Sorry about this good news

[sam i am]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061003/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street

Hmmm...

Wasn't Bush supposed to be bad for the economy?

[synch]

Gosh! Maybe he isn't the spokesperson for a greedy pack of warmongers after all!

[Bob]

guys i'm so psyched about this, be serious for a moment

[sam i am]

Gosh! Maybe he isn't the spokesperson for a greedy pack of warmongers after all!

No, by golly! I'm a spokesperson for FACTS:rolleyes: :p

[bilbo]

Anyone with even the most limited knowledge in economics is smart enough to realize that the Dow is a piss-poor indicator at best.

Nice try though:rolleyes:

[Documad]

What's my share of the national debt again?

[kaiser soze]

What does stock sharing have to do with people having real jobs?

this is more likely a response to sinking gas prices

[yeahwho]

What's my share of the national debt again?

here it is (http://www.uwsa.com/uwsa-usdebt.html), don't forget about the kiddies! They get to inherit this.

[Documad]

Shit. It's going up as I watch!

[QueenAdrock]

More good news! (http://costofwar.com/index.html)

[bilbo]

What does stock sharing have to do with people having real jobs?

this is more likely a response to sinking gas prices

It has nothing to do with real jobs or the economy, and you're right about the falling oil prices figuring in. Also, the low interest rates and piss poor real estate market are additional factors. If some brainstem is going to try to use the stock market to say the economy is good(Laugh. Out. Loud.) at least they should cite the slightly less laughable S&P 500, or Nasdaq.

Having said that, none of the three are good indicators, unless of course you hail from rightwing bizarro land, where the sheep are spoon fed a heapin' helpin' bullsh*t on a daily basis.

[sam i am]

More good news! (http://costofwar.com/index.html)

^^^

Just for fun, I looked up Las Vegas, Nevada : $700,000,000 is a pittance. The blackjack tables in town make that in a day!

[sam i am]

here it is (http://www.uwsa.com/uwsa-usdebt.html), don't forget about the kiddies! They get to inherit this.

It was dropping the entire time I watched it!

Debt isn't the worst thing in the world if you have a multi-trillion dollar economy.

[sam i am]

It has nothing to do with real jobs or the economy, and you're right about the falling oil prices figuring in. Also, the low interest rates and piss poor real estate market are additional factors. If some brainstem is going to try to use the stock market to say the economy is good(Laugh. Out. Loud.) at least they should cite the slightly less laughable S&P 500, or Nasdaq.

Having said that, none of the three are good indicators, unless of course you hail from rightwing bizarro land, where the sheep are spoon fed a heapin' helpin' bullsh*t on a daily basis.

Let's see, the link also mentioned the falling oil and gas prices. Here's a link to jobs under the Bush administration : http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

Note that new jobs have gone up, unemployment has fallen, median income has risen, etc.

Guess the facts don't comport to the "general consensus" on this board.

[The Notorious LOL]

Those polls show it dropped from 2004 to 2006. Guess we should pat him on the back for fucking up less in the past two years and causing those numbers to come down! big ups!

[sam i am]

Those polls show it dropped from 2004 to 2006. Guess we should pat him on the back for fucking up less in the past two years and causing those numbers to come down! big ups!

Dude...they're not polls...that's actual data from the US Dept. of Labor.

Guess some just can't be reached.:(

[The Notorious LOL]

excellent reply, which essentially avoided the point I was trying to make.


Showing actual data from 2004 to 2006 proves what, exactly? Both are while Bush has been president. Why not find some that go from 1996 to 2006?

[yeahwho]

Here is another chart that tracks which presidents contributed to the National Debt. (http://zfacts.com/p/480.html)

Probably the best way to check the National Debt is to go to the source, the U. S. Treasury Department web site (http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdpenny.htm), it changes daily.

Math can get pretty funny as we all know but I'm trusting that part of the money now being wasted to run some fucked up bureau of public debt is being well spent and at the very least their numbers are like they say "To The Penny"

That crazy Clinton (http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/05/01/clinton.debt/) had his day.

