Hambone v3.0

Friday Swarms of Officers Open Comments

From the Declaration of Independence:

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

Maybe the Founding Fathers had a point. This is a list of California State Bureaus, Administrations, Boards, Programs, Services, Caucuses, Commissions, Centers, Divisions, Institutions, Agencies, and other bureaucracies operated by or otherwise serving the State of California:

California Academic Performance Index (API) * California Access for Infants and Mothers * California Acupuncture Board * California Administrative Office of the Courts * California Adoptions Branch * California African American Museum * California Agricultural Export Program * California Agricultural Labor Relations Board * California Agricultural Statistics Service * California Air Resources Board (CARB) * California Allocation Board * California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority * California Animal Health and Food Safety Services * California Anti-Terrorism Information Center * California Apprenticeship Council * California Arbitration Certification Program * California Architects Board * California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board * California Arts Council * California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus * California Assembly Democratic Caucus * California Assembly Republican Caucus * California Athletic Commission * California Attorney General * California Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California Bay-Delta Authority * California Bay-Delta Office * California Biodiversity Council * California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists * California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors * California Board of Accountancy * California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology * California Board of Behavioral Sciences * California Board of Chiropractic Examiners * California Board of Equalization (BOE) * California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection * California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind * California Board of Occupational Therapy * California Board of Optometry * California Board of Pharmacy * California Board of Podiatric Medicine * California Board of Prison Terms * California Board of Psychology * California Board of Registered Nursing * California Board of Trustees * California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians * California Braille and Talking Book Library * California Building Standards Commission * California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education * California Bureau of Automotive Repair * California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair * California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation * California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine * California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services * California Bureau of State Audits * California Business Agency * California Business Investment Services (CalBIS) * California Business Permit Information (CalGOLD) * California Business Portal * California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency * California Cal Grants * California CalJOBS * California Cal-Learn Program * California CalVet Home Loan Program * California Career Resource Network * California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau * California Center for Analytical Chemistry * California Center for Distributed Learning * California Center for Teaching Careers (Teach California) * California Chancellors Office * California Charter Schools * California Children and Families Commission * California Children and Family Services Division * California Citizens Compensation Commission * California Civil Rights Bureau * California Coastal Commission * California Coastal Conservancy * California Code of Regulations * California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis * California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth * California Commission on Aging * California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation * California Commission on Judicial Performance * California Commission on State Mandates * California Commission on Status of Women * California Commission on Teacher Credentialing * California Commission on the Status of Women * California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Junior Colleges * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office * California Complaint Mediation Program * California Conservation Corps * California Constitution Revision Commission * California Consumer Hotline * California Consumer Information Center * California Consumer Information * California Consumer Services Division * California Consumers and Families Agency * California Contractors State License Board * California Corrections Standards Authority * California Council for the Humanities * California Council on Criminal Justice * California Council on Developmental Disabilities * California Court Reporters Board * California Courts of Appeal * California Crime and Violence Prevention Center * California Criminal Justice Statistics Center * California Criminalist Institute Forensic Library * California CSGnet Network Management * California Cultural and Historical Endowment * California Cultural Resources Division * California Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch * California Data Exchange Center * California Data Management Division * California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission * California Delta Protection Commission * California Democratic Caucus * California Demographic Research Unit * California Dental Auxiliaries * California Department of Aging * California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control * California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) * California Department of Child Support Services (CDCSS) * California Department of Community Services and Development * California Department of Conservation * California Department of Consumer Affairs * California Department of Corporations * California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation * California Department of Developmental Services * California Department of Education * California Department of Fair Employment and Housing * California Department of Finance * California Department of Financial Institutions * California Department of Fish and Game * California Department of Food and Agriculture * California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) * California Department of General Services * California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing * California Department of Health Care Services * California Department of Housing and Community Development * California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) * California Department of Insurance * California Department of Justice Firearms Division * California Department of Justice Opinion Unit * California Department of Justice, Consumer Information, Public Inquiry Unit * California Department of Justice * California Department of Managed Health Care * California Department of Mental Health * California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) * California Department of Personnel Administration * California Department of Pesticide Regulation * California Department of Public Health * California Department of Real Estate * California Department of Rehabilitation * California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch * California Department of Social Services * California Department of Technology Services Training Center (DTSTC) * California Department of Technology Services (DTS) * California Department of Toxic Substances Control * California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) * California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVets) * California Department of Water Resources * California Departmento de Vehiculos Motorizados * California Digital Library * California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Division of Apprenticeship Standards * California Division of Codes and Standards * California Division of Communicable Disease Control * California Division of Engineering * California Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control * California Division of Gambling Control * California Division of Housing Policy Development * California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement * California Division of Labor Statistics and Research * California Division of Land and Right of Way * California Division of Land Resource Protection * California Division of Law Enforcement General Library * California Division of Measurement Standards * Ca
lifornia Division of Mines and Geology * California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) * California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources * California Division of Planning and Local Assistance * California Division of Recycling * California Division of Safety of Dams * California Division of the State Architect * California Division of Tourism * California Division of Workers Compensation Medical Unit * California Division of Workers Compensation * California Economic Assistance, Business and Community Resources * California Economic Strategy Panel * California Education and Training Agency * California Education Audit Appeals Panel * California Educational Facilities Authority * California Elections Division * California Electricity Oversight Board * California Emergency Management Agency * California Emergency Medical Services Authority * California Employment Development Department (EDD) * California Employment Information State Jobs * California Employment Training Panel * California Energy Commission * California Environment and Natural Resources Agency * California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) * California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) * California Executive Office * California Export Laboratory Services * California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) * California Fair Political Practices Commission * California Fairs and Expositions Division * California Film Commission * California Fire and Resource Assessment Program * California Firearms Division * California Fiscal Services * California Fish and Game Commission * California Fisheries Program Branch * California Floodplain Management * California Foster Youth Help * California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) * California Fraud Division * California Gambling Control Commission * California Geographic Information Systems Council (GIS) * California Geological Survey * California Government Claims and Victim Compensation Board * California Governors Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons * California Governors Mentoring Partnership * California Governors Office of Emergency Services * California Governors Office of Homeland Security * California Governors Office of Planning and Research * California Governors Office * California Grant and Enterprise Zone Programs HCD Loan * California Health and Human Services Agency * California Health and Safety Agency * California Healthy Families Program * California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau * California High-Speed Rail Authority * California Highway Patrol (CHP) * California History and Culture Agency * California Horse Racing Board * California Housing Finance Agency * California Indoor Air Quality Program * California Industrial Development Financing Advisory Commission * California Industrial Welfare Commission * California InFoPeople * California Information Center for the Environment * California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) * California Inspection Services * California Institute for County Government * California Institute for Education Reform * California Integrated Waste Management Board * California Interagency Ecological Program * California Job Service * California Junta Estatal de Personal * California Labor and Employment Agency * California Labor and Workforce Development Agency * California Labor Market Information Division * California Land Use Planning Information Network (LUPIN) * California Lands Commission * California Landscape Architects Technical Committee * California Latino Legislative Caucus * California Law Enforcement Branch * California Law Enforcement General Library * California Law Revision Commission * California Legislative Analyst’s Office * California Legislative Black Caucus * California Legislative Counsel * California Legislative Division * California Legislative Information * California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus * California Legislature Internet Caucus * California Library De velopment Services * California License and Revenue Branch * California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program * California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board * California Maritime Academy * California Marketing Services * California Measurement Standards * California Medical Assistance Commission * California Medical Care Services * California Military Department * California Mining and Geology Board * California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts * California Museum Resource Center * California National Guard * California Native American Heritage Commission * California Natural Community Conservation Planning Program * California New Motor Vehicle Board * California Nursing Home Administrator Program * California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board * California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board * California Ocean Resources Management Program * California Office of Administrative Hearings * California Office of Administrative Law * California Office of AIDS * California Office of Binational Border Health * California Office of Child Abuse Prevention * California Office of Deaf Access * California Office of Emergency Services (OES) * California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment * California Office of Fiscal Services * California Office of Fleet Administration * California Office of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Implementation (CalOHI) * California Office of Historic Preservation * California Office of Homeland Security * California Office of Human Resources * California Office of Legal Services * California Office of Legislation * California Office of Lieutenant Governor * California Office of Military and Aerospace Support * California Office of Mine Reclamation * California Office of Natural Resource Education * California Office of Privacy Protection * California Office of Public School Construction * California Office of Real Estate Appraisers * California Office of Risk and Insurance Management * California Office of Services to the Blind * California Office of Spill Prevention and Response * California Office of State Publishing (OSP) * California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development * California Office of Systems Integration * California Office of the Inspector General * California Office of the Ombudsman * California Office of the Patient Advocate * California Office of the President * California Office of the Secretary for Education * California Office of the State Fire Marshal * California Office of the State Public Defender * California Office of Traffic Safety * California Office of Vital Records * California Online Directory * California Operations Control Office * California Opinion Unit * California Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) * California Park and Recreation Commission * California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) * California Performance Review (CPR) * California Permit Information for Business (CalGOLD) * California Physical Therapy Board * California Physician Assistant Committee * California Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services * California Policy and Evaluation Division * California Political Reform Division * California Pollution Control Financing Authority * California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo * California Postsecondary Education Commission * California Prevention Services * California Primary Care and Family Health * California Prison Industry Authority * California Procurement Division * California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) * California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) * California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) * California Real Estate Services Division * California Refugee Programs Branch * California Regional Water Quality Control Boards * California Registered Veterinary Technician Committee * California Registrar of Charitable Trusts * California Republican Caucus * California Research and Development Division * California Research Bureau * California Resources Agency * California Respiratory Care Board * California Rivers Assessment * California Rural Health Policy Council * California Safe School
s * California San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy * California San Joaquin River Conservancy * California School to Career * California Science Center * California Scripps Institution of Oceanography * California Secretary of State Business Portal * California Secretary of State * California Seismic Safety Commission * California Self Insurance Plans (SIP) * California Senate Office of Research * California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Small Business Development Center Program * California Smart Growth Caucus * California Smog Check Information Center * California Spatial Information Library * California Special Education Division * California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board * California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) * California Standards and Assessment Division * California State Administrative Manual (SAM) * California State Allocation Board * California State and Consumer Services Agency * California State Architect * California State Archives * California State Assembly * California State Association of Counties (CSAC) * California State Board of Education * California State Board of Food and Agriculture *California Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) * California State Children’s Trust Fund * California State Compensation Insurance Fund * California State Contracts Register Program * California State Contracts Register * California State Controller * California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) * California State Disability Insurance (SDI) * California State Fair (Cal Expo) * California State Jobs Employment Information * California State Lands Commission * California State Legislative Portal * California State Legislature * California State Library Catalog * California State Library Services Bureau * California State Library * California State Lottery * California State Mediation and Conciliation Service * California State Mining and Geology Board * California State Park and Recreation Commission * California State Parks * California State Personnel Board * California State Polytechnic University, Pomona * California State Railroad Museum * California State Science Fair * California State Senate * California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) * California State Summer School for the Arts * California State Superintendent of Public Instruction * California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) * California State Treasurer * California State University Center for Distributed Learning * California State University, Bakersfield * California State University, Channel Islands * California State University, Chico * California State University, Dominguez Hills * California State University, East Bay * California State University, Fresno * California State University, Fullerton * California State University, Long Beach * California State University, Los Angeles * California State University, Monterey Bay * California State University, Northridge * California State University, Sacramento * California State University, San Bernardino * California State University, San Marcos * California State University, Stanislaus * California State University (CSU) * California State Water Project Analysis Office * California State Water Project * California State Water Resources Control Board * California Structural Pest Control Board * California Student Aid Commission * California Superintendent of Public Instruction * California Superior Courts * California Tahoe Conservancy * California Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists * California Tax Information Center * California Technology and Administration Branch Finance * California Telecommunications Division * California Telephone Medical Advice Services (TAMS) * California Transportation Commission * California Travel and Transportation Agency * California Unclaimed Property Program * California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board * California Unemployment Insurance Program * California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission * California Veterans Board * California Veterans Memorial * California Veterinary Medical Board and Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee * California Veterinary Medical Board * California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board * California Volunteers * California Voter Registration * California Water Commission * California Water Environment Association (COWPEA) * California Water Resources Control Board * California Welfare to Work Division * California Wetlands Information System * California Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch * California Wildlife Conservation Board * California Wildlife Programs Branch * California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) * California Workers Compensation Appeals Board * California Workforce and Labor Development Agency * California Workforce Investment Board * California Youth Authority (CYA) * Central Valley Flood Protection Board * Center for California Studies * Colorado River Board of California * Counting California * Dental Board of California * Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage) * Humboldt State University * Jobs with the State of California * Judicial Council of California * Learn California * Library of California * Lieutenant Governors Commission for One California * Little Hoover Commission (on California State Government Organization and Economy) * Medical Board of California * Medi-Cal * Osteopathic Medical Board of California * Physical Therapy Board of California * Regents of the University of California * San Diego State University * San Francisco State University * San Jose State University * Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy * State Bar of California * Supreme Court of California * Teach California * University of California * University of California, Berkeley * University of California, Davis * University of California, Hastings College of the Law * University of California, Irvine * University of California, Los Angeles * University of California, Merced * University of California, Riverside * University of California, San Diego * University of California, San Francisco * University of California, Santa Barbara * University of California, Santa Cruz * Veterans Home of California

