Why is it that I can't get a normal human being on the phone to get information about college programs? Why is it that once I do finally make contact the chances of them having their shit together is virtually nil? Service in this country is reaching embarrassingly low levels and it seems no one gives a damn! The normal progression seems to be: screw up the transaction, take the money anyway, fix it later (8-10 weeks after a barrage of phone calls) and then follow up with rediculous amounts of email and irritating phone surveys to rate customer satisfaction. Do it right the first time and leave me alone - you will obtain more of my business if you operate in this fashion. When I call and say I dont want anymore mail dont send anymore mail!!!! How hard is that? When your main source of correspondance is email to accounts that have been dormant for several years, you should be able to paid via the web. You can't say "we'll email you if there is a problem but you have to pay in person with cash or money order" that is like using GPS to find your adversary and then fighting with sticks and rocks!!
This is clearly just a rant but the fact remains that service generally sucks and it is getting worse, demand more and better but do it cordially or your firecracker chicken poppers might comeback with a little extra seasoning!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Were Expanding
Now that the election is over, I will be expanding the format of the blog to cover a range of other issues. Some examples: how right-wingers can't get over it, how Hannity makes me want shoot my radio with my soon-to-be illegal handgun, and how we all can live with peace and prosperity. We can also talk about how our government became socialist before Bush left office or about the mating habits of baby seals in ANWR. I move more to the left the more I hear someone from the right speak, not because I am radical but because they are. Conservatives are backing themselves into a corner where only few can exist, they are essentially thinning their own herd. By definition they reject progress and change so everyday they get closer and closer to extinction. Fine by me!
By the way, did it make anyone feel good to see someone other than George Bush go into the White House? I watch Obama walk in with poise and confidence and I feel like we have a chance. Superficial? Maybe, but he looks like a capable leader to me and the bar is touching the floor. GO BARACK!!!!!
By the way, did it make anyone feel good to see someone other than George Bush go into the White House? I watch Obama walk in with poise and confidence and I feel like we have a chance. Superficial? Maybe, but he looks like a capable leader to me and the bar is touching the floor. GO BARACK!!!!!
Friday, November 7, 2008
New Political Party
I am starting one and I will be putting together the articles very soon. It will be progressive!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Joe "the Plumber" is a turd
So someone please flush him. Please!! He is just an ordinary Joe from Ohio trying to do right by his family. Fine, kudos to Joe! But, his claim to fame is that he is the one that Barack Obama told that "spreading the wealth around" is good. Now all I hear are words like: socialism, communism, marxism, redistribute and so on, so lets examine this all in further detail. So flush Joe and see if he can unclog himself - lets talk.
First, no more everyman first names paired with quasi blue-collar job last names, its lame. Tito "the Builder" is full of shit too. Nobody is calling McCain John "the POW / Senator" or Obama Barack "the Lawyer and community organizer". These clowns all have last names so lets start using them.
Secondly, when examining the validity of each candidate's economic policy lets stick to what they propose rather than what you think they conspire to do. We don't know for sure what actually will pass through congress so apples to apples is always the best comparison.
Lets look at the question from Joe; to paraphrase he asked why Obama's plan would tax him more if he bought a business that had annual revenues in excess of 250k. Obama said this and that about why he believes its good and then uttered something about spreading wealth. My problem with all of this is that the proposed tax rollback is on personal income tax in excess of 250k; so unless Joe making all of his business revenue and claiming it as personal income this argument would not apply. He would be talking about corporate and capital gains tax which, unless I am mistaken, both candidates are talking about relaxing those taxes. Even if it is his personal revenue the tax rate would go from 36% to 39.6% which is what is was in the 90's under Clinton. Joe has also lost all of his everyman credibility and appeal because he now has a publicist and a book deal in the works. I don't know any plumbers with such things. Also, he agreed with a statement that basically said that Barack Obama is an anti-semite and is in favor of the destruction of Isreal. He is now Joe "the Clown".
