Senior Citizens Hit the Road For Uber

And my wife says I'm getting too close to the dog by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2016-01-23 11:25 · Score: 1, Funny

I guess even an older man has certain needs...

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#DeleteChrome

I bet many have nicer cars too by darthsilun · 2016-01-23 11:32 · Score: 1

Nicer than the average 20-something has.

Yes, I know that not everyone driving for Uber is a 20-something.

Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by known_coward_69 · 2016-01-23 11:39 · Score: 1

when you pay off a home and kick the kids out, you have a lot of free money to blow on something
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by amiga3D · 2016-01-23 12:19 · Score: 4, Interesting

When my two children left home I suddenly had almost an extra thousand dollars left at the end of the month. I had no idea they were draining me like that. Both were working full time and bought their own gas and insurance and clothes and such but still I was subsidizing them. My electric bill went down almost by 100 dollars.
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by vivian · 2016-01-23 16:18 · Score: 1

I would imagine that one big draw for older drivers is not only the cash, but also the captive audience they can tell long boring drawn-out stories to - it's a win win situation for them - get money and get some social interaction instead of being stuck at home alone.
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by ls671 · 2016-01-23 16:49 · Score: 1

My god, poor you, you must be feeling really lost now. If you need help, I am always willing to help.
We could just take arrangement to have that extra 1000$/month sent to me so your situation gets back to normal.

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Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 18:14 · Score: 1

We can't bust heads like we used to, but we have our ways. One trick is to tell 'em stories that don't go anywhere - like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so, I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. Give me five bees for a quarter, you'd say.
Now where were we? Oh yeah: the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn't have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by amiga3D · 2016-01-24 02:06 · Score: 1

Nah...my wife came to the rescue. Thanks anyway.
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by MooseTick · 2016-01-24 06:29 · Score: 1

Great. Now GrandPa Simpson is an Uber driver.

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Ninjas don't carry tic tacs
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by friedmud · 2016-01-24 07:45 · Score: 1

Actually: yes.
I use Uber a few times a week... and I am starting to see more and more senior drivers. When talking to them about why they do Uber they always remark that it's a great way to meet people and have interesting conversations. One guy the other day actually said "I can either sit at McDonalds and listen to women chatter about nothing or I can drive people around and have good conversations" (his words, not mine!)
I typically find the senior citizen drivers to be quite nice to ride with... although they are definitely slower ;-)
Re:I bet many have nicer cars too by ls671 · 2016-01-27 22:51 · Score: 1

I have got 3 used to be wives and I am still getting along with them. Maybe we could introduce them to your wife?

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Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.

Why does every story need a villian and a victm? by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 11:38 · Score: 4, Insightful

Some say it is exploitation of older people who work as independent contractors, without any benefits, because their age means they have a harder time finding full-time employment.

Why can't a thing just be for some money on the side, or something one does to keep active, or prevent boredom? Why is it that every arrangement between two people that even remotely has the possibility of money changing hands must be a viable way to support a spouse and two children? Why is there always a crowd of people who think there should be no middle ground between volunteer work and a full-time job with a "living wage" as they like to call it? This is a perfect example of why there should be such a middle ground, without this BS about exploitation and victimization that always creeps in to these discussions.

Re:And my wife says I'm getting too close to the d by __aaclcg7560 · 2016-01-23 11:40 · Score: 1

As my mother told me about the birds and the bees, dogs are expert lickers.

and it there is a crash they can lose it all as th by Joe_Dragon · 2016-01-23 11:46 · Score: 1

and it there is a crash they can lose it all as there auto insurance will say that we don't cover uber drivers and you are on your own.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by __aaclcg7560 · 2016-01-23 11:48 · Score: 5, Interesting

My retired father used to have a modest recycling operation that ran next to his trailer home. He would help a neighbor dismantle old vending machines to avoid expensive county dump fees, cleaning up and providing free wood for a retired neighbor to build chicken coops for sale and separating the metals to take to the recycling center. That's how he spent his free time and made $50 a month at the recycling center. Someone complained to the county and the county wasn't thrilled that someone was circumventing those expensive dump fees. So he was ordered to cease operations or face prosecution for running an illegal business from home.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by murdocj · 2016-01-23 11:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

Yeah, the "exploitation of older people" is such a bizarre argument that ignores everything else in the summary. After all, retirees are looking for part time work to augment their income. They don't need medical insurance, they don't need a 401K, they don't need paid vacation, they need a little extra $ in their pockets. The statement that giving a retiree exactly what he wants is "exploiting" him is absurd.

Hmmmm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 11:49 · Score: 0

As soon as i saw the title of this article, this song instantly blew up in my mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmMNam1V3Mw

I think it fits perfectly with Uber.

Not having benefits when you're retired is tough by mschuyler · 2016-01-23 11:50 · Score: 4, Interesting

1. No sick days (I'm sick? Meh?)
2. No vacation (Every day is a vacation day.)
3. No holidays off (Yup, no MLK day off. I'm already home.)
4. No "medical benefits" since I get Medicare anyway.*
5. No FICA taken from my paycheck. (They send ME a check.)
6. No "retirement" (Well, actually, I AM retired.)
7. No committee meetings to discuss strategic plans.
8. No free coffee.
9. No office parties.
10. No boss.

So if I choose to work for Uber, I don't NEED no steenking benefits. I work when I want, pick up a few bucks. End of story. Please don't cry for me. I do not need your sympathy.

*Medicare doesn't pay everything, 'tis true. So?

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How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.

Re:Not having benefits when you're retired is toug by Krishnoid · 2016-01-23 11:56 · Score: 1

Don't forget:

11. No kids on the lawn.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 12:04 · Score: 1

Or, ya know, you can call up your insurance company and get a policy that covers using your car for business and pay a little extra each month so you don't have to worry about exactly that.

Not everything needs to be run like a chickenshit operation. You're allowed to cross your t's and dot your i's like a real boy.

50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by NicholasD123 · 2016-01-23 12:06 · Score: 1

"You have to work close to 50 hours a week to survive," is the money quote folks, and the point when you should just tune out the hack who said it. Being able to just work a job like this and only spend 10 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and survive is a testament to the success of the business model. It is not a negative. So a job that requires you to have absolutely no education whatsoever, just a clean drivers license, insurance, and a pleasant personality, will allow you to survive in a First World country like the US or Canada? Complaining about ride-sharers being able to make a living off this is the very epitome of 'First World problems.'

Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:46 · Score: 1

ride-sharers
You must be reading a different article. This is about taxi driving, not ride sharing.
Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by thinkwaitfast · 2016-01-23 12:59 · Score: 1

I've been in a few countries where all that was required is an auto (no insurance or seatbelts required). Taxi sign isn't even required, they come up to you and ask if you want a ride. I even got a room for a couple of night by talking to someone in a laundromat once.
The rest of the world is funny like that.
Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 13:57 · Score: 1

Semantics. Taxi driving implies a 100% commitment to driving a taxi all day, every day. This lets you as both driver or passenger be more flexible. You can work it like a taxi job, or you can work it like a ride share if you turn it on just during those times where you have somewhere to go already and can find a paying customer to take some of the cost off. You can't operate that way if you're driving a real taxi.
Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 15:42 · Score: 0

"survive" means minimal food and shelter. No spare money for good food, an education, any medical issues, no maintenance on anything that breaks, no entertainment, etc... And that's 50 hours doing paid driving. That doesn't include all the non-driving aspects of the job and assumes that 100% of the time there's someone to pick up right where you dropped of the last person. The real world doesn't work like that, and we're only supposed to need 40 hours or less to survive. Anyone working more than 40 should be well above surviving else the minimum wage is screwed up.
Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 15:51 · Score: 1

I rode with a Lyft driver in SF who said he was on hour sixty for that week, and still had a day to go. Combine people who are desperately trying to keep a roof over their head, absurd overtime, and six thousand pounds of metal moving at 70mph... and some people are going to die completely preventable deaths. It's a safety issue.
Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by FirephoxRising · 2016-01-23 16:44 · Score: 1

Yes it is a horror! Working week should be down to 30 hours by now, not going up! We're more productive, sh why is working getting shittier?
Re:50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 18:13 · Score: 0

Uber doesn't work that way. You have to go where they want you to go. yes, you can decline to do it, but then if you decline a lot they won't send you anymore uh, "ride shares"... so no, it doesn't really work like ride sharing.
Re: 50 hours a week? Oh the HORROR. by Fwipp · 2016-01-24 06:25 · Score: 1

I dunno who spends fifty hours a week ride-sharing. Or do you usually spend seven hours of every day driving around?

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:07 · Score: 0

Because some fucking white Republican wants to use this to blame Obama. People would be killed after they outlived their workplace usefulness if the Republicans had their way.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:14 · Score: 0

Because those Republicans want to make every job like this. They want to destroy the concept of a living wage.

It's a lack of perspective by MikeRT · 2016-01-23 12:16 · Score: 1

Why is it that every arrangement between two people that even remotely has the possibility of money changing hands must be a viable way to support a spouse and two children?

Even the majority of the ghettos and Appalachia enjoy a standard of living that, by historic standards, is not poor. The average poor person in the industrialized world is considered a victim primarily because they don't have opportunities for leisure and middle class goods and services, not because they are living on the razor's edge.

Bring a peasant from any continent circa 1500 to our poor communities and they would probably have to be pulled off of the first person who insisted that there was any level of parity between their experience of poverty. Even the average monarch would be awed at how the poor have emergency room access to medicine that not even the richest men of his time could afford.

Re:It's a lack of perspective by BarbaraHudson · 2016-01-23 14:25 · Score: 1

And if the poor could earn more money, they wouldn't BE in the emergency rooms and hospitals nearly as much.

