View Full Version : The United States of Decline
http://www.nationalreview.com/node/371248/print
From the piece...
Meanwhile, as the American Enterprise Institute’s Marc Thiessen wrote in the February 10 Washington Post, new Congressional Budget Office figures show that Obamacare will reduce U.S. incomes by $70 billion annually between 2017 and 2024. The CBO also estimated that by 2021, Obamacare’s disincentives to hire and incentives not to work would slash labor hours by the equivalent of 2.3 million jobs.
Rather than dispute these figures, key Democrats embraced them.
“We want people to have the freedom to be a writer, to be a photographer, to make music, to paint,” said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California. She added that “people would no longer be job-locked by their [health] policies, but have the freedom to follow their passion.”
So, rather than expand economic growth and jobs, Democrats applaud as Americans stop working — to do watercolors, draft poetry, and take naps — while exhausted taxpayers foot the bill.
Well shit, I'm in.
I'd like to practice martial arts all day long and do comprehensive studies of film. Can Nancy Pelosi please explain to me how I get all my bills paid, health care provided for and a suitable income to pursue those interests?
Cause right now I don't qualify for shit, and even though I can't afford health care I will now be fined for not having it and this directly translates to even less money for health issues and prescription medication.
I was Pelosi's "starving artist" for decades of my life having attempted to teach martial arts for a living and having been a DJ (club, studio and radio) and I actually made more money waiting tables. Not having an income doesn't "free you", it traps you. I'd rather have a job with benefits and a paycheck and practice my personal interests on my own time. Trying to figure out what you are able to afford to eat at the end of the day sucks really bad. Not that Pelosi would know anything about that.
Then I could watch SteyrAUG practice martial arts all day....
You gotta just love Obama if your are a socialist Marxist commie.
You gotta just love Obama if your are a socialist Marxist commie.
Or if you're a lazy, worthless, gullible ****ing idiot. Either one.
Oh goodie! I'm glad I'm young and I have so much good to look forward to in this (once) great country of ours.
On the other side of things I hope that the democrats in going to far and running this country into the ground, it will over the years build so much resentment for everything they believe, the country will do an about face and dump those commie as holes on their faces.
Dreams
Any doubt that liberalism is a sick and disgusting mental disorder now?
Obama affords us the opportunity to become useless fukks!
You gotta just love Obama if your are a socialist Marxist commie.
That fantasy will come crashing down once they realize that they will be forced to work in the state factories with quotas and only enough money left over to buy stale bread made in a factory by disillusioned factory workers....
ramairthree
02-18-14, 12:02
Oh goodie! I'm glad I'm young and I have so much good to look forward to in this (once) great country of ours.
On the other side of things I hope that the democrats in going to far and running this country into the ground, it will over the years build so much resentment for everything they believe, the country will do an about face and dump those commie as holes on their faces.
Dreams
Yeah.
Sadly, pendulums tend to swing too far when they correct.
A boot on your neck is a boot on your neck whether it is the left foot or the right foot.
As sick as I am of the Zombie nonsense,
part of me says,
"I cannot freakin' wait until some of these ass holes are zombies."
http://kff.org/interactive/health-tracking-poll-exploring-the-publics-views-on-the-affordable-care-act-aca/
Yeah.
Sadly, pendulums tend to swing too far when they correct.
A boot on your neck is a boot on your neck whether it is the left foot or the right foot.
People are too stupid to be trusted with a revolution. Best to let the government handle it.
ramairthree
02-18-14, 12:34
Yes, if the government handles it the pendulum will swing way too far.
Phrase of the day: "Subhuman Mongrel".
While the real problem is the economy, which is a complex issue; in terms of the welfare state dissuading people to work, I will point those to the lessons learned from Bismarck's welfare state. While Bismarck's reasoning behind the welfare state was to give the workers of the world something to lose, we can clearly see that it did not lead to long term high unemployment and other issues we are facing today. Our issues are systemic.
