January 25, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Crossing: When you arrive at a street corner equipped with a "Cross / Do Not Cross" sign that can be triggered by the push of a button, and you notice someone is already waiting by the button to cross the street in the same or opposite direction as you, do you push the button or simply assume the other person already did?
Q2 - Cash: President Bush and Congressional leaders have reached a tentative agreement on a $150 billion tax relief effort to help stimulate the U.S. economy. Specifically, working Americans who have earned income of $3,000 or more will be eligible for a minimum rebate of $300 for themselves or $600 for a couple filing jointly. Based on the amount of federal income taxes paid, that rebate rises as high as $600 for an individual and $1,200 for a couple filing jointly. In addition to the individual rebate, families will receive an additional $300 per child credit. The individual rebate and the child credit phase out starting at $75,000 in income for individuals or $150,000 in family income. If you were receive a check in the mail tomorrow (as a result of a tax relief effort like this one) what would you do it / how would you spend the money? Additionally, do you welcome such "tax relief" efforts--the ones aimed at stimulating the economy--or do you think the President and Congressional leaders are out of touch with what we want or need with regard to tax relief?
Q3 - Presidential Race: Have you listened to or watched any speeches or debates by presidential candidates? If so, what did you think? If not, will you make it a point to watch any speeches or debates prior to Election Day?
Q4 - Eradication: Every large, mature Lodgepole Pine forest in Colorado will be dead within three to five years, killed in a Mountain Pine Beetle infestation unprecedented in Colorado, forestry officials recently announced. Do you think the Mountain Pine Beetle should be left alone to do its thing, or should the State of Colorado do everything within its power to save its Lodgepole Pine forests?
Posted by Mikal at January 25, 2008 2:54 PM
| TrackBack
I know this comes as a shock to you Mikal, but yes, I am commenting finally!!!
1. Crossing- I assume that the other person has already pushed the button. In addition, I don't really need a sign to tell me when I can and can't cross. I can usually figure it out all on my own.
2. Cash- I would probably spend a small portion on random useless things I don't REALLY need and then throw the rest into savings. I would literally THROW it too.
4. Eradication- I say save the trees :)
1) It's compulsive. I have to feel for myself that the button was pusshed. I think that's how our brain is wired.
2) The stimulus plan. The problem with our economy is the consume more than you ever possibly nee mentality. Our hoggish and piggish ways have business coming to rely on massive consumption. Heaven forbid we ease up and actually start saving money.
3) The mass media makes me so sick. They treat the presendential race with the intellectual prowess of a 3rd grade talent show. And they frame it this way forcing the candidates to play to it.
4) Is there a way to eradicate it?
1) Never assume. Bad things happen. I would push the button.
2) I would put the money in savings. I find it ironic that this tax relief effort designed to stimulate the economy through more spending comes at a time when the average American spends more money each year than they earn. That being said, I will always take any cash Uncle Sam is willing to give.
3) I think it is ridiculous that the Presidential Race has already begun. It should start 1 month before the election. How long do people really need to make a decision? I don't pay much attention until the end. I love the fact that Meagen refused to even address this question. Well done.
4) Save the forest, kill the bugs!
4 - Bugs have always been the greatest environmental hazard in my opinion. And they are icky. Get rid of them! :)
1. Crossing: I'm not a button pushing kind of guy, but if I were, then I would indeed push the button lest the person on the other side is like me and hasn't pushed the button.
2. Cash: Overall, I think there are much better ways to spend that money. We've already given it to the government, why are you wasting time and resources to give it back to us? Of course, who am I to expect responsible spending from the government. But hey, if they want to give me money, I'm certainly not going to turn it down. If I get a check, I'll probably put it in my ING savings account, which I use as a backup savings in case of emergency.
3. Presidential Race: I watched a little bit of a Republican and Democratic debate prior to the Iowa caucus. I never really liked watching them because it's usually as bad as watching a bunch of three year olds fight over who gets the toy out of the cereal box. That aside, I've listened to or read at least parts of speeches of nearly every candidate. I feel that I've gathered enough information at this point to make a proper decision come voting day, but it won't stop me from tuning in every once in awhile.
4. Eradication: Wow, that really sucks! Hmm... my initial thought is to try and save the forests. Maybe we could put the beetles onto some spaceships that look like DC-8's, fly them into the volcanoes of an alien world, and set off hydrogen bombs to kill them all.
1- I'm the kind of person that pushes the button half a dozen times, so I'll usually push the button a few times even if I think the other person might have.
2- The dumb thing is that this is really just intended as cash advance on our future tax returns. The government just wants us to get the money sooner to keep up spending. It’s just the government acting like a "zero interest for 12 months" credit card. The mental thing is that the tax group getting the refund is the least likely group to spend it. Middle income families tend to save and plan forward based on total earning power, but those living paycheck to paycheck are most likely to immediately spend what they get, and though many of these people are included, the stuff the democrats eventually gave up trying to add would have gone directly to this demographic. The other parts of the measure will likely do more good. There is some work to help out people facing mortgage foreclosures and some small business spending tax breaks that will probably do the most good. When it’s all said and done though, I'll be happy to have the couple hundred bucks accruing interest for me over the next year instead of for the government.
