[livinincali]

Ultimately taxpayers want a defined contribution. I want to know what the true costs for each service are and pay for them now. If the fire fighters union or police union want to take this defined contribution, pool it and set it up as a defined benefit plan that’s fine. When actuary projections don’t pan out the members of the plan either have to contribute more out of their pay check or redefine the benefit. I just want the risk moved from the taxpayer to beneficiaries. If they chose to use a 401K that’s fine too, if they just hand people the money and say you get no retirement that’s fine also. Let the people/unions decide whats the best way for them to provide retirement.

The bottom line in my eyes is that comfortable retirement of the masses is a relatively new concept that is going to fail. It’s just not possible from a logical prospective. Producers of goods and services are going to provide for themselves and their family first. The remaining goods and services produced are available for retirees to compete for. The only way to give retirees more goods and services is to take more goods and services away from the producers. Want a 40K pension for all, triple the social security taxes (i.e. take a lot more from the producers)

[livinincali]

The EMTALA is the law responsible for forcing hospitals to treat people regardless of their ability to pay. It was passed by congress in 1986.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Medical_Treatment_and_Active_Labor_Act

Before EMTALA their were charity hospitals that were funded by donations and volunteers that would treat people that had no ability to pay. The treatment was likely of lower quality and you couldn’t guarantee that there was one close enough that you wouldn’t die in transport, but you theoretically had access to affordable treatment.

The bottom line for in nearly every country whether it’s single payer, cash only, or what we have there’s no way to afford the best available treatment option for everybody. Ration care which is what happens in Single Payer countries or best care goes to the highest bidder China, Mexico, etc.

Insurance should cover the freak cancer case (40 and otherwise healthy) or the broken leg in a accident. Truly one off events that don’t happen all that often and for many people never happen. Insurance can’t cover the cost of just getting old. We all need to save for that.

[livinincali]

People lending money with the fear of losing money is what makes people act responsibly…..it is a very important ingredient in our economic system.

Essentially one could view deferred compensation like pension benefits and medical benefits as loans to the government. Was union leadership irresponsible for accepting IOUs so the city could continue to go on a spending binge. If you loan your buddy some money and expect to be paid back you don’t send him to vegas with your friends when he gets paid. The ultimate battle going on right now is did the Public Employee Unions make a bad loan and need to take a hair cut or do they deserve a bailout at taxpayer expense. The money no longer exists so somebody has to lose.

[livinincali]

People lending money with the fear of losing money is what makes people act responsibly…..it is a very important ingredient in our economic system.

Essentially one could view deferred compensation like pension benefits and medical benefits as loans to the government. Was union leadership irresponsible for accepting IOUs so the city could continue to go on a spending binge. If you loan your buddy some money and expect to be paid back you don’t send him to vegas with your friends when he gets paid. The ultimate battle going on right now is did the Public Employee Unions make a bad loan and need to take a hair cut or do they deserve a bailout at taxpayer expense. The money no longer exists so somebody has to lose.

[livinincali]

People lending money with the fear of losing money is what makes people act responsibly…..it is a very important ingredient in our economic system.

Essentially one could view deferred compensation like pension benefits and medical benefits as loans to the government. Was union leadership irresponsible for accepting IOUs so the city could continue to go on a spending binge. If you loan your buddy some money and expect to be paid back you don’t send him to vegas with your friends when he gets paid. The ultimate battle going on right now is did the Public Employee Unions make a bad loan and need to take a hair cut or do they deserve a bailout at taxpayer expense. The money no longer exists so somebody has to lose.

[livinincali]

People lending money with the fear of losing money is what makes people act responsibly…..it is a very important ingredient in our economic system.

Essentially one could view deferred compensation like pension benefits and medical benefits as loans to the government. Was union leadership irresponsible for accepting IOUs so the city could continue to go on a spending binge. If you loan your buddy some money and expect to be paid back you don’t send him to vegas with your friends when he gets paid. The ultimate battle going on right now is did the Public Employee Unions make a bad loan and need to take a hair cut or do they deserve a bailout at taxpayer expense. The money no longer exists so somebody has to lose.

[livinincali]

People lending money with the fear of losing money is what makes people act responsibly…..it is a very important ingredient in our economic system.

Essentially one could view deferred compensation like pension benefits and medical benefits as loans to the government. Was union leadership irresponsible for accepting IOUs so the city could continue to go on a spending binge. If you loan your buddy some money and expect to be paid back you don’t send him to vegas with your friends when he gets paid. The ultimate battle going on right now is did the Public Employee Unions make a bad loan and need to take a hair cut or do they deserve a bailout at taxpayer expense. The money no longer exists so somebody has to lose.

[livinincali]

It’s going to be slightly tough to know if and when a longer term bottom is in, but we know there was a flurry of activity late in the year last year. If YoY prices and sales are in line with Sept-Nov 2009 you might be able to be somewhat confident the market is standing on it’s own two feet. Last year you had a flurry of tax credit and pent up demand buying, so this year will likely see less sales but if prices hold up and the sales don’t drop too much then it might be worth taking a plunge.