[Dr Deaf]

hurrah for the extinction of the middle class! (http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/28/news/economy/middle_class.reut/index.htm?postversion=2006092816)

these days, america only has the illusion of wealth. with the no gold or other precious metals / commodities to back up the currency, its all essentially worthless. people are offsetting the lack of cost of living increases with more debt. eventually, the debt bubble will burst and we may see another depression type situation.

i hope the govt had the foresight to build some sort of camps for its poor citizens. otherwise we'd all be really fucked.

[D_Raay]

hurrah for the extinction of the middle class! (http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/28/news/economy/middle_class.reut/index.htm?postversion=2006092816)

these days, america only has the illusion of wealth. with the no gold or other precious metals / commodities to back up the currency, its all essentially worthless. people are offsetting the lack of cost of living increases with more debt. eventually, the debt bubble will burst and we may see another depression type situation.

i hope the govt had the foresight to build some sort of camps for its poor citizens. otherwise we'd all be really fucked.
That is one thing that has always bothered and flustered me a little. Why on earth would you put yourself into massive debt?
For some people it is a simple-minded ego trip, but for responsible adults it is almost negligent; especially if you have kids.

Me and my wife never buy anything we don't have the immediate currency for (except for our house) at all. Both of our cars we purchased straight up and you would have thought we were wearing prison stripes for the level of suspicion that was shown to us by the auto salesman and his manager I might add.

Just never made much sense to me at all to spend money frivolously that you don't even have yet.

[sam i am]

That is one thing that has always bothered and flustered me a little. Why on earth would you put yourself into massive debt?
For some people it is a simple-minded ego trip, but for responsible adults it is almost negligent; especially if you have kids.

Me and my wife never buy anything we don't have the immediate currency for (except for our house) at all. Both of our cars we purchased straight up and you would have thought we were wearing prison stripes for the level of suspicion that was shown to us by the auto salesman and his manager I might add.

Just never made much sense to me at all to spend money frivolously that you don't even have yet.

Agreed completely on a personal level. Cars aren't the worst thing to go into debt on...they are secured debt and can be sold to payoff the debt owed (unless you get yourself into an "upside-down" situation).

Unsecured debt - credit cards, personal loans, etc. - are far more insidious and dangerous.

Now, as far as national government debt goes - ostensibly, the debt incurred by nations is secured by the ability of that nation to repay the debt - sale of bonds, notes, etc. The natural resources (i.e., government lands, buildings, other assets) of the nation backup the payback amounts.

Individuals and other governments continue to offer credit based on a nations' ability to repay that extended credit. Thus far, the US, at least, has not defaulted on a payment - nor has the rest of the world seen the US likely to do so.

Other governments throughout history have defaulted - and have paid a serious price for doing so.

If the US government ever wanted to get really serious about getting out of debt, it could easily do so - the resource is there to payoff the loans the US currently has outstanding worldwide and could be excessively "profitable" in a very short time.

How? Sell-off the huge amount of "public" lands that the Federal Government owns and turn it over to private investors. Not National Parks, etc., but BLM lands (over 90% of Nevada, for instance is still owned by the Fed). Profits from land sales would payoff the national debt, secure the future of the country, and allow the US to easily become a creditor nation again.

[sam i am]

Gas prices just keep falling : http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

Here's an excellent primer on how gas prices work : http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/primer_on_gasoline_prices/html/petbro.html

[The Notorious LOL]

they'll jump back up in another two months.

[Documad]

I don't understand why all the focus on just gas prices? How is the dollar doing versus other currency? That was a major bummer on my last European vacation.

Wasn't it in Woodward's first Bush book that he had a deal with the Saudis to keep gas prices down before the 2004 election?

[The Notorious LOL]

what suprises me is how people get excited about "how cheap" gas is now and fail to acknowledge its still a good 40 cents a gallon higher than it was in early 2005. Now the counter argument to that is supply/demand/inflation/etc etc, but it ultimately all boils down to opportunitists making themselves richer...nothing more, nothing less.