Multiply that by 50, add in an even longer list for equivalent Federal organizations, not to mention county and municipal governments, and you can see why we have the budget problems we have. It also puts the lie to the whole notion that if we make any budget cuts, they will have to come out of police and fire.

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Comments

248 responses to “Friday Swarms of Officers Open Comments”

  1. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    I’m sure that soon our Chinese overlords will be able to figure out where to make some cuts. Maybe when we see how they handle the post bailout/foreclosure of the Eurozone we’ll have a better idea of exactly what to expect.

  2. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    I’m sure that soon our Chinese overlords will be able to figure out where to make some cuts. Maybe when we see how they handle the post bailout/foreclosure of the Eurozone we’ll have a better idea of exactly what to expect.

  3. Southern Tragedy Avatar
    Southern Tragedy

    Wow that one was a real page-turner, can you imagine the time it takes just to print the checks for all the employees.

    Fiery debate last night. Funniest line I thought was after Newt made a bold statement about looking into the Federal Reserve, Ron Paul said something like Wow the mainstream has come around wanting to look into the Fed, this is great! , ‘course he then had to go blowback which ruined the moment.

  4. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Wow that one was a real page-turner, can you imagine the time it takes just to print the checks for all the employees.
    Fiery debate last night. Funniest line I thought was after Newt made a bold statement about looking into the Federal Reserve, Ron Paul said something like Wow the mainstream has come around wanting to look into the Fed, this is great! , ‘course he then had to go blowback which ruined the moment.

  5. Big Zig Avatar
    Big Zig

    Hey, guys and gals, this is my first reply/comment but don’t think I haven’t been watchin. I’ve been following since LST days. Feel as though I alreddy knows ya. I do the knee-mail thingy when requested and realize my prollems (recently unemployed) are miniscule on the grand scale of things, especially healthwise for others. I’ve had three great job opportunities for which I was an ideal candidate but each company just wants to wait until perhaps sometime next year. “Dome of Uncertainty” anyone????? Prolly gonna take a lesser position, away from my 30 year flooring background, just to get back into the ranks of the working masses.
    In church Sunday we prayed that God would turn the wine back into water.

  6. Big Zig Avatar
    Big Zig

    Hey, guys and gals, this is my first reply/comment but don’t think I haven’t been watchin. I’ve been following since LST days. Feel as though I alreddy knows ya. I do the knee-mail thingy when requested and realize my prollems (recently unemployed) are miniscule on the grand scale of things, especially healthwise for others. I’ve had three great job opportunities for which I was an ideal candidate but each company just wants to wait until perhaps sometime next year. “Dome of Uncertainty” anyone????? Prolly gonna take a lesser position, away from my 30 year flooring background, just to get back into the ranks of the working masses.
    In church Sunday we prayed that God would turn the wine back into water.

  7. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Wow that one was a real page-turner, can you imagine the time it takes just to print the checks for all the employees.

    In CA there are about 355,000 employees. What’s really killing them is the pensions for the retired ones.

    And all the nonsensical regulations the above swarms inflict on the economy.

  8. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Wow that one was a real page-turner, can you imagine the time it takes just to print the checks for all the employees.

    In CA there are about 355,000 employees. What’s really killing them is the pensions for the retired ones.
    And all the nonsensical regulations the above swarms inflict on the economy.

  9. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Welcome to the fambly, Big Zig!

  10. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Welcome to the fambly, Big Zig!

  11. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    TGIF Hamoustonians™!

    Welcome to BigZig! (can we hear a bit about the genesis of that handle?)

  12. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    TGIF Hamoustonians™!
    Welcome to BigZig! (can we hear a bit about the genesis of that handle?)

  13. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Crazy Aunt – re: your comment last night on your uncle…

    One of the often overlooked things about the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick is that it provides for forgiveness of all sins up to that point – even mortal ones. If the person recovers, they are still encouraged to go to Confession, but they don’t need to at that point. It’s kind of like Baptism – it gives you a big “do over”.

  14. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Crazy Aunt – re: your comment last night on your uncle…
    One of the often overlooked things about the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick is that it provides for forgiveness of all sins up to that point – even mortal ones. If the person recovers, they are still encouraged to go to Confession, but they don’t need to at that point. It’s kind of like Baptism – it gives you a big “do over”.

  15. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    In related news on the overweening bureaucracy front, the Feds are thinking about requiring anyone who drives farm equipment obtain a CDL (which would entail them having to keep detailed driving logs, and one would presume, require them to take mandatory rest even during time-critical harvest activities).

    I have no idea why this is suddenly an issue that needs immediate attention or what the problem really is.

  16. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    In related news on the overweening bureaucracy front, the Feds are thinking about requiring anyone who drives farm equipment obtain a CDL (which would entail them having to keep detailed driving logs, and one would presume, require them to take mandatory rest even during time-critical harvest activities).
    I have no idea why this is suddenly an issue that needs immediate attention or what the problem really is.

  17. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Mornin’ all, and welcome, BigZig. Pyro, good illustration of what Swarms of Officers means.

  18. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Mornin’ all, and welcome, BigZig. Pyro, good illustration of what Swarms of Officers means.

  19. Robert M Avatar
    Robert M

    One has to wonder why the “Land of the Fruits and Nuts” hasn’t filed for bankruptcy yet? How will Moonbeam handle California’s future budgetary problems? Jerry Brown will probably go back to the old standard Dummycrat principle of “tax and spend” to solve the state’s problems. And fortunately for him, he has a lot of rich liberals and the Hollywood types to tap into to solve the state’s financial problems. I’ve always said that California is a miniature USA so we can see what happens to them and we will know what the United States has to expect.

