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Technology is increasing expotentially. They are already experimenting with nano tech ultra capacitors that may replace batteries. Electric vs. Internal combustion, no question that electric is way more efficient. Absolutely they are. But until ultra capacitors are available, we are using Lithium batteries, which are worse for the environment than petroleum could ever be. But you have to start somewhere! Once we start producing electric cars, companies will be scrambling to improve technology on power storage. I imagine it was a big leap when we went from horses to cars too! Personally, I'm not ready to trade in my DeWalt 18 volt cordless drill for a primitive drill with an internal combustion engine. Think about it. Right now, battery technology is the least of their concerns (other than maximizing what already exists). They are trying to increase the ROI of the vehicle in order to appeal to the average consumer because at even $4 a gallon, you are looking at a few hundred thousand miles in order to break even. That economic disadcvantage is the downfall of the hybrid car because the average consumer will never reach that threshold and it will always be cheaper in both the short term and long term to go gasoline-based. Not to mention the fact that hybrids have a s**t resale value because there is no trust in the life of lithium ion batteries. |
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The only way we are not going to be a danger to the environment is if we go back to horse and buggy. It is going to be a matter of the lessor of two or more evils with us and vehicles, whether they roll, fly or whatever. The only way we will no longer be a threat to the environment is to cease to exist. |
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Well i used to get the belt/spoon all the time when I was bad and tested 137 two years ago. I guess I'm the exception to the rule.
I do not see how spanking can be related to IQ. I suspect that it has to do more with the standing of the child (i.e. more supportive parents will tend to spank while the non-involved will tend to use it; though, my parents were very supportive and involved and I still go spanked when I screwed up.) IQ is a mental development test. It has nothing to do with actual intelligence (because it favors those like myself that think analytically as opposed to artistically and such) or knowledge so I really do not see how spanking will impact it other than through some psychological damage that impairs mental development. |
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Topic:
barack obama
Edited by
AndrewAV
on
Mon 09/21/09 08:14 PM
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they have been rejected by their base finally because they could no longer contain themselves and came out of the closet as more big government knuckleheads.
I agree with you there - the GOP's renewed sales pitch "We're the party of small government!" is a sales pitch of convenience and sounds hollow to me. I'm tired of both parties, and would love for Palin-followers to splinter the GOP, and then for the democrats to splinter, and make room for third parties to rise. and fourth and fifth would be even better. however, if the republicans can ever get their heads out of their @$$es and can actually prove they can be the party of small government while they are in power, they will remain in power for a very long time and it will be the democrats that will need to worry. but, it is more likely that the infighting will destroy the republicans and the failure of the ambitious agenda of the president and pelosi will tear the democratic party in half and destroy the national confidence in that party. in the end, i hope neither survives. |
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Topic:
National debt clock
Edited by
AndrewAV
on
Mon 09/21/09 08:08 PM
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thats why we chinese rule :D jk. That, and they save more, and they are more laissez-faire. woah, wait a minute... did i miss a memo or something here? are you inferring they they are more laissez-faire as an internal economy or making a statement how we are becoming more hands-on as they become more hands-off? |
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so... when do we start saving? I kind of missed where that works into the grand scheme of things with our government.
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yes it was much better for the Iraqi's under Saddam and for the Afghans under the Taliban Ah yes. I never thought we should have gone to either country frankly, at least not the way we did, but there is that nagging truth that the more inhumanity, and suffering in the world the more reasons for attacks and wars. I still don't know that we accomplished saving people from their own people when it comes to Islam. lately I am not so sure we can save ourselves from OUR own people with all the anxiety and anger out there. the big line here is "the way we did." under current policy, iraq was inevitable if we were to ever be taken seriously. however, we needed to adjust domestic policy in order to prepare for it. as for the op. yes we can. should we? no. we simply cannot afford it. just because we can do something does not make it a good idea. we cannot afford the bill right now nor the manpower to do it successfully. If we can afford the wars were are in believe me Washington and the Military would find the money if they were so intent. However I don't see any way we could win unless we wiped out all countries that could retaliate at the very same time and damn quickly. The radical fundamentalists around the world and in our own country might love to see it happen to usher in the end times, but it sure would cause even more war all over the world considering the associations Iran has economically and otherwise. I could be wrong but I shutter to think of it. You've hit on the problem-we CAN'T afford war. The FED prints the money and sends the debt to future generations or Congress borrows from foreigners. There literally is NO wealth in the private sector-just debt.  
