Hillbilly Elegy- The reality show...

[cosmickid]

I always was curious about JD Vance seeking to run for office in Ohio. since I thought his roots were more centered around West Virginia and Kentucky... Maybe he thought it was easy pickings, but it's turned out to be anything but... And the race is looking more and more like "must see tv"...

Hard to believe these folks were at one point represented by John Kasich, as far as providing the leadership for the Ohio GOP. The craziness first surfaced with the redistricting battle between the GOP-controlled Legislature, the Independent Commission and the Supreme Court. Basically the voters in Ohio approved a fairness in redistricting measure in 2015, which requires the new districts to reflect the 54-46% split, and the Legislators have drawn 4 maps that abused the process. The 4-3 GOP majority Supreme Court has rejected those maps, and in each case it has been the Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor who has sided with the 3 Dems to thwart the wannabee kingmakers in the Legislature. This has resulted in some Legislators calling for her to be Impeached, even though she served as Lt Governor under Taft and has won statewide elections to the Supreme Court on 5 different occasions and her races have never been close. Some background on that here- but this is just the opening act in this 3 ring circus...

The Republican judge blocking her party from rigging electoral districts

Some Republicans are calling for Ohio supreme court chief justice Maureen O’Connor’s impeachment because she is refusing to let them distort electoral districts to their advantage

www.theguardian.com

Then there is the GOP Senate Primary, where the two leading contenders (Mandel and Gibbons) practically came to blows during a debate 3 weeks while ago while Timken and Vance watched initially, and then Vance made a show of getting up and playing peacemaker... The video is like a teenager arguing with Grandpa, while Mom and Dad watch before Dad steps in to make sure junior and Grandpa don't come to blows...


So then last week, there were rumors that Trump was going to pull another Oz and endorse Vance, and Ohio MAGA was in an uproar over that possibility. The other 3 and their people begged Trump not to endorse anyone (and certainly not Vance), but Trump is Trump and he loves him some celebrities. So on Friday...

Trump endorses J.D. Vance against GOP advice

Former President Trump announces his endorsement for J.D. Vance, an Ohio Senate hopeful. Some key Ohio Republican activists have pushed back on the suspected endorsement, writing a letter to Trump hoping he would change his mind on the decision.

www.nbcnews.com

Of course many of Trump's followers were dismayed, pointing out that Vance had called himself a "never-Trumper" in 2016... And then today a one time friend of Vance's named Josh McLaurin released texts that Vance had sent him in 2016, when they were both concerned about what Trump represented...Check out Vance here. Not sure what will be more damaging to Vance- referring to Trump as a possible Hitler, or describing the GOP as the party of "lower-income, lower-education white people"...



Now someone tweeted that Trump put out a statement saying he forgave Vance, and he's since shown he's a MAGA warrior (aka he expressed approval for the Big Lie) But I did see this blurb from NBC announcing that Jr has announced he'll be campaigning with Vance at an upcoming rally in Ohio... Tell me that won't be AWKWARD...

Trump Jr. to campaign with J.D. Vance in Ohio following father's endorsement

The former president's son will headline a town hall forum for Vance near Cleveland.

www.nbcnews.com

I'm thinking the announcement came before the tweet was released...

 

[CO. Hoosier]

I always was curious about JD Vance seeking to run for office in Ohio. since I thought his roots were more centered around West Virginia and Kentucky... Maybe he thought it was easy pickings, but it's turned out to be anything but... And the race is looking more and more like "must see tv"...

Hard to believe these folks were at one point represented by John Kasich, as far as providing the leadership for the Ohio GOP. The craziness first surfaced with the redistricting battle between the GOP-controlled Legislature, the Independent Commission and the Supreme Court. Basically the voters in Ohio approved a fairness in redistricting measure in 2015, which requires the new districts to reflect the 54-46% split, and the Legislators have drawn 4 maps that abused the process. The 4-3 GOP majority Supreme Court has rejected those maps, and in each case it has been the Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor who has sided with the 3 Dems to thwart the wannabee kingmakers in the Legislature. This has resulted in some Legislators calling for her to be Impeached, even though she served as Lt Governor under Taft and has won statewide elections to the Supreme Court on 5 different occasions and her races have never been close. Some background on that here- but this is just the opening act in this 3 ring circus...

