ThinkFast: May 10, 2006
ThinkFast: May 10, 2006
After months of stonewalling, the White House will today release its visitor logs documenting “when Abramoff was at the White House, how long he was there, and who signed him in for the visit.” A “Bush loyalist” hints that there “are a bunch of visits, (but) he [Abramoff] didn’t get into the West Wing very often.”
Former NSA director Bobby Ray Inman criticized Bush’s warrantless domestic wiretapping program earlier this week, “making him one of the highest-ranking former intelligence officials to criticize the program in public.†“This activity is not authorized,†Inman said. The administration, he said, “need(s) to get away from the idea that they can continue doing it.â€
More than 1.9 million U.S. workers earned the federal minimum wage ($5.15) or less last year. States are taking action by “using legislation and ballot initiatives to do what Congress has not done since 1997, when it last increased the federal minimum wage.â€
As the May 15 deadline approaches for enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug program, at least 7 million eligible Medicare members – or half of those who didn’t have drug coverage before – still have not signed up. Yesterday, President Bush “rejected renewed pleas for an extension of the May 15 deadline to sign up for the coverage.â€
95. The number of journalists and their support staff killed in Iraq since the war began three years ago. “Seventy-five of the 95 killed have been Iraqis. Two Americans are among the victims.”
Stanford University researcher Jennifer Eberhardt, who is studying the relationship between race and the death penalty, found the “more ‘black looking’ an African-American man charged with murdering a white victim, the more likely he is to be sentenced to death.†“The study adds to other research showing murderers of whites are more likely than murderers of blacks†to receive the death penalty.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is holding up extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, insisting that the House strip away the provision requiring bilingual assistance at certain polling places. People who need the assistance “either they are naturalized citizens who did not meet the required language proficiency or they grew up in an ethnic enclave without benefit of learning English. If that’s the case, it’s high time they learned it,” said King in April.
900 more pages of Michael Brown emails have been released. One exchange showed that at 9:53 am on the day Katrina made landfall, Brown received warning that “a levee breach occurred along the industrial canal.†Less than three hours later, Brown wrote, “I’m being told here water over not a breach.â€
The United States has the second highest infant mortality rate in the developed world. “For African-Americans, the mortality rate is nearly double that of the United States as a whole, with 9.3 deaths per 1,000 births.”
And finally: Rev. James Dobson ran into some trouble on the Senate subway yesterday. Roll Call reports “Just as Dobson entered the car, the doors closed on him. Bam! Right across the midsection — ‘in the ribs on his right and in the butt on his left.’” An unnamed Senate staffer remarked, “Looks like at that particular moment Jesus had turned the other cheek to let Dr. Dobson take it in his.”
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DC Metro cars are smarter than millions of people, and know that Dobson is evil, evil, evil!!
May 10th, 2006 at 9:03 amStudents Sueing in CA. over exit Exams
“claiming the exam discriminates against poor students and those who are learning English.”
U.S. to give Palestinians $10 million in medical aid
May 10th, 2006 at 9:05 amWhy are we giving them anything? They choose Hamas, now we should let them live with the consequences.
So all those people should die?
Republicans in action.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:13 am“More than 1.9 million U.S. workers earned the federal minimum wage ($5.15) or less last year.”
And what percantage of those are High School kids? And then you have businesses such as supermarkets which generally have under a 4% profit margin, and who tend to pay minimum wage, or close to minimum wage for a large part of their staff. Hiking the wage would mean higher prices or even less profit for businesses like them.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:14 amMinority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s curious actions and investments. This, as her multi-million dollar wine industry investments are linked directly to the First Family, while her grape vineyards also stand to benefit from the cheap labor afforded by illegals from Mexico.
My My Lookie here. Less than min wage workers. What kind of congress do we have? Vineyards full of Illegal Labor? Less than Min Wage?
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s curious actions and investments. This, as her multi-million dollar wine industry investments are linked directly to the First Family, while her grape vineyards also stand to benefit from the cheap labor afforded by illegals from Mexico.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:19 am~~~~
“The reason she [Pelosi] did this was that it would help her [illegal] constituents access [taxpayer-funded, YOU AND ME] services there,†her press spokeswoman, Cindy Jimenez, told us during a phone interview, “and this includes our office,†she added. Jimenez could not explain to us why Rep. Pelosi considered persons illegally entering the country [and her district] her “constituents.â€
~~~
Perhaps Jimenez meant her migrant ‘Workers’ umm cheap labor, damnit, Constituents.
So all those people should die?
Yes.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:19 amThanks for being honest.
That’s why I usually ignore your posts.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:22 am.. and will do again so from now on…
” The number of journalists and their support staff killed in Iraq since the war began three years ago. “Seventy-five of the 95 killed have been Iraqis. Two Americans are among the victims.â€
Wow, that’s a lot. How many did the Marines shoot?
May 10th, 2006 at 9:24 amYou know abramov was all over the west wing.
Why else would they have delayed?
http://r2000.blogspot.com
May 10th, 2006 at 9:25 amHere’s my defense of HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson against all you pinko commie liberals!
May 10th, 2006 at 9:27 amSquishy POOP!!!
I love YEW!!
=)
May 10th, 2006 at 9:28 amare you sure you want US to read that Mash?
Defend a liar?
My My What do you tell your Children? It’s ok to lie?
Why no you wouldn’t tell them that would you?
You know i will stick right back where it came from.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:30 amI hope its FACT FILLED because Im going to look.
Somehow I bet it’s just Huff Fluff and Puff, we will see,
Here’s my analysis of the love letter from Mahmoud to George.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:30 amMash, he lied before he didn’t Lie..
Can you say FLIP FLOP?
Really how can you defend such a weak speaker?
And, well your Blog has no ‘Meat’
Its just Manne Coulter Apologist logic.
Blah BLah Blah
May 10th, 2006 at 9:34 amtrueblue
“Thanks for being honest.
That’s why I usually ignore your posts.
.. and will do again so from now on… ”
How are you going to learn different viewpoints if you ignore any that are different/reprehensible from yours? Ignoring the realpolitik view point that I tend to follow dosn’t make it go away.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:35 am#12
Right back at you, muffin.
;)
May 10th, 2006 at 9:36 amDefending Liars, hey MASH you should be a BUSH Lawyer, maybe you can use that “logic” to get Libby a medal…Do you do alot of drugs MasH? I see you wear dark glasses alot, indoors?
And by looking at the Site, you are another Chicken Hawk. College Bound War Mongers. Yeh you are the “Force” LMAO.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:38 amMy Family has served many Times over many Decades in service of this country from ww1 to Vietnam..
How about you spilling some of your Blood instead of talking trash?
You talk the talk, but YOU AINT WALKING THE WALK.
Hey Squishy Poop Halliburton and Blackwater USA want YOU!
Be a Mercenary Squishy POOP LOTSA $$$$
May 10th, 2006 at 9:42 amBe not a college Dolt
Come with my family
and fight the fight
Bleed a little!
Cmon War mongers!
BAWWK BAWWWKK
In tune!
Hamster Brain, hmm, you might want to read my blog a little more carefully ;)
May 10th, 2006 at 9:42 amSqueege,
most grocery store clerks at least in Washington state and california, are union. I have a friend who has worked as a checker for a chain in washington state for years. He earns $17 an hour, not minimum wage. Starting wage is about $9.00.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:44 amMash,
It fooled me also, for the first sentence or two.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:44 amThen, you don’t mind if they hold the same opinion about you?
May 10th, 2006 at 9:45 amHamster Brain, hmm, you might want to read my blog a little more carefully ;)
Comment by Mash — May 10, 2006 @ 9:42 am
Hamster – I’m thinking this is sarcasm Mr Mash is using… maybe read it again and see what you think.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:45 amSquieegieboobs, here is a little foreign policy read for you. http://www.meforum.org/article/270
May 10th, 2006 at 9:46 amsqueegeeboo, but I did enjoy being called a Chicken Hawk ;)
May 10th, 2006 at 9:46 amKrazny
“I have a friend who has worked as a checker for a chain in washington state for years. He earns $17 an hour”
I’ve never heard of the cashiers being unionized before, so it’s prob. not that common in NY, its mostly HS, college, and the people who couldn’t finish HS that do it out my way. But 17 an hour to ring people out? That just seems wrong to me, 35k a year for a job normally reserved for kids and the failures in life?
May 10th, 2006 at 9:49 am“Starting wage is about $9.00.”
Oops, missed that part on the first read through, yah, a bit more then starting out my way, but most of the jobs are Part Time by me, I think the few full timers start out at 8ish, and get capped around 13.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:51 amfly-man, since you love Daniel Pipes so much, you might be interested in this or maybe this. Morons of the world unite!
May 10th, 2006 at 9:52 amfly-man, since you love Daniel Pipes so much, you might be interested in this or maybe this. Morons of the world unite!
May 10th, 2006 at 9:52 amThen, you don’t mind if they hold the same opinion about you?
Not so much.
fly-man
May 10th, 2006 at 9:57 amTitle of that link
“U.S. Aid to Yasir Arafat? Yes, It Builds Peace”
Because Peace has really worked since ‘95.
Good Morning all, It appears the personal at the local nut house have not made their rounds and handed out morning med’s yet…We will notice when they boot squeegepoop off the computer and chain him/her to the bed again.. Watch c-span, quick before all the fools go on vacation again……….Blessings
May 10th, 2006 at 9:59 amMash, I’m sorry if I have lead anyone to believe that I’m uber-pro Israel, what I was trying to do is get Squiegieboobs to go get a bacon stretcher for me. Her constant contradictory button pushing comments waste a lot of time and I ‘m just trying a new tactic to waste her time in return. Sorry about the ruse.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:59 amThat just seems wrong to me, 35k a year for a job normally reserved for kids and the failures in life?
Compassionate consservatisim summed up in a nice little package.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:02 amfly-man
“Her constant contradictory button pushing comments waste a lot of time and I ‘m just trying a new tactic to waste her time in return”
2 things:
May 10th, 2006 at 10:04 am1. He, not she.
2. My position is not contradictory, it is based off of real-politik views of each situation.
“Compassionate consservatisim summed up in a nice little package.”
Never claimed to be the first word.
And wheres your compassion for every shopper who has to pay more to feed their family because someone who can’t do better in life then grocery store clerk is making 35k a year?
