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December fundraiser begins today [sticky; new posts below; Tuesday update; FINAL FRIDAY UPDATE]

Yes, November sucked, politically speaking.  Which means I’m committed to at least a few more years of trying to right the ship of state before I give up the ghost and sell my soul for whiskey and ammo, then move to the hills of West Virginia and learn the banjo/ mouth organ as a kind of currency for acceptance into an extended family of self-sufficient pioneer types.  And their inbred (NTTATWWT)  families.

Give what you can.  Daddy needs a generator, and with the economy the way it is, pimping out the panzer rat has become much more difficult, what with all the competition from erstwhile coal miners who, truth be told, tend to be much better built than the wee shelled Casanova.   And have incredible endurance, to boot.

If you can get past the hacking cough, that is.

 

Tuesday update: Thanks to those who have contributed. Overall to this point — to be blunt — this fundraiser is for shit. Other sites are making big bucks every month off, for instance, the Amazon affiliate program that got canceled here when CO tried to tax Amazon. Others are involved in link matrixes that drive up traffic and woo advertisers.

pw is marginalized. Cut off from water, withering on the vine.

I honestly do appreciate all the support I’ve gotten over the years. But as it dwindles, I take that as a sign. Anyone would.

The future is uncertain. But no worries: there are other places to go, other people to read, other arguments to have.

I’ve made it through a decade of doing this with my integrity very much intact, and knowing that at one point I was one of the most influential bloggers on the right — not just for my political analysis but for the “blog grammar” I pioneered.

That’s something that can never be taken away from me.

Friday update:  Thanks so much to all of you who’ve contributed, and to you bloggers who linked to this fundraiser.  I’ll leave this post up through tomorrow to let the week run its course — though tomorrow I won’t be around, as I have a wrestling duel to coach down near Denver.

As for my Tuesday update?  Well, I’m feeling much better now, thanks.

210 Replies to “December fundraiser begins today [sticky; new posts below; Tuesday update; FINAL FRIDAY UPDATE]”

  1. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Blake!

  2. Jeff G. says:

    Oh. I put this up now because I’m coaching a couple of wrestling tournies / meets this weekend and will be around only occasionally.

    Beat the trolls for me while I’m gone, please.

  3. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, John B!

  4. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, SDN!

  5. Blitz says:

    early next week Jeff. Best I can do.

  6. dicentra says:

    Merry Christmas, ya money-grubbing Jew!

  7. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, di!

  8. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Terry H!

  9. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, BT!

  10. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, GeoffB!

  11. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, serr8d!

  12. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Toni R!

  13. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Cranky-D!

  14. Jeff G. says:

    Satch went 3-0 today, all wins by pin, the first two in about 30-seconds each, the last after taking a 10-2 lead into the final period. For that match, he gave away nearly 9 lbs, or an extra 20% of a human.

    I’m so proud.

    Tomorrow, though, it’s a seeding tournament for states, and I signed him up in the “experienced” group. I think he’ll take a bit of a beating in certain matches tomorrow — our club is well behind some of the smaller clubs in the teaching of contemporary chain wrestling, and Satch has never had to try to escape a good cradler or leg rider — but that’s good: it’ll give him an idea of where he needs to be to take on the best in the state by the season’s end, plus it allows me to scout the kids he’s likely to meet up with later and coach him on how to beat their best moves.

  15. Blake says:

    Great, good for Satch!!

  16. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Patrick C!

  17. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Joe S!

  18. Everyman says:

    Would if I could, but can’t. But use your linguistics, man. Words like “crisis” and “cliff” are proven winners, should get you whatever you need.

  19. bh says:

    Oh, hey, I missed this about the tourney. Sounds like Satch is turning into a hell of a wrestler. Cool.

  20. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, bh!

  21. LBascom says:

    Dropped something in the mail today Jeff. Merry holidays!

  22. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Blitz!

  23. Blitz says:

    You’re welcome Jeff. Wish it could be more after all this site has taught me.

  24. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Pablo!

  25. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, McGehee!

  26. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks so much, Albert!

  27. dicentra says:

    And yes, this is one of the many reasons I’m so fucking over this whole blogging thing.

    Cripes. Only last night I was thinking that it’s been a right long time since Jeff went on one of his sabbaticals, and I was digging it.

  28. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Silver Whistle!

  29. Silver Whistle says:

    This is still the best joint in town.

  30. Jeff G. says:

    That’s kind of you to say.

  31. Jeff G. says:

    Jeff is depressed and beaten down yet again, di.

  32. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Bordo!

  33. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Tom W!

  34. agenesisofthecorpuscallosum says:

    Wish I could donate more to the cause. I appreciate your effort.

  35. Jeff G. says:

    No, you did plenty. Allowed me to purchase the ammo for my new carry piece. That makes me very very happy. Thanks again!

  36. slipperyslope says:

    Jeff’s value of the free market: Very high
    The free market’s value of Jeff: Not so much

  37. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Adriane W!

  38. Jeff G. says:

    Jeff’s value of the free market: Very high
    The free market’s value of Jeff: Not so much

    This would be true if we were dealing with an actual free market. Which we aren’t.

    But it’s heartening to know you are so invested in my feeling poorly that you’d post something like this.

    Let me ask you something: what’s your real name and what do you do for a living? Let’s see just how brave you really are. Note that the courage of my convictions is revealed under my name, always, not under several different names over the course of many years. I don’t hide. Because I’m not a little pussy.

    Tell me: does taking personal shots at me from the comfort of your anonymity make you feel virile? Masculine? What are you compensating for? Clearly, you have no friends — otherwise, why would you be hanging out here trying to annoy me (or is it a crush, and this is like you pulling my figurative pigtails?) — but there’s something more. Do share. Maybe we can help you to stop hating yourself so much.

