winsor

I have been in countries where the currency imploded effectively 100%, and the results weren't pretty. Keynesian economics is generally viewed as debt to prime the pump when things are tough and paying it off when things are better. We take on massive debt as a matter of course and pull out the stops when we encounter snags. We have, in the interest of equality of outcome, identifed stupidity as a virtue and use denial as a means of dealing with unpleasant realities. A review of historical record shows a variety of societies that have put themselves as far behind the curve as have we, and in every instance it ended badly. Thank you for reminding me that This Time It's Different™! I forgot.

I'm cool with Trump being banished to political Siberia and Harris being thwarted. The problem I have is the same as with the overthrow of every horrible leader, their replacement is often much worse; the veep candidates on both sides are case studies in mediocrity. The more I know about them, the less I like them. The current crop of contenders make Tricky Dick Nixon look brilliant, a possibility I didn't consider when I worked for him. This election consists of trying to pick the least disastrous choice, and I can't see why things will be any better in 4 years. I think this go around is a reflection of the toxicity of our political system at present.

Look up James Michael Curley of Boston. Part of his last term as mayor was spent in Danbury Federal Prison and, when Truman commuted his sentence, he was given a hero's welcome upon his return. Of course he was a Boston Irish Democrat so it was completely different.

Google it. It's pretty standard.

Can't say that I know any

I expected you to know the punch line.

Nope. If it's a veiled accusation, drop the veil. If it's a reference to someone in particular, get specific.

Okay, so what's the difference between a BMW and a horse?

Okay, so who supports that?

My 2006 BMW has a manual transmission and no windows as well.

Who supports what candidate? You lost me.

Unlike who in particular?

The upside being?

Our debt today is like $3.52 Trillion. Divide that by the number of taxpayers and it is around $350 Grand each. Today's 30 year mortgage rate is ~7%. I'm kinda weak on arithmetic, but it seems that it would cost each of us over $2,050 a month just to cover the vigorish. My guess is that handling my finances in such a manner would be a fast way to get a two digit credit score. If you can think of a way this can end well, let me know. In the meantime, back to your blame storming.

Manual windows would have allowed Jessica Savitch to get out of her Oldsmobile when she backed into a canal at Odette's. Manual transmissions are better suited to negotiating hilly terrain without overheating brakes.

Make that three. A billion is only $10/taxpayer, a trillion is $10,000/taxpayer.

I have zero expectation that meticulously documented research would have any impact on your stance. If it isn't obvious, you're likely oblivious. I shudder at the prospect of another 4 years of Trump. The only skill he might be able to bring comes from negotiating bankruptcies. Let's say there are roughly 100,000,000 US citizens who actually pay taxes. Divide $3.4 Billion into that and you have $340,000 debt per taxpayer. At an historical norm of 5%, we have $17,000 per year per taxpayer in interest alone just to maintain that level of indebtedness. Then we start spending the real money of running the government. It doesn't take a lot of insight to listen to a candidate and pick up on the fact that these numbers are lost on them. They might be perfectly lovely people with the best of intentions, but have no understanding of fiscal realities. To say that Harris' proposals entail spending money like a drunken sailor is an insult to drunken sailors everywhere - when drunken sailors run out of money, they quit spending. At that point, too many politicians are just warming up. While I hope to see a stake through Trump's political heart - though he makes Rasputin look fragile by comparison - putting Harris in charge to do so is on a par with giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. Regardless who wins, we're royally fucked.

To point out that Harris is an unmitigated disaster is not to say that Trump is any better. I am convinced that having Harris in the oval office might provide the Republicans the opportunity to detox from Trump, since there is no way he can run in 2028. Will they make good use of the opportunity? I suspect not. My concern is that the damage that Harris will do is likely unrecoverable. We are already past the tipping point economically, and the question is not so much if as when and how bad. With Harris at the helm, the answer is sooner than later, and very, very bad. I wish I was wrong. It's been fun while it lasted.

You don't think that is maybe a reference to "Raiders of the Lost Ark?"

Hey, Harris has what it takes to make Republicans look wonderful. With her in office and the other guy behind bars, the sky's the limit! She's the gift to the right that keeps on giving! How's that not praise?

Bad guess.

On the one hand, Harris is possibly the most singularity incompetent candidate for the Presidency ever. OTOH, I have have hoped for the event that would drive a stake through her opponent's political heart since he declared his candidacy a couple of cycles back. Since there is no acceptable outcome this time around, I can only hope we can survive four years of her in the oval office and use the time to detox from her opponent. With any luck the dumb sonofabitch will be doing time and not a factor. Since either of them will make ANYTHING look good by comparison, it may as well be her to serve as Mrs. Bad Example. I just hope her presidency isn't the kiss of death for this experiment in government. If a people get the government they deserve, we suck out loud.

When someone promotes 'from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs,' it's too reminiscent of a book I once read.

The Deadpool Wolverine movie has a great bit about quote veracity. Having a 14 year old pick the film adds variety, but many of the gags he didn't get.