The Republican judge blocking her party from rigging electoral districts

Some Republicans are calling for Ohio supreme court chief justice Maureen O’Connor’s impeachment because she is refusing to let them distort electoral districts to their advantage

www.theguardian.com

Then there is the GOP Senate Primary, where the two leading contenders (Mandel and Gibbons) practically came to blows during a debate 3 weeks while ago while Timken and Vance watched initially, and then Vance made a show of getting up and playing peacemaker... The video is like a teenager arguing with Grandpa, while Mom and Dad watch before Dad steps in to make sure junior and Grandpa don't come to blows...

View embedded media

So then last week, there were rumors that Trump was going to pull another Oz and endorse Vance, and Ohio MAGA was in an uproar over that possibility. The other 3 and their people begged Trump not to endorse anyone (and certainly not Vance), but Trump is Trump and he loves him some celebrities. So on Friday...

Trump endorses J.D. Vance against GOP advice

Former President Trump announces his endorsement for J.D. Vance, an Ohio Senate hopeful. Some key Ohio Republican activists have pushed back on the suspected endorsement, writing a letter to Trump hoping he would change his mind on the decision.

www.nbcnews.com

Of course many of Trump's followers were dismayed, pointing out that Vance had called himself a "never-Trumper" in 2016... And then today a one time friend of Vance's named Josh McLaurin released texts that Vance had sent him in 2016, when they were both concerned about what Trump represented...Check out Vance here. Not sure what will be more damaging to Vance- referring to Trump as a possible Hitler, or describing the GOP as the party of "lower-income, lower-education white people"...

View embedded media

Now someone tweeted that Trump put out a statement saying he forgave Vance, and he's since shown he's a MAGA warrior (aka he expressed approval for the Big Lie) But I did see this blurb from NBC announcing that Jr has announced he'll be campaigning with Vance at an upcoming rally in Ohio... Tell me that won't be AWKWARD...

Trump Jr. to campaign with J.D. Vance in Ohio following father's endorsement

The former president's son will headline a town hall forum for Vance near Cleveland.

www.nbcnews.com

I'm thinking the announcement came before the tweet was released...

Vance is a smart guy and he would improve the Senate.

Your Trump-centric analysis and post ignores the basic political shift that is going on before our eyes. The GOP is the party of the commoners these days. And the racial differences among the commoners is not important. While the liberals and Democrats focus on useless stuff like diversity inclusion and equity at elite institutions, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats focus on gender equity, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. Wile the liberals and Democrats focus on eliminating fossil fuels and building charging stations, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part, Trump was singularly focused on jobs. The commoners got that. The liberals and Democrats are focused on irrelevant bullshit.

 

[mcmurtry66]

Vance is a smart guy and he would improve the Senate.

Your Trump-centric analysis and post ignores the basic political shift that is going on before our eyes. The GOP is the party of the commoners these days. And the racial differences among the commoners is not important. While the liberals and Democrats focus on useless stuff like diversity inclusion and equity at elite institutions, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats focus on gender equity, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. Wile the liberals and Democrats focus on eliminating fossil fuels and building charging stations, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part, Trump was singularly focused on jobs. The commoners got that. The liberals and Democrats are focused on irrelevant bullshit.

November is coming

 

[Marvin the Martian]

Vance is a smart guy and he would improve the Senate.

Your Trump-centric analysis and post ignores the basic political shift that is going on before our eyes. The GOP is the party of the commoners these days. And the racial differences among the commoners is not important. While the liberals and Democrats focus on useless stuff like diversity inclusion and equity at elite institutions, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats focus on gender equity, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. Wile the liberals and Democrats focus on eliminating fossil fuels and building charging stations, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part, Trump was singularly focused on jobs. The commoners got that. The liberals and Democrats are focused on irrelevant bullshit.

CO expounding on the virtues of class warfare. Commoners vs others. This is from the guy who always claims to loathe breaking America down into groups. He just doesn't like it when it doesn't support a view he holds.

If it is all about jobs, what is America's unemployment rate today? I think it is 3.6, it was 3.5 in February of 2020. That is a virtual tie and was the best rate of Trump's era.

 

[larsIU]

Vance is a smart guy and he would improve the Senate.

He's duplicitous and sticks his finger in the wind to decide what pants he's wearing that morning.

That won't improve anything.

