(05-12-2016 04:40 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:24 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:01 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  so shouldn't you actually credit the government then, for NOT making things worse enough that you had to say you weren't better off???

Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

Hell yes. It made me buy a product I don't want or need and raised my taxes by almost 6000 dollars per year. After all...The ACA is a tax. The SCOTUS said so.

Didn't they just rule that the fine if you didn't enroll was a tax and not the whole ACA?

The mandate was ruled a tax. All I know is I pay close to 6 grand more for my insurance than before the government decided to get involved in this schit.

(05-12-2016 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  And curious how you know what the company you work for is doing in relation to costs and budgets, etc. Most employers don't normally share that type of thing with the rank in file. Apologies if you're actually an executive in it.

I work in management for a transparent organization. I am telling the truth.

(05-12-2016 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  And that reason you're giving doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If you can grow your company with increases in the sales processes, you're likely going to find the money to make that happen. Especially with the price of debt being go cheap right now. But of course you'd know better than me!

The increasing costs of benefits has stalled staffing a number of sales positions. Less sales, less revenue, less profit, less re-investment. I apologize if I am not explaining this clearly but let me reinforce this:

The increasing costs of benefits has stalled staffing. Fewer staff provides fewer new sales.

(05-12-2016 04:55 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  And curious how you know what the company you work for is doing in relation to costs and budgets, etc. Most employers don't normally share that type of thing with the rank in file. Apologies if you're actually an executive in it.

I work in management for a transparent organization. I am telling the truth.

(05-12-2016 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  And that reason you're giving doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If you can grow your company with increases in the sales processes, you're likely going to find the money to make that happen. Especially with the price of debt being go cheap right now. But of course you'd know better than me!

The increasing costs of benefits has stalled staffing a number of sales positions. Less sales, less revenue, less profit, less re-investment. I apologize if I am not explaining this clearly...

Nope...we're good. Thanks!

(05-12-2016 04:50 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:40 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:24 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

Hell yes. It made me buy a product I don't want or need and raised my taxes by almost 6000 dollars per year. After all...The ACA is a tax. The SCOTUS said so.

Didn't they just rule that the fine if you didn't enroll was a tax and not the whole ACA?

The mandate was ruled a tax. All I know is I pay close to 6 grand more for my insurance than before the government decided to get involved in this schit.

Understand...but with the way the insurance market was going, their's no guarantee your costs would not have skyrocketed regardless.

(05-12-2016 05:13 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:50 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:40 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:24 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

Hell yes. It made me buy a product I don't want or need and raised my taxes by almost 6000 dollars per year. After all...The ACA is a tax. The SCOTUS said so.

Didn't they just rule that the fine if you didn't enroll was a tax and not the whole ACA?

The mandate was ruled a tax. All I know is I pay close to 6 grand more for my insurance than before the government decided to get involved in this schit.

Understand...but with the way the insurance market was going, their's no guarantee your costs would not have skyrocketed regardless.

Not true. If an insurance company tried to raise rates & deductibles similar to what has happened under OBlundercare, people would have migrated to other carriers.

What is true is that there is no chance we will see rates drop under OBlundercare. From 2006 to 2007, my insurance rates fell dramatically without a life event occurring or changes in coverages / deductibles / Co-pays. (On the order of 40% or so.)

Since Obama, my rates have gone up and my deductibles are through the roof.

Its hysterical to hear the loonie left talk about the high cost of healthcare prior to OBlundercare, and then try to point to OBlundercare as a success. Now we have outrageous premiums, and deductibles so high noone can afford to get care.

I cant wait for some of you asshats to have to live with it. Just ask Lazy Tom how well its gone since Obama lied to him and took his insurance and doctors away.

Let's see, 7 years ago I was a staff nurse in the ER making $22/hr. Now I'm a NP in private practice making close to six figures. I'm better for sure, but not due to any government. If anything my job is actually harder due to the bs clinical burdens that various government entities place on us.

Sort of.

I'm making a lot more money than I did in '09, but in the interim, I've been unemployed twice it wrecked my savings. I fought and clawed my way out of debt during that time, as well.