Lets also examine "spreading the wealth". First of all Obama has had the same tax plan for months now and only after his little exchange with Joe do people starting calling him a socialist. Where were all of these people during the primaries? Where were all the Joe "the McCarthys" in the past months? The package hasn't changed but the wrapping paper has. The phrase "spreading the wealth" is perfect fodder for conservative mouthpieces (yeah, you Hannity) to go on attack and start using scare words like: socialism and communism.
First, no more everyman first names paired with quasi blue-collar job last names, its lame. Tito "the Builder" is full of shit too. Nobody is calling McCain John "the POW / Senator" or Obama Barack "the Lawyer and community organizer". These clowns all have last names so lets start using them.
Secondly, when examining the validity of each candidate's economic policy lets stick to what they propose rather than what you think they conspire to do. We don't know for sure what actually will pass through congress so apples to apples is always the best comparison.
Lets look at the question from Joe; to paraphrase he asked why Obama's plan would tax him more if he bought a business that had annual revenues in excess of 250k. Obama said this and that about why he believes its good and then uttered something about spreading wealth. My problem with all of this is that the proposed tax rollback is on personal income tax in excess of 250k; so unless Joe making all of his business revenue and claiming it as personal income this argument would not apply. He would be talking about corporate and capital gains tax which, unless I am mistaken, both candidates are talking about relaxing those taxes. Even if it is his personal revenue the tax rate would go from 36% to 39.6% which is what is was in the 90's under Clinton. Joe has also lost all of his everyman credibility and appeal because he now has a publicist and a book deal in the works. I don't know any plumbers with such things. Also, he agreed with a statement that basically said that Barack Obama is an anti-semite and is in favor of the destruction of Isreal. He is now Joe "the Clown".
Lets also examine "spreading the wealth". First of all Obama has had the same tax plan for months now and only after his little exchange with Joe do people starting calling him a socialist. Where were all of these people during the primaries? Where were all the Joe "the McCarthys" in the past months? The package hasn't changed but the wrapping paper has. The phrase "spreading the wealth" is perfect fodder for conservative mouthpieces (yeah, you Hannity) to go on attack and start using scare words like: socialism and communism.
Socialism is the idea that the government collectively owns the means of production and distribution, let me reassure you an Obama administration will not come and take what is already yours (your wealth). In fact, I'll make the case that the recent nationalization of some of the largest banks by Secretary Paulson and President Bush is more socialist or communist than any parts of the Obama economic policy. There is no part of his tax policy that says the government will take ownership of private companies; for the most part private companies and lobbies have owned our government under Republican rule (a debate for another time). Anyway the plan Obama proposed is not spreading wealth, it has nothing to do with wealth, the plan is one that shifts the progressive tax burden. All income tax brackets will remain unchanged with the exception of the highest bracket. Barack will not sneak into your house at night and take your wallet or raid your bank account. Lets make sure that we properly identify everything before we attack it. Arguing the merits of his proposal are only good when the idea is correctly defined. When evaluated under the same terms the Bush tax cuts would be considered "spreading the wealth" too. The only difference is when you favor the richest few people call it capitalism and when the masses benefit from economic policy its called socialism.
I think that our entire tax system is up for debate - I'm not choosing a partisan view I'm just saying that we need call it what it is. There are two contrasting ideologies out there and neither is superior they have both worked with varying degrees of success. Top down or bottom up, it just depends on who you are. This whole thing is not about policy, its about Politics. Buzzwords are used to try and scare off or sway potential voters and these are being blasted through the media by a party that is behind in the polls. You know what, I don't really have a problem with that because it is how our system works. Propaganda is used by both red and blue politicos, I just like to look at the facts. You guys know me and know that I am fairly liberal but I am lukewarm about both of their economic policies. I truly believe that either of them could succeed or fall flat, but the reality is that both would probably struggle because we are in a deep hole and it is a steep climb out. I have my views but I will really root for whomever takes office in January because we will have no choice - the decision will already be made. So fight your fights til Tuesday and then applaud our new President-elect. We will have a chance reinforce or change what they do soon enough.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Fox News, Seriously?!?!?!
Fair and balanced is the tag line, so lets investigate.