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"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 16:20 · Score: 1

Even the majority of the ghettos and Appalachia enjoy a standard of living that, by historic standards, is not poor.
In terms of access to food, generally yes: we have become very good at producing food efficiently. In terms of lodging and safety the picture is less clear: your hypothetical medieval peasant wouldn't even remotely be able to afford modern rents and would end up homeless - and it's not clear that a modern homeless person has it all that much better than a medieval peasant in terms of lodging and safety. Of course, as you note, the big one is leisure: having to spend most of your life working 10 hour days just to survive is unpleasant regardless of whether you're being exploited by a CEO or a king.
But should we really set the bar that low? What if it was possible to bump minimum wage up to $30 an hour and organize the economy so that work was available to anyone who wanted it? What if we are trapped in ignorance - like a blind man trapped in a burning building because he can't see the open door - but, in this case, trapped in the misguided belief that such things are impossible and therefore unwilling to try?
Re:It's a lack of perspective by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 22:27 · Score: 0

Why is it that every arrangement between two people that even remotely has the possibility of money changing hands must be a viable way to support a spouse and two children?
Even the majority of the ghettos and Appalachia enjoy a standard of living that, by historic standards, is not poor. The average poor person in the industrialized world is considered a victim primarily because they don't have opportunities for leisure and middle class goods and services, not because they are living on the razor's edge.
Bring a peasant from any continent circa 1500 to our poor communities and they would probably have to be pulled off of the first person who insisted that there was any level of parity between their experience of poverty. Even the average monarch would be awed at how the poor have emergency room access to medicine that not even the richest men of his time could afford.
In 1500 you could get on a ship and sail to a new continent if the old one sucked. You can't do that now. I'll accept that the day the rich accept the same standard of living as the kings in 1500 did too. The disparity is the problem, not the absolute level of excess.
I'm ok with the richest guy making 100x what the poorest guy working a full time job does. I think pretty much everyone one here is too. I'm not ok with someone making over 10,000x what the poor have. I think taxes are ok to even things out. I don't want Trump or someone else to be able to own all the property and then treat us like serfs because there is no more open land. Make my taxes 90% if you have to (BErnie 's over $10Million guys are at 52%, not 90), but give me equality, an end to homeless on my street, etc.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 06:08 · Score: 1

Round up the homeless you say? OK. If you've ever seen or dealt with the homeless in any way beyond reading about them in the news, you'll know that almost all of them are on the street because they have mental disabilities that have nothing to do with their income. You could tax everyone at 99% and give it to the homeless but they'll still be on the street pissing themselves because they need to be institutionalized (which I'm OK with paying for out of a tax hike) instead of subsidized.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by KGIII · 2016-01-24 14:51 · Score: 1

There will always be poor people for a whole host of reasons, some of which are quite complex. One of the things that I've heard repeated is that we should take all the money from those in the 1%. I know, those people are not the normal folks and I'm using them as an example just for that reason. I am quite comfortably in the 1% - I've done exceptionally well and was very lucky and was able to sell my company at a time when it became insanely valuable ("shovel ready jobs" being the mantra and traffic modeling being what my company did). There are about 300 million people in the US. If you took all of my money, sold all of my assets at full market value, and distributed my "wealth" each man, woman, and child would have about an extra $1.50.
Then, when we really look at it - those people bitching about the 1% are actually in the 1% themselves if you look at things from a world-wide viewpoint. Strangely, I don't see them wanting to have all their property taken - i bet that $1.50 would go a lot further for some starving kid in a third world country.
I think we'll always have poor people because we'll always have greedy people. In my way, I contribute to society by both helping companies grow and by employing a few people directly still. (I used to employ over 200 people.) I don't have the answers, I don't know of a solution that'd actually work. I could crunch the numbers but i suspect that if we averaged out all the world's wealth we'd just all be equally fairly poor. I guess that would be more "fair" and more "just." I'm not so sure that it would be "right."
One of the things that I do enjoy, and think that the US government got right, is that (up to a certain limit) I can reduce my tax burden by donating to qualified charitable organizations. I do that. I do a lot of that, actually. I consider it taxation with representation or close enough. It's nice to be able to have some say and it's something I am inclined to agree with as far as tax codes go. I don't actually write off all of it, I sometimes prefer anonymity which means no receipt.
Of course, we're not in a position where charities are able to cover all the world's needs. It's unfortunate, really. I really don't see it ever being perfect and I see it as being remarkably better than it *could* be.

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"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re:It's a lack of perspective by KGIII · 2016-01-24 15:03 · Score: 1

As I mentioned above, I've been *very* lucky in life. I've also met a few Slashdotters in similar shoes and some who haven't been quite as fortunate but are still quite well off. I sold my business (traffic modeling) at the peak time - the government was to invest some 800 Billion in "shovel ready" jobs and many of them concerned highways. There are about 300 million people in the US. If you took everything I own, sold off the assets at their paper value, took all liquid assets, and then divided them among the entire country - you'd give each and every person a little bit less than $1.50.
Or, as it is now, I invest in small businesses, I make ONLY long-term investments in the stock market, and I even still directly employ a few people. (I used to employ a bit over 200 people.) These days it's a bit different - I was able to invest and buy some 2000 shares in Tesla when they were a mere $24 each. I don't count that as income yet - I've not yet sold those shares. I invest in smaller businesses in a variety of ways - including through a credit union. I have my "play" portfolio (that's the one that has the above mentioned Tesla shares) and I have a real finance manager who takes care of my real portfolio.
So, what's better? I can buy the entire country a cheap hamburger or I can actually keep folks employed and help them be upwardly mobile. I pay a reduced tax rate to encourage me to make long term investments. A lot of people aren't aware that short-term investments are taxed at income tax levels - while long-term investments are where you get the capital gains rates. Actually, come to think of it, it's often the people who are the least knowledgeable about such things that bitch the most and have the most outlandish "solutions."

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"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re:It's a lack of perspective by micahraleigh · 2016-01-25 06:17 · Score: 1

Huh? Is Trump owning all the land and treating people like serfs? I'm not treated like a serf. Who is being treated like a serf?
Re:It's a lack of perspective by BarbaraHudson · 2016-01-25 07:05 · Score: 1

Well, according to your own figures, the 1% would be 3 million people. That would result in a distribution of at least $1,500,000.00 per person. And this ignores that the 0.1% have way more ... There's no denying that would have a huge impact, even if, instead of doing that, we just returned to historic tax rates. Low tax rates are a strong disincentive to work for the rich.

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"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by KGIII · 2016-01-25 08:31 · Score: 1

I dunno about all that? I'm strongly inclined to make long-term investments because of tax rates. In the US, capital gains rates are only granted for long-term investments. Short-term investing is taxed at regular income tax rates. I also enjoy the rather lucrative act of helping people get small businesses running and, in return, I own a piece of their business. They can buy my share out, when they're able, or they can continue to rely on my having not spent the money that I've made from their business so that they can grow it further. I reduce my tax burden mostly by donating to charitable causes though I still pay a fairly large amount, it's not a very high percentage. I could actually pay less if I were more diligent or willing to put the effort into it. But no, I'm strongly given incentive to invest long-term.
A lot of people seem to think that investments are taxed at capital gains rates and that those rates are all low. That's not really true - it's never that simple where taxes are. Those short term investments are taxed at regular income rates, for example. I'm "wealthy" by your standards (probably) but not wealthy by some other folks standards. I'd be just fine to leave my money in a bank and collect the special interest rates that you get when you actually have a large sum of money in the bank. (Yes, I get a much better interest rate on savings accounts than you do.) However, that'd be plain retarded. It is so much easier to make your money work for you once you've accumulated some.
If by work, you mean spend a day down in the mine, then of course no wealthy person is going to bother going to work. If you think I'm unproductive or whatnot, I'd suggest you probably don't realize that, by extension, I keep quite a few people employed, pay hundreds - even thousands, of people's mortgages, send their kids to school and more. (Obviously not directly - but by investing in sound companies and risking losses with those investments, with bonds, or with straight up loans that I give to certain people who want to start or grow their business.
On the contrary, I'm strongly given incentive to put my money to work. Nobody just leaves it sitting idle, not if they're smart. Hell, this is where I like to use my favorite example... I have 2000 shares in Tesla. Yes, that's the correct number. I bought them when they were at about $24 each. I took a risk, a fairly sizable risk, and I've not yet capitalized on that risk. One of your favorite cars (probably) is partially made possible by my being willing to take the risks - and it's in my best interest to keep that investment in that company lest I be taxed at full income tax rates.
Not to mention, nobody ever paid those 'historical' figures. Shit, I barely have to pay taxes as it is. I can hire a specialist tax lawyer and I already employ an accountant. I could probably reduce my tax burden to nothing with a little bit of effort - and I'll always be able to do that. I pay taxes because I ought to, not because I have to. Heh... It's really, really easy to "lose" money and have no tax burden at all.
I'm not actually sure why you'd want to pay more in taxes, at any rate. The government really doesn't need more money - they need to budget better and stop bombing brown people. Perhaps a better example, better than your historic tax rates ('cause things were so much more equitable then) would be when J.P. Morgan bailed out the country.
No, I'll pay my social obligations by donations, thanks. I don't mind taxes - I'd even go so far as to say that I pay too little in taxes. However, I'm content with that 'cause it's not like they're gonna spend the money on doing anything useful. They'll take the few extra dollars and use it to float a loan for twice that many dollars and buy some bombers to bomb little brown men or put people in prison for smoking weed. I get to reduce my tax burden by donating to Habitat for Humanity, ACLU, EFF, Red Cross, Heifer International, and the local Maine chapter of the ACLU. I'm going with that until they stop wasting th

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"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re:It's a lack of perspective by BarbaraHudson · 2016-01-25 11:12 · Score: 1

All I'm pointing out is that the higher the tax rate, the more you have to produce to take the same amount home. This gives an incentive for increased productivity for everyone all down the line, which also creates more wealth by spending on capital goods and labour to increase productivity. Higher taxes result in more of a trickle-down effect - lower taxes have been proven to remove money from circulation, with a negative effect on trickle-down - it trickles up.
In the end it won't make much of a difference to the final outcome - previous job eliminations resulted in people moving from one type of job or industry or career to another. Education isn't the answer - there aren't enough jobs if we were to give everyone degrees.
I'm not optimistic about the end game ...

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"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-26 17:03 · Score: 0

So, what's better? I can buy the entire country a cheap hamburger or I can actually keep folks employed and help them be upwardly mobile.
I do pretty good too. You could tax me at 90% (Bernie wouldn't even hit me for 52%- his top rate for the ultra rich) and it would not materially change my life. Let's ignore your red herring defense of "long term" investment since the rich play three card Monty via companies, trusts and other tax deferred tricks while regular schmucks pay a higher rate on day one, unable to wait for a "Tax holiday" bail out.
Do you think the electronic balance of your portfolio is turned into hamburger without any second order economic effects? Like hiring enough people, be they ranchers, farmers, truckers or burger flippers, to actually serve 300M burgers? And do those people wink into and out of existence without any third order economic effects? Do you think that when NASA gets a couple hundred million for a Mars rover that they just duct tape the money into a wad and throw it into space?
Because I think they pay engineers, developers, rocket scientists and mathematicians to build a rover and a rocket to get it there. And I think those people buy or rent homes, shop at restaurants and grocery stores and generally spend the money in the American economy.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by KGIII · 2016-01-26 19:41 · Score: 1

