Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

[Deleted User]

driver100 said:

I only said 97% of Suburus were on the road after 10 years....didn't say if they were still running, or how much it cost to keep them going.

Subaru isn't perfect, but it's pretty good in terms of durability and reliability. I often see neighbors abuse them for years and years in both maintenance and how they're used, and they keep chugging along. In Colorado demand for used Subarus is insanely high and the resale value reflects those conditions. Unless they want to go very old and cheap, I always recommend to friends that they buy new Subarus in Colorado due to the resale.

cdnpinhead

abacomike said:

What has happened to this country of ours?

Apparently you haven't been paying attention.

Very little of it is good.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

And, there is an ad running in our local newspaper....it says.....

Suburu Reliability!

97% of all Suburus in Canada are still on the road, over the last 10 years.

That's remarkable, I wonder how many of the remaining 3% were totalled.

Most cars today should get between 12-15 years with minimal work so most makes should have a high percentage of cars made in the last 10 years still on the road.

Mr_Shiftright

If you travel a lot outside the USA, our country doesn't look so bad when you come back

Piston slap in a new car relates to inherent engine design---something to do with short piston skirts. Sounds sexy but I think it's done as a design to cut down on reciprocating weight.

[Deleted User]

Right on regarding the piston slap, Mr_Shiftright. Short piston shirts make them more prone to rocking within the cylinder wall. Annoying, but not a reliability or durability issue. Kind of like the tapping noise in a direct injection engine.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

I just got an email from the Teacher's Retirement System of Illinois:

"The Illinois comptroller’s announcement on October 14 that state government will not make its pension contribution in November will have no impact on TRS paying monthly benefits to its retirees. Benefits are paid from the $46 billion TRS trust fund and not by the state."

Not good boding for the financial stability of the State of Illinois!

So the state won't make it's pension contribution in November, that is different from previous months how?

snakeweasel

robr2 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I heard thst Hollywood is already planning a movie on the VW scandal. They just love trashing any capitalist while being the most greedy business on the planet.

To be fair, it may never become a movie. Entertainment companies option books early in their life in order to beat out other people. Leonardo DiCaprio optioned the rights to a book proposal by Jack Ewing. The book hasn't even been written.

Take the new Steve Jobs movie that just came out. The book came out in 2011 and Sony optioned it. Aaron Sorkin was named the screenwriter in May of 2012. It took over 3 years for a script and production.

But the VW scandal isn't a book, it's a historical fact and therefore cannot be copyrighted. So there is no way you could beat out anyone and prevent them from telling the story.

stever

DiCaprio's working title is Meet the Beetles (per Roger Friedman at Showbiz 411). Same guy says Michael Douglas got the rights to the Firestone tire scandal only now he's too old to star in it.

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

I just got an email from the Teacher's Retirement System of Illinois:

"The Illinois comptroller’s announcement on October 14 that state government will not make its pension contribution in November will have no impact on TRS paying monthly benefits to its retirees. Benefits are paid from the $46 billion TRS trust fund and not by the state."

Not good boding for the financial stability of the State of Illinois!

So the state won't make it's pension contribution in November, that is different from previous months how?

Just heard that Illinois won't pay lottery winners more than $600 no matter how much they win "because we're broke". Yikes!

robr2

snakeweasel said:

But the VW scandal isn't a book, it's a historical fact and therefore cannot be copyrighted. So there is no way you could beat out anyone and prevent them from telling the story.

Nobody is trying to copyright the VW scandal. But if someone does the research to write a book about the scandal then they are entitled to copyright protection. Further, it's common practice in the entertainment industry to option a book very early in the process. Thus the producer holds the right to make a movie based on the book. Anyone else who wants to write a book about the scandal can as long as they don't copy the original.

Look at Band of Brothers. It is a mini series based on a book written by Stephen Ambrose. Mr. Ambrose did the research on Easy Company and it's participation in WW II. Tom Hanks optioned the book and made the mini series with HBO. Nobody owns the copyright to the story of Easy Company but Mr. Ambrose's family owns the copyright to his book and HBO owns the copyright to the mini series. Someone else could try and duplicate their effort but probably won't because it's already been done.

robr2

oldfarmer50 said:

Just heard that Illinois won't pay lottery winners more than $600 no matter how much they win "because we're broke". Yikes!

That's a bit of a stretch. They can't pay the winners because there isn't a state budget. There's money, they just can't spend it.

