If you live in Mission Viejo on a income of $280K, your parents certainly are not rich...at least judging soley by their combined yearly income. Nice area, just very expensive. You know what? The money your parents made is their money, their hard work and shouldn't be taxed more than neede be. If Obabma reverts to the Clinton years, they will get taxed something like 39% of their income, then the Republic of Kalifornia's State tax, social security, etc. That's crap IMHO.
thats exactly how i feel, and yes its a great area but VERYY expensive... its outrageous
I do think if you vote Libertarian this time around it is a wasted vote. Sorry.
But I think if we start NOW to make the Libertarian party a viable answer for NEXT election, we have a shot.
As for the other stuff.... if you want to vote Democrat, fine. But that only shows that you don't think that those who earn wealth deserve to keep it. You think that because you have more you need to PAY more, not in percentages but in HIGHER percentages.
I am sorry, but what is "fair" about that? Should the rich pay more? YES. But they ALREADY DO. They not only pay more in ACTUAL money, but also in the percentage of what they earn. That my friends is NOT American. That my friends is NOT fair. That my friends does not promote excellence or striving for more. It breeds a society that thinks it is OWED something simply because they exist. That is pathetic, and as UnAmerican as you can get.
I have a problem with the way that some of "the rich" earn their money. I have no gripe with the man who starts out in the ditch with me and can out work me thus earning more and working his way up. But I'll be hanged if I see why a stuffed shirt who sits on his or her fat rear all day and reaps the rewards for my labor should be worth more than the worker that creates the product. I was offered a management position at my company when I was 28 years old and I had earned it. Nonetheless, after several months of the management fast track and the things that were required of me to progress I told them they could shove it and give me my tool belt back. In my experience the old addage that "he who can, will-He that can't,will teach- and he that can't do either will manage." is true. On top of that is the "Peter Principle" and the Coporate "win-win" scenerio that promotes inept a-- kissers to top management positions is, in my opinion, part of our countries problem. We no longer reward truth, justice and the American way. Hard work, ingenuity, and fair play are not among the vocabulary of business in this world we have created. The thing that frustrates me most is the fact that I don't have a shadow of an idea where or how to begin to correct what is wrong. Casting a vote for a nearly defunct party is rediculous unless we can organize enough people to make a difference and that begins at the grass roots level, not at the voting booth. I have never been good at motivating people, have virtually no charisma and can seldom convince someone of something that I truly believe in, but we need someone who possesses those qualities and can remain true to his or her beliefs despite all the pressures brought to bear.
Sorry about the rant but I sometimes get carried away by my own rhetoric.
I have a problem with the way that some of "the rich" earn their money. I have no gripe with the man who starts out in the ditch with me and can out work me thus earning more and working his way up. But I'll be hanged if I see why a stuffed shirt who sits on his or her fat rear all day and reaps the rewards for my labor should be worth more than the worker that creates the product. I was offered a management position at my company when I was 28 years old and I had earned it. Nonetheless, after several months of the management fast track and the things that were required of me to progress I told them they could shove it and give me my tool belt back. In my experience the old addage that "he who can, will-He that can't,will teach- and he that can't do either will manage." is true. On top of that is the "Peter Principle" and the Coporate "win-win" scenerio that promotes inept a-- kissers to top management positions is, in my opinion, part of our countries problem. We no longer reward truth, justice and the American way. Hard work, ingenuity, and fair play are not among the vocabulary of business in this world we have created. The thing that frustrates me most is the fact that I don't have a shadow of an idea where or how to begin to correct what is wrong. Casting a vote for a nearly defunct party is rediculous unless we can organize enough people to make a difference and that begins at the grass roots level, not at the voting booth. I have never been good at motivating people, have virtually no charisma and can seldom convince someone of something that I truly believe in, but we need someone who possesses those qualities and can remain true to his or her beliefs despite all the pressures brought to bear.
Sorry about the rant but I sometimes get carried away by my own rhetoric.