    We here are givers.

  39. slipperyslope says:

    It’s s crush. You got me.

  40. Jeff G. says:

    You can’t quit me. I knew it.

    Always the same with your type.

    By the way, care to answer the rest? Or do you tell yourself that your real strength is hiding in the shadows. Like an internet comment board NINJA!

  41. McGehee says:

    I suppose I could rent a backhoe, instead of digging the hole with a shovel…

  42. steveaz says:

    Looks like Daddy needs a hug. And I’m happy to oblige!

    I don’t know what I’d do without my protein-fix, Jeff. I find your buffet of posts enticing and delicious. I never knew that the dry, husk-like label “semiotics” concealed such delectable, fatty fair as is found regularly at your site.

    You’ve become a necessity to me: I’m a daily feeder with a diurnal habit. And, I have been stealthily gorging myself at your site for years.

    Now it’s time to pay-up. Call it a downpayment on the revolution, or an interest payment on a debt long neglected. But it must be paid. So look for a hug from me comin’ your way, Jeff, Darleen and JH. I’ll save the wet kisses for later

  43. Jeff G. says:

    That’s what I thought. Pussy.

  44. McGehee says:

    …or maybe we could just filter out alias domains like Sharklasers-dot-com

  45. palaeomerus says:

    I can’t this month Jeff. Sorry. The big C/ the big X , the holiday, the Season, National Christer outrage public manger takin’ down month, or whatever they call it now, is standing on my wallet and jumping up and down.

    I’ll try to hit the kitty in January.

  46. slipperyslope says:

    Oh, I’m not going to give you my name. What’s the point of being a secret admirer if you can’t be secret?

    As to what I do, I’ve said it here before, but I run a business the specializes in market research and competitive intelligence. I make 250k / year, so I’m on the edge of being affected by Obama’s tax plans. I probably won’t be affected with deductions like mortgage interest, SEP contributions, and charity, but I wouldn’t care if I was. I live below my means, and didn’t ask Bush for a tax break, so I won’t cry if Obama takes it away. Most of the fellow rich people I know are Democrats. None of us are worried about taxes going up a little. You probably assume that I pay 50% in taxes, because that’s what you’ve been told, but my combined state and federal taxes are only 25% of my income.

    We do find it interesting that the people who are the most up in arms about taxes are nowhere near our bracket. Thanks for the concern, but we’re more concerned about our kids having a really rigorous education. Many of us send our kids to private school because public school is failshit. We’ve watched Waiting for Superman. We don’t love (or even really like) teacher’s unions.

    Most of my circle is rabidly anti-gun, but I’m not. I’ve owned guns and love to shoot and I think Gun Controls is the Democratic equivalent of the Border Fence – A really bad solution that doesn’t actually solve anything.

    Let’s see, what else. Two kids, 13 and 9. Coming up on my 15 year wedding anniversary. Great house in a great neighborhood. Border collie mix from the pound.

    I’m looking forward to Obamacare, and I think a lot of small businesses are. None of us business owners want to spend any time looking at all kinds of insurance plans to figure out what we want to offer employees, just to find out that we didn’t consider something important. I’d much rather just pay them more and let them pick whatever they want from the exchange. I’m looking forward to shopping there myself. Contrary to popular (Cahtolic) opinion, we business owners don’t want to have anything to do with health insurance.

    If there’s anything else you need to know, just ask.

  47. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, palaeomerus!

  48. McGehee says:

    I’ll try to hit the kitty in January.

    Credit some of my contribution to palaeo until then, Jeff.

  49. LBascom says:

    If there’s anything else you need to know, just ask.

    And you’ll make up more stuff? How about a name and a contribution slipshod?

  50. palaeomerus says:

    I am fickle like the greek gods.

    Not Priapus or anything. I don’t chase nymphs or bash a donkey’s head in with my pecker because he warned a nymph I was sneaking up on.

    I’m more like one of the nameless gods who wears the rumpled “staff” t-shirt, and wanders the crowds on the banks of the river styx and asks the shades in line for the ferry to fill out a customer satisfaction survey if they have time and don’t mind.

    I ask the ones with the really valuable coins in their mouth if they’d like me to make change them for smaller coins.

    And I watch the ‘give an obol/take an obol’ trays to make sure they aren’t full of ciggy butts or lint.

    I say please “remember to tip your ferry man, folks, he’s a hard worker and that boat don’t pole itself across! ”

    Sometimes I have to explain to someone that no, I don’t know anything about a Death Ling Yama, or a Pwyll, or going back up to the surface to enjoy some fresh baked bread in early November with the surviving family.

    I tell them that I heard there were three kings who sort of debrief you and give you your immigration papers, and that no, I don’t think there is a good Gyro place on the other side.

    Yeah, I’m no Terry Pratchett.

  51. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Fred W!

  52. William says:

    Oh, kid. You have no idea. I wish I could tell you, but at least I appreciate at little more why I can’t.

  53. Jeff G. says:

    Oh, I’m not going to give you my name. What’s the point of being a secret admirer if you can’t be secret?

    As to what I do, I’ve said it here before, but I run a business the specializes in market research and competitive intelligence. I make 250k / year, so I’m on the edge of being affected by Obama’s tax plans. I probably won’t be affected with deductions like mortgage interest, SEP contributions, and charity, but I wouldn’t care if I was. I live below my means, and didn’t ask Bush for a tax break, so I won’t cry if Obama takes it away. Most of the fellow rich people I know are Democrats. None of us are worried about taxes going up a little. You probably assume that I pay 50% in taxes, because that’s what you’ve been told, but my combined state and federal taxes are only 25% of my income.