May 10th, 2006 at 10:06 amconfusion abounds this morning :)
May 10th, 2006 at 10:09 amSince working in the service industry is appalling and people should think of those people who work at them demeaning themselves…according to Squeeg, I guess most Cons would disagree with this quote.
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
I guess real Cons just hate the average American worker. Why do you hate Americans?
May 10th, 2006 at 10:10 am#36
May 10th, 2006 at 10:13 amI think if people think the prices are too high then they would choose another store to go to and that store would go out of business. I find nothing wrong with a person making a wage that would make that person able to live in a place of their own or take care of a family or make their life better. Apparently you do though. Weird.
Terrific quote, dlet.
Nice thought to start the day with.
I’d forget about the trolls; they just aren’t worth being dragged down to their level.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:13 amI guess real Cons just hate the average American worker. Why do you hate Americans?
I don’t hate the average american worker, I want them to realise their potential and work their way up the ladder to success. By providing them with wages beyond what a low level job should, you stunt their ambition, and make it easier to stay at a lower rung, and never realise their true potential.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:14 am#40
May 10th, 2006 at 10:17 amI know but I felt like trolling for a while this morning. Gotta go though. Take it easy.
“I think if people think the prices are too high then they would choose another store to go to and that store would go out of business.”
Krazny said their all unionized, I would assume the wages are nearly comparable through out their region do to the union, the option to shop elsewhere for lower prices due to lower wages is not open to the shoppers.
“I find nothing wrong with a person making a wage that would make that person able to live in a place of their own or take care of a family or make their life better.”
May 10th, 2006 at 10:21 amNeither do I, however, I feel if they want the wage they should be doing a job that is worth the wage. Cashier is not worth 35k a year, so if a person needs more, they should find a job that pays more, instead of artifically inflating their wage thru the demands of a Union.
[...] In the continuing melding of an attack on language minorities in the country as a vehicle for larger cultural and socio-economic battles Think Progress reports Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is holding up extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, insisting that the House strip away the provision requiring bilingual assistance at certain polling places. People who need the assistance “either they are naturalized citizens who did not meet the required language proficiency or they grew up in an ethnic enclave without benefit of learning English. If that’s the case, it’s high time they learned it,†said King in April. [...]
May 10th, 2006 at 10:32 amRead this: Who is in charge at the White House? They are more concerned with ruling our private lives, while the work they should be doing is neglected.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:35 amhttp://wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=49159
And I do not believe an actor should receive $20,000,000 for making a movie, but hey, that’s life. The market will pay what it needs to pay.
Who ever said that that person does not lead a very good life. They may appreciate the fact that they are assisting people who need to purchase food. Maybe this is what they want for their life. Who is anyone to say what some other person must acheive to make their life worthwhile.
Great quote by MLK. It is so true.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:35 amWho is anyone to say what some other person must acheive to make their life worthwhile.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:38 amYou Go, Jules!
“Who is anyone to say what some other person must acheive to make their life worthwhile.”
Then we should pay every bum 35k, and every hobo, and drug addict, and criminal, and bag boy. Because who are we to say they they should be doing more or better in their life, as long as their happy they should receive a wage high enough to live off of.
“They may appreciate the fact that they are assisting people who need to purchase food.”
May 10th, 2006 at 10:40 amThen they should work hard to move up the chain of their grocery store, to runner/shiftleader, then front end manager, etc.
Brent Wilkes and Kyle Foggo: Brokeback Mountain Guys?
Wednesday 10th of May 2006
by Jay Randal
The Duke Cunningham – Brent Wilkes – Hookergate scandal involved the number 3 official of the CIA Kyle Dusty Foggo!
Brent Wilkes and Kyle Foggo have been close friends since High School football team buddies. They went to the same college together in San Diego and both belonged to Young Republicans association. They were best man at each other’s weddings and named their sons after each other too. Their friendship together involved them in Washington corruption scams, and poker games at Watergate hotel with prostitutes.
They are a very nefarious couple who swindled the Pentagon on Defense related contracts, bribed Congressmen like Duke Cunningham, and embroiled the CIA in a serious scandal!
GENERAL HAYDEN OF THE NSA?
CIA Director Porter Goss was forced to resign on Friday, last week, because of his ties to the disgraced Kyle Foggo and the Hookergate scandal exploding upon the Congress!
Gen. Hayden of the NSA illegal wiretapping fame has been nominated to replace Goss, but why should Senate vote yes?
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Stone Mountain, Georgia.)
May 10th, 2006 at 10:41 amsqueegee – for a young punk, you sure are full of youself…
MLK had it right … and YOU are just being a jerk.
and work on your language skills please?
May 10th, 2006 at 10:42 amthese 2 this morning are common in all your posts:
“more then” – THAN … “their” – THEY’RE (contraction for THEY ARE – remember?)
In the midwest a grocery cashier starts at $8 (union). COLA raises are scheduled. What happens is that full time cashiers are being eliminated in favor of part time cashiers. Part time cashiers get no benefits, but cannot be transferred to other stores. USually they are semi-retirees or teenagers. Full time cashiers are increasingly rare, and can be transferred without notice to other stores. Refuse and you’re fired. So they play musical chairs with full timers filling spaces temporarily as needed, while growing their lower paid base.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:46 amAlso, increasingly, self-service checkouts are multiplying, including the ability to check out by using your fingerprint, which connects to a data base of all your personal information including checking account, debit/credit cards.
By providing them with wages beyond what a low level job should, you stunt their ambition, and make it easier to stay at a lower rung, and never realise their true potential.
Comment by squegeeboo — May 10, 2006 @ 10:14
And those whose destiny is “the lower rung” because of circumstance, Sqeege would like you to know your plight can be blamed on “realpolitic”, so suck it up losers.
This “realpolitic” is your “get out of debate “free card – or at least you think it is.
You say grocery stores have a 4% profit margin – prove it (with a link that isn’t from an industry think-tank). You have previously posted “facts” that turned out to be pro-business spin – if you don’t provide the link after making such a claim, why shouldn’t we assume this is more of the same “realpolitic”?
May 10th, 2006 at 10:47 am#50
squeegee – for a young punk, you sure are full of youself…
Thanks, Oh, I looked back and figured out that Fiji thing, I mentioned that I work for Fuji, that’s prob. what you were thinking of.
“YOU are just being a jerk.”
Nope, thats actually how I look at the world, it might make me a jerk, but I’m not doing it just because.
Sorry bout the grammar, but I generally don’t copy it into Word to fix it for me, don’t worry, you’ll get used to it :)
Marie
“Also, increasingly, self-service checkouts are multiplying, including the ability to check out by using your fingerprint, which connects to a data base of all your personal information including checking account, debit/credit cards.”
The main chain by me, Wegmans(It’s in the top 10 for places to work every year in Forbes) refuses to switch over to self-checkout, they think there is something to be said in the human interaction, but fingerprint swiping would be cool.
#49 Jay
May 10th, 2006 at 10:48 amLove the title.
Post 53 > thanks squegeeboo!
May 10th, 2006 at 10:50 amSo Squeeg, you say 35k is too much for a cashier but you crow the virtues of Wegmans for them valuing the human interaction. They see the value of the lowly cashier as being more than a slider of products and you value Wegmans. A bit hypocritical.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:58 amThen we should pay every bum 35k, and every hobo, and drug addict, and criminal, and bag boy. Because who are we to say they they should be doing more or better in their life, as long as their happy they should receive a wage high enough to live off of.
Comment by squegeeboo — May 10, 2006 @ 10:40 am
Oh all of the inane posts I have read by you, this has got to be the worst. The cashier is WORKING, i.e. has a job, that is, gets up everyday and goes to a place of employment and works for a paycheck. What in Gods name does that have to do with a drug addict, hobo, bum et. al.? If this is the life they choose, so be it. We who do not partake of their services are not required to pay for them (unless of course they are hookers working for the republicans at the Watergate, then my tax dollars are going to good use!)
May 10th, 2006 at 11:04 ambarfly
http://www.bizstats.com/grocery.htm
Seems to back me up.
“This “realpolitic†is your “get out of debate “free card – or at least you think it is.”
Nope, it’s just me trying to give you guys incite into how I look at a situation. If it was a get out of debate free card, I would say realpolitik and then disapear from the thread.
#55 thinkaboutit
May 10th, 2006 at 11:06 am“They see the value of the lowly cashier as being more than a slider of products and you value Wegmans. A bit hypocritical.”
I was the lowely wegmans cashier for 2-3 years. I started at 6.50, and made it up to a whopping 8.20 by the time I left for jobs related to my major. The full timers I knew never made above 13-14 dollars doing the same job I did. But, as you moved up the wegmans chain, and become valuable to them, your pay got better. Wegmans views on pay scales are the same basic views I have, from what I observered, and from dept. managers I spoke with. As for not having the self-checkout? It is nice to have a person ring you out, and it goes quicker then self-checkout, so it partially offsets the costs assoicated with a real person, while bringing in business from people who can’t stand self-checkouts.
“thats actually how I look at the world” -squeegee
imagine that… i bet you talk down to your waitress (especially at hooter’s, where you make NO eye contact at all), the counter help, hotel staff, and other such “menial” help – but you sure bitch when the job is not performed to YOUR standards, right?
that’s not just being a jerk, but a pompous jerk…
i wish that weren’t true, cause most of the time i can tell that your heart is in the right place – you just need to work on the “fellow man” thing… make your mom proud…
May 10th, 2006 at 11:08 am“Oh all of the inane posts I have read by you, this has got to be the worst”
Thanks, I do try for the inane:)
“We who do not partake of their services are not required to pay for them”
And everyone must partake of cashiers services, due to having to eat, unless you can afford take out for every meal. By having a union that can artifically inflate their wages, you are forced to spend extra on basic necessities.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:10 amSqueeg – Hannity would be so proud of your ridiculous argument. Let me see if I’ve got this correct.
When you pay a working cashier 35K a year, that’s exactly the same as paying a homeless/non-working person 35K a year?
Wow! Seriously bats#!t insane logic there. Perhaps if you think the cashiers are scamming the pay scale that you’ve so generously and wisely devised for all of us, maybe you’d be better off quitting your job and taking one as a cashier. I hear they’re making out like bandits.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:12 amStupid work. I’d love to get into this debate, but if I start, I’ll get sucked in and lose 2 hours of my day.
