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Hillbilly Elegy- The reality show...

"...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
They had 49(?) Senate votes for spending many more billions.........where would inflation be today were it not for Manchin? But hey have the full support of the neurotics on this board.
 
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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.
It works out just fine. Thanks for asking.
 
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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:


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?
You got more than your usual share of nonsense in that post.
 
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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
Hey, aren't houses worth as much as people are willing (not so much able) to pay for them? Capitalism?
 
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I guess. I'm just amazed at the prices. Prices where one would expect houses to be cheap.
Well, they must have something going for them...most of those houses are listed as "Pending".

BTW, before we moved downtown 3 years ago, my wife and I sold our clunker of a house in Center Grove for waaaaay too much. Looked at it online the other day, and the "value" is such that I'm kicking myself for not waiting.
But, believe me, getting out of CG was its own reward. :D
 
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Well, they must have something going for them...most of those houses are listed as "Pending".

BTW, before we moved downtown 3 years ago, my wife and I sold our clunker of a house in Center Grove for waaaaay too much. Looked at it online the other day, and the "value" is such that I'm kicking myself for not waiting.
But, getting out of CG was its own reward. :D
I swear to God Bulk it doesn't matter where you look. 90 percent of the homes out there are pending and at ridiculous prices. All over.

Yeah it was impossible to know.
 
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I swear to God Bulk it doesn't matter where you look. 90 percent of the homes out there are pending and at ridiculous prices. All over.

Yeah it was impossible to know.
So, that means someone is buying them, right? Doesn't demand drive up prices? Wouldn't prices drop if the houses were sitting empty for years? I know that's not totally true, I guess. I seem to remember overpriced houses sitting empty for years during the housing bubble crisis. (seriously...I'm kind of ignorant on economic topics)
 
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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
I don't think doctos are uniformly against it. First, a poll showed 49% of physicians support Medicare for All.


Second, a couple large physician groups have come out in favor:


 
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So, that means someone is buying them, right? Doesn't demand drive up prices? Wouldn't prices drop if the houses were sitting empty for years? I know that's not totally true, I guess. I seem to remember overpriced houses sitting empty for years during the housing bubble crisis. (seriously...I'm kind of ignorant on economic topics)
It's a confluence of issues that gave rise to this mess: working from home; low rates; and low inventory. It's created a situation that's totally unique and unlike what transpired in 08, which was largely a product of funding people who weren't qualified and quickly realized same, which gave rise to robo foreclosures etc. That won't happen this time.
 
I don't think doctos are uniformly against it. First, a poll showed 49% of physicians support Medicare for All.


Second, a couple large physician groups have come out in favor:


One: doctors are the worst business people on the planet. Bar none. Two I don't believe these polls inasmuch as I don't believe these doctors know what they are talking about. If they knew anything they wouldn't have been usurped by MBAs. Everything I've read indicated that medicare for all would result in lower wages for doctors. In my own experience I have dealt extensively with medicare. Medicare reimbursement rates for medical care are a tiny fracture of that what private insurance or self pay reimburses at. Many doctors won't even accept medicAID patients. I wouldn't be surprised if most don't accept medicaid. Again the reimbursement rates are too low. The cost of becoming a doctor, the time involved, the lost income, do not jive with gov subsidized reimbursement rates imo.

When the rubber meets the road and physician groups get a clearer picture of the accounting it'll never happen.
 
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Well, they must have something going for them...most of those houses are listed as "Pending".

BTW, before we moved downtown 3 years ago, my wife and I sold our clunker of a house in Center Grove for waaaaay too much. Looked at it online the other day, and the "value" is such that I'm kicking myself for not waiting.
But, believe me, getting out of CG was its own reward. :D
Damn. What do you have against the Center Grove?
 
It's a confluence of issues that gave rise to this mess: working from home; low rates; and low inventory. It's created a situation that's totally unique and unlike what transpired in 08, which was largely a product of funding people who weren't qualified and quickly realized same, which gave rise to robo foreclosures etc. That won't happen this time.
Well, the median household income in Kirkwood is almost $95,000. While not even close to being in your stratosphere (or even mine, for that matter, and by the standards on this board, I'm just a poor schlub), I doubt if the Joad family is pulling up to the outskirts of town in their overloaded truck looking for affordable housing.
 
Well, the median household income in Kirkwood is almost $95,000. While not even close to being in your stratosphere (or even mine, for that matter, and by the standards on this board, I'm just a poor schlub), I doubt if the Joad family is pulling up to the outskirts of town in their overloaded truck looking for affordable housing.
I think you're missing my point. And probably because you aren't from here so it's hard to relate. But this was a catholic town where a middle class family with kids could have a 2,500 square foot 3 bedroom 3 bath newer home at a decent price. And maybe I'm just out of it but I still don't think of a $800,000 home as middle class. I think of that as solidly UPPER middle class
 
I don't think doctos are uniformly against it. First, a poll showed 49% of physicians support Medicare for All.


