OT - Krauthammer

[Lew Hodgett]

------------------------------------------------- "Dave" wrote:

----------------------------------------------- Contrary to all the attempts by the Republican party to dismantle Social Security since it's inception by attempting to discredit S/S using non factual arguments such as S/S is a Ponzi scheme, the program continues to function as designed.

S/S requires tweaking from time to time, the same as any other insurance product, the last major update being 1986.

As long as updates are done in an actuarially sound fashion, S/S will remain a viable insurance product for future generations.

Periodically, some far right hard line Republican group crawls out from under a rock and attempts to try to dismantle S/S.

The application of facts usually provides enough of a good swift kick in the gonads to send them scampering back under their rock for a few more years.

Lew

[Bill]

And this the thread in which you want to start? : )

and study the Bible but can't figure out how my actions are interfering with the relationship women have with their doctors and what effect that relationship may have on the US population. Maybe it is a west coast thing. BTW...thanks to all that post useful techniques, tool pro and con data,and pictures of your work. Most appreciated.

[Larry Blanchard]

My initial Ponzi comment was not pointed at Social Security, which does seem to be in fair shape with a few tweaks needed to keep it going for the rest of this century.

Rather it was directed at the need for an ever increasing population to keep things going. What would happen to the housing industry, durable goods, automobile, etc. if the population was static? Think about it.

[Larry Blanchard]

Yeah, and I'm not really sure why we care if he's white and studies his bible - perhaps an adjustment to his meds is in order :-).

[Bill]

As was pointed out, we need productive people with purchasing power, not just people.

So, we don't have to increase the population, we just need to make the people we have more productive.

[BillinGA]

I'll admit to being tempted when the clip vs magazine issue was rolling alo= ng. Didn't you get that one going? I was never in the military but grew up = on bases in the US and Japan. At firing ranges I never heard any shooters r= efer to their magazine regarding .45's and M-1's. Yes, it was a long time a= go. Most likely the 1st posting was prompted by being an older white guy ge= tting tired of being blamed for most everything happening nowdays. On a ser= ious note, I've been fooling with tools and wood a long time at a hobby lev= el. I have not felt the need to add my $.02 on anything...always glad to h= ear about someone's experience with a new tool or methods of work and , aga= in, the pictures from others more dedicated to the craft.

[krw]

Didn't you get that one going? I was never in the military but grew up on bases in the US and Japan. At firing ranges I never heard any shooters refer to their magazine regarding .45's and M-1's. Yes, it was a long time ago. Most likely the

1st posting was prompted by being an older white guy getting tired of being blamed for most everything happening nowdays. On a serious note, I've been fooling with tools and wood a long time at a hobby level. I have not felt the need to add my $.02 on anything...always glad to hear about someone's experience with a new tool or methods of work and , again, the pictures from others more dedicated to the craft.

Where in GA? Got a good place to buy lumber? The toy stores, I've found. ;-)

[Lew Hodgett]

--------------------------------------------------------- Would agree, especially if we continue to waste the world's resources to feed our life style.

OTOH, if we choose to make modest investments in third world countries, we will develop markets for our products and reduce the demand for basic resources to feed our habits by improving our lifestyle efficiencies.

Simple low cost things like providing clean water and sanitation, mosquito netting to reduce malaria, spotted fever, etc in Africa.

Farming assistance to show that clear cutting the world's jungles to produce heating fuel, provides only short term solutions.

Continuing to flush our topsoil down the Mississippi River by using the present farming methods to produce corn is not a winner.

The only winner in that game is Monsanto.

Recognize that the so-called "War On Drugs" is not working.

Maybe it is better to treat drugs like tobacco and alcohol.

Legalize them and then regulate and tax them.

Wasn't that what Prohibition was all about?

Guess we don't want to learn from our mistakes.

The USA will never again compete as a producer in the low tech world.

If we want to continue to enjoy our lifestyle, we are going to have to make a place at the feed trough for the world's low tech producers so they can afford to buy our high tech products.

As the old saying goes, "What goes around, comes around".

Lew

[Dave]

On Mon, 4 Feb 2013 05:33:09 -0500, "dadiOH"

Our current model of living (with it's ever increasing population) comes with many other factors. One of those benefits is our current medical technology. Does that answer your question?

[Dave]

On Mon, 4 Feb 2013 05:39:35 -0500, "dadiOH"

What about them? There's enough of a difference between our North American economy and those you've listed to differentiate them.

[BillinGA]

Where in GA? Got a good place to buy lumber? The toy stores, I've found. ;=

-)

I'm a little south of Atlanta. I've traded with Peachstate Lumber in Kennes= aw and Atlanta Hardwood inside 285/Northside. Highland Hardware always has = some interesting boards but not a great quantity. Rockler in Sandy Springs = has some small stuff on the shelf/floor and bigger boards in back. Find som= eone with a sawmill near you...that's where you get the best deal if you ar= e able to/care to dimension their rough stock. Mid to south GA...no help he= re. I think there is a casual poster in Cochran that may offer suggestions.

[Larry W]

Not trying to be pedantic (Well, maybe I am... :) ) but it is more like

3 dozen countries in North America. The Central American countries are part of NA along with several island countries in the Carribean and Atlantic.