“Without a budget, we can’t, by law, make any payments on an appropriated fund without a court order or consent decree or statutory continuing appropriation,” said Rich Carter, press secretary for Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger’s office.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Lottery-Officials-Players-Who-Win-More-Than-600-Will-be-Delayed-Payment-332909841.html#ixzz3odZfiF11
Follow us: @nbcchicago on Twitter | nbcchicago on Facebook

snakeweasel

stever said:

DiCaprio's working title is Meet the Beetles (per Roger Friedman at Showbiz 411). Same guy says Michael Douglas got the rights to the Firestone tire scandal only now he's too old to star in it.

You can't get the rights to the Firestone tire scandal, you may get the rights to someones version of it but not to the actual facts of the case. Anyone can write a book or make a movie about it.

snakeweasel

robr2 said:

snakeweasel said:

But the VW scandal isn't a book, it's a historical fact and therefore cannot be copyrighted. So there is no way you could beat out anyone and prevent them from telling the story.

Nobody is trying to copyright the VW scandal. But if someone does the research to write a book about the scandal then they are entitled to copyright protection. Further, it's common practice in the entertainment industry to option a book very early in the process. Thus the producer holds the right to make a movie based on the book. Anyone else who wants to write a book about the scandal can as long as they don't copy the original.

Look at Band of Brothers. It is a mini series based on a book written by Stephen Ambrose. Mr. Ambrose did the research on Easy Company and it's participation in WW II. Tom Hanks optioned the book and made the mini series with HBO. Nobody owns the copyright to the story of Easy Company but Mr. Ambrose's family owns the copyright to his book and HBO owns the copyright to the mini series. Someone else could try and duplicate their effort but probably won't because it's already been done.

While someone who researches the VW scandal and writes a book about it they do own a copyright on the book they do not own the copyright on any of the facts. So I could also write a book on the VW scandal and use all the facts in the others book and not be in violation of any copyrights.

snakeweasel

robr2 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Just heard that Illinois won't pay lottery winners more than $600 no matter how much they win "because we're broke". Yikes!

That's a bit of a stretch. They can't pay the winners because there isn't a state budget. There's money, they just can't spend it.

“Without a budget, we can’t, by law, make any payments on an appropriated fund without a court order or consent decree or statutory continuing appropriation,” said Rich Carter, press secretary for Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger’s office.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Lottery-Officials-Players-Who-Win-More-Than-600-Will-be-Delayed-Payment-332909841.html#ixzz3odZfiF11
Follow us: @nbcchicago on Twitter | nbcchicago on Facebook

That Toro PooPoo, the lottery isn't in the state budget, since it is self funded it has its own budget that gets approved by the lottery commission. They don't need a state budget to make payments, it's just a political ploy.

graphicguy

For the record, BBB scheduled my arbitration hearing without first checking to see if I was available. To me, that shows how little arbitration means to Cadillac/GM...."we're having a hearing whether you can be there or not.".

Bless my wife, but I wouldn't want her in that hearing for a variety of reasons.. Plus, why should she take a day off teaching for this?

They gave me an option of calling in. But, if they can't see, hear, feel the problems, I don't know how I can possibly hope there would be a positive outcome. I guess I could tell the arbitrator that the power steering was going out, that there were intermittent stalling issues, that there are suspension issues, that there are CUE issues. But, I guess Cadillac representative can simply say "no code, no problem" and my case goes up in smoke. In short, it's "GM doing what GM does". They couldn't care any less about my Cadillac woes.

The meetings I have is actually a conference in Detroit to present to several of the automotive companies and their suppliers. Pretty important given I'm giving one of the presentations for to them for my company. Probably in bad form to seek out the GM people who will be in attandance.

so "no", I can't change it. It only happens once/year.

Old Farmer....I'd be all over your Caddy for $500. I'd paint it bright yellow as a form of protest and drive it around my 'burg.

houdini1

How could the lottery fund be exhausted since it is funded by the people buying tickets? Money being used somewhere else?

robr2

houdini1 said:

How could the lottery fund be exhausted since it is funded by the people buying tickets? Money being used somewhere else?

Per wiki: "Illinois Lottery proceeds currently benefit three major areas: 1) the state's Common School Fund (CSF), which helps finance K-12 public schools; 2) The Capital Projects Fund, used for infrastructure improvements and job creation and 3) special causes like Illinois veterans, breast cancer charities and research, assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis research. Each of the four special causes above are funded by a unique instant scratch-off game authorized by the Illinois General Assembly."

driver100

graphicguy said:

For the record, BBB scheduled my arbitration hearing without first checking to see if I was available. To me, that shows how little arbitration means to Cadillac/GM...."we're having a hearing whether you can be there or not.".

