Wednesday, November 5, 2008

With a Pocket Full of Dicks

It's impossible to deny that, in the midst of political and financial crisis, I've disappointed you. I try to sit down and blog or work on a story, and all that runs through my mind are jokes about treasury inflation protected securities. (Just the TIPS yo)

I attended the Chicago Obama bash Election night. I didn't vote. Nor did I even consider voting terribly strongly. Voting just seems so peasant status. Enjoying potential riots with the plebs = cool. Voting = not cool. Least that's my logic. That being said, there was a distinct lack of rioting.

I expected Rage Against level moshing and angry denouncing of the white man. (Isn't that what the whole Obama presidency is about?) Instead, it was a bunch of chubby hipsters giddily rubbing up against each other, swaying awkwardly and out of sync to a virtual kumbaya blasting from the sky. At one point, one guy next to me got a little too excited -- he started cheering, giggling and hiccuping out of control until he finally exploded vomit onto the couple in front of him. They failed to notice the violation, only the smell, to which his only response was a perpetual shit eating grin for the next hour.

We didn't break anything. Set nothing on fire. I saw a few cute girls go unraped. Is this how we celebrate a change in leadership now? No deflowering or carnage?

To be honest, I think my problem with politics is that I can't really get behind a candidate with any real emotion or conviction. I don't like being in relationships where I care about someone more than me. You might like Obama, but he doesn't even know you exist. I can't deal. It's like the nerdy somewhat Autistic kid befriending the cutest girl in high school. She matters more to you, than you to her. Eventually, she starts dating because "she doesn't see you that way" and you're left fantasizing about raping and murdering her. (lots of rape in this blog so far...)

Some of you are probably reading along thinking "broseph, supporting Obama? That's not baller status. He takes your moneys."

The truth is, and all you Jews out there should probably close your eyes and scroll down for this, there might potentially be other things besides the moneys.

Sometimes you take one for the team. It's not all about using your god given skills to take from the poor and build giant castles in the sky. Because you have to think about what kind of sky your castle is in. And maybe even what kind of ground is beneath that sky. A big piece of the pie still sucks if the pie isn't fuckably delicious. I'm mixing metaphors here, but there are issues, and sometimes you pay up to have the world more the way you want it.

Take gay marriage. I don't like dudes. I've never been to China because that whole girl-killing thing makes me think the whole country is one big sausage party. But if you want to reduce their impact on your life, wouldn't allowing gay marriage be wise? They'll be homoing in their homes instead of out on the streets gaying it up. I already won't associate with married men, this just lumps the two groups together -- those who don't seek pussy. 

I fail to see how any dude doesn't like abortion. First of all, it involves the killing of a human being. Something we would all like to do at least once. Sure it's a fetus and not a homeless guy, but you're still ENDING someone. Second, why do you want to increase the chance that condom failure or girls lying about the pill ruins your life? Abortion significantly increases your probability of sex earlier in life, and let's face it, the girls were hottest in high school anyways.

Anyway, those are two of the main issues that prevent me from getting behind Miss Alaska, at least in a non-literal sort of way. You'll notice I don't mention anything about what one camp will or won't do for the economy. Partially, I've become disillusioned. I'm not very convinced that anyone beyond some of the smarter minds at the Fed even understand the primitive workings of our economy. (Note that I do have some faith in Uncle Ben and his squad of Awesome, though it is fading pretty fast - hi2u currency swaps)

We obsess about "balancing the budget" and think in terms of monetary multiples, but these are archaic and embarrassing ways of thinking. We're on a fiat currency. These ideas don't even really make much sense. It's more about whether we spend money on the right things than how much we spend. Spending on things that have positive net economic effects...I won't get into a soft currency rant at this particular moment, but think about what the real value of a US dollar is. You're probably checking the mirror about now checking for blonde, but yeah, there isn't any value beyond the fact that the American government requires taxes to be paid in terms of US dollars. That's it. (This becomes somewhat more complicated quickly, hence why it is so poorly understood) There's no "limit" on federal spending -- being in a deficit doesn't mean we might "run out." (Moreover, the fear that China will liquidate our debt is also kind of silly, because their assets are largely intangible reserves held at the fed, by not accepting our treasuries, all they accomplish is arbitrage their reserves already at the fed)