 

[mcmurtry66]

CO expounding on the virtues of class warfare. Commoners vs others. This is from the guy who always claims to loathe breaking America down into groups. He just doesn't like it when it doesn't support a view he holds.

If it is all about jobs, what is America's unemployment rate today? I think it is 3.6, it was 3.5 in February of 2020. That is a virtual tie and was the best rate of Trump's era.

"...struggle to put food on the table and drive to WORK." Jobs isn't the issue. It's inflation and real wages. His post is spot on. Dems had their eyes on virtue signaling and pandering to the few while big ticket items that impact the many went down the shitter.

I think the majority recognizes the ineptitude of this admin and congress. And they still want to keep spending.

Cosmic is the living embodiment of missing the target. Posting about Q and Jan 6 and this wingnut. Most don't give a shit. They go to the grocery store and see the price of meat and hope their car will still be there when they get out, they see a Biden did this sticker at the pump, and they go to school and ask their kids did you do math today or was it a Mood Monday?

Nov is coming

 

[CO. Hoosier]

He's duplicitous and sticks his finger in the wind to decide what pants he's wearing that morning.

That won't improve anything.

Unfortunately there is a difference between campaigning and governing. (Biden is waving at you).

Vance is a smart guy. He would improve the senate.

 

[Marvin the Martian]

"...struggle to put food on the table and drive to WORK." Jobs isn't the issue. It's inflation and real wages. His post is spot on. Dems has their eyes on virtue signaling and pandering to the few while big ticket items that impact the many went down the shitter.

The Democrats have problems to be sure. The biggest problem is that so many Democrats are Black or gay or Hispanic that recall the days they were the ones beat up at school for being Black, or gay, or Hispanic.

So the GOP is the group that has eliminated labor unions from America, something they have taken great pride in. Unions were an attempt by these same people to leverage their numbers into bargaining power. But CO and his buddies wanted no part of that, the wealthy elite needed to have the upper hand and in that worldview the elite hand out wages only as an act of charity.

There is no stronger force in nature than White outrage. And the core constituencies of the Democratic Party are the target of White outrage.

He said this, "While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part," Of course, if we are to help those struggling to put food on the table we need Buffet's secretary to pay less in taxes than he does. Zuckerberg and Musk sure did a good job at paying a VERY VERY low percentage in taxes:

Bezos, Musk and other billionaires pay next to nothing in income taxes, report says

ProPublica got its hands on a trove of IRS documents.

www.cnet.com

So CO often complains about the power wealthy have in lobbying, but for some reason that doesn't include the lobbying tax code to make sure they pay far less in percentage.

I do believe a lot of what the Democratic constituencies have wanted are problematic. But a lot of it would greatly help the "commoner". Top of that list, real health care reform. Wages have been stifled for a generation because employers pay ever-increasing amounts in health care. On top of it, so do employees as employers try to push off as much of the cost increases as they can. Zuckerberg can afford dependent care, it's the average EMT making $20/hour having to pay most of that for childcare that needs help with childcare. Which party actively opposes such help?

 

[larsIU]

Unfortunately there is a difference between campaigning and governing. (Biden is waving at you).

Vance is a smart guy. He would improve the senate.

Ted Cruz is smart as well. How's that working out.

I agree Vance is smart. But he's turning into a politician. Will he shut it off and be serious in the Senate or will be continue being a complete buffoon.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

complete buffoon.

Stop with the stupid bullshit.

 

[larsIU]

Stop with the stupid bullshit.

Haha. Maybe a toe over the line.

He just angers me b/c I thought he was serious person and that he had touched a nerve not just in Appalachia but through the Rust Belt.

And, even though I know you may not agree, he saw through Trump's charade.

But now? Sigh.

 

[mcmurtry66]

The Democrats have problems to be sure. The biggest problem is that so many Democrats are Black or gay or Hispanic that recall the days they were the ones beat up at school for being Black, or gay, or Hispanic.

So the GOP is the group that has eliminated labor unions from America, something they have taken great pride in. Unions were an attempt by these same people to leverage their numbers into bargaining power. But CO and his buddies wanted no part of that, the wealthy elite needed to have the upper hand and in that worldview the elite hand out wages only as an act of charity.

There is no stronger force in nature than White outrage. And the core constituencies of the Democratic Party are the target of White outrage.