3- I haven't paid attention to the debates, and hardly care at this point. To be perfectly honest, I don't really like the whole primary/caucus thing, because I inevitably feel like no candidate’s positions ever completely match my own and therefore have a hard time identifying with anyone this early in the process. By the time we get to the Nov. election, I will have taken the time to understand the primary 2 candidates' positions; though listening to debates and speeches is unlikely to be my primary source.
4- Seems like a cycle of life thing... the beetles kill most of the trees, a few, either by chance or because of some genetic advantage, survive to eventually grow in to new forests. Let nature do its thing already.
Hey Zirker, just so you know in the past (long before you and I were born), a candidate campaigned from the time he lost the primaries. That's a full 4 years of campaigning! History always seems to have something worse... as it should ;)
But primary voting starts (for us in Utah) February 5. Uh... that's a little less than a month if they were to wait until today to start the race (and too late for the states that have already voted) for those of us that care who our party chooses as their candidate.
Stu,
I didn't get to reveal my whole plan for the Presidential Race, but I will allow 1 additional month for primaries, but the primaries can't be held until 1 month before the election. So they can start campaigning in Sept for primaries in Oct and the election in Nov. No more time than that should be wasted on these matters.
1) It depends on what they look like. That's right, I profile button-pushers. If they have a determined look in their eye, and are staring intently across the street, I assume they've pushed the button. If they are distracted by something, like a cell phone or a gaggle of friends or a shiny coin in the gutter, I'll push the button myself.
2) We've already decided that it's going towards a TV. So our tax rebate will become economy stimuli.
3) I know it's wrong. I know it's lazy. But because I live in Utah, I feel like my presidential vote is predetermined. I may not even vote.
4) I don't know, how many Lodgepole Pine trees are there? Perhaps allowing the food source to die off is the best way to kill the enemy (see: the Replicators strategy to defeat the Wraith in Stargate Atlantis).
1. I usually don't push the button even if there's no one else there. I look at the light to cross rather than the walk/don't walk guy. Green, I cross; if it turns yellow when I'm in the middle then I run. Elevator buttons, however, are a different story. I push those no matter what. Even if someone is standing there, I just saw them push it, and the button is already lit up. I still push it four or five times just for good measure.
2. I would probably buy some Sennheiser wireless mics I've been wanting with the money or maybe just put it in my savings account. I don't believe that tax rebates to individuals are the best way to stimulate the economy, but I also don't claim to have the best grasp on macro economics (though I did get an A- in Professor Kearl's Econ110 class--those of you who've had him will know why I'm proud).
3. I listened to one debate on the radio and thought that politicians arguing with each other is really annoying to listen to. They wouldn't even let each other finish their thoughts. They kept cutting each other off and I didn't really feel like I got much out of it. They all seemed to gang up on Ron Paul whenever he said anything at all. I felt a little sorry for him, but I wouldn't vote for him. I'll probably investigate candidates individually rather than listen to them argue with each other about what they think the other one stands for.
4. I think they should try and save the pine trees. I like trees more than beetles. If they need my help, I'd be happy to grow my mustache out and don my Orkin uniform again. Just let me know, Colorado. Need some credentials? Just look at the mustache! youtube.com/watch?v=U4JbcbKKzW0
A1. Button? What button? Just cross the street already!!
A2. Classical economics, Keynesianism, analytical economics, monetarism, new- and post- keynesian economics! Who the heck knows what it will really do? I just know I'm going to spend it on gas sometime. Perhaps the government can try to explain how a "tax-relief" like this is really going to "create jobs"! They're assuming everyone will "spend" it, thereby boosting economic growth by creating jobs and stimulating production and trade. Not sure I buy it, but then again I'm not buying much from our government's mouth these days!
A3. Kucinich dropped out, so I'm not to motivated right now. Perhaps I'll start watching after the primaries.
A4. It's an unfortunate, if not human caused condition (due to general warming trends - e.g. global warming!) that results in these beetle infestations. Interior British Columbia is experiencing a similar situation. My concerns are the potential use of biological controls, which have shown to have adverse affects within the forest ecosystem. Ultimately, these forests are likely doomed by the climate trends. It presents, in stark contrast, the dire straits the world is spiraling into as we continue to just treat symptoms and not the problem.
1. I always push it. I don't even think about it. They don't light up like elevator buttons, so you can't tell, and I think I was conditioned early to push the crosswalk button. I don't push elevator buttons if they are already lit!
2. I think these are ridiculous, akin to clipping coupons as a way to save money, when lowering the prices (i.e. taxes) across the board would be more helpful to people. What would I use the money for? All the tax-relief money we've received in the past has gone directly to church; I expect this one will as well. We're having our cake and eating it: using the money for a good cause but NOT stimulating the economy as such. The economy doesn't need my help one way or the other.