    We do find it interesting that the people who are the most up in arms about taxes are nowhere near our bracket. Thanks for the concern, but we’re more concerned about our kids having a really rigorous education. Many of us send our kids to private school because public school is failshit. We’ve watched Waiting for Superman. We don’t love (or even really like) teacher’s unions.

    Most of my circle is rabidly anti-gun, but I’m not. I’ve owned guns and love to shoot and I think Gun Controls is the Democratic equivalent of the Border Fence – A really bad solution that doesn’t actually solve anything.

    Let’s see, what else. Two kids, 13 and 9. Coming up on my 15 year wedding anniversary. Great house in a great neighborhood. Border collie mix from the pound.

    I’m looking forward to Obamacare, and I think a lot of small businesses are. None of us business owners want to spend any time looking at all kinds of insurance plans to figure out what we want to offer employees, just to find out that we didn’t consider something important. I’d much rather just pay them more and let them pick whatever they want from the exchange. I’m looking forward to shopping there myself. Contrary to popular (Cahtolic) opinion, we business owners don’t want to have anything to do with health insurance.

    If there’s anything else you need to know, just ask.

    I’m going to rephrase this for you.

    “Blah blah blah blah of course I’m a pussy.”

    That’s really all you needed to say.

  54. LBascom says:

    We do find it interesting that the people who are the most up in arms about taxes are nowhere near our bracket. Thanks for the concern, but we’re more concerned about our kids having a really rigorous education

    You should start with educating yourself. Here, let Dr. Sowell help:

    First of all, despite all the melodrama about raising taxes on “the rich,” even if that is done it will scarcely make a dent in the government’s financial problems. Raising the tax rates on everybody in the top two percent will not get enough additional tax revenue to run the government for ten days.

    And what will the government do to pay for the other 355 days in the year? […]

    All the pretty talk about how tax rates will be raised only on “the rich” hides the ugly fact that the poorest people in the country will see the value of their money decline, just like everybody else, and at the same rate as everybody else, when the government creates more money and spends it.

  55. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Stephen L!

  56. LBascom says:

    VDH has something to say also:

    We were told for much of 2012 that raising rates on the top 1% would solve the deficit program; now we learn that the President’s plan would raise about $80 billion to set against the $1.2 trillion that we borrow yearly. Yet, he refuses to raise taxes on anyone else, cut the budget, or deal with entitlements. He talks about the “Clinton tax rates” which he will return us to — sorta, kinda, because he refuses to go back to them on everyone, the only way to raise real money. Nor will he go back to the “Clinton spending cuts.” So we are left with demagoguery, nothing more.

    Note the angry reader does not mention that Obamacare, which was promised not to raise taxes, will see both taxes and costs soar, which is why 2,000 corporations and unions, many of them campaign donators, have already received exemptions.

    Education, it’s not just for kids!

  57. dicentra says:

    Contrary to popular (Cahtolic) opinion, we business owners don’t want to have anything to do with health insurance.

    Hmm. How oh how did business owners get stuck with taking care of health insurance? A right poser that is.

    And perhaps you could show the correlation (not even causation: correlation will suffice) between Money Spent Per Pupil in the public schools and student performance?

  58. dicentra says:

    We do find it interesting that the people who are the most up in arms about taxes are nowhere near our bracket.

    So… those who pay a smaller percentage of a smaller total sum are more upset than those who pay a slightly larger percentage of a larger total sum.

    I suck so bad a math. I’M CONFUSED TOO!

  59. palaeomerus says:

    “Hmm. How oh how did business owners get stuck with taking care of health insurance? A right poser that is.”

    Teddy Kennedy…HMO’s……something something….never waste a crisis…

  60. bh says:

    Our little friend ss cracks me up. A successful, well-adjusted individual who just so happens to be a crazy ass troll for a hobby?

    Give me a moment while I consult a reference book for the opposite of verisimilitude.

  61. LBascom says:

    Slipshod,

    . I make 250k / year, so I’m on the edge of being affected by Obama’s tax plans. I probably won’t be affected with deductions like mortgage interest, SEP contributions, and charity, but I wouldn’t care if I was.

    Are you saying that, as someone making 250K a year, you are doing nothing different with your assets in response to the new taxing realities due January ’13?

  62. Silver Whistle says:

    I suck so bad a math. I’M CONFUSED TOO!

    Don’t fret for slipperyloobrush, di – he’s so rich, he can afford a remedial math tutor. But probably not a clue.

  63. McGehee says:

    Needed: a font option in the body of a comment referring to slippy, in which “ss” is made to look like a pair of jagged lightning bolts.

    Because of teh irony and teh head-assplodey-making.

  64. McGehee says:

    ….and also because GODWIN AIN’T THE BOSS OF ME!

  65. LBascom says:

    Also, do YOU make 250k a year by yourself, or is that a household earning you only partially contribute to?

  66. LBascom says:

    If there’s anything else you need to know, just ask.

    Just pretend also?

  67. bh says:

    I think it’s funny that he’s pretending to be successful in business but then says he’s just too stupid to figure out a group insurance plan.

    This is some top notch fiction writing that only a rather dull seventh grader could hope to top.

  68. dicentra says:

    None of us are worried about taxes going up a little.

    I love this: “I don’t mind paying a little more,” is a pose, not a position. It’s intended to communicate two things: (a) Damn, I’m rich, and (b) Damn, I’m generous.

    Perhaps you could explain which principle informs your pose. You know, “I am in favor of paying higher taxes because I want the fruits of my labor to go toward a strong central government that will fix society’s problems,” or maybe “I think that the best way to pay down our debt or narrow the deficit is for taxpayers to give more to the same spendthrift machine that got us into this hole in the first place, because this time they’ll get it right. They might be a little reckless, but they’ll do the right thing in the end.”

