Wind Turbine ********. Just opened the mail and seen the plan for three massive units

[Sodo]

7. The poor in America are comparatively rich when compared to the poor elsewhere.

Yep poor in the USA is determined by your car. In other countries "poor" would be lucky to have a car hulk to live in just for the shelter. Poor in the USA is rich by many standards.

9. Claims to tax the rich are generally based on envy and laziness, and a failure to recognize one's own poor choices in life.

Yes by some, but not overall. The rich use the country's resources to get rich. They use the country's legal system to protect it, the country's cops and the military, and the banking system, judicial system to gather it, all the infrastructure, ports, rails, energy grid etc. And they use the middle class and the poor to help gather this wealth. It's certainly fair to tax at differing levels (IMHO). Even at much higher taxation than our current rates there would be substantial motivation to create wealth. And substantial motivation to hide it and take it out of the country.

Biggest problem I have with increased taxation, is the increased waste, and the increased incentive for gov't workers to not produce commensurate "work" or "value". And to demand much higher wages+benefits than the going rate, while complaining about taxes. (FYI: One in 6 Seattle city employees makes 6 figure income and every year we have to raise taxes to support the schools)

One thing I am comforted with (with regards to taxation) is that gov't wages go to people who will spend it in the country. They will buy a pickup or a tractor, a house etc. As opposed to those who gather the wealth and take the money out of circulation, and in some cases out of the country. Like petroleum dollars and "made in china" just sucking the wealth out. Or foreign owned nuke plants, windmills….

 

[Egon]

Another vacuum dweller speaks. Are you so freak'n stupid you don't realize the mental capacity of some folks will never rise above entry level or that opportunities at all levels of ability are being limited by outsourcing and automation?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/n...asingly-entering-fast-food-industry.html?_r=0
The classic image of the high-school student flipping Big Macs after class is sorely out of date. Because of lingering unemployment and a relative abundance of fast-food jobs, older workers are increasingly entering the industry. These days, according to the National Employment Law Project, the average age of fast-food workers is 29. Forty percent are 25 or older; 31 percent have at least attempted college; more than 26 percent are parents raising children. Union organizers say that one-third to one-half of them have more than one job like Mr. Shoy, who is 58 and supports a wife and children.

Back to wind power. There is a reason that wind and solar are being developed as low carbon energy sources even though they are not able to be easily or seamlessly integrated with older energy technologies on the grid. That reason has been explained to the vacuum dwellers many times, doing it again will not make any difference.

Speaking to vacum dewellers is a lost cause. No transmission!

 

[KiwiBro]

Speaking to vacum dewellers is a lost cause. No transmission!

Have been looking at energy-storing modern flywheels lately. They can spin at high speeds in a vacuum, for long durations, with very little input at all.

 

[IslandTractor]

1. The salary you command is based on how valuable others find your skill. If you have a low salary, it's because your skills are not valuable or because many other people share those same skills. 2. You choose which skills to learn; you are responsible for determining how valuable your hours are and what salary you will command. 3. If you are poor, it is because the value you offer to others is less than the value you take away from others. 4. This may be because you have nothing valuable to offer, or because physical disabilities keep you from offering it, or because age limitations keep you from offering it, or because you choose not to offer it. 5. If you have nothing valuable to offer, or if you choose not to offer it, then you are poor through your own choice. 6. In a world where everyone is responsible for themselves only, there is no moral infirmity in being poor. But in a world where those who are productive are taxed to pay for those who have nothing valuable to offer, or who choose not to offer it, then the poor who take advantage of such benefits are not contributing. 7. The poor in America are comparatively rich when compared to the poor elsewhere. 8. You are responsible for yourself and your family and no one else. And no one else is responsible for you. 9. Claims to tax the rich are generally based on envy and laziness, and a failure to recognize one's own poor choices in life. Give to the orphans, the widows, the disabled, and the handicapped, and keep them warm and safe.

Unmitigated and naive horsecrap.

 

[Creamer]

Flipping burgers or similar is the only career some people are capable of and the only type of career available with increased automation. You cannot just pretend those folks do not exist. Do you think they deserve a living wage, or should they be partial financial wards of the state forever?

Really? You are so arrogant that you believe people cannot learn skills to make them more valuable? I personally have known many that were either born or developed issues (disease or accidents) that interfered with normal work who have developed in contributing members of society and are proud of what they do. They do a lot more than flipping burgers, make a very livable wage, and have personal pride. In America we do not permanent classes of people but there is a group of arrogant A$$es that want to make one.

 

[dave1949]

Really? You are so arrogant that you believe people cannot learn skills to make them more valuable? I personally have known many that were either born or developed issues (disease or accidents) that interfered with normal work who have developed in contributing members of society and are proud of what they do. They do a lot more than flipping burgers, make a very livable wage, and have personal pride. In America we do not permanent classes of people but there is a group of arrogant A$$es that want to make one.

Oh good Lord, I didn't make them what they are nor do I keep them anywhere. More power to those who progress but not all will. There are also people who cannot live and work independently that staff Goodwill type operations in a highly supportive atmosphere. Those people are literally incapable of functioning as normal employees but they are working.

Beyond that, there is no shame in flipping burgers or other low skill jobs and I never implied that there is--as you have just done. What I question is how we value those people. They show up on time, do their job, and fulfill a need but a living wage seems to be out of the question as if they couldn't possibly deserve that. If you want to get irate about something, focus on that reality.

 

[Creamer]

Oh good Lord, I didn't make them what they are nor do I keep them anywhere. More power to those who progress but not all will. There are also people who cannot live and work independently that staff Goodwill type operations in a highly supportive atmosphere. Those people are literally incapable of functioning as normal employees but they are working.

Beyond that, there is no shame in flipping burgers or other low skill jobs and I never implied that there is--as you have just done. What I question is how we value those people. They show up on time, do their job, and fulfill a need but a living wage seems to be out of the question as if they couldn't possibly deserve that. If you want to get irate about something, focus on that reality.

No - you would never that. But you would assign a value rather than letting them find their own comfort level. The policies you pontificate have the effect of limiting personal growth.

 

[Egon]

No - you would never that. But you would assign a value rather than letting them find their own comfort level. The policies you pontificate have the effect of limiting personal growth.

Who's Pontificating?

 

[TCJatko]

Unmitigated and naive horsecrap.

Look, IT's back! And adding valuable input, I might add.

 

[IslandTractor]

Who's Pontificating?

He's a tad over his head trying to impress us with vocabulary. I believe he means promulgating or advocating. Pontificating is a description of a haughty or pompous speakers tone not a description of the idea itself. One doesn't "pontificate" an idea unless you are literally a bishop giving a formal mass.