Second, a couple large physician groups have come out in favor:


I mean it's only common sense Marv. If an average arthro knee surgery is 20k maybe Cigna reimburses at 15k. Medicare might reimburse at $3,500. Why would doctors go for that? Medicare for all would be tantamount to Medicare/Medicaid rates across the board. Doctors, hospitals and physician groups would be cutting their noses off to spite their faces to support it. So I don't believe it
 
I mean it's only common sense Marv. If an average arthro knee surgery is 20k maybe Cigna reimburses at 15k. Medicare might reimburse at $3,500. Why would doctors go for that? Medicare for all would be tantamount to Medicare/Medicaid rates across the board. Doctors, hospitals and physician groups would be cutting their noses off to spite their faces to support it. So I don't believe it
Those groups I linked are mostly GPs. GPs make less. They deal with a wider variety of cases which results in more billing confusion and thus more time spent billing. GPs seem to support it, specialists not probably for your reasons.

But as is pointed out elsewhere, some GPs are heading out to concierge. I suspect this will make the GP shortage worse for those who cannot afford the concierge price model. Paying the doctor for specialized care on top of paying the insurance.

Also, medical malpractice insurance will drop. Why? a huge part of medical malpractice awards is for future medical bills. Guess what, future medical bills will be far less under MFA. I saw more ideas on adding into MFA a safe harbor for following standard evidence-based medicine.
 
Those groups I linked are mostly GPs. GPs make less. They deal with a wider variety of cases which results in more billing confusion and thus more time spent billing. GPs seem to support it, specialists not probably for your reasons.

But as is pointed out elsewhere, some GPs are heading out to concierge. I suspect this will make the GP shortage worse for those who cannot afford the concierge price model. Paying the doctor for specialized care on top of paying the insurance.

Also, medical malpractice insurance will drop. Why? a huge part of medical malpractice awards is for future medical bills. Guess what, future medical bills will be far less under MFA. I saw more ideas on adding into MFA a safe harbor for following standard evidence-based medicine.
Agreed with most but disagree with Med Mal insurance dropping. Insurance companies won't do that. It's been a long time but last I looked at the research med mal carriers didn't drop insurance rates despite SIGNIFICANT tort reform - caps, etc reducing recoveries/payouts
 
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.
Preferring that athletes compete against those who are the same biological sex is not “attacking” trans athletes, you lunatic.
 
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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
$20 a day? lol

DO you know how much a gallon of milk costs, President Bush?
 
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.
The GOP hardly has a monopoly on this act. A summer of riots and looting taught us that.
 
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
I just helped my nephew with a "loan" for a down payment on a starter home (long story). This POS Pulte cookie cutter home in Ind cost $235K 18 months ago and he paid $360K with no post inspection remediation...take it or get the **** out of the way.
 
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The GOP is the party for the rich and entrepreneurs. This party wins elections using astute politics such as creating hot-button topics like abortion for evangelicals and immigration for rural whites.

The DNP is the party for liberals, city dwellers and hired hands. This party loses elections by dwelling on social justice issues which gradually get handled by the courts and the business community anyway.
 
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.
Well this is cute- btw which of those "for the common people" Pubs do you support in PA? Hedge-fund honcho McCormick (who moved from CT to run) or tv grifter and snake oil salesman OZ (who still actually lives in NJ)? The two have spent a combined $18 Million of their own money to run so they can make things better for the "common man".

"The two wealthy Republican rivals have been pummeling each other in TV ads since late last year. According to financial disclosure forms, Oz and McCormick had spent a combined $18 million of their own money on the race through the end of March. McCormick also has the backing of a super-PAC that received $5 million from Chicago hedge fund chief Ken Griffin earlier this year."

Oz even put out a video of him "shopping" in a grocery store, complaining about Biden raising the cost of groceries so high that he had to pay $20 "for crudite BEFORE the tequilla"... Some real "salt of the Earth" commentary there...



But back to the topic of this particular thread, which was the GOP PRIMARY civil war in OHIO. Of course your cute answer had nothing to do with the thread I started, or really anything other than you posting your spiel... My thread is about the May 3 Primary, I didn't even mention a single Dem candidate, or a "basic political shift" and it was "Trump centric" because 5 Trumpers are running for Portman's seat and Trump has infuriated the supporters of the other 4 by endorsing Vance- because Vance is a "celebrity"...

You said the Dems focus on "irrelevant bullshit"... For the purpose of THIS thread your post is focused on irrelevant bullshit. I never even mentioned the general election, or any of the issues you brought up which supposedly distinguish your GOP from the terrible "liberals"... I pointed out the problems Trump causes when he interjects himself in a race, and how against the advice of his own advisors he just can't help himself. Because after all, he IS Trump... A failed reality tv star in his own reality spinoff...
 
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the commoners struggle to put food on the table
Then how did those commoners get so f**king fat?

