Wow, there are still people who tout the CFC causing the ozone hole myth? You do know that the hole in the ozone is still there and fluctuates in size every year, don't you? There have been many scientist over the years that have put to rest the idea hair spray had any significant impact on the hole in the ozone layer. That really was just another knee jerk reaction by polititians listening to doomsday scientist.
Or we could just default, go through a sharp, quick recession, and move on. The only scenario in which the economy gets ruined involves very many bad misteps by the government (which is a possibility, observe what Europe is doing right now). The debt itself is only one thing, and won't ruin the economy by itself.
The way that is worded, it is obvious you have no clue. A default on our national debt, means that nobody will buy US treasury bonds, which in turn means that our money would become worthless. You are right in the sense that it would be a sharp fall into a recession. However, it would be followed quickly by full on depression that would last for decades. Why decades? Go ahead and default on your car or home loan. Then see how long it takes your credit to recover. A national debt in and of itself isn't a bad thing, but when that debt grows to the point that you can't pay it back, it will ruin an economy. Especially one like ours that outsourced a huge portion of our manufacturing.
Kicking everybody out so the city officials can clean the place up is NOT a limit on freedom of the press. They are still allowed to report on the events, they just have to do so from a non-interfering distance.
So you're ok with punishing innocent people for the crimes of their tyrants? It's not like the people who are suffering from the sanctions have any influence over the actions of their government. Their leaders aren't even democratically elected.
Did you miss the recent events in Libya? If the majority population thinks things are bad enough, they will overthrow their leadership... it has happened many times throughout history.
In fact, the crazy dictators who run these countries actually use these foreign sanctions to their advantage, as a rallying cry to motivate their people to hate the "evil" western powers that are making them suffer.
Unfortunately, this is a possible outcome. Sanctions alone are not the answer. It also requires a massive propaganda war. That is where we usually fail.
Ok, so instead you'll just get to pay higher rates on everything you buy because the corporations that sell them to you have to pay for campaign contributions instead. That way you can remain blissfully ignorant of how your money actually gets into the political process while campaign costs absolutely skyrocket each year.
That is exactly how I want it set up. However, I choose not too remain blissfully ignorant. For instance, I am an avid hunter. I refuse to patronize the 'Safeway' chain of grocery stores, for the simple fact that they donate to anti hunting campaigns.
The motive of profit is not a bad thing. It has been the driving force behind all the great tecnologies in the world.
Really? Maybe in Silicon Valley, not however, "anywhere in the USA." Most IT jobs in the USA don't pay anything close to $75/hour. Usually its closer to $30/hour. If you are making $75/hour then don't ever leave that job. You wont find another like it in the imediate future.
Let me get this straight. You think that putting up a link to a free copy of a movie that somebody put a lot of effort into making and would like to be re-reimbursed for, equates to censorship of an entire nation?
How about getting out of your comfort zone. Get your resume up to date. Have people review it for readability. Start looking for a new job. You may not enjoy your current employer, but find one that peaks your interest and the joy of coding will return. Also, it helps if the projects have an overall goal in mind that you agree with. For some that may be the Defence industry, others may prefer coding for the Medical industry. Industries that have a meaningful goal will help you to achieve that missing passion.
Not really, that has more to do with the fact that we keep our military personnel confined to Base/Post/Ship for days on end and then let them free on 'liberty' for some R&R. All the SOFA does is tell the host country that they must turn over the soldier to the US for trial. It doesn't stop them from being arrested for doing illegal things.
I think you missed the part where we couldn't come to terms with Iraq on the Status Of Forces Agreement. Therefore we are pulling out all troops. The original 3-5k discussed wont be staying now.
As to the paper, the sort of error that supposedly happened with GPS, strikes me as the sort of error that would not be corrected by the system since it's not relevant to GPS's primary task, positioning to within tens of meters. It's particularly suspicious given that it is of the right size to explain the anomaly.
