Category : News, Politics

in News, Politics

Credit Card Issuers Raising Rates, Fees Ahead of New Law – washingtonpost.com

Credit Card Issuers Raising Rates, Fees Ahead of New Law – washingtonpost.com.

They just never start these stories with true-life accounts of how Gloria, 32, spent lavish amounts of money on dining out, clothes, and a huge flat-screen TV, and is now at a loss for how she will pay her credit card bill. “It’s just not right what these credit card companies are doing. I mean, I think it’s so wrong that they’re making money off of people suffering because they can’t pay their bills.”

in News, Politics

Hrm.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090214/ts_nm/us_madoff_britain

Losing one’s life savings is devastating, but it’s strange, isn’t it, to think of people killing themselves over money when they have family, friends, and apparent health? Obviously, I do not have a million dollars stashed away anywhere, and am not immune from worrying about money (as I am so prone to worrying), but would I kill myself over it? Does having so much money become so important? Maybe it’s different when you’re older. Maybe, being closer to death, it just becomes easier to check out than it is to keep struggling, especially when some asshole swindles you out of your money.

in News, Politics

Clever buggers!

Here’s a story about companies that are “stealthily shrinking” their packaging and charging the same price on products in order to maintain their profits. It all seems rather shady, but one, I suppose, cannot expect them to announce on their boxes that they are doing this. What would that look like? “New and improved (for us): less for your money, whee!”

Much like the proposed sales tax rate, I realize the money’s gotta come from somewhere. If they don’t make enough on their products, they lay off workers. That’s bad. But, of course I have no idea if they are protecting a modest margin and solvency, or if they are paying millions of dollars to CEOs and need to keep those golden parachutes polished. I just don’t know.

I would, however, probably be much more irritated if it were, say Exxon Mobil pulling this stuff. Who knows, maybe they own some of these companies…

On a side note, my older brother remarked that CEOs should be allowed to make lots of money because they are being paid to do a job, and, after all, this country is not socialist. It would be a bad precedent to cap salaries in a (supposed) capitalist society. Curt, who also believes in capitalism, thinks CEO salaries are most certainly too inflated, and refuses to believe that companies could not recruit better people to do as good a job, and for less money. It’s not as if some of these CEOs have been doing great jobs, anyway.

These are both good points; we should not be able to tell people how much they can pay their executives, but at the same time, there does seem to be a lack of common sense in paying people such huge sums of money when their pay does not necessarily depend on whether the company remains solvent. More fool, them, I suppose. Until taxpayers have to foot the bill. Then it becomes rightfully vicious.

For my part, I remember reading a story about the late Kenneth Lay who, shortly after being convicted in the Enron scandal, threw a multi-million dollar birthday party for his wife. When questioned about the outrageous dichotomy, he responded by saying that it was difficult to switch lifestyles overnight.

What a strange state of affairs. Of course, I am most probably not qualified to give an in depth economic analysis of what we should do with this fine mess you’ve gotten us in, Stanley. After all, I only live here.

in News, Politics

A little wow

A few notes for tonights: so we have a new president! It was interesting to watch the election coverage; they were so gun-shy in trying NOT to announce that he was winning hand over fist, while at the same time it was very evident they were trying not to announce it. Curt was furious that, basically, out West, California’s vote is basically discounted since by the time it got to us, it was very clear he would win. It always was, after all, but I see his point.

So much for the news media.

I am glad McCain gave a gracious speech. No matter what you think of the man’s politics, to take defeat with grace is a hard-won virtue; one that many people do not possess (including the ignorantly vocal minority of his constituency). So, hats off to him for that.

Now, looking ahead, I am hopeful that Barack Obama will be a good president. He may be a great president, if all of the words he used on the campaign trail about hope, America, and all that jazz turn out to be how he really feels. What I am wary of? Basically, every idea he has about the economy. His response to Joe the Plumber:

It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance at success, too… My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, you’re gonna be better off [...] if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you, and right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.

Um…no. We should not spread the wealth around. That is not what wealth is for. Wealth is accumulated through work and success; success is not a hand-out. Success is not a tax break. Success is something more than that. Do you think tax breaks will = success for most people? I sure don’t. My (limited) wealth is not up for grabs to enrich people who are less “wealthy” than I am. They should do that for themselves.

And that’s why I didn’t vote for him. Still, as a nation that, merely 60 years go was mired in hatred and bigotry, electing Barack Obama president is an amazing thing. In that, if in nothing else, a good thing was done today.

So, here’s to four years, and may they be good ones, President Obama.

Also, I’m playing WoW again, and I love it! Except for that part where I sword-specced and realized I am dual wielding daggers… ;)

in News, Politics, RANT

OMG THIS BLOOD VESSEL IS GOING TO BURST

HERE: http://cbs2.com/local/Obama.effigy.bloody.2.852550.html

“I am appalled by a man who is so close to being our president who won’t put his hand on the Bible, who won’t wear a flag pin.”

(For the record, Obama has sworn on the Bible and wears a flag pin.)

Oh my god, we’re all going to die. God forbid you vote for someone because of what he’ll do to fix the country, NO, it’s only important if he wears a flag and swears on the Bible!

GAHAHH, stupid cow! WHY ARE YOU ALLOWED TO VOTE!

Here’s another fun bit of trivia: Not only did the office building I work in once house a brothel (AND they were busted, cops and fleeing and the whole bit), but it also houses a mortgage broker and a US Representative’s satellite office.

Normally, the Congressman’s office is empty and devoid of activity. Over the last few weeks (during this fun period of life we all call “Election Season”), we’ve seen a steady stream of people show up there, one of them driving a Hummer. I have not spoken with any of them. However, I, and at least one other co-worker, can attest to the fact that the female half of that staff have atrocious bathroom manners.

I do not think that is coincidental.