He said this, "While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part," Of course, if we are to help those struggling to put food on the table we need Buffet's secretary to pay less in taxes than he does. Zuckerberg and Musk sure did a good job at paying a VERY VERY low percentage in taxes:

Bezos, Musk and other billionaires pay next to nothing in income taxes, report says

ProPublica got its hands on a trove of IRS documents.

www.cnet.com

So CO often complains about the power wealthy have in lobbying, but for some reason that doesn't include the lobbying tax code to make sure they pay far less in percentage.

I do believe a lot of what the Democratic constituencies have wanted are problematic. But a lot of it would greatly help the "commoner". Top of that list, real health care reform. Wages have been stifled for a generation because employers pay ever-increasing amounts in health care. On top of it, so do employees as employers try to push off as much of the cost increases as they can. Zuckerberg can afford dependent care, it's the average EMT making $20/hour having to pay most of that for childcare that needs help with childcare. Which party actively opposes such help?

I agree with much of what you write, most in fact, but it doesn't touch "the commoner" imo, at least not in a everyday kind of way. Of course the uber wealthy need to pay their fair share in taxes. But Joe Bag of Doughnuts already sees the world as unfair or us vs. them and they (Musk/zuckerberg etc.) are fairytale people anyway. He wants to know who will make an immediate difference by bringing down the price of a rack of ribs. Tomorrow. Not tax code shit. His world stuff.

And I agree re healthcare. But that's never happening. The focus needs to be on bringing down the costs of services, and it's rarely discussed. Nationalized or uniform health care won't happen in our lives, so again that's another pie in the sky issue.

I have a ton of hispanic friends. They have all turned on the Dems. We talk daily about it on our chats. From crime, to what they perceive as socialist aims, to all the virtue-signaling they are done. Most support DeSantis now, which two years ago wouldn't have been the case. This batch of Dems has torpedoed its own party. And it's media doesn't help. They are like the OP. Talking about Trump and Jan 6 and Maga and Q shit. The vast majority of people live in the real world...the "Biden Did This" world.

 

[zeke4ahs]

Vance is a smart guy and he would improve the Senate.

Your Trump-centric analysis and post ignores the basic political shift that is going on before our eyes. The GOP is the party of the commoners these days. And the racial differences among the commoners is not important. While the liberals and Democrats focus on useless stuff like diversity inclusion and equity at elite institutions, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats focus on gender equity, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. Wile the liberals and Democrats focus on eliminating fossil fuels and building charging stations, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part, Trump was singularly focused on jobs. The commoners got that. The liberals and Democrats are focused on irrelevant bullshit.

Because the conservatives are always focused on important things like protesting Disney, accusing liberals of being pedophiles and groomers, attacking a tiny percentage of athletes who are trans, attacking teachers, book banning. Do conservatives ever have a single issue that actually helps the country? For years they really only run on social issues.
As Vance astutely mentioned the GOP is the party of the undereducated that thrive on the social outrage that makes them feel better about themselves.

 

[larsIU]

He wants to know who will make an immediate difference by bringing down the price of a rack of ribs. Tomorrow. Not tax code shit. His world stuff.

I don't think any political body is going to make an immediate difference. And I'm really beginning to believe we lack the foresight to put into place plans to actual tackle the long term and deep seeded economic problems in this country.

 

[Marvin the Martian]

I agree with much of what you write, most in fact, but it doesn't touch "the commoner" imo, at least not in a everyday kind of way. Of course the uber wealthy need to pay their fair share in taxes. But Joe Bag of Doughnuts already sees the world as unfair or us vs. them and they (Musk/zuckerberg etc.) are fairytale people anyway. He wants to know who will make an immediate difference by bringing down the price of a rack of ribs. Tomorrow. Not tax code shit. His world stuff.

And I agree re healthcare. But that's never happening. The focus needs to be on bringing down the costs of services, and it's rarely discussed. Nationalized or uniform health care won't happen in our lives, so again that's another pie in the sky issue.

I have a ton of hispanic friends. They have all turned on the Dems. We talk daily about it on our chats. From crime, to what they perceive as socialist aims, to all the virtue-signaling they are done. Most support DeSantis now, which two years ago wouldn't have been the case. This batch of Dems has torpedoed its own party. And it's media doesn't help. They are like the OP. Talking about Trump and Jan 6 and Maga and Q shit. The vast majority of people live in the real world...the "Biden Did This" world.