  20. Robert M Avatar
    Robert M

    One has to wonder why the “Land of the Fruits and Nuts” hasn’t filed for bankruptcy yet? How will Moonbeam handle California’s future budgetary problems? Jerry Brown will probably go back to the old standard Dummycrat principle of “tax and spend” to solve the state’s problems. And fortunately for him, he has a lot of rich liberals and the Hollywood types to tap into to solve the state’s financial problems. I’ve always said that California is a miniature USA so we can see what happens to them and we will know what the United States has to expect.

  21. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    We’ll bail California out because they’re “too big to fail” and “the sixth largest economy in the world” yada yada yada.

  22. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    We’ll bail California out because they’re “too big to fail” and “the sixth largest economy in the world” yada yada yada.

  23. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Welcome to the Motley Crew, Big Zig! Always ready to take in a new voice. I guess from your comments that you’re a professional lurker, eh? 😉

    #7 Wagonburner

    Thanks for the comment. I know I posted rather late last night. Your observation about the Anointing of the Sick is the main reason I wanted to call in a priest for my uncle. He’s no saint, and he seems to have had some issue with religion or religious organizations in the past, but I did not want to let him go without at least attempting to provide that sacrament for him. I’m glad St. Bernadette’s sent a priest to him yesterday. It’s the last really kind act I could do for him.

  24. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Welcome to the Motley Crew, Big Zig! Always ready to take in a new voice. I guess from your comments that you’re a professional lurker, eh? 😉
    #7 Wagonburner
    Thanks for the comment. I know I posted rather late last night. Your observation about the Anointing of the Sick is the main reason I wanted to call in a priest for my uncle. He’s no saint, and he seems to have had some issue with religion or religious organizations in the past, but I did not want to let him go without at least attempting to provide that sacrament for him. I’m glad St. Bernadette’s sent a priest to him yesterday. It’s the last really kind act I could do for him.

  25. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    Welcome Big Zig. Did anyone see the debates? Other than sparring between Bachmann and Pawlenty it was pretty good. I came away thinking that worst candidate (Huntsman) would be a thousand times better than Obama.

  26. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    Welcome Big Zig. Did anyone see the debates? Other than sparring between Bachmann and Pawlenty it was pretty good. I came away thinking that worst candidate (Huntsman) would be a thousand times better than Obama.

  27. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    #8 – The answer to the question regarding CDL’s for individuals operating farm equipment should be obvious when you think about it. I can’t tell you what it’s all about, but see if the initials UNION THUGS mean anything. That’s right, they would all eventually serve as a source of new union members, presumably the Teamsters. Now does it make sense?

  28. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    #8 – The answer to the question regarding CDL’s for individuals operating farm equipment should be obvious when you think about it. I can’t tell you what it’s all about, but see if the initials UNION THUGS mean anything. That’s right, they would all eventually serve as a source of new union members, presumably the Teamsters. Now does it make sense?

  29. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I would have loved to have seen a grilled cheese sammich in the debate. I think it would have made a statement.

    Let’s see a poll – who would you vote for: A Republican candidate, TBO, or a grilled cheese sammich? Hammy – is this doable?

  30. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I would have loved to have seen a grilled cheese sammich in the debate. I think it would have made a statement.
    Let’s see a poll – who would you vote for: A Republican candidate, TBO, or a grilled cheese sammich? Hammy – is this doable?

  31. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Let’s see a poll – who would you vote for: A Republican candidate, TBO, or a grilled cheese sammich? Hammy – is this doable?

    I think we need to include both the grilled cheese sammiches fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

  32. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Let’s see a poll – who would you vote for: A Republican candidate, TBO, or a grilled cheese sammich? Hammy – is this doable?

    I think we need to include both the grilled cheese sammiches fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

  33. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    That’s right, they would all eventually serve as a source of new union members, presumably the Teamsters. Now does it make sense?

    Not really. Most farm labor (outside of big corporate farms) is family or a couple of hired hands.

    I was thinking it was to force the farmers to have to just submit to The Man, so they could be better helped controlled. Also, this would seem to eliminate kids working on farms. When I was growing up, 12 year olds were driving farm vehicles either out in the fields, between pastures, or hauling crops/hay into town. I can’t see how that could continue if CDL’s were required.

  34. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    That’s right, they would all eventually serve as a source of new union members, presumably the Teamsters. Now does it make sense?

    Not really. Most farm labor (outside of big corporate farms) is family or a couple of hired hands.
    I was thinking it was to force the farmers to have to just submit to The Man, so they could be better helped controlled. Also, this would seem to eliminate kids working on farms. When I was growing up, 12 year olds were driving farm vehicles either out in the fields, between pastures, or hauling crops/hay into town. I can’t see how that could continue if CDL’s were required.

  35. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Welcome Big Zig to the family that puts the FUN in dysFUNctional.By the way, what possessed you to finally come out of the lurker closet and let us know who you are? What ever the reason, glad you are here.

  36. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    Welcome Big Zig to the family that puts the FUN in dysFUNctional.By the way, what possessed you to finally come out of the lurker closet and let us know who you are? What ever the reason, glad you are here.

  37. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Crazy Aunt – so how did your FSiL pop the question?

    Was he as good as this guy?

    Wait. It couldn’t have been. Aggies have no appreciation of the writings of Marcel Proust.

  38. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Crazy Aunt – so how did your FSiL pop the question?
    Was he as good as this guy?
    Wait. It couldn’t have been. Aggies have no appreciation of the writings of Marcel Proust.

  39. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #19 Pyro: Nicely done.

  40. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #19 Pyro: Nicely done.

  41. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    I think we need to include both the grilled cheese sammiches fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

    No no. That would just split the GCS vote.

  42. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    I think we need to include both the grilled cheese sammiches fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

    No no. That would just split the GCS vote.

  43. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Speaking of Aggies, looks like they’re tired of Tea Sippers and their sweet ESPN deal and may bolt to the SEC after all.

  44. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Speaking of Aggies, looks like they’re tired of Tea Sippers and their sweet ESPN deal and may bolt to the SEC after all.

  45. phil Avatar
    phil

    After watching the debate last night, I think I’m going to write in Old Man Crenshaw when election day rolls around.

  46. phil Avatar
    phil

    After watching the debate last night, I think I’m going to write in Old Man Crenshaw when election day rolls around.

  47. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    No more Cherry Pie.

    /the lead singer for Warrant was a dude???

  48. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    No more Cherry Pie.
    /the lead singer for Warrant was a dude???

  49. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    I think we need to include both the grilled cheese sammiches fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

    But there’s no such thang as a grilled cheese sammich made with a toaster or a microwave. 😉

  50. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    I think we need to include both the grilled cheese sammiches fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

    But there’s no such thang as a grilled cheese sammich made with a toaster or a microwave. 😉

  51. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Some myths debunked to help explain why I believe that the grilled cheese sandwich won the debate last night quite handily.

  52. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Some myths debunked to help explain why I believe that the grilled cheese sandwich won the debate last night quite handily.

  53. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #25 That’s kinda what I was thinking. You can’t grill a sammich in a microwave just like you can’t fry fish in an oven. That would be baked fish.

  54. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #25 That’s kinda what I was thinking. You can’t grill a sammich in a microwave just like you can’t fry fish in an oven. That would be baked fish.

  55. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    #25 That’s kinda what I was thinking. You can’t grill a sammich in a microwave just like you can’t fry fish in an oven. That would be baked fish.

    And see—that’s why we NEED two GCS candidates.

  56. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    #25 That’s kinda what I was thinking. You can’t grill a sammich in a microwave just like you can’t fry fish in an oven. That would be baked fish.

    And see—that’s why we NEED two GCS candidates.

  57. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    15 tedtam,

    I going with the Grilled Cheeze Sandwich…do mine on a GF Grill.

    Simple

  58. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    15 tedtam,
    I going with the Grilled Cheeze Sandwich…do mine on a GF Grill.
    Simple

  59. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #26 I gotta take exception to #9 – it is, as the author uses later, a half-truth. Since all spending originates in the House, he should have at least mentioned that in the same period, 1946-2010, the House of Representatives was controlled by Democrats for 51 years compared to 14 years of Republican control. That is not insignificant.

  60. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #26 I gotta take exception to #9 – it is, as the author uses later, a half-truth. Since all spending originates in the House, he should have at least mentioned that in the same period, 1946-2010, the House of Representatives was controlled by Democrats for 51 years compared to 14 years of Republican control. That is not insignificant.

  61. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    And see—that’s why we NEED two GCS candidates.

    But you can’t have two if one is not a GCS. You would have one GCS and one T/MCS.

  62. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    And see—that’s why we NEED two GCS candidates.

    But you can’t have two if one is not a GCS. You would have one GCS and one T/MCS.

  63. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    But you can’t have two if one is not a GCS. You would have one GCS and one T/MCS.

    Technically, Simple has the one, true GCS Candidate. Yours is an FCS poser. T/MCS is a technological improvement over the concept. If the founders had access to toasters and microwaves, the frying pan would never have even been considered in the process.

  64. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    But you can’t have two if one is not a GCS. You would have one GCS and one T/MCS.

