By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Possible.
celtics and pistons look to be done
Would not count the Celtics out because they won but the Pistons are done without Billups.
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
We give them our wallpaper fiat currency and maybe some more of our manufacturing capabilities, they give us extra profit for the elite of the elite. Sounds like a good trade.
What do you want specified? Do you want definitions? Or a big off topic essay? You can find the definitions of those terms, in this context, by taking 30 seconds and searching the web. Some of them, such as globalists and one worlders, are interchangeable. These are people who support destructive immigration policies both here and in Europe...again, no coincidence that both places are dealing with policy errors on the same subject.
And the people you mention are mere bit players at best.
Decriminalization or at least unenforced laws regarding drugs has not created widespread chaos where it has existed. Let the feds be the distributors - the taxes alone could save social security no doubt. The war on drugs has been a costly failure, move on.
Japan is a first world nation. No problem trading with them. Maybe the militant union types need to realize the real damage is not done by trading with Japan and Europe.
The sheeple would be more up in arms of China cut off the flow of cheap TVs :shades:
Perhaps. But you also have to keep in mind the following :
1. US lifestyle is funded by 700Bn USD plus of financing EVERY YEAR, most of it from Asia
2. US quality of life is way higher than Asia
So the absolute impact maybe much more severe on US than Asia (the Asians will be forced to put their savings to use in their own countries - But US would have to simply cut down overall spending). For instance, an Indian who never owned a car may have to give up on his dream of owning one. But that is unlikely to drive him nuts, since he has never owned one - He will simply continue with his current lifestyle (his two kids riding his two wheeler with him).
But if Oil price goes up to 20USD/gallon, what happens to the suburban lifestyle? What alternative do you have? How many of you are willing to give up on your three car garage and start riding scooters?
So you have to keep in mind that a) There will be a significant lifestyle adjustment in the US in a protectionist world; b) The pain of the adjustment will be far higher in US than in Asia (you are assuming that while the US can feed itself, others outside US will not be able to. Considering that the US consumes far more than it produces, one can argue that it is actually the other way round....).
-Rocky
-Rocky
1. US lifestyle is funded by 700Bn USD plus of financing EVERY YEAR, most of it from Asia
2. US quality of life is way higher than Asia
Agree!!!
My Prescription: Dr. Savage, Duncan Hunter, and anyone with two brain cells to rub togeather will understand this.
What would this do??? It would force corporations like Delphi to build there stuff here and pay american taxes contributing to the system instead of just sucking it dry. It would create tens of millions of jobs and the governement could give tax incentives to help assist these corporations bringing back those jobs. That is how the tax money should of been spent. A short-term cost for long-term revenue. People have good paying jobs and will spend there diposable income on buying stuff like cars and taking vacations to San Diego to see gagrice and Alanta to go fishing with Marsha7.
I don't know how much simpler it can be than that??? With tens of millions of new jobs added to the economy the wages will rise naturally as will your tax revenue base because everyone would be competing on a equal and fair playing field. I would love to see Honda and Toyota build more plants here in the U.S. It would be great for our economy if they built the other 50% of there cars here. The Fusion would have to be built here as would the SRX and Escalade, etc.
So the absolute impact maybe much more severe on US than Asia (the Asians will be forced to put their savings to use in their own countries - But US would have to simply cut down overall spending). For instance, an Indian who never owned a car may have to give up on his dream of owning one. But that is unlikely to drive him nuts, since he has never owned one - He will simply continue with his current lifestyle (his two kids riding his two wheeler with him).
Not my problem. He and his government will need to become a 1st world country. I only care about my nation and what's best for it and my citizens.
But if Oil price goes up to 20USD/gallon, what happens to the suburban lifestyle? What alternative do you have? How many of you are willing to give up on your three car garage and start riding scooters?
We would have a short-term problem. We would need to create alternative energy sources such as bio-fuels i.e. bio-diesel and garbage/tire based ethanol and keep the hammer down on battery technology, hydrogen.
So you have to keep in mind that a) There will be a significant lifestyle adjustment in the US in a protectionist world; b) The pain of the adjustment will be far higher in US than in Asia (you are assuming that while the US can feed itself, others outside US will not be able to. Considering that the US consumes far more than it produces, one can argue that it is actually the other way round....).