I watched the second presidential debate on Tuesday night and I thought what the majority of Americans thought, that there wasn't a whole lot of excitement and neither candidate really shined. I thought that Obama won simply because he is already ahead in the polls and I don't think he did anything to hurt his position and I don't think McCain made up any ground. Advantage Barack. So I am watching CNN and they have a panel of close to a dozen analysts (of all political affiliations) and they all seemed to be in agreement with my perspective as well as those who were polled immediately after watching. Actually voters gave Obama a 54% to 30% advantage but lets just say he won for simplicity of argument. Well I like to get all opinions so I check out Fox "News" because I have heard that they can be conservative on occasion. Drum roll please!
McCain over Obama 86% to 12%. Excuse me, what? Yeah 86-12.
People we have just left planet Earth and somehow landed on The Ronald Reagan moon, where Ann Coulter is the town hooker and the Bush Monarchy reigns forever. I know that last statement was just for dramatic effect but I am feeling snappy today. This was the last piece of information that I needed to fully discredit Fox "News" from the ranks of television journalism. I turned the channel on just in time to catch the Hannity and Colmes show; it is supposed to be set up as a conservative vs. liberal point and counter point show but to be that they actually have to debate. Sean "Hannitizes" Colmes so hard that the only talking Alan does is to segue them to a commercial break. Their poll numbers weren't even is the same solar system as every other poll out there, its ludicrous. I have no problem with taking the conservative position, many of my best friends lean that way, but you can't call yourself a news network and blatantly blast that shit on the air.
The only way I will allow this network to continue is if every time someone on the channel says "Fox News, Fair and Balanced" they say it in a whispering voices and make really demonstrative finger-quotes. Or they can change the name to something like "Fox Ultra-Conservative Propaganda Machine, Fair and Balanced, all hail Queen Sarah Palin". Lets just make sure that the slogan fits the substance.
Personally I would borrow a line from everyone's favorite Fox nut-job Bill O'Reilly: "Fox News, we'll do it live - fucking thing sucks"
I watched the second presidential debate on Tuesday night and I thought what the majority of Americans thought, that there wasn't a whole lot of excitement and neither candidate really shined. I thought that Obama won simply because he is already ahead in the polls and I don't think he did anything to hurt his position and I don't think McCain made up any ground. Advantage Barack. So I am watching CNN and they have a panel of close to a dozen analysts (of all political affiliations) and they all seemed to be in agreement with my perspective as well as those who were polled immediately after watching. Actually voters gave Obama a 54% to 30% advantage but lets just say he won for simplicity of argument. Well I like to get all opinions so I check out Fox "News" because I have heard that they can be conservative on occasion. Drum roll please!
McCain over Obama 86% to 12%. Excuse me, what? Yeah 86-12.
People we have just left planet Earth and somehow landed on The Ronald Reagan moon, where Ann Coulter is the town hooker and the Bush Monarchy reigns forever. I know that last statement was just for dramatic effect but I am feeling snappy today. This was the last piece of information that I needed to fully discredit Fox "News" from the ranks of television journalism. I turned the channel on just in time to catch the Hannity and Colmes show; it is supposed to be set up as a conservative vs. liberal point and counter point show but to be that they actually have to debate. Sean "Hannitizes" Colmes so hard that the only talking Alan does is to segue them to a commercial break. Their poll numbers weren't even is the same solar system as every other poll out there, its ludicrous. I have no problem with taking the conservative position, many of my best friends lean that way, but you can't call yourself a news network and blatantly blast that shit on the air.
The only way I will allow this network to continue is if every time someone on the channel says "Fox News, Fair and Balanced" they say it in a whispering voices and make really demonstrative finger-quotes. Or they can change the name to something like "Fox Ultra-Conservative Propaganda Machine, Fair and Balanced, all hail Queen Sarah Palin". Lets just make sure that the slogan fits the substance.