But here are some facts about the minimum wage and the impact it has:
• No evidence exists that teenagers or less-than-high-school-educated adults lost work as a result of the 1996-97 minimum wage increases.
• Historically, analyses of the minimum wage’s impact on young workers have never shown the predicted large job-loss effects.
• The small negative employment effects found in past analyses diminish over time and are no longer statistically significant.
• Most minimum wage workers are adults (71%), age 20 and up.[2] Women and minority workers are over-represented among the minimum wage workforce. Slightly less than half (48%) of the minimum wage workforce are full-time workers.
More info here, Squeege, if you’d like to get facts before coming to conclusions:
May 10th, 2006 at 11:16 amhttp://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/briefingpapers_min_wage_bp
#58
“i bet you talk down to your waitress…..and other such ‘menial’ help.”
Not at all, I treat them with the courtesy that they deserve as people, prob. from doing service industry jobs myself for the first 5 years of my working life, and when it’s a job that gets tips, I tend to tip very well, but that’s my choice to increase my bill, it isn’t forced on me by inflated wages through out the region.
“(especially at hooter’s, where you make NO eye contact at all)”
Why make eye contact when there’s so much more to look at?
“i wish that weren’t true, cause most of the time i can tell that your heart is in the right place”
May 10th, 2006 at 11:16 amthank you.
Arguing with Sponge Bob is like arguing with my 17 year old daughter. They have no real life experience and very little logic but they want to pretend that they know what is going on in the world.
Until you can come up with some argument that is better than what you have presented here, I am out of this one.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:18 am“When you pay a working cashier 35K a year, that’s exactly the same as paying a homeless/non-working person 35K a year?”
If your looking at it from the “Who is anyone to say what some other person must acheive to make their life worthwhile.” perspective, yes, it is the same thing.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:19 amOh for f*ck’s sake, Squeegy.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:23 amIn #64, Squeege, you are making an illogical argument.
No one is arguing what a person’s worth is and what should their compensation be for their life’s work. It’s about the task done or service rendered. It’s about the skill level that it takes for someone to accomplish that task or perform that service. If a cashier’s skill is to take money, push buttons, and give change back… that’s still a skill being performed. An electively unemployed person shouldn’t get one dime since they are choosing to not work.
It’s basic math and concern for your fellow human. $5.15/hour * 40 hour/week * 52 weeks/year (no vacation at all) = $10,712/year. Good luck at surviving on that.
Now, let’s say they work overtime. 55 hours/week. That’s $16,737.50/year. Good luck at living on that.
And sure, they need to have ambition to do better than that. But how many classes can you afford/have time for when you’re working 55 hours a week to just get by?
May 10th, 2006 at 11:29 amWhat squeegboy lacks is basic compassion and humanity. A heart of STONE!
May 10th, 2006 at 11:34 amQuote of the Day:
“You look mighty comfortable.”
May 10th, 2006 at 11:41 amPresident Bush, to a man in a wheelchair, May 9, 2006.
#59 Why do you think that way? I can’t understand why you put people in catergories of your own choosing. You see cashiers as failures and children and that is wrong. That is a big difference with our parties. I choose to see the individual and not his job. I don’t look at others’ clothes and cars to know their worth and contribution to society. And really, isn’t your human contribution worth more than your financial contribusion to society? You know, there are many folks who choose a clerk position. That gives them more time to volunteer and donate their time for FREE to make society better. Maybe that cashier goes home at night to be with his kids instead of working all night and day to buy his kids more Ipods. Maybe people’s hearts and minds are more important after all. Maybe that cashier deserves what he makes.
If someone works as a cashier for many years, he/she should make their worth. I see that the business that was spoken about earlier is still thriving. Or do you think that that particular supermarket should be more profitable for the top echalon? Is paying that 17/hr worker cutting too deeply into the profit margin?
I do what I do because it is right, not for the money. I chose this job knowing I would make half what I could. Most repubs call me stupid because I struggle. But only the truly caring and only the people I would call friends will say to me thanks or congratulations. I, unfortunately, am not the majority. I am doing what I do for my country and am not asking what my country can do for me. The government is mine and I will live to my dying day to see it be what it should be and out of the hands of the selfish and uncaring. Bush can send our people to die, but won’t give an extension to the aged who simply can’t understand the ridiculous scam perpetrated on them by Part F. This was designed to do exactly what it is doing and ye who voted for Bush voted against seniors.
My mother, who I take FULL FINANCIAL care of, thanks all of you who voted against her by voting for corruption for your consideration to her. BTW, before you even start, I pay 100% for my mom so F K you if you think she is taking one thin dime from you with so-called entitlements which repubs hate so much. And F K you again because she is entitled.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:42 amprogressive and proud – thank you for that. Folks like you make me absolute proud to be PROGRESSIVE.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:46 amprogressive and proud – thank you for that. Folks like you make me absolutely proud to be PROGRESSIVE.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:46 am“No one is arguing what a person’s worth is and what should their compensation be for their life’s work.”
That’s what I’m argueing. Some one who’s skill is “to take money, push buttons, and give change back” is not worth 17/hour, and from what I’ve seen the market agrees with me.
“And sure, they need to have ambition to do better than that. But how many classes can you afford/have time for when you’re working 55 hours a week to just get by?”
Community college, dirt cheap, and easy to get loans for, 1-2 classes a semester would be easy with 55 hour weeks for some one who actually wanted to better themselves. And if your showing the drive to work 55 hour weeks, your going to move up with either merit raises, or promotions much quicker then someone who does the bare minimum.
“What squeegboy lacks is basic compassion and humanity. A heart of STONE!”
May 10th, 2006 at 11:47 amAt least one of you think’s I have a heart, it’s a place to start.
Progressive and proud – ditto to what madashell said. I wish we had more people in this country who thought the way you did. Imagine, that could end discrimination of all types. You may say I’m a dreamer…..but obviously I’m not the only one!!!
May 10th, 2006 at 11:51 ammadashell, it is very hard and I struggle daily but am rewarded by a thanks now and again. That is really what I always wanted, to make a difference. Money is easy and money is everywhere. I want to contribute to society and don’t know how America has turned into such a greedy self-serving hatefest.
I LOVE AMERICA. We can be both a kind society, as well as a financially sound one; just get these scum out of the way and off we are.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:53 am#69 -
I feel for you. But welcome to the compassionate conservative society. Compassion for corporations, perhaps. The rest of you are on your own.
Funny. Yesterday, Bush was saying to the senior citizens he was speaking to that he wasn’t going to move the filing deadline back because “Deadlines are important. Deadlines help people understand there’s finality, and people need to get after it, you know.”
Two things about this. One, if deadlines are important, can we have one for getting out of Iraq? Because then maybe your administration would “get after it.” That’d be a nice change.
Two, hey, nothing like telling a whole bunch of old people about ‘deadlines’ and ‘finality.’ You know, I bet they’re pretty familiar with the concept of ‘finality.’
May 10th, 2006 at 11:54 amSqueg, all is not as easy as it may appear to you. Another basic difference in our parties. Try working with the poor and their children, who are truly suffering; you might start seeing the individual underneath their job and skin. It will help you and it will make you feel more a part of society and not so much on the outside looking in.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:58 am#72 -
Squeege – I’m not saying to give a cashier $17/hour. But a living wage would be a start. I noticed you ignored the actual dollar figures I gave. I guess when you see how little the $5.15/hour grosses a person, it’s best to ignore it if you are against the minimum wage.
Community college, dirt cheap, and easy to get loans for, 1-2 classes a semester would be easy with 55 hour weeks for some one who actually wanted to better themselves.
True. But let’s add another variable in there that I’m sure you want to ignore: kids. What if you’re a single parent with two kids to feed and clothe? Then what? Day care runs anywhere from $150/week to $300/week. How does that work into the $17,000/year budget? Oh wait, it doesn’t.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:01 pm#69 – Good on ya, P & P. Good for you taking care of your Mom.
Excellent effort with Squeegy, but you might as well bang your head on the wall, for all the good it will do. unbelievable and I tried and failed yesterday.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:02 pmbobcat, that was what I was thinking. No deadlines for death, but screw the seniors, we must have rules.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:03 pm#76 -
That’s the problem with conservatives. To them, the programs they cut are just numbers and statistics. No people involved there.
I’d love to make it a law that any government worker in control of funding for certain programs must make annual mandatory visits to the facilities/people/programs that are funding. And if you want to cut funding (or not raise the minimum wage) it might be a little tougher to do when a mentally retarded adult’s/struggling single mother’s/small child’s face is etched in their brain when they kill legislation to help them.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:05 pmWow I didn’t mean to kick over a can of worms, when I mentioned union wages for grocery store workers in washington state.
bobcat,
don’t forget food with the rising cost of gas, the money needed to drive back and forth. to the college. I guess you can do online classes, but that requires a computer and internet connections. If you are barely paying the bills I don’t think either is a high priority.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:05 pm#78 It ain’t easy, she is quite bitchy for a not so old lady. :-) I love her though and she took care of me. The other option is to send her to a nursing home and have you pay. How it is now, the nursing homes are filled with rich old ladies who have given all of their money to their kids so they can show a negative bank account and suck of Medicare. Whatever letter Medicare is offered up these days.
So what about that, squeg. I’m sure that pisses you off that your money is going to rich old ladies who don’t want to pay. What do you think about that? I’m sure if you have to have your money taxed, you wouldn’t want rich folks to have yet another break. Right?
May 10th, 2006 at 12:06 pmbobcat, you are correct in every way. When you put faces to statistics it changes unless you are truly heartless.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:10 pmHmmm… just like the current administration: the questions about their stance on certain policies get tough, and they disappear.
See you later, Squeege, once another topic comes up.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:12 pmSqueg, what if that cashier can’t make even the grade for community college because he left school to work for his family? You just don’t understand how tough it really CAN be for some. I have a friend in SF and the restaurants are union. He makes a lot and so does the restaurant. There is no problem and guess what? The union doesn’t hire illegal immigrants. It seems that should tickle your fancy.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:14 pmThe military is shamelessly recruiting the mentally disabled to fight in Iraq.
I heard this story on NPR last night & here is an article:
http://www.kgw.com/iraq/stories/kgw_050806_news_autistic_enlistment.1fa8b062.html
May 10th, 2006 at 12:27 pm“When you put faces to statistics it changes unless you are truly heartless.”