Err... Of course I don't think those things and I've no idea why you'd think I would? In fact, you seem to be saying something, seemingly with some aggression, yet I don't think you've said anything I disagree with or anything that's counter to anything I said. In addition, you seem angry about something - yet you're not saying anything other than saying things I've said, or said very similar things, here. I'm not actually sure what you're getting at but you seem to be angrily getting at it.
I'm a fairly civil person and I'd not consider myself unintelligent. So, while I'm unable to fathom why it is you're saying those things to me (even with my quoted text), I'm willing to try to discuss most anything with you but you'll need to help me to understand what it is you're angry about, why that anger is directed at me, what changes you might like to make, how you'd like to make those changes, and what benefits you'll expect to realize from those changes.
We can have that discussion, or any discussion at all really, but we need to be on the same page to do so.
Let's start here, I'm very much a Bernie Sanders supporter at this stage in the game though I'd prefer it if he ran as an Independent or as an American Socialist Party candidate. Unfortunately, his running as a Democrat is probably the best chance. My problem is not with him but with the political environment. Out of all of the candidates, currently announced, he's the one that I prefer and he is the only one that I've sent a donation to at the presidential level.
Your quote, of my quote, was me referencing how someone had said, earlier, that they should take all the money from the 1%. Someone had proposed, probably seriously, that taking the money from the 1% (what they'd do with it, they did not say) because everyone who had that much money was a crook and that they owed it to society to give them all their money. No, not a portion, all of it.
They, like you, seemed unreasonably angry and very confused. So, I sense you have something to say (in fact you put words out there) but I'm not actually sure if that's an admonishment or some sort of praise for something or somebody. It's a nice rant, I'll give you that, but I'm not entirely sure that it's pertinent nor do I see how it applies to me? You mention taxes and capital gains rates. You mention, again, that you could stand to pay 52% or something along those lines - it's hard to tell what you're actually attempting to say.
You then go on about NASA, that's well and good (but I'm not sure what the point of it is). You then go on to tell me what you think which is nice but, well, those aren't really very deep thoughts. Umm... Yes, yes they do pay people who then go out and buy groceries, houses, cars, and other things. They then go on to have families, those kids get jobs, they buy houses, they buy cars, and they do all those things and the cycle keeps repeating. I'm pretty sure we all knew that.
Also, you should understand (I'm not sure where you were going with that) that Sanders will not be "taxing the ultra-rich at 90%" or the likes. That will be a marginal tax rate. So, the first bunch of money will be taxed at one rate, anything above that will be taxed at the next rate, anything above a certain rate will then be taxed at a new rate, so the "ultra-rich" will be paying a true tax rate of something much lower - it was on NPR, not long ago - some estimates. I think they said that the true rate would be something near 50% actually. That's before other deductions and applies to income taxes.
That won't really apply to me, personally. I do not pay income taxes. While I still do own a business (and have stakes in a few local small businesses and the likes) that income does not go to me but goes to a corporation. For example, there's a group of people who harvest wood from my property using the old oxen and horse method (while using other modern equipment) and they pay my corporation (not me) and my corporation has an income, and expenses, and I do not even actually pay m

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"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Re:It's a lack of perspective by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-28 09:26 · Score: 0

Your quote, of my quote, was me referencing how someone had said, earlier, that they should take all the money from the 1%. Someone had proposed, probably seriously, that taking the money from the 1% (what they'd do with it, they did not say) because everyone who had that much money was a crook and that they owed it to society to give them all their money. No, not a portion, all of it.
Not all nuts are right wingers. The lefties have some too. I'm not those ACs so I can't speak for them.

Also, I can assure you, nobody will be paying 90% tax even if Bernie Sanders is elected and even if he manages to get the tax paid. Really now... The ultra-rich (of whom I am not one) would balk at paying that amount. But, more importantly, that's the marginal tax rate which works out to something like a realistic 50% if NPR is to be believed.
That would be shocking news, if I hadn't posted that in my original reply with actual specifity:

I do pretty good too. You could tax me at 90% (Bernie wouldn't even hit me for 52%- his top rate for the ultra rich)
Forbes reported that Sanders’s tax plan will create new tiers of taxation, with 52% marginal income tax rates for those earning over $10 million in a year.
This was what I quoted and replied to:

So, what's better? I can buy the entire country a cheap hamburger or I can actually keep folks employed and help them be upwardly mobile.
You seemed to imply that vast amounts of wealth being concentrated in the hands of the few made them job creators in a way that decentralized wealth would not. That was the point I disputed. I have no doubt that if you were (unwisely) to evenly distribute wealth among every citizen that inequality would soon ensue, if only from people paying someone else to fetch them a soda/beer/pizza/etc. I have no problem with me having more than some lazy bum, or some super industrious person having more than me through their own effort (and not simply inheritance). When the disparity goes way, way beyond even 100x*100x, then I think there is an excessive inefficiency in the economic system related to those concentrations of wealth.
I like Bernie, and what little I've heard of Kasich, but if I have to hold my nose and vote for Hilary, over whatever bully/hypocrite/jesusfreak (pick 2) from the other party.... I'll pinch away.
Re:It's a lack of perspective by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-29 17:39 · Score: 0

I am sorry that my post "seemed to imply" that. I'll assume that such is do to my inability to be as articulate as I'd like to be. That often results in my being more verbose than I'd like to be but I've no other, reasonable, solution. I'm also verbose due to not wanting to have to repeat myself. I really dislike having to repeat myself. It's not just a failing on the part of another, it can be a failing of my own and the aforementioned inarticulate communications - so, I dislike it by default and do what I can to prevent it.
To make it more clear, I do not suggest or believe that those who are endowed with assets act in the best interests of society at heart. For starters, not even I am purely altruistic.
That seems inefficient and subject to misinterpretation. So, to be more clear, I'd suggest that many of those charged with (by means of social contract and not legal obligation) ensuring the progression of upward mobility in their fellow man are horribly disinterested in upholding their end of the social contract.
I did not make it clear, and I should have, that I was referencing only myself and only addressing (largely) some assumptions made. There were some authoritative statements made, things presented as factual, which I know to be untrue. How to say this? Well, not only was I addressing some bias, ignorance, and malice but I was also addressing the non-sequitur that, literally, it does not follow - at least in concept.
Please be aware, I'm going off memory. I did not bother to re-read. I probably should but this is informal. Please also be aware that I know you were not the person to whom I originally replied. I am now aware of this and while it doesn't change my content, it does change my tone. Unlike most, I appreciate your bringing the perceived failings to my attention and giving me the opportunity to address them. Thank you for doing so. Contrary to popular opinion, I am also aware that I am not always correct and I am not always correct.
To be a bit more specific, and again drawing on memory, I was specifically using only myself as an example but I know there are others who are very similar in believe and practice. See, I have eaten Ramen noodles. I have worked, and worked hard, and not always been in the position where I am today. I have accumulated my assets legally and by accumulation - not by dint of heritage or grace of birth.
It's also salient (though if only for illustration) that I mention that I'm well aware that I did not get to this position on my own, without the aid of others, and that my accumulation of assets does not mean that I worked harder nor am I more intelligent than others who have had less financial success. I frequently point out that my acquisition of wealth was largely due to luck, being in the right place at the right time(s), and by being able to take risks others may not have been able to take. This doesn't mean that I did not work hard, that I do not "deserve" my fortune, or that I achieved my position by virtue of immoral or illegal acts. While not directly related, I feel that may help to explain the color of my tone, why I reasoned my way to the conclusions I have, and my non-stereotypical views on some subjects.
The cold, hard, reality is that a number (we can debate the value of that number if you want) of those who have assets do not uphold their end of the social contract. There are many choices as to how that can be addressed, if addressed at all, and that's largely immaterial as we both can do no more than throw opinions at each other. At the same time, and this is what I was addressing more than anything else, that is not true for every person who has some wealth. Some of us go out of our way to not just uphold our end of the social contract but to exceed the amount we owe. Some of us are not just ethical but are decidedly so - to the point of taking greater risks to afford others a chance at fiscal stability.
That said, it's not entirely altruistic to do so. It is in my best interest to have a happy, healthy, produc

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by amiga3D · 2016-01-23 12:21 · Score: 3, Insightful

It's not about what he wants. It's what they think he should have.

Um, it doesn't need a victim by rsilvergun · 2016-01-23 12:21 · Score: 5, Insightful

but that doesn't mean there isn't one. There are lots and lots of people who just want to stop working at the age of 65. There are lots of people we really _need_ to stop working at the age of 65.

The other problem is what these people do to wages. It's funny how discussions about supply and demand go out the window when we talk about wages and standard of living going _down_. The phrase you're looking for is "The hollowing out of the middle class". They're driving down wages for drivers, which in turn means folks who might have been happy making a modest living driving are now desperately trying to find a career that pays them enough for food/rent. A few of 'em make it in other professions, like computer tech. Then the computer tech's wages go down and a few of those end up pushed into becoming programmers and systems analysts, driving down those wages. Here's another good phrase: "Race to the bottom".

This isn't the sharing economy. It's not the gig economy. It's the same old song and dance that happens when there's an over supply of labor without social programs to compensate. If you're one of the winners, bully for you. You got yours, fuck me (another popular phrase). But it's a winner take all economy. Like a lottery. Statistically if you're reading this you're not winning.

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Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by amiga3D · 2016-01-23 12:24 · Score: 1

I thought that was what Obamacare was intended to do?

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vic by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:31 · Score: 0

And it is morally wrong for some old person to work at a less than living wage because they are taking jobs from people that deserve a living wage.

Re:Not having benefits when you're retired is toug by amiga3D · 2016-01-23 12:31 · Score: 5, Interesting

A friend of mine's dad retired with a good pension. He didn't really need any money but he got bored and wanted to maybe have a little more play money so he took a job doing equipment maintenance at a local potato chip (Frito Lay) plant. He liked it okay and he was actually making more money than he had before he retired. Being good at his job they started putting more and more on him and he was working almost every weekend overtime. His daughter was getting married so he told them he needed Saturday off for the wedding and they said no problem but then the day before the wedding they asked him if he could come in to work and then leave 2 hours before the wedding. He told them he didn't really need the job and he was working way more than he wanted anyway, so he quit.

re: oversupply of labor by King_TJ · 2016-01-23 12:32 · Score: 1

If there's an "oversupply of labor" (and I agree with you that there is, right now), the *solution* is to increase the number of jobs. The idea that "more social programs" is the correct counter-balance is part of why we can't seem to get out nation back out of this mess!

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vic by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:32 · Score: 0

These people are taking jobs. Taking jobs.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by amiga3D · 2016-01-23 12:32 · Score: 1

I wonder if you really believe that or just decided to troll?

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vic by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:33 · Score: 0

It's not fair that these people that can afford to work for less are doing just that.

ride-booking service by sumdumass · 2016-01-23 12:33 · Score: 1

I'm glad they finally started calling it what it is- a ride-booking service. This entire it is ride sharing even though the concept of paying for a ride counters the sharing was sort of driving me nuts.

As for the seniors, more power to them. Just watch how much you earn else it starts detracting from your social security payments. At least talk with someone and plan out if that would be beneficial or not for you. There is a record seeing how most this is done through a third party so not reporting the income might be too risky.

Re:ride-booking service by thinkwaitfast · 2016-01-23 13:05 · Score: 1

I don't think they can take away from your benefits if you are retired (as opposed to disability). I've worked with a couple of people who were retired and I'm sure they were bringing home over $100k (their pre-retirement salary) in addition to SS and one or two pensions.
"I'm a triple dipper" joked one guy I worked with, and that wasn't including hat he was making part time at the company. Sadly for him it didn't last long.
Re:ride-booking service by sumdumass · 2016-01-23 13:22 · Score: 1

I just looked into it a bit more. It appears that you can start drawing your social security before you reach full retirement age (62) which is where the deductions come from. After you reach 67 or whatever the age is (depending on when you were born), there is no limit or reduction. I just remembered my father being concerned about that and didn't realize it was only if you take benefits early.
http://money.usnews.com/money/...
Re:ride-booking service by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 14:47 · Score: 1

I just looked into it a bit more. It appears that you can start drawing your social security before you reach full retirement age (62) which is where the deductions come from. After you reach 67 or whatever the age is (depending on when you were born), there is no limit or reduction. I just remembered my father being concerned about that and didn't realize it was only if you take benefits early.
http://money.usnews.com/money/...
I retired at 62 and continued working part-time at $52/Hr, so I hit the earnings limit.
They temporarily reduce your SS payments according to a formula.
There is a floor of ~$15,000 /year. Earnings below that are not counted. Over the ~15,000 then for every $2 you earn, then $1 is deducted from your Social Security check.
Example: I earned $32,000. Subtract 15,000 = 17,000. Half that is 8,500. Next year (at some random time) they stopped my checks until the $8,500 was taken back, which for me was be about 4 months and change.
When I turn 66 they'll re-calculate my payments, so if I retired at 62 and then lost 5 months payments due to working, then they'll re-calculate as if I had actually retired at 66 yr and 5 mo.