And helping parents with childcare would be a way to help the commoner. Childcare is damn expensive.

I grew up very much hillbilly elegy, Scotch-Irish working-poor family in a working-poor neighborhood that loved George Wallace. When our kids were young, we had no money and lived then as now in a very working-class neighborhood. I know what it is to have a parent work almost solely to pay for the childcare to allow them to work. We are kidding ourselves if we don't believe this is a problem that needs to be worked on.

Why won't healthcare get fixed? You won't blame the GOP, I get that, but the reason healthcare won't get fixed is that the GOP flat out refuses to look at anything to fix it.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

The Democrats have problems to be sure. The biggest problem is that so many Democrats are Black or gay or Hispanic that recall the days they were the ones beat up at school for being Black, or gay, or Hispanic.

So the GOP is the group that has eliminated labor unions from America, something they have taken great pride in. Unions were an attempt by these same people to leverage their numbers into bargaining power. But CO and his buddies wanted no part of that, the wealthy elite needed to have the upper hand and in that worldview the elite hand out wages only as an act of charity.

There is no stronger force in nature than White outrage. And the core constituencies of the Democratic Party are the target of White outrage.

He said this, "While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part," Of course, if we are to help those struggling to put food on the table we need Buffet's secretary to pay less in taxes than he does. Zuckerberg and Musk sure did a good job at paying a VERY VERY low percentage in taxes:

Bezos, Musk and other billionaires pay next to nothing in income taxes, report says

ProPublica got its hands on a trove of IRS documents.

www.cnet.com

So CO often complains about the power wealthy have in lobbying, but for some reason that doesn't include the lobbying tax code to make sure they pay far less in percentage.

I do believe a lot of what the Democratic constituencies have wanted are problematic. But a lot of it would greatly help the "commoner". Top of that list, real health care reform. Wages have been stifled for a generation because employers pay ever-increasing amounts in health care. On top of it, so do employees as employers try to push off as much of the cost increases as they can. Zuckerberg can afford dependent care, it's the average EMT making $20/hour having to pay most of that for childcare that needs help with childcare. Which party actively opposes such help?

Wow. You unloaded on me. Not an argument.

I don’t defend the tax code for one second. And you know damn well that “pay their fair share” is not about taxes but is about Schadenfreude and politics. Most of the good manufactusing jobs are moving to states with right to work laws. Most unions these days are not about workers but about unions themselves and politics. Total employment these days is well below Trump’s pre-pandemic shut-down levels. And play that victimization in a different thread. It doesn’t play well in a point that recognizes the real victims are people who struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. The Democrats can yell and scream all they want about trans rights are today’s civil rights. Most of the country knows that’s Biden’s bullshit and is irrelevant.

 

[mcmurtry66]

I don't think any political body is going to make an immediate difference. And I'm really beginning to believe we lack the foresight to put into place plans to actual tackle the long term and deep seeded economic problems in this country.

It would be nice to have a third party. But I long took an optimistic view regarding the deep-seeded economic problems in this country and after the last year I've completely lost it. And I don't place that on Dems, I place it on pandemic stuff. We are moving this fall and actively looking at the housing market and it is insane. INSANE. And this isn't like 08. These loans weren't subprime and predicated on stated income bs, etc. Due diligence, underwriting was up to snuff and the people were qualified. Prices are not going to go down appreciably. The American Dream is going to be gone for a massive portion of our population because of this and there's no way wages can ever increase enough to make up that gap. We have big problems looming imo

 

[mcmurtry66]

And helping parents with childcare would be a way to help the commoner. Childcare is damn expensive.

I grew up very much hillbilly elegy, Scotch-Irish working-poor family in a working-poor neighborhood that loved George Wallace. When our kids were young, we had no money and lived then as now in a very working-class neighborhood. I know what it is to have a parent work almost solely to pay for the childcare to allow them to work. We are kidding ourselves if we don't believe this is a problem that needs to be worked on.

Why won't healthcare get fixed? You won't blame the GOP, I get that, but the reason healthcare won't get fixed is that the GOP flat out refuses to look at anything to fix it.

