3 priceless pictures

[hanselthecaretaker]

This picture captured on the back of a Marine’s jeep is priceless-

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into
prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and
trying to lift himself up by the handle.
– Winston Churchill

Hwy 59 at Hwy 43 – across from Marshall High School

——————————————————————————————————————————————

I wonder how long this one will be kept standing-

Sign POSTED on Hwy 61, Hutchinson , Kansas

 

[EnderJE]

Sad for both sides. Especially for that "marine". Tillman died and he came back? Damn.

 

[mrplunkey]

Good signs!

But the damage has been done. It's entertaining to me when people keep getting worked-up over bad jobs reports, as if the situation is somehow going to turn around. Those jobs are gone. Poof. Kaput. If you do see new jobs springing up, they'll be in low-end services that couldn't be downsized or relocated.

Go Barry go!

 

[EnderJE]

Good signs!

But the damage has been done. It's entertaining to me when people keep getting worked-up over bad jobs reports, as if the situation is somehow going to turn around. Those jobs are gone. Poof. Kaput. If you do see new jobs springing up, they'll be in low-end services that couldn't be downsized or relocated.

Go Barry go!

You're just as bad as the others when the other guy was in power.

 

[mrplunkey]

You're just as bad as the others when the other guy was in power.

Yeah, but the other guy (who I wasn't a big fan of either) didn't destroy a generation's worth of jobs.

It's poetic justice though. The 18-25 year olds who swept him into office get to enjoy the consequences of their votes for a long, long time. I really should invest in the french fry hat business (but importing them from overseas, of course).

 

[EnderJE]

Yeah, but the other guy (who I wasn't a big fan of either) didn't destroy a generation's worth of jobs.

It's poetic justice though. The 18-25 year olds who swept him into office get to enjoy the consequences of their votes for a long, long time. I really should invest in the french fry hat business (but importing them from overseas, of course).

True, he just had them all killed through wars and such.

The venom gets tired though, no?

It's like Cindy and the other guy. I know that I (more then once) wanted to tell her that I'm really sorry about your son dying, but you always stick by your leaders in the armed forces.

 

[EnderJE]

I have no issues with the other pictures (people said more about the other guy...wait until Obama has shoes thrown at him); but that Marine picture bothers me.

 

[mrplunkey]

True, he just had them all killed through wars and such.

The venom gets tired though, no?

It's like Cindy and the other guy. I know that I (more then once) wanted to tell her that I'm really sorry about your son dying, but you always stick by your leaders in the armed forces.

That's why Barry got us out of Iraq (we're still there...)

And out of Afghanistan (which he super-sized)

Then kept us out of new wars! (Libya, anyone?)

Go Barry Go!

 

[EnderJE]

That's why Barry got us out of Iraq (we're still there...)

And out of Afghanistan (which he super-sized)

Then kept us out of new wars! (Libya, anyone?)

Go Barry Go!

Okay...you might have be there...I haven't checked the death stats of those.

 

[mrplunkey]

I have no issues with the other pictures (people said more about the other guy...wait until Obama has shoes thrown at him); but that Marine picture bothers me.

What marine picture? I don't see anything.

 

[Mr. dB]

What marine picture? I don't see anything.

Jeep has a Marines sticker and a USMC commemorative license plate.

And he's delusional if he thinks the present President is as, or more, autocratic than the last one.

 

[mrplunkey]

Jeep has a Marines sticker and a USMC commemorative license plate.

And he's delusional if he thinks the present President is as, or more, autocratic than the last one.

Ahhh... didn't see that on this laptop (maybe I'm just getting old and my eyes are going bad).

Bush was no peach, but Barry is very autocratic.

 

[nimbus]

that last one is pretty true unfortunately.

 

[mrplunkey]

that last one is pretty true unfortunately.

I saw a news report today that said there is at least $2T in money sitting on the sidelines now.

I also believe we're in an interesting spiral.

1) Barry has scared away US employers badly. These effects will last years after he's left office. Those jobs aren't coming back, but we may get some crappy service ones at some point.

2) But US companies are learning (the larger ones have already learned) to diversify their sales globally and not depend on US markets. They'll have setbacks, but they're learning there are better opportunities outside the US.

3) So domestically, we'll have chronic unemployment, suppressed wages and steadily increasing debt due to an ever-growing social safety net.

4) But we'll also have a moderately (or better) rising stock market. We'll have major corrections, but overall the market could continue to go up.

So what's the net result? People who are already reasonably well to do and can invest will continue to get wealthier. People who struggle paycheck-to-paycheck (or worse) will get much poorer.