Only because the neocon globalist have it set up that way!!!
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
With our involvement. Without certain western or pseudo-western entities not offshoring everything, would this exist?
Yes it would, just maybe not as fast. While you may be able to stop or limit the flow of goods across borders, you can't stop the flow of knowledge. The genie is out of the bottle and nothing anyone does will put it back in again. Eventually, second and third word countries would have figured out how to build all the things we now import from them, be it vehicles, flat screen TV's, or cell phones. It's just a matter of when that happens.
The US's fortunes lay in moving up the food chain, so to speak, and leave the low level manufacturing tasks to others. Take cell phones, for example. Many in the world use a technology called CDMA. Well, in every one of those phones a portion of it's price goes to Qualcomm who holds the many of the patents on that technology.
First of all, I would guess that was her total bill - surgeon(s), OR staff, hospital, etc. I don't think the surgeon got all that.
Second, as I said earlier in a response to your comments about what lawyers (marsha7) make, the doctor is free to charge whatever his skills warrant. If he is really, REALLY good at what he does, he can probably charge whatever the market will bear. You, your grandmother, or anyone else needing that kind of care are free to shop for a lower cost provider, should you chose.
It's really no different than some of the professional sports stars you seem to idolize. Arod makes what, $10,000 a swing (and he misses most of the time). Is he worth that? Does he earn it? Not in my mind. But, he gets it because he can - because he has a skill, a talent that somebody is willing to pay big bucks for. That top-notch surgeon is in that same category.
-Rocky
Yes you are right.
Second, as I said earlier in a response to your comments about what lawyers (marsha7) make, the doctor is free to charge whatever his skills warrant. If he is really, REALLY good at what he does, he can probably charge whatever the market will bear. You, your grandmother, or anyone else needing that kind of care are free to shop for a lower cost provider, should you chose.
True but there lies the problem. Cost are driven up over greed. Was my grandmother greatful he saved her life??? Absolutely!!! Lucky for her the insurance company got stuck with the majority of the bill. The problem is in this country the people have no one to negotiate those costs down like in a socialist government.
It's really no different than some of the professional sports stars you seem to idolize. Arod makes what, $10,000 a swing (and he misses most of the time). Is he worth that? Does he earn it? Not in my mind. But, he gets it because he can - because he has a skill, a talent that somebody is willing to pay big bucks for. That top-notch surgeon is in that same category.
I don't think A-Rod is worth it especially since he used performance enhancing drugs to get such a contract. He cheated. It is tough to say what is fair now days. I just think that we are being over charged because of market allows excess and greed. I guess that is why I'm not a huge fan of capitalism.
-Rocky
OK, so let me ask you this. You seem to think the surgeon was overpaid - being greedy. Do you know what his fee actually was? And, what do you think would have been a "fair" price to pay for his services? Services that saved your grandmother's life (I'm assuming he did because, according to you, he was the only or one of the few who knew how to correct what ailed your grandmother, knew of this "special technique", as you put it)?
-Rocky
P.S. I don't know exactly what his fee was. I never looked at the bill as I wasn't there. I only heard from my mother.
Maybe that doctor was a UAW member! The average cost of a by-pass surgery is around $20k, I have a hard time believing someone could spend that much on heart surgery. Most health insurance plans have a lifetime limit of a $1 million.
OK, even if it did cost 1.2 million, do you honestly think every penny went to one surgeon? If so, you've never been around an operating table to see all that is involved.
That said, health care costs are a real problem and I don't have an answer. While on spring break, my 6 year old developed an ear infection. We couldn't find a off-hours or non-emergency room clinic that was open, as it was on a Sunday and we weren't familiar with the area. We ended up going to the ER. It was $750 for the visit, which is crazy. The prescription was $10. At a non ER medical center the visit would have been $150 tops. Our family physician would charge $100 tops, but remember, he doesn't get that $100 all to himself, he has an office, equipment, nurses, administrative people, and other operating expenses to pay for. I don't understand how people think the check they write to the hospital or doctros office all goes to the doctor. Hardly the case.
She had to go to Houston Texas. This guy was at the time the best heart surgeon in the world and is world famous. I can't recall his name? I would have to ask my mom or grandma. My grandfather has more than a million limit through his company. I think it's $2 or 3 million. Some policies have a $5 or $6 million limit because it doesn't cost the company much more to move up a few brackets as I discovered in my insurance course. I am state certified to sell Life and Health.