Not sure why you think that GPS's primary task is positioning to within tens of meters. For military and scientific research, GPS is capable of getting down to within +/- 6 inches. The article doesn't state, but I would assume they are using the far more accurate Differential GPS often referred to as DGPS.
The only time GPS was accurate to within tens of meters, was when they had the SA turned on to limit enemy use of the system. That was abandoned years ago.
We are talking NATO here, they monitor the frequencies for emergency beacons. If a real world beacon showed up within the 20 miles of the exercising war ships, not only would they respond to it, they would pause the exercise to do so.
That's not exactly true. If we add a tariff to steel, it only affects steel we buy from other countrires. It doesn't make our cars more expensive. You're actually discussing a "trade war". We raise tariffs, piss off the Chinese and they raise tariffs on our steal. So the Chinese don't buy as much US steel.
You are essentially correct in your thinking, but you oversimplified it too much.
Your point would be valid if our consumption of steel in the US was equal or less than the amount we can produce. Unfortunately, we have closed most of our steel plants here and thus our consumption levels exceed what we produce. That means that we have to purchase from oversees and it will affect the economy as GP mentioned. Also, adding a tariff would not guarantee the reopening of steel plants, nice as that would be for our economy.
The difference between communism and corporatism is that communist leaders consider the whole country their personal property, so they'll at least try to maintain it.
You mean like in East Germany? Or any eastern block country for that matter.
People straight out of college, with no experience, should not expect a $60K-$80K job. Those figures are usually reserved for individuals with 10 years experience. The exception to that rule is; if you come out of college with a PHD, then by all means, expect the 6 figure salary. Otherwise, take the $42,000 job, get some experience and start networking with people. Getting the higher paying jobs later on are more about who you know. Also, don't limit yourself with what is in the job description. There are plenty of jobs out there which might require another skill set that you have no experience/knowledge about. They are still looking for people who understand how networks work. An example would be a communications employer looking for people with RF experience. The two fields are so intertwined that you can cross from IT into RF with little issue. However, if you do decide to apply for job in the RF field, you may want to brush up on the lingo.
My point to all of this is, don't pigeon hole yourself with the CS degree. It's merely a stepping stone into a broader industry.
The rich do have to pay more, as they are the ones benefiting most from the infrastructure and services this country provides.
This statement is flat out misleading. If you are a citizen of the Country in question, you will have access to the infrastructure and services, same as the rich. The 'opportunity' for anybody to use various infrastructure/services is equal across the broad spectrum of incomes. Yes, the rich may utilize the highway system more, but they are providing jobs for people by doing so. However, the rich won't be utilizing welfare like the poor either.
Class warfare is exactly what is being waged on the more affluent. Stop blaming your woes on the rich. Can't find a job? Start your own business. I know a guy in a medium sized town who started his own business as a bicycle currier. His overhead started out as a classified add in the paper and a few fliers around town. He now has 6 employees working for him and is doing quite well. Would you believe that he has a masters degree in Electrical Engineering? The opportunity to succeed in todays society is there, you just have to figure out what will work for you. Yes, there are those who can't work due to a mental handicap... for them we should have a system to help them. However, I don't buy into the physical handicap as a valid excuse for not working. You just have to find something that you can do.
Personally, whether you have a flat tax or a progressive tax doesn't bother me. What I want to see is a complete removal of all deductions from the tax system... Get rid of all loopholes. May put a few tax lawyers out of work, but oh-well.
The only reason Warren Buffet paid 17% is because he doesn't draw a salary. His money comes from investments and thus he pays Capital gains tax. Not sure where people are getting the idea that millionaires only pay 20.1% on their earnings. Looking at IRS statistics shows that most millionaires pay closer to 29.1%. Suggesting that we increase the Capital gains tax is a really bad idea. People rely on investments to retire on. However, I am all for removing loop holes. More and more, I am for the flat tax with absolutely no deductions. Make it such that those who make minimum wage at less that 40 hours per week pay no income tax. Everybody else pays a flat tax of some nominal percentage. If you pay only Capital gains tax, then it would be at the same low level as everybody else. If you in the current population that doesn't pay any tax, well.. you now will pay the nominal tax. What should that nominal tax be? I have heard everything from 10% to as low as 5%. Whatever it is set at, just getting rid of all the loop holes will give us the revenue needed to sustain our society.