    Technically, Simple has the one, true GCS Candidate. Yours is an FCS poser. T/MCS is a technological improvement over the concept. If the founders had access to toasters and microwaves, the frying pan would never have even been considered in the process.

  65. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    My work here is done. I must go visit the city offices now.

    Pray for me.

  66. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    My work here is done. I must go visit the city offices now.
    Pray for me.

  67. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Continuing with my #30, also not insignificant is this:

    Percentage of Presidential Vetoes overridden:

    Nixon – 16%
    Ford – 18%
    Carter – 6%
    Reagan – 12%
    Bush – 2%
    Clinton – 5%
    Bush – 33%
    Obama – 0%

  68. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Continuing with my #30, also not insignificant is this:
    Percentage of Presidential Vetoes overridden:
    Nixon – 16%
    Ford – 18%
    Carter – 6%
    Reagan – 12%
    Bush – 2%
    Clinton – 5%
    Bush – 33%
    Obama – 0%

  69. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #16 Sarge

    fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

    Good point, Sarge! You are nothing if not thorough!

    For some Hamsters (I won’t mention any names)– that would make a world of difference.

  70. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #16 Sarge

    fried in a pan, and those made with a toaster and a microwave.

    Good point, Sarge! You are nothing if not thorough!
    For some Hamsters (I won’t mention any names)– that would make a world of difference.

  71. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Continuing with the link in #26 – His myth #4 is gibberish. I can’t even figure out what he’s trying to say.

  72. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Continuing with the link in #26 – His myth #4 is gibberish. I can’t even figure out what he’s trying to say.

  73. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    I looked at the above list for a while and I wonder, if 50% of those offices were randomly eliminated, other than those who lost their jobs, would anybody even notice?

  74. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    I looked at the above list for a while and I wonder, if 50% of those offices were randomly eliminated, other than those who lost their jobs, would anybody even notice?

  75. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #33 TT

    I must go visit the city offices now.

    Enjoy the gubmint art works on our behalf.

  76. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #33 TT

    I must go visit the city offices now.

    Enjoy the gubmint art works on our behalf.

  77. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I looked at the above list for a while and I wonder, if 50% of those offices were randomly eliminated, other than those who lost their jobs, would anybody even notice?

    Thus, you have stumbled upon the Sarge Method of cutting gummint spending.

    On Monday, we post guards at the doors of all gummint buildings (the whole process is easier if we stop here, but that’s impractical for a number of reasons). As each employee enters the building, they are giving a sticky note. Each sticky note has a number on it, from one to four. Employees are instructed to post the sticky note on their office door, cubicle, or desk. At each building there is a gentleman with a top hat—the kind Lincoln wore. at 9:00 AM, the doors are locked and all employees who have not arrived at work are fired. The man with the top hat removes the hat and places four ping pong balls into it. Each ping pong ball has number painted on it, from one to four. A hot chick with big boobs in a bikini then reaches into the top hat and removes one of the ping pong balls. The number on the ping pong ball is read, and then a platoon of WWF and UFC competitors goes through the building and physically removes the employees whose sitcky note number corresponds to the number on the ping pong ball, and their employment is ended. An announcement is then made that the process will be repeated in a month, but with only three sticky notes, unless there has been an additional 33% savings in operating revenue for the agencies and offices inside the building.

    This may seem overly complicated, but it IS a government program. As always, I am open to compromise, but the hot chick with the big boobs wearing the bikini is non-negotiable.

  78. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I looked at the above list for a while and I wonder, if 50% of those offices were randomly eliminated, other than those who lost their jobs, would anybody even notice?

    Thus, you have stumbled upon the Sarge Method of cutting gummint spending.
    On Monday, we post guards at the doors of all gummint buildings (the whole process is easier if we stop here, but that’s impractical for a number of reasons). As each employee enters the building, they are giving a sticky note. Each sticky note has a number on it, from one to four. Employees are instructed to post the sticky note on their office door, cubicle, or desk. At each building there is a gentleman with a top hat—the kind Lincoln wore. at 9:00 AM, the doors are locked and all employees who have not arrived at work are fired. The man with the top hat removes the hat and places four ping pong balls into it. Each ping pong ball has number painted on it, from one to four. A hot chick with big boobs in a bikini then reaches into the top hat and removes one of the ping pong balls. The number on the ping pong ball is read, and then a platoon of WWF and UFC competitors goes through the building and physically removes the employees whose sitcky note number corresponds to the number on the ping pong ball, and their employment is ended. An announcement is then made that the process will be repeated in a month, but with only three sticky notes, unless there has been an additional 33% savings in operating revenue for the agencies and offices inside the building.
    This may seem overly complicated, but it IS a government program. As always, I am open to compromise, but the hot chick with the big boobs wearing the bikini is non-negotiable.

  79. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    #s 30 & 34, fair points you make, none of which detracts from the larger point that neither party has really displayed much fiscal responsibility.

    #36, myth #4 is not gibberish at all. His point is that you can be in support of a capitalism as an ideal without being supportive of the corporatism that our “capitalism” has been reduced to; a point with which I wholly agree.

  80. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    #s 30 & 34, fair points you make, none of which detracts from the larger point that neither party has really displayed much fiscal responsibility.
    #36, myth #4 is not gibberish at all. His point is that you can be in support of a capitalism as an ideal without being supportive of the corporatism that our “capitalism” has been reduced to; a point with which I wholly agree.

  81. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Here’s something to consider.

  82. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Here’s something to consider.

  83. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    You may remember Dick.

  84. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    You may remember Dick.

  85. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    wagonburner: RE: o/c thread;

    Oh, come on. That’s only, what, ten agencies in California? That’s not too bad. 🙂

  86. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    wagonburner: RE: o/c thread;
    Oh, come on. That’s only, what, ten agencies in California? That’s not too bad. 🙂

  87. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Apologies if this was posted already on Hamous’ site:

    (CNSNews.com) — Eighty percent of Muslim Americans approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president, according to a newly released survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center, a partnership between Gallup and the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi.

    According to the survey, 65 percent of Jewish Americans approve of the job Obama is doing; 60 percent of atheists, agnostics, and those of no religion approve; 50 percent of Catholics approve; 37 percent of Protestants approve and 25 percent of Mormons approve.

    Goooooooooooo Mormons!!!

    Gallup: Muslim Americans Give Obama 80 Percent Approval, Highest of Major Religions

  88. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Apologies if this was posted already on Hamous’ site:

    (CNSNews.com) — Eighty percent of Muslim Americans approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president, according to a newly released survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center, a partnership between Gallup and the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi.
    According to the survey, 65 percent of Jewish Americans approve of the job Obama is doing; 60 percent of atheists, agnostics, and those of no religion approve; 50 percent of Catholics approve; 37 percent of Protestants approve and 25 percent of Mormons approve.

    Goooooooooooo Mormons!!!
    Gallup: Muslim Americans Give Obama 80 Percent Approval, Highest of Major Religions

  89. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Hi Big Zig!

  90. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Hi Big Zig!

  91. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Wait until you get to the reason as to WHY she dumped the needles into the woods.

  92. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Wait until you get to the reason as to WHY she dumped the needles into the woods.

  93. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Have debated whether to post this, but going to anyway. There is a whole lot of coarse language. F bombs, B word, D word, S word, etc. abound promiscuously.

    But it. is. golden.

    Just don’t click on this if you don’t want to hear the language.

  94. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Have debated whether to post this, but going to anyway. There is a whole lot of coarse language. F bombs, B word, D word, S word, etc. abound promiscuously.
    But it. is. golden.
    Just don’t click on this if you don’t want to hear the language.

  95. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #42 – HAH! “Senator Downgrade” has a nice ring to it!

    KUDOS to that intrepid reporter attempting to be what a reporter is supposed to be!!!

  96. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #42 – HAH! “Senator Downgrade” has a nice ring to it!
    KUDOS to that intrepid reporter attempting to be what a reporter is supposed to be!!!

  97. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #47 – OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  98. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #47 – OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  99. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #26 dooooooooooood
    #6:

    Following the 2001 tax cuts, revenue plummeted — then recovered — then plummeted again.

    Gotta quibble with that. According to his source, tax revenues began declining in 2000. They accelerated in 2001-2003 due to a pretty decent recession caused by the Y2K hangover (and there may have also been something that happened in late 2001, but I can’t recall for certain).

    After 2003 (and the second round of tax cuts), tax revenues grew rapidly.

  100. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #26 dooooooooooood
    #6:

    Following the 2001 tax cuts, revenue plummeted — then recovered — then plummeted again.

    Gotta quibble with that. According to his source, tax revenues began declining in 2000. They accelerated in 2001-2003 due to a pretty decent recession caused by the Y2K hangover (and there may have also been something that happened in late 2001, but I can’t recall for certain).
    After 2003 (and the second round of tax cuts), tax revenues grew rapidly.

  101. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    #50,

    Is this the source you’re referring to? Looking at the graph, it is exactly as described:

    Following the 2001 tax cuts, revenue plummeted — then recovered — then plummeted again.

  102. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    #50,
    Is this the source you’re referring to? Looking at the graph, it is exactly as described:

    Following the 2001 tax cuts, revenue plummeted — then recovered — then plummeted again.

  103. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #46 Sarge: There is a fantastic reason to have all on govt assistance take drug screenings to be able to continue in the program. You fail the wiz quiz you aint gettin no money.

  104. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #46 Sarge: There is a fantastic reason to have all on govt assistance take drug screenings to be able to continue in the program. You fail the wiz quiz you aint gettin no money.

