tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post813771419131106045..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-12923128116604514782012-08-24T22:18:53.306-04:002012-08-24T22:18:53.306-04:00Anon, I think a lot of people forget that even whe...Anon, I think a lot of people forget that even when businesses make tons of money, that doesn't always translate into profits. I ran my own legal shop for years and I would make a good deal of money each year. If you just looked at my gross, then I was doing really well. But once you subtracted salaries, equipments and things like expert fees, that huge gross vanished and my net was a lot smaller.<br /><br />Factor in something like equipment investment or buildings for a manufacturer and a huge gross can quickly turn into a very small net and an even smaller ROI. But a lot of people don't want to hear about that, they just see the sale figures and want to tax those.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-291279471950768002012-08-24T22:12:37.487-04:002012-08-24T22:12:37.487-04:00Its an odd thing in some respects. A middle sized...Its an odd thing in some respects. A middle sized manufacturer near me, post election pre Christmas 2008 downsized about 1000 jobs nationwide. Forecasts were doom and gloom, turns out they were right. I won't say I am better off. I have a small machine shop. I am working more hours and running tighter margins. Its a fairly respectable gross but a pretty small net. Most farmers are the same way. Farming and machining both have $1 million plus investments to get to a reasonable gross income with a pretty small precentage of it not going through to someone else. Don't kid yourself, if you farm you better not be afraid of working your tail off. And in the end you won't be rolling in dough until you sell the real estate... oops, forgot about taxmageddon, even then half of it goes to tax.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-75586394522866429922012-08-23T16:14:09.377-04:002012-08-23T16:14:09.377-04:00Ben, It's just not something he can do. It wo...Ben, It's just not something he can do. It would be like declaring that everyone must now leave the country. He can write the order but it's meaningless. And he knows that so he won't try it because trying and failing is worse than never trying in this case. It's better to make a false promise.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-27109660386785834392012-08-23T16:07:16.872-04:002012-08-23T16:07:16.872-04:00I agree, Andrew, Obama should not have that power,...I agree, Andrew, Obama should not have that power, but he has already used executive fiat to defy legislation and laws, so I expect he will keep doing that (to show how much he cares and that Congress is the problem).<br /><br />I wouldn't put it past him, at any rate. You're right he will use promises of more to come as well to show how merciful he is, bless his heart (sarc).USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-49617253999557576062012-08-23T11:54:07.532-04:002012-08-23T11:54:07.532-04:00Ben, Executive Order won't work. For one thin...Ben, Executive Order won't work. For one thing, he just doesn't have that power -- not even close.<br /><br />But even more importantly, to get voters, you need to promise future action. They won't turn out just because of something you did -- especially if you failed. So it would need to be a promise of future action if he gets re-elected.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-24901004682312471082012-08-23T11:52:25.886-04:002012-08-23T11:52:25.886-04:00Eric, I get the feeling that a lot of people are m...Eric, I get the feeling that a lot of people are making less than they were, and even more, people feel insecure about their jobs.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-10460648951881047082012-08-23T04:01:32.598-04:002012-08-23T04:01:32.598-04:00Not better off. I'm retired Navy, and the mili...Not better off. I'm retired Navy, and the military, including the retirees is where democrat-controlled government always cuts first.<br /><br />The price of food is up, gas is way up, utilities is waay up, our military insurance is due to go up again, and if Obummer is elected he may get his wish in charging veterans more at the VA.<br /><br />AndrewPrice said... <br /><br />"Patriot, I am honestly scratching my head wondering why Obama hasn't declared something like: "When I'm re-elected, I will pass the Obama-debt bill, which will forgive all mortgage and student loan debt."<br /><br />Hell, he may just do that by executive order. <br />Maybe that will be the October surprise. Sure would be more effective than bombing Syria or Iran (as far as getting votes that is).<br /><br />He has already done so with other issues, ignoring current laws and our Constitution in the process.<br /><br />I'm not worried about Romney and Ryan winning as much as I'm worried we won't take the Senate due to that idiot Akir.<br />Without the Senate, all Romney and the House can do is slow down the debt train and poke holes in Obamacare.<br /><br />I haven't had healthy thoughts about that egomaniac Akir or Obama lately (who is also an egomaniac. In fact, he's a psychoegomaniac with delusions of grandeur.<br /><br />Obama will probably never see himself as he really is: a fascist punk who needs beotch-slapped back to Chicago, bless his seared little heart (actually, I wonder if he really has one). <br /><br />Other than that I'm doing hunkydory (I forget, is that one word or two? Oh well, at least I can do math, pronounce "corpsman" and spell Ohio).USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-70922105609038630762012-08-23T01:12:53.074-04:002012-08-23T01:12:53.074-04:00Not making as much as I was 4 years ago, but still...Not making as much as I was 4 years ago, but still have a steady -- knock on Formica -- job (also work in an internationally minded market), so consider myself fortunate in that regard. So much of the rest of the country's worse off, though, and more than obvious we need to cue the Peter Brady -- "When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange ..."EricPhttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-36062734848056088342012-08-23T00:35:53.705-04:002012-08-23T00:35:53.705-04:00Jen, Everyone is talking about their electric bill...Jen, Everyone is talking about their electric bill these days -- and their gas bills.