Excuses are like butt holes. Everybody has them. "Oh my... I can't do X because of rich/capitalism/white man" BS. My next door neighbor is a single mother working two jobs and going to school to become a RN. She doesn't think working as a waitress it a good long term career option, so she is making the required changes in her life. Capitalism is all about how much you are willing to put into life. Period. Stop blaming society on your problems and do something about it. The USA is the great country it is, because of the entrepreneur spirit.
To say that the game is rigged, is correct... It's rigged toward those who work to improve their lives. Showing up for an 8-5 job M-F is not working hard to improve your life. You may be working hard, but if you don't go above and beyond, you won't improve. Somebody above mentioned 85% of the people must be morons... no, they are just stuck in their apathetic ways and want their comfort zone back. Once they wake up and do what it takes to improve their situation, our economy will start moving again.
And yet, during Clinton's time in office, he ended up with a higher debt than he started with. Is there an example of when the Democrats have truly paid for there increased spending? I suspect not. Both parties have been in a deficit spending for several generations now, with fancy numbers tricks to attempt to pay for said spending.
As an aside? Does anybody really know how much the government pays in interest on the national debt? At what point does that interest payment exceed the countries ability to pay it without raising the national debt? Have we passed this point already? I predict doom and gloom for our future regardless of what either political party does today.
Slashdot Mirror
Of course they are less moral.
Err... less moral according to who?
Wow, there are still people who tout the CFC causing the ozone hole myth? You do know that the hole in the ozone is still there and fluctuates in size every year, don't you? There have been many scientist over the years that have put to rest the idea hair spray had any significant impact on the hole in the ozone layer. That really was just another knee jerk reaction by polititians listening to doomsday scientist.
Or we could just default, go through a sharp, quick recession, and move on. The only scenario in which the economy gets ruined involves very many bad misteps by the government (which is a possibility, observe what Europe is doing right now). The debt itself is only one thing, and won't ruin the economy by itself.
The way that is worded, it is obvious you have no clue. A default on our national debt, means that nobody will buy US treasury bonds, which in turn means that our money would become worthless. You are right in the sense that it would be a sharp fall into a recession. However, it would be followed quickly by full on depression that would last for decades. Why decades? Go ahead and default on your car or home loan. Then see how long it takes your credit to recover. A national debt in and of itself isn't a bad thing, but when that debt grows to the point that you can't pay it back, it will ruin an economy. Especially one like ours that outsourced a huge portion of our manufacturing.
Kicking everybody out so the city officials can clean the place up is NOT a limit on freedom of the press. They are still allowed to report on the events, they just have to do so from a non-interfering distance.
So you're ok with punishing innocent people for the crimes of their tyrants? It's not like the people who are suffering from the sanctions have any influence over the actions of their government. Their leaders aren't even democratically elected.
Did you miss the recent events in Libya? If the majority population thinks things are bad enough, they will overthrow their leadership... it has happened many times throughout history.
In fact, the crazy dictators who run these countries actually use these foreign sanctions to their advantage, as a rallying cry to motivate their people to hate the "evil" western powers that are making them suffer.
Unfortunately, this is a possible outcome. Sanctions alone are not the answer. It also requires a massive propaganda war. That is where we usually fail.
Ok, so instead you'll just get to pay higher rates on everything you buy because the corporations that sell them to you have to pay for campaign contributions instead. That way you can remain blissfully ignorant of how your money actually gets into the political process while campaign costs absolutely skyrocket each year.
That is exactly how I want it set up. However, I choose not too remain blissfully ignorant. For instance, I am an avid hunter. I refuse to patronize the 'Safeway' chain of grocery stores, for the simple fact that they donate to anti hunting campaigns.