quickie correction: i believe you meant public sector. the private sector holds material items that hold value so separate from the worthless paper, they still have wealth in greater proportion to debt in many cases. the government, however, does not. the truth is, affording something does not mean pay on credit. if someone says afford a house, what they really mean is affording the mortgage payment. same case here. we cannot afford a war as we've been more into the red every year for over a century. at this point, it's "the additional debt will not destroy us." however, it is ever growing to the point where it will. |
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yes it was much better for the Iraqi's under Saddam and for the Afghans under the Taliban Ah yes. I never thought we should have gone to either country frankly, at least not the way we did, but there is that nagging truth that the more inhumanity, and suffering in the world the more reasons for attacks and wars. I still don't know that we accomplished saving people from their own people when it comes to Islam. lately I am not so sure we can save ourselves from OUR own people with all the anxiety and anger out there. the big line here is "the way we did." under current policy, iraq was inevitable if we were to ever be taken seriously. however, we needed to adjust domestic policy in order to prepare for it. as for the op. yes we can. should we? no. we simply cannot afford it. just because we can do something does not make it a good idea. we cannot afford the bill right now nor the manpower to do it successfully. |
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Edited by
AndrewAV
on
Thu 09/17/09 06:44 PM
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priorities rearranged.... a shift in perception is needed The irony: We can pull back that entire $1T military budget (if that's the actual figure. I honestly have no idea what that is currently). ...and we'll still be in the red for the year. therefore, we STILL cannot afford healthcare. You can't exchange one credit-funded mission for another. We need to ween from the credit altogether. That being said, we definitely need to scale down the military complex we currently have. There is no need for tens of thousands of soldiers stationed in Germany and Japan. A base or two for monitoring as necessary would be acceptable to me, but we are far too spread out. Think Rome a few decades before the downfall. |
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here's to smaller government. |
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I am all for any legitimate attempt (call it union or private) to make sure people are receiving living wages. I agree that everything is balance but I also think most corporations are greedy and want as much profit as possible, not just enough to live off of. That causes an imbalance, because employees on the bottom rung will not get paid what they are truly worth or in need of while those at the top will continue to soak up all the additional profits. The argument that higher wages causes the prices to be higher and only those making higher wages can afford it is true, but, it almost ignores the fact the prices go higher IRREGADLESS of the wages and when that happens with no increase in wages you dont have a consumer base that can afford the products anymore and it crashes,, much like housing. there is also market demand in the equation, the cost of inputs, and many other variable goods related to any product. the costs of cars go up and the UAW sees no more money. Well, that could be because the cost of steel went up. but the steel workers didn't get more money? Well maybe that's because those mining the iron and raw materials charged more. But they didn't see more money? well maybe it's because the cost of gas went up and they have to pay more to run their fleet vehicles. EVERTHING is intertwined. any change in one market has a ripple effect on so many more. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Without the unions...the management will simply fire anyone who complains about the working conditions or the wages. Get real, man. If you owned a business, and paid a certain amount, but someone decided that what you wanted to pay wasn't enough, but there was someone else who would take the low wage and didn't care at all about the conditions he had to work in...would you keep the person doing the complaining around?? Oh by the way...as soon as the workers get together and demand higher wages and better working conditions...they have BECOME a union. Even if they don't necessarily have the name. If there are people willing to work for less, than that is what the job is worth. Supply and demand has an affect on everything in the economic system. Including the workforce. A livable wage is important still. Regardless to what an employer wants to pay. In a perfect ungreedy, noncapitalistic world, employers would pay their employees in hope of keeping them healthy, happy and long term. Not this planet and not our humans. There has to be standards set and enforced. Otherwise we would all be just like the illegals who work here for less than minimun wage with no benes and no legal backing. You are missing the point. A livable