People are too stupid to be trusted with a revolution. Best to let the government handle it.
If we ever have another "revolution", it will be of the November variety.
Well shit, I'm in.
I'd like to practice martial arts all day long and do comprehensive studies of film. Can Nancy Pelosi please explain to me how I get all my bills paid, health care provided for and a suitable income to pursue those interests?
Cause right now I don't qualify for shit, and even though I can't afford health care I will now be fined for not having it and this directly translates to even less money for health issues and prescription medication.
I was Pelosi's "starving artist" for decades of my life having attempted to teach martial arts for a living and having been a DJ (club, studio and radio) and I actually made more money waiting tables. Not having an income doesn't "free you", it traps you. I'd rather have a job with benefits and a paycheck and practice my personal interests on my own time. Trying to figure out what you are able to afford to eat at the end of the day sucks really bad. Not that Pelosi would know anything about that.
There are few good reasons for someone healthy like you who doesn't have coverage through an employer to go out and buy health insurance. You are wasting money on premiums that can be invested elsewhere. The fine that you would incur for non-compliance can only be assessed against your income tax return. Simply reduce your withholding so that you have a small liability to pay every April 15th. The government will never be able to collect that fine if you make sure that you have no tax refund each year.
You can always go out and buy insurance at the last minute if you or a family member suffer a significant illness. After all, the insurance companies and exchanges cannot deny you coverage due to a pre-existing condition. In fact, you will probably save thousand of dollars in premiums that can be invested going forward. Here is the math assuming that you are a family of 4 with a $60,000 gross income in CT:
1) Silver plan premium monthly premium without tax credit: $520/month = $6250 per year in premium
2) Max out of pocket expense for a family according to ACA: $12,700 (~$6K for individual)
So, you could wind up paying between $6,250-19,000 per year in healthcare if you get sick - even if you get insurance. Now, skip the insurance and save over $6K per year if you are healthy. Invest that in a balanced fund such as the Vanguard Star Fund that averages 7% interest and you have over $270K in 20 years. Granted, some years you may have an illness that requires insurance or smaller out-of-pocket medical expenses. You will still have at least $250K in your pocket that you would not otherwise have.
Now, you might argue that what I'm suggesting is unethical and immoral. I'd argue that it is the best way to use the Left's tactics against them and hasten the current system's inevitable demise. It is also a great way to punish insurance companies that got in bed with Obama to get this law passed - revenge is a dish best served cold. People who comply with the law are only feeding the beast and keeping an unsustainable system afloat.
Moose-Knuckle
02-18-14, 16:01
“We want people to have the freedom to be a writer, to be a photographer, to make music, to paint,” said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California. She added that “people would no longer be job-locked by their [health] policies, but have the freedom to follow their passion.”
I'm on board with this, so now I can sit at home watch movies and fondle my firearms? After all its one of my many "passions".
There are few good reasons for someone healthy like you who doesn't have coverage through an employer to go out and buy health insurance. You are wasting money on premiums that can be invested elsewhere. The fine that you would incur for non-compliance can only be assessed against your income tax return. Simply reduce your withholding so that you have a small liability to pay every April 15th. The government will never be able to collect that fine if you make sure that you have no tax refund each year.
You can always go out and buy insurance at the last minute if you or a family member suffer a significant illness. After all, the insurance companies and exchanges cannot deny you coverage due to a pre-existing condition. In fact, you will probably save thousand of dollars in premiums that can be invested going forward. Here is the math assuming that you are a family of 4 with a $60,000 gross income in CT:
1) Silver plan premium monthly premium without tax credit: $520/month = $6250 per year in premium
2) Max out of pocket expense for a family according to ACA: $12,700 (~$6K for individual)
So, you could wind up paying between $6,250-19,000 per year in healthcare if you get sick - even if you get insurance. Now, skip the insurance and save over $6K per year if you are healthy. Invest that in a balanced fund such as the Vanguard Star Fund that averages 7% interest and you have over $270K in 20 years. Granted, some years you may have an illness that requires insurance or smaller out-of-pocket medical expenses. You will still have at least $250K in your pocket that you would not otherwise have.
