This is 1930s level. I am stunned at how badly this could be screwed up. These people on Wall Street need to be straitjacketed, and bent over hard.
Like most guys in my 30s, I have no expectations of Social Security or pensions, but I may as well pack it in and live close to the vest...or pick up a lot of bad habits so I don't make it past 75 (ah, it's your last 10 years that you add to your life anyway). I think I'll go with the bad habits.
And I hear that Ben Sheets is possibly asking out of another start early. SCREW HIM! The Crew has to win tonight and you're asking out. I'm almost at the "good riddance" point now.
Ventings from a guy with an unhealthy interest in budgets, policy, the dismal science, life in the Upper Midwest, and brilliant beverages.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
STUNNER!
Wow, I'm just stunned and amazed that for-profit corporations decided to swindle folks and make bad bets in an attempt to make a few extra bucks. Just stunned and amazed....
Now I remember exactly why I wanted nothing to do with the financial services industry. Douchebag central. And you gotta love McCain trying to say "We caused this culture of greed and deregulation, and we're gonna fix it!" Of course, there's nothing ever said by the GOPpers HOW to fix it, other than silly platitudes about out-of-control CEOs (where the policy seems to be "you're a bad, bad CEO. Don't be bad again.")
And speaking of bad CEOs, what's with Carly Fiorina saying Sarah Palin wouldn't be qualified to run HP, but that she's OK for VP? Ummm, I'm guessing VP's a much tougher job, although I would anticipate Palin being every bit the screw-up at her job as VP as you were at your job at HP, Carly.
But the really annoying part of that statement is the illustration of entitlement CEO culture. These folks really believe that their little piss-ant company and their (usually inherited) position is somehow more valuable in the grand scheme of things than policy-making, diplomacy, and national leadership. The disrespect these people have for those who decide to serve and improve this country is appalling, and needs to be called into attention.
Barack's sharpening the tone in recent days, but I want to see more, and I want it on my TV screen.
On my TV screen now is the Brewers, who seem to be continuing their epic collapse despite the new manager. Gimme football season, it's gotta be better than this 26th straight year of post-season futility.....or my portfolio.
Now I remember exactly why I wanted nothing to do with the financial services industry. Douchebag central. And you gotta love McCain trying to say "We caused this culture of greed and deregulation, and we're gonna fix it!" Of course, there's nothing ever said by the GOPpers HOW to fix it, other than silly platitudes about out-of-control CEOs (where the policy seems to be "you're a bad, bad CEO. Don't be bad again.")
And speaking of bad CEOs, what's with Carly Fiorina saying Sarah Palin wouldn't be qualified to run HP, but that she's OK for VP? Ummm, I'm guessing VP's a much tougher job, although I would anticipate Palin being every bit the screw-up at her job as VP as you were at your job at HP, Carly.
But the really annoying part of that statement is the illustration of entitlement CEO culture. These folks really believe that their little piss-ant company and their (usually inherited) position is somehow more valuable in the grand scheme of things than policy-making, diplomacy, and national leadership. The disrespect these people have for those who decide to serve and improve this country is appalling, and needs to be called into attention.
Barack's sharpening the tone in recent days, but I want to see more, and I want it on my TV screen.
On my TV screen now is the Brewers, who seem to be continuing their epic collapse despite the new manager. Gimme football season, it's gotta be better than this 26th straight year of post-season futility.....or my portfolio.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Bizzaro world
So let me get this straight. 6.1% unemployment, increased poverty, $600 billion deficits, and widespread Wall Street corruption (and the assocaited fallout on our portfolios) aren't a big deal, and the same policies that got us into it are the ones to get us out of it.
Asking questions about a female candidate's views and management abilities is sexism, finding irony in promoting abstinence-only education and the resulting pregnancy of a teenage daughter is "off-limits", and calling the promotion of these same awful ideas with a different packaging "lipstick on a pig" is somehow a personal attack? But ripping on the choice of millions of Americans to do social service work over prostituting themselves to the highest bidder is perfectly fine, and supposed to be proof that "those do-gooders" don't get it?
And people are falling for this crap?
And the ridiculousness of the GOPpers would be a mere annoyance if there wasn't a real threat of people being stupid enough to believe this bullshit. You wonder why me and a lot of others in our mid-30s see no point in trying hard, because if these folks are allowed to succeed, it proves the game is fixed, and not worth participating in.
In addition, I'm watching the Brewers choke their way out of the playoffs AGAIN, losing 7 of 9, including 4 of 6 the freaking Reds and Padres. I'm not even panicking as much as I am totally disgusted, so maybe that's carrying over into my political views. It's almost not worth it for me to keep up with the Crew, even if they make it.
Amazing how a lot of these fears and angers go away when I'm drinking with friends. Maybe there's a point to that which I need to follow. Ah, who am I kidding, OF COURSE that's the point. Sports and beer is real, politics and economics are not, and maybe that needs to be the attitude I should take for the next 8 weeks.
Asking questions about a female candidate's views and management abilities is sexism, finding irony in promoting abstinence-only education and the resulting pregnancy of a teenage daughter is "off-limits", and calling the promotion of these same awful ideas with a different packaging "lipstick on a pig" is somehow a personal attack? But ripping on the choice of millions of Americans to do social service work over prostituting themselves to the highest bidder is perfectly fine, and supposed to be proof that "those do-gooders" don't get it?
And people are falling for this crap?
And the ridiculousness of the GOPpers would be a mere annoyance if there wasn't a real threat of people being stupid enough to believe this bullshit. You wonder why me and a lot of others in our mid-30s see no point in trying hard, because if these folks are allowed to succeed, it proves the game is fixed, and not worth participating in.
In addition, I'm watching the Brewers choke their way out of the playoffs AGAIN, losing 7 of 9, including 4 of 6 the freaking Reds and Padres. I'm not even panicking as much as I am totally disgusted, so maybe that's carrying over into my political views. It's almost not worth it for me to keep up with the Crew, even if they make it.
Amazing how a lot of these fears and angers go away when I'm drinking with friends. Maybe there's a point to that which I need to follow. Ah, who am I kidding, OF COURSE that's the point. Sports and beer is real, politics and economics are not, and maybe that needs to be the attitude I should take for the next 8 weeks.