When you put faces to statistics it changes from whats best overall to whats best for the individual. Often whats best for the individual hurts the overall picture.
“I guess when you see how little the $5.15/hour grosses a person, it’s best to ignore it if you are against the minimum wage.”
I look at it as incintive to either work harder for a higher position in a company, or look for a better job, both are generally avaliable to anyone with competance/work ethic.
“But let’s add another variable in there that I’m sure you want to ignore: kids. ”
As long as aborition is an option, you choose to have kids, every choice has consequences.
“Squeg, all is not as easy as it may appear to you.”
I know it’s not easy, but that dosn’t mean you should give up, take a low paying menial job, and never work to better yourself.
“I’m sure that pisses you off that your money is going to rich old ladies who don’t want to pay. What do you think about that?”
May 10th, 2006 at 12:28 pmYes, yes it does. I would like to see a complete overhaul of welfare and SS.
That’s the problem with conservatives. To them, the programs they cut are just numbers and statistics. No people involved there.
I’d love to make it a law that any government worker in control of funding for certain programs must make annual mandatory visits to the facilities/people/programs that are funding. And if you want to cut funding (or not raise the minimum wage) it might be a little tougher to do when a mentally retarded adult’s/struggling single mother’s/small child’s face is etched in their brain when they kill legislation to help them.
Comment by bobcat_grad
The problem with conservatives is they enjoy looking down on people.
You know that device in star trek were you can tell it what you want and it generates one right there for you?
Can you imagine what the conservatives would do if this was ever invented?
“What!!! You mean everyone can have anything I can have even if they are poor! Where is my sledge hammer? I am smashing that evil device! If I dont have a bunch of burger flippers all around me wishing they and their kids could have what myself and my kids have then I am have no self worth! If I cant sit in my SUV looking down at some poor prick in a rusted out car how am I suppose to feel superior?”
Hey conservatives, what are you going to do when robots replace nearly all jobs and there will be nothing you can do to earn more than anyone else? Are you going to live off the minimum wage? Or are you going to demand a new communist type system so that you dont live in poverty while a few rich robot owning companys rule the world? This system of kicking sand in the face of grocery clerks and burger flippers is not going to last forever… science is automating everything. What will be your opinion on things when you get replaced by a robot also?
May 10th, 2006 at 12:35 pmWas the SS social security, squeeboy? The money I PAID into it for 30 years? is that what you’re talking about?
I will leave you with this great quote – so very appropriate for the TROLLS to take heed.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:36 pm– Arthur Schopenhauer
Squeg, what if that cashier can’t make even the grade for community college because he left school to work for his family?
So go get your GED, then go to college.
“He makes a lot and so does the restaurant. There is no problem and guess what? The union doesn’t hire illegal immigrants. It seems that should tickle your fancy.”
May 10th, 2006 at 12:36 pmDepends, are there competing non-union restaurants, or is all of SF unionized, then I would be miffed.
madashell
“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
So you guys are at stage one with my truth then? Or am I interpriting your meaning wrong :)
May 10th, 2006 at 12:38 pmoops: Good news After the media attention, they have released him from enlistment.
That was quick ;)
http://www.katu.com/news/ap_story_main.asp?URL=http://localhost/apwirefeed/d8hh1gk0h.xml&NewsSection=BreakingNewsHeadlines
I do; however, wonder if this is an isolated case?
May 10th, 2006 at 12:39 pmthat’s just it, Squeeboy – your TRUTH???? what an oxymoronic thing to say.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:40 pmBut on the issue were discussing there is no one truth, their is only opinions of how it should be so your quote dosn’t fit into the context unless your assuming the opinion you guys back is the truth.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:42 pm#68 AAngel
May 10th, 2006 at 12:45 pmUnbelievably tactless comment — considering the source, it’s typical.
so, squeegboy, what you’re saying is that the topics of this blog are opinions?
May 10th, 2006 at 12:46 pmU.S. to give Palestinians $10 million in medical aid
Why are we giving them anything? They choose Hamas, now we should let them live with the consequences.
Comment by squegeeboo #2
That’s right queasybooger,
…let’s just kill, torture, maim, offend, insult, ridicule, subjugate, denounce, reject, preempt, rape, pillage, burn…
…did I mention “kill”?
…with viral mutations like you in the human gene pool…
…humans will be extinct in no time…
May 10th, 2006 at 12:48 pmmadashell
Some of them, and some of them are facts that are then interpreted differently by the people posting comments.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:48 pmI am going to have to side with Rep King on this one. I am sick and tired of having everything come in ten different languages. I don’t think the DMV should give the driving test in Portugeese, since the street signs are in English.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:49 pmsqueegeboy, the only one interpreting things differently, is you.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:50 pmmadashell,
You mind not calling him squegeeboy. It is too close to my screen name, which has been present at this site much longer. I am not even sure what the name change stuff does for debate anyways. If you wanna call somebody a name, come out and call him a dickhead. Stop beating around the bush (Pun intended).
May 10th, 2006 at 12:52 pm“squeegeboy, the only one interpreting things differently, is you. ”
Go to a conservative blog, then you can be the only one interpreting differently. Nothing wrong with exposing people to a different perspective, otherwise you get the “false consensus effectâ€.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:54 pmI think the whole argument comes down to this:
Liberals are empathetic. Conservatives are apathetic.
We are able to put ourselves in other people’s shoes and see things from their point of view; realize what their headaches and pains are like. Conservatives take the compassionate approach of ‘get over it.’
Squeege – in an idealistic world, everyone at a minimum wage job would be able to go to college, get a better education, and get a better job. But we live in the real world. Crap happens. Even the best planned life hits road bumps and sometimes a few concrete dividers (see, I can make fun of Democratic addicts, too).
But on the way to this perfect world where there are no obstacles and hardships in the way for someone to improve themself, some of us would like to make sure that people aren’t suffering. We like knowing that a person can make the decision to feed their kid decent meals instead of cheap sugary/starchy food because they can’t afford to buy veggies on their minimum wage salary. We like to know that they can take their kid to the doctor instead of avoiding the medical bills because they can’t afford it on their minimum wage salary. We like to know that kids aren’t left home alone because mom and dad can’t afford day care on their minimum wage salary.
You, like many self involved, small minded people in this country can’t possibly fathom the crummy hand that life has dealt them. Or in some cases, the hand they dealt for themselves. But if the hole is too deep, the only thing they do by trying to dig themselves out is… well, dig a deeper hole.
Try being empathetic for once, Squeege. Imagine that the world isn’t perfect. Imagine you’re a 23 year old single mom whose husband was killed in Iraw with two kids working 55 hours a week at some crummy minimum wage job because that’s all you’re qualified for. Did you make a bad decision by not going to college? Sure, but that doesn’t mean you continue to pay for that the rest of your life. Did fate screw you with a stray bullet that killed the love of your life and the father of your children? Yup.
Now, imaging trying to take your own advice. Good luck.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:57 pmI am going to have to side with Rep King on this one. I am sick and tired of having everything come in ten different languages. I don’t think the DMV should give the driving test in Portugeese, since the street signs are in English.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
I agree. The idea behind the “melting pot” is not having enclaves of unmelted groups that can not even communicate with everyone else. Because that leads to factions which is not good in America. We got enough factions because of religious parties and political parties.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:57 pmGo to a conservative blog, then you can be the only one interpreting differently.
Comment by squegeeboo #102
queasybooger,
Been there and tried to do that…
…unfortunately, conservative inbred blogs aren’t so open to diverse opinions…
…they scrub and toss all too frequently dissenting points of view…
…even when one follows their conventions of decorum…
May 10th, 2006 at 1:00 pm#99
Then we should have to make English our “Official Language”, which it currently is not. Until that point, who is to say what anyone should have to speak?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:02 pmbig papa
Try rightwingnews.com , they don’t scrub from what I’ve seen.
bobcat
May 10th, 2006 at 1:06 pm“Even the best planned life hits road bumps and sometimes a few concrete dividers (see, I can make fun of Democratic addicts, too).”
Yes, they do, and fine work on the bi-partisan mocking. And there is stuff out there to help you over the speed bumps in life. Welfare, WIC, foodstamps, etc. So use them to pull yourself back up, and over the bump, and then keep on driving towards your goal, don’t stall out on the bump because its easier then starting again.
I am curious as to what the reasoning is for giving money to Hamas?
Hamas has openly came out and declared that they would continue to perform suicide attacks against Israel and their civilians. They are also listed as a terrorist organization (admittedly too). Why would we give them money?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:12 pmIf you can make 35K a year as a cashier why should someone go to school to be a nurse for the same pay?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:16 pm#90 Batta bing, right? You aren’t engaging the reality for some folks. You seem to not understand that sometimes you can’t JUST do something. Some people have terrible problems that force them into menial jobs. You seem to say that everyone that is poor has chosen that route. You seem to say that those in menial jobs are there at there own fault and peril.
I had a great college professor that said, “all you gotta do is just.” I think of him when I read your posts. Theories like yours are simplistic and naive. Until you are on the battle ground you do not know war.
You are dismissive and generic in your thoughts. Being in TN, I run into those everyday that are just fine and have all they want and for the life of them cannot figure out why everyone else doesn’t. You know, it takes all kinds and someone has to bag your groceries. Don’t be so concerned about what they do and don’t make, worry about what you, Squeg, can do for someone who has nothing.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:24 pmAbsolutely.
Native born Americans. : )
May 10th, 2006 at 1:33 pmI am NOT a believer in organized religion. I am an athiest so it is ironic that I seem to follow the path of Jesus when most of the trolls posting here do not, yet spout his words ad nauseum. I was raised in church and only when I left did I understand what moronic selfish folks go to church. I believe it was Jesus who said not to worship in public with the hypocrites. Right? Kind of makes you think doesn’t it? Do any of you find that ironic? In church they tought me to look down at others and use my religion as a tool. What tools, I say. They too, were worried about money and outward appearance more than our society. Shame!
I give when I have nothing and that is truly giving. Giving $1,500 when you are a millionaire is inconsequential as it has hurt you in no way. Another difference in repubs and dems – we, as progressives anyway, give when we have nothing to give. Try it, it will set you free, squeg.
