Meet Barack Hussein Mugabe

[rah]

Yeah, not super rich but hoping I can hold off long enough to retire and then vote for whoever is promising the best deal to the aging boomers. It will probably be a democrat since they usually make the biggest promises. And My daughter is a smart, well educated, good lucking young woman. She'll do just fine.

[Arrian]

Vote for the party that is all about wrecking social services when you don't need them and then vote for the other side once you need them?

Ok, now I am going to say you're a "Me ME MEEEEEEE!!!' person, rah. That's disgusting.

Maybe Aggie's right.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Agathon

Like what? Keep in mind you have maybe 50 years to convert most of the developed world to this system.

What can you realistically do?

Make the best choices I can.

-Arrian

[rah]

Think what you will. I've given much time and money to those with less over the years. Hoping for a secure retirement is a reasonable thing as far as I'm concerned and not an indication of a life of "me me me" But since you're all ignorant of my contributions, feel free to call me what you want. I've been called worse. I'll laugh all the way to the golf course with a clear conscious.

But I'm sure none of you will ever make a selfish decision in your life time (especially if family is involved). And if you do, I hope it isn't used against you to paint your entire life negative.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Arrian

Anyway, I get that you are deeply pessimistic and you don't think democracy works. In that case, why bother to get in the middle of a debate rah and I are having over who we should vote for? You think the vote is meaningless.

The theory is interesting for its own sake. The role of rationality in political life has always fascinated me. Similarly, ancient political thinkers tend to have a more realistic grasp of human political life than we do, since their hold on it was more obviously precarious to them than it is to us.

Our own political life tends to proceed under some pretty absurd assumptions that are counted as basic principles. It's our inability to critically assess them that causes our troubles. After all, like I always say: the thing that is causing the problem will often turn out to be precisely the thing that people are least willing to give up.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by rah
I'll laugh all the way to the golf course with a clear conscious. .

I hope you're still fit enough to drag around the piece of turf you'll need to play golf in the desert.

[rah]

Florida isn't a desert YET.

Yes, the fit part is the big thing. My father-in-law worked his whole life as a public servant and less than a year into retirement he had a stoke and never played golf again. (passed away a few years after)

That's why I'd like to retire as soon as possible so I might be able to enjoy a longer part of it.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by rah


Florida isn't a desert YET.

Nor will it be if Al Gore is right. I'm interested to see how such an elderly gent will manage playing scuba golf.

Yes, the fit part is the big thing. My father-in-law worked his whole life as a public servant and less than a year into retirement he had a stoke and never played golf again. (passed away a few years after)

That's why I'd like to retire as soon as possible so I might be able to enjoy a longer part of it.

That's kinda sad. Is that why you gave up the sticks?

[Arrian]

But I'm sure none of you will ever make a selfish decision in your life time

Apparently you still haven't read my post on the preceeding page. I've never asserted any such thing.

I find your stated likely voting pattern particularly galling. You're not saying that there is *some* self-interest involved. You're openly admitting that you are voting purely out of your financial self-interest at all times (hence, once you're old and are interested in what you think the Dems are/will be offering, you switch over).

There's a difference between self-interest playing a part in one's choice and having it be the only factor.

-Arrian

[rah]

Aggy, yeah health was the main reason. Any breathing problem issues are not a good thing and as you get older, the feeling of being immortal fades quickly.

And Arrain, I was partially jesting for effect but only partially. While it isn't ALL self interest, It does play a major role. And I believe that's the case for a majority of voters. And yes, as pointed out by others, an inherent problem with a Democracy. But I still think Democracies beat the alternatives. I would lean more to the eletist style governments. (especially if it was based on skills and not wealth) I really find it silly that idiots are allowed to participate in making policy. Yeah yeah I understand that it's guarentees the rights of all blah blah blah. But I don't completely believe that. All it does is force the powers to appease them in the short term and not really consider long term issues.

[DirtyMartini]

Originally posted by Agathon

There really isn't any argument against universal healthcare.

I know this is from a few pages back, but bear with me.

Did you even read my posts?

originally posted by me
All people in the US should have some basic level of coverage, that would require some form of universal heath care or govt administered heath insurance.

originally posted by me
I think this country needs universal coverage, sooner rather than later.

To recap: We need universal health care [period][no argument]. We just don't need a system rife with (further) unfunded mandates and cost shifting.

[Patroklos]

Shall I point out that nothing prevents this from occurring under a socialized system that allows private supplementary insurance (rich people could fund such things). But it doesn't matter.

There obviously is, because it is not occuring there.

So, again, why are the majority of the top 100 medical research and education universities in the US?

[Ramo]

The NSF and NIH.

The vast majority of basic research is publicly funded...

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by rah

That's why I'd like to retire as soon as possible so I might be able to enjoy a longer part of it.

Come to the Philippines.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Ramo


Total nonsense. Medicare is far more efficient than the private sector. Administrative costs are only about 2% of the program.

I have to agree with Ramo on this one. Martini was talking out his back side.