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-74448342631245663982012-08-23T00:35:27.047-04:002012-08-23T00:35:27.047-04:00DUQ, I know little about Bond, except that he was ...DUQ, I know little about Bond, except that he was popular in Missouri.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-67095337991398249952012-08-23T00:35:03.031-04:002012-08-23T00:35:03.031-04:00Terry, Yes, exactly. We all owe our souls to the ...Terry, Yes, exactly. We all owe our souls to the company store. :(AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-20960006742471036262012-08-23T00:23:39.712-04:002012-08-23T00:23:39.712-04:00Better off than four years ago? Ha! Surely you jes...Better off than four years ago? Ha! Surely you jest. I still haven't totally recovered from three years ago.<br /><br />My electric bill has more than doubled since last year, and it can't be blamed on the summer heat. This first occurred during the spring.<br /><br />Food safety is an issue that comes up quite often. In order for me to provide a safe product, I need electricity for properly cooling. Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-91107901088350023512012-08-22T20:56:45.572-04:002012-08-22T20:56:45.572-04:00Ann Coulter is suggesting a write-in campaign for ...Ann Coulter is suggesting a write-in campaign for former Missouri Senator Kit Bond. Does anyone know anything about him?DUQnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-70931714632993675202012-08-22T20:37:35.756-04:002012-08-22T20:37:35.756-04:00Andrew, Another day older and deeper in debt... ;)...Andrew, Another day older and deeper in debt... ;)ScyFyterryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12635510395140863437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-80348423777008464372012-08-22T20:10:33.318-04:002012-08-22T20:10:33.318-04:00Terry, I'm older, but not wiser. In fact, I&#...Terry, I'm older, but not wiser. In fact, I'd say my wisdom is down 2.9% year-on-year compared to last year. :(AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-63791386412989492282012-08-22T20:09:40.354-04:002012-08-22T20:09:40.354-04:00Joel and T-Rav, I doubt very much that union guys ...Joel and T-Rav, I doubt very much that union guys think the benefits will ever end. The ones I've spoken to really don't understand economics or common sense and they honestly think that companies can just print cash.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-20708592823008211772012-08-22T20:07:20.898-04:002012-08-22T20:07:20.898-04:00rlaWTX, I'm glad some people want to be farmer...rlaWTX, I'm glad some people want to be farmers because it's not something I would want. Not to mention, I have a black thumb and if you all were relying on anything I grew to survive, you'd die. :(AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-4871844389232807322012-08-22T20:05:16.274-04:002012-08-22T20:05:16.274-04:00T-Rav, Sounds like we need a rich farmer tax.T-Rav, Sounds like we need a rich farmer tax.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-77900968592638316472012-08-22T20:03:31.869-04:002012-08-22T20:03:31.869-04:00obiwan2009, Hiring part timers is the way around c...obiwan2009, Hiring part timers is the way around complex employment contracts. Europe is doing that too where it's impossible to fire full-time employees.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-91019838555776375952012-08-22T20:02:16.183-04:002012-08-22T20:02:16.183-04:00tryanmax, That wouldn't surprise me in the lea...tryanmax, That wouldn't surprise me in the least. That seems to be how the government works -- bend over backwards to help those who don't need it and then crush those who do need it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-58573738006521636672012-08-22T19:59:59.763-04:002012-08-22T19:59:59.763-04:00Nightcrawler, Stay in school forever... you're...Nightcrawler, Stay in school forever... you're better off!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-30660801980985311642012-08-22T19:58:59.205-04:002012-08-22T19:58:59.205-04:00Ellen, That the other thing about the current econ...Ellen, That the other thing about the current economy. Even if you have a job, there's a question about how secure the job is.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79378062468307859042012-08-22T19:58:12.554-04:002012-08-22T19:58:12.554-04:00Koshcat, Speaking as an attorney, no, there's ...Koshcat, Speaking as an attorney, no, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. ;)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-71409589719390626112012-08-22T19:56:18.736-04:002012-08-22T19:56:18.736-04:00I'm better off because my children are getting...I'm better off because my children are getting to the age where they are fun. Financially about the same but impossible to get any kind of home improvement loan. Oh, I can get a loan to buy a boat or RV, but not to replace the deck that is falling apart. Would it be wrong to let it fall on someone and then collect the insurance?Koshcatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-29605464792902687482012-08-22T19:43:10.761-04:002012-08-22T19:43:10.761-04:00Did anybody see the poll where Ryan is loved by se...Did anybody see the poll where Ryan is loved by seniors? LOL! So much for their attack plan!ellenBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17868593283128151858noreply@blogger.com