bills_fan

Debt financing only makes sense, in almost any circumstance, if you use the debt to purchase something that will help generate a higher rate of return than the interest service cost on the debt. I'm not seeing anything here like the TVA, interstate system etc. that will assist in productivity. All I see are costs.

Odd, I always thought that the reason the Dpression was so severe was the monetary policy contraction by the Federal Reserve and the protectionism epitomized by such misguided laws as Smoot Hawley. As for fiscal policy, they did the best the could with what tools were available. I would argue that they also violated the Constitution repeatedly.

I feel that way about NYC, wouldn't live anywhere else. But damn, it could be better if we just got rid of the politicians.

Makes me nostalgic for 1996, when Bill Clinton said "the era of big government is over."

It makes me want to vomit. Its simply disgusting.

I'm not seeing a ton of infrastructure. If there was, at least they would have something to show for the stimulus that could contribute to GDP in the future....better roads/transit leads to more efficiency as workers can get farther in a more time efficient manner etc. There is some infrastructure, sure, but not nearly what may be needed. I could get behind infrastructure spending that would lead to future efficiencies (e.g. Tennessee River Valley Authority). There is also a large amount of lending for crap. That will hurt.

Thats my thought. He'll serve 12-18 months, end up in a halfway house for a few months and be done serving in less than 2 years. COuld have been much worse. Hopefully, its a wake-up for him.

Tough to really deficit spend when noone trusts your currency and you have to keep buying dollars to support your currency.

Really? I'm not so sure I buy it. From what I have read, China is basically going on a domestic, debt-fueled spending spree. Of course, as the US consumer well-knows, debt will eventually have to be paid back....with interest. I don't think China is using that debt to generate products/services that will eventually contribute more to China's GDP, rather they are speculating on stock, at the casino etc. This article paints a pretty decent picture of what is happening in China from the ground level. You could be right in that the Chinese stimulus is working, but I have my doubts in its sustainability and the debt hangover they will experience will be rough.

John First off, sorry about your son's injury. I wish him a speedy recovery. It was njsue, not Lori, who was ripped about the homework. You are not being singled out negatively in this thread at all. What SDS is saying is that everyone here is trying to help you out, constructively, without being the usual wise a$$. It would not be that way for most posters, they would get wise a$$ comments in response to what they perceive is a serious life question. The denial thing, from reading this thread, is that people are saying forget the stupid football and focus on grades and education. Football may help 99% of the high school players have a little fun and get laid, but it won't help you out in later life. You need to have grades/education to move onto bigger and better things and that should be the focus. Your initial post focused on you (not your son) and...sorry, it came across as a bit Al Bundy-ish, focused on high school football to the detriment of the rest of life.

Interesting theory, I'd love to see some numbers that back it up. I read that the average person consumes 80-90% of the health care services they use in the last year of their life. I'm not sure if its true, but it does raise an interesting point.

This is actually a myth. Smokers die younger and quicker than the general population. If everyone quit smoking, healthcare costs would rise significantly as folks who would have ordinarily died at a younger age, rather quickly from lung cancer, live much longer and consume more health care services.

St. Elmo's Fire

Was it just lack of preparation or do you think she became defensive after the MSM decided to treat her like a pinata? Personally, I think she is pretty damn saavy to have gotten where she did. You expect politicians to be roasted during a national campaign, but what the MSM did to her was shameful and disrespectful, IMHO.

I don't know what the answer is either, but I think this article does a fair job of at least identifying some of the problems.

Ask and ye shall receive... Wild Things Pool Scene

Wow! I have no problem with recreational drug use and, in fact, it can be a lot of fun....but no f*%^ing way would I ever use meth. These friggin' people are nuts.

Some goofy friggin advice in this thread and some that is decent. I am not, and never have been, the jealous type. My attitude has always been, if she can do better...go for it. That means I can do better as well. Its all about your own self-confidence. Feel good about yourself, you are banging a real hot chick (according to you, a pic would verify). She seems to want/need the attention of others...so what. Don't make an issue out of it, she may be just trying to get a rise out out of you/push your buttons/ or test your self-confidence. I have no idea since I don't know the girl. I know that women find people who are confident in themselves (not !@#$-type cocky, but confident) to be sexy. I also would not want to be best buddies with her guy friends from work/guys hitting on her in the bar etc. Hot girls don't get hit on randomly as much as you think, their looks intimidate most guys. Thats why many hot chicks end up with uglier guys, the ugly guy showed enough confidence to hit on them (either that or a fat wallet). Man up & be confident. Ignore the bull and you will be better off.

An pseudo-ex (we only dated/hooked up for a few months) of mine used to date Brian Giles while he played for the Bisons.

I sold three apartments via Craigslist, still have never paid paid a broker's commission in my life. I love Craigslist.

Simple version... Madoff claimed he was investing money for clients. Madoff earned about 10% a year for his clients, good year or bad, didn't matter. Madoff was one of the founders and former chair of NASDAQ, had an impeccable rep. Turns out, Madoff only recycled the money, never invested it. He used new money to pay off old dets, had to keep getting new (and more) money into the scheme. Once too many clients asked for their moeny back (because of the market crash last fall), the game was up.

Really? I heard that the sales tax in NYC is scheduled to be raised and is being held up by this. For that, I'm grateful.

Yep, she is the hottest thing going right now, bar none. My son has just gotten into Transformers. We were in Best Buy a few months ago and it was playing on the TV. He was mezmorized. I asked him if he wanted the movie...of course! He can watch as often as he wants and Dad will join him. Of course, I have not yet explained why Dad's tongue falls out of his mouth for certain scenes...

Look on the bright side...while they are not in session, they can't raise your taxes!

Quoted for truth.