As you may be aware, Nevada recently held the Democratic Debate. Not that I'm a Democrat, but we may as well accept no Republican stands much of a chance (unless Romney can gain steam), so we'd better get to know the Democratic candidates. It's obvious Hillary is the front-runner, but I must admit she infuriates me nearly every time she opens her mouth.
One example: Obama (my pick) proposes that in order to solve the pension problem we throw out the cap on what people pay in taxes that goes towards the pension program. Currently contributions cut off after you exceed 96,000 in annual salary. IE: if you make 104k, you pay into the pension plan for the first 96k, but not the remaining 8k. Clinton is against this because, and I quote "lets call it for what it really is, a tax increase on the middle class". And you all clap? WTF? Come on. Making above 96k/year in most states has no chance of leaving you in the 'middle-class'.
I'll be the first to say I HATE taxes... They are WAY too high. However, if I were fortunate enough to be making, say, 120k/year, and had the choice of paying 40,000 in taxes to a corrupt government, or 40,200 (roughly the difference we're talking about) to a government that's at least trying to get us back on the right track, that extra 200 bucks would be the least of my worries.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
GREED GREED GREED
I'm begining to wonder about our current system of generosity. You know how we all contribute to a large 'pot' in case someone is down on thier luck and needs help. This pot is held by the Government, who basically hands out money to those who 'need' it. These people include those who recently lost thier job, who just can't seem to find a job, or who 'need' a medical procedure they cannot afford to pay for on thier own. We have all agreed to this system since we all know that trajedy can strike anyone at any time, and we would want 'fair' treatment were something to happen to us.
This system, as it is meant to be, is a beautiful thing which I fully support. However, there is one thing destroying it... GREED. A large number of people see this bottomless pot, and take whatever they can sneak from it. I mean why not... It's not like you're taking money from your neighbor's wallet... Or are you? YES! THE ANSWER IS YES!
It's hilarious that we think we have such a generous society, when the only reason why its not working is because our greed is causing us to steal from our neighbors. I'm actually wondering how this system came into being. Could it be that the brilliant, powerful people in the government thought to themselves 'what better way to get people to like us then to offer them something for nothing?' And of course us lowly folks ate it up! Not because we don't wanna see our brother down on his luck... Because we want something for nothing.
Are you proud of your system because Jane doesn't have to pay for her surgery, or because YOU wouldn't want to have to should you be in her position? In the long run we all lose (of course) when the market doesn't determine the services rendered, since, even in the ideal scenario, we're not only supporting the services, but also the system behind it all. And I'm OK with losing a little for the sake of 'humanity' and 'kindness', but I'm losing too much... And I'm not losing it to humanity/kindness... I'm losing it to GREED, and those who want something for nothing.
After all, If we were all such generous people, we wouldn't be standing in the medical line in the first place... We'd give up our spot to the person behind us.
This system, as it is meant to be, is a beautiful thing which I fully support. However, there is one thing destroying it... GREED. A large number of people see this bottomless pot, and take whatever they can sneak from it. I mean why not... It's not like you're taking money from your neighbor's wallet... Or are you? YES! THE ANSWER IS YES!
It's hilarious that we think we have such a generous society, when the only reason why its not working is because our greed is causing us to steal from our neighbors. I'm actually wondering how this system came into being. Could it be that the brilliant, powerful people in the government thought to themselves 'what better way to get people to like us then to offer them something for nothing?' And of course us lowly folks ate it up! Not because we don't wanna see our brother down on his luck... Because we want something for nothing.
Are you proud of your system because Jane doesn't have to pay for her surgery, or because YOU wouldn't want to have to should you be in her position? In the long run we all lose (of course) when the market doesn't determine the services rendered, since, even in the ideal scenario, we're not only supporting the services, but also the system behind it all. And I'm OK with losing a little for the sake of 'humanity' and 'kindness', but I'm losing too much... And I'm not losing it to humanity/kindness... I'm losing it to GREED, and those who want something for nothing.
After all, If we were all such generous people, we wouldn't be standing in the medical line in the first place... We'd give up our spot to the person behind us.
Headline: "GM hit by nationwide strike"
"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The United Auto Workers union launched a nationwide strike against General Motors on Monday as 73,000 UAW members started walking off the job and hitting the picket lines at the nation's largest automaker."
Hah! Forgive me for nearly laughing out-loud when I read this headline! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for better benefits & pay for workers in profitable companies, but this was too much. I won't claim to know the ins&outs of the deal, I'm laughing at the irony of the situation, since the only headlines I've seen involving automakers lately are the ones with huge plants closing and all the poor workers being out of jobs. Perhaps I'm too warped for my own good.
Hah! Forgive me for nearly laughing out-loud when I read this headline! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for better benefits & pay for workers in profitable companies, but this was too much. I won't claim to know the ins&outs of the deal, I'm laughing at the irony of the situation, since the only headlines I've seen involving automakers lately are the ones with huge plants closing and all the poor workers being out of jobs. Perhaps I'm too warped for my own good.
Friday, July 6, 2007
www.stupid.ca
For those of you who don't know, this is a website about smokers/smoking. I think the title is pretty self-explanitory in regards to the content & message they are trying to send. There has been great headway made in de-glamorizing smoking. A ban has actually gone on here in Lloyd which doesn't allow smoking in public places, and they say it will soon cover all of Alberta. I'm quite sure the rest of North America will soon folow suit (with the exception of Nevada of course). After all, SMOKING WILL KILL YOU! Perhaps this is why we call it a 'stupid' thing to do (correct me if I'm wrong). If you lead an otherwise perfectly healthy lifestyle, smoking will still cut 13 years off your life (this is excluding the other effects of smoking).