Cool! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:34 · Score: 0

Now they will get not only kill themselves because they can't drive for sh*t, but also kill the innocent passenger(s) and possibly bystanders on the sidewalk.

Re:Cool! by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 12:59 · Score: 1

..probably with improper insurance, to boot. So forget about any of the families of the killed bystanders getting money for proper funeral services.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:35 · Score: 0

These old people are starving families by working for less, but of course that is what the pukianz want.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vic by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:36 · Score: 0

And these idiot old people willing to work for less are destroying our economy.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:39 · Score: 0

Exactly. It's the same argument we have here in Seattle about the minimum wage. Teenagers are taking jobs from families.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:41 · Score: 0

It's the same with teenagers. They take so many fast food jobs from families that need those jobs.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 12:52 · Score: 0

Not everything needs to be run like a chickenshit operation.

It does if all you have is chickenshit for brains.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 12:55 · Score: 1

Except there is no oversupply of labor either. There is an undersupply. The H1B program proves it.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 12:56 · Score: 1

And when I am a passenger getting into an Uber car, I can tell the people who are properly insured versus the ones that aren't...... how exactly?

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 13:00 · Score: 1

Fine, then limit it to 10 hours a week, because it is just a hobby.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Uber by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 13:03 · Score: 2

Will my Uber driver's profile indicate whether my driver can see to the end of the hood or not, before I get in the vehicle?

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Uber by chipschap · 2016-01-23 15:55 · Score: 2

This is an unfair generalization about seniors. I happen to be a senior, and when my eyesight started to deteriorate I voluntarily stopped driving because I didn't want to get hurt or hurt someone else. I am by far not the only one to be responsible about this.
Re:Uber by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 16:56 · Score: 1

I'm very sorry if I have offended you in any way. It's just that my grandfather had very bad cataracts, and no one wanted to drive with him because he was almost running people over. It took the entire family to fight him in court to have his license taken away. I have another relative who made the same responsible choice as you, and it is a very wise one. I did not mean to make a generalization about senior drivers, I was merely speaking from personal experience.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Re:Uber by techno-vampire · 2016-01-23 18:27 · Score: 1

When I developed cataracts, I was seriously considering stopping driving at night. Then, they ripened enough to be removed. Not only did my night vision come back, I went from being intensely nearsighted to being slightly farsighted and night driving isn't an issue any longer. From what you write, it's a shame that this wasn't an option for your grandfather.

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Re:Uber by phorm · 2016-01-23 20:38 · Score: 1

My grandmother was the same, except it was a small stroke that impaired her leg movement. Thankfully - unlike my grandfather - she willingly gave up the keys when she realized it just wasn't safe anymore (my grandfather stopped driving when cancer made him bedridden prior to passing away, but he was getting ketchy before that).
Re:Uber by thegarbz · 2016-01-23 22:52 · Score: 1

Will my Uber driver's profile indicate whether my driver can see to the end of the hood or not, before I get in the vehicle?
Yes, quick answer is "every driver". Being able to see the end of the hood is a pre-requisite for having a driver's license which is something that Uber checks before signing up drivers.
Re:Uber by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 02:05 · Score: 1

I was very young when this all happened and I can't really say how it all went down. I just remember that it was a big problem. There was a lot of stubbornness and toxic personalities thrown into the mix and I'm sure it wasn't dealt with in a totally rational way.

But the point is, now we are giving these people a financial incentive to keep driving, it will happen.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Re:Uber by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 02:09 · Score: 1

Haha... They ask me if I need glasses every year, that's it. That's the test. I had one eye test when I got my license at 16 and that was it.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Re:Uber by thegarbz · 2016-01-24 05:13 · Score: 1

How old are you? After a certain age in my state you need medical clearance for a driver's license. Heck I'm in my 30s and I had to get a medical form.
Re:Uber by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 05:18 · Score: 1

I'm well above 30. Well above.

You people supporting Uber are all over the place. You don't trust the government to regulate taxis, but you do trust them to test the health and fitness of drivers and the safety of vehicles. Make up your mind.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Re:Uber by chipschap · 2016-01-24 06:00 · Score: 1

But the point is, now we are giving these people a financial incentive to keep driving, it will happen.
Unfortunately, this is correct, and it is a problem, and there are stubborn seniors who won't stop driving when they should. I don't know the answer, but I don't have any problem with strict rules covering this. In my state, at a certain age, seniors have to do an annual driver's license renewal (with eye test). I don't think this is at all wrong.
Happily my city offers a $30 per year unlimited bus pass to those in my situation. I stopped driving when it was foolish to continue, and I ride the bus without complaining. It may be slower and less convenient, but I'm content to be personally safe, and even more, I would not want to live out my years with the guilt of having preventably harmed someone else.
Re:Uber by volmtech · 2016-01-24 07:26 · Score: 1

You do know that almost EVERY car on the road is a potential Uber car. If that soccer mom has a rider other than three 10 year olds does that make her minivan less safe?
Re:Uber by thegarbz · 2016-01-24 10:11 · Score: 1

I wasn't supporting Uber, I wasn't not supporting them either, I was supporting older drivers against your uneducated rant, and the system in place that monitors those drivers. Those drivers being drivers that a CDC study (and insurance companies) determined are a lower risk on the road due to actually knowing what their limits are thanks to many years of experience and who are far less likely to get behind the wheel when they are incapable of driving.
I don't trust Uber to test the fitness of vehicles. I don't trust Uber to test the fitness of drivers. There's other systems already in place for exactly that, and magically picking up some random person shouldn't change any requirement for competence of a person to operate a motor vehicle.
My mind has always been made up by this. If you have a problem with an Uber driver, then complain to the government, they were the ones who issued the driver's license.

no job has a career path by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 13:12 · Score: 0

9-5 jobs are dead ends, anything other than a professional job like lawyer is in perpetual danger of outsourcing. Dentists and plumbers are the only safe jobs with a "path".

You millenial whiner. Yes, the world is different and cold and hard. It always was.

Re:no job has a career path by FirephoxRising · 2016-01-23 16:59 · Score: 1

Late gen X here, the world was a LOT warmer and fuzzier for the boomers. Talk about entitlement....

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by murdocj · 2016-01-23 13:14 · Score: 1

No, it's what he wants... a part time job to supply some extra cash.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vi by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 13:14 · Score: 2

Is anyone else having trouble figuring out which of these ACs are trolls and which are genuinely stupid?

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Firethorn · 2016-01-23 13:19 · Score: 1

No, it's what other people think that they should have. The Seniors are working for Uber because it makes sense for them, and maximizes what they desire.

Meanwhile, people think Uber are 'exploiting' Seniors because of 'reasons', such as not providing healthcare(already covered), doesn't have advancement(do seniors really need that?), etc...

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Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 13:23 · Score: 1

H1B programs, Mexican and Central American immigrants (both legal and not) coming to work the fields of California and the poultry factories of Oklahoma, unfilled openings for skilled machinists and welders in "rust belt" places like central Massachusetts, ads for entry-level and non-entry-level software and non-software engineers on the subway in Boston and NYC. At some point oil will pick up in North Dakota again, maybe next year, almost certainly within the next ten.

There's work for everyone at any level if you're willing to look for it and work for it, so to speak. Back in the day, people would move cross-country without a thought to look for work in the gold rush, or the land rush, or the oil boom in Texas and LA. Now the people doing the loudest complaining about the lack of work seem to be the ones who want a high-paying job and they want it ten minutes from the same house their grandparents lived in.

Of course I blame evil corporations for this development.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 13:25 · Score: 1

I a problem with telling people how much time they are or are not allowed to spend doing something for no reason other than to satisfy one person's idea of how things should be.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 13:28 · Score: 1

Well, you can vote for officials who'll impose an insurance minimum on ride-sharing companies, but that's really beside the point since we were talking about the driver's liability in the event of a crash and not the passenger's. Try to follow along.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by 110010001000 · 2016-01-23 13:31 · Score: 0, Troll

Good. I've seen such "recycling centers". He was running an illegal dump out in the country. Dumping the non-valuable stuff in the woods and taking the rest to sell.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 13:36 · Score: 1

So you think it's right that people should have to move across the country from their family support structure? If there is anything this country should be trying to protect people from, that is it. Children that grow up with extended family around them are much better off.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Can you set your own rates? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 13:38 · Score: 0

I have a nicer car and would want to charge a premium.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 13:39 · Score: 0

Well then I'll see you at the bottom because that's where we are all going with that thinking. The fact of the matter is, regulation is what keeps us out of the shitter, and I would like to see us stay out of it as long as possible. Without regulation, then the wealthiest and most powerful would really get their way.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 13:49 · Score: 0

You think providing a living wage is stupid? You must be one of those republicans.

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:01 · Score: 1

I actually do think it's OK. I did it. My parents did it, and so did half of my extended family, and nearly all of my wife's family. My friends did it. My co-workers did it. Aforementioned immigrants do it.

Do I think it would be nice to have that cushy job and stay close to roots? Of course. But there's really something much, much, much more wrong with a large number of job openings in City X and a large number of unemployed in City Y refusing to take them.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 14:06 · Score: 1

Well now we know why everyone in the US is so fucked up.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:09 · Score: 1

Ah. So in my world of low regulation, the rich and powerful will prevent us from earning money to support ourselves, whereas in your world, the self-righteous and well-connected will make policies that prevent use from earning money to support ourselves. Glad we cleared that up.

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:10 · Score: 1

Are you referring to the people who moved and got jobs or the people who demanded the jobs come to them and are collecting welfare?

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vi by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:11 · Score: 1

Maybe it's a bot. If the next post is a vehement denial that it's not human, that'll be the surest clue.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 14:12 · Score: 0

In my world, regulation comes about though a legal system that has representation of the people. So it is all people that decide what the regulation should be.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 14:14 · Score: 1

Ah yes because everyone who doesn't move MUST be collecting welfare. Interesting reality there.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:And my wife says I'm getting too close to the d by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 14:18 · Score: 0

or older women lack certain traits

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:20 · Score: 1

Interesting reality there.

Quite. It's called the real world, where you're either employed, unemployed and supported by someone who is, unemployed and not supported by someone who is, or independently wealthy.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:22 · Score: 1

All? As in complete consensus? Or 50% +1 of votes cast? Or 50% + 1 of judges hearing the case?