Bless my wife, but I wouldn't want her in that hearing for a variety of reasons.. Plus, why should she take a day off teaching for this?

They gave me an option of calling in. But, if they can't see, hear, feel the problems, I don't know how I can possibly hope there would be a positive outcome. I guess I could tell the arbitrator that the power steering was going out, that there were intermittent stalling issues, that there are suspension issues, that there are CUE issues. But, I guess Cadillac representative can simply say "no code, no problem" and my case goes up in smoke. In short, it's "GM doing what GM does". They couldn't care any less about my Cadillac woes.

So, what are you planning on doing?

graphicguy

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

For the record, BBB scheduled my arbitration hearing without first checking to see if I was available. To me, that shows how little arbitration means to Cadillac/GM...."we're having a hearing whether you can be there or not.".

Bless my wife, but I wouldn't want her in that hearing for a variety of reasons.. Plus, why should she take a day off teaching for this?

They gave me an option of calling in. But, if they can't see, hear, feel the problems, I don't know how I can possibly hope there would be a positive outcome. I guess I could tell the arbitrator that the power steering was going out, that there were intermittent stalling issues, that there are suspension issues, that there are CUE issues. But, I guess Cadillac representative can simply say "no code, no problem" and my case goes up in smoke. In short, it's "GM doing what GM does". They couldn't care any less about my Cadillac woes.

So, what are you planning on doing?

Well...I'm trying to get them to reschedule the arbitration hearing (which is subject to a date Cadillac approves....funny, they didn't offer me the same courtesy).

But wait, it gets even better. I called Cadillac Consumer Affairs this a.m., which was recommended I do by a GM employee, no less.

Come to find out, my Cadillac is listed with them as having two previous owners prior to me. One, obviously the dealer. The other is an individual that they said they could not disclose. Put a call into the selling dealer. This smelled when they started switching around cars on me. And, what the dealer disclosed to the BMV certainly doesn't reflect that.

I think I'll mosey on over to my local BMV and see if they can get to the bottom of this. Could be something as simple as a data entry error. Or, maybe not.

ab348

graphicguy said:

For the record, BBB scheduled my arbitration hearing without first checking to see if I was available. To me, that shows how little arbitration means to Cadillac/GM...."we're having a hearing whether you can be there or not.".

Sounds like your issue on this one is with the BBB.

imidazol97

@graphicguy
Have you done this search using your VIN?

https://ext.dps.state.oh.us/BMVOnlineServices.Public/TitleSearch.aspx

Also, IIRC you had another CTS that they exchanged for the current one.
I'd suggest running the VIN on it to see if it had been registered and returned.
If it had been titled previously that would be interesting information about
how the dealer and/or Cadillac is operating.

qbrozen

graphicguy said:

Come to find out, my Cadillac is listed with them as having two previous owners prior to me. One, obviously the dealer. The other is an individual that they said they could not disclose. Put a call into the selling dealer. This smelled when they started switching around cars on me. And, what the dealer disclosed to the BMV certainly doesn't reflect that.

I think I'll mosey on over to my local BMV and see if they can get to the bottom of this. Could be something as simple as a data entry error. Or, maybe not.

Not sure it makes sense that the dealer would have to disclose a prior owner to the BMV. I mean, the BMV would know without someone telling them, I hope. My guess is, Cadillac possible sold the car before but the deal was unwound before title was processed. Just a guess.

stickguy

Either that or it was bought back once already, like your first one was.

driver100

stickguy said:

Either that or it was bought back once already, like your first one was.

Maybe there was a switch....kind of like kill two birds with one stone, just do a switch.

oldfarmer50

robr2 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Just heard that Illinois won't pay lottery winners more than $600 no matter how much they win "because we're broke". Yikes!

That's a bit of a stretch. They can't pay the winners because there isn't a state budget. There's money, they just can't spend it.

“Without a budget, we can’t, by law, make any payments on an appropriated fund without a court order or consent decree or statutory continuing appropriation,” said Rich Carter, press secretary for Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger’s office.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Lottery-Officials-Players-Who-Win-More-Than-600-Will-be-Delayed-Payment-332909841.html#ixzz3odZfiF11
Follow us: @nbcchicago on Twitter | nbcchicago on Facebook

Ah ha. That's not what it said on the news this morning. Leave it to the media to blow things out of proportion.

wlbrown9

Mother died Sept 28, 2013. SS check for Sept. deposited the next week. Bank sent me a letter about July this year that Government wanted that payment back. Had to send them a check, luckily still had money in her trust waiting on my nephew to turn 28 so we don't have to give the money to his father to hold in a trust for a shot period of time.