  105. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Also notable is that while tax receipts did grow after 2003 (before plummeting a few years later), spending ultimately grew faster. If you have two exponential functions plotted simultaneously where one has a bigger exponent than the other, what ultimately happens?

  106. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Also notable is that while tax receipts did grow after 2003 (before plummeting a few years later), spending ultimately grew faster. If you have two exponential functions plotted simultaneously where one has a bigger exponent than the other, what ultimately happens?

  107. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #40 He says:

    Corporations and governments are very similar entities — if a politician praises a centrally-planned business while chastising a centrally-planned government, or the other way around, be skeptical.

    That’s just silly. Corporations and governments are as similar as bicycles and space shuttles. They both move people from point A to point B but the similarities end there. I suppose he’s trying to say you can’t run a corporation like a government and the other way around, and that’s true, but that pretty much disproves his first statement. Hence the gibberish.

  108. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #40 He says:

    Corporations and governments are very similar entities — if a politician praises a centrally-planned business while chastising a centrally-planned government, or the other way around, be skeptical.

    That’s just silly. Corporations and governments are as similar as bicycles and space shuttles. They both move people from point A to point B but the similarities end there. I suppose he’s trying to say you can’t run a corporation like a government and the other way around, and that’s true, but that pretty much disproves his first statement. Hence the gibberish.

  109. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    “Bout #47, I just wish he would tell us how he really feels, none of this beating around the bush. 😉

  110. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    “Bout #47, I just wish he would tell us how he really feels, none of this beating around the bush. 😉

  111. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    53 Dood
    Heh. that green line looks like my gross income line. 🙂

  112. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    53 Dood
    Heh. that green line looks like my gross income line. 🙂

  113. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    I suppose he’s trying to say you can’t run a corporation like a government and the other way around, and that’s true, but that pretty much disproves his first statement.

    I don’t see how that “disproves” anything. McDonald’s and Perry’s are very similar in that they both serve food to people. Yet Perry’s business model is quite different than McDonald’s. So how does saying you can’t run a Perry’s like a McDonald’s “disprove” that the two are similar?

  114. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    I suppose he’s trying to say you can’t run a corporation like a government and the other way around, and that’s true, but that pretty much disproves his first statement.

    I don’t see how that “disproves” anything. McDonald’s and Perry’s are very similar in that they both serve food to people. Yet Perry’s business model is quite different than McDonald’s. So how does saying you can’t run a Perry’s like a McDonald’s “disprove” that the two are similar?

  115. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #51 dooooooooood
    Revenue began falling in 2000 – before the tax cuts were enacted. In fact before Bush even was elected. They continued their decline until 2003, when they reversed. Industrial output peaked in mid-2000 and reversed in late 2001. Based on this, the statement that the Bush tax cuts of 2001 caused tax receipts to decline is stretching things beyond a bit.

    Tax receipts started to grow again in 2003 as the economy pulled out of the recession. I’m gonna put on my supply-sider hat and say that this turnaround was accelerated by those tax cuts, so that at least indirectly, the Bush tax cuts of 2001 did cause tax receipts to increase.

    Adding the icing to the above cake is that a second round of tax cuts happened in 2003. As the graph showed, revenues grew until 2007/2008 when the current recession began. Saying the Bush tax cuts caused the current decline in revenue is nonsensical.

  116. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #51 dooooooooood
    Revenue began falling in 2000 – before the tax cuts were enacted. In fact before Bush even was elected. They continued their decline until 2003, when they reversed. Industrial output peaked in mid-2000 and reversed in late 2001. Based on this, the statement that the Bush tax cuts of 2001 caused tax receipts to decline is stretching things beyond a bit.
    Tax receipts started to grow again in 2003 as the economy pulled out of the recession. I’m gonna put on my supply-sider hat and say that this turnaround was accelerated by those tax cuts, so that at least indirectly, the Bush tax cuts of 2001 did cause tax receipts to increase.
    Adding the icing to the above cake is that a second round of tax cuts happened in 2003. As the graph showed, revenues grew until 2007/2008 when the current recession began. Saying the Bush tax cuts caused the current decline in revenue is nonsensical.

  117. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #57 They’re both restaurants in business to generate a profit.

  118. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #57 They’re both restaurants in business to generate a profit.

  119. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Heh. that green line looks like my gross income line.

    Hey… I tried to tell you to go all in on fermented and distilled beverage futures. But did you listen? Nooooooo….

    🙂

  120. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Heh. that green line looks like my gross income line.

    Hey… I tried to tell you to go all in on fermented and distilled beverage futures. But did you listen? Nooooooo….
    🙂

  121. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    #59,

    I think you’re missing the point. Whether or not the entity in question makes a profit is immaterial. His comment was on the centrally planned aspect of both.

  122. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    #59,
    I think you’re missing the point. Whether or not the entity in question makes a profit is immaterial. His comment was on the centrally planned aspect of both.

  123. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I don’t see how that “disproves” anything. McDonald’s and Perry’s are very similar in that they both serve food to people.

    They are both in the restaurant bidness.

    The gummint serves food to people, too. But I can tell you from personal experience that the management, purchasing, and even serving methods are totally different, as is the end product.

  124. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I don’t see how that “disproves” anything. McDonald’s and Perry’s are very similar in that they both serve food to people.

    They are both in the restaurant bidness.
    The gummint serves food to people, too. But I can tell you from personal experience that the management, purchasing, and even serving methods are totally different, as is the end product.

  125. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I think you’re missing the point. Whether or not the entity in question makes a profit is immaterial. His comment was on the centrally planned aspect of both.

    It is totally material.

    The gummint doesn’t have to make a profit. That alone makes all the difference in the world.

  126. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I think you’re missing the point. Whether or not the entity in question makes a profit is immaterial. His comment was on the centrally planned aspect of both.

    It is totally material.
    The gummint doesn’t have to make a profit. That alone makes all the difference in the world.

  127. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    As the graph showed, revenues grew until 2007/2008 when the current recession began.

    And rather than use those increased revenues at that time to reduce debt the federal government continued to spend more and more freely. Hence, we find ourselves at the place where the spending exponent is bigger than the revenue exponent, and that can not and will not continue indefinitely.

    Based on this, the statement that the Bush tax cuts of 2001 caused tax receipts to decline is stretching things beyond a bit.

    That is a stretch, in and of itself, I agree. But you can’t consider taxation rates in isolation. You must consider both revenue and spending to accurately analyze how we got to this point.

  128. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    As the graph showed, revenues grew until 2007/2008 when the current recession began.

    And rather than use those increased revenues at that time to reduce debt the federal government continued to spend more and more freely. Hence, we find ourselves at the place where the spending exponent is bigger than the revenue exponent, and that can not and will not continue indefinitely.

    Based on this, the statement that the Bush tax cuts of 2001 caused tax receipts to decline is stretching things beyond a bit.

    That is a stretch, in and of itself, I agree. But you can’t consider taxation rates in isolation. You must consider both revenue and spending to accurately analyze how we got to this point.

  129. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    You brought McDonalds and Perry’s into the discussion I guess to show that McDonald’s is to Perry’s as business is to government. That doesn’t seem logical to me. McDonald’s, Perry’s, and any other business model is created to generate profits. Governments aren’t. Whatever business model you’re looking at it won’t work for governments. You can take certain aspects of a business model and apply it to government (such as lean manufacturing) but ultimately you’re going to hit a brick wall when trying to compare the two.

    Successful businesses are also created with the intention of growing them. In that sense we ARE trying to emulate business in government. That’s what has brought us to the predicament we’re in now.

  130. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    You brought McDonalds and Perry’s into the discussion I guess to show that McDonald’s is to Perry’s as business is to government. That doesn’t seem logical to me. McDonald’s, Perry’s, and any other business model is created to generate profits. Governments aren’t. Whatever business model you’re looking at it won’t work for governments. You can take certain aspects of a business model and apply it to government (such as lean manufacturing) but ultimately you’re going to hit a brick wall when trying to compare the two.
    Successful businesses are also created with the intention of growing them. In that sense we ARE trying to emulate business in government. That’s what has brought us to the predicament we’re in now.

  131. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    One thing I’ll agree with the current crop of Republican hopefuls (although I realize they’re just paying lip service) is this: We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.

  132. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    One thing I’ll agree with the current crop of Republican hopefuls (although I realize they’re just paying lip service) is this: We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.

  133. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    The gummint doesn’t have to make a profit. That alone makes all the difference in the world.

    The gummint doesn’t have to make a profit, nor did they have to intervene in the private sector to “save us”. But they did anyway, while telling us all about how they had to do it or calamity would befall us all. So now that we are where we are and, with the benefit of hindsight, can confidently say that were it not for government intervention, GDP would actually have shrunk by ~10%, is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism? Try paying (as a % of revenue) your taxes like GE does and let me know how that works out for you.

  134. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    The gummint doesn’t have to make a profit. That alone makes all the difference in the world.

    The gummint doesn’t have to make a profit, nor did they have to intervene in the private sector to “save us”. But they did anyway, while telling us all about how they had to do it or calamity would befall us all. So now that we are where we are and, with the benefit of hindsight, can confidently say that were it not for government intervention, GDP would actually have shrunk by ~10%, is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism? Try paying (as a % of revenue) your taxes like GE does and let me know how that works out for you.