    Except that articulation of principles isn’t anywhere near as fun as striking a snarky pose.

  69. LBascom says:

    I know if I was making that kinda money, I’d be running this past my accountant, for a start…

    The tax affects only individuals with more than $200,000 in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), and married couples filing jointly with more than $250,000 of MAGI.

    The tax applies to a broad range of investment securities ranging from stocks and bonds to commodity securities and specialized derivatives.

    The 159 pages of rules spell out when the tax applies to trusts and annuities, as well as to individual securities traders.

    Released late on Friday, the new regulations include a 0.9 percent healthcare tax on wages for high-income individuals

  70. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Daniel S!

  71. Not my tiny insignificant bit. But a new PC, new job (really), new phone, local gas more expensive than a Chicago tollway oasis(really there too), a teen-ager college crisis and a late paycheck means I’ma gonna be late. Carry me for a few?

  72. slipperyslope says:

    And perhaps you could show the correlation (not even causation: correlation will suffice) between Money Spent Per Pupil in the public schools and student performance?

    My kids don’t go to public school. I don’t think I’ve made any statement relevant to your question. In other words, why are you asking me?

    Are you saying that, as someone making 250K a year, you are doing nothing different with your assets in response to the new taxing realities due January ’13?

    Correct. Which assets are you worried about? My house? My SEP? Those are my two largest assets.

    Also, do YOU make 250k a year by yourself, or is that a household earning you only partially contribute to?

    It’s me. My wife doesn’t earn income. We file jointly.

    I think it’s funny that he’s pretending to be successful in business but then says he’s just too stupid to figure out a group insurance plan.

    You ever put together health options for your employees? It takes a crapload of time, and has nothing to do with the value your business provides to the marketplace. None of us got into business to draft employee handbooks, pick insurance plans, etc. That’s not the fun stuff.

    I love this: “I don’t mind paying a little more,” is a pose, not a position. It’s intended to communicate two things: (a) Damn, I’m rich, and (b) Damn, I’m generous.
    Perhaps you could explain which principle informs your pose.

    Oh, the whole tax hike thing is really just a populist ploy by Obama that will predictably bait the Republican’s into self-destructing, which is a good thing. Because left on their own, the Republicans would push for austerity, which would be disastrous right now.

    The tax affects only individuals with more than $200,000 in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), and married couples filing jointly with more than $250,000 of MAGI.
    The tax applies to a broad range of investment securities ranging from stocks and bonds to commodity securities and specialized derivatives.
    The 159 pages of rules spell out when the tax applies to trusts and annuities, as well as to individual securities traders.
    Released late on Friday, the new regulations include a 0.9 percent healthcare tax on wages for high-income individuals

    I have investments, but not investment income. And I’m not going to have a ton of (or probabably any) income over $250,000. But let’s say it’s a good year and I have $300,000 in taxable income. The new taxes would be on the amount over $250,000 – so new taxes on $50,000. If they ended up being 5% higher taxes, that would be $2,500 – which is no big deal.

  73. bh says:

    Tell us another one.

  74. Jeff G. says:

    No worries, LMC!

  75. LBascom says:

    I have investments, but not investment income

    You also have a weird definition of “investment”.

    Too much time spent listening to Obama’s “investments” I suspect…

  76. slipperyslope says:

    LBascom – Maybe we’re defining it differently. I put money into a SEP every year, but I’m not drawing any income out of my retirement account.

  77. LBascom says:

    159 pages, chop, chop.

  78. McGehee says:

    So on top of everything else slippy’s a bigger liar than SNL’s Tommy Flannigan.

    Didn’t see that coming.

  79. LBascom says:

    Because left on their own, the Republicans would push for austerity, which would be disastrous right now.

    Yes and no. Conservatives know (because it works every time it’s tried) lower tax rates mean more commerce which creates more revenue, not less.

    Now what we have is trillion dollar deficits, which depresses commerce, and revenue.

    Austerity would indeed be a disaster right now, as the only thing keeping us in a positive growth rate is government stimulus money robbed from social security, medicaid, and the highest capitol gains rates in the world. Try that when you have an under performing economy and high unemployment like we do now, and it would be a train wreck.

    What would need to happen is for entitlements (and yes, even the military) to be restructured like the bankrupt entities they are, along with the tax code, and rules for congress on balancing the budget, tort law, all while taking a meat ax to regulation.

    Maybe then we could get back to being a free market economy, and austerity wouldn’t be needed.

    I expect no one in Washington to do any of those things, so don’t count on that 250k, comrade.

  80. slipperyslope says:

    LBascom – The thing that I don’t know that’s been tried is lower taxes with equal decreases in spending. Generally, I think taxes are usually lowered while spending is kept the same. That’s just stimulus disguised as tax cuts.

  81. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, RI Red!

  82. LBascom says:

    The thing that I don’t know that’s been tried is lower taxes with equal decreases in spending.

    Heh.

    Heehee…decrease in spending. Hahahaha. Washington decreasing spending…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAaaa…

    I’ve said it before slipshod, you’re a funny guy.

  83. McGehee says:

    Generally, I think taxes are usually lowered while spending is kept the same. That’s just stimulus disguised as tax cuts.

    No, nimrod — what that is, is tax cuts. They may have a stimulating effect, but the sole objection tyrants have to it is they don’t get to decide where the effect happens or to whose benefit.

  84. Jeff G. says:

    Hey, who was it again who was calling for decreased spending, tax cuts, and taking a meat ax to regulatory agencies to rein in the 11 cents on the dollar that goes toward compliance costs?