wage is important, yes. Bottom line is that you and i have to pay for this livable wage. This means that even that union worker that gets this wage has to pay an extra $100 a week in food to pay for other union members benefits. So, because have a livable wage is more important than a prosperous economy, this "livable wage" just increased. Thus, again, increasing the need for additional pay, which again raises cost of living. Notice a pattern here? Everything is connected. Everything is balanced by nature itself. However, when you interfere with that balance, there is a reaction, that causes a ripple-like affect. I will pay for the wage then. Because I will not support sweat shops. And if enough are like you, the business will see its market share drop and change what it has to in order to get more business. That is how a true free market works. Everything is intertwined. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Andrew, get real. "Workers need to demand these things" You know as well as I do that a worker by himself doesn't stand a chance against management. That is exactly why unions are necessary. Why? If their work is valuable, you think there would be some negociating power there... Are you kidding??? It's all about the bottom line. If a job is worth 12 bucks an hour...but the company can get away with paying minimum wage for it....what do YOU think they are gonna do??? No matter how valuable the work...the company is ALWAYS going to go for the cheaper option. Wanna know what the company I work for takes as their favorite position?? " You'll take what we give you because if you don't like it...there are a thousand more just like you. " If the company can get away with paying an average of minimum wage than the market value of the job is not $12. Again. The company is never, EVER, going to want to pay what the job is actually worth. They also don't want people in their place of business who might point out that conditions aren't safe. They will want people to work for as little as they can possibly pay them, in conditions that could potentially cause harm. Companies simply do not care about the people that work for them. The business cannot pay what the job is actually worth. We would have to outsource every single industry because there is no way to compete against foreign markets if we did.
Uh oh.... And why is that Andrew??? lol... you're going to make me say it? Otherwise there can be no profits. If a product has fixed raw material and input costs, everything else is essentially labor. If the market value of a widget is $10 and $4 of that is those fixed costs, your labor is worth $6. only now, there is no profit. if the price rises, your value of input rises and again, there is no profit. you simply have to be paid less than your worth or there would be no job. worth would work in an individualist, anarchist society but in a system like today, there is no viable way for it to happen. the outsourcing to a nation with no such requirementt would be the only way to return a profit. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Andrew, get real. "Workers need to demand these things" You know as well as I do that a worker by himself doesn't stand a chance against management. That is exactly why unions are necessary. Why? If their work is valuable, you think there would be some negociating power there... Are you kidding??? It's all about the bottom line. If a job is worth 12 bucks an hour...but the company can get away with paying minimum wage for it....what do YOU think they are gonna do??? No matter how valuable the work...the company is ALWAYS going to go for the cheaper option. Wanna know what the company I work for takes as their favorite position?? " You'll take what we give you because if you don't like it...there are a thousand more just like you. " If the company can get away with paying an average of minimum wage than the market value of the job is not $12. Again. The company is never, EVER, going to want to pay what the job is actually worth. They also don't want people in their place of business who might point out that conditions aren't safe. They will want people to work for as little as they can possibly pay them, in conditions that could potentially cause harm. Companies simply do not care about the people that work for them. The business cannot pay what the job is actually worth. We would have to outsource every single industry because there is no way to compete against foreign markets if we did. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Without the unions...the management will simply fire anyone who complains about the working conditions or the wages. Get real, man. If you owned a business, and paid a certain amount, but someone decided that what you wanted to pay wasn't enough, but there was someone else who would take the low wage and didn't care at all about the conditions he had to work in...would you keep the person doing the complaining around?? Oh by the way...as soon as the workers get together and demand higher wages and better working conditions...they have BECOME a union. Even if they don't necessarily have the name. If there are people willing to work for less, than that is what the job is worth. Supply and demand has an affect on everything in the economic system. Including the workforce. Wow. I am just gonna take a guess here that you have NEVER had a job where you thought you didn't get nearly enough money for what you were doing??? If you haven't...then I will accept your position with no further argument. If you have ever thought that you were worth more than you were getting paid, then you are just being blind. One thing I will say is this....until you have worked in all the places where unions have set the wage scale, you have absolutely no right to determine what a job is or isn't worth. It's about understanding the principles of economics and accepting that there are many that would love to have you job. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Andrew, get real. "Workers need to demand these things" You know as well as I do that a worker by himself doesn't stand a chance against management. That is exactly why unions are necessary. So you are arguing that workers cannot band together without a declared union? What power do banded workers have against a company that can hire a new work force if the other one became a problem? You think it's that simple for a company to replace it's whole staff? Hell yea the only reason striking and the lines work outside of companies is the unions. Exactly. That is an entirely unfair advantage that will ALWAYS result in the management giving up more. There is no winning against a union, you only lose less. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Andrew, get real. "Workers need to demand these things" You know as well as I do that a worker by himself doesn't stand a chance against management. That is exactly why unions are necessary. Why? If their work is valuable, you think there would be some negociating power there... Are you kidding??? It's all about the bottom line. If a job is worth 12 bucks an hour...but the company can get away with paying minimum wage for it....what do YOU think they are gonna do??? No matter how valuable the work...the company is ALWAYS going to go for the cheaper option. Wanna know what the company I work for takes as their favorite position?? " You'll take what we give you because if you don't like it...there are a thousand more just like you. " If the company can get away with paying an average of minimum wage than the market value of the job is not $12. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Andrew, get real. "Workers need to demand these things" You know as well as I do that a worker by himself doesn't stand a chance against management. That is exactly why unions are necessary. So you are arguing that workers cannot band together without a declared union? What power do banded workers have against a company that can hire a new work force if the other one became a problem? If there is any skill involved, much. The costs of replacing an employee are fairly substantial if any training is involved. However, if it is an unskilled job that requires minimal training, they deserve to be paid less. |
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Unions are good for teachers and police officers and others that I mentioned earlier. They get retirement and health benefits and more. Yes, at the expense of consumers. They are a good and bad thing all rolled into one. Unfortunately like isn't black and white. They're only shades of grey. What expense, Drivin? Teachers and police officers don't make a lot of money. And oh yeah, that would be at the tax payers' expense if you are talking about police officers and teachers. And I do agree, they are underpaid. Although, there are a few police officers and teachers i can think of that are overpaid... I have to disagree with teachers being underpaid. I wish I didn't work a quarter of the year and still hit the average household income. police officers, however, I agree I would definitely not want that job. Either way, pay should be left up to the marketplace. |
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Just heard about this today. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9AL630G0.htm The Boeing plant in Charleston, SC voted 199-68 to reject their union for representation. Big victory here for the people. When will everyone else realize how detrimental unions are to the marketplace and in many cases, their own careers? The more unions that fall, the better we'll all be. Yeah. We'll all be SO much better off because no one will be there to make sure that the workplace remains safe, employers will be able to whatever the hell they want, they'll be able to pay next to nothing and if you don't like it...too freaking bad. Great plan. Unions don't need to be disposed of. They need to learn that they can't price themselves out of the market like the UAW did to the auto companies. Unions are necessary. The workers need to demand these things. An organized union is not necessary. If they are such an issue, then the workers will demand them. Andrew, get real. "Workers need to demand these things" You know as well as I do that a worker by himself doesn't stand a chance against management. That is exactly why unions are necessary. So you are arguing that workers cannot band together without a declared union? |
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