Just Wondering

One the $600 a week, I would like to see it based on income, and not just a flat amount everyone gets.

But I have read that a lot of states don't have the capability to customize benefit amounts to that level.

There is also the conflict theory argument. Finally, some poor people have a small bit of breathing room. Yeah, some may be getting more than they did working, but wages have not kept pace with inflation for 40 years. So give them their $600 til the end of the year, and re-evaluate then.

I mean, MMT says it doesn't make any difference anyway...

But I do wonder where all the deficit scolds are these days...

"Republicans are arguing against continuing the $600 unemployment benefit as a disincentive to return to work. Hope I don't give anyone a heart attack by saying I completely agree."

Under normal circumstances, I'd agree as well, but there aren't jobs to return to. Job "growth" has largely been retail, restaurant, and miscellaneous employees returning to work rather than newly created jobs to replace the ones that are gone for good. And that was before PPP expired, leaving employers off the hook for keeping workers on.

I'd like to know where currently unemployed folks are going to find jobs, with or without being disincentivized.

re: the $600 employment benefit as a disincentive- I see it, part of my business relies on local temporary labor which historically was from temp agencies, in today's world means hiring Latinos from the "rest area" in front of Home Depot and such, will only accept cash, they share a name if not an actual ID. Nobody will work for $350 a week through a temp agency when unemployment pays $900 a week.

I agree the Dems will kibash any payroll tax abatement or benefit that only goes to working people.

The other aspect for me is the vast numbers still packing our beaches, our condos have been above 90% capacity since the week before Memorial Day with no end in site. The extra $600 has allowed many people to enjoy the longest beach vaca they've ever had. Our mask mandate has been in effect for a week, most of those ignoring it are tourists, lots of resentment from the locals who blame them for bringing the virus to us.

The local hospital is nearing it's capacity and losing nurses at an alarming rate, now they are cleared to work while positive if they don't exhibit symptoms, leading everyone to question the so-called science that's driving the CDC recommendations that ADPH bases it's policies on. Logic dictates that either it's dangerously contagious or it isn't, but the CDC is saying that it's both.

But what about the people who don't qualify for unemployment? You need x amount of hrs or credits per working quarter in my state to qualify.

What if you get a job that pays $11-14 hr when you need $600-800 per week to survive in your city. You're still in the red.

I think the creditors and banks need to give ppl breaks. Reduce rates on loans, reduce or freeze interests on credit cards, homes and cars?

Ppl able to draw unemployment and extra $600 per week are financially good as long as it lasts. But, the government can't pay that for another year.

JW what will end up being in the stimulus bill. Republicans were supposed to come out with their proposal yesterday. Still working on it.

Looks like the $1,200 per person making less hat $75,000 will make the cut. Both parties seem to agree on this. Ok the economy does suck (despite what the stock market seems to think). Still seems a bit of a blunt instrument for stimulus. Also, lowering the income limit would seem to make it more likely to get spent. If the Dems don't put in a proviso to prevent Trump from putting his name on the check again, they deserve what they get.

Republicans are arguing against continuing the $600 unemployment benefit as a disincentive to return to work. Hope I don't give anyone a heart attack by saying I completely agree. The question is what they will propose in lieu of this. Mnuchin is suggesting a benefit linked to 70% of income. Would be a great idea if it wasn't an obvious recipe, based on recent experience in all 50 states, for a total shit show. Too many moving parts. Another proposal is to reduce the benefit from $600 to $200. Would reduce the threshold where people basically get a free vacation (or a vacation plus extra spending money) from, depending on the State, $40-$50/hour (or possibly less in some States) to $15-$18/hour. It's also feasible to execute. My guess is something like this happens.

Payroll tax cut appears to be out. Can be good stimulus because it tends to get spent but, requires that people are actually working. Also the Medicare and Social Security trust funds are already taking a huge hit from the recession and were running out of money before Covid. This was not a good idea IMO.

One of Republican's top priorities is apparently corporate liability relief. I would probably have called it political bullshit even if they weren't proposing to make it last five years. I hope and think they will have to back down on this given the consequences of not getting a deal.

Any other bets on what's in or out?

8*: focus on "salad for lunch today". Don't be a statistic.

Teenagers have always pushed the envelope for ridiculous ideas, it's part of growing up, I wouldn't hold it against them. I would imagine that an adult that professed something like that has other problems. Maybe ask him how he believes there's oxygen in our atmosphere when he can't see it and see if he suffocates?

DNLB,

We’ve met several of our kid’s high school peers that seriously believed the flat earth theories.

I also met one gentleman at work who was convinced. He kept pointing out to me that you can’t see any curve of the earth when you are in an airplane. He believed that was conclusive proof.

I stand corrected... This one is more befitting of Phx...

"He was also one of those people who believed he was so much more intelligent than others that they shouldn't even ask questions. He didn't do very well"

And...... "Here lies a real asshole" is better for DNLB. Like the old adage, less is more.

