Government Shutdown
10-07-2013, 05:49 PM
#42
Step 1. Hold general elections. One side will win with a small majority.
Step 2. Small majority shoves a law down the throat of the minority. Points. Laughs.
Step 3. Hold General Elections Again, what once was the minority now has the voting public behind them against the law that was previously shoved down their throat. Party with previously small minority gains a very clear majority.
Step 4. New majority, holding the constitutional responsibility of deciding what the government will spend money on, decides that the law, which was shoved down their throats previously, is a bad financial decision for the country.
Step 5. barely majority party in the other house, not happy that their plan to shove the law down the throat of the previous minority in the first house backfired, refuses to fund 99% of the government because their pet 1% has been determined as being fiscally irresponsible. Points. Cries.
Is this the general plan? I stand to loose much more money from one side hijacking the financial system than I do from the law that the other side wants to pass. Childish...
opcorn:
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 05:50 PM
#43
Elite Member
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,593
Total Cats: 1,259
You left out the critical "railroad laws through, violating established legal procedures" and "fail to even submit a budget as they are supposed to"
This is just payback for illegal trampling of the system.
This is just payback for illegal trampling of the system.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 06:16 PM
#44
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,799
Total Cats: 179
Some European perspective.
Originally Posted by Der Spiegel
The overwhelming consensus among the German press is that the Republicans are the most to blame for the gridlock. In a Tuesday commentary, SPIEGEL ONLINE's Gregor Peter Schmitz dubbed them the "kamikaze party." He attributed the gridlock to America's mercenary political culture -- where directly elected lawmakers run for re-election every two years and campaigns are privately financed -- as well as to the lack of party infrastructure compared to Germany's parliamentary model with its publicly funded campaigns.
"It's circumstances like these," writes Schmitz, "that explain why a brigade of Republicans conduct themselves like a bunch of Berlusconis -- as enemies of the state from within who want to cripple the country because that's the desire of their conservative voters at home."
"It's circumstances like these," writes Schmitz, "that explain why a brigade of Republicans conduct themselves like a bunch of Berlusconis -- as enemies of the state from within who want to cripple the country because that's the desire of their conservative voters at home."
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 07:38 PM
#46
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,019
Total Cats: 6,587
I really hope that one of these cases goes to trial AND winds up in appeals court, not because I give a **** about the so-called rights of the leaseholder, but because I really want to read a judicial opinion on this matter.
Originally Posted by Der Spiegel
He attributed the gridlock to America's mercenary political culture -- where directly elected lawmakers run for re-election every two years and campaigns are privately financed -- as well as to the lack of party infrastructure compared to Germany's parliamentary model with its publicly funded campaigns.
I do take issue with Herr Wilder's characterization of the Republicans being the sole cause of gridlock within the congress. I would posit that this distinction is passed back and forth frequently, occurring especially often when the house and senate find themselves controlled by opposing majority parties, or when a congressional majority opposes the political affiliation of the president.
You can read the full article here: German Press Review on US Government Shutdown - SPIEGEL ONLINE
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 08:17 PM
#48
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
So, we're going into week #2, probably waiting on a debt ceiling battle, and there is no end in sight. I'm a federal employee and I'm "essential" which means I'm still working, I also recently paid out a total of $3700 in travel expenses out of pocket with another $1500 coming due. This is typical since I receive compensation on reimbursement, but not this much. I'm not getting a paycheck this week, I can make rent this month but not the rest of the bills. Since I'm not furloughed I am ineligible for unemployment, not like that will cover the bills.
WTF should I do? I'm guessing it's time to pick-up a job and try to make rent. This should be entertaining.
WTF should I do? I'm guessing it's time to pick-up a job and try to make rent. This should be entertaining.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 08:35 PM
#49
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Posts: 5,677
Total Cats: 800
Haven't caught up on this thread but something i just noticed.
While i was traveling down the blue ridge parkway and noticing all the "overlooks" coned off. I drove by the Pisgah Inn. At the time i didn't know what it was as i was unfamiliar to the area. Like all the other "sight seeing" and "tourist" spots it was barricaded off and also had 2 patrol cars sitting by it. Only a few hours ago did i find out that's a privately owned business. And now i'm reading all these stories of the government shutting down and closing off access to private land and business.... Hmmmm, seems really fishy. I wish i would have taken more pictures of the horseshit i saw.