    Oh, I remember now. The TEAbaggers. Hobbits and racists, all. Too bad, too. Because if they weren’t Hobbity racists, slipshod would almost certainly go along with them.

    Except he’s all for ObamaCare, as he’s made clear, which will raise taxes AND increase the debt — and he doesn’t mind higher tax rates on his earnings.

    Other than that, though, yeah. He’d be willing to try lower taxes with decreases in spending. Yup. A regular staunch fiscal conservative is he.

    Next he’ll start talking about bad techno pop, designer cupcakes, and the newest trendy stuffing for street tacos.

  85. McGehee says:

    Just as long as he doesn’t offer recipes for his awesome paella.

  86. slipperyslope says:

    Other than that, though, yeah. He’d be willing to try lower taxes with decreases in spending. Yup. A regular staunch fiscal conservative is he.

    Ah, no. Not a fiscal conservative. I was saying that lowering taxes has a stimulating effect on the economy because spending is also kept the same. This has the same economic effect as just keeping taxes that same and spending more. The delta between taxes and spending are what determines if the effect expands or contracts the economy.

    Hey, who was it again who was calling for decreased spending, tax cuts, and taking a meat ax to regulatory agencies to rein in the 11 cents on the dollar that goes toward compliance costs?

    I wasn’t calling for decreased spending. I said austerity would be a disaster. I was talking about the effect of spending increases or decreases relative to tax increases or decreases.

  87. McGehee says:

    This has the same economic effect as just keeping taxes that same and spending more.

    Exactly the same — except with smaller deficits.

  88. McGehee says:

    …and less control by the tyrants over where the stimulative effect happens.

    But other than that, exactly identical.

  89. LBascom says:

    This has the same economic effect as just keeping taxes that same and spending more.

    Now now guy’s, I know what your thinking…but just remember, math is hard for some people.

  90. McGehee says:

    …also with less of the GDP being swallowed up by the tyrants.

    But again, exactly like keeping taxes the same and spending more.

    No difference at all, except those.

  91. Pablo says:

    This has the same economic effect as just keeping taxes that same and spending more.

    No. Spending is not necessarily commerce. Commerce grows an economy. Spending, as Barack Obama has showed us, need not.

  92. McGehee says:

    …and then there’s the fact that with smaller deficits the overall debt rises more slowly.

    But yeah, exactly the same.

  93. McGehee says:

    ..also, what Pablo said.

    But other than that, and all the other things…

  94. slipperyslope says:

    Exactly the same — except with smaller deficits.

    Cutting taxes, without cutting spending, does not reduce the deficit.

  95. McGehee says:

    Which, someone who was really such a successful businessman would have known.

  96. McGehee says:

    Cutting taxes, without cutting spending, does not reduce the deficit.

    And yet, increasing spending, when revenues aren’t growing, makes the deficit rise faster.

    Reading comprehension. It’s what’s for dinner.

  97. LBascom says:

    I said austerity would be a disaster.

    I agreed with you, but disagreed with your assertion that’s where the republicans would go if given the chance. Growth of the private side is the key, government must stay within their constitutional limits.

    If that last (government must stay within their constitutional limits) was your idea of austerity, then I don’t agree with you.

  98. McGehee says:

    For being the smartest guy in the room, slippy sure doesn’t like to think very deeply.

  99. Pablo says:

    Cutting taxes, without cutting spending, does not reduce the deficit.

    It has been shown repeatedly that lowering rates can increase revenue. So if spending stayed the same, it would lower the deficit. Of course, spending never stays the same so we’ve never seen this actually happen.

  100. cranky-d says:

    I hope, slipshod, since you are making such good money, and have been using so much bandwidth around here, that you kicked in a donation for the month.

  101. McGehee says:

    Slippy laffs at your curve. Just like johntaylor did, as I recall.

    Hasn’t learned a damn thing in the meantime.

  102. McGehee says:

    A successful businessman would know you make more sales by lowering prices, and you don’t make more money by selling less product.

  103. leigh says:

    So, slippy is a 1%er now?

    If that’s the case, and I doubt it, he must have made his money the old fashioned way: he inherited it.

    With his business acumen, there is no fucking way he earned it.

  104. Pablo says:

    I think math scares him.

  105. slipperyslope says:

    I agreed with you, but disagreed with your assertion that’s where the republicans would go if given the chance. Growth of the private side is the key, government must stay within their constitutional limits.
    If that last (government must stay within their constitutional limits) was your idea of austerity, then I don’t agree with you.

    If government staying within their constitutional limits means elimination of the EPA, FDA, etc, then that would be disruptive to the economy and that would be a lot of austerity to absorb.

    FWIW, right now, 2/3 of my taxes go to the feds and 1/3 stays with my state. I’d like to see that flipped. I would like to see the department of education done away with (and handled at the state level). Medicare/medicade could be done at the state level. EPA would have to stay federal.

    I’m not talking about less total spending or staffing, but shifting it to states. The federal government is completely broken.

  106. newrouter says:

    If government staying within their constitutional limits means elimination of the EPA, FDA, etc, then that would be disruptive to the economy and that would be a lot of austerity to absorb.

    disruptive to whom exactly?

  107. geoffb says:

    Speaking of raising or lowering taxes without using the term “rates”, which is what Congress actually raises and lowers, is to weasel around the whole idea that, within the normal range that is considered, raising the rates lowers the revenue by slowing the economy and lowering the rates raises the revenue.

    For the Democrats raising the rates is not about increasing revenue, that doesn’t happen. it’s about control over the private sector, power, which does increase with increasing tax rates.

  108. dicentra says:

    that would be disruptive to the economy and that would be a lot of austerity to absorb.