Lots of strange details to work out when settling an estate.

abacomike said:

When my Dad died on July 1st, his Social Security pension for June (deposited electronically on July 3rd) was taken back by the government - taken right out of his checking account.

2 weeks later, I got a letter from the SSA telling me that my father was owed his June pension since he died on July 1st.  I completed the forms and sent them back - 1/2 to be electronically deposited into my account and the other 1/2 to be sent to my brother in the form of a check.

4 weeks later, I called the 800 number for the SSA and was told all paperwork was received and was completed correctly.  But it could take until October to receive the funds.  I called at the end of September and was told it could take another few weeks.

I called again yesterday and was told that the funds were not distributed because it was considered a "low priority" by the SSA and that it could take several more months before the funds were released.  I asked to speak to a manager.  I was told a manager could do nothing for me because it was out of their hands and in the hands of Treasury which determines when pensions and federal bills are paid.  But she said that if I could get my congressman involved, things could get expedited.

Can you imagine that?  The government owes my Dad his June pension payment which they themselves took back out of his checking account and after over 3 months, downright refuses to release the funds because Treasury says it is not a high enough priority.  The government has gotten so big that the little guy has no chance to be treated correctly or appropriately.  They owe my Dad money, they know it, but won't pay it.

At 9:30 AM, I met with a staff member in my congressman's office.  They took down the information, dates, social security numbers, and told me the congressman will deal with the problem when he arrived in his office.  Imagine, having to get my congressman involved in this to get about $1294 from the government that is legally owed to him but that won't get paid because it isn't important enough.

Whether my congressman is successful or not remains to be seen.  But to be told by an employee of the SSA that the best chance I have to get my Dad's money owed to him is to have my congressman intervene on my behalf.

What has happened to this country of ours?

graphicguy

I have no answers. This is the most bizarre car experience I've ever heard of. I don't know if there could possibly be a more ignorant, apethetic, arrogant, deceiptful ownership experience I've ever experienced or heard about with this Cadillac.

Something, someone, somewhere is really fudging this up...probably more than one company doing it, too.

stickguy

I feel for you. They must really want owners of these dogs to just give up and trade it in (likely at a non caddy dealer!) so they can just wash their hands.

berri

I think that Caddy disaster that keeps getting worse really needs an attorney at this point, or did you waive that right by agreeing to arbitration?

houdini1

robr2 said:

houdini1 said:

How could the lottery fund be exhausted since it is funded by the people buying tickets? Money being used somewhere else?

Per wiki: "Illinois Lottery proceeds currently benefit three major areas: 1) the state's Common School Fund (CSF), which helps finance K-12 public schools; 2) The Capital Projects Fund, used for infrastructure improvements and job creation and 3) special causes like Illinois veterans, breast cancer charities and research, assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis research. Each of the four special causes above are funded by a unique instant scratch-off game authorized by the Illinois General Assembly."

So they use the lottery receipts for everything EXCEPT paying the winners? Who has been authorizing payments to all these other entities? Why did they authorize more payments than funds in the acct? Sounds like a slush fund to use as they see fit to me. Surely the fine, upstanding, honest politicians of Illinois would never do something like that !

imidazol97

houdini1 said:

Per wiki: "Illinois Lottery proceeds currently benefit three major areas: 1) the state's Common School Fund (CSF), which helps finance K-12 public schools

I wonder if "proceeds" means the net from the lottery after payroll and payouts.

Also, I know every state funds their public schools in a different manner, but in Ohio when they promised that lottery profits would go to the public schools in order to get the referendum passed by the voters, what they actually did was they passed the proceeds to the schools but then reduced the amount of funding to the schools in a commensurate amount. So the schools got the same total, more or less. So the legislators of the time didn't lie, exactly, they just didn't tell the whole truth. Surprise!!!!

driver100

stickguy said:

I feel for you. They must really want owners of these dogs to just give up and trade it in (likely at a non caddy dealer!) so they can just wash their hands.

If you take it back to a Caddie dealer and try to trade it in on a used car....say a 2 year old Acura which you would probably like they will probably say....we can't give you much for it, it stalls and the steering isn't right!

[Deleted User]

The auto industry is on the cusp of a massive revolution in propulsion that will have dramatic impacts on many aspects of our society including jobs, taxation, energy production and usage, and more.

