Off Topic Poker Forums

Just provide your own axioms. I would rather burn holy scriptures than read them. The you-have-not-learned anything was a comment about your methods rather than your results.

Children should learn that their method is more important than how many books they can quote.

I agree a gradual approach is likely best. Europe has 731 million and most countries have a health care system equivalent to the Danish.

I strongly disagree with the environmental laws in the US. They are way too soft. The business is not generated by the laws but by the fact that environmental labs in the US operate like EU labs did 10 years ago.

I think it is a mistake to look at the Danish economy in a vacuum. It seems you agree.

You are right we have strict rules for people outside the EU. And I think the US should implement stricter control, minimum wages and a central database with information about all citizens.

You are right there are many many things that needs to be fixed in the US - but we have to start somewhere.

So an economy with a strong social dimension can perform really well? I thought it would be inefficient and produce products of low quality.

Improva, I am not going to have a lot of time to go into this today.
I just want to say, I give anyone credit for their honesty. There are some things you believe, and I have to accept them as your premises -- even if I disagree with them. But that still does not make them the truth (i.e. EPA).

The one thing that is interesting, is which comes first.....Strong Social Dimension (welfare?) or Strong Economy? I agree we have a lot of problems that are unique to the US.
* We have 314million people from all walks of life vs 6million (same culture?)
* We have huge debt that is climbing by trillions each year. Government wastes money on pet project/experiments.
* Victimhood is almost like a cool thing. How do kids get inspired, if they are taught the deck is stacked against them? Victimhood is like an industry in the US. Anyone profiting from this industry, has nothing good to say about the opportunities. US bad = don't try, is a dogma beating a drum. I know there are inequalities (there always will be), but that cannot be the major theme -- unless it is somone's career (I guess).
* list is longer.........but none of this has anything to do with the differences in Trade Balance. Denmark is doing very well economically, and has cash in the bank. The US does not. The US absorbs a lot of immigrans each year. Denmark cannot. etc etc on the differences.

It is the Chicken-and-the-Egg.....Govt spend money vs Cash Flow to pay for it.
Greece has had to face this dilemna recently (as well as the EU). California Govt is also too dumb to figure out there is a financial problem (complete thread by itself, but I am changing status to another state. Calif is going bankrupt). People who support government with bias, think that money does not matter -- like it grows on trees.
.......I am fairly certain you do not run your business that way, right? If your personal economy takes a dive, you will start cutting somewhere (responsibility). Politicians have no "accountability" or "responsibility" for their screw-ups. It takes a crisis for people to realize that their government is too fat. Everyone should be watching Greece and California (among others). The riots in Greece are silly and give a window into part of the issue IMO.



Lot more to say, but not a lot of time today. I do appreciate your honesty. At least I see some give in the conversation.

EDUCATION
BTW, I have also been a teacher (Junior High and HighSchool), as well as a volunteer at InnerCity Children projects (PAL, Police Athletic League). I completely appreciate the value of education (top of my list) and positive activities such as sports . I agree strongly on the value of education to any country -- which I believe is at the core of your beliefs (correct me if I am wrong).

Unfortunately in the US, partly because of the victimhood syndrome, many kids don't even try. The Teacher Unions also protect bad teachers and systems. I believe a major part ofthe Unions are a cancer to the education system.
........Many kids just don't try, or worse cannot try, because of the distractions in their schools. Most of it starts at the home IMO. But I do think it is government's job to protect the kids who do want to learn. This is very sad to me. My guess is that Denmark does not have this ugly situation.



In short, undeniable that the US has some social issues. But we also have bank account issues (DEBT). I repeat, unleash the entrepreneurs and small businesses -- and get some positive cash flow coming in. Second, to your theme, protect the kids who do want to learn in schools. This may be the "voucher" system. Responsibility and Accountability for the schools (and unions) that still want to exist.
.........Education is not a money problem in the US. It is a quality and "accountability" problem.

I won't have a lot of time to respond today on this thread. I have already contributed a lot, right? lol

A free market is "everyone". No one should be at the "helm" trying to coerce anyone.
But what I believe you want is that everyone be "educated" to your belief system. Anything else, is not "educated" enough for you. You make wisecracks about my opinion, and no one calls you on it. meh I am just going by the history of your arguments -- unless something has drastically changed in your belief system and you are less bleeding-heart and more logical. If that has happened, then let me know. Because for that, I will dance the jig and put it on youtube (maybe lol).

I guess I'm not clear when I say at the helm. If the economy or the government were a ship, I think the people should be the captain, not the deckhand. They should be in control collectively as to where it goes. As for my belief system, I don't have one. I often end up being a governmental apologist because government often is a boogie man for people. I like to think I'm intelligent enough to not believe my own beliefs. The dangerous people in my opinion are the ones who do not doubt they are absolutely right. No one ever is.

BUT, you always defended Barney's Frank.

No, I never did. That's you reading what you want into what I say. I IGNORED Barney Frank as inconsequential, because he was. All I said about him personally is I liked his disheveled appearance.

I guess I'm not clear when I say at the helm. If the economy or the government were a ship, I think the people should be the captain, not the deckhand. They should be in control collectively as to where it goes. As for my belief system, I don't have one. I often end up being a governmental apologist because government often is a boogie man for people. I like to think I'm intelligent enough to not believe my own beliefs. The dangerous people in my opinion are the ones who do not doubt they are absolutely right. No one ever is.