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by epyT-R · 2016-01-23 14:23 · Score: 2

How do you know that this one in particular was illegally dumping?

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by epyT-R · 2016-01-23 14:27 · Score: 0

The left wing doesn't like Uber because it 'disrupts' state services, so naturally they'll complain, and painting their disapproval in the narrative of class oppression is typical of them. It is prav..err I mean the NY Times after all.

Re: oversupply of labor by BarbaraHudson · 2016-01-23 14:27 · Score: 1

You missed out under-employed and screwed every which way.

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Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 14:30 · Score: 0

One role of government is to provide its citizens with quality of life. This is what you seem to fail to comprehend. You feel normal, you feel that everyone around your who has left the nest egg is normal, so you think it must be normal. Hate to break it to you, but in the evolution of human beings, very rarely did a lone person strike out from their main tribe and go on their own to look for a better tribe. It is not natural for us, and you cannot really believe you are 'as good off' as people who live with extended family around them.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 14:32 · Score: 1

Ah you are one of those who has lost faith in the system of government. I can understand that. I hope it will be fixed one day. For people like you, I'm really not sure why you live in a country with government. You'd probably be best living in a bunker in some third world country somewhere, because that's the system you really want.

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Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:41 · Score: 0

Glad you feel qualified to reach into my brain and tell the whole world what's really in there. We could use more people like you to tell use what it is that we really think. But until that glorious day arrives, we have to make do with speaking for ourselves and continuing to point out that the US is built on preserving the rights of the minority against the tyranny of the majority, which in practical terms means that if we want to completely make over our country into a socialist worker's paradise, we'd need near complete consensus to do so, not just a case of enough of the people some of the time to ramrod it through.

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 14:42 · Score: 1

It's also not natural to live in constructed shelters, have written language, or live past 30, in historical terms, that is. I think I'll take my way over yours.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Kohath · 2016-01-23 15:18 · Score: 1

Because arresting someone who works 12 hours instead of 10 prevents victimization? What if they work 14 hours? Chop off a hand?

Why not just mind your own business instead?

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Kohath · 2016-01-23 15:23 · Score: 1

Because we must all understand that we need government micromanagement of everything everyone does, all the time, or else one of the bogeymen will victimize someone. It's people like you who make us all vulnerable to devastating predation by bogeymen.

Re: oversupply of labor by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 15:32 · Score: 0

That explains a lot of USA, no values, greed, lack of solidarity, shootings, brrrr. Thank goodness I wasn't born in that soulless shithole.

Re: oversupply of labor by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 15:34 · Score: 0

You have to get hired first and you have to earn enough to pay for housing in the area. Just because there's a job ad doesn't mean you'll get hired. Just because there are openings, doesn't mean they pay enough for rent and food in the area.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 15:35 · Score: 0

Then stop talking, everytime you say something you're killing your oh so precious freedom. When the freedom of someone affects the rights of others then it should be limited or regulated, regardless of what brainless nuts think.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 15:40 · Score: 0

So telling others what to do is right or wrong, can't you decide??

Run that by me again. by westlake · 2016-01-23 15:54 · Score: 2

Older drivers are prized because they usually own their own cars, have adequate auto insurance and, according to insurance statistics, have fewer crashes.

Fewer crashes because they are on the road less often?

Male drivers 65+ average 10,000 miles on the road a year. That is about 9,000 miles less than males aged 35-54. Average Annual Miles per Driver by Age Group [Feb 2015]

Re:Run that by me again. by mschuyler · 2016-01-23 17:40 · Score: 1

Bottom line is insurance rates. Teens and 20 somethings are high. Seniors are low, I've been driving for 50 years and have seen everything. You haven't.
Deal with it.

--
How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.
Re:Run that by me again. by thegarbz · 2016-01-23 23:00 · Score: 1

Fewer crashes because they are on the road less often?
Oh do not look at things so narrow mindedly. This is an incredibly complex topic requiring comparing many stats in many different ways. Such as looking at the population health distribution, the driving times, the risk patterns (CDC actually gives several glowing report on older drivers who are far less likely to take any kind of risk, including knowing when they are impaired or when conditions are dangerous, the same article also mentioned the risks only start getting high at 85 years+, only a good 20 years above retirement age).
Insurance companies are some of the few who would have done their very detailed homework on this, so unless they massively increase the rate suddenly now that people are getting into Uber I'll go the fact that older drivers seem to know what they are doing.
As a side note your post reminds me of another great statistic I learnt at university: 87% of adult males rate themselves as better drivers than average, 70% of women do too.

Career path? by damn_registrars · 2016-01-23 15:58 · Score: 1

Few people in any industry have career paths any more, and the further time marches on the more that becomes the case. In the US we have convinced ourselves that putting power in the hands of the employers is the right thing to do, and we keep making that choice every time we get a chance. If it means most people born after 1960 won't ever get to retire the way their parents did, so be it.

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Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.

Re:Career path? by Billly+Gates · 2016-01-23 20:02 · Score: 1

Keep believing that and you won't ever have a career path or retirement.

--
http://saveie6.com/
Re:Career path? by damn_registrars · 2016-01-24 02:35 · Score: 1

And a career will come just from belief that one is out there?

The simple fact is that companies seldom hire for career positions any more. The very notion of career is quickly becoming obsolete. Companies expect to be able to treat employees as a disposable commodity, because we have allowed them to do so for some time now. When most of the workers are barely scraping by, their ability to save money for retirement is plummeting as well.

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Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Re:Career path? by Billly+Gates · 2016-01-24 13:10 · Score: 1

We are all disposable, yet have value too. Yes, no one owes you a job for 30 years at a company and a fat pension with 100% job security which was only true for a short short time in American history.
But if you believe you can or cannot the answer is yes. You won't try to get better.
You are probably smart if you are on slashdot stastistically wise. You have a tool you can learn new skills on and now run Vm's if you have a computer made in the past 6 years with extensions to run any OS or appliance to do whatever you want imaginable. Even learn Cisco without a router thanks to GSN3 in a VM. Hyper-v has virtual switches and so on etc.Turnkeylinux.com has appliances for coding where you turn it on and you have a development server instantly.
Learn that and if your employer has no needs for those skills go elsewhere. Get certified. Do something. Start a project to gain your own experience.

--
http://saveie6.com/
Re:Career path? by damn_registrars · 2016-01-24 13:44 · Score: 1

yes, no one owes you a job for 30 years at a company and a fat pension with 100% job security which was only true for a short short time in American history.
To be verbose, I was making no claim that anyone is owed that. However, our country has swung so far from that ideal of decades ago now that even professionals are quickly displaced. One can only stay ahead of the curve for so long, after which the employer finds someone else who is either ahead of the curve or is willing to be on the curve for less money.

The notion of pension - and retirement in general - is tragically even more obsolete now in the modern case. Employers have been able to continuously reduce their contributions to employees' retirements, to their point where now it often averages out to a very trivial investment for the company. Even worse, traditional pension plans are all but extinct, forcing employees to select from various market-based investments which are seldom beating inflation. Just as the health care law passed in 2010 made almost every citizen of the US an obligate consumer of for-profit health insurance, the various restructuring efforts in corporate America has made most Americans obligate investors on the stock market as they are punished severely for not doing that.

Do something
I'm doing plenty, thank you much. I have a PhD and I currently work 3 jobs simultaneously to make ends meet. I would look in to what this is doing to my physical health, but I don't make enough money to afford to use my health insurance.

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Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Re:Career path? by Billly+Gates · 2016-01-24 14:13 · Score: 1

That sucks man.
I had to do this and stress myself to death. I wish you the best of luck and not to sound like a smart ass but I am considering Uber for a weekend job after my certs so I can buy a house and pay off my student loans. :-)
This is perfect for someone who wants to work when he wants too if you are busy and poor in health. I live near an airport so I assume am a gold mine. But I realize not everyone is so luck.y

--
http://saveie6.com/
Re:Career path? by damn_registrars · 2016-01-25 05:27 · Score: 1

I suspect more people every year will be picking up side work through services like uber, it is the way our economy is going. One thing that a lot of people aren't prepared for in taking on contract work like that though is the taxes. A lot of those companies like to pay the "contractors" directly and make them deal with the taxes. That isn't bad if the contract work is your own job and you're good with estimating taxes and managing your money. However if you have another job (contract or not) and then start doing contract work as well, the taxes can get pretty crazy. If you are in a joint-filing relationship as well, it can get even crazier still.

I don't have all my information to calculate my 2015 taxes yet, but my 2014 were awful and 2013 even worse (2013 included income from multiple states as well as unemployment from one while I was in between jobs). I expect to be punished pretty severely for trying to make money this year, we will see. This isn't "progressive" taxation, either, as the total of my three incomes for 2015 still doesn't put me into the six figure range for pre-tax income.

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Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by __aaclcg7560 · 2016-01-23 16:06 · Score: 1

Actually, my father just put the non-recyclable stuff into the trash.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by __aaclcg7560 · 2016-01-23 16:13 · Score: 2

How do you know that this one in particular was illegally dumping?

He probably made the assumption that anyone who is trying to avoid county dumping fees must be illegally dumping stuff out in the country. A vending machine is a mostly empty wooden box with some metals, a sheet of glass or plastic, and some electronics. A properly broken down vending machine can be recycled with very little going into the regular trash.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 16:28 · Score: 0

What you call the "left wing" is mostly sane, moderate Americans. The Republicans are so extreme, and totally disconnected from reality, that they think everyone outside the far-right-wing cult is this tricky "Left," when really there isn't much of a left in America at all.

Supporting continuation of your own country is sanity. It's the idiots who want to tear it down that are the problem. A clueless mix of ignorant libertarians, and insane, theocratic Conservatives, who will be the end of us if we don't keep them from any kind of power.

Re: oversupply of labor by FirephoxRising · 2016-01-23 16:34 · Score: 0

+1 Funny!

Re: oversupply of labor by FirephoxRising · 2016-01-23 16:35 · Score: 0

+1 Funny

adequate auto insurance by YrWrstNtmr · 2016-01-23 16:35 · Score: 1

Does that " adequate auto insurance" work for a commercial driver? Does that cost less than what a traditional taxi driver pays?

Just one of the many ways Uber/Lyft sidesteps 'the rules'.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 16:51 · Score: 1

You know, if you moved to a third world country you could make your own mountain of shit. You could build it with the poor kids bikes... and your actual shit. You could place all the people in concentric rings downwards. The people who are least important to you would have to wake up at 3am so they could walk up your enormous pile of shit to the company, which would be placed on top. They could make $5 and then start their descent so that they could sleep 4 hours to complete the cycle.

Please just don't involve me or any of my ancestors. The stench is unbearable.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 16:53 · Score: 1

I didn't say arrest them. Just turn off their account, for crying out loud. This is a technology company and not a taxi company, AFTER ALL.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-23 17:04 · Score: 1

Oh, and at the top of the mountain of shit is where the school and fucking hospital will be. Good luck to those little poor kids getting to school in the morning. They should probably just work the farms instead. Hope they don't INJURE themselves.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by convolvatron · 2016-01-23 17:25 · Score: 2, Insightful

here we have class of people who have, for the most part, worked hard their entire lives.

and they have shit. social security, medicare, and its not enough. no one will hire them.

except a company that rewards them $50 after a 10 hour day driving hipster assholes from A to B

you can call that a fair market trade if you want. i think its inhumane.