"He was also one of those people who believed he was so much more intelligent than others that they shouldn't even ask questions. He didn't do very well."

Ah....
DNLB has chosen his tombstone engraving.

"Here lies a real asshole" would suffice as well.

I don't think I've met anyone who seriously believed the earth was flat. I've met people who would make the argument because they thought it was funny, this is why things like The Onion and Babylon Bee gets advertisement $$.

I knew an ensign in the Navy who made a very scientific sounding argument that fluorescent light tubes were actually darkness absorbers but I don't remember his rationale today. He was also one of those people who believed he was so much more intelligent than others that they shouldn't even ask questions. He didn't do very well.

He blocked me when I called him mentally ill.

I am right.

But I kinda miss his posts for their entertainment value...

Wow was that 3 years ago? I remember that.

I had a flat earther on a baseball team. At first I made the mistake of thinking this was someone who just didn't understand, and that if reasoned with, he'd get it.

Whoooo boy was I wrong.

This has nothing (at least primarily) to do with a lack of basic education or intelligence. It is the manifestation of a deep psychological need to feel like they have some special knowledge that everyone else doesnt. These people are usually unspectacular, but this makes them special. Then they have their special social network of crazies that make them feel like they are part of a special club of "woke" people.

They've already been isolated from family and friends over their crazy. What now? If they realize they are wrong, they will be ostracized from their flattards too.

They NEED this. They view an attack on Flattardia as an attack on themselves. They will defend it at any cost, mathematics and basic observations be damned.

I just saw a post from about three years ago (the full post is attached below). It was posted by one of our more outspoken Ohio residents. This person has clearly been to school some time in the past, yet chooses to put faith in bizarre theories.

I’m just wondering what percentage of people in the world not only are unaware of basic scientific principles, but also are WILLFULLY ignorant of basic math.

It’s one thing to be uneducated; that’s unfortunate, but understandable. On the other hand, being presented with facts, but ignoring them and believing in fantasy is just intellectually lazy.

“Isn't it crazy how the moon and the sun look the same size in the sky, when one of them is really big and 93 million miles away, while the other is smaller and 238,000 miles away?
And that happened by chance because of the way some gas clouds coalesced after being flung out of The Big Bang? Like, WOW!

The earth spins at about 1000 miles per hour, and is 24901 miles in circumference, but that's not entirely accurate because the spin, and orbit speed of the earth around the sun are just slightly off to the point that when it's midnight in January, and midnight in July, 6 months and 186 million miles apart, the same side of the earth is facing directly away from the sun at midnight. Isn't that nuts? And it came from the way those aforementioned gas clouds coalesced after being flung out from The Big Bang. Incredible, huh?

Also, in January and July, facing in opposite directions, we see the same stars. Crazy, huh?

And in spite of the tilt and wobble of the earth's axis, while spinning and orbiting around the sun, which is orbiting around the galactic center at some insane speed, while the galaxy is flying out of the Big Bang at some even more mind-boggling speed, the shape of the Big Dipper has never changed, even with all that flying spinning motion going on 24/7. Your grandpa's grandpa's grandpa was looking at the same Big Dipper, and Polaris is still perfectly aligned with the North Pole, in spite of all that motion. This is getting beyond the point where a simple WOW is even credible. Know what I mean?

How about that moon? It's really interesting how the gas clouds coalesced together to make the moon spin and revolve around the earth in just such a way so that it's always showing the same side toward us. That is mind expanding stuff right there, huh?

THE

EARTH

IS

FLAT!!!!!“

Your country is being destroyed from within, so let's not mention it.

Perhaps after November. Up until then, people just can't help themselves.

JW~ if we can get just 1 thread without politics

Reason #53 that I don't go to Walmart.

Things you need a license to do:

Flying a plane

Fishing

Driving a car

Things you do not need a license to do:

Raising children

Wearing yoga pants in public

JW if anyone else thinks we have our priorities wrong?

JW if the orange koolaid drinkers will start wearing masks now that their supreme leader has reluctantly endorsed the effectiveness or if they will continue to point to some discredited conspiracy theories to justify endangering the lives of others.

~Scamp

There used to be a web site called girlsinyogapants. com which was peopleofwalmart style. The domain still exists but redirects to other stuff.

But you can still enjoy it through the internet wayback machine. Go back to early 2016 and check it out.

JW if DNLB has seen some of the 300+ pound beauties at Walmart wearing yoga pants.

Not sure that visual is proof of God's love! (there's a reason I won't wear yoga pants).

On the 8th day, God created yoga pants because he loves us.

Just wondering if, moving forward, she’ll put a mask on, since the president has decided that they’re now patriotic?

BT

This lady's yoga pants were so tight she wouldn't have been able to get away with so much as a tic tac when it comes to superfluous groin material.