Artysim

Reply to Election Time in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]No need to explain. I understand completely. Perhaps the only "excitement" down here is to watch the returns come in. And then most of the time they are not even that.[/quote] Indeed! I say we place a friendly wager- let's make bets on what the voter turnout in the U.S is going to be this year. Whoever's guess is closest to the actual number wins a free beer (or token of such as this is the interweb and geography is not on our side) I guess..... of all eligible voters in

Reply to Voter Registration!?!? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Sorry, but there definitely and absolutely is a Queen of Canada.[/quote] Yes, and she is a figurehead, no more. Relations with GB are cordial but they have no sway over Canada's policy and decisions and haven't since shortly after WW1. It is a historical fact that Canada chose of our free will to voluntarily join the fight in WW2. We could have thumbed our noses at them (which wouldn't have made any sense) and they wouldn't have been able to do anything about it.&

Election Time in Politics JoeUser Forums

Yesterday was the Canadian Federal Election. I cast a ballot and the fellow that I voted for got into office by only a 500 vote lead, so I'm glad I contributed my little slice to the democratic process. This was the third time I've voted federally. The first time was when I was 18, and I voted conservative. The next two times, my opinions had changed and so did my vote (one thing I can indeed thank George W. for, who I was&nb

Reply to Voter Registration!?!? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Not any more, but just 60 years ago it did. You still have one commander-in-chief over most important Commonwealth forces. She just listens to different parliaments when instructing her troops.[/quote] Actually, it was 89 years ago for Canada, not 60. When I was in the reserves (same thing as U.S National Guard), yes, I did take an oath to protect the Queen as must all members of the forces. However, it was symbolic, as are most things with the monarchy these da

Reply to Voter Registration!?!? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Try demanding that all the UK Commonwealth cede power over all elections to GB. Then you can understand a little about what you are saying.[/quote] It is a good argument Dr. Guy, and I credit you with the novel approach! However, comparing the British Commonwealth to the Union is a tad too far of a stretch I'm afraid. For example, the commonwealth has no control over individual armed forces, yet your president has the ability to call up individual state's nati

Reply to Voter Registration!?!? in Politics Stardock Forums

Here's a whacky idea: Create a standardized national organization for elections. This way, instead of 60 bureaucracies each with different ballots, some with voting machines, some with punch cards, you have 1 organization with access to all the pertinent information- all the DMV's, vital statistics, IRS, blah blah blah. Having one single group with access to all the data would make it: 1) Much cheaper. Instead of dozens of redundant, differing individual bureaucracies you

Voter Registration!?!? in Politics JoeUser Forums

What's all this ruckus about voter registration and election fraud? I'm asking because in Canada, our elections are run a little differently from you fine folks in the U.S and quite frankly we don't go through the kind of ridiculousness I'm seeing in the news. In fact, we're having our own federal election on tuesday, the day after our thanksgiving and I can pretty much guarantee it's going to be a far milder event than the pomp and pagea

Reply to Predatory Lending! in Blogging Stardock Forums

Boudica, I definitely believe that not all car dealerships are out to get you. But previous comments are correct in that each dealership tends to have it's own flavor or atmosphere. Here in my town, there's three dealers. The good, the bad, and the ugly (lol just kidding- replace ugly with indifferent) On the weekend we went to the bad dealership. I should've known better but, as previously stated thought that I was above the snake-oil tactics. The good dealership was act

Reply to Predatory Lending! in Blogging Stardock Forums

[quote]The only thing I regret is not doing my homework before hand and I probably could have gootten a much better deal on this car. But the deal is done and now I have a decent, reliable gas efficient car with warranty and stuff and while my credit was not that great so I am paying a somewhat high payment, I am OK knowing it's my fault after all for messing up my credit. There's a reason they call them sharks[/quote] One thing I've found is universal, it doesn't matter what the deal

Reply to Predatory Lending! in Blogging Stardock Forums

[quote]With EZ financing for E-1 and up schemes (about 28% interest at the time) at every used car place in town. It got to be a big problem, so every month I would bore the heck out of them with how to buy a car. I think it helped. That's why i posted in detail, if I can help one person reading the comments from making a mistake, it's worth it[/quote] I'm sure it did, you probably saved a lot of economic pain for your comrades! And, thanks for the detailed description posted earlier.

Reply to Predatory Lending! in Blogging Stardock Forums

[quote]Now about the heart of your article. Car dealers have always been like this, nothing new here. Now, times are tougher so they will be even more aggressive. You need to shut them down before they feel they invested time in you. After he commented on your ride, you should have told him "Yeah, it is nice and I plan to keep it for a long time, now if you'll excuse me I'm here with my girl". Not rude, but in a polite way, if he insists, the gloves are off, "What don't you understand about I

Reply to Health Insurance is a "Right"? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Once you get on the back of the fox, you have to hope you make it to the other side of the river before you wind up in his stomach, as there is no place to get off before the end of the journey - one way or another.[/quote] Yes, this is true but what if it isn't a fox and is instead a turtle! And not just any turtle, but a cool laid back pot smoking hippie turtle. And he just lets you chill on his shell while he's crossing over! HA, beat that one!