Sometimes, folks in upper managment just might actually deserve to be there. Some people get degrees, work hard, succeed and end up at the top. CEO's of company's don't just get out of college and are at the top. Many of them have earned the right and privledge to be there. Of course, those CEO's who run a company into the ground and then leave with $10 million in stock options and a nice big severence package while the common workers get screwed doesn't sit well with me at all. Granted there will always be ass kissers or those simply in the right place, at the right time. I've been active military for almost 16 years and god all mighty have I seen trash move to the top. I would say about 60-70% move up to due to politics, ass kissing, timing, etc....usually a combiniation of a few. Then there are those who are gifted leaders, aviators (my field) and officers who are able to hit the timing and make it to the higher up positions. Unfortunetly, most of the talented officers and gifted leaders either punch early or don't get promoted for one reason or another. So the only person I can worry about and have some sort of control over is myself. I don't envy those higher up (be it job or financial) but for those I admire in those positions, I use them as a goal...where I want to be one day. It pushes me, drives my desire to be better off tomorrow than I am today or was yesterday.
__________________
There are only three things the copilot should ever say:
1. Nice landing, Sir.
2. I'll buy the first round.
3. I'll take the ugly one.
The beauty of America and it's free market economy is that if you don't like the company you work for or the job that you do, you can ALWAYS find another job doing something. You can even start your own company and run it the way you see fit. Granted you have to take the risk and put up the cash collateral to get loans and such, but it's an option on the table. Obama is seriously trying to take that option away from people. He wants them to stay put right where they are. That's part of what class warfare does.
I'll explain in more detail later. I have to get on the road for now.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
Sometimes, folks in upper managment just might actually deserve to be there. Some people get degrees, work hard, succeed and end up at the top. CEO's of company's don't just get out of college and are at the top. Many of them have earned the right and privledge to be there. Of course, those CEO's who run a company into the ground and then leave with $10 million in stock options and a nice big severence package while the common workers get screwed doesn't sit well with me at all. Granted there will always be ass kissers or those simply in the right place, at the right time. I've been active military for almost 16 years and god all mighty have I seen trash move to the top. I would say about 60-70% move up to due to politics, ass kissing, timing, etc....usually a combiniation of a few. Then there are those who are gifted leaders, aviators (my field) and officers who are able to hit the timing and make it to the higher up positions. Unfortunetly, most of the talented officers and gifted leaders either punch early or don't get promoted for one reason or another. So the only person I can worry about and have some sort of control over is myself. I don't envy those higher up (be it job or financial) but for those I admire in those positions, I use them as a goal...where I want to be one day. It pushes me, drives my desire to be better off tomorrow than I am today or was yesterday.
The 22 years I spent in the Air Force I saw that all the time, ring pounders and ass-kissers moving up, yes there were some good officers and NCO's that moved up too, but it seemed like all of the good Officers and NCO's were kept in a glass case that said, "In case of war, break glass"!! Usally they retired or got out before they were needed.
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06' GT Tungsten gray,seq. turn sigs. no spoiler.
XM,
An armed man is called a citizen.A disarmed man is called a subject.
Something I want everyone to think about for a minute...
Is it unfair that a CEO running a company selling $300billion in goods and services worldwide makes $10million a year? In most cases, the bulk of that money is in the form of stock options - and stock price is tied to how the company performs. No one cries for him when the company has a bad year and 90% of his earnings go away. Those are just the breaks. Too many bad years, and he will get the boot and another guy will get a chance.
As a stockholder I always remember that ultimately, it is ME and my fellows who are in charge. We vote in the board of directors - we allow changes to how the company is guided - and we supply the cash, part of which flows to salaries. Just as with the current elections seeking a new CEO of this nation, stockholders vote to make similar choices for the company they own...
And just as with the choice of President of the United States, and all the other high offices of the land, we RECEIVE what we choose.
Easy at some later date to point fingers at results we don't like and blame the President or the CEO...
But in the end, WE made the choice - we enabled him - we HIRED him.
Its at least partly our own fault. The proper response is to take steps to learn from the mistake and rectify it at the earliest possbile opportunity.
One more thing...
There are many celebrities who are glorified for their accomplishments in sports - on the tube - or in musci - who earn as much as any CEO...