[yeahwho]

what suprises me is how people get excited about "how cheap" gas is now and fail to acknowledge its still a good 40 cents a gallon higher than it was in early 2005. Now the counter argument to that is supply/demand/inflation/etc etc, but it ultimately all boils down to opportunitists making themselves richer...nothing more, nothing less.

That is a hard statement to refute. I've read dozens of theories on gas prices in the past few months, mostly saying it's a demand driven product, the more we buy the more it costs. Yet coincidentally all evidence points to World record profits in these tough demanding times for oil companies.

[Lipper]

this is true - but the oil companies are corporations with boards of directors who have fiduciary duties to their shareholders. As demand goes up, they are obligated to drive the price up - if not, they could be sued for not maximizing profit.

it sucks, i know, but thats the way it is.

[sam i am]

I'm not excited about "cheap gas," but I am excited the prices have/are falling.

Better that than rising prices.

Alternative sources, eventually, when they become more cost effective, will replace this roller-coaster ride, but in the meantime, lower prices are better for consumers, and, in the grander scheme of things, the oil companies too.

[guerillaGardner]

Depends what criteria you use to judge a successful economy. What is the social cost of this 'economic success'? Is this the best measure of the success of a society?

[Documad]

What's cool is that this is the best thing the republicans can come up with. They've been in charge of everything for quite some time and they don't have anything to be proud of except that gas is $2.40 instead of $3.00. :p

Meanwhile, a bunch of polls came out today showing democrats leading in congressional seats where republicans have always won -- and sometimes won by 20 points. It could all still turn to shit, but the close races make it a lot more fun to be out there campaigning. The excitement of the democrats in those congressional districts is so inspiring.

[sam i am]

What's cool is that this is the best thing the republicans can come up with. They've been in charge of everything for quite some time and they don't have anything to be proud of except that gas is $2.40 instead of $3.00. :p

Meanwhile, a bunch of polls came out today showing democrats leading in congressional seats where republicans have always won -- and sometimes won by 20 points. It could all still turn to shit, but the close races make it a lot more fun to be out there campaigning. The excitement of the democrats in those congressional districts is so inspiring.

Good point, Documad.

I'm glad we're both out campaigning for our (opposing) sides in this election. I feel confident (still) that the Republicans will narrowly hold the Senate. I agree with you that the House is looking good for the Demos at this point, but the commercials (and the money to run them nonstop for the next few weeks) has just kicked in for the Republicans.

That, plus our usual ability to bring our voters to the polls in greater numbers, gives me the feeling that we'll pull the House out by 1-2 seats.

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out, but I'm glad we operate as a society where our differences are settled at the ballaot box rather than at the end of a gun barrel...

Good luck, Documad and the Democrats : I hope you fulfill your destiny this election season, because if you can't win in THIS political environment (the Prez at record low approval numbers and Republicans everywhere on the run) then you'll REALLY have to question you efficacy as a party...

[The Notorious LOL]

This election is once again more of the same "who sucks less" game when it comes to voting. Makes me sorta miss Paul Wellstone.

[sam i am]

This election is once again more of the same "who sucks less" game when it comes to voting. Makes me sorta miss Paul Wellstone.

Really? Paul Wellstone?

Ok.

[The Notorious LOL]

well to be honest I agreed with him maybe 40-50% of the time...but the guy didnt pull any punches about where he stood. He was passionate. There needs to be more politicians like that and on either side of the fence you are hard pressed to find one.

[sam i am]

Hmmm...

Alright, I'll let it pass.

Mavericks are often fun to watch, but their ability to govern if elected does not have a good track record.

I'm thinking Jesse Ventura, etc.

Scary to think of Ross Perot getting elected.

[Documad]

Jesse Ventura was better for the state than the governor we have today. Part of the reason for that was that he didn't have to sell his soul to a small wing of the republican party in order to get a nomination. Plus Ventura appointed some talented people to run the state while he was governor (he didn't have cronies).


