch of bunk. If my kid ever gave me one of those reasons for not being able to make it in todays America he would go to his room with....gasp...NO gameboy, gamecube, DVR, DVD, Playstation, Ipod or any of the other stuff he has in this oh so horrible world that Bush created.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Now ask beau why he "feels" that bush is doing great and the US is getting better and better. He'll tell you that iraq is a success, that bush is a "warrior", mcdonalds has never had such an easy time hiring burger flippers, corporations like exxon are the backbone of american pride and strength, scandals-schmandals, deficits don't matter, and that the GOP will protect us from those islamic savages and godless gays all with one hand. He knows "why" he "feels" this way, it's just not based on anything factual.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj <<< If my kid ever gave me one of those reasons for not being able to make it in todays America he would go to his room with....gasp...NO gameboy, gamecube, DVR, DVD, Playstation, Ipod or any of the other stuff he has in this oh so horrible world that Bush created. >>>> Feel free to let us all know how your kid is doing when it comes to make a living on his own. I wish I could stick my head and the sand and pretend everything in life was hunky dory just because my situation in life is great. I have job that pays well, super job security, benefits, own my own home, and the rest of the American dream. I have every reason in the world to be positive -- but the reality is that my situation is the exception and not the rule in America, and there are becoming fewer and fewer exceptions every day. By taking note of the problems that are surfacing, I hope we can come up with positive solutions that will avoid the despair and soup lines. So far, we're not doing too well at coming up with those solutions.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe mrich--No offense but any positives at all? Like I've said, if you don't agree with ANYTHING I've said YOU have a real credibility problem, not me. I speak the truth both good and bad. Mrich and not just you as other posters are MUCH more negative, but I shut off taking people seriously if they shovel ALL bad stuff at me. What you say is TRUE, no question, but you leave out ALL positives and that ain't positive or helpful to anyone. Even-handed and balanced and then you'll get people's attention. Just take a test "Off the top of your head" come up with good things????? You can do it Your new job maybe? that's good isn't it? on and on--life is good Mrich Did you get some sleep on the plane like I asked you too? How's the new job? I hope it's going well.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy mrich, looking at your list again of negative news I will admit that the media ( MSM ) report this crap daily. Their job it seems, since they failed to get Kerry the traitor elected, is to create as much negative spin as possible regardless of accuracy, just so they can drive Bush's poll numbers down and they can say " HA HA .. SEE.. We told you life with this guy Bush would be horrible! " But time after time, story after story, they are exposed now as telling half truths and flat out lies. They count on the ignorant and the uninformed to buy their hype and it has worked very well in the past. But now people know that 90% of the media are liberals who slant their coverage and they are now not to be trusted. If your getting your news from CNN your a fool.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Okay Mrich you posted good stuff before I pushed submit--Good post and it proves that you are sensitive and mostly positive as I always thought.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Gadzuux, I talk to people in the Military and read the Milblogs. I KNOW Iraq is going much, much better than the losers in the media would have us believe. Who do you talk to? Who do you believe? I also know that the economy is going great by my own persona lsituation working with the IT world and seeing how well my friends are doing. Who are you talking to about the economy? As far as scandals go, give me a single conviction or solid proof and not Michael Moore style BS and you wouldn't get laughed at with this stuff. So I am going off solid facts not just a hatred of the 2 time elected president and rage that my side is constantly rejected on election day.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe What's the IT world Beau? I'm not exactly mr. high tech here? You sell to corps?
Originally Posted By Beaumandy <<but the reality is that my situation is the exception and not the rule in America, and there are becoming fewer and fewer exceptions every day.>> Nope, I don't buy this at all. Rush was talking about this very thing a few months back, how libs are all doing pretty good but insist their neighbor MUST be struggling because of what they read in the news. Fact is, in todays America you only fail if you don't try. If I am a negative, lazy person of course I am going to want government handouts and social programs... you know.. like that beacon of socialism and riots... France. There are programs to get a great education everywhere and if you have any drive at all you can get a job that will help you qualify for a home loan. My uncle in Texas bought a great new house in Texas for about 180k. Is that out of reach for most Americans?? Or do we have to live in a hell hole where a 900 sqare foot house is 800k?
