[yojimbo]

Why are there always these endless relativistic arguments? Because some “bankster” is making $3 million a year and doing nothing for it or running their company into the ground I’m supposed to accept any pilfering, extortion or corruption occurring below that amount?

Since BP makes $10 billion a year I shouldn’t even question a mayor of a small town pilfering it’s residents for $800k a year? Well, there are roughly 30,000 incorporated cities and towns in the US. If, on average, the pilfering is around $100k a year per city then that’s $3 billion a year. In the larger cities it’s probably far above that. A $1 million a year pilfering equals $30 billion. Probably more than all the oil companies combined have allegedly ripped us off.

I read the comments about the focus of the media on the top pensioners as well as the justifications for some of the pensions and I can understand some of them. However, the relativistic arguments cause me to quit reading as all credibility is lost. It’s like a murderer going in to court and arguing that “Ted Bundy killed 35 people so why the heck are you punishing me for only killing 2 people?”

Pilfering the taxpayer at any level pisses me off. In fact, I think it starts at the lower levels and works it’s way up to the top. Those exploiting the system for small amounts as rookies will probably become professional big $ exploiters in due time.

[yojimbo]

[quote]I believe that the mentality of the buyers is still very much that when real estate picks up it will appreciate like it did before. That’s why people spend so much on housing. [/quote]

I haven’t seen much of a shift away from that yet and I’m still not certain that it is going to happen.

The “Your house is your best investment” mentality is pretty firmly ingrained even now amongst potential buyers. Besides, you get to mix emotion with alleged rationality when buying a home. It’s fun, exciting and satisfying searching for and buying your “dream” home and at the same time is (was) a great investment. You can’t say the same thing about a car or a stock or a bond. Paying too much for a car is just dumb. Overpaying for your dream home is shrewd given the locked in appreciation. Pay enough for it and you’ll get the satisfaction of explaining to your friends how you were able to adeptly out negotiate those other foolish buyers while at the same time covertly insinuating that your finances are so good that you can easily afford the overpriced, over-sized home.

Are those days long gone? I wish, but I don’t think they are gone yet. I still see it in the market though it’s essentially dominated by the “investor” crowd now. Maybe another 10-20% drop in prices or a very prolonged dead market will change attitudes. We’ll see. I’ll believe it when I see it.

[yojimbo]

[quote]I believe that the mentality of the buyers is still very much that when real estate picks up it will appreciate like it did before. That’s why people spend so much on housing. [/quote]

I haven’t seen much of a shift away from that yet and I’m still not certain that it is going to happen.

The “Your house is your best investment” mentality is pretty firmly ingrained even now amongst potential buyers. Besides, you get to mix emotion with alleged rationality when buying a home. It’s fun, exciting and satisfying searching for and buying your “dream” home and at the same time is (was) a great investment. You can’t say the same thing about a car or a stock or a bond. Paying too much for a car is just dumb. Overpaying for your dream home is shrewd given the locked in appreciation. Pay enough for it and you’ll get the satisfaction of explaining to your friends how you were able to adeptly out negotiate those other foolish buyers while at the same time covertly insinuating that your finances are so good that you can easily afford the overpriced, over-sized home.

Are those days long gone? I wish, but I don’t think they are gone yet. I still see it in the market though it’s essentially dominated by the “investor” crowd now. Maybe another 10-20% drop in prices or a very prolonged dead market will change attitudes. We’ll see. I’ll believe it when I see it.

[yojimbo]

[quote]I believe that the mentality of the buyers is still very much that when real estate picks up it will appreciate like it did before. That’s why people spend so much on housing. [/quote]

I haven’t seen much of a shift away from that yet and I’m still not certain that it is going to happen.