There are some really good candidates this year. Much better than eight years ago.

[sam i am]

Jesse Ventura was better for the state than the governor we have today. Part of the reason for that was that he didn't have to sell his soul to a small wing of the republican party in order to get a nomination. Plus Ventura appointed some talented people to run the state while he was governor (he didn't have cronies).


There are some really good candidates this year. Much better than eight years ago.

Agreed to a certain extent, excpt that Ventura had a VERY difficult time getting much of what he wanted to accomplish done...mainly because he didn't have the party affiliation/backing to rely on in the House/Senate (state-level, of course).

[Ali]

Debt isn't the worst thing in the world if you have a multi-trillion dollar economy.Not such a good thing when most of it is owned by the Chinese, Arabs and Russians!!!

Better keep the War Machine oiled up - you are gonna need it!

[sam i am]

Not such a good thing when most of it is owned by the Chinese, Arabs and Russians!!!

Better keep the War Machine oiled up - you are gonna need it!

Never to fear : productivity is here!

Since we're not saddled with the low birthrates and outlandish taxation you endure "across the pond," we have the incentive, drive, innovation, technology, and savvy to grow our way to a better future.....leaving Europe and the rest of the world in the dust....as usual.





























OK. Now that Ali has had a coronary:p ;) :

Debt, when properly managed, can finance needed expenditures, whether for the sarcastically-referenced "war and oil" machine (minus the diatribe) or for innovative products and services, which is where America excels.

Funny how there's a Wal-Mart and Mc Donald's in nearly every country in the world, yet the Chinese, Russians, and Arabs have no indigenously exportable namebrands, isn't it?

[Schmeltz]

Funny how there's a Wal-Mart in nearly every country in the world, but the label on their shirts says "Made in China," isn't it?

Your "indigenously exportable namebrands" rest entirely on the manufacturing backbone of the very people you think are so far beneath you. I hope your arrogance comes back and bites you in the ass. :)

[sam i am]

Funny how there's a Wal-Mart in nearly every country in the world, but the label on their shirts says "Made in China," isn't it?

Your "indigenously exportable namebrands" rest entirely on the manufacturing backbone of the very people you think are so far beneath you. I hope your arrogance comes back and bites you in the ass. :)

Don't put words in my mouth, please.

Ingenuity has come from America. The ability to manufacture at cheap prices, at this current time in history, comes from China. The marriage of American capital and ingenuity with the labor of the Third World, is raising living standards for all, spreading affluence, eradicating poverty, and employing people worldwide.

I hope your lack of reasoning comes back to bite you in the ass. :)

[Schmeltz]

The marriage of American capital and ingenuity with the labor of the Third World, is raising living standards for all, spreading affluence, eradicating poverty, and employing people worldwide.


I didn't say it wasn't. I said you're arrogant for thinking yourself somehow superior to people who are routinely exploited to maintain all the "ingenuity" behind corporatism.

[sam i am]

I didn't say it wasn't. I said you're arrogant for thinking yourself somehow superior to people who are routinely exploited to maintain all the "ingenuity" behind corporatism.

I have never, nor will I ever state, that I am somehow "superior" to people who are routinely exploited to maintain all the ingenuity behind corporatism.

How dare you. You don't know me, nor do you, obviously, care to.

Quit putting words in my mouth : it's arrogant, self-righteous, and completely uncalled for.

[Schmeltz]

I have never, nor will I ever state, that I am somehow "superior" to people



we have the incentive, drive, innovation, technology, and savvy to grow our way to a better future.....leaving Europe and the rest of the world in the dust....as usual.



Funny how there's a Wal-Mart and Mc Donald's in nearly every country in the world, yet the Chinese, Russians, and Arabs have no indigenously exportable namebrands



You don't know me, nor do you, obviously, care to.


(y)

[sam i am]

(y)

Speaking in the Third person, and stating something that I later, IN THE SAME POST, acknowledged was put there solely to peeve one individual, is NOT the same as being "arrogant" about others.

The third person is employed to speak of the US, generally, in this case, not necessarily my own personal beliefs.

