Whoa! Take it easy, man! Trust me! I'm not some idiot who wears bedsheets and a dunce cap! And read Cara's posts again. She's no more a Pat Buchanan than I am. I never said that all people on dole are bums. I acknowledged that there are those who need a bootstrap to get on their feet/back on their feet. But...I also pointed out - and so has Cara - that there are those who get off on abusing the system. I also acknowledge that corporate welfare exists. That needs to be stopped...period. (Screw you, Ross Perot, Jr. and your Dallas Mavericks!!) Anyway, again Cara has shown plenty of objectivity and fairness in her messages, and is much better than I am at getting to the point I tend to ramble a lot. I can't guarantee I'll cover everything in your post, because my browser doesn't load it all when I click "Follow-Up". But let's see: As for what I said about capitalism and profits, I can remember times when I was down to my last $160.00 - All I had to my NAME - more than once, because of my personal overhead (bills, rent, car payment, etc.). Not the worst hard luck story, probably really not one at all, but I wasn't comfortable about such a ball-busting matt underneath. Much of that was my fault too. I set about fixing it. Getting to McDonald's franchise owners, it isn't good to not have hardly nothing left after all your overhead is met. If the end result is barely breaking even...if not losing money each week or month...even a monkey knows this situation makes for a Maalox moment. I'm not spouting corporate propaganda here, I'm calling the play as it's plain to see. And everywhere socialism is practiced, it's a real shitter. Holland is a good example of that. Everybody should be given the opportunity to go as far as they please, be it a middle-class programmer analyst, a $600-an-hour computer consultant, or a McDonald's franchise owner. Not everyone's going to make it as far as they want to go, but there are no guarantees. I personally have no plans to go into business for myself. I don't have great accounting skills, I don't want to deal with the SBA or max out a stack of credit cards to get started, and McDonald's Corporate charges high-ass royalty fees + I'm not a great cook I wouldn't be an absentee owner, I want to bring something of significance. [Maybe lower royalties will mean better pay for the crew.]
As for treatment of ladies, I think the Middle East leads the U.S. when it comes to domestic abuse. Of course, over there, those incedents are not reported. Statistics really don't mean Jack Shit. It may look higher over here because more incedents are reported than in other parts of the world which could have numerous unreported incedents. But no, I would never hit a lady...absolutely not!!!!! I'm not a violent person anyhow. Of course I like to look at women. What single uncommited male doesn't? But I don't make myself obvious about it.
Yes, Cara is blunt in stating her opinions, but I was a teenager myself once, actually I was a complete idiot at 16. Actually, sharp honesty is a good trait, no complaints from me on this. And, she's staying in school. That means before long her career will go far beyond McDonald's.
I doubt I covered everything, but I still find it difficult to structure my thoughts in words. I have to pause and think to often. Shit it's 12:45 am Texas time as I type this! As for my "prune juice" title, it was tongue-in-cheeck. I know I'm grumpy when I can't "go", and feel much better when relief comes.
Finally, I don't know enough about the stock market nor do I have the dough to play it. Mike Sprout says the VSE is rated #1. I don't know one way or the other. (We're gonna send you both to your rooms if you two don't stop bickering...WITHOUT your veggie burgers!)
Cheers and whatnot!
Mike. Wish you were still among us, Stevie Ray Vaughn!
None.