The “Your house is your best investment” mentality is pretty firmly ingrained even now amongst potential buyers. Besides, you get to mix emotion with alleged rationality when buying a home. It’s fun, exciting and satisfying searching for and buying your “dream” home and at the same time is (was) a great investment. You can’t say the same thing about a car or a stock or a bond. Paying too much for a car is just dumb. Overpaying for your dream home is shrewd given the locked in appreciation. Pay enough for it and you’ll get the satisfaction of explaining to your friends how you were able to adeptly out negotiate those other foolish buyers while at the same time covertly insinuating that your finances are so good that you can easily afford the overpriced, over-sized home.

Are those days long gone? I wish, but I don’t think they are gone yet. I still see it in the market though it’s essentially dominated by the “investor” crowd now. Maybe another 10-20% drop in prices or a very prolonged dead market will change attitudes. We’ll see. I’ll believe it when I see it.

[yojimbo]

[quote]I believe that the mentality of the buyers is still very much that when real estate picks up it will appreciate like it did before. That’s why people spend so much on housing. [/quote]

I haven’t seen much of a shift away from that yet and I’m still not certain that it is going to happen.

The “Your house is your best investment” mentality is pretty firmly ingrained even now amongst potential buyers. Besides, you get to mix emotion with alleged rationality when buying a home. It’s fun, exciting and satisfying searching for and buying your “dream” home and at the same time is (was) a great investment. You can’t say the same thing about a car or a stock or a bond. Paying too much for a car is just dumb. Overpaying for your dream home is shrewd given the locked in appreciation. Pay enough for it and you’ll get the satisfaction of explaining to your friends how you were able to adeptly out negotiate those other foolish buyers while at the same time covertly insinuating that your finances are so good that you can easily afford the overpriced, over-sized home.

Are those days long gone? I wish, but I don’t think they are gone yet. I still see it in the market though it’s essentially dominated by the “investor” crowd now. Maybe another 10-20% drop in prices or a very prolonged dead market will change attitudes. We’ll see. I’ll believe it when I see it.

[yojimbo]

[quote]I believe that the mentality of the buyers is still very much that when real estate picks up it will appreciate like it did before. That’s why people spend so much on housing. [/quote]

I haven’t seen much of a shift away from that yet and I’m still not certain that it is going to happen.

The “Your house is your best investment” mentality is pretty firmly ingrained even now amongst potential buyers. Besides, you get to mix emotion with alleged rationality when buying a home. It’s fun, exciting and satisfying searching for and buying your “dream” home and at the same time is (was) a great investment. You can’t say the same thing about a car or a stock or a bond. Paying too much for a car is just dumb. Overpaying for your dream home is shrewd given the locked in appreciation. Pay enough for it and you’ll get the satisfaction of explaining to your friends how you were able to adeptly out negotiate those other foolish buyers while at the same time covertly insinuating that your finances are so good that you can easily afford the overpriced, over-sized home.

Are those days long gone? I wish, but I don’t think they are gone yet. I still see it in the market though it’s essentially dominated by the “investor” crowd now. Maybe another 10-20% drop in prices or a very prolonged dead market will change attitudes. We’ll see. I’ll believe it when I see it.

[yojimbo]

I remember way way back in the day when a wrong was a wrong. Now it’s all couched in class warfare relativistic arguments.

Since the “banksters” stole billions I guess that pretty much leaves EVERYONE else free to do what they like relatively speaking. They may steal hundreds, thousands, or even millions, but hey it’s NO WHERE NEAR the amount those banksters stole! In fact, it’s a veritable drop in the bucket!

I suppose there could be millions of non-bankster people scamming the system in every way imaginable for amounts that could reach into the hundreds of billions but hey, as long as you only look at the damage each individual scammer does it ain’t so bad.

[yojimbo]

I remember way way back in the day when a wrong was a wrong. Now it’s all couched in class warfare relativistic arguments.

Since the “banksters” stole billions I guess that pretty much leaves EVERYONE else free to do what they like relatively speaking. They may steal hundreds, thousands, or even millions, but hey it’s NO WHERE NEAR the amount those banksters stole! In fact, it’s a veritable drop in the bucket!