And really, can you define your arguments in one-liners? I thought you had more substance.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:33 pm“You seem to say that everyone that is poor has chosen that route. ”
And you seem to say that everyone who is poor is forced into that route.
“Some people have terrible problems that force them into menial jobs.”
Sure, and some people have terrible work ethic that force them into menial jobs.
“You seem to say that those in menial jobs are there at there own fault and peril.”
And you seem to say that those in menial jobs are there through no fault of their own.
“Theories like yours are simplistic and naive.”
Theories like yours are over-complicated and naive.
“You are dismissive and generic in your thoughts.”
Ditto.
“You know, it takes all kinds and someone has to bag your groceries.”
Sure, the guy who dropped out of HS, smokes the doob on a regular basis, and can’t figure out why he’s not making it in life
“worry about what you, Squeg, can do for someone who has nothing.”
May 10th, 2006 at 1:33 pmForce them to better themselves, instead of providing them with rewards with out incentives.
““Some people have terrible problems that force them into menial jobs.â€
Sure, and some people have terrible work ethic that force them into menial jobs. comment by SquishyPoop”
That’s ironic coming from you – the QUEEN of poor work ethics. Don’t you have a toilet to clean, or a dish to wash? You will if you continue to spend your life in the blogs instead of working. At 22 you can’t afford getting off on the wrong foot, otherwise you might just end up washing those dishes thanks to your POOR WORK ETHICS.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:37 pm#68 – That’s sick.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:37 pm#87 I look at it as incintive to either work harder for a higher position in a company, or look for a better job, both are generally avaliable to anyone with competance/work ethic.
Sorry, but bussiness nowadays tend to have even less managers and more temporary (=less paying) workers. Effort and salary are day after day a more divergent trend, and the “flexibility” of the job market (you know, day after day too, bussiness love more to pink slip the highest payed workers and hire fresh ones, even under qualified, and pay them less for more work).
The self educating and enhancing motivation is fine, but isn’t always possible, and not by worker’s laziness, but faster moving economy, family obligations and all your entourage. Is as an athletics run: you can run 100 yards at full speed, or you can run a marathon a your average speed, but you can’t run a marathon at full speed. You will fall exhausted at the first mile. If you let workers on his own, fighting alone against the wild free market. Too many will become exhausted before the second mile.
Is as simple as a bootstrap: you can climb to the horse without it, and mount and run away, but bootstraps make easier to climb the horse, control it and don’t fall. Maybe is less “manly” to mount a horse with bootstraps, but the objective is to run safely in the horse, no being the manliest man climbing on it without and breaking your neck at the first bush (
May 10th, 2006 at 1:38 pm“You know, it takes all kinds and someone has to bag your groceries.â€
Sure, the guy who dropped out of HS, smokes the doob on a regular basis, and can’t figure out why he’s not making it in life comment by SquishyPoop”
Some children are exposed to lead paint (especially those raised in substandard housing) which severly impairs their IQ and learning abilities. Not everyone who’s poor can ‘work their way out’.
And there are LOTS of other reasons for disparity.
When you aren’t 22 and STUPID anymore, maybe you’ll grow up and realize this.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:40 pm#116 I hate HTML labels. The phrase ends: ” (arrow left) Ha!) jumped riding the horse.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:41 pmP & P – have you seen the movie Dogma – greatness. Totally under rated. If you believe in a higher power, but also believe the nut jobs have taken over organized religion then it is a must see.
Neo cons hate it – progressives (usually) love it!
May 10th, 2006 at 1:42 pmsquegeeboo,
I usually don’t have a problem with what you say, but this statement:
Is complete and utter bullshit and you knew that the minute you typed it into the little box.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:42 pmForce them to better themselves, instead of providing them with rewards with out incentives.
Comment by squegeeboo — May 10, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
so what do you have to say about the thousands upon thousands of jobs outsourced overseas???? what about them?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:42 pmIf a cashier is making 35K a year should they be making as much as a teacher starting?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:42 pm“when most of the trolls posting here do not, yet spout his words ad nauseum.”
Is there someone besides me and tundra trolling in this thread? Were both agnostics, and haven’t mentioned the G man or Jebus from what I recall.
“give when we have nothing to give. Try it, it will set you free, squeg.”
I do, I donated roughly 1k this past year myself, a decent amount for someone currently making 27k a year, with living/school expenses.
Ryan
May 10th, 2006 at 1:42 pmYour very correct, I’m addicted to this damn site.
Squeg, sometimes force isn’t the answer. You see where force got us in Iraq instead of diplomacy and patience.
And really, why waste your time with useless drivel like that? You are compassionless and less than human in your thoughpatterns. You are why our country is in endless debate about who is wrong instead of grabbing a freakin shovel and helping with Habitat for Humanity.
You see poor people and look down upon them. I am poor and choose to be. That is the only way I can stay at the heart of America, the true heart. I choose to see people as individuals and you offer me nothing. Your arguments aren’t even arguments. You give me opposites?
You are an embarrasment to our blog and your once-thought sincerities have turned into non debates. The “I know you are but what am I” post was a discredit to us here as progressives.
No need to reply back, I already know exactly what you will say, I have heard it already from Rush. You are a disappointment to progress and to society if that is really all you have to say or are about. So go ahead and tell me it is me and not you, I have already read your post before you posted it. Isn’t that terrible that you have devolved into juvenile Fox-like retorts?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:45 pmAnd really, Squeg, force is not going to get you anywhere. You conquer by understanding your opponent (mine is poverty) not by force.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:48 pmIf a cashier is making 35K a year should they be making as much as a teacher starting?
Nope. But I don’t think a cashier should make 35k/year. Just a living wage for a service industry job would suffice. Something better than the less than 11k/year minimum wage grosses.
Oh, and I think teachers are vastly underpaid. Cops and firemen, too. But hey, without public funds to pay these public service jobs, pay increases aren’t going to happen. And with Republicans constantly wanting to cut taxes, we have less and less public funds.
Soooooo… that sucks.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:48 pmTundra
How about this – does the CEO of any given corporation deserve to be paid 500 times (probably more) more than their employees?
May 10th, 2006 at 1:49 pmSqueegy, sweetie darling, I don’t have time for your shit today. This may seem trite, but you’re only 22 years old, and I hope your adult life always goes smoothly, as it surely has already. Sometimes that bump in the road turns out to be a ditch full of smelly slimy sewage, and I hope you have friends and family to help clean you up, because the Libertarians will certainly support your right to be in that ditch, and the Conservatives will certainly help you into that ditch, none of them will do a thing to help you out of it. There’s a great deal of life experience and compassion in the people who comment here and who are most frustrated by you, but I think most of us would try to find a way to help you out of the ditch. Just sayin’, so play nice.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:49 pmTundra – the person had been with the store for many years. But the irony is not lost. We have dispatchers at my company who make nore than a frist year teacher with a BS (you make more with higher degrees). Sad commentary when a person can sit on their butt and answer phones for 8 hours a day and make more money than a teacher!!
May 10th, 2006 at 1:50 pmSqueg, not money, donate TIME. TIME is what is important to fighting poverty, not a few bucks. Isn’t that what repubs say? Don’t they always say they are tired of throwing money at problems?
I think Jesus meant for you to donate HALF of your salary. So much that it actually FORCES you to live at a lower station in life. THAT, my sister, is giving.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:50 pmIf teachers made a decent wage, we would have many more to pick and choose from. We would then have the best teachers from all over the world. Isn’t that ridiculously obvious? Why do I feel like I have been sent to a parallel universe of nonsense? Aren’t some things really just common sense anymore? Yeah right, common.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:55 pmBut I don’t think a cashier should make 35k/year. Just a living wage for a service industry job would suffice. Something better than the less than 11k/year minimum wage grosses.
fair enough
Oh, and I think teachers are vastly underpaid. Cops and firemen, too.
Agreed
Republicans constantly wanting to cut taxes, we have less and less public funds.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:57 pmI am for dropping taxes. If they are not capable of running what they need to on 42% of what I (and everyone else) make a year (I sat down and figured it all out one day) I have no sympathy for them (not the teachers and cops but the government in general). If our “representatives” cannot find a way to pay for the required services with that kind of money, then they all need to get replaced.
“THAT, my sister, is giving.”
It’s brother, but fair enough.
If we all gave our time then who would go about with keeping business’s running? If we were all full of compassion and empathy who would be there to stop you from putting all your time and energy towards a lost cause? People with out compassion and empathy may be viewed as(and generally are) heartless bastards, but they provide a necissary check on the kindness of others, so that they are actually helping, and not just being taken advantage of.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:57 pm127
Tundra
How about this – does the CEO of any given corporation deserve to be paid 500 times (probably more) more than their employees?
Comment by madashell —
How about this answer the question and stop the redirecting kk??
but I’ll answer yours anyway nope they don’t
May 10th, 2006 at 1:58 pmIf your over age 25 and STILL being paid minimum wage YOU have a motivation problem and your employer shouldn’t have to pay anymore than he wishes. If you don’t want to perform job X for that amount of money, FIND ANOTHER JOB! We are not a nation of indentured servants (save those that work at the Pelosi hacienda), if you don’t like the pay or work at your job go out and get a new one. Geez what could you possibly have invested in a minimum wage job? Seniority?
May 10th, 2006 at 2:02 pmRetired Republican Soldier
what about the jobs outsourced overseas?? Should those that lost jobs now move to INDIA?
May 10th, 2006 at 2:04 pmTundra, replaced by what/whom? Where are these heroic figures of the past that only have America at heart when they make decisions? Where are they NOW? They are being systematically bred out of us. Just look at what a 22 yr old just posted. Just look at that kind of disconnect with reality and the stone-cold lack of compassion for her breathren. That is why we have who we do in seats of law.
We must raise our kids not to covet money. But, alas, as long as we have Squeg voting against her best interests and people showing their children love my gifts, we will only get worse. As long as we are capitalists before we are Americans this trend will not end.
Off-topic: Did anyone read Freakonomics? I loved the part that said legalized abortion has slowed the crime rate. GREAT READ GANG.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:05 pmwhat about the jobs outsourced overseas??
Not one of these trolls can answer this question.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:08 pmIf teachers made a decent wage, we would have many more to pick and choose from. We would then have the best teachers from all over the world. Isn’t that ridiculously obvious?