3. Nothing as yet. I will tune in at the conventions this summer. Up till then, I can't be bothered. We need to shorten the campaign trail by about 2 years.
4. Hmmm, well, I'm sure the neighboring states aren't too keen on just letting it go, but I think I would (just let it go). I do NOT think we should pesticide the entire state! I saw evidence of something like this going on in the Smokeys last summer and it's sad for us but that's nature.
Q1 - Crossing: My dad calls these buttons "pacifiers." He thinks they are inoperable and simply put there so pedestrians have something to keep them busy while waiting for the light to change. I think he's right.
Q2 - I think this economic stimulus package is another fiscally irresponsible move. According to the US National Debt Clock (http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/), the US is over 9 trillion in debt, representing about $30K per citizen. Our government is spending borrowed money which is causing the value of the dollar to drop, destroying our purchase power. Unfortunately, to fix this would require action that would be unpopular - something our politicians are unwilling to do.
Q3 - I've watched a couple speaches, debates, and interviews. I usually vote Republican, but I am not impressed with any of the Rep candidates. I dislike Hillary (and Billary), don't know much about Edwards, and have been surprisingly impressed by Obama. I think he is the most intelligent and rational of all of the candidates.
Q4 - Eradication: I really don't know what is best conservation-wise. I would trust whatever someone who knows more about this to decide. My gut reaction would be to let nature take its course. Humans seem pretty clueless when it comes to being pro-active in trying to control Mother Nature.
1. If someone is standing there but not right next to the button, I push it; otherwise I just wait for the light to change.
2. The government is out of touch and most of those politicians earning big bucks don't really have much of an idea what it's like for the rest of us. I will either save the money or pay off a bill.
3. I haven't watched any of the debates or anything, but I think I need to be up on all of it so I can make an informed decision come November. Ultimately, whoever you vote for is going to do what they want once they get elected.
4. I think the state should find an environmentally friendly way to take care of the problem. I remember hearing about something similar happening to ancient trees in New Zealand, and the scientists trying to develop an earth-friendly means of saving the trees while doing no harm to other plant life.
1. I push buttons, any button, I push it. If I worked for a missile silo I would be a hazard to be around; the future of mankind would be in jeopardy.
2. Well I do thank them for the extra cash, that is gonna be sweet. But the stimulus package bush thinks will pick us up is like saying crack is a good way of energizing your day. Sure uncle sam will be up, scrubbing his shower drain with a toothbrush at 4 am getting stuff done, but within 24 hours that crash is gonna occur -- big time.
3. I don't really hear much about issues as I'd like, it's usually lame ass platitudes and bantering back and forth like a couple of 8-year-olds. It's not even them really, its the whole horse race mentality. Totally turns me off. I honestly thought kucinich (sp?) was cool, except just because people thought he looked weird and said he believed in UFOs he was basically ostracized by the public and dropped out last week. I mean, I believe in UFOs..that's cool.
4. Dude, definitely,the pine beetle needs to go down.
* push the button
* send to mastercard/ considering what we've spent lately don't have a hand out. rather and if possible, will try to work harder.
* nope
* let nature run it's course... :-)
1. Patience is my number one virtue, I can wait.
2. I fail to see logic behind spending excess time, money and resources to refund something i've already written off. However, if it came to me it would most likely end up in the same place as all the other dough perhaps fattening the Walmart coffers.
3. I prefer to skip the drama and wait until the end to get educated and make a decision.
4. This problem is basically right in my backyard - the one thing that may not be evident to many is the danger the dead trees pose to the humans living in and around them. Colorado experiences high fire danger and drought-like conditions nearly every summer. Although we are perhaps meant to leave natural selection to run its course - there is little choice. The infested trees must be removed at some point. (not to mention they make very interesting wood floors!)
Q1 - Crossing: Always hit the button. They would have probably done the same thing. Besides, this is about YOU getting safely across the street in a timely manner ... I personally could care less of the other person is offended by my button pushing beliefs. ;>)
Q2 - Cash: Well, I am totally biased here since I want to see a Fair Tax plan, not a Federal Income Tax plan, but money is money ... I am not going to turn it away. In any case, I think in today's mediocre economy we will see most people paying off a little debt, maybe going to a long needed date night, and the tax relief that has passed the House will do very little to help the economy if it even gets through the Senate. I also don't see the need to offer the most wealthy of people at small relief either ... seems silly to me. How about those Earmarks using our valuable tax dollars for airports in our representatives hometowns ... now that shows just how out-of-touch our legislative branch is with the rest of the population!!!
Q3 - Presidential Race: I've seen just about every Republican and Democratic debate. I love'em and I plan on watching each one all the way through the final election. The bickering has been getting a little annoying in the last couple of debates, and they just need to focus on the big issues: Economy, Foreign Policy, Trade, Military, etc.
Q4 - Eradication: Pine pollen really sucks, but I say kill the beetles! Easy.
Post a Comment:
|
