Saffire

Why do the working classes struggle to make ends meet? It's because the prices of basic goods/services become inflated beyond what they're actually worth. I'm convinced that in a free market economy, even part-time non-skilled manual laborers would have a white house with a picket fence and a two car garage. They don't have this, though, because of government machinations. 1. Interest rates would be far higher without government. That means once you earn money by your own sweat and diligence, you can save it and make it grow at a faster pace than you would today. The return would be virtually guaranteed, making it unnecessary to take exorbitant risks in the stock market like so many employees do today (401Ks). Let the rich people take the risks and lose money on bad business ventures. 2. Property taxes/sales taxes/inflation - all gone. Even ignoring income tax (which many poor people don't have to pay), poor people are still blasted with ridiculously high taxes on their goods/services. 3. Deflation. Without the printing of money, existing money becomes worth more slowly over time. Regardless of whether it's under your mattress or in a bank. 4. Consequences. Without a welfare state or taxpayer funded health care insurance, there would be real-world consequences to foolish behavior. Teen pregnancy, obesity, smoking, drugs, and skipping school would all be far rarer because of the apparent danger they pose without an established safety-net. 5. Extinction of the military class. Remember that the military is one of those "safety-nets" mentioned above. This is the reason boys are seen not performing as well in school as girls - they know it's socially acceptable (and financially lucrative) for them to join the non-productive military class. If they can't do that, they can become police officers. Human action is always influenced by rationality, even if it appears irrational from a distance. It is rational to be lazy, to milk the state of taxpayer money, and to spend your paycheck the day you get it. The consequences are as negligible as the probability the state will crumble in your lifetime.

Beemers and Crack? I'm there!

Well that's the state's income tax rate. You pay federal income taxes on top of that. Do you guys have something similar?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123940286075109617.html Isn't that just like socialists? "Give" the states billions of printed money, and then take it back in the form of taxes! And they accuse Wall Street of being greedy.

Music and links, you buffoon. :D

I haven't been watching it but I know Josh has. My friends want to get some golf clubs and whack some balls around the course tomorrow. I think I'll join them, even though I've never really practiced serious golf, just the miniature kind.

Chris do you have an AIM screenname? If you do PM me with it, I want to send you stuff.

I feel like I've rediscovered a whole new genre of music... Trance. This stuff is great.

This was just an image I was creating ;) "Summertimeee and the livin is easy... you're daddy's rich, and your momma's good-lookin'" :D

Go to church, search for plastic eggs in your grandparents' yard with your cousins, eat ham, while your momma's in pastel colors and your dad's in his Sunday's best smoking a pipe!

This is amazing. :D

Boobies.

The first guy is a 25 year old Polish model named Christopher B. The second two pics are of Chris Evans, an American actor. Ahh it's finally Spring... almost time for Summer! :D

The first guy is a 25 year old Polish model named Christopher B. The second two pics are of Chris Evans, an American actor. Ahh it's finally Spring... almost time for Summer! :D

Yep, right now I'm trying to use photoshop to unblur part of what was censored on the second pic, but it's really difficult to sharpen it right. I'll just send you the raw pictures and the one with the donkey.

lol your "OHH YEAHH" under your name reminds me of this song by Moby: http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#moby%20oh%20yeah It's pretty sweet if you haven't heard it.

I just have zero desire to see Twilight. I just think the whole vampire thing has been overdone. I feel happy for the actors/actresses, though. This was a big break for them, and now they've got a shot at doing other films.

Great recovery? Why stop there? Glorious recovery! For make benefit nation of Kazakhstan. :D

I saved the pics and sent them to Chris so he knows what we're talking about. He hasn't replied yet, lol. Probably still in shock.

Hey Erick, everybody!

Your professor said that? Whew, ok that seals it. I'm not exiting these short positions yet! Come and get me, ye hordes of goblin optimists! :D

Wow, what a great orator. He didn't even need teleprompters like the Messiah. Thomas DiLornzo should run as a Republican during the next presidential cycle, assuming Ron Paul doesn't.

It's fascinating how the world is put together. There must be a God.

Isn't that illegal? I don't know how you got those photographs but you and Ian could be in a bit of trouble for letting them get onto the internet...

I sure did get a lot of stuff done today! Yay me. And that waiter at lunch was really cute. :P