The motive of profit is not a bad thing. It has been the driving force behind all the great tecnologies in the world.
Really? Maybe in Silicon Valley, not however, "anywhere in the USA." Most IT jobs in the USA don't pay anything close to $75/hour. Usually its closer to $30/hour. If you are making $75/hour then don't ever leave that job. You wont find another like it in the imediate future.
Let me get this straight. You think that putting up a link to a free copy of a movie that somebody put a lot of effort into making and would like to be re-reimbursed for, equates to censorship of an entire nation?
I weep for our future.
Oh my. You sir, may personally pull my spelling Nazi card. [bangs head against desk]
How about getting out of your comfort zone. Get your resume up to date. Have people review it for readability. Start looking for a new job. You may not enjoy your current employer, but find one that peaks your interest and the joy of coding will return. Also, it helps if the projects have an overall goal in mind that you agree with. For some that may be the Defence industry, others may prefer coding for the Medical industry. Industries that have a meaningful goal will help you to achieve that missing passion.
Not really, that has more to do with the fact that we keep our military personnel confined to Base/Post/Ship for days on end and then let them free on 'liberty' for some R&R. All the SOFA does is tell the host country that they must turn over the soldier to the US for trial. It doesn't stop them from being arrested for doing illegal things.
I think you missed the part where we couldn't come to terms with Iraq on the Status Of Forces Agreement. Therefore we are pulling out all troops. The original 3-5k discussed wont be staying now.
There is a huge difference between a soldier carrying a gun and an unarmed contractor repairing the infrastructure.
As to the paper, the sort of error that supposedly happened with GPS, strikes me as the sort of error that would not be corrected by the system since it's not relevant to GPS's primary task, positioning to within tens of meters. It's particularly suspicious given that it is of the right size to explain the anomaly.
Not sure why you think that GPS's primary task is positioning to within tens of meters. For military and scientific research, GPS is capable of getting down to within +/- 6 inches. The article doesn't state, but I would assume they are using the far more accurate Differential GPS often referred to as DGPS.
The only time GPS was accurate to within tens of meters, was when they had the SA turned on to limit enemy use of the system. That was abandoned years ago.
We are talking NATO here, they monitor the frequencies for emergency beacons. If a real world beacon showed up within the 20 miles of the exercising war ships, not only would they respond to it, they would pause the exercise to do so.
Last time I checked, houses don't have downstairs neighbors.
You don't get out much do you?
Many houses are split family units with one family up stairs and the other down stairs.
That's not exactly true. If we add a tariff to steel, it only affects steel we buy from other countrires. It doesn't make our cars more expensive. You're actually discussing a "trade war". We raise tariffs, piss off the Chinese and they raise tariffs on our steal. So the Chinese don't buy as much US steel.
You are essentially correct in your thinking, but you oversimplified it too much.
Your point would be valid if our consumption of steel in the US was equal or less than the amount we can produce. Unfortunately, we have closed most of our steel plants here and thus our consumption levels exceed what we produce. That means that we have to purchase from oversees and it will affect the economy as GP mentioned. Also, adding a tariff would not guarantee the reopening of steel plants, nice as that would be for our economy.
National security?
What do you need to secure? What is the threat?
"Were safe! No food, no jobs, no shelter, but we CANNOT be attacked!"
Can't tell if a lost attempt at humor, or just stupid.
The difference between communism and corporatism is that communist leaders consider the whole country their personal property, so they'll at least try to maintain it.
You mean like in East Germany? Or any eastern block country for that matter.
People straight out of college, with no experience, should not expect a $60K-$80K job. Those figures are usually reserved for individuals with 10 years experience. The exception to that rule is; if you come out of college with a PHD, then by all means, expect the 6 figure salary. Otherwise, take the $42,000 job, get some experience and start networking with people. Getting the higher paying jobs later on are more about who you know. Also, don't limit yourself with what is in the job description. There are plenty of jobs out there which might require another skill set that you have no experience/knowledge about. They are still looking for people who understand how networks work. An example would be a communications employer looking for people with RF experience. The two fields are so intertwined that you can cross from IT into RF with little issue. However, if you do decide to apply for job in the RF field, you may want to brush up on the lingo.