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Anyone want to take a break and have some lobster? I'm just kpt killing plenty time with the Master's rain delay.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy <<What's the IT world Beau? I'm not exactly mr. high tech here? You sell to corps?>> Information Technology Joe is " IT ". I sell to Intel, Nike, Symantek, Sun Microsystems, Oracle and tons of other high tech companies who are now starting to really spend money because they are making money because the economy is strong. Leave it to the left to tell us the sky is green or the ocean is made of orange juice or that the economy sucks whaen the signs are everywhere that we are in a great time here in America. 4.5% unemployment??????? Millions of new REAL jobs? Disneyland PACKED on a Tuesday in February with people spending tons of cash? Yet we are supposed to crawl into a little ball and suck our thumb because the world sucks??? Again... if my kids ever grow up and take this attitude it's woodshed time baby!!
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Originally Posted By mrichmondj <<< My uncle in Texas bought a great new house in Texas for about 180k. Is that out of reach for most Americans?? >>> The median household income in 2004 was $44K. By conservative lending standards, the recommended cost of a home for someone in that income bracket is about $110K. (General rule of thumb by conservative lending practices is that the cost of money borrowed should not be more than 2.5x income). So, for the median family, the $180K home in Texas does cost more than what would be considered affordable by conservative financial standards. Of course, we have thrown conservative financial standards out the window. We loan money to people using exotic interest rate schemes so that they can presumably afford the payments. Never mind that they never actually pay their homes off that way, so the banks end up with most of their money. I'm sure that someone will snap back at me and say that if an individual has the $70K for a down payment on the $180K home, they can certainly afford it. That would be nice if folks had that kind of cash laying around. The median net worth of the American family is only $26K, so families have a long way to go to make up the difference in that down payment.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Everything you say is true Mrich and is why I hate those interest only or short term variables. People WILL have to pay the piper by 2007 imho.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj $1T (T=Trilion) in interest only and variable rate mortgages comes due for refinancing in 2007. Watch out!
Originally Posted By Beaumandy What you say Mrich is true to a point, but you fail to mention the tax benefits of owning that home and the equity you are more than likely gaining every year. My attitude is do whatever it takes to get into a home and make your payments. In a few years you will be much better off than someone who said they couldn't buy it because _________ ( insert excuse here ) Oh, this is my favorite part. How are the democrats going to make it easier for someone to buy a house or get cheaper gas since this was brought up?
Originally Posted By mrichmondj <<< How are the democrats going to make it easier for someone to buy a house or get cheaper gas since this was brought up? >>> For one, we need to reinstitute the tax on capital gains from home sales. This curbs the ludicrous escalation of home prices. I also don't think that home equity loans should be tax deductible. We continue to promote a debtor nation with tax shelters like this. The growing debt of Americans cannot continue indefinitely, and we need to kick the habit now. Will there be short term negative economic impacts to the two ideas above? You bet. Would any politician ever go along with these schemes? Absolutely not. But over time, we can instill conservative financial principles in the American public again. As for cheaper gas -- it's not going to get cheaper. The demand from China and India surpasses anything we'll be able to do in the next 50 years to get the supply side in line with where it needs to be to lower prices. We ought to be putting maximum effort, however, into effective mass transit initiatives that offer real alternatives to the automobile. Local governments need to crack down on suburban sprawl that is forever increasing the number of miles driven every day. We need to set challenging fuel economy standards for the automobile industry -- and then offer financial incentives for achieving them. And we need to stop beating around the bush on alternative fuels and set some clear goals on achieving defined objectives that eliminate the use of fossil fuels. You can't tell me that we can put a man on the moon, but can't figure out how to make a car run on fuel cells. We need to make these things nationl priorities and our leadership needs to believe in it, not just pay it lip service.