Now, you might argue that what I'm suggesting is unethical and immoral. I'd argue that it is the best way to use the Left's tactics against them and hasten the current system's inevitable demise. It is also a great way to punish insurance companies that got in bed with Obama to get this law passed - revenge is a dish best served cold. People who comply with the law are only feeding the beast and keeping an unsustainable system afloat.
Too late, I file jointly with my wife and I don't want to reduce her withholding out of fear that the government will disallow some deductions and leave us with a staggering IRS debt. Strategically I think I can actually deduct any Obamacare "fine" as an operating business expense the following year.
If we ever have another "revolution", it will be of the November variety.
If you think that's still a possibility at this point, you have more faith in your fellow American than I believe I am capable.
If you think that's still a possibility at this point, you have more faith in your fellow American than I believe I am capable.
You may want to look up November Revolution.
You may want to look up November Revolution.
Ahhhh.. missed your subtly.
However; My statement above actually still applies.
Mauser KAR98K
02-18-14, 21:07
Ahhhh.. missed your subtly.
However; My statement above actually still applies.
Even if 5-10% of gun owners rebelled, with other assistance coming from like minded people, that is still a lot of "insurgence" the government is going to have to suffer through.
On topic:
I fancy myself a writer, and do consider myself a musician. That said, SanFran Nan is so full of herself that she sloshes when she walks. My chances of hitting a number one song, and without it getting pirated, or getting a NYT bestseller is very, very slim. So, I am going back to driving to payoff my student loan thanks to her pipe-dream she has made into a reality. (****ing bitch).
I was Pelosi's "starving artist" for decades of my life having attempted to teach martial arts for a living and having been a DJ (club, studio and radio) and I actually made more money waiting tables. Not having an income doesn't "free you", it traps you. I'd rather have a job with benefits and a paycheck and practice my personal interests on my own time. Trying to figure out what you are able to afford to eat at the end of the day sucks really bad....
This out of context is probably better advice than the sum total of most worthless guidance counseling kids get from high school, period.
However; My statement above actually still applies.
Sadly I think we will get to socialism without the need for a dramatic revolution. All it takes is enough stupid people to not understand why it is a really bad idea.
Sadly I think we will get to socialism without the need for a dramatic revolution. All it takes is enough stupid people to not understand why it is a really bad idea.
Socialism works fine. What we're facing isn't socialism.
Sadly I think we will get to socialism without the need for a dramatic revolution. All it takes is enough stupid people to not understand why it is a really bad idea.
I think we're already there..But, there is hope..Socialism depends heavily on other peoples money, (or in our case the fed) and that's their weakness.. You cannot keep printing money out of thin air. Especially when it's backed by nothing. As a country, the U.S. as we all know, is over 17 trillion in debt.. Plus, the unfunded libabiltys of social Security, and Medicaid/Medicare estimated to be (as no one not even the Govt knows for sure) somewhere between $90 to as high as $200 trillion. Add in the fact that participation in the work force is now at it's lowest point in 40 yrs, and I can see the whole thing collapsing under it's own weight, and I'll add that I don't think we'll have much longer to wait ,either.
Socialism works fine. What we're facing isn't socialism.
Having had first hand experience with the wonders of socialism, I am perplexed by the first sentence in this statement.
Im with ralph. The system we have is unsustainable. Its only a matter of time till it implodes. However, I am not sure that its intended replacement will be any better. The free shit army has reached critical mass, and any implosion will most likely result in people revolting to get more of the same. Whether by choice or misunderstanding these people will be the new useful idiot who usher in a new ear of oppression. Just like the idiots who followed Lenin and created a different shit holds for themselves, our useful idiots will do the same.
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