My point to all of this is, don't pigeon hole yourself with the CS degree. It's merely a stepping stone into a broader industry.
I was going to include a link to http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/aboutus-nick.php as an anecdote for my physical handicap statement.
Missed it somehow.
The rich do have to pay more, as they are the ones benefiting most from the infrastructure and services this country provides.
This statement is flat out misleading. If you are a citizen of the Country in question, you will have access to the infrastructure and services, same as the rich. The 'opportunity' for anybody to use various infrastructure/services is equal across the broad spectrum of incomes. Yes, the rich may utilize the highway system more, but they are providing jobs for people by doing so. However, the rich won't be utilizing welfare like the poor either.
Class warfare is exactly what is being waged on the more affluent. Stop blaming your woes on the rich. Can't find a job? Start your own business. I know a guy in a medium sized town who started his own business as a bicycle currier. His overhead started out as a classified add in the paper and a few fliers around town. He now has 6 employees working for him and is doing quite well. Would you believe that he has a masters degree in Electrical Engineering? The opportunity to succeed in todays society is there, you just have to figure out what will work for you. Yes, there are those who can't work due to a mental handicap... for them we should have a system to help them. However, I don't buy into the physical handicap as a valid excuse for not working. You just have to find something that you can do.
Personally, whether you have a flat tax or a progressive tax doesn't bother me. What I want to see is a complete removal of all deductions from the tax system... Get rid of all loopholes. May put a few tax lawyers out of work, but oh-well.
The only reason Warren Buffet paid 17% is because he doesn't draw a salary. His money comes from investments and thus he pays Capital gains tax. Not sure where people are getting the idea that millionaires only pay 20.1% on their earnings. Looking at IRS statistics shows that most millionaires pay closer to 29.1%. Suggesting that we increase the Capital gains tax is a really bad idea. People rely on investments to retire on. However, I am all for removing loop holes. More and more, I am for the flat tax with absolutely no deductions. Make it such that those who make minimum wage at less that 40 hours per week pay no income tax. Everybody else pays a flat tax of some nominal percentage. If you pay only Capital gains tax, then it would be at the same low level as everybody else. If you in the current population that doesn't pay any tax, well.. you now will pay the nominal tax. What should that nominal tax be? I have heard everything from 10% to as low as 5%. Whatever it is set at, just getting rid of all the loop holes will give us the revenue needed to sustain our society.
Excuses are like butt holes. Everybody has them. "Oh my... I can't do X because of rich/capitalism/white man" BS. My next door neighbor is a single mother working two jobs and going to school to become a RN. She doesn't think working as a waitress it a good long term career option, so she is making the required changes in her life. Capitalism is all about how much you are willing to put into life. Period. Stop blaming society on your problems and do something about it. The USA is the great country it is, because of the entrepreneur spirit.
To say that the game is rigged, is correct... It's rigged toward those who work to improve their lives. Showing up for an 8-5 job M-F is not working hard to improve your life. You may be working hard, but if you don't go above and beyond, you won't improve. Somebody above mentioned 85% of the people must be morons... no, they are just stuck in their apathetic ways and want their comfort zone back. Once they wake up and do what it takes to improve their situation, our economy will start moving again.
The Clinton years spring to mind.
And yet, during Clinton's time in office, he ended up with a higher debt than he started with. Is there an example of when the Democrats have truly paid for there increased spending? I suspect not. Both parties have been in a deficit spending for several generations now, with fancy numbers tricks to attempt to pay for said spending.
As an aside? Does anybody really know how much the government pays in interest on the national debt? At what point does that interest payment exceed the countries ability to pay it without raising the national debt? Have we passed this point already? I predict doom and gloom for our future regardless of what either political party does today.