    It would toss the drones onto the unemployment rolls, which, they’d cost less and also stop generating reams of red tape and performing all those no-knock raids.

    What was the downside again?

    Austerity is going to hit us anyway: might as well try to ease into it gradually instead of hitting the accelerator and hoping we make Warp 5 before hitting the cliff face, because at that velocity, your molecules and the rock’s molecules just sail past each other and you come out on the other side unscathed. Right?

    Gubmint spending does not stimulate the economy, unless by “economy” you mean “the bank ledgers of corporate cronies, unions, and bureaucrats who have enough palanca to get a turn at the trough.

  109. dicentra says:

  110. Ernst Schreiber says:

    If the FDA wasn’t so busy worrying about the nutritional intake of pizza chains’ customers, they might have the resources to do a better job following up with producers to make sure the tomato sauce was free of salmonella, and the sausage topping wasn’t rat droppings.

    by way of anticipation

  111. dicentra says:

    I’m not talking about less total spending or staffing,

    You should. The administrator-to-student ratio has been increasing steadily in both higher and lower education for decades. I’m pretty sure we don’t need that many copies of the lesson plan made.

  112. slipperyslope says:

    Austerity is going to hit us anyway: might as well try to ease into it gradually instead of hitting the accelerator and hoping we make Warp 5 before hitting the cliff face, because at that velocity, your molecules and the rock’s molecules just sail past each other and you come out on the other side unscathed. Right?

    That’s the plan. That’s a great summary of the battle. Hit the brakes or go for Warp.

    raising the rates lowers the revenue by slowing the economy and lowering the rates raises the revenue.

    Not according to the laffer curve.

    If the FDA wasn’t so busy worrying about the nutritional intake of pizza chains’ customers, they might have the resources to do a better job following up with producers to make sure the tomato sauce was free of salmonella, and the sausage topping wasn’t rat droppings.

    BTW, do you know what effect it had when fast food restaurants were required to post calorie counts on their menus? No effect at all. People ordered just as much. Know what effect banning texting while driving has had? Accidents related to texting have gone up.

    I’m not always in favor of tyranny.

  113. Pablo says:

    The administrator-to-student ratio has been increasing steadily in both higher and lower education for decades.

    See Detroit. Top tier spending, sub-third world results.

  114. Pablo says:

    Not according to the laffer curve.

    What is the shape of the Laffer Curve? What rate hits the sweet spot?

  115. newrouter says:

    BTW, do you know what effect it had when fast food restaurants were required to post calorie counts on their menus? No effect at all. People ordered just as much.

    if what you say is true then the regulations pertaining to this should be repealed

  116. LBascom says:

    If government staying within their constitutional limits means elimination of the EPA, FDA, etc, then that would be disruptive to the economy and that would be a lot of austerity to absorb.

    You are such a noob. You honestly think drastically reducing the size, scope, and authority of the EPA (maybe give them a back office at NASA) would be tough for the economy?

    I’ll tell you another one, eliminate the Department of Agriculture. There’s more of them than there are farmers. Literally. Start over with an advisory board for the Sec Interior that doesn’t have authority to pay said farmers to not grow stuff.

  117. bh says:

    When we’re through with this I can pretend to be a doctor and lecture y’all on how Windex cures rheumatism and the dropsy.

  118. JD says:

    I’m not always in favor of tyranny

    Except all the times that you are. And when you lie. And when you are being a serial fabulist. Washington is broken, do I will entrust my health are to them because it confuzzles me. Skiing the rate of growth is draconian austerity.

  119. geoffb says:

    I’m detecting a hint of “Buckaroo Banzai” in this thread.

  120. JD says:

    Damn typos.

    Trolls hit up these threads evert time.

  121. leigh says:

    It’s kind of like the thunder-boi is back without all the cursing.

    Also no exotic tales of flying Russian fighter jets and banging Russian hookers.

    Yet.

  122. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks so much, Dave E!

  123. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks so much, Jay G!

  124. Ernst Schreiber says:

    [D]o you know what effect it had when fast food restaurants were required to post calorie counts on their menus? No effect at all.

    You mean in addition to the unnecessary business expense of redesigning all of their menus and signage.

    Know what effect banning texting while driving has had? Accidents related to texting have gone up.

    I’m dying to know what you conclude from that bit of correlation.

  125. happyfeet says:

    the calories on menus thing is actually very helpful cause of you have to make good choices

  126. JD says:

    [D]o you know what effect it had when fast food restaurants were required to post calorie counts on their menus? No effect at all.

    Did you think that the signs would reduce customers, or cost the business unnecessarily?

  127. newrouter says:

    cause of you have to make good choices

    a chirp too far

  128. happyfeet says:

    it makes it a lot easier to ignore the baked goods at starbucks especially since they don’t even do the peppermint brownies anymore, which were the best thing ever almost

  129. Ernst Schreiber says:

    the calories on menus thing is actually very helpful cause of you have to make good choices

    order the diet soda with your double quarter pounder and large fries.

  130. slipperyslope says:

    BTW, do you know what effect it had when fast food restaurants were required to post calorie counts on their menus? No effect at all. People ordered just as much.

    if what you say is true then the regulations pertaining to this should be repealed

    I agree. They should be repealed.

    Do you know what effect it had when fast food restaurants were required to post calorie counts on their menus? No effect at all.

    You mean in addition to the unnecessary business expense of redesigning all of their menus and signage.

    Yes. I’m agreeing with you. It was a costly failure.

    Know what effect banning texting while driving has had? Accidents related to texting have gone up.

    I’m dying to know what you conclude from that bit of correlation.

    .