Reply to Predatory Lending! in Blogging Stardock Forums

[quote]I refer to something like this as "carved wood and marble syndrome." I've seen it played out a thousand times in the legal system -some guy gets accused of a crime, is jailed, and sounds off on and on and on how innocent he is or how wrong he's being done and how, when the time comes, he's gonna "put it to the man!" And then...one day his day in court rolls around and he's shackled up and goes to the courthouse where he can speak his peace and PUT IT TO THE MAN and then...he looks arou

Reply to Predatory Lending! in Blogging Stardock Forums

[quote]Use the Internet Luke! I would not equate a home lender (although I am sure there are some like them) with a desperate car dealer. But dont go on the lot. I did not. I shopped on line, got 3 dealers to start a bidding war on me, and then got a steal of a deal - with my own financing of course. They make a big chunk of change on the financing anyway.[/quote] Thanks Dr. Guy- I actually hadn't thought of that but it's a great idea and I will definitely heed your advice next ti

Predatory Lending! in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I'd like to share with you all an event that transpired this past weekend. Normally, I don't like to blog about my personal life, because well, it's my personal life. But this particular story is a microcosm of what's going on in the bigger picture, and why our society is so utterly screwed up. On saturday, my girlfriend and I went to a local car dealership. She's looking to buy a new car, as she has an old beater she picked up a while back and it's time to part w

Reply to Health Insurance is a "Right"? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]I think people who think like you do should go live in a communist country for a while. I think you will be much happier there.[/quote] tee-hee! But why? I already live in a country that has universal health care. If I lose my job tomorrow, or fall on hard times, I don't have to worry about declaring bankruptcy thanks to medical bills. Or juggling several hundred dollar-a-month premiums vs whether or not to buy food and put gas in the tank. And you know what? <

Reply to Health Insurance is a "Right"? in Politics Stardock Forums

But Health Care should be a right! If you can afford to build nuclear submarines, F-35 fighter jets, and maintain 761 military installations in 151 countries around the world.... then you should be able to afford looking after the health of your own citizens, in a non -profit way!!! Construction of bombs= good Health care for children= ebil handout to undeserving poor people.

Reply to The Spirit of Survival in Life Journals Stardock Forums

[quote]Heh, you know I do believe you are the only, what I call "intellectual deep thinking blogger," here at JU that ever even bothers to read me and leave comments, too[/quote] Thanks for the compliment! However, I believe I am more of a loud-mouth know it all than any kind of "deep thinker" Good choice on the running shoes- I swear by Asics. Every 8 months or so, I go and buy a new pair. The old pair then becomes relegated to walking shoes and the like. So any ide

Reply to Putting the talkers to the test. Let's see just how much you believe in what you preach. in Blogging Stardock Forums

[quote]Right now, I wanna see just how much people like you and others believe those with money should help those who don't have it. I am a "see it to believe it" kinda person and unless I see these people (those who decry rich can pay with the extra money they have) actually helping the poor they way they claim it should be done, I will just think of the idea as a sham by those who are envious of those with money and by those who have money but wanna pander to those who are envious so they c

Reply to Putting the talkers to the test. Let's see just how much you believe in what you preach. in Blogging Stardock Forums

Well, CharlesCS, you're not actually 1500.0 dollars in debt. In fact, you're more like 35,000.0 dollars in debt, on top of whatever else you owe. whaa? That's the cost of the 10.5 trillion U.S debt divided by 300 million. So, every single man, woman and child in the U.S, whether they be unemployed or not, owes at least $ 35,000.0 That means if you have a family of 4, you owe $ 140,000. "But hold on there, over the years I've paid waaaay more than $ 3

Reply to The Spirit of Survival in Life Journals Stardock Forums

Indeed congrats! The last mile or two can indeed be torture. I find for me, at about 2 km left (1.3 miles-ish) that I start having all kinds of delusions of imminent failure "you can't take it, gonna have to stop and walk" "you ran too fast at the beginning. you've burned yourself out and can't keep doing this. Your legs feel like rubber and your lungs are about to explode. Face it, you've hit the wall. Just stop and walk" And, thrown in for good measure, and for no

Reply to Michael Moore Says... in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]For instance, I'll take crap from Artysim because he knows his stuff. I may never agree with his analysis but he knows what he speaks of[/quote] Thanks Draginol. Just because we ardently disagree on things doesn't mean they can't be discussed in a rational manner! [quote]And yes, the root cause of this issue is stupid POOOOORRRRR people who bought houses they couldn't afford. That's becuase most POOOOR people are stupid. [/quote] Here's what I'm trying to get at

Reply to Michael Moore Says... in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]All this is nice and wonderful (hopefully the mistakes are realized and will not be allowed to be repeated), but back to the topic of this article - Why should 400 people (that wisely have command of their finances) be held monetarily responsible for the crisis?[/quote] The greater good. The U.S government is already more than 9.5 trillion in debt, and the average consumer is already tapped out with declining wages (average wages have fallen vs inflation), credit card bills, aut

Reply to Michael Moore Says... in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]This was the scam that the banks were running against the poor. Predatory lending. They expected lots of these poor people default because statistically, people who are poor are poor because they're stupid with money. But the scheme fell apart because what happened is that Smoothseas defaults on his property, ARtisym takes posession but there are no buyers for the property because the property value has declined so much. In addition, Smoothseas and millions like him also defaulted caus

Reply to Michael Moore Says... in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]And your point? Let me see if I can arrive at it succintly. People live. Life is not fair. So SOMEBODY has to cover for any un- or foreseeable calamity or stupid decision I make because I said so[/quote] Actually, no, that wasn't my point nor do I subscribe to that belief. I was countering the assertion that all these people who are "dead beat poor people" who have foreclosed on properties aren't necessarily so, that many of them are hard-working decent people who have fall