Comments on: Barack and the Blue Dogs in a Tree, With Entitlement “Reform” http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:47:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Praedor http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785836 Praedor Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:49:46 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785836 <p>NPR had a bit this morning talking to an economist who was asked if the dreams of people actually retiring are gone for good. The answer was “yes, I believe so”. I agree. My own parents are in their upper 70s and early 80s and still work part time. They HAVE to. Everyone except those filthy rich bastards given the store by Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II will have to work until they die. It may be part time work but work it will be.</p> <p>As I’ve been studying the entire system, from the (insane) money system to the way the government mis-reports inflation and mis-calculates GDP (in both cases to make the scenario appear much rosier than it actually is in objective reality) I have myself had to conclude that retirement is impossible for those today who are not yet retired. That the stock market, IRAs, 401ks, etc, CANNOT work out in the end (not at this point in time), and that the monetary system itself absolutely MUST collapse and the dollar fail (it is a design flaw inherent to the system that cannot be avoided) unless the economy itself does the equivalent and collapses almost entirely. For a simple, engaging, and clear explanation of all this in short segments, I strongly encourage you to visit: <a href="http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse" rel="nofollow">http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse</a> </p> <p>Go thru the “chapters” (short 15 min videos) one by one or skip to the key vids about the monetary system, then to bubbles (boy does THAT put the housing bubble into a very special perspective), and then the fuzzy numbers chapter (explaining how the government determines inflation and GDP - and how it is OBVIOUS bullshit top-to-bottom). In the end, you too could only conclude that this is a very “interesting” time to be alive in this country and even the world. </p> <p>Seriously. Check the vids - they are quite good, the speaker is engaging and interesting, and the info is presented in small enough bites to make it easily understood by those who go into a comma whenever “economics” speak rears its boring, ugly head.</p> <p>We wont be retiring and one thing is definitely for certain, as Chris Marten states, “The next 20 years will not be anything like the last 20 years”. Not by a LONG shot.</p> NPR had a bit this morning talking to an economist who was asked if the dreams of people actually retiring are gone for good. The answer was “yes, I believe so”. I agree. My own parents are in their upper 70s and early 80s and still work part time. They HAVE to. Everyone except those filthy rich bastards given the store by Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II will have to work until they die. It may be part time work but work it will be.

As I’ve been studying the entire system, from the (insane) money system to the way the government mis-reports inflation and mis-calculates GDP (in both cases to make the scenario appear much rosier than it actually is in objective reality) I have myself had to conclude that retirement is impossible for those today who are not yet retired. That the stock market, IRAs, 401ks, etc, CANNOT work out in the end (not at this point in time), and that the monetary system itself absolutely MUST collapse and the dollar fail (it is a design flaw inherent to the system that cannot be avoided) unless the economy itself does the equivalent and collapses almost entirely. For a simple, engaging, and clear explanation of all this in short segments, I strongly encourage you to visit: http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse

Go thru the “chapters” (short 15 min videos) one by one or skip to the key vids about the monetary system, then to bubbles (boy does THAT put the housing bubble into a very special perspective), and then the fuzzy numbers chapter (explaining how the government determines inflation and GDP – and how it is OBVIOUS bullshit top-to-bottom). In the end, you too could only conclude that this is a very “interesting” time to be alive in this country and even the world.

Seriously. Check the vids – they are quite good, the speaker is engaging and interesting, and the info is presented in small enough bites to make it easily understood by those who go into a comma whenever “economics” speak rears its boring, ugly head.

We wont be retiring and one thing is definitely for certain, as Chris Marten states, “The next 20 years will not be anything like the last 20 years”. Not by a LONG shot.

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785449 SouthernDragon Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:14:07 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785449 <p>The direct patient care folks have always been good. Not to say a dud doesn’t end up there once in a while but they don’t last long. We had one at Bay Pines we called Dr Death. He had the highest mortality rate in the hospital. He wound up shelving books in the medical library while he fought his practicing privileges revocation. Faded off into the night eventually.</p> The direct patient care folks have always been good. Not to say a dud doesn’t end up there once in a while but they don’t last long. We had one at Bay Pines we called Dr Death. He had the highest mortality rate in the hospital. He wound up shelving books in the medical library while he fought his practicing privileges revocation. Faded off into the night eventually.

]]> By: nonplussed http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785445 nonplussed Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:09:50 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785445 <p>They still have a lot of good people. In fact a lot of the Doctors are the same people that I used to see at the civilian place I went to. Something happened there and many of the good Doctors moved on, curiously a lot of the specialists moved to the VA Clinic here.</p> They still have a lot of good people. In fact a lot of the Doctors are the same people that I used to see at the civilian place I went to. Something happened there and many of the good Doctors moved on, curiously a lot of the specialists moved to the VA Clinic here.

]]> By: californiarealitycheck http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785444 californiarealitycheck Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:08:56 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785444 <p>countin on ya.</p> countin on ya.

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785441 SouthernDragon Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:06:43 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785441 <p>Geez, last time I got any treatment the meds were 2 bucks. Whole slew of heavy duty antibiotics. Seriously infected sebacious cyst between the shoulder blades. That was an experience. Great care, had a great surgeon.</p> Geez, last time I got any treatment the meds were 2 bucks. Whole slew of heavy duty antibiotics. Seriously infected sebacious cyst between the shoulder blades. That was an experience. Great care, had a great surgeon.

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785437 SouthernDragon Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:04:19 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785437 <p>Heh, I’m liable to get some first hand experience.</p> Heh, I’m liable to get some first hand experience.

]]> By: nonplussed http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785435 nonplussed Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:04:02 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785435 <p>It’s the way to go. Only thing is the cost of the meds. They use generics when they can & anything that isn’t related to your service connected problem is $8.00-you can get it for $4.00 at most grocery stores. It can run into some bucks if you’re as decrepit as I am. But they are efficient and they take good care of me. Everyone should be so lucky as to have them. Seriously.</p> It’s the way to go. Only thing is the cost of the meds. They use generics when they can & anything that isn’t related to your service connected problem is $8.00-you can get it for $4.00 at most grocery stores. It can run into some bucks if you’re as decrepit as I am. But they are efficient and they take good care of me. Everyone should be so lucky as to have them. Seriously.

]]> By: californiarealitycheck http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785433 californiarealitycheck Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:03:01 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785433 <p>let us know how he works out please.</p> let us know how he works out please.

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785431 SouthernDragon Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:02:33 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785431 <p>Isn’t that just the greatest thing about that little O-N, O-F-F switch?</p> Isn’t that just the greatest thing about that little O-N, O-F-F switch?

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785430 SouthernDragon Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:01:46 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/barack-and-the-blue-dogs-in-a-tree-with-entitlement-reform/#comment-1785430 <p>Soon-to-be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shenseki. I’m sure hoping. He’s got to get VA out of the HMO model of health care. Put the bean counters back to counting beans and not making treatment policies.</p> Soon-to-be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shenseki. I’m sure hoping. He’s got to get VA out of the HMO model of health care. Put the bean counters back to counting beans and not making treatment policies.

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