Two things. We disagree a bit on childcare. I think it's a reality but I also think it's overstated to some extent. The vast majority of "poor" people aren't sending their kids to expensive daycare. They are sending their kids to $20 a day moms in the neighborhood. Unlicensed, untaxed moms. Childcare is all of the sudden at the forefront of issues. Nothing has changed in that regard. Childcare was the same drill two years.

Healthcare won't get fixed for myriad reasons that invoke IGW. Lobbyists and the healthcare and insurance industries won't allow it to happen. Hell even doctors won't. You look at most places where healthcare is nationalized doctors don't make what they do here. Doctors expect to be paid. It's part and parcel to the gig

 

[Univee2]

Unfortunately there is a difference between campaigning and governing. (Biden is waving at you).

Vance is a smart guy. He would improve the senate.

Interesting primary. The commercials are never-ending. The five main GOP candidates all have some flaws but any of the five would be an improvement over Pelosi-acolyte Tim Ryan. The two best - Jane Timken and Matt Dolan - have not been able to gain the traction. The other three are in a cage match. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Timken or Dolan come through the smoke of a last lap collision and win this thing in two weeks. But, if I had to bet, I think Vance pulls it out. Folks are tired of Mandel’s act and Gibbons just wants to knock heads, NTTAWWT. Timken has Senator Portman’s endorsement but I can’t figure if that’s a positive or not.

 

[larsIU]

It would be nice to have a third party. But I long took an optimistic view regarding the deep-seeded economic problems in this country and after the last year I've completely lost it. And I don't place that on Dems, I place it on pandemic stuff. We are moving this fall and actively looking at the housing market and it is insane. INSANE. And this isn't like 08. These loans weren't subprime and predicated on stated income bs, etc. Due diligence, underwriting was up to snuff and the people were qualified. Prices are not going to go down appreciably. The American Dream is going to be gone for a massive portion of our population because of this and there's no way wages can ever increase enough to make up that gap. We have big problems looming imo

The one thing that the pandemic may have uncovered is that remote work in many professional fields works just fine.

If remote work remains a thing going forward I could see many living in the middle of the country rather than the coasts. Maybe it doesn't matter anyway b/c parents chase school districts, etc. But there could be an opportunity for places like Lafayette, Ft Wayne and others in Middle America to build out their infrastructure smartly focusing on education services. Attract people who can't afford to live in an $800,000 house in a Tampa suburb.

I come to an office everyday. Pointless. My wife has worked at home for the past two years. No issues.

I mean, commercial real estate is dead in many areas. We're living in WEIRD times, now how do I make money this time?

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

It would be nice to have a third party. But I long took an optimistic view regarding the deep-seeded economic problems in this country and after the last year I've completely lost it. And I don't place that on Dems, I place it on pandemic stuff. We are moving this fall and actively looking at the housing market and it is insane. INSANE. And this isn't like 08. These loans weren't subprime and predicated on stated income bs, etc. Due diligence, underwriting was up to snuff and the people were qualified. Prices are not going to go down appreciably. The American Dream is going to be gone for a massive portion of our population because of this and there's no way wages can ever increase enough to make up that gap. We have big problems looming imo

While trying to be as apolitical as possible, I must ask: Are you including your move/housing search in south Florida's gated communities for your Golden Years on par with the struggles of those trying to attain the American Dream?
I've probably misread. your intentions, and for that, I apologize.

 

[mcmurtry66]

The one thing that the pandemic may have uncovered is that remote work in many professional fields works just fine.

If remote work remains a thing going forward I could see many living in the middle of the country rather than the coasts. Maybe it doesn't matter anyway b/c parents chase school districts, etc. But there could be an opportunity for places like Lafayette, Ft Wayne and others in Middle America to build out their infrastructure smartly focusing on education services. Attract people who can't afford to live in an $800,000 house in a Tampa suburb.

I come to an office everyday. Pointless. My wife has worked at home for the past two years. No issues.

I mean, commercial real estate is dead in many areas. We're living in WEIRD times, now how do I make money this time?

NFT's. Start with Bill Murray images and anecdotes

 

[larsIU]

Healthcare won't get fixed for myriad reasons that invoke IGW. Lobbyists and the healthcare and insurance industries won't allow it to happen. Hell even doctors won't. You look at most places where healthcare is nationalized doctors don't make what they do here. Doctors expect to be paid. It's part and parcel to the gig

Maybe it's a feature, not a bug....but, this is the problem with our system of government. And I don't mean republicanism, I mean the perversion that is our special interest driven politics (paging IGW, pick up the red line please).