Get a clue, man.

[Schmeltz]

Mmmm... I think your tone was derogatory enough that my point still stands. Such superficial nationalism is always a hallmark of ignorance, especially when expressed in such snooty terminology.

[Documad]

Funny how there's a Wal-Mart and Mc Donald's in nearly every country in the world, yet the Chinese, Russians, and Arabs have no indigenously exportable namebrands, isn't it?
Do you think Walmart is a good thing for the US? Wow. There is one US family getting rich while the US government (via its citizens) pays the bills for its US employees. And the goods they're selling tend to come from places like China so it seems that in the long run the advantage goes to China.

[Documad]

There was more "good" news today. I guess that home prices are way down. The US dollar is weaker. Woot!

[The Notorious LOL]

considering all the stupid fucking condos being built recently, the glut of a housing market is no shock to me and I predicted it would happen about two years ago.

[QueenAdrock]

Yup. Around me, they're practically giving the condos away because they accidentally built too many and are now losing money. Awesome for renters.

[sam i am]

Do you think Walmart is a good thing for the US? Wow. There is one US family getting rich while the US government (via its citizens) pays the bills for its US employees. And the goods they're selling tend to come from places like China so it seems that in the long run the advantage goes to China.

Wal-Mart is, by far, much more contributory to the wealth and general prosperity of the US than most other government programs. Jobs, taxes, etc., et al...the list goes on and on at the benificence of such a corporation.

Low prices, plentiful stock, and the taxes they pay/jobs they create are all reasons why Wal-Mart is not only good for the US, but for the world as well.

**** ducks behind wall to avoid sniper shots from Schmeltz and Fuckedupgirl between their disgusting display of public amore ****

[sam i am]

There was more "good" news today. I guess that home prices are way down. The US dollar is weaker. Woot!

Home prices down = more people able to afford housing.

US dollar weaker = more investment in the US because it's cheaper to do business here.

Sounds like good news to me (y) :cool:

[Documad]

You really want foreignors to own everything in the US. Wow. It scares the shit out of me.

P.S. When a Walmart employee's kid has a burst appendix, who pays the hospital bills? Walmart shouldn't be getting a free ride.

[yeahwho]

Wal-Mart is, by far, much more contributory to the wealth and general prosperity of the US than most other government programs. Jobs, taxes, etc., et al...the list goes on and on at the benificence of such a corporation.

Low prices, plentiful stock, and the taxes they pay/jobs they create are all reasons why Wal-Mart is not only good for the US, but for the world as well.

**** ducks behind wall to avoid sniper shots from Schmeltz and Fuckedupgirl between their disgusting display of public amore ****

boo (http://walmartwatch.com/)

[sam i am]

You really want foreignors to own everything in the US. Wow. It scares the shit out of me.

The shibboleth and nativism that are inherent in the fear of foreign ownership is easily disproven in the way the Japanese used to be feared when they were buying up American securities in the 80's. Everyone thought we (the US) were going to be "owned" by the Japanese.

What happened? Well.....they ended up selling back those assets they had bought at overhyped prices and retreating back to their own economic woes.

BTW...do you know what country owns more US assets than most of the other countries around the world? Should we fear them?

P.S. When a Walmart employee's kid has a burst appendix, who pays the hospital bills? Walmart shouldn't be getting a free ride.

The insurance pays the bill. Who pays for the insurance? The company and the employee, in varying measures.

[sam i am]

boo (http://walmartwatch.com/)


What a great link.

This is what America is all about : accountability for a "giant" corporation. Hold their feet to the fire and fight them with all your might.

But...unless you don't shop there or accept money from those who do or work there or drive their trucks or any of the myriad companies that would go out of business without Wal-MArt...you're a hypocrite.:D

[yeahwho]

What a great link.

This is what America is all about : accountability for a "giant" corporation. Hold their feet to the fire and fight them with all your might.