Now this is where my article will take a turn. I don't smoke... I grew up knowing it was stupid (not that it really kept me from doing it when I was younger). However, as I get older I've noticed some changes to my health (that are not due to smoking). Yes, my stomach has become a bit larger than it once was. It is actually estimated that Obesity is set to overcome smoking as the #1 cause of death in the United States in the coming years (cuts over 18 years off your life just for over-eating & getting fat... lack of exercise catapults that number).
So now who are the stupid ones? I'm not innocent myself, but I do find it somewhat ironic that restaurants won't allow smoking, yet I can order 30 chicken wings & 18 beer without anyone batting an eye. Sure I'm not affecting the person sitting next to me, but I am killing myself.
They say smoking in movies will soon result in an automatic 'R' rating, yet we still have movies like 'Norbit' out there where the star is a super obese woman. So my question is, since we have determined over-eating & eating crap will be our #1 killer, why are we still glamorizing it? McDonalds & KFC should be hated MORE than the cigarette companies. They directly target children. If you're not outraged, I sure am.
What brings this up is the new show 'Big Medicine' (& the other numerous shows) which features the fattest people in the world & thier 'struggles' to get thin. Now if someone wants to get fat & kill themself, thats thier business, but when they're tying up the doctors offices & getting medical help (& disability $ since they're too fat to work), then it becomes everyones business. I actually think the viewers are supposed to feel bad for the people.
I love food & eat constantly, but am now making myself eat veggies & chicken, and low fat yogurt for a snack. It's HARD passing that pastry aisle, but it has to be done. If you ask me, the pastry aisle should be more illegal than selling cigarettes to minors. We don't need the temptation.
Now this is where my article will take a turn. I don't smoke... I grew up knowing it was stupid (not that it really kept me from doing it when I was younger). However, as I get older I've noticed some changes to my health (that are not due to smoking). Yes, my stomach has become a bit larger than it once was. It is actually estimated that Obesity is set to overcome smoking as the #1 cause of death in the United States in the coming years (cuts over 18 years off your life just for over-eating & getting fat... lack of exercise catapults that number).
So now who are the stupid ones? I'm not innocent myself, but I do find it somewhat ironic that restaurants won't allow smoking, yet I can order 30 chicken wings & 18 beer without anyone batting an eye. Sure I'm not affecting the person sitting next to me, but I am killing myself.
They say smoking in movies will soon result in an automatic 'R' rating, yet we still have movies like 'Norbit' out there where the star is a super obese woman. So my question is, since we have determined over-eating & eating crap will be our #1 killer, why are we still glamorizing it? McDonalds & KFC should be hated MORE than the cigarette companies. They directly target children. If you're not outraged, I sure am.
What brings this up is the new show 'Big Medicine' (& the other numerous shows) which features the fattest people in the world & thier 'struggles' to get thin. Now if someone wants to get fat & kill themself, thats thier business, but when they're tying up the doctors offices & getting medical help (& disability $ since they're too fat to work), then it becomes everyones business. I actually think the viewers are supposed to feel bad for the people.
I love food & eat constantly, but am now making myself eat veggies & chicken, and low fat yogurt for a snack. It's HARD passing that pastry aisle, but it has to be done. If you ask me, the pastry aisle should be more illegal than selling cigarettes to minors. We don't need the temptation.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Mind-Reading Machine
Check this out:
http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/tech/2007/05/18/pleitgen.germany.mind.reading.fox
Yes, it's saying what you think it is. Likely within the next few generations the government will be able to determine our thoughts BEFORE we even think them. This obviously leads to the ability to punish people for crimes they haven't yet commited. On the bight side, if you are a Christian this is good news! Once they enforce the use of this machine on society you will literally be incapable of doing anything wrong, as the government will know what you are up to before you have the chance to do it (or even realize yourself what you were about to do). If you don't do anything wrong, you must be heading to heaven. There's no apocalypse coming in the future... Just peace & tranquility.
http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/tech/2007/05/18/pleitgen.germany.mind.reading.fox
Yes, it's saying what you think it is. Likely within the next few generations the government will be able to determine our thoughts BEFORE we even think them. This obviously leads to the ability to punish people for crimes they haven't yet commited. On the bight side, if you are a Christian this is good news! Once they enforce the use of this machine on society you will literally be incapable of doing anything wrong, as the government will know what you are up to before you have the chance to do it (or even realize yourself what you were about to do). If you don't do anything wrong, you must be heading to heaven. There's no apocalypse coming in the future... Just peace & tranquility.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Take The Swivel-Sweeper Challenge!
OK, I regrettably must admit I've spent the last 20 minutes of my life watching a paid program on the Swivel-Sweeper. And yes, I am now dumber having seen it. For those of you who havn't seen this product, it is a small, lightweight, battery-powered vacuum. I cannot argue against its possible 'convenience', but allow me to laugh at the "revolutionary" technology that makes it all possible. This amazing new sweeper can go any direction because it utilizes "Quad-Brush Technology". I assure you, this merely means it has 4 brushes. Also aiding this amazing ability are its 4 specially-designed gliders that replace a regular vacuum's wheels. Yes, in non-technical terms this means wheels would be too expensive to add, so instead they use spheres that can 'glide' over the floor. (In case you havn't noticed, you can slide over the floor with your feet, even being much heavier than this sweeper)
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