Those fuckers! Fiscal Cliff Rolled Back!

[odolvlobo]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

The problem is not that they can be re-elected. The problem is that they are re-elected. It makes no sense that the clowns remain in office despite the fact that 85% of people disapprove of their performance. The problem is with the voters, not with the politicians.

[1715475842]

1715475842

[1715475842]

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[myrkul]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

The problem is not that they can be re-elected. The problem is that they are re-elected. It makes no sense that the clowns remain in office despite the fact that 85% of people disapprove of their performance. The problem is with the voters, not with the politicians.

Nope, the system itself is fucked. There's no incentive for the voters to care:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_ignorance

[deeplink]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

The problem is not that they can be re-elected. The problem is that they are re-elected. It makes no sense that the clowns remain in office despite the fact that 85% of people disapprove of their performance. The problem is with the voters, not with the politicians.

Nope, the system itself is fucked. There's no incentive for the voters to care:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_ignorance

I think it is worse than that:

The masses are net beneficiaries of the system, so they would probably support this system even without rational ignorance.
Another very big percentage, like you said, just don't care (until it is too late).

What is left is a few nerds on the internet, who nobody takes seriously and cannot change a system based on majority rule.

And after the system collapses most will just turn around and tell you: "Well yeah, I always knew that it was fucked. I didn't support it really."

[HDSolar]

Possable that Rome is burning?

[Rassah]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

Probably not a good idea. You'll basically end up replacing people who know what the hell they are doing with people who are clueless. At least in the private sector there is an abundance of skills learned from other businesses. Since the government is a monopoly, you can't just hire a Senator from some other Senate.

[Dalkore]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

Probably not a good idea. You'll basically end up replacing people who know what the hell they are doing with people who are clueless. At least in the private sector there is an abundance of skills learned from other businesses. Since the government is a monopoly, you can't just hire a Senator from some other Senate.

People not knowing what they are doing might actually do a better job because they would then revert to their own common sense and sense of morality.  I would actually rather risk gather a random person from the street and make them Senator than put my faith in someone who "wants" to become a Senator.

[creativex]

Agreed. I think a lot of people go to Washington with ideals intact and then get indoctrinated into the "club" and eventually join the pigs at the trough. How long can your average person refuse bribes from the army of lobbyists before they begin to give ground and sell out their countrymen?

[Korbman]

Agreed. I think a lot of people go to Washington with ideals intact and then get indoctrinated into the "club" and eventually join the pigs at the trough. How long can your average person refuse bribes from the army of lobbyists before they begin to give ground and sell out their countrymen?

Precisely. Imagine what you [generic use of you, not directed toward creativex haha] would do in their shoes. You'd have all these good ideas and well intentions, and then someone tosses you a million bucks to help them pass a law to help, say, regulate the internet. Now think about what you would do with a million dollars...does any of it involve making the United States better for everyone, or are your ideas mainly focused on yourself, friends and family?

Naturally since this is the internet, you can pretend to be someone else and say you're going to donate every penny to some charity...but the reality is that you're probably focusing on your well-being first.

[creativex]

Agreed. I think a lot of people go to Washington with ideals intact and then get indoctrinated into the "club" and eventually join the pigs at the trough. How long can your average person refuse bribes from the army of lobbyists before they begin to give ground and sell out their countrymen?

Precisely. Imagine what you [generic use of you, not directed toward creativex haha] would do in their shoes. You'd have all these good ideas and well intentions, and then someone tosses you a million bucks to help them pass a law to help, say, regulate the internet. Now think about what you would do with a million dollars...does any of it involve making the United States better for everyone, or are your ideas mainly focused on yourself, friends and family?

Naturally since this is the internet, you can pretend to be someone else and say you're going to donate every penny to some charity...but the reality is that you're probably focusing on your well-being first.

Probably. Most will cave, and I don't know that I'd be any more immune than anyone else. I don't care about the $1M of fiat, but if someone came at me with a 5lbs bar of gold and their ugly sister no one wanted to date...well...

I do believe a lot of this organized crime could be eliminated with strict term limits. Congress should be staffed by average citizens not career ruling class creeps that may or may not have started out with high ideals and lofty goals to improve their nation.

[wachtwoord]

I don't care about the $1M of fiat,

whatwhatwhat? You must be a bigger man than I. I'd break a lot of my principles for 1 million US ...

[myrkul]

I don't care about the $1M of fiat,

whatwhatwhat? You must be a bigger man than I. I'd break a lot of my principles for 1 million US ...

I wouldn't. Not if the counteroffer was 5 pounds of gold and a lay.

[wachtwoord]

First of I was under the impression the offers were cumulative

On the other hand if they aren't. 5 pound (80 ounces) of gold is like $133k US atm, so I guess you must value a shag from an ugly chick pretty damn high

[salfter]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

Probably not a good idea. You'll basically end up replacing people who know what the hell they are doing with people who are clueless. At least in the private sector there is an abundance of skills learned from other businesses. Since the government is a monopoly, you can't just hire a Senator from some other Senate.

People not knowing what they are doing might actually do a better job because they would then revert to their own common sense and sense of morality.  I would actually rather risk gather a random person from the street and make them Senator than put my faith in someone who "wants" to become a Senator.

Sounds like a variation of William F. Buckley's quip that he'd "rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University." 

[KWH]

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.
--Benjamin Franklin--

[Dalkore]

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. [...] You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election." -Warren Buffett

Probably not a good idea. You'll basically end up replacing people who know what the hell they are doing with people who are clueless. At least in the private sector there is an abundance of skills learned from other businesses. Since the government is a monopoly, you can't just hire a Senator from some other Senate.

People not knowing what they are doing might actually do a better job because they would then revert to their own common sense and sense of morality.  I would actually rather risk gather a random person from the street and make them Senator than put my faith in someone who "wants" to become a Senator.

Sounds like a variation of William F. Buckley's quip that he'd "rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University." 

Very nice, WFB has some nice quotes & quips over the years.  I wish he were still around today R.I.P..

Dalkore

[myrkul]

First of I was under the impression the offers were cumulative

On the other hand if they aren't. 5 pound (80 ounces) of gold is like $133k US atm, so I guess you must value a shag from an ugly chick pretty damn high

I value metal over toilet paper, actually. The shag is a bonus.

[Dalkore]

First of I was under the impression the offers were cumulative

On the other hand if they aren't. 5 pound (80 ounces) of gold is like $133k US atm, so I guess you must value a shag from an ugly chick pretty damn high

I value metal over toilet paper, actually. The shag is a bonus.

Me too, give me something real any day.

[Korbman]

I wouldn't. Not if the counteroffer was 5 pounds of gold and a lay.

Ha! Couldn't you just take the 1 mil, buy 35 pounds of gold with it and spend the rest on a top quality hooker..err "Escort"?

[myrkul]

I wouldn't. Not if the counteroffer was 5 pounds of gold and a lay.

Ha! Couldn't you just take the 1 mil, buy 35 pounds of gold with it and spend the rest on a top quality hooker..err "Escort"?

Well, that's a valid point, I suppose.

[creativex]

I wouldn't. Not if the counteroffer was 5 pounds of gold and a lay.

Ha! Couldn't you just take the 1 mil, buy 35 pounds of gold with it and spend the rest on a top quality hooker..err "Escort"?

Long as the cash hasn't lost 97% of it's value by the time you get to the bank, where they'll no doubt alert the appropriate authorities.

I'll take the gold and ugly sister, long as she doesn't tell anyone I went slumming.