The cost of living......

KENB · Mar 8, 2004

I have always found it interesting that around here (Houston), we don't have enough money to give the police or firefighters a raise, but we can easily find the money for building a new professional sports stadium. In the last few years we have seen 3 new pro-sports stadiums built, while raising taxes and poor mouthing the whole way. Go figure... I vote "NO" on every tax increase no matter what. The more you give'em the more they waste.

Junkman · Mar 8, 2004

If you really want to understand what it means to be a politician, think of it this way. Would you spend millions of your own dollars to get elected to a job that pays $30, $50, or even $100 thousand dollars? Congress men/women do it all the time. It isn't the office that they are wanting, but the side line perks that come with it. The government is rampant with people that are there only for what they can take, but not for what they can give. We are not supposed to talk politics, so I will end here, but this is what the entire thread comes down to....... Politics.... plain and simple. Politicians doing whatever is necessary to get re elected, so they can continue to line their pockets. I have never seen in my life time a politician go into office that was of average wealth that didn't come out wealthier in the end.
This problem doesn't end with only politicians, but it also extends to the military. I will go out on a limb here and point out that if you are in the military and hold a high level position, you have a good chance of getting a job with a defense contractor just because of your military connections, not because of your military skills. This is not to diminish the value of the fine service that our military personnel provide, but to point out how industry will capitalize on the connections that are needed to make the sales. It is a self perpetuating system that exists.

wroughtn_harv · Mar 8, 2004

( A loaf of bread at the grocery store costs about $1.75. But I go to the thrift store down the street and get 3 for a dollar.)

We hunt with the same kinds of dawg. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We're creatures of habit, wife and me. Every weekday morning I do us a bagel with peanut butter on it. Explains the sticking-key-mis-spelling-syndrome, huh?

Bagels aren't the cheapest form of bread at the store.

But at the bread store when they're in stock I can get them for $1.29 for a six pack or two six packs for $2.50. They all go into the freezer so day old isn't an issue. But half price is. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The only thing that really bothers me about our economy is there isn't the promise for the next generation to do better than ours has. That's sad, very sad.

Bird · Mar 8, 2004

I'm not sure where there is a bread thrift store around here, but I've been eating that cheap store brand whole what bread so long that the last time I tried a brand name bread, it just didn't seem as good.

Junkman · Mar 8, 2004

You have to try that Atkins diet bread..... it cost more for less. To me, it is like having a slice of sawdust. Possibly that is the way you will loose weight eating Atkins bread. It tastes so awful you won't eat very much of it. I love the ads... Loose 20 pounds in 30 days with a little asterisk attached. In the little print at the bottom... "results not typical ". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BXMMCC · Mar 9, 2004

"I have never seen in my life time a politician go into office that was of average wealth that didn't come out wealthier in the end."

Harry Truman? Jimmie Carter?

MossRoad · Mar 9, 2004

Bird and Harv,

We've got two thrift stores nearby. I do the groceries on Tuesday evengings while the 6 year old is at the gym and the 11 year old is at some sport practice(depends on the season).
As if the thrift store isn't good enough, I have a discount card for the thrift store. If you buy $30.00 worth of stuff, you get $3.00 off your next purchase. One of those electronic swipe cards. So, about every 6 or 7 weeks I get a discount at the discount store. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Every week I pick up a loaf of white, wheat, a bag of chocolate donuts, powdered donuts, hamburger and hot dog buns and a bag or two of cookies, plus whatever is on sale. It usually runs under $5.00. If anything is left over at the end of the week, it goes out for the birds.

At the groceery store, we buy mostly sale items and be sure to stock up when name brand items are on sale..... with the exception of pop. I like pop in bottles. It just tastes better. IBC Root Beer, Cream Soda and Black Cherry Soda. $3.35 a six pack. Ouch! But I love the look on the girl's faces when they get bottled pop. They know it tastes better, too. That's my only vice(besides the tractor). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

fivestring · Mar 9, 2004

"I have always found it interesting that around here (Houston), we don't have enough money to give the police or firefighters a raise, but we can easily find the money for building a new professional sports stadium. In the last few years we have seen 3 new pro-sports stadiums built, while raising taxes and poor mouthing the whole way. Go figure... I vote "NO" on every tax increase no matter what. The more you give'em the more they waste." 

Houston must be Charlotte's sister city. I haven't had a raise that kept pace with inflation since 1995.
The taxpayers voted no on a new arena. The Hornets left town (GOOD!).
Less than a year later, Charlotte is building a new arena for a new roundball team we didn't even have. All at the taxpayer's expense.
Other than the Carolina Hurricanes hockey, I have not been to a pro sports game since 1996.
You won't ever see me at a basketball game.
You won't see me at a football game.
You might see me at a Single A or Double A baseball game.
You might see me at a hockey fight when a game breaks out.

Bird · Mar 9, 2004

And Dallas is trying to keep up with Houston and Charlotte. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

lamarbur · Mar 9, 2004

"You might see me at a hockey fight when a game breaks out.'--------

Never cared for hockey.. Always thought it was legalized wrestling only on ice skates.. Unfortunately, I am not a sports fan at all other than watching NHRA drags now and then. If given the chance, I would vote NO on any tax payers building sports stadiums..