A Forum for Grinches and Ho-Ho-Hoes

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Back that up, please. Here's some background, to help you get started:

You want to argue the merits of the matter. That's not what I was doing. I was addressing whether Hume accurately attributed a notion to FDR. I think all of your quoted language supports Hume.

your pal

Ben Wikler is not my pal.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
I agree. Notice how he called Hume a "news anchor"?

A real "news anchor" would just make up some historic quotes- that's what you mean?

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
He's still trying to sell the crisis . . .

As has your side, for decades, whenever selling that crisis helps your initiatives. If Bush simply drops this idea now, he's way out ahead - every Dem leader is now on record clearly claiming there's no SS problem. We can dine out on that for another twenty years.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
A real "news anchor" would just make up some quotes- that's what you mean?

Well, in their defense, they would likely be fake, but accurate.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by bilmore
1. Raise the cap, and, correspondingly, raise the max monthly benefit.

2. Expand 401k options, such as caps, and liberalize emergency access to such funds without penalty.

3. Keep tax rates low.

re:2, 401(k) limits have already been raised in the last 5 years by more than the 4% of the SS wage base -- for people 50+, by more than 10%. Just for context. And, for the people who are least financially secure, allowing access in case of emergency will pretty much destroy their retirement savings, even if "emergency" is defined more stringently than "hardship" is now. And, as a question, would you require people to use this emergency access to pay off creditors in a bankruptcy?

ETA the 401(k) limit is $15,000 EACH YEAR, $20,000 for 50+ (or, it will be next year, if it isn't now). How many people, realistically, can afford to put away that much? If they can afford to put away that much, why don't they just put it in a fucking savings account or invest it? For the most part, the people who can afford to put away $15k a year are not people who are unprepared for retirement.

Why is there this insane assumption that if people don't have a tax-deferred vehicle, they can't save?

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
P.S. I've gotta tell you all, there is an Air America station in my area now, and the few snippets I've listened to have annoyed me almost as much as Limbaugh, et al. They have the same wonderful lack of perspective, with the added attraction of being bleeding heart, PC candy-asses. Fucking whiners too, because its their turn in the barrel. Almost enough to turn me to the GOP. [But then I see Lott and Delay, and despair.]

SAM,

Resist the temptation to listen further.

I've not listened to Air America and don't really have any plans to. Instead, I consider it an example of the beauties of the marketplace, and I'm sure that its appearance on the scene as a whining counterweight to the bloviations of EIB or FNC must warm the cockles of bilmore's and Hank's hearts. (In fact, now that a link to its website has appeared here, I fully expect to see Hank quote it thrice weekly as the exemplar of Democratic orthodoxy.)

All that said, the markets tell me that I don't have to actually consume such tripe. I shall continue to derive 95% of my knowledge of the political and social events of our time from this board, the West Wing, and TDS.

[sgtclub]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050217/D889VGEO0.html

[sgtclub]

Anybody see his racist comments the other day?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Gattigap
I shall continue to derive 95% of my knowledge of the political and social events of our time from this board, the West Wing, and TDS.

Please tighten up and resubmit. This sentiment is worthy of being the board motto.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Anybody see his racist comments the other day?

Did he say something about how his Aunt Retard liked to laugh at coolies? Was sebby outed?

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by bilmore
If Bush simply drops this idea now, he's way out ahead - every Dem leader is now on record clearly claiming there's no SS problem. We can dine out on that for another twenty years.

Awwww. That's such a quaint notion. Kinda like portions of the Geneva Conventions.

Notwithstanding its charm, might I suggest that you make it a fast food order. If political positions had a shelf-life beyond that of warm milk, then it wouldn't be so easy for (say) Republican leadership to become enraged at treasonous criticisms of war operations in Iraq when their vocal chords have only recently healed from their screams over Kosovo.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Anybody see his racist comments the other day?

No. But I saw someone use the word "coolie" on the FB yesterday.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Anyone know when he stopped beating his wife?

[bilmore]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
re:2, 401(k) limits have already been raised in the last 5 years by more than the 4% of the SS wage base -- for people 50+, by more than 10%. Just for context.

I know. I thought that was the first step in a good direction.

And, for the people who are least financially secure, allowing access in case of emergency will pretty much destroy their retirement savings, even if "emergency" is defined more stringently than "hardship" is now.

I understand that, but there needs to be some liberalization even if it does leave those of really bad judgment at the tender mercies of social security only. There's a huge resistance to tying up money with little chance of access before the prescibed age. If we do loosen that a bit, I think the resistance will drop, and investment will rise. Besides, the "least financially secure" aren't in 401k's anyway.

And, as a question, would you require people to use this emergency access to pay off creditors in a bankruptcy?

Nope. So, obviously, we can't make it a safe haven like Florida homes have become - a place for the wealthy to hide their huge assets - but at the same time, those funds can't be hanging out there for the collection firms of the world to salivate over. Happy medium, somehow.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Did he say something about how his Aunt Retard liked to laugh at coolies? Was sebby outed?

He reportedly spoke to a group of black leaders in a hotel ballroom and said something like the only way the GOP could get this many blacks to turn out is if they brought in the hotel staff. Can't remember where I saw it, but will look.

ETA: Here is the quote:

• "You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room?," Dean asked to laughter. "Only if they had the hotel staff in here."
  
  His style ever will be blunt: "We have to never be afraid to say what we believe," he insists

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/15/122832.php