    Another costly failure. The theory is that when texting and driving is legal, people hold the texting device up so that they can switch quickly between looking at it and the road. When it’s illegal, they hold it down in their lap so as not to get caught.

    Like I said, I don’t always support tyranny.

    P.S. Ask me what I think about street renaming as a way to pander to certain voters.

  131. happyfeet says:

    Well no if you read the calories u don’t get fries there or if you do u just get small with one of those wraps they do or a salad

    Fast food sammiches usually suck but if you deserve a lot of proteins you’re best off getting the biggest arby’s original roast beef and eating it with no sauce and you get something like 40 something grams of protein at around 600 calories

    But that’s it you can’t have fries

  132. slipperyslope says:

    order the diet soda with your double quarter pounder and large fries.

    Quit following me.

  133. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Good to know about fast food

    So, in what other areas of your life do you need government to intervene with a third party on your behalf in order to make good decisions?

  134. happyfeet says:

    I don’t *need* it

    all that information was already online it’s just convenient… Just cause it’s fascist doesn’t mean I have an obligation to ignore it and eat shitty american foozle

  135. President Threeputt says:

    *putt*

  136. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Sometimes, convenience is one of those entrance ramps onto that road to serfdom we were talking about last night.

    Helpfulness is the blue services sign they put up to get you to exit the road your travelling for their road.

  137. leigh says:

    I pack my lunch since I’m thrifty.

  138. happyfeet says:

    we already established that by far most people ignore the calorie data

  139. newrouter says:

    Like I said, I don’t always support tyranny.

    depends – spit

  140. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks Charles W!

  141. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Mike P!

  142. pdbuttons says:

    Bjorks claws ./hooves/ have anti-calorie things in them
    That’s why she’s so skinny/ and can sing on traintops

  143. pdbuttons says:

    Sure-we’d all get shiggy about “Release the Krakken’
    but the Krakken is ready to make deals..
    How does it feel?
    To be on your own?
    BTW-Shiggy was the 5th Sha Na Na Dude-but he had a ‘face’ accident

  144. serr8d says:

    Slipppery seems to have reached his pinnacle, and now stands surveying all around him, hoping like hell that nothing happens that’ll knock him off his perch. Sorry guy, there’s evidence that we’ve already slid over a fiscal cliff; our little Republic will soon hit the double-dip in this protracted recession, and many jobs considered safe will erode. Hope you’ve some other talent that just marketing and blowhardiness, because that segment is going to be the hardest hit.

    I’m thinking that’s a lie, really. You stink of government employee, thinking you’ve a guaranteed job; no matter what happens, you’ll be safely employed, as long as someone is still paying taxes. Well.

    My marketing advice to you, Mr. Competitive Intelligence? Put your money in pitchforks. Ask for our very own Mr. Squid; guaranteed the sharpest tines in the industry!

  145. happyfeet says:

    Mr buttons!

    I’m in Binghamton it’s a fascinating place shaped by rivers and an inordinate love for pizza and submarine sammiches and also there’s a college and david sedaris was born here and boy howdy is they keepin it real.

  146. pdbuttons says:

    Bing Crosby biography pts. uno[one] and dos[two] I read one of ’em
    Read the first one-up to !9!940-
    he was pretty cool-parents etc riddim/ just read it
    so I find the author-who did a bang[bing] up job
    looking for p art 2[dos]- but no part two![Dos!] So-The Author spent so much time ona pt ![Yawn]
    that I figured he’d be all ‘Bing Crosby !940 +
    but \I went to the Librarian-to- ..and i asked her-” I really liked this Book-I am curious yellow? do you have Volume 2?’
    So, she pecks away her sexual frustration-Zero-ing in on
    Bing Crosby Pt !!112[!!11dos]
    And She Says-
    And i quote
    ‘There is no part two[Dos 11/2]

    So- i’m thinking
    Maybe the Author Died!

  147. serr8d says:

    And She Says-
    And i quote
    ‘There is no part two[Dos 11/2]

    So- i’m thinking
    Maybe the Author Died!

    That’s happened, leaving others to carry on in shoes they can never fill.

    Did I ever mention I can’t stand Brian Herbert ?

  148. pdbuttons says:

    Have you read my new novel? Elvis Dunes? I ‘m going to die soon-so..
    if any peeps can affjord ink- its about trains ‘n’ death ‘n’ stuff
    so
    carrion…you vultures ![sorry-Im dieing here!]

  149. happyfeet says:

    i bailed on brian herbert’s sad sad fecklessness

    Mr b all is well yes?

  150. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Darleen!

  151. Slartibartfast says:

    This has the same economic effect as just keeping taxes that same and spending more.

    Government spending money on what it chooses has the same economic effect as individuals spending money on what they choose?

    I’d say that needs proving.

    Not according to the laffer curve

    The only thing you know about the Laffer curve is that it hits zero in two places. Laffer’s conjecture was there was a smooth curve in between, and somewhere along that curve was a single maximum. But Laffer didn’t know where that maximum was, and neither do you.

    What if the peak in that curve occurred lower than proposed tax rates? What then?

  152. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks again, BT!

  153. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Joseph M!

  154. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Physics Geek!

  155. John Bradley says:

    Did I ever mention I can’t stand Brian Herbert ?

    I thought the House trilogy, set 20-30 years prior to the events in Dune, was pretty decent. Maybe not the greatest writing, but inoffensive at least, and they provided interesting (to me) background info on the ‘world’ of Dune and the actors within it.

    The ancient pre-history (Butlerian Jihad, Machine Crusade, Battle of Corrin) and the far off future (Hunters of, Sandworms of) series were beyond execrabal. So bad, you couldn’t pay me to even find out if the latest set (Paul, Winds, Sisterhood) are worth a bucket of warm spit.