Nice work, Mr. President.

(05-12-2016 04:38 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  w/o question....it was seven years ago I told corp 'murica and the gubberment to fk off and started my own business....

obummer policies have been veddy good for me.....just keep on fillin' those section 8s , and I'm one happy guy....

I'm still voting Trump no matter what....I seriously doubt my income sources dry up regardless who is elected....

That section 8 money is good if you can keep an A rating but those f**kers tear up everything!

(05-12-2016 07:37 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:38 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  w/o question....it was seven years ago I told corp 'murica and the gubberment to fk off and started my own business....

obummer policies have been veddy good for me.....just keep on fillin' those section 8s , and I'm one happy guy....

I'm still voting Trump no matter what....I seriously doubt my income sources dry up regardless who is elected....

That section 8 money is good if you can keep an A rating but those f**kers tear up everything!

lol....I see it every day....live like trash, turn into trash....that's where I step in....

it's a funny game....sad funny, that is....

(05-12-2016 05:13 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:50 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:40 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:24 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

Hell yes. It made me buy a product I don't want or need and raised my taxes by almost 6000 dollars per year. After all...The ACA is a tax. The SCOTUS said so.

Didn't they just rule that the fine if you didn't enroll was a tax and not the whole ACA?

The mandate was ruled a tax. All I know is I pay close to 6 grand more for my insurance than before the government decided to get involved in this schit.

Understand...but with the way the insurance market was going, their's no guarantee your costs would not have skyrocketed regardless.

The problem RWT was that we dumped millions of people into existing plans and made the plans take preexisting conditions. The carriers had no choice but to raise premiums to cover these people. They are in a business to make money.
I agree my premiums would most likely have increased...but...the ACA put those increases into overdrive.

The leadership in Washington saw this problem coming. They should have expanded Medicaid at the national level to cover these people and left the rest of us alone.

(05-12-2016 08:21 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 07:37 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:38 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  w/o question....it was seven years ago I told corp 'murica and the gubberment to fk off and started my own business....

obummer policies have been veddy good for me.....just keep on fillin' those section 8s , and I'm one happy guy....

I'm still voting Trump no matter what....I seriously doubt my income sources dry up regardless who is elected....

That section 8 money is good if you can keep an A rating but those f**kers tear up everything!

lol....I see it every day....live like trash, turn into trash....that's where I step in....

it's a funny game....sad funny, that is....

Getting rid of baby roaches is not funny.

RE: Are you better off now than you were 7 years ago?

No, I'm much worse off, and I honestly wish that were not true.

Worse. Primarily because of Obamacare. Would be much worse off it it became single-payer.

Seven years ago I was putting myself through college. I got a job after graduating and have worked my tail to move up and be successful.

So yes, I am better off than 7 years ago, due solely to my own hard work.

(05-13-2016 07:30 AM)TopperCard Wrote:  Seven years ago I was putting myself through college. I got a job after graduating and have worked my tail to move up and be successful.

So yes, I am better off than 7 years ago, due solely to my own hard work.

Not according to Obama. Someone back in the day made you a hamburger which made you not starve one night after partying. So, you see, that hamburger maker has just as much to do with your success as you do, according to our POTUS.

I think the gist of this thread is to be aware of the differences between macro vs micro effects. For those of us who have done better, it's quite possible that it was despite having Obama as president for 8 years. The flip side can also be true where someone could fail miserably over the next 8 years even with a president who is very economically astute and implements policies to tangibly improve the economy. When you judge the Obama economy, you can only look at the macro levels, i.e. real unemployment, wage growth, inflation growth, interest rate environment and a number of other metrics that focus on educational levels, skill sets, housing starts, etc.....

7 years ago I was 28 and 12 year away from "retiring" (owned family business) at 40 with no debt. I would have taken over my family's small farm and made more than enough to support a family and live well. Today I'm a couple months from turning 36 and I'm a solid 25-30 from retiring in the traditional sense.