I suppose there could be millions of non-bankster people scamming the system in every way imaginable for amounts that could reach into the hundreds of billions but hey, as long as you only look at the damage each individual scammer does it ain’t so bad.

[yojimbo]

I remember way way back in the day when a wrong was a wrong. Now it’s all couched in class warfare relativistic arguments.

Since the “banksters” stole billions I guess that pretty much leaves EVERYONE else free to do what they like relatively speaking. They may steal hundreds, thousands, or even millions, but hey it’s NO WHERE NEAR the amount those banksters stole! In fact, it’s a veritable drop in the bucket!

I suppose there could be millions of non-bankster people scamming the system in every way imaginable for amounts that could reach into the hundreds of billions but hey, as long as you only look at the damage each individual scammer does it ain’t so bad.

[yojimbo]

I remember way way back in the day when a wrong was a wrong. Now it’s all couched in class warfare relativistic arguments.

Since the “banksters” stole billions I guess that pretty much leaves EVERYONE else free to do what they like relatively speaking. They may steal hundreds, thousands, or even millions, but hey it’s NO WHERE NEAR the amount those banksters stole! In fact, it’s a veritable drop in the bucket!

I suppose there could be millions of non-bankster people scamming the system in every way imaginable for amounts that could reach into the hundreds of billions but hey, as long as you only look at the damage each individual scammer does it ain’t so bad.

[yojimbo]

I remember way way back in the day when a wrong was a wrong. Now it’s all couched in class warfare relativistic arguments.

Since the “banksters” stole billions I guess that pretty much leaves EVERYONE else free to do what they like relatively speaking. They may steal hundreds, thousands, or even millions, but hey it’s NO WHERE NEAR the amount those banksters stole! In fact, it’s a veritable drop in the bucket!

I suppose there could be millions of non-bankster people scamming the system in every way imaginable for amounts that could reach into the hundreds of billions but hey, as long as you only look at the damage each individual scammer does it ain’t so bad.

[yojimbo]

Perhaps some of you are younger which would explain the “enthusiasm” for either side. Having been a round a while I’ve learned that things really don’t change very dramatically in short periods of time – regardless of who is in control. Even under Clinton when the Dem’s had control of everything not much changed. And, obviously when the Republicans had control they did nothing of any import on the positive side (plenty of negatives).

Sure, either side can point to small things that were done and exaggerate them as if they were significant achievements but my tax rates have been fairly consistent throughout the years. Plus or minus a few percent doesn’t really make that much difference. A flat tax of 15% or something might be exciting but we’re not going to see that.

As for blaming everything on Bush – I think it got way out of control and I have to admit it will be fun to blame EVERYTHING on Obama for a while. I don’t think he will get the same poor treatment from the media as Bush did. He will always be shown as taking his time, carefully considering every option, meditating to reach heretofore unrealized intellectual levels of thought. Then he will jack things up just as bad as any other president has.

It should be fun. What comes around goes around.

Anyway, I agree with Chris that Obama will not follow through with a lot of his promises (Bush didn’t either). He will try to remain somewhat centrist during his first term. In fact, he will probably spend a lot of time trying to control some of the wack left wingers in the House and Senate. They will be the one’s to watch.

Well, I’m off to sign up for some government programs. Might as well get what I can get. I’ve grown weary of trying to do things the right way and getting shafted so those days are done. I want to be first in line when the new give-a-ways start rolling out. Get as much as you can even if you don’t need it! That’s my new mantra. Woohoo!

[yojimbo]

Perhaps some of you are younger which would explain the “enthusiasm” for either side. Having been a round a while I’ve learned that things really don’t change very dramatically in short periods of time – regardless of who is in control. Even under Clinton when the Dem’s had control of everything not much changed. And, obviously when the Republicans had control they did nothing of any import on the positive side (plenty of negatives).

Sure, either side can point to small things that were done and exaggerate them as if they were significant achievements but my tax rates have been fairly consistent throughout the years. Plus or minus a few percent doesn’t really make that much difference. A flat tax of 15% or something might be exciting but we’re not going to see that.