I bet if we sat in a room we could likely agree a single payor system done right would be more beneficial and cheaper to more Americans than the current system. But that will never be reality. Why? When is enough, enough with this shit. It's like knowing the solution to a math problem but just deciding "nah, I'm good". We just lack the will.

 

[larsIU]

NFT's. Start with Bill Murray images and anecdotes

F*ck, I went with David Spade. It was cheap.

 

[Univee2]

Two things. We disagree a bit on childcare. I think it's a reality but I also think it's overstated to some extent. The vast majority of "poor" people aren't sending their kids to expensive daycare. They are sending their kids to $20 a day moms in the neighborhood. Unlicensed, untaxed moms. Childcare is all of the sudden at the forefront of issues. Nothing has changed in that regard. Childcare was the same drill two years.

Healthcare won't get fixed for myriad reasons that invoke IGW. Lobbyists and the healthcare and insurance industries won't allow it to happen. Hell even doctors won't. You look at most places where healthcare is nationalized doctors don't make what they do here. Doctors expect to be paid. It's part and parcel to the gig

Our GP fired us, after months of e-mails, texts, recorded messages and slick mailings announcing his new, limited, expensive, boutique practice. Supposed to be more “individualized care.” When I asked what that includes or how it was different, he replied that if, for example, I needed prostate care (I don’t; my PSA numbers have always been low and, knock on wood, I hope they stay that way) they would make our travel arrangements to get to The Cleveland Clinic. Oh . . . That’s what we get for an annual fee of $1,800 for each of us.

 

[mcmurtry66]

While trying to be as apolitical as possible, I must ask: Are you including your move/housing search in south Florida's gated communities for your Golden Years on par with the struggles of those trying to attain the American Dream?
I've probably misread. your intentions, and for that, I apologize.

Not at all. It's here in Saint Louis too. Prices have exploded. You might remember Kirkwood and Webster. Kind of suburbs that are a little south and very family-oriented. A decent house is $700,000 - 800,000. 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 2,500 sq feet

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Not at all. It's here in Saint Louis too. Prices have exploded. You might remember Kirkwood and Webster. Kind of suburbs that are a little south and very family-oriented. A decent house is $700,000 - 800,000. 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 2,500 sq feet

I looked at your link before you edited it...those are some nice 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom homes.
(I see why you cut that link out.)

 

[mcmurtry66]

Our GP fired us, after months of e-mails, texts, recorded messages and slick mailings announcing his new, limited, expensive, boutique practice. Supposed to be more “individualized care.” When I asked what that includes or how it was different, he replied that if, for example, I needed prostate care (I don’t; my PSA numbers have always been low and, knock on wood, I hope they stay that way) they would make our travel arrangements to get to The Cleveland Clinic. Oh . . . That’s what we get for an annual fee of $1,800 for each of us.

Oh yeah. Concierge care. $1,800 is actually cheap. I've heard of a grand a month. Sign up fast before there's no more places.... Fing hell

 

[mcmurtry66]

I looked at your link before you edited it...those are some nice 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom homes.
(I see why you cut that link out.)

But that's not Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, Town and Country. That's where "families" are supposed to live. Middle-class families. And again that's middle america. A dying city. Not anywhere good. Those homes shouldn't be $800,000 they should be $400,000

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

But that's not Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, Town and Country. That's where "families" are supposed to live. Middle-class families.

C'mon, man...that was a page full of 3,000+ SF homes, and you knew that looked a little too elite for your argument, so. you deleted it
That's fine

 

[Univee2]

Oh yeah. Concierge care. $1,800 is actually cheap. I've heard of a grand a month. Sign up fast before there's no more places.... Fing hell

Yikers. That’s just obscene. But, I guess if they can get it more power to ‘em.

