Bailoutistan

[sailaway21]

That's Mark Steyn's new name for us, the US. We've got the auto industry, California, Philadelphia, and myriad others in line for federal bailout funds now. It's not too early to note that with less than half the $700 billions distributed, the bailout isn't working. Here's a novel idea. Let's say, Oops! And keep the remaining $350 billion on the books, if not actually in the Treasury's vault.

This thread is devoted to the enumeration of the countless bloodsuckers who consider themselves to be essential to the American economy and thus in need, and entitled, to bailout funds.

Today's subject and nominee for the Giant Cojones Award is the American university. Yeah, colleges need more money. This may come as a surprise to anyone with a child actually inn college. This will certainly come as a huge surprise to those of us in Michigan where the economy has been in recession for seven years and yet, the only growth sector obvious is taking place in the expansion of every college with a claim on either the state budget or bond levying. Higher education is going up something on the order of 7% per year here against a static base level of available students.

Nationally, we've spent $1 Trillion dollars of federal tax money on higher education over the past forty years and if it's more affordable it is not apparent. The cost to attend public universities has increased by 41% over the last decade alone. Private universities have increased by 29%. Congress and the president-elect want to spend more. The idea that everyone should attend college has taken firm root within the US, probably due in no small part to the failures of grammar school education. Regardless of whether or not college is the right thing for every person or career, we're spending like it is. And most of that is simply because the government keeps adding money while failing to let any market forces of competition have any effect at all.

So, in this recession, this financial crisis, we now have yet another "investment we cannot afford not to make". Higher education needs a bailout. The sordid details are here:
washingtonpost.com

Can the sailnetter's bailout be far behind? Surely we are an essential and threatened part of the economy? We should act before the money is gone. Don't bother me with the details that there is no money. If it works for Social Security shouldn't it work for us. All I'm looking for is a Flicka, unlike you greedy bums with your grandiose dreams. (g)

[N0NJY]

I think they ought to stop bailing companies and banks out.

Bail us out. Give each adult who works for a living and has for at least five solid years, 50,000 dollars cash, and don't collect taxes on that. And further don't collect taxes on anyone in the US for 6 months.

We'll be just fine (I can afford two new cars with 50k.....two jeeps.)

or, I could buy a boat.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

That's Mark Steyn's new name for us, the US. We've got the auto industry, California, Philadelphia, and myriad others in line for federal bailout funds now. It's not too early to note that with less than half the $700 billions distributed, the bailout isn't working. Here's a novel idea. Let's say, Oops! And keep the remaining $350 billion on the books, if not actually in the Treasury's vault.

This thread is devoted to the enumeration of the countless bloodsuckers who consider themselves to be essential to the American economy and thus in need, and entitled, to bailout funds.

Today's subject and nominee for the Giant Cojones Award is the American university. Yeah, colleges need more money. This may come as a surprise to anyone with a child actually inn college. This will certainly come as a huge surprise to those of us in Michigan where the economy has been in recession for seven years and yet, the only growth sector obvious is taking place in the expansion of every college with a claim on either the state budget or bond levying. Higher education is going up something on the order of 7% per year here against a static base level of available students.

Nationally, we've spent $1 Trillion dollars of federal tax money on higher education over the past forty years and if it's more affordable it is not apparent. The cost to attend public universities has increased by 41% over the last decade alone. Private universities have increased by 29%. Congress and the president-elect want to spend more. The idea that everyone should attend college has taken firm root within the US, probably due in no small part to the failures of grammar school education. Regardless of whether or not college is the right thing for every person or career, we're spending like it is. And most of that is simply because the government keeps adding money while failing to let any market forces of competition have any effect at all.

So, in this recession, this financial crisis, we now have yet another "investment we cannot afford not to make". Higher education needs a bailout. The sordid details are here:
washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

Can the sailnetter's bailout be far behind? Surely we are an essential and threatened part of the economy? We should act before the money is gone. Don't bother me with the details that there is no money. If it works for Social Security shouldn't it work for us. All I'm looking for is a Flicka, unlike you greedy bums with your grandiose dreams. (g)

Sad part is for most people a Flicka would be going to a smaller, more capable boat... for Sway, it's going up to a bigger, more capable boat... I think he's looking to bag s/v Flight of Years...

[WouldaShoulda]

Originally Posted by N0NJY

Give each adult who works for a living and has for at least five solid years, 50,000 dollars cash,

I'd be satisfied with just keeping more of my own money, thank you.

I really don't want some one elses.

[painkiller]

Hello.

I'm new to Sailnet. I'm looking for a nice country with low taxes, low crime, high degree of personal freedom, and a stable, non-invasive government with minimal corruption. The food should be interesting and the country must border an ocean or large sea. The population must not be made up of whiners, money grubbers, and beggars. Oh, and I'll need a Wal Mart. I've looked at nations in North America, but didn't find anything satisfactory.

Any ideas?

Yours truly,

Painkiller

PS: I'm willing to learn a new language.

[sailhog]

I sell narcotics to young children for a living. If you haven't heard, the effect of the recession has devastated my industry, as parents have cut children's allowances dramatically. My "colleagues" have seen their income slashed, while their costs have skyrocketed with commodity prices. What I want to know is: Where's MY bailout?