As for blaming everything on Bush – I think it got way out of control and I have to admit it will be fun to blame EVERYTHING on Obama for a while. I don’t think he will get the same poor treatment from the media as Bush did. He will always be shown as taking his time, carefully considering every option, meditating to reach heretofore unrealized intellectual levels of thought. Then he will jack things up just as bad as any other president has.

It should be fun. What comes around goes around.

Anyway, I agree with Chris that Obama will not follow through with a lot of his promises (Bush didn’t either). He will try to remain somewhat centrist during his first term. In fact, he will probably spend a lot of time trying to control some of the wack left wingers in the House and Senate. They will be the one’s to watch.

Well, I’m off to sign up for some government programs. Might as well get what I can get. I’ve grown weary of trying to do things the right way and getting shafted so those days are done. I want to be first in line when the new give-a-ways start rolling out. Get as much as you can even if you don’t need it! That’s my new mantra. Woohoo!

[yojimbo]

Perhaps some of you are younger which would explain the “enthusiasm” for either side. Having been a round a while I’ve learned that things really don’t change very dramatically in short periods of time – regardless of who is in control. Even under Clinton when the Dem’s had control of everything not much changed. And, obviously when the Republicans had control they did nothing of any import on the positive side (plenty of negatives).

Sure, either side can point to small things that were done and exaggerate them as if they were significant achievements but my tax rates have been fairly consistent throughout the years. Plus or minus a few percent doesn’t really make that much difference. A flat tax of 15% or something might be exciting but we’re not going to see that.

As for blaming everything on Bush – I think it got way out of control and I have to admit it will be fun to blame EVERYTHING on Obama for a while. I don’t think he will get the same poor treatment from the media as Bush did. He will always be shown as taking his time, carefully considering every option, meditating to reach heretofore unrealized intellectual levels of thought. Then he will jack things up just as bad as any other president has.

It should be fun. What comes around goes around.

Anyway, I agree with Chris that Obama will not follow through with a lot of his promises (Bush didn’t either). He will try to remain somewhat centrist during his first term. In fact, he will probably spend a lot of time trying to control some of the wack left wingers in the House and Senate. They will be the one’s to watch.

Well, I’m off to sign up for some government programs. Might as well get what I can get. I’ve grown weary of trying to do things the right way and getting shafted so those days are done. I want to be first in line when the new give-a-ways start rolling out. Get as much as you can even if you don’t need it! That’s my new mantra. Woohoo!

[yojimbo]

Perhaps some of you are younger which would explain the “enthusiasm” for either side. Having been a round a while I’ve learned that things really don’t change very dramatically in short periods of time – regardless of who is in control. Even under Clinton when the Dem’s had control of everything not much changed. And, obviously when the Republicans had control they did nothing of any import on the positive side (plenty of negatives).

Sure, either side can point to small things that were done and exaggerate them as if they were significant achievements but my tax rates have been fairly consistent throughout the years. Plus or minus a few percent doesn’t really make that much difference. A flat tax of 15% or something might be exciting but we’re not going to see that.

As for blaming everything on Bush – I think it got way out of control and I have to admit it will be fun to blame EVERYTHING on Obama for a while. I don’t think he will get the same poor treatment from the media as Bush did. He will always be shown as taking his time, carefully considering every option, meditating to reach heretofore unrealized intellectual levels of thought. Then he will jack things up just as bad as any other president has.

It should be fun. What comes around goes around.

Anyway, I agree with Chris that Obama will not follow through with a lot of his promises (Bush didn’t either). He will try to remain somewhat centrist during his first term. In fact, he will probably spend a lot of time trying to control some of the wack left wingers in the House and Senate. They will be the one’s to watch.

Well, I’m off to sign up for some government programs. Might as well get what I can get. I’ve grown weary of trying to do things the right way and getting shafted so those days are done. I want to be first in line when the new give-a-ways start rolling out. Get as much as you can even if you don’t need it! That’s my new mantra. Woohoo!

[Author]

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