Internal combustion engines are being replaced by alternatives with battery/electric the current leader but other technologies on the horizon, too. I have no doubt we'll pump every last drop of oil out of the ground, but I hope we'll put it to better use than burning it up. Toyota has placed a date on when they'll stop relying on ICE as they move to hydrogen, and after the recent scandal VW is now stating electric is their future. BMW has stated all their drive trains will eventually involve or move to electric.

Our roads are primarily paid for by taxation of gasoline and diesel. If that revenue dries up, how do you think we should pay for new road construction and maintenance in the future? I'd love to learn some new perspectives from you. What do you think is fair?

cdnpinhead

tyguy said:

What do you think is fair?

I think it's fair for me to die and let my kids (most of whom are left-leaning zealots) figure it out. The two who aren't are severely outnumbered, but I'm rooting for them.

That is all.

houdini1

tyguy said:

The auto industry is on the cusp of a massive revolution in propulsion that will have dramatic impacts on many aspects of our society including jobs, taxation, energy production and usage, and more.

Internal combustion engines are being replaced by alternatives with battery/electric the current leader but other technologies on the horizon, too. I have no doubt we'll pump every last drop of oil out of the ground, but I hope we'll put it to better use than burning it up. Toyota has placed a date on when they'll stop relying on ICE as they move to hydrogen, and after the recent scandal VW is now stating electric is their future. BMW has stated all their drive trains will eventually involve or move to electric.

Our roads are primarily paid for by taxation of gasoline and diesel. If that revenue dries up, how do you think we should pay for new road construction and maintenance in the future? I'd love to learn some new perspectives from you. What do you think is fair?

Much of the gasoline tax money earmarked for infrastructure has been stolen over the years and used for hundreds of pork barrel projects to benefit certain politicians. No matter what the new method is, it will probably cost us a lot more than now....and they will still get their hands on it.

stever

tyguy said:

Our roads are primarily paid for by taxation of gasoline and diesel. If that revenue dries up, how do you think we should pay for new road construction and maintenance in the future? I'd love to learn some new perspectives from you. What do you think is fair?

Don't forget all those people who will Uber up an autonomous car to get around in. They won't pay license and registration fees, much less gas taxes.

stickguy

ICE is going to be around a long time. even if BMW switches, they are a niche player basically, and it takes a long, long time to turn over the entire fleet!

as to how to pay, the fairest way is a miles tax. With a weight surcharge. that way, you pay for what you use, and the heavy vehicles that wear out roads faster pay more.

simplest way is to have it come out of the general fund. Though of course, that just means it will get squeezed out like other important things that don't generate immediate votes!

You could also implement an annual tax. somehow tied into registrations. Just need to check mileage and send the bill. And of course, that still gives the feds room for pork, by rigging the charges to give benefits to big donors special interests those that deserve it.

driver100

Can't they put charges on for electricity?

Similar problem with solar energy, how does the government get it's pound of flesh?

They'll find a way, don't worry.

Easiest is they will just monitor how many miles we do a year and charge us by the mile. All cars will be hooked up by satellite and our mileage will be transmitted to the Department of Mileage....DOM!

Michaell

driver100 said:

Can't they put charges on for electricity? Similar problem with solar energy, how does the government get it's pound of flesh? They'll find a way, don't worry. Easiest is they will just monitor how many miles we do a year and charge us by the mile. All cars will be hooked up by satellite and our mileage will be transmitted to the Department of Mileage....DOM!

Department of Odometer Mileage ... DOOM

[Deleted User]

HA, HA, HA. DOOM. That's a great one.

[Deleted User]

I totally understand our gasoline taxation has been stolen for other uses and it's reprehensible. That doesn't change the fact that the funding will dry up and what little actually went to roads will be gone as well.

Is anyone here really comfortable with the government figuring out the right solution to this one? Not me.

I'm hoping to see industry and voters get educated early and tackle the issue before the feds make it as convoluted as our income taxation. The earlier we start the more likely of a positive and un-rushed outcome (I hope). Look how awful the government shutdown thing is when it comes to upping the debt level time and again. Let's not let something important like this get to that point.

stick, Driver, I think I agree with paying based on mileage and weight impact on the roads. How do we measure that without an invasion of reasonable privacy?

stever

driver100 said:

Similar problem with solar energy, how does the government get it's pound of flesh?

Stay off the grid and the government can't. Kind of hard to stay off the street grid though.