Go Barry Go! Show them "rich people" (those couples making $250K+/year) who is boss!

 

[Mr. dB]

Bush was no peach, but Barry is very autocratic.

1) Barry has scared away US employers badly.

Please cite concrete examples to back up these claims.

 

[mrplunkey]

Please cite concrete examples to back up these claims.

Autocratic Support:

He sent the US into a third war (Libya) without as much as consulting Congress.

Scaring Employers Support:

Northwest Herald | Companies’ profits up, but most refuse to hire

HTH

 

[Mr. dB]

Autocratic Support:

He sent the US into a third war (Libya) without as much as consulting Congress.

Scaring Employers Support:

Northwest Herald | Companies’ profits up, but most refuse to hire

HTH

On the former, I don't think he had a choice. After getting stiffed by Europe when we failed to generate a consensus coalition for the Iraq operation, we'd be hypocrites if we failed to support our allies France and Italy in their attempt to stabilize Libya.

On the second, I don't see what that has to do with Presidential policy.

 

[mrplunkey]

On the former, I don't think he had a choice. After getting stiffed by Europe when we failed to generate a consensus coalition for the Iraq operation, we'd be hypocrites if we failed to support our allies France and Italy in their attempt to stabilize Libya.

He's the commander in chief of the military. We have troops and equipment deployed in that theater. He had a choice. I don't think even you believe that "failed to support our allies" spin.

On the second, I don't see what that has to do with Presidential policy.

Did you miss this comment?

" • Companies remain reluctant to spend the $1.9 trillion in cash they’ve accumulated, especially in the United States, which would create jobs. They’re unconvinced that consumers are ready to spend again with the vigor they showed before the recession, and they are worried about uncertainty in U.S. government policies. "

There are dozens of sources attributing the unprecedented amount of money sitting on the sidelines due to uncertainty in U.S. government policies. To be specific:

1) Uncertainty over tax policies. Barry just loves giving that "fair share" talk, which makes companies hoard cash.

2) Uncertainty over health care law. Like Nancy said, "we have to pass it so we can see what's in it." We still don't know what's in it.

3) Uncertainty over labor relations. Barry's NLRB is basically making things up as they go. It's a very business-hostile administration. And I'm pretty sure Boeing agrees with me.

4) Uncertainty over energy policy.

5) Uncertainty over financial regulation.

6) Uncertainty over which industry gets declared the next villain.

and the list goes on and on... All these factors result in money being sidelined or moved outside of the US, which translates into jobs moving with them.

 

[Mr. dB]

He's the commander in chief of the military. We have troops and equipment deployed in that theater. He had a choice. I don't think even you believe that "failed to support our allies" spin.



Did you miss this comment?

" • Companies remain reluctant to spend the $1.9 trillion in cash they’ve accumulated, especially in the United States, which would create jobs. They’re unconvinced that consumers are ready to spend again with the vigor they showed before the recession, and they are worried about uncertainty in U.S. government policies. "

There are dozens of sources attributing the unprecedented amount of money sitting on the sidelines due to uncertainty in U.S. government policies. To be specific:

1) Uncertainty over tax policies. Barry just loves giving that "fair share" talk, which makes companies hoard cash.

2) Uncertainty over health care law. Like Nancy said, "we have to pass it so we can see what's in it." We still don't know what's in it.

3) Uncertainty over labor relations. Barry's NLRB is basically making things up as they go. It's a very business-hostile administration. And I'm pretty sure Boeing agrees with me.

4) Uncertainty over energy policy.

5) Uncertainty over financial regulation.

6) Uncertainty over which industry gets declared the next villain.

and the list goes on and on... All these factors result in money being sidelined or moved outside of the US, which translates into jobs moving with them.

7) Uncertainty over what ridiculous point the dysfunctional Republican House is going to hold the country and the economy hostage over next...

8) Uncertainty over how the Tea Party agenda is 180 degrees out of phase with what needs to be done during difficult times...

9) Uncertainty over how the Congress is incapable of acting on anything now because anything the right wing extremists in the House passes will be dead in the Senate where the adults are...

 

[mrplunkey]

7) Uncertainty over what ridiculous point the dysfunctional Republican House is going to hold the country and the economy hostage over next...

8) Uncertainty over how the Tea Party agenda is 180 degrees out of phase with what needs to be done during difficult times...

9) Uncertainty over how the Congress is incapable of acting on anything now because anything the right wing extremists in the House passes will be dead in the Senate where the adults are...

Yeah, we business owners are terrified of political movements that advocate low taxes and spending control. We're also afraid of strong sales with high profit margins too.