Have you ever seen a Trump rally... it's a walrus hippo festival.

They may have a problem putting food on a table but they sure as shit don't have a problem stuffing it down their throat.

lmao ... claiming a bunch of overweight morons have problems putting food on their table.

You just make shit up ...
 
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Then how did those commoners get so f**king fat?

Have you ever seen a Trump rally... it's a walrus hippo festival.

They may have a problem putting food on a table but they sure as shit don't have a problem stuffing it down their throat.

lmao ... claiming a bunch of overweight morons have problems putting food on their table.

You just make shit up ...
Dumb. The only thing dumber is you claiming to have a brain
 
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**** 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.
Um what are you even talking about here? Seriously no clue. Own little personal activist factories? What a hoot. Yes teachers are grooming children. Yes elementary schools are teaching CRT. Yes teachers are trying to turn your children gay. You happy now? The only thing that happens regularly in any schools that I am aware of is what is now called SEL. And for many reasons that we’ve discussed multiple times, the country better hope teachers are still allowed to teach basic common courtesy, responsibility, respect, etc. It would be nice if they were all getting that at home, but sadly that’s not the case. PS the post was about a lot more than teachers.
 
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Preferring that athletes compete against those who are the same biological sex is not “attacking” trans athletes, you lunatic.
Did I say it was? Would you like examples of how trans are being attacked? Id be happy to send you some. However since you picked one thing out of multiples listed, the discussion was about conservatives focusing on minute issues that affect very few people. Like the Utah law…. One trans athlete in the state. You really think this is one of the most pressing problems we have? Nice name calling. Seem like a truly nice guy there, doc. Not sure why I actually answered you, guess I should have just called you a name in kind.
 
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It's a confluence of issues that gave rise to this mess: working from home; low rates; and low inventory. It's created a situation that's totally unique and unlike what transpired in 08, which was largely a product of funding people who weren't qualified and quickly realized same, which gave rise to robo foreclosures etc. That won't happen this time.
The FED has also had their hand in it as well. Who knew pumping trillions into the system will drive up asset prices? It’s f#cking awful for young people trying to buy their first home. Within 18 months houses have increased 20-25% and interest rates are nearing 6-7%. Luckily, Blackrock bought up all the houses and will now rent it to them for a higher price than what a mortgage would have cost in 2020😬.
 
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But back to the topic of this particular thread, which was the GOP PRIMARY civil war in OHIO. Of course your cute answer had nothing to do with the thread I started, or really anything other than you posting your spiel... My thread is about the May 3 Primary, I didn't even mention a single Dem candidate, or a "basic political shift" and it was "Trump centric" because 5 Trumpers are running for Portman's seat and Trump has infuriated the supporters of the other 4 by endorsing Vance- because Vance is a "celebrity"...
So you just knew if Donnie was going to endorse Vance and try to get him over the hump, there was going to have to be some sort of coup directed towards Mandel. Poor Josh, he's about to learn a very hard lesson- Trump is a snake who cares only about himself. And Josh is a desperate idiot...

So check out the latest attacks on poor Josh, with Jr taking point...I will give Trump credit for one thing he's reportedly said- Mandel is definitely a weird dork...

 
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


Meh...looks not much different than the Indy market.
 
November is coming
And the liberals and democrats are going to get their ignorant woke asses kicked out of control of house and senate. Biden’s puppeteer is going to rule the country as a dictator going around the house and senate.

We will see in November 2024 how Americans react to it being more important to teach six year olds to get rid of their genitals than doing something constructive about rising fuel prices and groceries. I suppose since it’s Putin’s fault he can assassinate him.
 
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Meh...looks not much different than the Indy market.
That's not good imo. The median house today in the US is $375,000. The median household income is $70,000. They say 2.5x your income is roughly affordability. That's a 175,000 house. Less than half the median price. And I know rates impact that etc, but salaries are being far outpaced by big ticket items like homes, and cars where the avg price of a new car is almost 50k. My stoker's cousin's kid is starting IU in the fall. $55,000. One kid. He got into Kelley so they are going to pay it but damn. That's a public school.

The average Joe starting out is in deep shit chasing the American Dream
 
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That's not good imo. The median house today in the US is $375,000. The median household income is $70,000. They say 2.5x your income is roughly affordability. That's a 175,000 house. Less than half the median price. And I know rates impact that etc, but salaries are being far outpaced by big ticket items like homes, and cars where the avg price of a new car is almost 50k. My stoker's cousin's kid is starting IU in the fall. $55,000. One kid. He got into Kelley so they are going to pay it but damn. That's a public school.

The average Joe starting out is in deep shit chasing the American Dream
When you print unlimited money and run up 30 trillion dollar debts, you get asset inflation. Of course it screws over the middle/lower classes and is one of the main drivers for income inequality. How do you fix this? What should especially young people do? Adopt the bitcoin standard and watch fiat continue to implode.
 
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