Does it really matter?
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Posted:Aug 8, 2010 11:27 am
Last Updated:Nov 2, 2010 8:41 pm
1832 Views
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***Spoiler Alert***
I am in a bad mood today! Do not read this if you are happy and want to stay that way.
I just finished a story about the Bush-era tax cuts. Of course, the big debate now is whether or not to extend those cuts. Both sides, Republican and Democrat, are locked in election year battles and the posturing and pandering is epic.
The question I had after finishing the story is this: "Does it really matter?" The outcome does matter in a fiscal sense, that outcome being whether or not the US will continue to spend more than it receives in taxes. But does the outcome of the election really matter?
The Democrats would have us believe that we can let the taxes expire, which increases revenue but then increase our spending. Really? That kinda keeps us where we are now... in the red.
The Republicans would have us believe that we can keep the tax cuts, which reduce revenue, but not make serious cuts to spending. Really? That kinda keeps us where we are now... in the red.
The reality is that we have to reduce our deficit spending. Here are the ONLY possibilities:
Increase taxes while lowering spending by a small amount
Keep taxes the same while cutting spending by a moderate amount
Lower taxes while cutting spending by a large amount (think the-end-of-medicare big)
The problem is this is an election year. There is no politician who will stand in front of the camera during an election year and tell people the truth: we cannot have our cake and eat it, too! So the phony debate will continue. One side will win, right now that looks like the Republicans, and the deficits will continue to mount until our investors (mainly China and other foreign nations) lose faith in us and sell, sell, sell.
"In the long run, the U.S. needs a fiscal policy that's based on neither hope nor fear, but on a realistic assessment of what the country needs from its government and what it can afford." (Peter Coy, Bloomberg Business Week)
Not gonna happen.
I don't know about you, but I just got the sudden urge to stock up on guns, ammunition, and canned food.
Sorry if I ruined your day.
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On A Sirius Note...
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Posted:Aug 6, 2010 12:52 pm
Last Updated:Oct 16, 2010 8:06 am
2020 Views
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I am a voracious reader of news stories and articles for two reasons. First, I like to stay in touch with the world around me. Second, one never knows where they will find a nugget of profound wisdom.
I found one such nugget today as I was reading a Reuters story about vacations. In it, a person was quoted as saying, “[...]there are graveyards full of indispensible people.”
Think about that for a moment...
Go ahead, I’ll wait...
OK, now that we have all had a few seconds, let's talk about it. I don't know about you but I often blast through my day, whether at work or at home, feeling obligated to get as much work done as possible. I do this because I assume I am indispensible – I am the only one who can do what I do. And I know I am not the only person who suffers from that type of arrogance.
After reading that quote, I couldn't help but wonder how many people currently residing in a casket felt the same way? A great many of them, would be my guess. Since they are dead I assume they are no longer working. (Except for a few industrious souls who continue to make money from the grave like Biggie Smalls and Michael Jackson!) Yet the world goes on, work continues, and advancements are made every day.
There are graveyards full of indispensible people.
I typed that out, printed it and hung it on my wall today as a reminder that I am not indispensible, irreplaceable, or the one-and-only of anything. I read that saying a few times and felt as though a weight was lifted from me. Then I took the afternoon off (drawing from an ever growing pool of unused vacation time) knowing that everything would be OK in my absence.
I hope your day was as pleasant as mine.
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Throw Water on the Flamers
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Posted:Aug 4, 2010 9:45 pm
Last Updated:Aug 6, 2010 2:56 am
997 Views
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I have been here on Affair Link for about a week now and so far it has been a positive experience. It has been so positive in fact that I am almost ready to sign up. But on thing I have noticed id that this site is being overrun by flamers.
I like reading and responding to the advice questions. In that forum there are several people who have do nothing better to do with their time than troll for posts to flame. These people are a blight on the net in general, and it is sad to see their attempt to dominate the tone here.
Recently I had a question, and I thought twice about asking it because I knew the flame-tards would come crawling out from under their respective rocks to spit a little acid my way. But I did not let that deter me, and neither should you. I say we should throw water on the fire. If you have a question, go ahead and post it. If you have something to say to an article or question, by all means write it loud and proud. Don’t worry about the flamers because the more legitimate posts we get the more they fade into the background.
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Quitting Sucks!
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Posted:Aug 1, 2010 4:27 am
Last Updated:Aug 4, 2010 9:47 pm
1166 Views
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I just quit smoking. I have been a smoker since I was thirteen (24 years for those of you who can't subtract) That is a long time to feed an addiction and it makes it that much harder to quit.
I was given the patch and the gum as crutches and they help. But nothing can replace the feel and taste of a cigarette. I just have to tough it out and resist.
Wish me luck.
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Sirius Stuff
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Posted:Jul 31, 2010 9:01 am
Last Updated:Aug 23, 2010 9:59 am
1111 Views
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Genitals on Film Part 1:
Why is it that most of my male brothers put as their profile picture a dick pic? Of all the possible marketing gimmicks, why pick a penis? I confess that I do not know all there is to now about women, but I do know that of about 1,000,000 million women of this site maybe one or two will look at that pic of your johnson and get so hot that they just want to fuck on the spot. Anyone else looking at your package is probably a gay dude. Not to mention, if I want to read some posts or blogs I have to accept a wang waving in my face the whole time. That is just rude. I cannot help but wonder how that system would work in real life. I imagine one of these pecker posers walking into a club, dropping their trousers, and walking up to every girl in the place with schlong (or schort) in hand asking, "Hey, wanna fuck?" I don't think that would work; but that person might actually find a sex partner later on when they landed in jail! Anyway, when picking an avatar to represent you, I feel it is important to select an image that inspires in others a thought. A picture of a puppy could make others feel you are sensitive; a black rose could make others think you have a dark side. If you are putting you unsheathed member on your profile, the only thought you are inspiring in others is, "That guy is a DICK!!"
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