Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<Of course, it still never changes anyone's opinions. Too many closed minds. Too many folks who simply believe what they've been bred to.>> I said I wasn't going to say anything else, so I won't. I'm just rolling my eyes right now.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<and now we brace ourselves. The news reported that finance houses and government officials think the UK is in for a recession within 3 months (funny, I thought we were already in one).>> You can expect you gov'ts spin doctors to continue denying the that the UK is in a recession into the forseeable future. They will play games with your consumer price index to make it appear that your GDP is still growing. They will fudge the unemployment numbers. Just like they have been doing here. Heck, we're at least 1 year ahead of you guys in the economic cycle and our gov't keeps lying to us. Even Warren Buffett has admitted that we are in a recession. At least the Feds have stopped insisting that the economy is "robust".
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<The arguing about personal responsibility when the government, officials/politicans and Big Business have none and don't follow the rules is laughable << I agree. Plus I love how they rig the system to their benefit. Case in point: Personal bankruptcy laws were rewritten a few years ago to favor creditors. As soon as the ink was dry the quick, easy and cheap credit appeared. Lenders knew that consumers would pounce on the easy credit (in many cases to pay for essentials), get in over their heads, be late with a payment or two. Oopsie, now you're paying 30% interest on your Visa card balance. What, you can't pay the both the rent and the Visa card? Tough! Because now you can't file for bankruptcy. Lenders knew this would happen. So instead of leaving BK laws alone and only granting credit to the credit worthy they chose to be predatory.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Lenders knew this would happen. So instead of leaving BK laws alone and only granting credit to the credit worthy they chose to be predatory.<< Boy howdy. And it hasn't stopped, in spite of all the talk we hear of the credit market shriveling up. My daughter has received no less than 10 credit card offers. She just started her first job, so it had nothing to do with income. It's about the credit card companies wanting to get their hooks into people as quickly as possible, to get them on that lifelong debt treadmill. It's disgusting that so many in Washington assist in this misery-inducing cycle of having young adults up to their eyeballs in debt. Yeah, yeah, free country, personal responsibility, no one's holding a gun to their head, etc., etc. But the credit card companies know what they're doing by circling the waters around high school and college age teens and young adults. They know this is their best target for a customer that will wind up paying the minimum monthly amount, carrying that debt for years and years and years. I wish that high school students were taught and warned about this stuff in school.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Yeah, yeah, free country, personal responsibility, no one's holding a gun to their head, etc., etc. But the credit card companies know what they're doing by circling the waters around high school and college age teens and young adults. They know this is their best target for a customer that will wind up paying the minimum monthly amount, carrying that debt for years and years and years.>> Exactly, which is why they lobbied to change BK laws. Good luck walking away from that debt now! As the economy continues to crumble a lot of folks are going to find their reduced wages being garnished by CC lenders. The only way to escape this will be to leave the country or create a new identity. I suppose that if people resort to identity theft to escape their debts that suddenly we will start seeing the gov't finally start being serious about it.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<I wish that high school students were taught and warned about this stuff in school.>> I think that many are aware, but our culture of "I know what I want and I want it now" has too strong an influence. It never ceases to blow my mind when I see so many people driving $40K+ cars. You know that most of them don't make that kind of money. Many even drive cars that cost more than their annual incomes. Case in point: A woman I know who makes about 60K drives a 50K Mercedes (One of those R Class "minivans). Gee, I guess an ordinary 20K minivan must be beneath her.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^ or sometimes it is where one decides to put their money: Case in point: I have driven BMW's for years now- and love them. Yes I make more than enough for them, but that's not the point here. I do not smoke. ( at $4/pack anda pack per day that's $120/month )- I drink very very sparingly - maybe twice per month and never go out to bars ( savings over many others there). I work from homeso have no commute costs -- except for my Disney vice, I really have no others. I spend my money on my kids - so I feel since I am a 'car guy' that really enjoys my rides so if I want to drop $50K + on a car how is that different from someone who spends $25K on a Camry and spends 2 days a week in bars and smokes a pack or two a day ? Just saying, you don't know what else people give up to drive a nice car. For some people they love clothes and to look nice, for others it is shoes or purses or whatnot - for me it is cars. btw - also gave up my football season tickets years ago as I agree you can't have it all -- I chose cars and Disney. From a commodity standpoint they are the things that make me happy. btw - this logic has always worked on my wife... and she is not easy to get past.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^ but vb, you are an executive. You are the true demographic for these sort of vehicles. My complaint is with the wannabees (who are always complaining to me that they are broke). Another friend is an IT guy. He's got about 100K worth of cars in his garage a nothing in his 401(k).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, I am similar. I don't really drink much, I don't smoke. But I have a vacation club membership and go to Disney parks (and I spend less than my parents do on their smoking habit to take my family of four everywhere). I also drive nice wheels, but given I do 30,000 miles a year, I figure it's worth it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Another friend is an IT guy. He's got about 100K worth of cars in his garage a nothing in his 401(k< that I would agree is just not wise
Originally Posted By sharon2 We buy end of the year brand new cars, drive them for 7-8 years & when the wheels fall off we do it again!! I see no need to impress random strangers at a red light!! I would much rather stay at a Disney Hotel..A much more fun way to waste my husbands hard earned money!! ha ha
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I too feel no need to impress anyone.I love cars, I love performance cars and always have in my 37 years of driving. I drive them for me,not for anyone else.
Originally Posted By MPierce I like to spend all of my money on cigarettes, cheap whiskey, and cheap women!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Of course, it still never changes anyone's opinions. Too many closed minds. Too many folks who simply believe what they've been bred to. << Does that mean you've changed your mind on this matter Spirit?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Careful MPierce, I'll tell your wife about #253. You'll be in big trouble!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Does that mean you've changed your mind on this matter Spirit? >> No, it just means I have better things to do than debate it at this time. I need to pack as I'll be spending the next seven weeks in China working for the Beijing Olympics! Yeah, an American that has to go to China for a lucrative contract that pays in Euros!!!! (keep falling US dollar!) Look for me on NBC ... oh yeah, you don't know what I look like ... that's for the best. Then, I'll be taking a week in Hong Kong and seeing the newest MK of them all. When I get back it's time to take my elitist ass to the Emmys, so I bid you personally MPierce (and everyone else) a wonderful summer and I'll catch up with you all in September or October. And I'll have my own Spirited take on HKDL (and possibly the Cotai Strip in Macau) as well as my long-promised Aquatica review. But I'll leave you with a morsel just handed to me (no time to double check this so we'll trust the source or he/she/it won't get that Olympic cap promised) ... Disney has big long term plans for nighttime entertainment in Orlando, just not at DD anymore. Adios. Shalom. And catch you all in a couple of months!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hey Spirit, please check in, and enjoy Beijing! I will keep my eyes out. Although not a major sports person, I am a HUGE Olympics fan. Take care my friend.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Wait a minute, it's not Lent, why do I have to give up Spirit??? Not fair!!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Look for me on NBC ... oh yeah, you don't know what I look like ... that's for the best. < If wespot someone with a pair of mouse ears on,we'll know we have our guy.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 p.s. have a great trip-- my wife has some friends at McDonalds from her days there who will be there for the Olympics also - tough jobs - -sigh