  135. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #57 doooooood
    A corporation is a (generally) privately-run concern that must produce value that someone is willing to voluntarily pay for in order to make money and survive.In order to show a profit, it must take in more than it spends. If this is not the case, then it must reduce its expenses, increase its revenues, or cease to exist. In order to increase revenue, it must produce more relative value. It has more control over expenses; it can lay people off, find less costly substitute raw materials/inputs, or any of a number of other actions.

    Governments, while they may have similar “profit”/”loss” concerns, have the distinct advantage of being able to increase revenues through the force of law. They are thus much less willing to reduce expenses, because they don’t have to work nearly as hard as corporations in order to increase revenue and don’t really “need” to reduce expenses.

    I think a valid analogy would be between a lion and a blue whale. If lions get hungry, they must find different ways to capture prey. As they get hungrier, they must get more efficient. Blue Whales just lumber on to the next school(?) of krill to eat.

  136. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #57 doooooood
    A corporation is a (generally) privately-run concern that must produce value that someone is willing to voluntarily pay for in order to make money and survive.In order to show a profit, it must take in more than it spends. If this is not the case, then it must reduce its expenses, increase its revenues, or cease to exist. In order to increase revenue, it must produce more relative value. It has more control over expenses; it can lay people off, find less costly substitute raw materials/inputs, or any of a number of other actions.
    Governments, while they may have similar “profit”/”loss” concerns, have the distinct advantage of being able to increase revenues through the force of law. They are thus much less willing to reduce expenses, because they don’t have to work nearly as hard as corporations in order to increase revenue and don’t really “need” to reduce expenses.
    I think a valid analogy would be between a lion and a blue whale. If lions get hungry, they must find different ways to capture prey. As they get hungrier, they must get more efficient. Blue Whales just lumber on to the next school(?) of krill to eat.

  137. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    10%, is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism?

    That I’ll agree on.

  138. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    10%, is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism?

    That I’ll agree on.

  139. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    And rather than use those increased revenues at that time to reduce debt the federal government continued to spend more and more freely. Hence, we find ourselves at the place where the spending exponent is bigger than the revenue exponent, and that can not and will not continue indefinitely.

    That’s not the point the author was making. His point was solely concerned with Bush tax cuts and revenue; spending was not mentioned.

  140. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    And rather than use those increased revenues at that time to reduce debt the federal government continued to spend more and more freely. Hence, we find ourselves at the place where the spending exponent is bigger than the revenue exponent, and that can not and will not continue indefinitely.

    That’s not the point the author was making. His point was solely concerned with Bush tax cuts and revenue; spending was not mentioned.

  141. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the individual mandate portion of Healthulus is unconstitutional.

  142. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the individual mandate portion of Healthulus is unconstitutional.

  143. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Well Im glad you three got that piece all cleared up for me.

  144. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Well Im glad you three got that piece all cleared up for me.

  145. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Does a system where some entities and some people at both ends of the spectrum not pay anything represent a revenue problem? It does in my mind. Yes, I agree that the biggest problem we have is that we spend too much. But that is only one side of the problem. Why not have a look at fundamental tax reform where everyone pays something so that those who do pay don’t have to pay everything? I know… I know. Not politically possible. It’ll never happen. Certainly not with Democrats or Republicans at the helm.

  146. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Does a system where some entities and some people at both ends of the spectrum not pay anything represent a revenue problem? It does in my mind. Yes, I agree that the biggest problem we have is that we spend too much. But that is only one side of the problem. Why not have a look at fundamental tax reform where everyone pays something so that those who do pay don’t have to pay everything? I know… I know. Not politically possible. It’ll never happen. Certainly not with Democrats or Republicans at the helm.

  147. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I think a valid analogy would be between a lion and a blue whale. If lions get hungry, they must find different ways to capture prey. As they get hungrier, they must get more efficient. Blue Whales just lumber on to the next school(?) of krill to eat.

    Which is validated by the cost and end product difference between how a profit making restaurant and the US Gummint serves food to people.

  148. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I think a valid analogy would be between a lion and a blue whale. If lions get hungry, they must find different ways to capture prey. As they get hungrier, they must get more efficient. Blue Whales just lumber on to the next school(?) of krill to eat.

    Which is validated by the cost and end product difference between how a profit making restaurant and the US Gummint serves food to people.

  149. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Why not have a look at fundamental tax reform where everyone pays something so that those who do pay don’t have to pay everything?

    Bring it on! But he never mentioned tax reform. You’re arguing the broader picture and on that we’re in agreement. My point was the author oversimplified his #4 to the point where it became gibberish. Governments aren’t businesses and businesses aren’t government. Try to make either one operate like the other and you’ll end up with the USPS.

  150. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Why not have a look at fundamental tax reform where everyone pays something so that those who do pay don’t have to pay everything?

    Bring it on! But he never mentioned tax reform. You’re arguing the broader picture and on that we’re in agreement. My point was the author oversimplified his #4 to the point where it became gibberish. Governments aren’t businesses and businesses aren’t government. Try to make either one operate like the other and you’ll end up with the USPS.

  151. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    Well I’m NOT a fan of Rachel Maddow, BUTT she gets this one right; The Green Bay Packers 😉

  152. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    Well I’m NOT a fan of Rachel Maddow, BUTT she gets this one right; The Green Bay Packers 😉

  153. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Try to make either one operate like the other and you’ll end up with the USPS.

    Or Amtrak.

  154. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Try to make either one operate like the other and you’ll end up with the USPS.

    Or Amtrak.

  155. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism?

    Maybe when you’re speaking of large corporations. But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

  156. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism?

    Maybe when you’re speaking of large corporations. But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

  157. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    So if we’re in agreement that we need fundamental tax reform, why do we allow Republicans to state the half truth / oversimplification that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem without challenging them on it? Seems like we’re directing our ire at the wrong target if you ask me.

  158. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    So if we’re in agreement that we need fundamental tax reform, why do we allow Republicans to state the half truth / oversimplification that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem without challenging them on it? Seems like we’re directing our ire at the wrong target if you ask me.

  159. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism?

    Maybe when you’re speaking of large corporations. But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

    Actually, when you’re talking about the top 20 or so. I work for a fairly large company and I don’t see any evidence of anything even approaching cronyism.

  160. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    is it not clear that what the US practices is not really capitalism at all, but rather corporate cronyism?

    Maybe when you’re speaking of large corporations. But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

    Actually, when you’re talking about the top 20 or so. I work for a fairly large company and I don’t see any evidence of anything even approaching cronyism.

  161. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

    They’re the revenue source that keeps on giving without receiving bailouts.

  162. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

    They’re the revenue source that keeps on giving without receiving bailouts.

  163. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    I work for a fairly large company and I don’t see any evidence of anything even approaching cronyism.

    I don’t know who you work for, and I have no reason to doubt you. But if you can look at the TARP deals and don’t come away thinking that at least some companies get special treatment I’d be forced to think you either extremely naive, or… well… you know the other option.

  164. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    I work for a fairly large company and I don’t see any evidence of anything even approaching cronyism.

    I don’t know who you work for, and I have no reason to doubt you. But if you can look at the TARP deals and don’t come away thinking that at least some companies get special treatment I’d be forced to think you either extremely naive, or… well… you know the other option.

  165. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    So if we’re in agreement that we need fundamental tax reform, why do we allow Republicans to state the half truth / oversimplification that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem without challenging them on it?

    Because what we have is a spending problem. Deficits in 2006/2007 were in the neighborhood of $150-250 billion. Given a budget of around $2.3 trillion, that means that we were borrowing about $0.10 for every dollar of spending. We are now borrowing $0.40 of every dollar.

    I’ll grant that some of that deficit is caused by revenue shortfalls due to the recession, but spending has gone and continues to go through the proverbial roof.

    Once we get a handle on spending, the revenue side should be much easier to fix.

  166. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    So if we’re in agreement that we need fundamental tax reform, why do we allow Republicans to state the half truth / oversimplification that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem without challenging them on it?

    Because what we have is a spending problem. Deficits in 2006/2007 were in the neighborhood of $150-250 billion. Given a budget of around $2.3 trillion, that means that we were borrowing about $0.10 for every dollar of spending. We are now borrowing $0.40 of every dollar.
    I’ll grant that some of that deficit is caused by revenue shortfalls due to the recession, but spending has gone and continues to go through the proverbial roof.
    Once we get a handle on spending, the revenue side should be much easier to fix.

  167. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Maybe when you’re speaking of large corporations. But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

    When you look at some of the laws passed by city councils that effectively decide who gets to tow cars on their highways and legislatures that decide who gets to make money on “legalized gambling”, just to name two, that 50% number goes down a bit.

    There’s a lot more cronyism going on that we know.

  168. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Maybe when you’re speaking of large corporations. But what about the 50+% of GDP created by small businesses?

    When you look at some of the laws passed by city councils that effectively decide who gets to tow cars on their highways and legislatures that decide who gets to make money on “legalized gambling”, just to name two, that 50% number goes down a bit.
    There’s a lot more cronyism going on that we know.

  169. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    But if you can look at the TARP deals and don’t come away thinking that at least some companies get special treatment I’d be forced to think you either extremely naive, or… well… you know the other option.

    Never said otherwise. What I meant was that most of the cronyism is limited to companies like GM, GE, the oil companies, aerospace (to a smaller degree), and big banks (although many, many other smaller banks received TARP funds, they don’t really participate much further than that in cronyist(?) activities).