  156. dicentra says:

    if what you say is true then the regulations pertaining to this should be repealed

    Except that they never will be. The ratchet effect goes only one way; bureaucracies never pay a price for being staggeringly stupid, brutal, or insane.

    By all means, let’s turn our healthcare over to people who can manage the money wisely by condemning “defective” infants, the supposed terminally ill, and the old and infirm to death by starvation.

    For the humanity.

  157. dicentra says:

    Binghamton

    Upstate NY? The city with the second fewest number of sunny days behind Seattle? The place where old clouds go to die? The town with two suffixes that mean “town” because one is never enough?

    THAT Binghamton?

  158. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Timothy K!

  159. pdbuttons says:

    Binghampton sounds like a town where the bread winner trips every night over an ottoman and gets up and pecks lips with a totally hot pre-botoxed girl, who has din din ready for her alcoholic thin half
    then they get into separate beds and read…books..

    and turn the lights off at the same time..saying nite nite
    I want my America Back!

  160. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, sdferr!

  161. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Matthew B!

  162. happyfeet says:

    is was maybe a little more rust belty than thst i thought, but yes, very very retro

  163. happyfeet says:

    *it* was i mean

  164. pdbuttons says:

    is was – that is my new favorite saying

  165. newrouter says:

    put a “please” up there

  166. pdbuttons says:

    Please….please me..oh yeah
    Love……..love me do..
    Works for me!

  167. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, John H!

  168. McGehee says:

    pdbuttons says December 5, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    Binghamton in 2012 sounds like New Rochelle 50 years ago?

  169. […] at Protein Wisdom has a few thoughts on that subject. Speaking of economic hardship, Jeff is rattling the tip jar as an alternative to seeking shelter with “an extended family of self-sufficient pioneer […]

  170. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, RS McCain!

  171. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Kirk M!

  172. slipperyslope says:

    By all means, let’s turn our healthcare over to people who can manage the money wisely by condemning “defective” infants, the supposed terminally ill, and the old and infirm to death by starvation.

    Pu-lease.

    I’m thinking that’s a lie, really. You stink of government employee, thinking you’ve a guaranteed job; no matter what happens, you’ll be safely employed, as long as someone is still paying taxes. Well.
    My marketing advice to you, Mr. Competitive Intelligence? Put your money in pitchforks. Ask for our very own Mr. Squid; guaranteed the sharpest tines in the industry!

    I’ve been figuratively singing for my support for more than a decade. I’m about the farthest thing from a government employee you can imagine. But don’t stop believing, I guess.

    I don’t really “put my money” in pitchforks or anything else very specifically. It’s broadly diversified with (as of today) 60% domestic stocks, 21% foreign stocks, 16% bonds. I go for indexes rather than individual stocks. Every fund has an expense ratio of less than 1%.

    But I’d be happy to consult with a pitchfork company and help them figure out how to out-compete other pitchfork makers or tools in the broader yard tools industry.

  173. slipperyslope says:

    support = supper

  174. Jeff G. says:

    Chapman B — I (and the shelled panzer rat) thank you!

  175. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Chris W!

  176. You don’t happen to have a stuffed armadillo beer coozy lying around do you?

  177. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, LMC!

  178. Jeff G. says:

    I had some, but you don’t want them, trust me. Somebody got drunk and though they were Magnum condoms…

  179. Tell me about it. My wife did the same thing. Huge mess when I finally got home.

  180. BTW, I am 20 minutes away from the last meeting I will have working this particular job. I am almost drunk with excitement.

    No more getting re-orged, fired, re-hired, shifted, bought off, or “leveraged across business units”… at least until my old company buys my new company. (over-under… 15 months)

    I’m telling you because I’ve already told the dog and he doesn’t give a shit. Actually, no one does but me and my self esteem. Woot!

  181. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, William P, for the generator! You have provided my family with incredible peace of mind!

  182. Jeff G. says:

    I care, LMC.

    You may unburden yourself to me anytime. Provided you’re wearing pants. No exceptions.

    (Unless I’m not wearing any. Then it’s party time!)

  183. […] Free Ice Cream Really Isn’t Posted on December 6, 2012 11:30 am by Bill Quick December fundraiser begins today [sticky; new posts below; Tuesday update] | protein wisdom Tuesday update: Thanks to those who have contributed. Overall to this point — to be blunt […]

  184. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, David H!

  185. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Jessica M!

  186. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Paul O!

  187. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Squid!

  188. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks so much, Lee!

  189. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Daniel H!

  190. pdbuttons says:

    maybe u shouldn’t pose w guns and ask for ammo money
    just sayin it might be off putting to some
    hope you are well/

  191. You might want to look at inverters rather than generators. Smaller, cheaper, low to no maintenance and 2,000 watts is probably sufficient for emergencies.

  192. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Bill Quick!

  193. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks again, Mike Pitts!

  194. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Charles A!

  195. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Sarah R!

  196. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Susan R!

  197. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Patrick S!

  198. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Michael S!

  199. geoffb says:

    All, except thieves, “figuratively” sing for their supper.

  200. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Thomas D!

  201. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, William F!

  202. leigh says:

    Happy Chanukah, Jeff (since you won’t be here tomorrow).

    Good luck at the duel.

  203. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, leigh!

  204. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, Wayne W!

  205. Jeff G. says:

    Thanks, guins!

  206. mojo says:

    No, no Jeff – ” final Friday” is the 21st, when gullible morons believe the world will end because a bunch of primitives who didn’t understand the mechanics of rainfall ended their calendar on a ” long count” boundary.

    Selah.

  207. Jeff G. says:

    My bad, mojo.

Comments are closed.