I agree with that statement, but defending menial workers making the same amount as a teacher is now is counter productive. Basically the whole argument against old Squeege there is “there may be reasons they are a cashier”. Which is fine. My argument against that is “why go to school and get loans to become a teacher, if you can make the same being a cashier”
You come back with pay teachers more, OK, agreed, but now you are just moving everyone up to make more money (except the CEO’s and republican politicians) stuff is just going to cost more.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:08 pmIf everyone gave of their time, we would be a rock solid country. Your eyes aren’t seeing all that is there. Don’t just look at what is in front, look in the back too. Too esoteric? Sorry. I just don’t think enough young people look under the stone, so to speak.
People have layers and we are more than the sum of our parts. When we start generalizing people we have lost each other. Don’t look down on the fella who makes 26,000 and there is no need to look up the guy who makes 28,000.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:09 pmI really doubt teachers become teachers solely for the pay. I do agree they and everyone who takes care of our children and our elderly DESERVE MORE.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:10 pmwhat about the jobs outsourced overseas??
Not one of these trolls can answer this question.
Comment by madashell
I have never been for Nafta, outsourcing, free trade with China etc. But I don’t think that because of outsourcing we should pay everyone in a menial job as much as police officers, teachers, firemen
May 10th, 2006 at 2:10 pmHERE! HERE! VERY WELL SAID, ZOOKEEPER!
May 10th, 2006 at 2:12 pmExcellent thoughts and perspective!
“what about the jobs outsourced overseas??
Not one of these trolls can answer this question. ”
It’s called structural unemployment, and dosn’t just apply to outsourcing, but to whenever a company moves with in the US, or decides to shut down a plant. Those people learn new skills, and enter a new industry.
If outsourcing really hurt us, then there would be a much higher unemployment rate, we’ve been doing major outsourcing for how many years now? And our economy continues to grow, check out “The World is Flat” or anything else by freidman, he explains it much better then I ever could.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:14 pm“what about the jobs outsourced overseas??”
Also, what about the candle makers after electricity became an option. Should we have not switched over due to the effect on them?
May 10th, 2006 at 2:15 pmSo, Tundra, pay the damn teachers more is a no brainer.
Obviously this cashier isn’t who we are arguing about any longer; I understand that is now a metaphor. Said cashier may add more to the store than you may be able to imagine. He may bring in many customers from a certain side of the city that anyone else may not. He may have been given a huge one-time raise for stopping a robbery that could have cleaned out the store. Or, he may be a republican and his uncle hired him making much more than everyone else. Never know but there are more shades than gray.
I wish everyone could make a decent wage. That is what I strive for and what I work for. Are you helping the cause or just mad about a cashier that you think makes to much for your comfort. And really, we can’t compare everything to each other, that doesn’t fit. We aren’t a rubics cube that will eventually churn out the right answer if you try enough. There is no right answer and we will always be striving for better. I just think better doesn’t equate to cash. Silly me.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:16 pmthe whole debate about unemployment is moot. Only those actually receiving unemployment benefits are counted. And our economy – who the hell else is benefiting except the top 1%.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:17 pm#142 But you must recognize that, if the mimimum wage doesn’t permit anyone live by his own (much less educate self), there is something wrong in your economic system. And, only self-enhancement isn’t the answer to everything. After all, a country needs a fixed number of people working in the lowest paying jobs. Or will all the people become CEOs of their own industry? With wich workers?
May 10th, 2006 at 2:17 pmCandlemakers? I have plenty of them at home.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:20 pmThe following story doesn’t seem to have broken yet over the other side of the pond.
Lord Goldsmith has called for the closure of Guantanamo Bay.
The following article is taken from the BBC News Website:
The Closure Of Guantanamo Bay.
The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, has called for the closure of the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay.
He is reported to have serious doubts about whether the indefinite detention of “enemy combatants” – as they are known – is legal or fair.
In a speech in London, he said the camp had become a symbol of injustice and its existence was “unacceptable”.
US President George W Bush said in a TV interview on Sunday he would like to “end” the detention centre.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has called the camp in Cuba an “anomaly”.
But in the strongest worded condemnation yet from a British government official, Lord Goldsmith said: “The existence of Guantanamo remains unacceptable.
“It is time, in my view, that is should close. Not only would it, in my personal opinion, be right to close Guantanamo as a matter of principle, I believe it would also help to remove what has become a symbol to many – right or wrong – of injustice.
“The historic tradition of the United States as a beacon of freedom, liberty and of justice deserves the removal of this symbol.”
Around 490 detainees are in Guantanamo Bay, which opened in January 2002.
There has been international criticism of conditions at the US camp and the length of time detainees have been held there without trial.
Rights groups have said the detainees, held on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, are mistreated through cruel interrogation methods – a charge the US denies.
On last night’s BBC Newsnight, presenter Jeremy Paxman went to speak to The American Ambassador Robert H Tuttle at the American Embassy in London. He quizzed him on the Iran crisis will be solved by diplomatic means. And asked him for his thoughts on Lord Goldsmith’s call for Guantanamo Bay to be closed. And also asked about Britain and America’s so-called ‘special relationship’. If you want to see how an interview with a toadying politician/diplomat should be conducted, then Jeremy Paxman is your man. He is everything that a Fox News presenter is not, and everything that they profess to be. You’ll need to watch the interview before 22.30 BST, on 10th May.
Web-Page address of the video interview:
Video Interview With The American Ambassador
May 10th, 2006 at 2:24 pmAlso, what about the candle makers after electricity became an option. Should we have not switched over due to the effect on them?
squegeeboo
Hey, fool, I was speaking of the garment industry, the auto industry, even the freakin’ tech support people for the freakin’ phone companies -
May 10th, 2006 at 2:25 pmHamas has openly came out and declared that they would continue to perform suicide attacks against Israel and their civilians. They are also listed as a terrorist organization (admittedly too). Why would we give them money?
Comment by Tundra
Who cares what Hamas is listed as? Alchol was listed as evil in America at one time… nobody gave shit about that listing though did they?
If Hamas openly adopts a diplomatic approach that would be worth some cash.
If Hamas cannot do that because they have not been given a reason why they should accept a bunch of european racist jews moving into the middle of “arab land” and commiting their racist crimes against them… then we should figure out for ourselves why they should accept that and then make that offer to them.
Just listing them and threatening them does not make their correct grievances go away.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:27 pm#148 It really is that simple. My mother, who worked at home for years and has a psychology degree, stayed home to raise us. She now has no income and no job. She is NOT COUNTED in the unemployment rate, but is definately UNEMPLOYED.
See, that is what you do not understand, Squeg. She is not counted in your nation’s unemployment statistics. She has nothing but me. Her government owes her for raising productive children who pay taxes but gives her nothing. I suppose she doesn’t really figure into your scheme of life and republicanism as she, to you and to most republicans are useless. To a repub she is not even worth pandering for her vote.
Sweet, sweet November.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:27 pm“Hey, fool, I was speaking of the garment industry, the auto industry,”
So instead they should have remained here, being more and more unable to compete in the global market until they collapse?
Our overall economy isn’t hurt by outsourcing. Like I said before, read some Freidman, he explains it better then I ever could.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:27 pm#150 Bush and Blair are preparing the “official” closing of Guantanamo. But, before, they need to set the replacement facilities in the alternative -istans to translate the inmates. And then, they will interpret the PR campaing of “we are soooo compasionate that we understood what the world wants from us and thus we are freeing the Guantanamo inmates”. Pure propaganda.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:28 pmHISTORY LESSON
Israel was born through TERRORISM. They taught the Palestinians their own TACTICS!
May 10th, 2006 at 2:29 pmHere here to Lord Goldsmith. Thanks, Nick.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:29 pmTeachers definetly do not become teachers for the money. I am losing almost half my salary by returning to teaching. But teachers make a difference in the lives of the kids they touch. This makes a difference in the future of our country. What better epitaph could a person want? Will “I never touched one life but I made a hell of a lot of money” be better? I think not. But hey, that is my opinion.
Besides – Teachers make all professions possible!!
May 10th, 2006 at 2:29 pm#154 You read a book and now you are sure. You know, you can find an author to agree with any irrational argument you have. Read about Leo Strauss and get back to me.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:31 pmsquegeeboo
sorry dude – I prefer Paul Krugman, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:32 pmmadashell, you and I have a lot in common. You make me proud to be a progressive. I can’t imagine who would not be proud of progress though. Strange, eh?
May 10th, 2006 at 2:34 pmOur overall economy isn’t hurt by outsourcing
squegeeboo
Just the people, that’s all.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:34 pm#160 – They rock.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:35 pmThanks, Jules. The reason I am who I am is because of my parents and GREAT teachers. You know, I can still recite all my helping verbs, in alphabetical order. I make light but really thanks again. It’s laugh or cry, right?
May 10th, 2006 at 2:36 pmprogressive and proud – :) thank you. As you are doing, I cared for my mother, as well, after a stroke that left her very debilitated but extremely HEAD STRONG. Not easy switching roles, but the most honorable thing a child can do. Good on you, and BLESS YOU!
May 10th, 2006 at 2:37 pmGood point, the economy is soaring, our people, suffering. But hey, what counts for a repub. Money rules.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:37 pmEvil Spaniard – they will probably be transferred to the DETENTION CENTERS being built by Halliburton right here in our own country!
May 10th, 2006 at 2:42 pmOur overall economy isn’t hurt by outsourcing
squegeeboo
My younger brother had been working his entire adult life either in a glass factory or in construction. A couple years ago I taught him to be a computer programmer since our parents were too poor to get us into college and I had taught myself to be a programmer as a kid. His current job consists of mostly Indians, a few Chinese, and himself and one other American. How many more people out there grew up like us and would like to be in the tech industry making good money but are not being trained to be able to do so? I guess that training would be considered welfare to the republicans though. Instead of outsourcing we should be training the people here in America so they can have jobs that are going to be worth something in the future. Hell it wouldnt hurt to train Americans in general that being smart and computer savy is a GOOD thing instead of teaching them that flashing your ass on TV or acting like a jackass for a movie is the “cool” thing to do.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:43 pm#168 – Well said, Gerald.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:47 pm“Just the people, that’s all.”
And how are the people not hurt by the business collapsing from being unable to compete against the global market? Then all the same people lose their jobs, as well as whatever portions of the business would have been kept, and grown, in the US.