  170. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    But if you can look at the TARP deals and don’t come away thinking that at least some companies get special treatment I’d be forced to think you either extremely naive, or… well… you know the other option.

    Never said otherwise. What I meant was that most of the cronyism is limited to companies like GM, GE, the oil companies, aerospace (to a smaller degree), and big banks (although many, many other smaller banks received TARP funds, they don’t really participate much further than that in cronyist(?) activities).

  171. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    There’s a lot more cronyism going on that we know.

    I think there’s a big difference there. In the Federal example, we’re talking about cronyism; in the local case, it’s more bald-faced corruption.

    It’s prolly a pretty subtle distinction at times…

  172. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    There’s a lot more cronyism going on that we know.

    I think there’s a big difference there. In the Federal example, we’re talking about cronyism; in the local case, it’s more bald-faced corruption.
    It’s prolly a pretty subtle distinction at times…

  173. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Obama: Something is wrong with country’s politics

    Well, duh.

    Its how he got elected.

  174. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Obama: Something is wrong with country’s politics

    Well, duh.
    Its how he got elected.

  175. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    why do we allow Republicans to state the half truth / oversimplification that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem without challenging them on it?

    They talk about tax reform all the time. Every candidate on the stage last night called for lowering the corporate (and personal) tax rate across the board and eliminating existing loopholes.

  176. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    why do we allow Republicans to state the half truth / oversimplification that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem without challenging them on it?

    They talk about tax reform all the time. Every candidate on the stage last night called for lowering the corporate (and personal) tax rate across the board and eliminating existing loopholes.

  177. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Every candidate on the stage last night called for lowering the corporate (and personal) tax rate across the board and eliminating existing loopholes.

    Some “loopholes” that need to be cut are all the “refundable” deductions, i.e. those that get the filer a refund even if no tax was due. That would restore a good bit of overall fairness to the tax code and help to broaden the tax base.

  178. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Every candidate on the stage last night called for lowering the corporate (and personal) tax rate across the board and eliminating existing loopholes.

    Some “loopholes” that need to be cut are all the “refundable” deductions, i.e. those that get the filer a refund even if no tax was due. That would restore a good bit of overall fairness to the tax code and help to broaden the tax base.

  179. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    What I meant was that most of the cronyism is limited to companies like GM, GE, the oil companies, aerospace (to a smaller degree), and big banks (although many, many other smaller banks received TARP funds, they don’t really participate much further than that in cronyist(?) activities).

    If you lobby the government and receive treatment that you would otherwise not have received, that is cronyism. Politicians can’t call themselves free-market capitalists when they are supply siders on the way up but socialists on the way down. It either works in both directions or not at all.

  180. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    What I meant was that most of the cronyism is limited to companies like GM, GE, the oil companies, aerospace (to a smaller degree), and big banks (although many, many other smaller banks received TARP funds, they don’t really participate much further than that in cronyist(?) activities).

    If you lobby the government and receive treatment that you would otherwise not have received, that is cronyism. Politicians can’t call themselves free-market capitalists when they are supply siders on the way up but socialists on the way down. It either works in both directions or not at all.

  181. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Speaking of crony capitalism.

  182. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Speaking of crony capitalism.

  183. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Every candidate on the stage last night called for lowering the corporate (and personal) tax rate across the board and eliminating existing loopholes.

    Specifics? Lower rates by how much? Truly “across the board”? Eliminating which specific loopholes? And as far as pulling lower wage earners into the conversation, how are we going to get them to have some “skin in the game”?

  184. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Every candidate on the stage last night called for lowering the corporate (and personal) tax rate across the board and eliminating existing loopholes.

    Specifics? Lower rates by how much? Truly “across the board”? Eliminating which specific loopholes? And as far as pulling lower wage earners into the conversation, how are we going to get them to have some “skin in the game”?

  185. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    More importantly, why do we only ever hear these types of tax proposals during campaign season?

  186. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    More importantly, why do we only ever hear these types of tax proposals during campaign season?

  187. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #83 – slightly further………………

    We are now borrowing $0.40 of every dollar – and these dollars do NOT even EXIST in the real world (except on the Fed’s printing presses)

  188. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #83 – slightly further………………

    We are now borrowing $0.40 of every dollar – and these dollars do NOT even EXIST in the real world (except on the Fed’s printing presses)

  189. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Once we get a handle on spending, the revenue side should be much easier to fix.

    I agree, but we’re not even close to getting said handle.

  190. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Once we get a handle on spending, the revenue side should be much easier to fix.

    I agree, but we’re not even close to getting said handle.

  191. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Specifics? Lower rates by how much?

    Anywhere from 9% (Bachman) to 15% (Pawlenty) to 25% (Romney & Cain), down from the current 35%. Santorum said something about 0% but I think that was just for manufacturing. Not sure where he was going with that. No details on the cronyism cuts but I’ve heard several of them talk about things like ethanol subsidies.

  192. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Specifics? Lower rates by how much?

    Anywhere from 9% (Bachman) to 15% (Pawlenty) to 25% (Romney & Cain), down from the current 35%. Santorum said something about 0% but I think that was just for manufacturing. Not sure where he was going with that. No details on the cronyism cuts but I’ve heard several of them talk about things like ethanol subsidies.

  193. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    More importantly, why do we only ever hear these types of tax proposals during campaign season?

    They have more important things to worry about such as steroids in baseball, NCAA football playoffs, diddling congressional pages, and the like.

  194. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    More importantly, why do we only ever hear these types of tax proposals during campaign season?

    They have more important things to worry about such as steroids in baseball, NCAA football playoffs, diddling congressional pages, and the like.

  195. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #95 dooooooood
    Worrying about revenues over spending right now is like worrying about bald tires when your motor just fell out. Both need fixed but one I’d more urgent.

  196. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #95 dooooooood
    Worrying about revenues over spending right now is like worrying about bald tires when your motor just fell out. Both need fixed but one I’d more urgent.

  197. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    setup

  198. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    setup

  199. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    More like you’re going down the road and all four tires blew out at the same time the engine fell out.

  200. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    More like you’re going down the road and all four tires blew out at the same time the engine fell out.

  201. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    One more thing to worry about – global warming causes vampire bats.

  202. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    One more thing to worry about – global warming causes vampire bats.

  203. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    In both examples you can still limp along by just fixing the worse of the two.

  204. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    In both examples you can still limp along by just fixing the worse of the two.

  205. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Not if a rabid vampire bat bites you.

  206. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    Not if a rabid vampire bat bites you.

  207. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Which would happen – you get rabies, you turn into a vampire, or both?

  208. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Which would happen – you get rabies, you turn into a vampire, or both?

  209. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Or you eat one of those poser fried cheese sammiches

  210. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Or you eat one of those poser fried cheese sammiches

  211. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Then you would turn into one if those PFCS’s.

  212. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Then you would turn into one if those PFCS’s.

  213. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    No matter. I can always say I got the #100 spot and it will all be good.

  214. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    No matter. I can always say I got the #100 spot and it will all be good.

  215. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    Dude and Hamous,

    I am actually in favor of eliminating all corporate income taxes, because in reality corporations do not pay taxes; the folks who buy the goods and services of corporations do pay those taxes. Lower prices on goods and services would be helpful to Joe 6-Pack; wouldn’t it?

    Income tax is another story. I like to see the system overhauled to the point that we have 3-4 tiers of fixed rates that are adjusted on the basis of income. Rip out all of the phony baloney deductions. NO deductions for interest, state taxes, home mortgage. I would like to see a capital gains tax that is fixed at the tier rate for the payer and progressively decreases with time to ZERO. Reward and encourage folks who make long term investments in our economy and discourage the day trading money changers.

    I like to see Congress vote on the tax rates for the various tiers…..right before elections. In my ideal and fictional world the Congress would raise or lower the rates to cover our debts. Of course this would require good forecasting and a little spending discipline and there sure isn’t an abundance of that in Washington.

    Simple

    We gotta do something. The party is over and it is time to clean up the mess.

  216. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    Dude and Hamous,
    I am actually in favor of eliminating all corporate income taxes, because in reality corporations do not pay taxes; the folks who buy the goods and services of corporations do pay those taxes. Lower prices on goods and services would be helpful to Joe 6-Pack; wouldn’t it?
    Income tax is another story. I like to see the system overhauled to the point that we have 3-4 tiers of fixed rates that are adjusted on the basis of income. Rip out all of the phony baloney deductions. NO deductions for interest, state taxes, home mortgage. I would like to see a capital gains tax that is fixed at the tier rate for the payer and progressively decreases with time to ZERO. Reward and encourage folks who make long term investments in our economy and discourage the day trading money changers.
    I like to see Congress vote on the tax rates for the various tiers…..right before elections. In my ideal and fictional world the Congress would raise or lower the rates to cover our debts. Of course this would require good forecasting and a little spending discipline and there sure isn’t an abundance of that in Washington.
    Simple
    We gotta do something. The party is over and it is time to clean up the mess.

  217. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    105 Sarge

    Joke all you like about Grilled Cheeze Sandwiches, but here at Rancho Simple our menu has gotten noticeably more “simple” of late. The dining out has come to a halt and we make a pot of beans or soup on Sunday and it will last until Thursday.

    We shop a lot more at Sams and Wall Mart these days. Kroger’s is only for emergencies.

    I am 100% confident in the American People to conserve and tighten the old belt. We don’t have a choice it is simple survival. It is a pity the loons who run things haven’t dropped the Armani Suits, $200.00 haircuts, and jet setting over the flyover country. All leadership is by example.

