White House finally yields: we will not use a drone to kill a noncombatant American on U.S. soil.
The idea that the government needs a drone to kill a U.S. citizen on American soil is preposterous. If the government wants you dead, or captured, you are done for. No if, ands or buts. What do you think all the thugs at the CIA/FBI/ATF/DEA/NSA/DIA/NGA/CBP/ICE/USSS are for?
And whoopty do! Drones can listen in on your cell phone conversation? They’ve been able to listen to anything they want since the mid-1970s.
They can see you in your backyard? Haven’t you heard that the government can read the second hand off your wrist watch from a satelitte 110 miles in space?
If you want to be upset about constitutional rights, there are plenty more areas to be concerned about than drones.
Buster, you are incorrect by stating that homemade bread and lentils are all carbohydrates. Lentils have way more than just carbs, they also are rich enough in proteins and fiber and some vitamins and minerals. If you buy a bag of frozen mixed vegetables which costs about a dollar at any convenient store and is way more than one serving, you end up with a true complete meal and way healthier than McDonalds and at about the same price if not less. It’s true that you do not need to expend tons of dollars to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, even with a hike in food prices.
David Friedman shows that a healthy meal (homemade bread and lentils) is less expensive than eating at McDonald’s.
I don’t recall who, but a very well-known economist published research on the minimum cost to eat if using staple items (mainly rice and beans) back around 1970. If updated to today’s commodity prices, it’s probably less than $1 to feed a person for a day.
I’ve never really understood the appeal of McDonald’s. It’s over-priced for what you get — all national fast food franchises are. Down the street I can get a half-pound burger made from fresh meat that has never been frozen for less money than a high-end burger at McDonald’s. The Iranian immigrants who own the place aren’t paying franchise fees. For similar costs, I can eat at a locally-owned restaurant and get a lunch special. Paying $6 or $7 for fast food just seems like a total waste of both calories and money.
“Paul, though, argued that he was raising concern about how future presidents might use their drone authority.”
-This is one of the most important roles that congressman need to focus on. Preventing future presidents and congressmen from expanding their powers in areas that are cleary defined by the constitution.
It is hard to compare a nations as large as US, China & India to smaller city-state countries for the number of billionaires. A place like Monaco probably doesn’t produce business activities to make the billionaires, they are just nice places for the rich to chill out in.
Billionaire’s per capita doesn’t have anything to do with wealth or income inequality. That statistic does not at all take into account or compare the incomes or wealth of the rest of the population.
However, I do think it is interesting that a “socialistic” nation like Sweden has more billionaires per capita than the U.S. I wonder if any tea partyers are aware of this…
” But wait, that can’t be! In “socialistic” societies the incentive to work hard is removed so people just sit around and reap in government benefits! They could never become billionaires! Even if they did, they would just move to a place with lower taxes, right? How can this be? Freer markets are always better! I..I…”
However, I do think it is interesting that a “socialistic” nation like Sweden has more billionaires per capita than the U.S. I wonder if any tea partyers are aware of this…
There are several factors at work that relate only indirectly to the social policies of a country and its billionaires per capita.
Like most Welfare States, Sweden has to limit its intake of poor foreigners. In addition, housing is expensive so childbearing is low. Thus, if it only has a couple billionaires, that’s huge in terms of per capita.
Finally, there’s no accounting for taste. One of the wealthiest people in the world lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Tell me honestly: if you were very wealthy, would you live in Omaha?
“There are several factors at work that relate only indirectly to the social policies of a country and its billionaires per capita.”
Uuuuuum sure maybe, but even that concedes there is a relationship. I think economic policies would likely be a better place to look for some causality here than social policies.
“Like most Welfare States, Sweden has to limit its intake of poor foreigners. In addition, housing is expensive so childbearing is low. Thus, if it only has a couple billionaires, that’s huge in terms of per capita.”
“Sweden has probably the most generous immigration, asylum and welfare policies in the world.”
and also,
“Sweden has a population of 9 million — of those, 1.4 million are immigrants. Approximately 100,000 pour in each year. Ilmar Reepalu thinks that’s a good thing.”
That’s roughly 15.5%, a 2005 Urban Institute Study titled “New Demography of America’s Schools: Immigration and the No Child Left Behind Act” estimated the US immigratnt population to be just shy of 12%. I think next you’re attempting to indicte the usage of per capita figures? Regardless,the fact that a relatively high number of billionaire’s stay there despite the high taxes required for Sweden’s economic and social programs kind of demolishes some of the core concepts of tea party ideology. It’s probably also worth mentioning that Sweden consistently ranks as the “happiest nation” even though their government does horrible tyrannical things like provide medical care and education for poor people.
“Finally, there’s no accounting for taste. One of the wealthiest people in the world lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Tell me honestly: if you were very wealthy, would you live in Omaha?”