 

[mcmurtry66]

C'mon, man...that was a page full of 3,000+ SF homes, and you knew that looked a little too elite for your argument, so. you deleted it
That's fine

Here. Not at all. That's all the 3 and 3 existing homes in Kirkwood. Some of these homes are older than shit. $800,000 for a 2,500 square foot home in a southern suburb of Stl is ridiculous in my eyes. And what they don't share are the neighbors two bedroom one hundred year old ranch next to it and the eyesore across the street waiting to be torn down to make a new $1,000,000 3,200 sq ft cookie cutter home

Kirkwood, MO Real Estate - Kirkwood Homes for Sale | realtor.com®

View 47 homes for sale in Kirkwood, MO at a median listing home price of $400,000. See pricing and listing details of Kirkwood real estate for sale.

www.realtor.com

 

[larsIU]

S

But that's not Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, Town and Country. That's where "families" are supposed to live. Middle-class families. And again that's middle america. A dying city. Not anywhere good. Those homes shouldn't be $800,000 they should be $400,000

Shit, did you see this one up in Wisky? No way that's 400k.



(Hint - definitely check the pictures)

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Here. Not at all. Some of these homes are older than shit. $800,000 for a 2,500 square foot home in a southern suburb of Stl is ridiculous in my eyes

Kirkwood, MO Real Estate - Kirkwood Homes for Sale | realtor.com®

View 47 homes for sale in Kirkwood, MO at a median listing home price of $400,000. See pricing and listing details of Kirkwood real estate for sale.

www.realtor.com

But, you posted that page in a Hillbilly Elegy thread.
Do you really not want to admit to the obvious disconnect?
Plus...St. Louis! Location, location, location!!!

 

[IUCrazy2]

Because the conservatives are always focused on important things like protesting Disney, accusing liberals of being pedophiles and groomers, attacking a tiny percentage of athletes who are trans, attacking teachers, book banning. Do conservatives ever have a single issue that actually helps the country? For years they really only run on social issues.
As Vance astutely mentioned the GOP is the party of the undereducated that thrive on the social outrage that makes them feel better about themselves.

**** right off with that shit. You know in order to be in opposition to that stuff, it has to be in existence to begin with. You all need to go back to teaching academic subjects in school instead of treating them like your own personal activist factories. Stop that and we'll shut up. The fact you won't accept restrictions on what supposedly is not happening is a pretty big ****ing clue that it is happening.

Edit to remove a mean word.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

**** right off with that shit. You know in order to be in opposition to that stuff, it has to be in existence to begin with. You mother****ers need to go back to teaching academic subjects in school instead of treating them like your own personal activist factories. Stop that and we'll shut up. The fact you won't accept restrictions on what supposedly is not happening is a pretty big ****ing clue that it is happening.

How's Yvonne Stokes doing anyway? (serious question...this post sounds like some runoff from disdain for her)

 

[mushroomgod_1]

Vance is a smart guy and he would improve the Senate.

Your Trump-centric analysis and post ignores the basic political shift that is going on before our eyes. The GOP is the party of the commoners these days. And the racial differences among the commoners is not important. While the liberals and Democrats focus on useless stuff like diversity inclusion and equity at elite institutions, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats focus on gender equity, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. Wile the liberals and Democrats focus on eliminating fossil fuels and building charging stations, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. While the liberals and Democrats yammer about the wealthy paying their fair share, the commoners struggle to put food on the table and struggle to drive to work. For his part, Trump was singularly focused on jobs. The commoners got that. The liberals and Democrats are focused on irrelevant bullshit.

"Diversity, Inclusion, Equity"......DIE for short says Gutfield, appropriately

 

[IUCrazy2]

How's Yvonne Stokes doing anyway? (serious question...this post sounds like some runoff from disdain for her)

Honestly, she has been meh. Just a continuation of the system that was already in place before she arrived. Placing all the blame on her would be unfair.

Edit to add: A couple things have me frosty this morning...took that out on Zeke. That is why I went back and removed one of the words I used as being too harsh.

 

[mcmurtry66]

But, you posted that page in a Hillbilly Elegy thread.
Do you really not want to admit to the obvious disconnect?
Plus...St. Louis! Location, location, location!!!

No. Lars noted the deep-seeded economic issues and I replied that it's being exacerbated by housing prices and the American Dream being farther out of reach, as evidenced by the costs of homes in middle America, a city with a dead downtown, no mountains, and no beach

 

[mcmurtry66]

Yikers. That’s just obscene. But, I guess if they can get it more power to ‘em.

Yeah once they hit some figure, 400 patients or whatever they call them, they don't take more. And no matter what they get monthly checks