No, I never did. That's you reading what you want into what I say. I IGNORED Barney Frank as inconsequential, because he was. All I said about him personally is I liked his disheveled appearance.

Like I said, I am not letting you get away with this. I am calling you on it. You are lying (or conveniently forgetting. Straight up. Don't waste my time. jeez

Many times, you have outright defended Barney Frank and the Community Reinvestment Act, even when other members (not just me) have spelled it out for you. Your boogie-man is 100% class-warfare (victimhood industry).

Barney Frank, Fannie Mae/FreddieMac, The Community Reinvestment Act were huge players in the Housing Boom and Bust. Barney's Frank was a lead player in this right before and after the crisis.

These are the things I will always hammer on. Your blatant bias for a victimhood ideology, apparently makes you blind or dishonest.

No apology from me for my wording here. You are being dishonest. Straight up.

The dangerous people in my opinion are the ones who do not doubt they are absolutely right.

I agree 100% with this. As you might imagine, my rebellion against political-correctness is not an easy task. It takes balls to be skeptical and question supposed truths. It takes fortitude to constantly question truths -- and be called "bigot" or "racist" for voicing the doubts. Pay attention to how many times you hear these words over the next few months. Question the President and be called sickening names. These are the tools of those who promote class-warfare (feigning moral superiority). Beyond that, being a skeptic certainly does not win friends. Political Correctness is obviously the easy path.

I believe I represent the silent majority. That is why you see the super close elections. Just watch Nov'12. It could be a landslide against the incumbents.

My observation is not really based on my own experience as a student but my experience as a teacher, but my teachers in primary school were relentless in their focus on method rather than result. I think we had 1 or 2 multiple choice tests in primary school.

that's not usually seen in American schools (or schools i went to anyway, middle-class public schools). pretty much from 1st grade to college, it seemed to me the point of every class session was to prepare for an upcoming multiple-choice test. "learn" something, take a test.

the joy of learning something new about the world is sucked out of the process when there's a looming test behind every bit of knowledge that enters one's head. i stopped trying to learn around 10th grade once i realized there was a never-ending stream of crap to "learn." whenever i think of school learning, i imagine a water hose being held in my mouth while a teacher turns the hose on full force. "here you go, kid, learn something. isn't this fun?"

or maybe it's just me.

/too-personal-life-story-rant


and maybe i would feel different if i went through the Danish system. is it a different culture? different goals? are school administrators that much smarter in Denmark?

forget healthcare. fix the schools, America!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRn9ySc-RDM

And fixing the schools - LOL - they're so fucking broken it's not even funny... and there's basically NO HOPE to fix that. At least with healthcare you know the bubble will blow somehow someway in the next decade or so, but our populace, with the benefit of these schools, will be too stupid to know what to do.

if education doesn't get fixed, at least the games will be good (assuming sites get legalized soon, but it probably will since dumb people love gambling). there is always HOPE.

top economists point the finger at employer-sponsored health care for skyrocketing costs in America:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/07/18/156928675/episode-387-the-no-brainer-economic-platform

program also covers lots more eye-opening stuff like liberal economists saying raise middle class taxes and get rid of corporate taxes. say what?!

top economists point the finger at employer-sponsored health care for skyrocketing costs in America:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/07/18/156928675/episode-387-the-no-brainer-economic-platform

program also covers lots more eye-opening stuff like liberal economists saying raise middle class taxes and get rid of corporate taxes. say what?!

What was the tax increase on the middle class? I'm pretty sure I've listened to this episode, but I don't remember that part.

What was the tax increase on the middle class? I'm pretty sure I've listened to this episode, but I don't remember that part.

eliminating mortgage deduction and taxing health benefits.

I don't agree with the premise of the employer health care argument. It assumes a lot.

eliminating mortgage deduction and taxing health benefits.

I don't agree with the premise of the employer health care argument. It assumes a lot.

Ah, yes. I may have misunderstood. I thought the point of that was that they would close the regressive deductions, but not necessarily that the current tax brackets would still be optimal after doing so.

Ah, yes. I may have misunderstood. I thought the point of that was that they would close the regressive deductions, but not necessarily that the current tax brackets would still be optimal after doing so.

They sort of implied that but didn't say it. And the implication would be wrong anyway, since they want to impose consumption taxes on everything, especially energy use.

The idea that all employers seek out the most expensive plans to provide their workers and that their workers seek to overuse it at every opportunity is laughable.

everybody is wrong about everything.

sad panda is sad.

Sorry for thinking critically

top economists point the finger at employer-sponsored health care for skyrocketing costs in America:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/07/18/156928675/episode-387-the-no-brainer-economic-platform

program also covers lots more eye-opening stuff like liberal economists saying raise middle class taxes and get rid of corporate taxes. say what?!

If the US makes huge cuts to corporate taxes the rest of the world will simply follow.

I really suggest you read this paper.
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R41743_20110331.pdf

The idea that all employers seek out the most expensive plans to provide their workers and that their workers seek to overuse it at every opportunity is laughable.

both points are arguable, but the assumptions are far from laughable.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/05/12/how-employer-sponsored-insurance-drives-up-health-costs/

so i think getting employers out of healthcare is the solution to lowering costs. isn't this what Obamacare [ed: or Gaming Obamacare ] effectively does? so isn't Forbes, a conservative publication, ultimately advocating Obamacare?

sad panda is still sad