OK, even if it did cost 1.2 million, do you honestly think every penny went to one surgeon? If so, you've never been around an operating table to see all that is involved.
Absolutely not. I however know the majority of it did and was stunned when I heard how much her bill was.
That said, health care costs are a real problem and I don't have an answer. While on spring break, my 6 year old developed an ear infection. We couldn't find a off-hours or non-emergency room clinic that was open, as it was on a Sunday and we weren't familiar with the area. We ended up going to the ER. It was $750 for the visit, which is crazy. The prescription was $10. At a non ER medical center the visit would have been $150 tops. Our family physician would charge $100 tops, but remember, he doesn't get that $100 all to himself, he has an office, equipment, nurses, administrative people, and other operating expenses to pay for. I don't understand how people think the check they write to the hospital or doctros office all goes to the doctor. Hardly the case.
diesel, I know sometimes I might say some things that are completely foolish but I'm not dumb. I understand that there are other people that are paid.
-Rocky
-Rocky
P.S. Are they union made???
Yes, I had a similar situation years ago when my oldest daughter fell off her bike when we camping in a national park and scraped her face up. The nearest hospital was over an hour away, and, of course, we used the emergency room. I think the total bill was close to $800, including the attending ER doc's fee, the ER fee, xrays, $5.00 band aids, etc. This was over 15 years ago.
As you know, you want to avoid the ER if any other treatment option is open to you.
-Rocky
You did not get my point in my post - US is consuming MORE than it produces. If your game plan is to make US self sufficient, there will be a massive lifestyle adjustment. The other side (exporters) will end up with excess capacity (which is painful too), but their lifestyle adjustment is likely to be less radical, especially if they start trading amongst themselves. US withdrawing into a protectionist shell can cause US to be bypassed - Don't forget the US share of world GDP is going down steadily all the time.
And talking about currency manipulation - I will not bother you with statistics to prove you wrong (I already did that sometime ago), but if Japan is manipulating its currency, it is doing a very poor job considering that it has strengthened 20% against the USD in the last one year. And the Japanese central bank needs to explain to us taxpayers how it justifies losing 200Bn USD (20% of the 1 trillion USD assets it owns) in the last one year - That is like a couple of decades worth of the total profits of the Japanese auto industry, gone in one year. You may be surprised to hear this, but there is a vociferous lobby in Japan right now arguing for something similar as you - but for completely different reasons (they think that investing in the US has been a terrible mistake). I disagree with both points of view, since it only will result in us cutting our noses to spite our face :sick: .
We would need to create alternative energy sources such as bio-fuels i.e. bio-diesel and garbage/tire based ethanol
While it maybe hard to come to an agreement about which economic model is best (since a subjective element always creeps in), the argument in favor of bio-fuels etc is one which can be concluded just by using pure facts. And the facts say - there is NO WAY bio fuels can sustain your current lifestyle. Neither Hydrogen. Or Solar. In fact, other than Nuclear power, I don't know of any alternative energy source which will come anywhere near sustaining the current lifestyle (and even Nuclear will require massive electrification of transportation). You can read an excellent book on this subject http://www.withouthotair.com/ (the writer is using UK as the example, but the logic applies to US too - You just need to substitute some numbers in his calculations).
But I do like your innocent enthusiasm and belief about alternative fuels - especially biofuels
While there are financial aspects involved in our downfall. The larger over riding is our inability and will to identify and exterminate our real enemies. As you have said the EU will fall first and we will not be far behind. There is this belief that we can all just get along. Immigration should still be based on assimilation. You don't like our culture you are OUT OF HERE. Multi-culturalism as it is being taught to our children will do more to destroy the Western civilization than all the elites of the World.
The poor work ethic that Unions like UAW encourage are just a small part of the downfall.
You are missing mine. I told you if we produced here instead of there we wouldn't have that problem. I hope NOW you understand what I'm saying???