 

[Mr. dB]

Yeah, we business owners are terrified of political movements that advocate low taxes and spending control. We're also afraid of strong sales with high profit margins too.

Business owners have their own version of the Entitlement Mentality, and are willing to take their toys and go home if they don't get their way.

 

[Mr. dB]

He's the commander in chief of the military. We have troops and equipment deployed in that theater. He had a choice. I don't think even you believe that "failed to support our allies" spin.

So you don't think that it's in the US' interest to support our commitments to the UN and NATO?

 

[mrplunkey]

Business owners have their own version of the Entitlement Mentality, and are willing to take their toys and go home if they don't get their way.

The part I bolded is absolutely correct. Businesses to a government are just like customers to a business. If I showed-up badmouthing my customers saying they didn't pay their fair share and threatening them, I wouldn't have my customers very long either.

That part of your assessment is absolutely correct. If governments mistreat their customers (businesses), those customers will most definitely leave -- as they should.

 

[mrplunkey]

So you don't think that it's in the US' interest to support our commitments to the UN and NATO?

Absolutely! We should support our obligation through NATO to assist member nations in the event they are attacked by an external force.

I must have missed the story about France being attacked by Libya. Or have you just decided NATO is a global ass-kicking force that strikes even in the absence of external attacks? How Bush-esqe of you.

I didn't realize all it took was a liberal president to turn you into a hawk. Or did you support Bush's wars as well?

 

[Mr. dB]

Absolutely! We should support our obligation through NATO to assist member nations in the event they are attacked by an external force.

I must have missed the story about France being attacked by Libya. Or have you just decided NATO is a global ass-kicking force that strikes even in the absence of external attacks? How Bush-esqe of you.

Did you miss the mention of the UN?

I didn't realize all it took was a liberal president to turn you into a hawk. Or did you support Bush's wars as well?

Afghanistan was necessary after 9-11. Iraq was bullshit, imagine if all the effort that was put into Iraq had been directed at the Afghanistan operation.

I'm not saying I think Libya is a good idea, just that we had little choice.

 

[mrplunkey]

Did you miss the mention of the UN?

I didn't mention the UN because it is completely irrelevant unless you need a letter written or have some excess cash you want misappropriated.

Afghanistan was necessary after 9-11. Iraq was bullshit, imagine if all the effort that was put into Iraq had been directed at the Afghanistan operation.

I'm not saying I think Libya is a good idea, just that we had little choice.

We had truckloads of choice in Libya. We attacked a sovereign nation that had not committed any recent act of external aggression. At least Iraq was violating the cease-fire agreement singed after the first Gulf War.

 

[mrplunkey]

The part I bolded is absolutely correct. Businesses to a government are just like customers to a business. If I showed-up badmouthing my customers saying they didn't pay their fair share and threatening them, I wouldn't have my customers very long either.

That part of your assessment is absolutely correct. If governments mistreat their customers (businesses), those customers will most definitely leave -- as they should.

^^^ Db -- now that we both agree businesses will just take their toys and go home if they don't get their way, what's your solution?

How would you propose we "give them their way"? Or do you just tell them to screw themselves and go it without them?

 

[Mr. dB]

^^^ Db -- now that we both agree businesses will just take their toys and go home if they don't get their way, what's your solution?

How would you propose we "give them their way"? Or do you just tell them to screw themselves and go it without them?

Maybe they could stop whining and get down to business?

 

[mrplunkey]

Maybe they could stop whining and get down to business?

Yeah, that will bring them back in droves.

Is that the best you've got? There's over $2T dollars sitting on the sidelines right now. And lots of it is held by those evil corporate jet owners that Barry hates.

What's your best move to encourage those businesses to re-engage the US markets?

 

[Mr. dB]

Yeah, that will bring them back in droves.

Is that the best you've got? There's over $2T dollars sitting on the sidelines right now. And lots of it is held by those evil corporate jet owners that Barry hates.

What's your best move to encourage those businesses to re-engage the US markets?

Well, if corps are sitting on 2 trillion in cash, maybe once they finally realize they're not going to get what they want -- no taxes, no salary obligations, no regulations -- that at some point they're just going to have to get back to business.

 

[mrplunkey]

Well, if corps are sitting on 2 trillion in cash, maybe once they finally realize they're not going to get what they want -- no taxes, no salary obligations, no regulations -- that at some point they're just going to have to get back to business.

They don't want zero taxes and regulation, they want reasonable ones.

If it does turn into a wait-and-see contest, I'm pretty sure the affluent can weather the storm better than those just getting by. You may need to re-think your strategy.