Possibly? I don’t think this comment is particularly responsive to the argument I was making, which is that the high number of billionaires per capita in Sweden disproves the “Atlas Shrugged” thesis of the Tea Party movement, which is basically that government regulation and taxation anger the wealthy so they leave.
My brother is a baker. The idea that bread is easy or cheap to make is ridiculous. Consider that the common person has never baked bread before in their lives, so the time to cook the bread will be much more than the simple hour he describes. Additionally, bread baking is much more labour intensive than other recipes, and easier to mess up. Then consider the opportunity cost to cook this food. It takes less than 5 minutes to purchase a loaf of bread or a McDonald’s hamburger. It takes over an hour to prep the kitchen and prepare the dough, which at minimum wage is $7.75 for the labour alone. Baking one’s own bread is far costlier than this man admits.
I’m not a baker, but I baked bread yesterday, and do it often, it is easy to do. Even if you don’t have time, or children to help knead, search google for “no knead bread.” or “5 minute a day bread” if it takes you an hour of active work to make bread you’re doing it wrong. We also live in an age of labor saving devices, not that you need one, because you don’t, but if you have one, you can use it.
I really get annoyed when it is claimed poor people have no choice but to eat poorly because they cannot afford healthy food. This isn’t the first refutation of that claim, it has been refuted over and over again through the years. Fresh food is cheaper than frozen is cheaper than prepared. Most of the world subsists on beans and rice, which are dirt cheap, and healthy. They’re not all carbs. Beans, in fact, are superfoods. A pinto bean has more antioxidants than a blueberry of equal weight.
As discussed on this blog previously, it comes down probably more to psychology. No one will argue that smoking is cheaper than not smoking, yet smoking has greater prevalence among the poor, as does poor eating. Why? It isn’t about what they can afford to do or afford not to do, it is more about common character flaws, a lack of motivation, apathy towards their own condition, etc.
Why I was in college I calculated my lunch down to about 25 cents, low fat turkey breast with light miracle whip and lettuce on a whole wheat bagel. This wasn’t that long ago either. I didn’t give into temptation to eat more expensive junk food. I’ve always been motivated and ambitious though which is why, even though I was poor then, I am thin and successful today.
No more excuses: David Friedman shows that a healthy meal (homemade bread and lentils) is less expensive than eating at McDonald’s.
I wouldn’t really characterize bread and lentils as necessarily healthier than McDonald’s. They’re all carbohydrates.
Organic vegetables from Whole Foods, raw almond butter, hormone-free meats, Italian sparkling water or Italian sparkling soda all cost a fortune!
Inequality update… the political scale swings left at both ends of the income spectrum. At the end of the day they are still Europeans, yuk.
Haha Guernsey — they only have one and are number three on the list.
White House finally yields: we will not use a drone to kill a noncombatant American on U.S. soil.
The idea that the government needs a drone to kill a U.S. citizen on American soil is preposterous. If the government wants you dead, or captured, you are done for. No if, ands or buts. What do you think all the thugs at the CIA/FBI/ATF/DEA/NSA/DIA/NGA/CBP/ICE/USSS are for?
And whoopty do! Drones can listen in on your cell phone conversation? They’ve been able to listen to anything they want since the mid-1970s.
They can see you in your backyard? Haven’t you heard that the government can read the second hand off your wrist watch from a satelitte 110 miles in space?
If you want to be upset about constitutional rights, there are plenty more areas to be concerned about than drones.
Buster, you are incorrect by stating that homemade bread and lentils are all carbohydrates. Lentils have way more than just carbs, they also are rich enough in proteins and fiber and some vitamins and minerals. If you buy a bag of frozen mixed vegetables which costs about a dollar at any convenient store and is way more than one serving, you end up with a true complete meal and way healthier than McDonalds and at about the same price if not less. It’s true that you do not need to expend tons of dollars to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, even with a hike in food prices.
“White House finally yields: we will not use a drone to kill a noncombatant American on U.S. soil.”
Good. Finally. This whole issue was getting on my nerves.
“Inequality update: Even socialistic Sweden has more billionaires per capita than we do.”
– Belize has a billionare. Isn’t that something!
I don’t recall who, but a very well-known economist published research on the minimum cost to eat if using staple items (mainly rice and beans) back around 1970. If updated to today’s commodity prices, it’s probably less than $1 to feed a person for a day.
I’ve never really understood the appeal of McDonald’s. It’s over-priced for what you get — all national fast food franchises are. Down the street I can get a half-pound burger made from fresh meat that has never been frozen for less money than a high-end burger at McDonald’s. The Iranian immigrants who own the place aren’t paying franchise fees. For similar costs, I can eat at a locally-owned restaurant and get a lunch special. Paying $6 or $7 for fast food just seems like a total waste of both calories and money.
“Paul, though, argued that he was raising concern about how future presidents might use their drone authority.”
-This is one of the most important roles that congressman need to focus on. Preventing future presidents and congressmen from expanding their powers in areas that are cleary defined by the constitution.