Gerald,
May 10th, 2006 at 2:54 pmI’m sure you don’t want to hear it, but your story supports my way of thinking.
Couldn’t afford college:Taught himself a skill for life
“How many more people out there grew up like us and would like to be in the tech industry making good money but are not being trained to be able to do so?”
Well if we all did what Gerald did, their would be no excuse for not being trained, you can teach yourself, and then help spread the knowledge to friends and family.
168,
Gerald I fully understand and agree. I went into the service to be able to afford school. I worked full time and attended school at night. I have always been for a hand up not a hand out and helping with school is not a problem as far as I am concerned.
But it sure doesn’t justify paying someone in a non skilled job as much as those people that have choosen the education route.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:58 pmFunny squeegy Whirlpool, is closing almost everything Maytag ever had in order to consolidate their Manufacturing, the only problem is about 4500 jobs being lost in smaller communities that have no other major employers, sort of blows your find a better job,…what do you do if they are all moving away, just like what has happened in Syracuse NY, I grew up near there and couldn’t believe how many of the companies were gone…
May 10th, 2006 at 3:13 pmBTW I spent 4 years in the military in order to go to college, then when I was done choose to reenter the military and got a commission, and served in the first Gulf War, my injuries and the last 14 years have taught me more about how LIFE works, because I never planned being disabled , fortunately for me the liberals saw fit to create the VA and laws to care for the veteran, not like the cruel crooks we have now who underfund the VA year after year, to spend money on the bridge to nowhere rerouting a RR for casinos, and funds to corporations that make record profits…
May 10th, 2006 at 3:18 pmclif
Same thing happened in Schenectady when GE moved its corporate head quarters down to Atlanta. There is always going to be boom areas, and there will always be bust areas. And the same thing is happening in Rochester to a smaller extent as Kodak trys to streamline to stay competative. But if they didn’t streamline, they could keep their current employee’s, but only for a few years until it would ruin the business.
May 10th, 2006 at 3:19 pmRight genius but what do the downsized people do, because nothing is coming down the pike to replace those larger corporations and the outsourcing is gonna get worse…
May 10th, 2006 at 3:36 pmRight genius but what do the downsized people do
Learn a new trade, and if nothing is coming down the pike, move to a boom area.
May 10th, 2006 at 3:52 pmchew on this squegeeboy
“At a time when tens of millions of workers are struggling to pay for gas for their car, electricity for their home, and medical care for their families, the Republicans have stepped forward with a plan to help. They want to give another $20 to $30 billion in tax cuts to the rich.”
and what pray tell do you have to say about that?
May 10th, 2006 at 3:53 pm“and what pray tell do you have to say about that?”
Anything that makes taxation flat I tend to support. I would need to see what this does to % of income paid before I agreed or disagreed with it.
May 10th, 2006 at 3:56 pmFunny squeegy Whirlpool, is closing almost everything Maytag ever had in order to consolidate their Manufacturing, the only problem is about 4500 jobs being lost in smaller communities that have no other major employers,
So what’s the fix?
1) Not allow Whirlpool to buy Maytag and if it falls, they are all out of jobs as well.
2) Allow Whirlpool to buy maytag but they must keep all factories open even if it requires them to duplicate things and run as uneffecient as the government?
3) Have the government buy the failing Maytag and get into the washer business?
4) have the government give Maytag money to compete?
Businesses will close and move etc, I feel that asking the government to somehow do something is asking a little much.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:05 pmClif, have you ever been denied service at a VA hospital due to “underfunding”? Can you cite for me a case of this happening anywhere? I am disabled too and never ever have I seen/heard/saw anyone turned away, hours cut, staff cut, or services discontinued because of funding.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:14 pmNever said anything you posted tundra quit putting your thoughts into anothers post and READ the words….I asked an open ended question I NEVER said ONE word about the government but neither did I exclude them, YOU brought them into it, my question is what do we do with all the loss of higher paying jobs which are being replaced by lower paying service jobs …like a cashier at the local grocery store, and if they people lucky enough have that job can not earn a living wage what do we do?
May 10th, 2006 at 4:21 pm#180…YES and not instead of my six months check up it is about 71/2 to 8 months between scheduled checkups
May 10th, 2006 at 4:24 pmI asked an open ended question I NEVER said ONE word about the government but neither did I exclude them, YOU brought them into it, my question is what do we do with all the loss of higher paying jobs which are being replaced by lower paying service jobs
I would have to say adapt and educate yourself to compete.
I propose the same question to you, What do we do?
May 10th, 2006 at 4:32 pm#180 – Come visit San Antonio. There’s a number of people I know who’ve been turned down multiple times.
I know a few in Austin as well. I never met any while I was living in Connecticut, but I never went to the VA up there.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:37 pmHow about instead of cutting funding for higher education we increase it?
How about instead of giving tax incentives to oil companies we give incentives to companies in the US who create jobsin the US, real jobs where a person could use their newly acquired skills, not wal-mart jobs?
How about we go back to the days of the trade schools in high school where a kid who could work with his/her hands could receive that training in high scool and graduate with a skill ready to be put to use?
May 10th, 2006 at 4:38 pmStart by cutting the corporations off the public dole before the poor, especially the children and elderly. If a corporation makes a profit or pays a dividend , NO federal grants and loans at open market rates, would free up some money for aid, education,… think the post WW@ GI bill had as much to do with the american golden age of 1945-1975 as anything else. Education should be less expensive given the benifits the society reaps from it.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:40 pmDogpile on Squeegy Day on Think Fast. *sigh*
May 10th, 2006 at 4:43 pm#170 We all don’t have Geralds in our life, Squeg. Some don’t even have parents. Think of Bush, now if he weren’t rich, with an IQ of 91, he would be that cashier you so cavalierly speak of. He couldn’t run a business that was given to him. He really has no skills and no intelligence and it is obvious that he cannot speak eloquently enough to even ask if they want fries with that.
Just think about that poor man if he didn’t have money to burn. He probably wouldn’t be able to graduate. That leaves poor George with nothing. He, most assuredly, would run out of the unemployment (It only goes on for a while and then you are booted, then you DO NOT count as unemployed, see how that works?) and then be stuck. He isn’t very strong and couldn’t live on the wages that the farms would pay him because they have illegals to work for them for less.
That is why I am for a fair wage. I want the George Bushes out there, without that kind of cash, to thrive. What about the dullards who just can’t make it? The weakest too deserve a kind hand and the help of the strongest in the country. At least that’s how Jefferson thought of it.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:50 pmGerald,
I’m sure you don’t want to hear it, but your story supports my way of thinking.
Couldn’t afford college:Taught himself a skill for life
“How many more people out there grew up like us and would like to be in the tech industry making good money but are not being trained to be able to do so?â€
Well if we all did what Gerald did, their would be no excuse for not being trained, you can teach yourself, and then help spread the knowledge to friends and family.
Comment by squegeeboo
I grew up right wing republican… I know exactly what “your way” means. I have been there done that and discarded it as a partial solution towards life with more negatives than positives …. so I have looked for a better way. Because the cold hard truth about life is that not everyone IS me. So not everyone has my type of personality and they dont have my luck in life to have gotten access to PCs in school. I can tell you only a few people get to work in the library at school. I got to work there every year for at least 2 periods and lunch. MOST people didnt get that chance. And even if they did they are different from me. Maybe there interests were lets say … NASCAR…. well thats nice but if it doesnt lead to a career does that mean we say, “SORRY!” and pull the lever with the trap pit below them and wave good bye on their way down the “Loser” hole? …. Is THAT what you call team work? Or WWJD?
I dont. The reichwing in this country, the people I grew up among and trusted, can screw off until they walk the walk and not just talk the talk for political gain.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:57 pmGerald I fully understand and agree. I went into the service to be able to afford school. I worked full time and attended school at night. I have always been for a hand up not a hand out and helping with school is not a problem as far as I am concerned.
But it sure doesn’t justify paying someone in a non skilled job as much as those people that have choosen the education route.
Comment by Tundra
I completely agree. IF that person is being given an open opportunity to college so that they know that the low wage they have now is only temporary because their government ..their fellow American citizens that have made it $$$ and are paying most of the taxes… is making it possible for them to make alot more in just a few years… that is NOT the promise that is made to us today… instead it is “Do it your self! and if you lose? Its only because you are a LOSER… good bye!” … wow thats America?
May 10th, 2006 at 5:02 pm#183 Bush has cut funding for college grants and tuition. You may not be aware, but some folks fall into the terrible catergory of not having the grades for a scholarship but also not having the money to pay. Some people have to support their families and must forego college as they have a job that is paying more than minimum wage, but will never amount to much more. It is a tough predicament for many.
Squeg seems to have all the answers but as we grow older we realize our mistakes of youth. You will run into those that fall into the cracks of your perfectly devised world. You speak as if all is just that easy but fail to acknowledge all of those that you disregard.
I was watching some local news show that told of a man that made a fortune but had no time for his kids. He is now a bagger at a large supermarket. His kids do not go to private school any longer and they don’t eat out much either. The kids spoke of giving up many luxuries but seemed worlds happier with their dad’s time. Children aren’t born greedy, they are taught.
We should foster the attitude of self and our impact on others. When we cross lanes in traffic, we look to see if others are there. Do we do it because we don’t want our car hit and have to spend hours on police reports? Or, do we do it because we don’t want anyone else to suffer that way? It is important why we do things, not just that we do them.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:07 pmI propose the same question to you, What do we do?
Comment by Tundra
Reeducation is the correct way forwards… making a New Deal type program to make it a no brainer for people to sign is also the way forwards for hopefully obvious reasons… industrialize the process of reeducating America… not just for the individual, but rather for the long term good of all of America. I know … I know the rich can just buy a mansion in China and forget all about America… but the rest of us cannot. We need a long term fix for the issue.. and say do it yourself! … is not the mark of someone wanting to make a long term commitment to America. Same thing for our Energy policy. Attacking Iraq for energy was dumb. Think Manahattan Project. Who in the whole world could pull something like that off? Not many. America did though. And we could again. The ultimate strike against the oil wealthy middle east would have been to go on a break neck program to ween ourselves off that oil. Not only would their cash cow be gone… they would have no leverage on us anymore… and there would be no long term threat of military face of with China over oil… because we dont care about it anymore and we could even share our technology with China for 1) Relations … and 2) to keep them from stirring up trouble in the middle east after we are gone.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:10 pmP^2
“We all don’t have Geralds in our life, Squeg.”