Personally I would borrow a line from everyone's favorite Fox nut-job Bill O'Reilly: "Fox News, we'll do it live - fucking thing sucks"
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Nowhere to go
Good news everyone, this last 8 years has essentially been a disaster and we approaching rock fucking bottom! How is this good news? Well we have no place to go but up and I hope we can start in about a month. I will make it short and I wont get partisan b/c everyone "reached across the aisle " and basically gave each other a hand job while we spending like some spoiled brat on her sweet sixteen. I think that the historical attributes of Dems and Repubs are going to start fading at least a little and the people are gonna get medieval on our government's ass. No one is gonna win on social issues - those only matter when we arent at war and everyone has cash on hand, its gonna be about the big stuff. War, Money, Healthcare, and Energy are it and I think no matter who wins they have to improve our current position. So here is what I am saying, its always darkest before dawn. If the dawn never comes well then thats another discussion, but I dont think that the powerful few at the top will be able to escape alive if things dont improve and if they ever try this again, we will go after their families too!
Death or Taxes
Alright everyone, I know what I am going to say will not be popular but someone has gotta say it. Everyone bitches about taxes, whos gonna raise em and whos gonna lower them but just know this... You will be taxed!!! You will continue to pay taxes!!! There's no secret way out as an individual, taxes are a part of your life. If you want to continue this life in a sovereign USA then you better hope that no one cuts taxes too much or else we will get re-poed by China, Japan, etc. I will clarify...
We all (hopefully) have jobs and we all (unfortunately) have bills. You take the income and subtract the bills and then you have a (ideally) surplus. Every month and every year you essentially have a budget of income less expenditures equals drinking money right? For the big ticket items you finance with a monthly payment or use a credit card these are called loans. SO you pay the loans down and you pay your fixed costs and you pay for variables like food and the drinking I was talking about, right? How many of you want to keep or improve your standard of living while simultaneously taking a pay cut? I don't and I can't, can you? These items need to be in balanced to stay above water. Well our federal government has an income that mainly comes from of taxes but we also have a unbalanced budget that draws us further and further into debt, eventually our debtors, like credit card companies will say that we need to pay up. We have to have the money to pay up. Right now we don't.
It's simple - our government is just a big over sized version of joe sixpack (thanks Sarah) and he is running up some crazy credit card debt, even when he make the minimum monthly payment he still owes the remaining balance plus interest. So understand that our revenue consist of taxes we need to supplement that with exports (like green energy technology) to make more to pay down the debt. The government also needs to cut spending programs that don't do what they are supposed to to lessen our variable costs, (10 bil in Iraq). Point is that we will have to fund this government no matter what, take a look at the budget if you want, but we also have to stay on of our leaders to make sure that they don't continue the spending spree of the last decade no matter who is elected.
We are NOT the most wealthy country on earth, we are one of the greatest debtors and we are broke. So as I explained earlier it is death or taxes. I'll pay some to stay in America, not the American Province of China - you get what I mean.
We all (hopefully) have jobs and we all (unfortunately) have bills. You take the income and subtract the bills and then you have a (ideally) surplus. Every month and every year you essentially have a budget of income less expenditures equals drinking money right? For the big ticket items you finance with a monthly payment or use a credit card these are called loans. SO you pay the loans down and you pay your fixed costs and you pay for variables like food and the drinking I was talking about, right? How many of you want to keep or improve your standard of living while simultaneously taking a pay cut? I don't and I can't, can you? These items need to be in balanced to stay above water. Well our federal government has an income that mainly comes from of taxes but we also have a unbalanced budget that draws us further and further into debt, eventually our debtors, like credit card companies will say that we need to pay up. We have to have the money to pay up. Right now we don't.
It's simple - our government is just a big over sized version of joe sixpack (thanks Sarah) and he is running up some crazy credit card debt, even when he make the minimum monthly payment he still owes the remaining balance plus interest. So understand that our revenue consist of taxes we need to supplement that with exports (like green energy technology) to make more to pay down the debt. The government also needs to cut spending programs that don't do what they are supposed to to lessen our variable costs, (10 bil in Iraq). Point is that we will have to fund this government no matter what, take a look at the budget if you want, but we also have to stay on of our leaders to make sure that they don't continue the spending spree of the last decade no matter who is elected.
We are NOT the most wealthy country on earth, we are one of the greatest debtors and we are broke. So as I explained earlier it is death or taxes. I'll pay some to stay in America, not the American Province of China - you get what I mean.
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