And talking about currency manipulation - I will not bother you with statistics to prove you wrong (I already did that sometime ago), but if Japan is manipulating its currency, it is doing a very poor job considering that it has strengthened 20% against the USD in the last one year. And the Japanese central bank needs to explain to us taxpayers how it justifies losing 200Bn USD (20% of the 1 trillion USD assets it owns) in the last one year - That is like a couple of decades worth of the total profits of the Japanese auto industry, gone in one year. You may be surprised to hear this, but there is a vociferous lobby in Japan right now arguing for something similar as you - but for completely different reasons (they think that investing in the US has been a terrible mistake). I disagree with both points of view, since it only will result in us cutting our noses to spite our face
I respectfully disagree. The Japanese do manipulate there currency and I've provided data that says it does. The government admits it does. Sure the yen has strengthen to the dollar because we have been borrowing money to get us out of this hole Dubya has left us in. That is the main reason why it made business for the Europeans to start assembling some of there stuff here because of the weak dollar.
While it maybe hard to come to an agreement about which economic model is best (since a subjective element always creeps in), the argument in favor of bio-fuels etc is one which can be concluded just by using pure facts. And the facts say - there is NO WAY bio fuels can sustain your current lifestyle. Neither Hydrogen. Or Solar. In fact, other than Nuclear power, I don't know of any alternative energy source which will come anywhere near sustaining the current lifestyle (and even Nuclear will require massive electrification of transportation). You can read an excellent book on this subject http://www.withouthotair.com/ (the writer is using UK as the example, but the logic applies to US too - You just need to substitute some numbers in his calculations).
I respectfully disagree again and so does right-winger Boone T. Pickens. I have witnessed what bio-fuel sources can do. You can't make ethanol out of corn unless it's grown here in yankee land where it rains. One of the best sources of ethanol comes from milo/maze that is used to feed cattle. It uses half the water of corn and yields way more ethanol. There is also a alternative energy company in Illinois that discovered how to make ethanol out of tires and garbage that GM, invested in. I posted the story last year on edmunds.
But I do like your innocent enthusiasm and belief about alternative fuels - especially biofuels
Thanks.
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
P.S. Are they union made???
I'm somewhat familiar with RV's. I have an 07 Outback 25RSS travel trailer which was built by Keystone in the Elkhart area. I don't believe they are union made. Most of the work is done by Amish by piecemeal. When it comes to build quality, they all are pretty shoddy, unless you go with a premium brand like Airstream, where a 21' RV will cost $60k vs. under $20k for comparable size with mainstream manufacturers.
I'd say the toughest problem with RV sales would be financing. I'd say the profit per deal will be higher than most cars as this is still a low volume product. Just learn the lingo and learn all the RV jargon. If you really want to be helpful and not sound like your full of it, really learn how tow ratings work with GCWRs and tongue weights etc. Just because an Explorer is rated for 7200lbs doesn't mean you can tow a 32' trailer that weighs 7,000lbs from Michigan to Florida and expect to get there in one piece with a under rated weight distribution hitch with a friction sway control device on a vehicle with a short wheel base. You'll either have a dead customer or another trailer sale in a week or so. LOL
Good luck
I agree!!! Borders, Language, Culture is what Dr. Savage preaches and the guy is right. If we become multi-cultured we will be doomed as history has proven that.
The poor work ethic that Unions like UAW encourage are just a small part of the downfall.
You know that is hawg wash and attempt to stay on topic!!! :P
-Rocky
Well actually it means you are right, this time. grin....
We do agree. Spending and not controlling was Bush. He wanted to reach across the aisle to be the president of all the people in his presidency, just as BO should be. But he's not doing so.
The Libertarian view is a little odd in places based on what I hear from the morning talk guy on 55krc.com (5-9 listen live online). But the Libertarians have been against the overspending for years along with some of the Publicans. Right now the betweeners are after a guy who ran for the house in Cincy and said one thing and is doing another. He's gonna be outta there in 18 more months the way it looks.
The more ridicule and political response I hear from the Dems (BO's cutting all of 100 million that's already being cut in yesterday's announcement) the worse I worry about the financial end.
I keep watching for more political paybacks to the UAW by this group in DC. It will come. This is going to be the most corrupt 4 years of any politician in my lifetime with all the political appointees who aren't qualified and aren't really running things but just serving as political puppets.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
-Rocky
I agree that cutting off the jobs will go a long ways to discourage illegals. I don't think the problem is at the large corporation level. I think it is small businesses trying to survive by hiring cheaper labor. The Government is little help in identifying the illegals. When people like Joe Arpaio try to uphold the laws, he is castigated by the media, ACLU and half a dozen other do gooder groups.