Gerald didn’t have Gerald in his life, he did it on his own from the sounds of things.
“I want the George Bushes out there, without that kind of cash, to thrive.”
Wow, how much did that one hurt to type :)
Zookeeper
“Dogpile on Squeegy Day on Think Fast. *sigh*”
At least you guys were all polite about it. Thats always a plus.
Gerald
“Maybe there interests were lets say … NASCAR…. well thats nice but if it doesnt lead to a career does that mean we say, “SORRY!—
It does lead to a career, mechanic. But if their interest is in just following the sport and not doing anything besides turning their head from side to side, watching cars go by, at some point I think it is time to say sorry.
Well, I’m off to work on my own self-improvement project. Thanks for being nice while calling me, naive, heartless, cold, non-empathatic, with out compasion, etc, etc.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:10 pm#111
Does that include Native born Americans who speak Spanish, or Mandarin, or Japanese, or German or… you get the point.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:17 pmGerald, I too have a younger brother. I also taught him everything I learned in school the day I learned it. When he went to kindergarten he could already read and thus, was skipped to first grade. Help, made him and your brother better people and we made it possible for them to move up quicker than some. Some of us do not have siblings and, like you say, are they to go down the loser chute?
I applaud what you have done for your brother. That is one of the biggest rewards one can have – watching their accomplishments in action. I was as proud as you probably were.
What I want is for everyone to do that for all children. We would be a REAL superpower then. If every child didn’t even need kindergarten and could skip a grade then we could actually move up the position of kindergarten. Or, better yet, we could have kids start a year earlier. I want to make this country smarter…richer would be the logical conclusion.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:18 pm#193 You will see the compassion light. Have a good night.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:20 pmBut squeegy those are you better points…..
May 10th, 2006 at 5:20 pmhey! good news! randi rhodes wants to hear from republicans – what ONE good thing has bush done for the country? 866-303-2270
May 10th, 2006 at 5:22 pm[...] Think Progress [...]
May 10th, 2006 at 5:22 pmWell, I’m off to work on my own self-improvement project. Thanks for being nice while calling me, naive, heartless, cold, non-empathatic, with out compasion, etc, etc.
Comment by squegeeboo
Your welcome.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:22 pmI was as proud as you probably were.
What I want is for everyone to do that for all children. We would be a REAL superpower then. If every child didn’t even need kindergarten and could skip a grade then we could actually move up the position of kindergarten. Or, better yet, we could have kids start a year earlier. I want to make this country smarter…richer would be the logical conclusion.
Comment by progressive and proud
Proud indeed. There was Pride because my brother trusted his time and future in my ability to teach him something as difficult as software development…and pride in seeing my brother getting out of those damn glass factories (dangerous) and making his life alot better.
You put it best in saying that we would be a REAL super power if we made our people that power. Not some puffed out chest struting moron with “The worlds most powerful staged photo ops” version of a “Super Power”….
May 10th, 2006 at 5:28 pm191
but some folks fall into the terrible catergory of not having the grades for a scholarship but also not having the money to pay.
That was me, I joined the military so I could go to school. My parents were upper lower class as I grew up. Dad working 2 jobs and Mom working one with us 4 kids. Couldn’t afford to send me to school as much as they wanted to so I didn’t have much choice. I also am very grateful of the military and the U.S taxpayer for giving me that opportunity. I did not demand it, I did not feel it was an entitlement, I had to work for it. Does that make me better than anyone else? nope. But also if someone isn’t willing to do any work but expect/demand something for nothing I’m sorry.
My nephew is currently trying to find funds for college. He is a good student and was accepted to Central. Sadly none of us in the family can afford to send him (If I wasn’t paying 42% of what I make a year in taxes I might have been able to help more). He messed around and didn’t look into scholarships/grants etc when we suggested it. He kept putting it off, well now he has decisions to make. I don’t blame the government for not chasing him down and forcing him into something. I blame him for not trying at all. There are several programs he could have qualified for (HE WAS LAZY). It looks like he may go National Guard now.
We should foster the attitude of self and our impact on others.
I understand the point, but who am I to demand someone else spend time with a family. There are men and women who can’t have kids. Perhaps they enjoy putting themselves into a job, perhaps they really enjoy working 2 jobs. If that’s what they enjoy then I say let them. If you enjoy and get a good feeling by helping people you don’t know, I say go for it. Personally I do whatever I can for the people I know (I do give to charity etc). I have friends I help with their computer issues, I help family do yard work because they are older. When friends move I am always the first call. My nephew has “life” questions it’s my place. Babysitting for friends that are single mothers so they can go out every now and then.
I often get called uncaring etc, but I care for everyone I know. I do anything I can for people in my life. Because I only give money to people I don’t know doesn’t make me any less compassionate. My friends at least take the time to say thank you.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:40 pm#193 – Well, I’m off to work on my own self-improvement project.
Well, you have a good list on which to start! :)
May 10th, 2006 at 5:41 pm#111
Or perhaps you meant Native born as in Native Americans who speak Karuk, Takelma, Zuni, Adai, Esselen, or Yana?
May 10th, 2006 at 5:44 pmFunny thing about those “cutbacks” only a couple of examples cited. FYI “Vets” the VA will NEVER turn away an honorably discharged vet from services. It’s in their charter, so I am very VERY skeptical of anybody claiming to have services denied. Clif, sorry to hear you are having to wait a extra 30-45 days for checkups. If your condition warrants more frequency have the VA review you DA% and see if that will move you a priority group.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:56 pmI am group 1 100% disabled, people in group 7-8 (non-service connected) do not even get appointments any more here.
May 10th, 2006 at 6:01 pm#206 – Ret. Rep. Soldier is really trying to talk you out of it, isn’t he? Maybe the lightbulb moment will come one day.
May 10th, 2006 at 6:07 pmBTW I have had an emergency room doctor try and turn me away for a cut on my right shoulder, happened last year…they ended up trteating me after I called for the patient representative.
May 10th, 2006 at 6:11 pmClif, Just offering advise but if you 100% you are already at the front of the line. What I am getting at is that service at the VA hospitals and I have only been retired 6 years, hasn’t changed all that much. I don’t remember a lot of cat 7&8 getting prompt service before Bush took office or ever (my dad is also DAV). I don’t think they will ever get prompt service and at best they can get triage (sp) and transfer to a local if it’s serious.
May 10th, 2006 at 7:16 pmAnd what percantage of those are High School kids? And then you have businesses such as supermarkets which generally have under a 4% profit margin, [. . .]
Comment by squegeeboo — May 10, 2006 @ 9:14 am
So squeegee, it’s 10 hours since I asked for the link proving this; is it another example of your “realpolitic?”
And from what I’ve seen, shouldn’t it rightly be called “Failedpolitic”, or perhaps “reallyloopypolitic?”
May 10th, 2006 at 8:13 pm#210 – Seriously, give it up, barfly. He thrives on the attention. ;)
May 10th, 2006 at 9:43 pmBarfly
“So squeegee, it’s 10 hours since I asked for the link proving this; is it another example of your “realpolitic?—
Post #57
roughly 20 min. after you asked for the link in your post #52, I was kind enough to provide it for you.
So really, it was only 1/3 of an hour, not 10, but close enough.
May 11th, 2006 at 12:25 am“Well, I’m off to work on my own self-improvement project. Thanks for being nice while calling me, naive, heartless, cold, non-empathatic, with out compasion, etc, etc. Comment by squishypoop”
Those are you NICE traits. Your REAL traits are arrogance, selfishnish, projection, bigotry, stupidity and hatred of those less fortunate. You’re about as ‘anti-christian’ as you get.
May 11th, 2006 at 12:36 amFunny but the source you quote also has this little stat;
TAXES(except federal income) 1.8% 1.3% 1.2% 1.5% for corporate grocery stores
Taxes 1.1% Partnerships
Taxes 1.3% Proprietorships
Now again how high are these taxes that are killing the business climate
May 11th, 2006 at 1:00 amApologies for not seeing your post.
From Bizstats:
Tip: Due to significant variances in owner compensation, it may be more meaningful to compare Net Income prior to Compensation of Officers.
Which they didn’t do.
Still waiting Squeege.
May 11th, 2006 at 1:41 amCongress refuses to raise the minimum wage, but has no such reservations about voting for raises for THEMSELVES. And just what have they done to deserve any increases? They are working fewer days this year, passing worthless legislation, wasting Billions of our tax dollars, taking full advantage of all of the ‘benefits’ they create for themselves, all of it paid for by us. And “Duke Cunningham will still be able to collect his pension, after his ‘time’ is served. That is CRAP!!! And saying that raising the minimum wage will cause prices to go up… WHAT-F*CKING-EVER!!! Gas is over three dollars a gallon! Just what in the hell do you think THAT is doing to the cost of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING?!? But heaven forbid we raise the minimum wage, because THAT would DESTROY the economy! BushCo is bragging about how strong ‘their’ economy is, well they can prove it, by giving the little people more of ‘their money, in wages, instead of tax cuts. I won’t be holding my breath.
May 11th, 2006 at 7:04 am#215 Barfly
“Apologies for not seeing your post.”
Not a problem, even I have been known to make the occasional mistake, shocking I know, but it happens.
“Which they didn’t do.”
May 11th, 2006 at 8:21 amSure they did, it just requires a little math on your part.
Componsation to officers is the second % down (3rd if you count the 100% revenue) So add that % to net income, and you have the statistic they are talking about.
Small 5.6%
Medium 3.7%
Large 2.7%
All corporations 2.4%
(don’t ask me how the first 3 don’t average to the second, not sure, but I think its because All includes super sized ones, with assests above 5 mil, which is the high range for Large)
And what percantage of those are High School kids? And then you have businesses such as supermarkets which generally have under a 4% profit margin, [. . .]
Comment by squegeeboo — May 10, 2006 @ 9:14 am
Who cares whether the worker is in High School or not. You’re paying him for his labor, right, not his home situation. What you’re really saying is, “What if he doesn’t need the money?” Well, I’m sure that there are lots of people in the world who don’t need the money. Although, I suspect they are mostly on the high side of the pay scale.
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