The recession combined with the admin's horrific economic recovery have cost me:
a debt free business grossing $1.5-$2M per year
a very average starter home (sold at a significant loss)
a not very good first wife
a 1965 mustang convertible
a mortgage on 10 acres of waterfront that was previously owned outright

I'm glad to be rid of the house, though I would have liked to not have lost money on the deal. In the long run I'm better off without the wife, but I miss the car terribly. Having enough common sense and a strong belief in personal responsibility, the biggest negative was delaying having children. (It's a blessing since the wife left and there is no guarantee what would have happened otherwise, but the 'plan' I had made for myself is severely behind schedule.) I'm better off than many, but unfortunately have also lost more than many as well.

(05-13-2016 07:53 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  7 years ago I was 28 and 12 year away from "retiring" (owned family business) at 40 with no debt. I would have taken over my family's small farm and made more than enough to support a family and live well. Today I'm a couple months from turning 36 and I'm a solid 25-30 from retiring in the traditional sense.

The recession combined with the admin's horrific economic recovery have cost me:
a debt free business grossing $1.5-$2M per year
a very average starter home (sold at a significant loss)
a not very good first wife
a 1965 mustang convertible
a mortgage on 10 acres of waterfront that was previously owned outright

I'm glad to be rid of the house, though I would have liked to not have lost money on the deal. In the long run I'm better off without the wife, but I miss the car terribly. Having enough common sense and a strong belief in personal responsibility, the biggest negative was delaying having children. (It's a blessing since the wife left and there is no guarantee what would have happened otherwise, but the 'plan' I had made for myself is severely behind schedule.) I'm better off than many, but unfortunately have also lost more than many as well.

Sorry man but I laughed at the bold part.

(05-13-2016 09:16 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(05-13-2016 07:53 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  7 years ago I was 28 and 12 year away from "retiring" (owned family business) at 40 with no debt. I would have taken over my family's small farm and made more than enough to support a family and live well. Today I'm a couple months from turning 36 and I'm a solid 25-30 from retiring in the traditional sense.

The recession combined with the admin's horrific economic recovery have cost me:
a debt free business grossing $1.5-$2M per year
a very average starter home (sold at a significant loss)
a not very good first wife
a 1965 mustang convertible
a mortgage on 10 acres of waterfront that was previously owned outright

I'm glad to be rid of the house, though I would have liked to not have lost money on the deal. In the long run I'm better off without the wife, but I miss the car terribly. Having enough common sense and a strong belief in personal responsibility, the biggest negative was delaying having children. (It's a blessing since the wife left and there is no guarantee what would have happened otherwise, but the 'plan' I had made for myself is severely behind schedule.) I'm better off than many, but unfortunately have also lost more than many as well.

Sorry man but I laughed at the bold part.

That's what I do about it. She was never in it for the worse, poorer, sickness part of the vows. I've got a girlfriend now that's 8 years younger and is more of a woman in almost every way. It worked out in the end.

(05-13-2016 09:26 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(05-13-2016 09:16 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(05-13-2016 07:53 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  7 years ago I was 28 and 12 year away from "retiring" (owned family business) at 40 with no debt. I would have taken over my family's small farm and made more than enough to support a family and live well. Today I'm a couple months from turning 36 and I'm a solid 25-30 from retiring in the traditional sense.

The recession combined with the admin's horrific economic recovery have cost me:
a debt free business grossing $1.5-$2M per year
a very average starter home (sold at a significant loss)
a not very good first wife
a 1965 mustang convertible
a mortgage on 10 acres of waterfront that was previously owned outright

I'm glad to be rid of the house, though I would have liked to not have lost money on the deal. In the long run I'm better off without the wife, but I miss the car terribly. Having enough common sense and a strong belief in personal responsibility, the biggest negative was delaying having children. (It's a blessing since the wife left and there is no guarantee what would have happened otherwise, but the 'plan' I had made for myself is severely behind schedule.) I'm better off than many, but unfortunately have also lost more than many as well.

Sorry man but I laughed at the bold part.

That's what I do about it. She was never in it for the worse, poorer, sickness part of the vows. I've got a girlfriend now that's 8 years younger and is more of a woman in almost every way. It worked out in the end.

Well, IMO, things always happen for a reason and usually work out for the best. Glad to see you were able to upgrade!