Re: oversupply of labor by mishehu · 2016-01-23 17:30 · Score: 1

I think Weird Al wrote a song about you... It's called "When I Was Your Age"... You did it and your family did it, and everything's peachy keen and there was never any opportunity cost to any decision made so it must be fitting for everybody in this country, or else they're lazy people scampering away from the Langoliers... Now are we going to get with the program and be a part of the Big Picture?

Re:Not having benefits when you're retired is toug by mschuyler · 2016-01-23 17:33 · Score: 1

Oh, yeah!!! Empty nester, baby!

--
How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.

Re: oversupply of labor by Flozzin · 2016-01-23 17:52 · Score: 2

One role of government is to provide its citizens with quality of life.

Well, maybe your ideal government does this. Mine protects me, but mostly stays out of my way. The US government was never set up to function like how you want it. It would need an overhaul, and really, it needs one anyway.

--
"Cowardice in a race, as in an individual, is the unpardonable sin." --Teddy Roosevelt

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 18:02 · Score: 1

You call it inhumane, I call it sad but natural. Outside of a very few cases of sheer bad luck, I have yet to encounter a sad story that doesn't involve bad decisionmaking at some point leading up to it. Government isn't there to insulate you from the consequences of your own decisions, good or bad.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 18:06 · Score: 0

Because it's misleading.... they think they're going to make so much money an hour, but by the time you add maintenance, commercial insurance, and everything else they don't make shit. Not even counting things like health insurance, and living.... It would be like I advertise to come work for me for $10/hour, but I don't tell you you'll be required to pay for all this stuff that comes to $6/hour... nobody is going to do it knowing in the end they'll come out with $4/hour, and no benefits.

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 18:08 · Score: 1

And all of those things are what adults call "considerations" that need to, um, considered, when making a major life choice like changing jobs or moving far away.

Typically, one at least contacts a prospective employer and glances at real estate listings before selling ones possessions and buying a one-way ticket to The Big City.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 18:08 · Score: 0

uhm, I somehow doubt old vending machines are safe to just dismantle willy nilly. There are probably all kinds of heavy metal shit in that stuff. Not to mention things like lead paint....

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 18:11 · Score: 1

Get back on your meds, friend; they're there to help you.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-23 18:20 · Score: 1

Telling others what to do isn't right or wrong, it's a tool of a policy that's right or wrong. Let's see if I can illustrate with an example or two.
Telling people what gods to worship: wrong.
Telling people not to slash their neighbors' tires: right.
Telling people not to use their cars to make money: wrong.
Tellling people that they have to have insurance for their business when offering services to the general public: right.
Does that help?

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Kohath · 2016-01-23 18:38 · Score: 1

What if they don't want their account turned off? Someone's going to have to be arrested sometime if you want people to be forced to obey your rules rather than allowing them to make their own choices about their own lives.

Or you could just learn to mind your own business, and then no one needs to get arrested, and people can work or not as they wish.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Kohath · 2016-01-23 19:09 · Score: 1

$50 a day easily pays for food and rent and other expenses by itself. Add the average monthly social security check ($1180) to that and you get more than $2000/month take home pay. That's not wealth, but it's not poverty either.

I think its inhumane.

You should have more respect for people who work. They could be sitting at home doing nothing, collecting a check for helping no one. Instead they're helping people get where they need to go, and they're paying their own way in the process. Working helps your fellow man -- that's why he's glad to pay you for your work. It's good. (It's especially good when you compare it to being an entitled asshole spongeing off the labor of everyone else.)

Re: oversupply of labor by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 19:17 · Score: 0

Yep, if everyone lived just like me the world would be a much better place. Reality refuses to grant me that wish, or anyone else.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by NotQuiteReal · 2016-01-23 19:49 · Score: 1

Yeah, and I wanted to put a urinal in the stairwell of my parking garage.

No dice - couldn't get a permit. Not ADA compliant because of the stairs, didn't pass health because no dividers, and there wasn't a sit-down for the ladies.

So, no urinal.

The bums still piss in the stairwell, however.

--
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.

Less crashes? by phorm · 2016-01-23 20:35 · Score: 1

There's also "crashes" where a vehicle is significantly damages, and then bumps, scrapes, dings, etc. I won't say that younger people are greater drivers - it seems each general has its issues - but the problems are different. Keep in mind also that older persons often have capacity to pay for minor fender-benders out-of-pocket, keeping the insurance corps out-of-the-loop and thus incidents off-record.

Younger males tend do to drive faster in general, and if most of the people I see driving with a f***ing cellphone up to the ear tend to be under 30 and/or female. However, the issues I've seen with older drivers are:
* Inattention to detail: wrong way on a 1-way street, failing to notice speed changes, not watching blind spots
* Poor reaction times/movement: This is a combined issue of mental function and things like arthritis etc that impair movement.
* Privilege due to history: "I haven't had an accident in over 20 years so I should be able to X" (drive without a belt, speed, etc)
* I'll drive at my own speed: Fast when there's a passing lane, slow when there's not, and generally f***ing up all the traffic behind them. Especially true for RV's or night-driving

But the worst is a combination of the above and more just due to not wanting to give up the fucking keys. One of the proudest moments I had of my grandmother was when she realized on her own she wasn't safe to drive anymore, hung up the keys, and sold the cars. Countless others suffering from mental/physical impairment due to age aren't willing to give up the privilege freedom of a vehicle, and ultimately it can cost them or others dearly.

My last experience along this line was a senior who spent several minutes backing in and out of a stall, hit a car parked across from her, then moved around the lot trying various other stalls. I'm not even sure what she was trying or if she was simply demented, but I called the police and the officer - after noting her lack of mobility (we're talking, can barely turn the wheel and can't turn her neck to shoulder check) and a myriad of other scratches/dints indicating multiple parking-lot hit-and-runs - pulled her license on the spot.

Now I'm not saying all seniors are bad drivers, but frankly, age is not kind to most of us. Cognitive ability takes a hit, slowing reactions. Physical impairment slows it further, and causes loss of eyesight, night-vision etc as well. Bones break easier in accidents. Stamina also becomes a consideration. A lot of older drivers do OK during daylight hours for measured trips, since they can pace themselves and rest as needed. Young people are often in situations where they can't really avoid driving even if they're under-the-weather, because they need to get to work etc regardless of having a head-cold during rush-hour or that freak snow-storm, or at 7am when coffee hasn't quite kicked in.

When gramps is trying to make that last run at 2am in order to get that surge-pricing bonus from the bar-rush...well suddenly "older = less crashes" may ring a lot less true

Re:Less crashes? by ebusinessmedia1 · 2016-01-24 19:25 · Score: 1

All drivers over 60 should be re-tested in a simulator every 5 years. Over 75,every two years. If you fail, the license goes bye-bye. This would be trivial to accomplish. btw, about 30% of ALL drivers have poor night vision-young and old!

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 22:23 · Score: 0

You call it inhumane, I call it sad but natural. Outside of a very few cases of sheer bad luck, I have yet to encounter a sad story that doesn't involve bad decisionmaking at some point leading up to it. Government isn't there to insulate you from the consequences of your own decisions, good or bad.

I propose we allow a hunting season for the homeless, the old and anyone who makes less than I do.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-23 22:33 · Score: 0

Telling others what to do isn't right or wrong, it's a tool of a policy that's right or wrong. Let's see if I can illustrate with an example or two.

Telling people what gods to worship: wrong.

Telling people not to slash their neighbors' tires: right.

Telling people not to use their cars to make money: wrong.

Tellling people that they have to have insurance for their business when offering services to the general public: right.

Does that help?

Why shouldn't I be allowed to slash your tires? Where's the harm if I am JUST trying to hit the ground NEXT to the tire? I'm not DELIBERATELY trying to injure you or your property.

How is that different than if I drive 36 hours straight trying to make a buck, but accidentally plow into you and cripple you? Why should anyone other than you or me pay for your medical treatment or disability? You want freedom, I get freedom to drive uninsured until I pass out from exhaustion too.

Or we could get a bunch of people together, decide this shit in advance. Maybe call it government.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Rockoon · 2016-01-23 23:20 · Score: 1

Instead they're helping people get where they need to go, and they're paying their own way in the process. Working helps your fellow man -- that's why he's glad to pay you for your work. It's good.

Exactly.

People seem to overlook the fact that when a voluntary trade happens that there are always two winners. Before any discussion happens it should be acknowledged that any interference has dubious utility, given that its hard to imagine society doing better than two winners through their interference.

--
"His name was James Damore."

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by wvmarle · 2016-01-24 01:31 · Score: 1

Existing laws probably cover that already. A driver has to be properly insured by law in most countries. If they take paying passengers, and their insurance doesn't allow this, they're not properly insured and for that reason in breach of the law.

Uber protects at least the passenger by providing a back-up insurance when the driver has a passenger in the car. However that apparently doesn't cover the time the Uber driver is active as driver, but not carrying a passenger - e.g. when on the way to a pick-up - leaving the driver still at risk. Of course that's no problem for Uber, as all they care about is passengers, which are their paying customers.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 01:54 · Score: 1

Bur what are you doing to be 'worthy' of protection? You're certainly not protecting (or caring) about anyone else. This isn't just about paying taxes. This is about how societies treat others within them.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 02:01 · Score: 1

But we haven't talked about piss lake yet! Piss lake is where you piss, and it's bordered by the Atlantic, the Pacific, Mexico, and Canada. Mexico and Canada don't get any of the piss, because they have walls now due to their poor influences on you. Many people have to live in piss lake, but they are weak because they like to see their parents more than twice a year. Their children are also weak because they know who their grandparents are. So you can have your shit mountains where New York used to be, and a large shit mountain in California... and wherever the hell you think is a good place for one. Silicon Valley will be a very special shit mountain indeed because it will be made of the game consoles and big screen TVs of the poor, because even forbid they should enjoy any part of their lives. They are poor and they should always be working harder to get to a shit mountain.

If that isn't an absolute break down of society I don't know what is.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 02:07 · Score: 1

You know what, sometimes in life people have things done to them that they don't want for the sake of others. For example, I can't walk into a restaurant and start spitting into every one's food. It's called civilization.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by amiga3D · 2016-01-24 02:09 · Score: 1

The right wing isn't that fond of them either. It's the moderates I think that like Uber.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by amiga3D · 2016-01-24 02:10 · Score: 1

Such an intelligent, reasoned response. Thank you for making my point for me.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 02:16 · Score: 1

Besides, I've been told that the uber system is flawless. That every driver has a picture and every stat about them, and they have a rating that is accurate and there is no way around it. and it's all for the good of the children.

