subj= realizing what's wrong with privatizing social security


An article in the LA times :
Benjamin R. Barber
'Privatizing Social Security: 'Me' Over 'We'

I'd have to say, I wasn't exactly promoting privatization, but I didn't have any issue with it until now. I actually received an email basically calling GW a moron and found issue with people who call him a moron but don't actually present reason or suggestion as to what could be done better.

In my mind these bullet mailing represent mudslinging and are unproductive in general as they are primarily sent to an audience of like minded people. So what purpose do these notes truly serve. Preaching to the choir will of course result in a resounding 'AMEN.'

The general topic of the mail was intended to be Soc.Security reform, by which it was noted that GW had in history voiced an opinion that SocSec would be out of money in 10 years. Unfortunately this was in excess of 15 years ago. That he currently holds the same vehement belief is not surprising. It's well established that he is strong and stubbornly minded.

That said, SocSec does need a tremendous reform. But I know would agree with anyone who says privatized personal accounts are not the solution. They are a path to disrupting individual investment in the public good, the foundation of Social Security. Anyone who has the true resource to manage their own retirement account, most likely will NOT be depending on SocSec, throughout their retirement.

Taking that into mind, I would submit that overhaul is some other form is the best venue.

The article makes strong differentiation between being a consumer and being a citizen; whereby privatization is empowerment to the consumer. A consumer is invested in the self and personal wealth and advantages which remove dependency on public provisions. Whereas the citizen is invested in the public good and equal access of goods and services.

The article ends with the following:

"For us as individuals, privitizing Social Security is probably a bad bet on technical grounds. But for us as citizens, it is a certain disaster. As prospective retirees and private consumers we may want to argue about it, but as citizens, if we care about our democratic republic, we are bound to condemn it."

subj= why i hate the Patriots

Mostly because I lived in Boston for 10 years and as a whole Boston people hate New Yorkers, so it was bred into me over time.

Today though it's because in beating the Steelers, they have made my Jets a team that lost to losers. And I don't care how much you dislike the team that beats you, if they turn around and lose at the next stage it cannot reflect well on you.

Ugh. At least I don't have to deal w/ the celebration of all those that live in Boston anymore.
In fact I can delight in the fact that the game was great to be played in a winter wonderland while I wore shorts and watched some of the game from the outdoors. Hmmph.

subj=another quotable from G-dub

"The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world."
PRESIDENT BUSH


It's kind of hard to disagree with this, unless of course you choose to try and define freedom. Aye, there is the rub.

I actually believe it was generally a well prepared speach. While the implacations are sweeping, it's hard to refute that current events of the last score are on his side. While freedom and democracy in a semblance of what we, the western world, know it to be has increased in world governments the general threat of holocaust , nuclear or conventional has declined. Nothing near the scope of the Cuban Missile Crisis has occured since the end of the Cold War and replacement of the Russian government with a more Western styled governance. While this has spurned mini factions and local civil wars, as would likely happen in the Middle East, the overall global threat is being minimized with each step.
Our individual definitions of freedom nor democracy need even be extensively in agreement, to produce the end result of a greater state of individual and overall peace.


Less to say, the writer of this speech did their homework, played to the crowd with repetition and somehow, George didn't kill it with his less than stellar oratory skills.

subj= it's ok to be jealous

84 degrees and sunny today....January 19th...I'm so over the east coast.

I can only go tropical from here.

Care to take a peak at the view on 'The Strand'

Hermosa Beach, California - Welcome to hermosawave.net

subj= as if they didn't have lock-down w/ their NFL deal

The New York Times : Technology : Electronic Arts and ESPN Sign 15-Year Deal to Sell Games

Probably means we'll all be paying 60 bucks for games again.

And I actually liked ESPN 2k5, it won't be as 'cool' without the player names, teams and authentic stadiums.

Just means they'll have to go the way of EA's 'Street' brand of games and be inventive w/ some authentic stadiums and play fields.

Chaulk one up to 'THE MAN'

subj= more like what i expect from cali

Yahoo! Weather - Hermosa Beach

Though I don't think it will hit the projected high of 80 degrees on January 17, MLK day, I can't really complain can I.

I had momentarily thought I would take advantage of the high and make my way into the ocean, but I'm a big wuss. That water is cold.

Hope your day is going as 'swimingly' as mine.

subj= The Boondocks prepare for MLK day

The Boondocks

subj= jets need a new kicker...=(


Kicker hands over game in rocky debut for the Pittsburg Rookie


UUUUUUgh!...They were the biggest threat to them in the regular season and they'll probably wind up being the biggest threat to them in the post season.

Once again the Jets made the Steelers look like they would be losers into the 4th period.

Once again in overtime the Jets gave themselves a chance to win the game and handed it to the other team.