I kind of like pay by the mile idea in some ways. Would keep a lot of people off the roads so the infrastructure should last longer. Right now most people don't realize it costs them a buck or two to drive to the store for a six-pack or gallon of milk. If they paid by the mile (in addition to the cost of gas), they might figure out that it costs money to cruise around.

ab348

Well, you can't tax all electricity to pay for the roads used by electric cars.

I tend to fall in @cdnpinhead 's school of thought. We are having a federal election here in Canada on Monday and the likely winner is a Gen-X who two main promises are to legalize marijuana and run huge deficits to pay for all sorts of projects, both necessary and otherwise. I am throwing up my hands and saying to the next generation, "he's yours, you deal with the consequences".

abacomike

Toll roads are probably the best roads in our State.  The Florida Turnpike System is so superior to our interstates because tolls pay for the repairs and repaving projects.

When I went to Ponte Vedra last week, I purposely took the Turnpike to Ft. Pierce before going over to I-95.  The condition of I-95 is pathetic.  

Another option for raising funds to repair roads is to make all Interstates Toll Roads. We have no toll booths - everything is either electronic/digital or a camera picks up the license plate and bills the registered owner.  I paid $12.90 round trip on the Turnpike - 600+ miles.

Obviously it would require installation of Pass Readers and cameras as well as computerizing toll collections, but it would eliminate increases in gasoline taxes and would not require reading odometers.  

Just have the toll road authorities take over all interstates.  

Not it sure it would pass congress, but definitely worth some investigation.

berri

It will end up a legal debacle. Remember, Chicago is home to the American Bar Association

Michaell

abacomike said:

Toll roads are probably the best roads in our State.  The Florida Turnpike System is so superior to our interstates because tolls pay for the repairs and repaving projects.

When I went to Ponte Vedra last week, I purposely took the Turnpike to Ft. Pierce before going over to I-95.  The condition of I-95 is pathetic.  

Another option for raising funds to repair roads is to make all Interstates Toll Roads. We have no toll booths - everything is either electronic/digital or a camera picks up the license plate and bills the registered owner.  I paid $12.90 round trip on the Turnpike - 600+ miles.

Obviously it would require installation of Pass Readers and cameras as well as computerizing toll collections, but it would eliminate increases in gasoline taxes and would not require reading odometers.  

Just have the toll road authorities take over all interstates.  

Not it sure it would pass congress, but definitely worth some investigation.

A national turnpike authority? Forget congress - the states that run their own road systems would never relinquish control. 

berri

I believe the Illinois tollway authority was a piggy bank for politicians, particularly DuPage County republicans. Had to get the mullah somewhere since the democrats had a lock on Chicago and Cook County. Illinois can probably make NJ look clean

abacomike

My following post is NOT POLITICAL.  

Fox News Channel just devoted 1/2 hour interviewing Charles Koch (one of the most frequently maligned billionaires in this country along with his brother David), his very first network interview.  The most interesting part of the interview is when he was asked if he was a Libertarian - his response was that he is a "classical" liberal!  I almost fell out of my recliner!  But as he further explained the definition of a "classical liberal," it actually made sense - striving to create an environment whereby every human being is provided with an opportunity to succeed - not by doling out hand-outs, but by consolidating available resources aimed at making available equal opportunities for all.

As one viewer tweeted, "...he sure didn't appear to be the evil force depicted by most of the of the media pundits..."

The Koch brothers donate billions of dollars to medical research, cancer prevention, hospitals, college scholarships and fellowships, to name a few.  But they also donate $300 million dollars each year to local, State and National candidates for public office (mostly Republican), for which they are chastised for.  Never heard that same chastising of George Soros's donations of hundreds of millions of dollars to progressive candidates.  Wonder why?

stever

The four Koch brothers don't even get along with each other and you expect the public to like 'em all?

Sorry, smells "political" to me.

Oh to be in Canada where the national elections last maybe 6 weeks....

abacomike

berri said:

I believe the Illinois tollway authority was a piggy bank for politicians, particularly DuPage County republicans. Had to get the mullah somewhere since the democrats had a lock on Chicago and Cook County. Illinois can probably make NJ look clean

Making NJ "look" clean is one thing - but "smelling" clean is quite a different story.

I used to travel from Queens to Potomac Maryland to visit my brother and his family.  The only way to get there by car is the NJ Turnpike.  I still remember the pungent odor of the refineries on the way past Elizabeth NJ.

But, the rest of NJ is really nice - odor free - except for the occasional sewage treatment plants all States have to live with.