You know what, you sound like the type that supports the occupation in Oregon. People should just be able to burn 140 acre fires wherever they hell want and not be punished. Public land is every one's land, so if you want to take a building on it then you should be able to. Well civilization doesn't work like that. There are people who want to use that land to see nature and that's what the land is there for. Not for fires, not for your own 'I will do what I want to do'. This is how people live together. This is what laws are for.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by fafaforza · 2016-01-24 02:21 · Score: 1

It's the worst in financial papers that always have the need to explain a dip or rise in the market. Most times they just end up tying the move to some thing that sounds plausible but in all livelihood is just a shot in the dark.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 02:30 · Score: 1

You know what, this may seem over the top. But honestly, the concept that people should move to the money always is an idea I would expect a three year old to have. So I thought I would explain it in terms of piss and shit so that you would understand.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by roman_mir · 2016-01-24 02:59 · Score: 2

Company paying a person for their work that both parties agree to voluntarily is 'inhumane'? Government using force this steal from one person to subsidise another is 'humane' though, right? Your logic is .... Well, you are surely a Sanders voter.

--
You can't handle the truth.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by Type44Q · 2016-01-24 03:33 · Score: 1

Wrong on the first two points and your third point is irrelevant and entirely orthogonal to the matter unless he was sanding the paint while inhaling the dust or peeling off paintflakes and eating them...

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Kohath · 2016-01-24 04:09 · Score: 2

You know what, sometimes in life people have things done to them that they don't want for the sake of others. For example, I can't walk into a restaurant and start spitting into every one's food. It's called civilization.

Civilization is about arresting someone who spits in other people's food. Civilization is NOT about arresting someone for ordering extra mayo on their sandwich because you think mayo is yucky.

Arresting someone for bullying the innocent is NOT the same as using the police to bully innocent people. Stop bullying innocent people.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by DogDude · 2016-01-24 04:49 · Score: 1

No, nutjob, that isn't why. It's because "The left wing" doesn't think that people should get fucked over. "The right wing" exists to fuck people over. You've been listening to Glenn Beck too much.

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I don't respond to AC's.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 05:13 · Score: 1

Well that depends on whether society has got together and decided as one whether mayo should be outlawed or not. All I am saying is I am one person putting his hand up and saying that there should be laws regulating Uber. I am not saying these judgments I am making should be enforced because I alone think them. I'm willing to hold it to a vote. YOU are the ones saying that it should not be voted on, that anyone should be able to do anything they want if it is physically possible. I'm saying that isn't how civilization works. We have a system for deciding things together so that we can all live in harmony. It should not be skirted, it should be used and enforced once a decision is made, because that is the only way we have to protect people from being screwed over. The more we come to a consensus, the more civilized society is. Your needs do not trump mine, so let's not say "you can or cannot do this" until it has been put to a proper vote and decided fairly.

Let me use the Oregon occupation as an example. The government set land aside for various purposes since 1908, and in current day it is a wildlife preserve. The preserve came about through government forces, so we can reasonably assume that it was a combined decision of the people to put it there. Many people enjoy the wildlife preserve for what it is, and appreciate the government and the people for putting it there. Along comes someone who thinks they alone can burn 140 acres of it down with a fire that they attempted to control but got out of control. Then another group comes along and takes over a building, thereby tromping on everyone's rights to enjoy the park as a wildlife preserve. How is that ever right? For someone to come along to an area established by the people since 1908 and destroy the use of that area because they think they have some sort of freedom claim on it. They're not fighting for freedom, they're just fighting for what THEY think they should be able to do. It's not right. Government is there for a reason. The occupiers are the ones who are bullying.

Taxi regulations are also in place for a reason. Unregulated, there were too many cars, and there was no control. The streets were clogged, people were getting ripped off. I do not take comfort in the thought of Uber taking this out of the government's hands and running the show on their own. Many people feel the same way, and all I am saying is that it should get put to a vote. How can anyone voluntarily living in a democratic country NOT believe in a fair vote?

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by crow_t_robot · 2016-01-24 05:51 · Score: 1

Obamacare is shitty because the republicans fucked it up. Single payer is superior but I still fail to see these death panels and FEMA reeducation camps that the conservatives were screaming about.

Re:Not having benefits when you're retired is toug by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-24 05:55 · Score: 0

It's astounding how bad management is at some companies.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 05:59 · Score: 1

Your proposal is rejected on the grounds that you didn't understand my post, are putting words in my mouth, and are being a jackass. Saying people don't deserve what they didn't earn is a world and a half away from wishing them ill.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 06:05 · Score: 1

because the republicans fucked it up.

Nice memory you got there. Obamacare passed without a single Republican vote because the Democrats had a supermajority in the Senate at the time. Now you could make the valid point that since Liberal Massachusetts elected a Republican senator who campaigned and won on a platform of stopping Obamacare in its tracks* and was about to take his seat and kill that supermajority, Republicans "screwed it up" by forcing the Democrats to rush it to a vote and pass it. But that's a very very very tenuous way of blaming use for your incompetence at consensusbuilding and legislating in general.

*I know this because I voted for the man for precisely that reason.

Re: And my wife says I'm getting too close to the by Fwipp · 2016-01-24 06:10 · Score: 1

Is it the tail? I bet it's the tail.

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 06:11 · Score: 1

Societies don't treat anyone like anything. Societies don't have volition and responsibility the way individual people have volition and responsibility. Maybe that'll change in the future when we're all Borgified into one hive mind with a single Benevolent Queen to tell us what's what, but until then, we're all individuals and we all have dignity, agency, and responsibility for our own choices in life, and it's morally wrong to deny or degrade those, no matter how warm and fuzzy your motivation is.

boomers ruin everything again by johncandale · 2016-01-24 06:13 · Score: 1

Maybe they should be taken off medicare if they are still working. And the wages need to be enough to cover he medical cost. Boomers always take our jobs, so we can't be promoted, and now when we try to make extra on the side, we have to compete with them again,

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 06:14 · Score: 1

So in your world, the money should come to you and you have no obligation to put in any effort to better your station in life? I'll grant you that that's a little beyond three-year-old thinking. Maybe four-year-old.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by __aaclcg7560 · 2016-01-24 06:15 · Score: 1

The bums still piss in the stairwell, however.

I believe San Francisco fixed that problem with their public toilets with a paint that makes urine splatter back. The bums don't like being splattered on. Go figure.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by crow_t_robot · 2016-01-24 06:15 · Score: 1

Then why isn't it single payer? Why is McCarran-Ferguson still a thing? Socialized medicine is clearly inferior to the US shitpile healthcare system:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com...

It's also funny that 90% of the military are staunch conservatives but they love getting free healthcare for life for working stateside in a motor pool for 4 years and will fight tooth and nail to keep it.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 06:19 · Score: 1

1. We live in a free society. That means new ideas don't need to go through the town hall filter before being implemented.
2. Oregon. No the "occupiers" aren't in the right. But without digging in more deeply, I'm not going to assume that a government reg from a hundred years ago has (or had)the kind of popular mandate you automatically assume it does.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by Fwipp · 2016-01-24 06:19 · Score: 1

Sweatshops can't be inhumane because the workers are there voluntarily? Children of the 1800s getting coal lung was fine because they needed the nickel they got paid to help feed their families?

You're missing the larger picture here. It's entirely possible for rational self-interested actors to be between a rock and a hard place.

Do we think it's fine that seniors have to cart around kids for 50 hours a week to afford rent? That's the discussion we're having here, and you can leave your grade-school randite truisms at the door and engage like an adult.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 06:21 · Score: 1

Or we could get a bunch of people together, decide this shit in advance. Maybe call it government.

One of whose responsibilities will be an education system that teaches you to read and understand English so you don't keep hearing that whooshing sound when trying to argue.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 06:23 · Score: 1

Sure... Not all societies are civilized. In societies without civilization there are warlords killing and raping people. You can't have civilization without a certain common set of rules that everyone plays by. These days civilization in our neck of the woods is certainly undergoing a challenge. I am merely fighting to keep a civilized society because I realize that I enjoy the benefits of it and I want my kids to enjoy the benefits of it. I'm really surprised how hard people like you fight against it.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 06:25 · Score: 1

No, in my world governments should care that the country is becoming a black pit of despair with a few spots that are so densely populated that people are fighting each other for a small piece of it.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 06:38 · Score: 1

1. You're totally wrong there. A person who wants to build a house can't make it out of 2x2s. A drug company has the burden to prove a drug is safe before releasing it for public consumption. Food producers must clean their equipment with a certain regularity and prove it is safe as well. Restaurants must use stainless steel cooking surfaces. The list goes on and on of regulations that people must suffer though. By your definition there can really be no such thing as a truly free society because we would quite plainly all be dead of some sort of bacterial infection. Perhaps the closest thing we see to a free society by your definition would be in certain areas of Africa or India.
2. This is one thing we can agree on. I believe that governments don't do nearly enough to act in a way that represents the desires of the people. The system truly sucks, but so far it is the best thing we have. Any citizen who feels unrepresented by government should fight to change the government. I'm not so disillusioned with the way government is working that I feel a need to spend my life changing it. If you feel so defeated that you're ready to throw your hands up and let free enterprise handle it, then your proper course of action is to either fight to change the way it works or to move to a place with a less restrictive government. But we live in a country with a set of laws and a government and the system is set up in a way that it is supposed to work for everyone. You just can't decide to skirt the system and expect people not to cry foul.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by martinfb · 2016-01-24 06:52 · Score: 1

I thought that stairwell was a urinal! All the others I encounter smell like one!

--

Self-importance and self-indulgence is the root of ALL evil.

Re: oversupply of labor by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 06:55 · Score: 1

The thing you have to realize is, there isn't enough room on your shit mountain for everyone. In fact, there is only enough room for around 1/4 of the current population. So the more you fight for people to be responsible for themselves, the less room you are allowing for them to be so. Inevitably, people will give up and either go on welfare or demand a minimum living wage. If there is enough accessible opportunity for everyone then we can frown on people being on welfare. But the people living at the bottom of shit mountain can't afford the helicopter ride to the top. They make $5 a day and don't even have a bicycle to their name to sell. Frankly, I can't say I blame them for taking advantage of every social service they can.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Kohath · 2016-01-24 07:16 · Score: 1

I am not saying these judgments I am making should be enforced because I alone think them. I'm willing to hold it to a vote.

The standard retort to this are:

- Two wolves and a lamb vote on what's for dinner.
- 5 men and 3 women vote on whether the women should have sex with the men
- My personal idea is that the US should levy a tax on Norway. Norway is rich and the US wants the money. Allow everyone in both countries to vote in one big election. The US has twice the population of Norway, and the US gets all the money, so we'll win for sure. We have a big military and nukes, so when Norway loses, they'll be forced to pay the tax. It's a simple solution to any budget/tax problem, and it costs us nothing.

Can you see anything wrong with any of these things? (Hint: most people see what's wrong right away.)

YOU are the ones saying that it should not be voted on, that anyone should be able to do anything they want if it is physically possible.

Yes, I'm absolutely saying that people should make their own choices about what they do rather than asking everyone in town for permission. That's a free society. Civilization happens when you prevent/punish violence and behaviors that lead to violence (like theft or reckless acts like drunk driving). Otherwise, people should be free.