Unfortunately this time our kicker not only missed once, but missed twice.

Watching in a sea of black and gold at my local bar, I could only say, I was probably the lucky one, but .....soooo close.

I'm not the biggest fan, but it does hurt to come so close.

subj= is it racism if its about your own culture?


Blogthings - You Know You're Puerto Rican When...

subj= the switch

I would simply like to offer that it is NOT impossible.

I was watching Seinfeld today and the infamous switch episode was on. I would simply like to offer that the switch is NOT impossible.

In fact, it's been done.

subj= new daily allowance rules

"'Tonight eat only half the dessert. And then go out and walk around the block. And if you are going to watch television get down and do 10 push-ups and five sit-ups."
TOMMY THOMPSON, secretary of Health and Human Services, on new diet guidelines."


This statement almost makes more sense than the actual guidelines.
For every show you watch get down and do a set. I'd hold myself to a set with higher repetitions but to each his/her own.
I'll let you know how I've done with implementing this, should I remember.

subj= barcardi and friends scaring the beer guys


"August Busch IV, president of Anheuser-Busch Cos. brewing unit, has said that wine and spirits represent ``a threat'' to his company and the rest of the beer industry. "

subj= makes reasonable sense...but ewww

CNN.com - Marley to be exhumed, buried in Ethiopia - Jan 12, 2005:
The wife of reggae star Bob Marley said Wednesday that she plans to exhume his remains in Jamaica and rebury them in his "spiritual resting place," Ethiopia.

subj= rain rain go away

On the California Mudslides:

"'We're looking for any movement. A part of an arm. A finger tapping. A cough. Someone crying. Any indication someone is alive in there.'
CONRAD QUINTANA, of the Ventura County Fire Department, on the search for survivors of a mudslide in La Conchita, Calif."

subj= documented act of kindness

so I had left a book on my return flight from the holidays. my return trip had gone so well. I got up and out in the morning. There was no traffic to the airport. There was no wait through security. I was able to get on an earlier connector on standby. I was even able to get on an earlier flight home from my connection.

That part of the mission home was fantastic. Until I realized during the flight home that the library book I swore I'd leave at home, stayed on the airplane.

Ugh.

Well, it was time to return teh other books I'd borrowed with it. I happened by the desk and simply said,

" I have something unfortunate to admit. Though a copy of the book I borrowed is in the stacks, it seems to be an extra copy not the copy I borrowed. I unfotunately left a book on the plane returning from my holiday vacation and was hoping the airline would return it to me or that someone would be nice enough to return it to the library."

To which the librarian replied:

" Actually, we received the book in the mail today, with a note enclosed saying how they found it on a plane. I thought to myself, this person is lucky they got this in on the due date."

I expressed my gratitude and disbelief and left with a huge smile on my face and a rekindled faith in the kindness of people. They had a good 2 weeks to return the book, so I can only assume whomever returned it read it first. I hope they enjoyed it. I even made a donation to the library before leaving. I'd intended to donate them prior, and hoped to use them as a bargaining chip against a loss fee with all that happened. That turned out not to be necessary.

Woohoo!

Thanks...whomever that was.
=)

subj= I may finally fly first class

"Delta launches fare war"

Is it time to short the airlines again already?

American Airlines (AMR, news, msgs),
Northwest Airlines (NWAC, news, msgs)
US Airways (UAIRQ, news, msgs)
Delta's (DAL, news, msgs)
US Airways, United Airlines (UALAQ, news, msgs)
ATA Holdings (ATAHQ, news, msgs)
AirTran Holdings (AAI, news, msgs)

subj= why 'Everybody Loves Raymond' is such a great show


cuz unles you come from a 'Little House' family, there are at least 3 items in each episode of 'Raymond' that ring true in you family life or general psyche.

I'm not even married and I feel for Raymond when his parents drive his wife crazy, when his wife drives him crazy and when he drives everyone crazy and most of all when it's disgustingly obvious that nobody understands what's going on around them.

Is it our innate desire to notice aspects of ourselves in others, or simply to be able to make light of situations we at first find quite heavy. I'd have to say it's both.

Who needs doctor Phil to tell them that they need to depend less on their parents as they grow older, ask your neighbor, heck ask your friends, they'll tell you for free.

subj= over the hump

feeling a lot better today. still spent most of it inside, but will be ready to go out tomorrow.
several errands to run, but most likely it's going to rain....and that will keep me in resting another day. Hopefully for the best.

subj= sick day

don't know where this crept up on me, but today is an awful day for me.

I woke up with head and back aches as well as a sore throat and mild cough.

I think I even had a low grade fever. That broke at about noon and my aches are slowly subsiding.

I'm happy for that. Hopefully I feel a whole lot better tomorrow. I've got a lot of job hunting to do.

=(