If you buy their products (just as you buy the products made by the CEO's company), do you concern yourself with the fact that you are part of the reason they are well-paid? When you watch a guy earn millions of dollars a year just from playing 30 hours of basketball - are you bitter about that?
If not, then just remember that CEO's and rock stars both EARN a lot of money from their efforts - and it is almost certain that the CEO works much longer hours than the rock star or the home run hitter or the actor.
I am far less worried about the millions paid to CEOs (all according to a perfectly legal contract agreed to by the company they worked for) than the trillions destroyed by well-intentioned Washington morons monkeying with our free markets. Don't be distracted by the CEO puppet show - look beyond the curtain, to the politicians seeking to divert attention from their own, much more important, failings.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Trip, your right. I have always said I could care less what a CEO makes.
If he or she is making money for the shareholders and they are happy, who cares what the salery and benifits are.
Jack Welch made the shareholders of GE billions of dollars, he wants to use the corporate jet for the rest of his life? SO WHAT!!! Have at it!
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06' GT Tungsten gray,seq. turn sigs. no spoiler.
XM,
An armed man is called a citizen.A disarmed man is called a subject.
What I have a problem with is that the CEO's of these failed institutions will still be getting their bonus's from the 700 billion bailout plan. Our money is going to be used for this. I saw waxman being interviewed about this and he said he had figured they could police themselves over this bailout. What did you say?
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2006 GT Tungsten Grey 5 spd, Xcal2/Pipeline CAI, Powerhouse tune. Spoiler delete. Front Speakers:Infinity 6812CF;Blaupunkt GTc652. Rear:Infinity Kappa 682.7CF. H/U:Alpine CDA-9885. Alpine MRP-F250 amp. Sequentials. President of the Splash guard registry. On Deck: Motoblue UDP's.
What I have a problem with is that the CEO's of these failed institutions will still be getting their bonus's from the 700 billion bailout plan. Our money is going to be used for this. I saw waxman being interviewed about this and he said he had figured they could police themselves over this bailout. What did you say?
Don't get stampeded by the Media here, PC.
Waxman won't be dispersing that money (despite his implication that "they" will be in charge").
The new guy appointed to head up this new RTC (haven't heart their actual title yet) will be reporting to the Sec. Treas. (Paulson), and will have the power to pull those strings.
There are nutball reports in the media that the Banks, for instance, are already using bailout bill money to pay bonuses to executives...
Wrong.
That money is still sitting in the Treasury. Even so, the government is purchasing NON VOTING shares in these banks, including some really nasty stock warranties (ie, the banks are GUARANTEEING the taxpayer money will be paid back, and putting up huge chunks of corporate flesh to make the guarantee good) AND new rules (yet undefined) about where and how the CEOs will get paid.
This rampant speculation and fear-mongering is nuts - and near-totally off the mark.
Now, if someone is asking, WILL those banks be paying out some bonuses to their top performing people - THAT will be up to the banks!
"NON VOTING STOCK", remember?
I don't think we want to NATIONALIZE all the banks (we have enough headaches already).
This idea that paying bonuses becomes mis-placed because we are TEMPORARILY buying 2% of Citibank or 1.7% of Bank of America is just more class warfare masquerading as a "scandal".
Once again the man behind the curtain is misdirecting our attention onto "the enemy", ie, evil, rich, capialist bankers - while the politicians tarred up to their necks with the REAL scandal skate.
Don't be fooled.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Dang it. Every time I think I have something figured out 3B comes out with more info than I previously knew was out there.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
I do think if you vote Libertarian this time around it is a wasted vote. Sorry.
I also agree with shartley. I have advocated many, many times to vote third party just as a “statement”. On 9 out of 10 of the last elections I voted in, I cast a vote for Mickey Mouse, because I thought a fictitious cartoon character would do a better job then the pitiful 2 choices I had in front of me.
I am furious we have to make a selection of the lesser of two evils. Normally I would vote the third party to protest, but in this case I think Obama is just too evil not to vote for the next major contender.
As in many of the past elections people say a vote for a third party is a vote (in this case) for Obama. The fact is it is true, most of the time I would not care but in this case there is just too much to lose.