While i was traveling down the blue ridge parkway and noticing all the "overlooks" coned off. I drove by the Pisgah Inn. At the time i didn't know what it was as i was unfamiliar to the area. Like all the other "sight seeing" and "tourist" spots it was barricaded off and also had 2 patrol cars sitting by it. Only a few hours ago did i find out that's a privately owned business. And now i'm reading all these stories of the government shutting down and closing off access to private land and business.... Hmmmm, seems really fishy. I wish i would have taken more pictures of the horseshit i saw.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 09:53 PM
#50
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,019
Total Cats: 6,587
If you can't comfortably survive for 6-12 months with no income whatsoever, you are doing something wrong.
While i was traveling down the blue ridge parkway and noticing all the "overlooks" coned off. I drove by the Pisgah Inn. At the time i didn't know what it was as i was unfamiliar to the area. Like all the other "sight seeing" and "tourist" spots it was barricaded off and also had 2 patrol cars sitting by it. Only a few hours ago did i find out that's a privately owned business. And now i'm reading all these stories of the government shutting down and closing off access to private land and business.... Hmmmm, seems really fishy.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 10:07 PM
#51
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
You edited out the part about owed travel expenses, nearly $4000. Also, our government shut-down on a pay-day, meaning I'm also one check behind already so that adds to it. If these expenses were paid by finance, I wouldn't be in a pinch. lol
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 10:27 PM
#52
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,019
Total Cats: 6,587
It's the same in the private sector. When I was a corporate employee, I put all travel expenses on a company-issued Amex card in my name, and was personally responsible for any interest charges accrued as a result of late repayment. And as a 1099 contractor, all travel expenses were paid for on my own personal Visa card and then reimbursed via expense reporting.
Quite frequently in either case, reimbursement lagged behind credit card billing by a sufficient amount that I elected to float the balance off of my personal checking account, rather than incur interest fees and face the hassle of attempting to get those covered by the company / customer.
TL;DR: Quit whining and grow a pair. (You can start by building a more manly bicycle. Less carbon/kevlar, more lithium and iron.)
Again, if you can't comfortably deal with being 20-30 paychecks behind with no impact whatsoever, you are failing at life.
Quite frequently in either case, reimbursement lagged behind credit card billing by a sufficient amount that I elected to float the balance off of my personal checking account, rather than incur interest fees and face the hassle of attempting to get those covered by the company / customer.
TL;DR: Quit whining and grow a pair. (You can start by building a more manly bicycle. Less carbon/kevlar, more lithium and iron.)
Also, our government shut-down on a pay-day, meaning I'm also one check behind already so that adds to it. If these expenses were paid by finance, I wouldn't be in a pinch. lol
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 10:28 PM
#53
Seems to me that a government employee that could rack up 4k in travel expenses would be one of the first to get a government travel card.
In other news, I've saved 5 months of income in a contingency account over a 10 month period (read: easy to access) after a stint of unemployment nearly wiped it clean. It's hard as hell to not buy go-fast bits when you've got cash in the bank.
tl;dr. Save 50% of all you earn
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 10:43 PM
#54
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Don't you have a government travel card? I've got one and I'm not even the target market - I've had to use it once - ever - when my return flight was delayed by 2 feet of snow and I had to put up for the night in Detroit.
Seems to me that a government employee that could rack up 4k in travel expenses would be one of the first to get a government travel card.
In other news, I've saved 5 months of income in a contingency account over a 10 month period (read: easy to access) after a stint of unemployment nearly wiped it clean. It's hard as hell to not buy go-fast bits when you've got cash in the bank.
tl;dr. Save 50% of all you earn
Seems to me that a government employee that could rack up 4k in travel expenses would be one of the first to get a government travel card.
In other news, I've saved 5 months of income in a contingency account over a 10 month period (read: easy to access) after a stint of unemployment nearly wiped it clean. It's hard as hell to not buy go-fast bits when you've got cash in the bank.
tl;dr. Save 50% of all you earn
I usually keep $10k in savings, but I decided to feverishly attack student loans and end them next year.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 11:00 PM
#56
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,019
Total Cats: 6,587
I do, but I'm responsible for payment on those expenses, regardless of the lag-time in finance. I'm still waiting on funds from travel back in June because these people are so ******* slow with payment. One guy in our office who travels all the time is $12k out of pocket.
I just did a quick tally on my accounts receivable, and I still have outstanding invoices totaling slightly over $30,000 dating as far back as 08 June.
Some folks punch a timeclock from 9 to 5 and live, boring, pedestrian lives. Those of us who do not learn to deal with the subtle irregularities.
Add another zero to the end, and then triple it, and you'll be on the right track via-a-vis not living hand-to-mouth for someone our age.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2013, 11:08 PM
#57
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
I just hope Boehner thought of all that before I did.
Reply
0
0