But...unless you don't shop there or accept money from those who do or work there or drive their trucks or any of the myriad companies that would go out of business without Wal-MArt...you're a hypocrite.:D

Better than being a moron. I do not shop at Wal-Mart nor do I support any of their business practices, I do breath, drink and share the same roads that people who do shop at Wal-Mart use. I also am entitled to have a different point of view, as do millions of others have about Wal-Mart.

Your statement is just goofball. I am of the mind we will go on just fine without Wal-Mart here to coddle us. You seem to think things will fall apart if they leave, I tend to think things have fallen apart because they are here.

Good news for those looking for more space to shop, I'm not going to be there anytime soon. at least not in the next 100 years or so.

[Documad]

The insurance pays the bill. Who pays for the insurance? The company and the employee, in varying measures.
That's a very telling answer. I'm glad that your kids have health insurance.

People who have had access to health insurance have difficulty understanding how it works for a large chunk of our working poor. I used to go to a county hospital where most of the patients didn't have insurance (including me even though I worked full time).

You should read yeahwho's link. Most Walmart employees don't have insurance. When Walmart does provide access to insurance, the premiums are higher than the typical Walmart employee can afford. The employees certainly can't afford to buy it for their kids. There is a financial as well as social cost to what Walmart's doing. We can certainly run the system that way, but we need to recognize that what we're really doing is paying welfare benefits indirectly to Walmart and the uber rich family behind it. Once we've recognized that, we can think about whether there's a better way to run our health care system.

[sam i am]

That's a very telling answer. I'm glad that your kids have health insurance.

People who have had access to health insurance have difficulty understanding how it works for a large chunk of our working poor. I used to go to a county hospital where most of the patients didn't have insurance (including me even though I worked full time).

You should read yeahwho's link. Most Walmart employees don't have insurance. When Walmart does provide access to insurance, the premiums are higher than the typical Walmart employee can afford. The employees certainly can't afford to buy it for their kids. There is a financial as well as social cost to what Walmart's doing. We can certainly run the system that way, but we need to recognize that what we're really doing is paying welfare benefits indirectly to Walmart and the uber rich family behind it. Once we've recognized that, we can think about whether there's a better way to run our health care system.

OR.......

people can choose to not work or shop there, thus ending the cycle of dependency on Wal-Mart.

Choice is good....it's what America's all about.

[sam i am]

Better than being a moron. I do not shop at Wal-Mart nor do I support any of their business practices, I do breath, drink and share the same roads that people who do shop at Wal-Mart use. I also am entitled to have a different point of view, as do millions of others have about Wal-Mart.

Your statement is just goofball. I am of the mind we will go on just fine without Wal-Mart here to coddle us. You seem to think things will fall apart if they leave, I tend to think things have fallen apart because they are here.

Good news for those looking for more space to shop, I'm not going to be there anytime soon. at least not in the next 100 years or so.

I'm very appreciative of the fact that you refrain from personal ad-hominem assaults on this board, yeahwho....it shows you really have character:rolleyes:

As for not supporting Wal-Mart...good for you. You're probably paying a bit more goods than you would at Wal-MArt, but at least you're putting your money where your mouth is.

This, in part, is why I have respect for you and your positions and read your posts/reply to them WITHOUT resorting to infantile dialogue or name-calling. I'm so proud of you for adhering to the same high standard.;)

[sam i am]

That's a very telling answer. I'm glad that your kids have health insurance.

People who have had access to health insurance have difficulty understanding how it works for a large chunk of our working poor. I used to go to a county hospital where most of the patients didn't have insurance (including me even though I worked full time).

BTW...did you have a reply to my above query and example about foreign ownership?

To address the above quote : I have had times in my life without health insurance. To be honest, it wasn't so bad. If I got sick, I called in sick to work, bought OTC medications, and got better.

As for children without insurance : I agree with you that it stinks. Thank God we pay some taxes to keep open county/city/state facilities that provide low-cost or free health care.