Personally I just don’t see the huge V for housing prices in the next 4-5 years. I don’t see the buy now or your going to be left behind on 20% a year gain in 2011, 2012, etc. I would buy for the right reason, a place to live, not trying to time the exact bottom right before 10% a year appreciation. It’s unlikely housing is ever going to the investment vehicle it was in early 2000. It’s just doubtful you’ll see the leverage that was required to produce those annual returns ever again. Housing will go up with wages.

[livinincali]

It’s going to be slightly tough to know if and when a longer term bottom is in, but we know there was a flurry of activity late in the year last year. If YoY prices and sales are in line with Sept-Nov 2009 you might be able to be somewhat confident the market is standing on it’s own two feet. Last year you had a flurry of tax credit and pent up demand buying, so this year will likely see less sales but if prices hold up and the sales don’t drop too much then it might be worth taking a plunge.

Personally I just don’t see the huge V for housing prices in the next 4-5 years. I don’t see the buy now or your going to be left behind on 20% a year gain in 2011, 2012, etc. I would buy for the right reason, a place to live, not trying to time the exact bottom right before 10% a year appreciation. It’s unlikely housing is ever going to the investment vehicle it was in early 2000. It’s just doubtful you’ll see the leverage that was required to produce those annual returns ever again. Housing will go up with wages.

[livinincali]

It’s going to be slightly tough to know if and when a longer term bottom is in, but we know there was a flurry of activity late in the year last year. If YoY prices and sales are in line with Sept-Nov 2009 you might be able to be somewhat confident the market is standing on it’s own two feet. Last year you had a flurry of tax credit and pent up demand buying, so this year will likely see less sales but if prices hold up and the sales don’t drop too much then it might be worth taking a plunge.

Personally I just don’t see the huge V for housing prices in the next 4-5 years. I don’t see the buy now or your going to be left behind on 20% a year gain in 2011, 2012, etc. I would buy for the right reason, a place to live, not trying to time the exact bottom right before 10% a year appreciation. It’s unlikely housing is ever going to the investment vehicle it was in early 2000. It’s just doubtful you’ll see the leverage that was required to produce those annual returns ever again. Housing will go up with wages.

[livinincali]

It’s going to be slightly tough to know if and when a longer term bottom is in, but we know there was a flurry of activity late in the year last year. If YoY prices and sales are in line with Sept-Nov 2009 you might be able to be somewhat confident the market is standing on it’s own two feet. Last year you had a flurry of tax credit and pent up demand buying, so this year will likely see less sales but if prices hold up and the sales don’t drop too much then it might be worth taking a plunge.

Personally I just don’t see the huge V for housing prices in the next 4-5 years. I don’t see the buy now or your going to be left behind on 20% a year gain in 2011, 2012, etc. I would buy for the right reason, a place to live, not trying to time the exact bottom right before 10% a year appreciation. It’s unlikely housing is ever going to the investment vehicle it was in early 2000. It’s just doubtful you’ll see the leverage that was required to produce those annual returns ever again. Housing will go up with wages.

[livinincali]

It’s going to be slightly tough to know if and when a longer term bottom is in, but we know there was a flurry of activity late in the year last year. If YoY prices and sales are in line with Sept-Nov 2009 you might be able to be somewhat confident the market is standing on it’s own two feet. Last year you had a flurry of tax credit and pent up demand buying, so this year will likely see less sales but if prices hold up and the sales don’t drop too much then it might be worth taking a plunge.

Personally I just don’t see the huge V for housing prices in the next 4-5 years. I don’t see the buy now or your going to be left behind on 20% a year gain in 2011, 2012, etc. I would buy for the right reason, a place to live, not trying to time the exact bottom right before 10% a year appreciation. It’s unlikely housing is ever going to the investment vehicle it was in early 2000. It’s just doubtful you’ll see the leverage that was required to produce those annual returns ever again. Housing will go up with wages.

[livinincali]

What’s the hurry at this point. The tax credits are gone and so far I haven’t seen evidence that there’s a ton of great deals hitting the market. Rumor has it that BofA is starting to drop a bunch of REOs, but I haven’t seen great deals. If you find a place that is a much better deal and/or fits your needs better maybe it would be worth exploring but short sales are much quicker than they used to be. Other then rising interest rates I couldn’t really see the urgency but you may have a particular situation where you need to move sooner than later.

[livinincali]

What’s the hurry at this point. The tax credits are gone and so far I haven’t seen evidence that there’s a ton of great deals hitting the market. Rumor has it that BofA is starting to drop a bunch of REOs, but I haven’t seen great deals. If you find a place that is a much better deal and/or fits your needs better maybe it would be worth exploring but short sales are much quicker than they used to be. Other then rising interest rates I couldn’t really see the urgency but you may have a particular situation where you need to move sooner than later.

[livinincali]

What’s the hurry at this point. The tax credits are gone and so far I haven’t seen evidence that there’s a ton of great deals hitting the market. Rumor has it that BofA is starting to drop a bunch of REOs, but I haven’t seen great deals. If you find a place that is a much better deal and/or fits your needs better maybe it would be worth exploring but short sales are much quicker than they used to be. Other then rising interest rates I couldn’t really see the urgency but you may have a particular situation where you need to move sooner than later.

[Author]

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