I'm saying that isn't how civilization works. We have a system for deciding things together so that we can all live in harmony. It should not be skirted, it should be used and enforced once a decision is made, because that is the only way we have to protect people from being screwed over. The more we come to a consensus, the more civilized society is. Your needs do not trump mine, so let's not say "you can or cannot do this" until it has been put to a proper vote and decided fairly.

You are describing a cult.

Taxi regulations are also in place for a reason.

To give a small number of people control, so they can overcharge the public and use part of the profit to reward government elites. And to provide paychecks to regulators, so some people with the right connections don't have to do productive work.

Unregulated, there were too many cars, and there was no control. The streets were clogged, people were getting ripped off.

Invisible bogeymen roamed the streets, casting an intangible gloom over everything. Children had bad dreams. Parrots stopped talking in complete sentences and the nightly screeching of the neighborhood's feral cats took on a tone of resigned sadness.

How can anyone voluntarily living in a democratic country NOT believe in a fair vote?

People should mind their own business. Giving people a ride in your car is not some extraordinary problem that requires police involvement.

90% of boomers still have licenses by peter303 · 2016-01-24 07:23 · Score: 1

And only 40% of millennials. The latter are using Uber to get around.

Re: oversupply of labor by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-24 07:37 · Score: 0

So you think it's right that people should have to move across the country from their family support structure?

we as a race (human race, black/white/asian are not races homo sapiens is)
need this job X done at location Y, and we need Z number of humans to do it,
if there are not enough humans at that place we expect those that don't have what to do ( not employed/receiving benefits ...)
to move there and start working so job gets done, and they earn "their part",
if they need support structure whole close family can move and work together,
and if there are 1 or two far away you can always travel there once/month, or use phone/internet every single day

things change a bit when location Y = Mars, and job X=very hard and risky work,
but in that case salary and awards will probably be very high so that enough people accept/sacrifice themselves.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vic by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 07:51 · Score: 1

Adults understand the difference between dying of black lung at 40 and driving a car all day at 70.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 07:56 · Score: 1

It isn't single payer because the democrats who brought it to the floor and passed it on a party line vote didn't want a single payer system. Try to pay attention.

Re: oversupply of labor by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 08:04 · Score: 1

You're pulling numbers out of your ass.
The reason people like me are "fighting" is that we're walking and talking existence proofs that there really is opportunity for those who are willing to work. And people like you seem to believe that it's all well and good to steal from us in the name of some sort of enlightened collectivism informed by demonstrably false statistics and at-best shaky reasoning. Which is to say that we're calling bullshit on your sloppy thinking.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 08:08 · Score: 1

And if it were even remotely that bad, you'd have half a point. But it's not, you're living in a Dickens novel, and you've got nothing except your own self-righteousness.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vic by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-24 08:12 · Score: 0

Democrats had to abandon single-payer as a compromise to the republicans. Try to keep up:

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/15/opinion/la-oe-mansbridge-obamacare-democrats-single-payer-20131015

Where are my FEMA death camps?

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by roman_mir · 2016-01-24 09:11 · Score: 1

When your choice is to go work on some farm, to die from hunger, to beg on the streets or to work at a factory, which may hurt you in the long run and is hard work, choosing factory work is a making a voluntary decision and there is absolutely nothing inhumane about it.

As to the retired individuals choosing to drive instead of sitting home... the idea that this is 'inhumane' is as authoritarian as it gets, since it assumes complete lack of individual responsibility and initiative.

--
You can't handle the truth.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by ixidor · 2016-01-24 10:11 · Score: 1

you only get Tricare after you retire from doing 20+ years, or maybe medically discharged with a disability. Yes, if you make 35k a year or less you can sign up for reduced cost care from the VA, but it not the same thing. just simply finishing your first term and getting out does not qualify you for free healthcare for life.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by godel_56 · 2016-01-24 10:21 · Score: 1

Yeah, and I wanted to put a urinal in the stairwell of my parking garage.

No dice - couldn't get a permit. Not ADA compliant because of the stairs, didn't pass health because no dividers, and there wasn't a sit-down for the ladies.

So, no urinal.

The bums still piss in the stairwell, however.

See if you can get a permit for a large sink.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by FlyHelicopters · 2016-01-24 10:32 · Score: 1

Then why isn't it single payer?

Because despite what you believe, democrats don't actually want single-payer health care.

They are in bed with the insurance companies, Clinton is ripping Bernie over his health care plan, saying Obamacare is "great".

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by fluffernutter · 2016-01-24 11:05 · Score: 1

Well, enjoy your shit mountain then. I guess it isn't that bad where I am, and I have my entire family too so I guess I win.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.

Re:and it there is a crash they can lose it all as by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-24 11:16 · Score: 0

Or we could get a bunch of people together, decide this shit in advance. Maybe call it government.

One of whose responsibilities will be an education system that teaches you to read and understand English so you don't keep hearing that whooshing sound when trying to argue.

So not your system then:
http://www.grammarbank.com/whose-of-which-of-whom.html

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by DerekLyons · 2016-01-24 11:49 · Score: 1

Company paying a person for their work that both parties agree to voluntarily is 'inhumane'?

If the agreement was made on a level playing field, that would be a reasonable question. The problem, as the grandparent point out and you completely ignore, is the playing field isn't level. It's not even close.

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by RightwingNutjob · 2016-01-24 12:01 · Score: 1

I don't think you understand how conversations are supposed to flow.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by mjwx · 2016-01-24 12:23 · Score: 1

My retired father used to have a modest recycling operation that ran next to his trailer home. He would help a neighbor dismantle old vending machines to avoid expensive county dump fees, cleaning up and providing free wood for a retired neighbor to build chicken coops for sale and separating the metals to take to the recycling center. That's how he spent his free time and made $50 a month at the recycling center. Someone complained to the county and the county wasn't thrilled that someone was circumventing those expensive dump fees. So he was ordered to cease operations or face prosecution for running an illegal business from home.

And there are some Americans who'd call Australia socialist.

This kind of cottage industry is very much permitted in Australia, even celebrated culturally. I know a fair few people who run business out of their homes, everyone from hairdressers to cabinet makers. There are a few extra rules about working in a residential area, mostly around noise and mess, but if you keep your yard in order and dont run power tools/trucks at all times of the night you're generally free to go about your business.

--
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by KGIII · 2016-01-24 14:16 · Score: 1

Heh, I've read you tell that story, albeit with a few more details, in the past. You were, shall we say, quite irate. I find things to keep busy, you have to when you're retired. If you don't then I think it leads to a quicker death or senility. I'm pretty sure of it - I'd not be surprised if there were a study that suggested things worked out better for retired folks who still did things to keep active in a productive manner. Even if it was just a few dollars that he was making, that's something.

Me? I poke at investments. My first year and a half, I lost 48% of my investment money. It's okay and I didn't really mind - it was my way of learning. The following year, I actually did okay but I screwed up and was selling too quickly - so I was taxed at income tax rates instead of capital gains. I've kind of got it down now and I'm doing really well - it's insanely lucrative once you figure it out and I'm a mathematician so while I do crunch a lot of numbers, I also have no formal education in financial markets and have an odd investing strategy that seems to work surprisingly well.

The adage about money attracting money is definitely true - or appears to be. I have a real finance manager who does my real portfolio management and then I have my own accounts that I "play" with. It's surprising how lucrative it can be. I actually make more money than I can (reasonably) spend and more than I ever made when I actually worked for a living.

I also have a lot of hobbies and it's nice because I can actually afford those hobbies. My big four are computers, firearms, automobiles, and woodworking. Because I have both the time (and accumulated skills as well as quality equipment) I've actually been able to make cabinets and furniture for people, either for free or at a reasonable price. Often times, the wood is milled from logs harvested on my own property. I have lots of free time so I can even do things by hand where others would rather use a piece of power equipment. I have a giant, rather expensive, CNC router with every one of the available attachments that is still sitting in the crates it came in. I just enjoy the hands-on factor so I've yet to dig it out and play with it - but it also has the capacity to do 3D printing so I'm sure to dig it out at some point - even though I can't really think of anything I'd want to make.

At any rate, if you father's able to then maybe a hobby like woodworking will suit - carving doesn't take much space or a huge financial outlay to get started. A friend of mine does his own decoys and got good enough to where he's able to sell all he can make and constantly has orders for more. He was making serviceable decoys inside of six months - even his very first one (he still has it) mostly resembles a duck, from a distance, and with some poor lighting. I've bought a whole stack of 'em from him - I don't carve much/well. He sells them to other hunters, tourists, and does a pretty good bit of business with it but he's still able to be retired and only work when he wants to.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by KGIII · 2016-01-24 14:30 · Score: 1

Citation and definition for 'staunch conservatives' please?

Example: Eight years in the USMC, fully support single-payer health care, further left of any elected politician at the national level except maybe Bernie and I'm probably a bit left of him. Political affiliation: Libertarian though you'd probably not recognize that fact and that's hardly entirely your own fault. I'd probable be better termed a Socialist Libertarian though I prefer Classic Libertarian. Having actually served in the military, I think you'd be surprised at the political makeup of those who serve.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

Re: Why does every story need a villian and a vict by KGIII · 2016-01-24 14:35 · Score: 1

They're a fairly common troll, they've been at it for a while now. I know it sounds strange but I'm pretty sure they're actually someone on the political right who is intentionally making such absurd comments in hopes that it discolors the left. Then again, there are quite a number of insane people on the left of the political spectrum as well - so they could really believe it. I just think that's unlikely.

--
"So long and thanks for all the fish."

"Sharing economy", my ass! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-24 19:22 · Score: 0

Fuck Uber!

heh by sociocapitalist · 2016-01-25 00:26 · Score: 1

Yeah, the guy said...I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad, not screaming like his passengers...

--
blindly antisocialist = antisocial

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-01-25 02:46 · Score: 0

Because despite what you believe, democrats don't actually want single-payer health care.

Actually, some do. But they compromised, and gave the Republicans what they wanted. Which got nothing, since the Republicans didn't want to be seen as working with Democrats at all.

Clinton is ripping Bernie over his health care plan, saying Obamacare is "great".

She has no choice, she's tied to the Obama Administration after taking the Secretary of State job AND if she went for Single-Payer, Republicans would rip her up as a Socialist/Communist/Atheist blah blah blah.

Which will whip up the ignorant masses to a frenzy, as they hysterically fight the menace Republicans have set up in the public consciousness.

Their own intransigence and rabble-rousing has everyone in a bind. They won't propose any actual fixes, because Obama already gave them every compromise they would want, and the only way forward is to go to the idea they claim is extreme and prone to failure.

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by JazzLad · 2016-01-25 03:40 · Score: 1

10 hours is the cap to spend on a hobby? I often spend more than that (on hobbies), and I work full-time. If I was retired, I could easily see spending 50 hours a week on a hobby/ies (mind you, it wouldn't be driving people around :)).

--
"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." - Every fascist, ever

Re:Why does every story need a villian and a victm by __aaclcg7560 · 2016-01-25 04:28 · Score: 1

And there are some Americans who'd call Australia socialist.

The US is turning into a police state. Every time someone gets upset that their neighbor is doing something good for the rest of the community, they call the police.in to criminalize the matter.

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