I really, really hope McCain wins. He is a blundering idiot but he would do better the Obama and I would absolutely love for the Democrats to have 4 more years of sour grapes because they chose the wrong candidate to put up once again and then lost the election that was “totally in the bag for them”. If Edwards was running I would happily vote for a third party, knowing Edwards might actually do a good job, heck I might of voted for him depending on his prior voting record in my core believes.
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So , let me get this straight…..your Honda has 1.6 liters, whereas my bottle of Mountain Dew has 2?
Change…..it’s what is left after taxes.
- Shaken....Not Stirred 2003 Mach I Auto Torch Red - Sold
-1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 331 Trick Flow Stroker with a Tremec 3550....oh yea and a 1.6 liter V-TECH motor to work the convertible top.
- 1966 Inline 6……..the pile of parts car!
OK, back on topic. I feel I'm pretty qualified to discuss this, as I've earned little and earned a lot.
On our own, at the age of 18, my wife and I made $725 a month. This was the early 80's. We learned quickly not to spend more than that, btw, I was also in college. We lived in a trailer that was $145 a month, had free (yucky) water, and drove a car that was handed down from her grandfather.
We learned to live on what we made. Since I was working as a mechanic, and had been machining, I got a job in a machine shop. My pay was 5 times higher. We saved money and bought a home and a new car. We now had two cars, the hand me down went to her brother, and my parents handed down my Mom's mustang.
Long story short, I've been layed off, divorced, with out income and I can definitely say I meet my definition of well off.
Well off-Smart enough to live off what they earn. They are saving, investing and educating themselves in the effort to become rich.
Rich-Some one who wisely lives on less than they earn, and who's knowledge, investments, and thriftyness continues to earn that money.
Not rich for long-Someone who acquired money, but doesn't understand how it was built up. They usually spend themselves into serious trouble.
Monetarily, I believe if you have $5 million you could be viewed as rich. Anything below that is wealthy. I had to qualify this above, because I've seen people who acquired wealth go completely broke. I've also met people who seem poor but have vast amounts of money. Because it's just sitting there, I don't believe they are rich because they can't generate the income to maintain or build more money.
The 22 years I spent in the Air Force I saw that all the time, ring pounders and ass-kissers moving up, yes there were some good officers and NCO's that moved up too, but it seemed like all of the good Officers and NCO's were kept in a glass case that said, "In case of war, break glass"!! Usally they retired or got out before they were needed.
Concur...though the ring knocker thing isn't quite as prevalent anymore.
__________________
There are only three things the copilot should ever say:
1. Nice landing, Sir.
2. I'll buy the first round.
3. I'll take the ugly one.
OK, back on topic. I feel I'm pretty qualified to discuss this, as I've earned little and earned a lot.
On our own, at the age of 18, my wife and I made $725 a month. This was the early 80's. We learned quickly not to spend more than that, btw, I was also in college. We lived in a trailer that was $145 a month, had free (yucky) water, and drove a car that was handed down from her grandfather.
We learned to live on what we made. Since I was working as a mechanic, and had been machining, I got a job in a machine shop. My pay was 5 times higher. We saved money and bought a home and a new car. We now had two cars, the hand me down went to her brother, and my parents handed down my Mom's mustang.
Long story short, I've been layed off, divorced, with out income and I can definitely say I meet my definition of well off.
Well off-Smart enough to live off what they earn. They are saving, investing and educating themselves in the effort to become rich.
Rich-Some one who wisely lives on less than they earn, and who's knowledge, investments, and thriftyness continues to earn that money.
Not rich for long-Someone who acquired money, but doesn't understand how it was built up. They usually spend themselves into serious trouble.
Monetarily, I believe if you have $5 million you could be viewed as rich. Anything below that is wealthy. I had to qualify this above, because I've seen people who acquired wealth go completely broke. I've also met people who seem poor but have vast amounts of money. Because it's just sitting there, I don't believe they are rich because they can't generate the income to maintain or build more money.
I think this is pretty well stated and I agree (for what it's worth).
__________________
There are only three things the copilot should ever say:
1. Nice landing, Sir.
2. I'll buy the first round.
3. I'll take the ugly one.