I work for a medical equipment company and we have charity and hardship cases all the time where we give away free products for the truly needy/desperate. I know of not one single company in the healthcare industry that DOESN'T do this, to some extent or another. There are also myriad organizations that are charities that provide equipment and care for those unable to have insurance.....that's also one of the great things about the USA : we give and give til it hurts, then give some more, all the while giving more to the world than every other single country in the world COMBINED in humanitarian/foreign aid.

[STANKY808]

...we give and give til it hurts, then give some more, all the while giving more to the world than every other single country in the world COMBINED in humanitarian/foreign aid.

As long as none of those dollars is used for oh say condoms. Yes, very generous.

[sam i am]

As long as none of those dollars is used for oh say condoms. Yes, very generous.

We can stop giving any time now. Bet the world that ensued would be MUCH less to your liking.

[Documad]

Yeah, sam, I read your post. I didn't know what you meant by a country owning assets -- whether you meant who we as a country owe for our debt as a country or whether you meant what country's corporations are major investors in the US. I worked for some Swiss and UK companies that tried to keep quiet about how much of particular food sectors they had cornered in the US. I'd rather see US corporations doing that well, and I'd rather see less national debt.

I'd rather see a strong dollar than a weak dollar. Perhaps things have changed since I got out of school.

[Schmeltz]

Trust a nationalist conservative to treat foreign aid as a hostage situation.

[sam i am]

Trust a nationalist conservative to treat foreign aid as a hostage situation.

Was that sarcasm.....cuz I wasn't sure:confused:

[yeahwho]

I'm very appreciative of the fact that you refrain from personal ad-hominem assaults on this board, yeahwho....it shows you really have character:rolleyes:

As for not supporting Wal-Mart...good for you. You're probably paying a bit more goods than you would at Wal-MArt, but at least you're putting your money where your mouth is.

This, in part, is why I have respect for you and your positions and read your posts/reply to them WITHOUT resorting to infantile dialogue or name-calling. I'm so proud of you for adhering to the same high standard.;)

I let the administrators take care of my smartass mainly. So far, so good.

Somehow, in whatever miniscule way I hope I contributed to this (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJZk8cQSe5tQ&refer=home). Not the total decline mind you, but the flat Wal-Mart sales.

Not that anyone cares but I rarely look at the price tag on any product unless it's a major purchase. Price only comes into play after quality which I am willing to pay a premium on. I do actually have an online subscription to consumers reports and will buy in bulk like a maniac at Costco a couple of times a year.

[Ali]

What's my share of the national debt again? Your paycheck.

[sam i am]

I let the administrators take care of my smartass mainly. So far, so good.

Somehow, in whatever miniscule way I hope I contributed to this (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJZk8cQSe5tQ&refer=home). Not the total decline mind you, but the flat Wal-Mart sales.

Not that anyone cares but I rarely look at the price tag on any product unless it's a major purchase. Price only comes into play after quality which I am willing to pay a premium on. I do actually have an online subscription to consumers reports and will buy in bulk like a maniac at Costco a couple of times a year.

Must be nice to have the financial freedom to not look at price tags. Are you rich?

And...as for the strength or weakness of Wal-Mart : you probably DID contribute, in your own small way, to the flatness of their sales. We'll see if it makes a difference in the XMAS season.

[yeahwho]

Must be nice to have the financial freedom to not look at price tags. Are you rich?

And...as for the strength or weakness of Wal-Mart : you probably DID contribute, in your own small way, to the flatness of their sales. We'll see if it makes a difference in the XMAS season.

I have a modest income. I do like junk and can have a real heyday at the dollar store or secondhand stores, I sort of hate shopping. Today I need some new Gore-Tex boots, I'm pretty sure going to Wal-Mart will not net me any quality boots even if I did shop there, I have so many options why bother shopping there?

I dread going to the mall, I haven't been there in a half a year and I have to go today.

[STANKY808]

Today I need some new Gore-Tex boots, I'm pretty sure going to Wal-Mart will not net me any quality boots even if I did shop there, I have so many options why bother shopping there?


Not diggin' the pineapple express? We are gettin' some of that up here too. Hope you aren't flooded out.