Here is a question. Why did the UAW fall in line with the Democrats that advocated amnesty, openly in the campaign? Both Obama and Hillary spent more time in the SW trying to get the Mexican vote than in Michigan. They could have picked a Republican that is still conservative to endorse. They spent millions on Pols that were no more interested in saving UAW jobs than the man in the moon. And now the truth is coming out. EFCA was a smokescreen to blind the sheep. Amnesty has a better chance of passing than EFCA.
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
Let's see... I have a kegerator and a trailer. I just might be a redneck!!! I do have all of my teeth and I'm not married to my sister. LOL
My wife is a pharmacist so she knows what the drugs actually cost, I can't remember the particular medicine they gave my daughter (some antibiotic) but they charged us like $60 for the prescription, my wife said her cost would have been about $2. I guess that is socialized medicine. Those who can pay the bills are subsidizing all that don't or can't. But that is a different topic for a different forum.
Oh, but it is your problem. Barry and Hillary just spent days begging the Chinese for more money to finance his grand Stimulus plan. You slap tariffs on they demand payment of $trillions of dollars and we go belly up.
Your ideas are very simplistic. We have interwoven ourselves into the World economy. Look at the mess we are in with Mexico. Just blocking their trucks caused a wave Obama did not expect, and he is buckling under.
One day after signing the $410 billion omnibus funding bill into law, along with provisions ending the Department of Transportation's Mexican truck demonstration project, the Obama administration has announced intentions to restart the program as soon as possible.
The administration's determination to open the U.S. to Mexican trucks raises questions about whether Obama intends to fulfill campaign promises to renegotiate NAFTA to get provisions more favorable to American workers and jobs.
You would think blocking truckers from Mexico would be a simple process. Nothing is simple in our global economy. The unwanted affect was to cost US manufacturers money as well as farmers.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was hopeful of fixing a trade dispute with Mexico and backed stronger environmental and labor standards as part of trade rules between the two countries.
A flap erupted last month when the U.S. Congress voted to end a pilot program allowing Mexican trucks to operate in the United States, a move Mexico said violated the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
The truck ban prompted Mexico to slap higher tariffs on a long list of U.S. exports like fruits and industrial goods worth an estimated $2.4 billion.
So we have a company building oil production equipment in the US with US labor. Mexico throws a big tariff on that equipment from US and buys from some other country. Result our people lose their jobs.
You are going to have to accept someday that the UAW is not competitive even in the USA with companies in the USA. Most of the cars kicking GM's butt are built in the USA. Think Camry of which most are built here. Many imports have higher US content than D3 cars and trucks.
I don't know, but Japan is. I just saw a story (on 60min or CNN etc)where the parents of a HS aged girl in Japan are being deported. The daughter is a Japanese citizen since she was born in Japan, but her parents (can't remember where they were from) have to leave.
She is lucky she was not a Teamster. Our Teamster medical plan has a lifetime maximum of One Million Dollars. Another reason I picked Kaiser as my supplement. NO lifetime limit. Most HMOs have some limit. The UAW employees and retirees should be willing to kick in a few hundred per month for that kind of GOLD PLATED health care. She would probably still be waiting for surgery in Canada, Germany or the UK.
Sales are definitely down, but not everyone is broke. Lots of good deals to be had. I've been thinking about upgrading to a larger boat. The prices can't be beat. That said, the 21' boat we have is relatively easy to tow and not to bad on gas. Going to a larger heavier boat would change both. I think we're in a mental recession, we actually have more disposable income than ever, yet I feel like I shouldn't be spending anything, so we've been saving like never before.
We keep our camper at a seasonal campground on a large lake where we keep our boat. I was down there last weekend to check on the camper etc, and I saw at least 10 brand new trailers for this season, looks like it will be another full crowded summer as all the lots looked full. There might be 100 seasonal campsites, so I was surprised to see so many new units.
In a Socialist Country she would not have gotten that kind of treatment. Don't you remember the poster from Sweden a few months back. They came to the USA for treatment not available in Sweden. If grandma lived in Canada she would have had to come to the USA and Canada would not cover any of the cost. You just do not see how well we have it here with what little freedom we have left.