I'd like to post something that is very thought provoking.

..................................

.....................................

.......................................

Hmm, looks like I can't think of anything.

Do you have something?

Edited by lyrad1 on 04/03/2012 08:18:36 MDT.

NM



You changed it.

Edited by kthompson on 04/05/2012 06:14:05 MDT.

Ok, how 'bout dis:

You know you're still in a recession when you can get a new job that pays $8k more than your current job but still be making $10k less than you were two years ago. :/

Chad,

That's pretty graphic.

Daryl

Graphic but thought provoking.

Teaching. Same job, same place, bigger class sizes, more responsibilities, I've been working there for 12 years in good standing now...

...and I make $5000 per year less today than I did 7 years ago.

$5k less a year I could be ok with but dang that suck Craig!

There was just a story on local news about laying off teachers creating bigger classrooms. This seems to be endemic.

I wonder why we're cutting teachers all over the country? Is it just that because of bad economy tax receipts are down? Or are we cutting taxes? Or spending it somewhere else instead?

Well you know that when people sign a pledge to 'never raise taxes' and then funding is cut to various goverment programs the first thing hit are schools.

In my area people can't afford kids. Kids are down significantly as people move out of collapsing industrial centers.

"I wonder why we're cutting teachers all over the country? Is it just that because of bad economy tax receipts are down? Or are we cutting taxes? Or spending it somewhere else instead?"

All of the above.

"Or spending it somewhere else instead?"

Check out the "Defense" budget. It's only $670.9 billion for fiscal 2013, after a $48 billion cut. Things are tough all over these days.

"Check out the "Defense" budget. It's only $670.9 billion for fiscal 2013, after a $48 billion cut. Things are tough all over these days."

"Money" magazine had a plot showing that in 1965, Medicare was about 10% of the budget, "defense" was about 50%. Today it's about opposite.

Maybe the problem is that medical expenses keep increasing. It's now a huge percentage of the total economy. It affects Medicare, Medicaid, all government that employs people, and private companies.

And it's not like we're getting improved health care. It's more like we're spending more for "blockbuster" drugs that they advertise heavily on the TV but only make a small improvement in health.

But our health is getting worse, because we're eating too much high fructose corn syrup or something?

I don't know, but our "best government money can buy" isn't doing what it could do to help.

"in 1965, Medicare was about 10% of the budget, "defense" was about 50%. Today it's about opposite."

Yeah, more people, living longer using ever more expensive medical treatments. However, IMO, comparing offensive military spending in pursuit of empire with caring for our own people is an apples to oranges comparison, to put it mildly.

" 'Money' magazine had a plot showing that in 1965, Medicare was about 10% of the budget, "defense" was about 50%. Today it's about opposite."

Jerry,

I wish you would stop copying and pasting stuff from the Internet without doing a bit research first.

Medicare was CREATED in 1965. Many Americans did not know about it or how to apply.

In 1972 Congress added younger people with permanent disabilities with certain criteria.

And over the years Congress has expanded the program and the services provided.

I watched that film on the American health care system by that doco dude who did Bowling for Columbine (can't remember his name...) a couple of months ago. Your health care system sucks, it isn't a system at all.

I'm so glad I'm Australian.

Edited by oysters on 04/03/2012 19:07:28 MDT.

"I watched that film on the American health care system by that doco dude who did Bowling for Columbine (can't remember his name...) a couple of months ago."

I don't know what "doco" means -- is it an Australian term? But the dude is Michael Moore, and he is loco with a biased agenda :)

" wish you would stop copying and pasting stuff from the Internet without doing a bit research first."

Ha ha Nick : )

Actually it was ink in a magazine

Actually it was social security + mdeicare - about 17% in 1965.

Gradually increased to about 50% in 1997.

Since then it's dropped a little.

I guess you're saying it has increased because they keep adding programs. Okay, there's some truth to that. Plus there are more older people now.

Ah much better Jerry.

Yes we have a lot of problems that need to be fixed.
One problem with Medicare is that it is so hard for the public to figure. And if you sign up late, you pay extra. Been checking it out as I get closer to retiring.

Ah, Ha! You might be thinking, Nick is against Government programs. Well I have paid a lot into against my will and I want my money back. Plus since they took the cap off withholding I pay way more into it than most people :(

"One problem with Medicare is that it is so hard for the public to figure. And if you sign up late, you pay extra"

That's like "the mandate" in Obama Care. If you don't have this then people can just not sign up until they get sick, effectively getting "free insurance". It's not fair and won't work financially without this.

"Well I have paid a lot into against my will and I want my money back"

I too have paid a lot, which I feel fortunate for.

Now that I don't work, any income I get is from IRA withdrawal or capital gain from investments so I don't have to pay any SS or Medicare tax. This seems unfair. Mitt Romney and I only have to pay 15% tax where someone making $40,000 a year has to pay 30% tax.

If you are exceeding the cap, then I bet you paid 35% tax over-all. It's the upper middle class people that are screwed. You vote for these Republicans and they put in loopholes for the wealthiest people and big corporations but all they give to the people that vote for them is talk.

Jerry I'd love to know where you're getting your info on the healthcare mandate and income tax as you're very incorrect.

Also is your last sentece saying that the Republicans are screwing over the middle class or that the Democrats are lieing about the Repubicans screwing over the middle class?