@ The billionaire Article
It is hard to compare a nations as large as US, China & India to smaller city-state countries for the number of billionaires. A place like Monaco probably doesn’t produce business activities to make the billionaires, they are just nice places for the rich to chill out in.
@billionaire’s article
Billionaire’s per capita doesn’t have anything to do with wealth or income inequality. That statistic does not at all take into account or compare the incomes or wealth of the rest of the population.
However, I do think it is interesting that a “socialistic” nation like Sweden has more billionaires per capita than the U.S. I wonder if any tea partyers are aware of this…
” But wait, that can’t be! In “socialistic” societies the incentive to work hard is removed so people just sit around and reap in government benefits! They could never become billionaires! Even if they did, they would just move to a place with lower taxes, right? How can this be? Freer markets are always better! I..I…”
…and then their head’s explode
There are several factors at work that relate only indirectly to the social policies of a country and its billionaires per capita.
Like most Welfare States, Sweden has to limit its intake of poor foreigners. In addition, housing is expensive so childbearing is low. Thus, if it only has a couple billionaires, that’s huge in terms of per capita.
Finally, there’s no accounting for taste. One of the wealthiest people in the world lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Tell me honestly: if you were very wealthy, would you live in Omaha?
“There are several factors at work that relate only indirectly to the social policies of a country and its billionaires per capita.”
Uuuuuum sure maybe, but even that concedes there is a relationship. I think economic policies would likely be a better place to look for some causality here than social policies.
“Like most Welfare States, Sweden has to limit its intake of poor foreigners. In addition, housing is expensive so childbearing is low. Thus, if it only has a couple billionaires, that’s huge in terms of per capita.”
Sweden has more liberal immmigration policies than we do. From http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/28/swedens-immigration-debate/
“Sweden has probably the most generous immigration, asylum and welfare policies in the world.”
and also,
“Sweden has a population of 9 million — of those, 1.4 million are immigrants. Approximately 100,000 pour in each year. Ilmar Reepalu thinks that’s a good thing.”
That’s roughly 15.5%, a 2005 Urban Institute Study titled “New Demography of America’s Schools: Immigration and the No Child Left Behind Act” estimated the US immigratnt population to be just shy of 12%. I think next you’re attempting to indicte the usage of per capita figures? Regardless,the fact that a relatively high number of billionaire’s stay there despite the high taxes required for Sweden’s economic and social programs kind of demolishes some of the core concepts of tea party ideology. It’s probably also worth mentioning that Sweden consistently ranks as the “happiest nation” even though their government does horrible tyrannical things like provide medical care and education for poor people.
“Finally, there’s no accounting for taste. One of the wealthiest people in the world lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Tell me honestly: if you were very wealthy, would you live in Omaha?”
Possibly? I don’t think this comment is particularly responsive to the argument I was making, which is that the high number of billionaires per capita in Sweden disproves the “Atlas Shrugged” thesis of the Tea Party movement, which is basically that government regulation and taxation anger the wealthy so they leave.
My brother is a baker. The idea that bread is easy or cheap to make is ridiculous. Consider that the common person has never baked bread before in their lives, so the time to cook the bread will be much more than the simple hour he describes. Additionally, bread baking is much more labour intensive than other recipes, and easier to mess up. Then consider the opportunity cost to cook this food. It takes less than 5 minutes to purchase a loaf of bread or a McDonald’s hamburger. It takes over an hour to prep the kitchen and prepare the dough, which at minimum wage is $7.75 for the labour alone. Baking one’s own bread is far costlier than this man admits.
I’m not a baker, but I baked bread yesterday, and do it often, it is easy to do. Even if you don’t have time, or children to help knead, search google for “no knead bread.” or “5 minute a day bread” if it takes you an hour of active work to make bread you’re doing it wrong. We also live in an age of labor saving devices, not that you need one, because you don’t, but if you have one, you can use it.
I really get annoyed when it is claimed poor people have no choice but to eat poorly because they cannot afford healthy food. This isn’t the first refutation of that claim, it has been refuted over and over again through the years. Fresh food is cheaper than frozen is cheaper than prepared. Most of the world subsists on beans and rice, which are dirt cheap, and healthy. They’re not all carbs. Beans, in fact, are superfoods. A pinto bean has more antioxidants than a blueberry of equal weight.
As discussed on this blog previously, it comes down probably more to psychology. No one will argue that smoking is cheaper than not smoking, yet smoking has greater prevalence among the poor, as does poor eating. Why? It isn’t about what they can afford to do or afford not to do, it is more about common character flaws, a lack of motivation, apathy towards their own condition, etc.
Why I was in college I calculated my lunch down to about 25 cents, low fat turkey breast with light miracle whip and lettuce on a whole wheat bagel. This wasn’t that long ago either. I didn’t give into temptation to eat more expensive junk food. I’ve always been motivated and ambitious though which is why, even though I was poor then, I am thin and successful today.