    Simple

  218. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    105 Sarge
    Joke all you like about Grilled Cheeze Sandwiches, but here at Rancho Simple our menu has gotten noticeably more “simple” of late. The dining out has come to a halt and we make a pot of beans or soup on Sunday and it will last until Thursday.
    We shop a lot more at Sams and Wall Mart these days. Kroger’s is only for emergencies.
    I am 100% confident in the American People to conserve and tighten the old belt. We don’t have a choice it is simple survival. It is a pity the loons who run things haven’t dropped the Armani Suits, $200.00 haircuts, and jet setting over the flyover country. All leadership is by example.
    Simple

  219. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    RAIN!

  220. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    RAIN!

  221. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Well, THIS might become a sound bite!

    “I’ve heard Al Gore talk about man-made global warming so much that I’m starting to think that his mouth is the leading source of all that supposedly deadly carbon dioxide,” Perry said in 2007.

    Find the article here.

  222. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Well, THIS might become a sound bite!

    “I’ve heard Al Gore talk about man-made global warming so much that I’m starting to think that his mouth is the leading source of all that supposedly deadly carbon dioxide,” Perry said in 2007.

    Find the article here.

  223. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Then they follow with this snarky paragraph:

    But plugging your ears and going “la la la la” doesn’t make global
    warming disappear. Perry’s state is getting absolutely hammered by heat and the worst one-year drought in its recorded history. The hot, dry weather in Texas is desiccating rivers and lakes, devastating farmers and ranchers, and driving wildfires that have burned up millions of acres. In the face of these crises — which are just what
    you’d expect in a climate-changed world — Perry proposes neither adaptation nor mitigation but rather supplication. He’s been praying for rain and calling on other Texans to do the same. So far no luck.

    Yeah, well, “plugging your ears and going “la la la la” ” isn’t going to make MMGW a fact either. Texas has had droughts before, and Heaven knows we’re no stranger to hot weather. Just because you can expect those things during a climate crisis doesn’t mean that one causes the other. Correlation vs causation. This report is a wissin’ idjit.

  224. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Then they follow with this snarky paragraph:

    But plugging your ears and going “la la la la” doesn’t make global
    warming disappear. Perry’s state is getting absolutely hammered by heat and the worst one-year drought in its recorded history. The hot, dry weather in Texas is desiccating rivers and lakes, devastating farmers and ranchers, and driving wildfires that have burned up millions of acres. In the face of these crises — which are just what
    you’d expect in a climate-changed world — Perry proposes neither adaptation nor mitigation but rather supplication. He’s been praying for rain and calling on other Texans to do the same. So far no luck.

    Yeah, well, “plugging your ears and going “la la la la” ” isn’t going to make MMGW a fact either. Texas has had droughts before, and Heaven knows we’re no stranger to hot weather. Just because you can expect those things during a climate crisis doesn’t mean that one causes the other. Correlation vs causation. This report is a wissin’ idjit.

  225. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Interesting.

    Except that I kept thinking that Dallas and Houston needed a bra.

  226. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Interesting.
    Except that I kept thinking that Dallas and Houston needed a bra.

  227. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    I am 100% confident in the American People to conserve and tighten the old belt. We don’t have a choice it is simple survival.

    Whether by choice or not, we’re all going to be simplifying our lifestyles. I’m going with “by choice” personally. Fortunately, I’m not married to the princess type, and she agrees with me 100% on the need to rein in any unnecessary spending. Makes it easier that way.

  228. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    I am 100% confident in the American People to conserve and tighten the old belt. We don’t have a choice it is simple survival.

    Whether by choice or not, we’re all going to be simplifying our lifestyles. I’m going with “by choice” personally. Fortunately, I’m not married to the princess type, and she agrees with me 100% on the need to rein in any unnecessary spending. Makes it easier that way.

  229. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #80 Pyro

    I work for a fairly large company and I don’t see any evidence of anything even approaching cronyism.

    The cronyism seems to be centered in the Northeast and Ivy League college connections. Banking, investments, insurance.

  230. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #80 Pyro

    I work for a fairly large company and I don’t see any evidence of anything even approaching cronyism.

    The cronyism seems to be centered in the Northeast and Ivy League college connections. Banking, investments, insurance.

  231. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    More importantly, why do we only ever hear these types of tax proposals during campaign season?

    They have more important things to worry about such as steroids in baseball, NCAA football playoffs, diddling congressional pages, and the like.

    I was negligent in not commenting on that earlier, but yup, that pretty well does sum it up. Blech.

  232. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    More importantly, why do we only ever hear these types of tax proposals during campaign season?

    They have more important things to worry about such as steroids in baseball, NCAA football playoffs, diddling congressional pages, and the like.

    I was negligent in not commenting on that earlier, but yup, that pretty well does sum it up. Blech.

  233. phil Avatar
    phil

    RIPJani Lane.

  234. phil Avatar
    phil

    RIPJani Lane.

  235. phil Avatar
    phil

    Many of the questions during last night’s debate were about as asinine as this answer.

    Byron York wins the Miss Teen USA South Carolina 2007 award for his utterly stupid question to Michele Bachmann.

  236. phil Avatar
    phil

    Many of the questions during last night’s debate were about as asinine as this answer.
    Byron York wins the Miss Teen USA South Carolina 2007 award for his utterly stupid question to Michele Bachmann.

  237. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #107 Doooooooooood

    I can always say I got the #100 spot and it will all be good.

    You’d like to think so, but I got a #100 spot recently and then Hal took it away from me. It was heart-rending, brutal even. Hal had been buggering up Katfish’s comments all day, then someone set’em free and they flooded in onto The Couch and renumbered everything. I felt like Scarlet O’Hara pulling radishes for supper.

  238. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #107 Doooooooooood

    I can always say I got the #100 spot and it will all be good.

    You’d like to think so, but I got a #100 spot recently and then Hal took it away from me. It was heart-rending, brutal even. Hal had been buggering up Katfish’s comments all day, then someone set’em free and they flooded in onto The Couch and renumbered everything. I felt like Scarlet O’Hara pulling radishes for supper.

  239. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    MH42, that is a tragic tale. We must struggle to find a way forward through trying times such as those.

    🙂

  240. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    MH42, that is a tragic tale. We must struggle to find a way forward through trying times such as those.
    🙂

  241. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #120 I knew you would understand. 🙂

  242. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #120 I knew you would understand. 🙂

  243. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Make a radish salad Scarlett!

    🙂

  244. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Make a radish salad Scarlett!
    🙂

  245. LurkerGoneWild Avatar
    LurkerGoneWild

    (sticks head out of LurkCave, inspecting wilting grass and trees yet once again 🙁 )

    Howdy, Hamsterousians! Like y’all, just hangin in, barely making it in this heat. Been too hot to do much of anything. Did manage to eliminate three Mr. and/or Ms. Cottonmouth so when I drag the sprinkler around in the evening I won’t have to hold the flashlight in my mouth while hauling the hose.

    I see we have a new lurker poking about. Howdy Big Zig! As a member of the Professional Lurkers’ Association, you are doing a fine job. Hope you get a “real” job soon, you sound like the go-getter type who won’t let grass grow under your feet.

    Kneemails to all who’ve been requesting, and to those who don’t even know they need ’em yet.

    Time to move the sprinkler. If I move fast enough the swarms of fire ants (not California officers) won’t have a chance to crawl up my ankles. What fun!

    Bye y’all!

    (retreats back into LurkCave for a cold adult beverage to fortify self before performing the exciting maneuvers of the fire ant avoidance dance)

  246. LurkerGoneWild Avatar
    LurkerGoneWild

    (sticks head out of LurkCave, inspecting wilting grass and trees yet once again 🙁 )
    Howdy, Hamsterousians! Like y’all, just hangin in, barely making it in this heat. Been too hot to do much of anything. Did manage to eliminate three Mr. and/or Ms. Cottonmouth so when I drag the sprinkler around in the evening I won’t have to hold the flashlight in my mouth while hauling the hose.
    I see we have a new lurker poking about. Howdy Big Zig! As a member of the Professional Lurkers’ Association, you are doing a fine job. Hope you get a “real” job soon, you sound like the go-getter type who won’t let grass grow under your feet.
    Kneemails to all who’ve been requesting, and to those who don’t even know they need ’em yet.
    Time to move the sprinkler. If I move fast enough the swarms of fire ants (not California officers) won’t have a chance to crawl up my ankles. What fun!
    Bye y’all!
    (retreats back into LurkCave for a cold adult beverage to fortify self before performing the exciting maneuvers of the fire ant avoidance dance)

  247. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    LGW, is your cave in an area that already has mandatory nighttime-only watering? Houston may have it this coming week. Dunno how that can work out for people who don’t have a sprinkler system. Moving hoses and sprinklers in the dark, even with a flashlight clenched in your teeth, sounds dangerous. Mebbe we all need to order a miners/cavers helmet for nightime hydration patrols.

    Houston facing mandatory water restrictions next week

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7691563.html

  248. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    LGW, is your cave in an area that already has mandatory nighttime-only watering? Houston may have it this coming week. Dunno how that can work out for people who don’t have a sprinkler system. Moving hoses and sprinklers in the dark, even with a flashlight clenched in your teeth, sounds dangerous. Mebbe we all need to order a miners/cavers helmet for nightime hydration patrols.

    Houston facing mandatory water restrictions next week

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7691563.html

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