That previous paragraph was pretty poorly written and very confusing. I'm happy to argue/debate in the comments, but fundamentally economic policy has been radically altered by shifting away from the gold standard and then complicated with the increased globalization of assets and reserves. Old ways of thinking don't work. ^^

I'm feeling all political now, so three one offs:

Fuck unions. Fuck pensions. Scrap the idea of 401ks and Roth IRA blah blah blahs.
Fuck US educational system. Privatize them shits.
Stop letting old people into hospitals unless they pay cash. (Nobody over 85 = $$$$ health care savings) Spend money treating children not extending the lives of 95 year olds by three months. 

RALLY AROUND THE FAMILY

37 comments:

Puritania/Tempeste said...

<3 u

Oppo said...

Germany is the sausage fest. I don't mean Wurst, either. The chicks have dix.

Anonymous said...

this is the kind of posts we've been missing

Anonymous said...

Buuuuurt we cannnnnt jussttttt letttt the ollddddddd people dieeeeeeee thats, logical and cost effective. Oh.

Donjo said...

with a pocket full of shells

Eltariel said...

i find it hilarious that African nations are rejoicing over Obama's newfound status as President-elect; with the idea that he'll somehow give them money (see here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/06worldreax.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp - halfway down)

seriously, what is the point of donating large amounts of money to countries that aren't self-sustainable (simplified, but correct enough) because their population far exceeds the resources they have available.

as a non-us citizen, i've followed this campaign pretty closely. i'm not giddy with excitement though.

Artanias said...

Why do you want to remove unions and pension? I agree about putting children before old people, but the other 2 im a bit fuzzed about. Maybe its way different from where i live(Denmkar)

kzn said...

Unions are essentially monopolies on labor forces within a given market. Monopolies, as you learn quickly in basic econ, are bad. Monopolies on labor have inexplicably attained accepted status, despite being among the most harmful institutions to productivity and economic growth I can think of off the top of my head.

I suspect, however, that raddy was being sarcastic.

Anonymous said...

heh ye, humans are among the most double-moralic (a word?) creatures ive ever seen :P

Kolenzo said...

I dunno about you guys, but I'd rather there be a monopoly on labour. Economic growth is one thing, but what about the triple bottom line? For alot of people, unions are the only things preventing serious (often illegal) exploitation of them, at least where I live.

Jaedenn said...

Kzn ..... union -> oligarchy -> monopoly -> domination -> control

thus i`m not sure about the exact translation of these notions from my native language, i think you get the point. Certain situations need extraordinary measures

Anonymous said...

If unions are an accepted thing, there really should be government control over them, cause I've seen soem redicolous shit. A JANITOR makes 68k on TTC (Toronto Transit System). That's right, no degree, no nothing, BAM 68k to start + constant increases. No control from government and TTC can't just stop working, which is what happens if their demands are not met. Welcome to ass-rape county.

Heck same thing happens in airline industry. You have small companies that MAKE MONEY ad then as they become bigger, their employees unionize and BAM sandwhich maker with MAYBE high school education if even that makes $28 an hour. Really? Sandwhich making gets you $28 an hour? Fucking minimum wage is what your ass should be getting for failing at life. And besides those sandwhiches suck hair nutsack anyway. Airline food in general feels like a bunch of soggy dicks tied together. Fucker that made that shit probably makes more than you.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for prevention of exploitation of labour force. But then labour starts exploiting companies that they work in. This shit goes both ways. So if monopoly in labour is allowed, there should be some heavy ass restrictions on it.
But I think an even better solution is to allow competition between unions. And minimum wage should take care of the complete explotation anyway.

Anonymous said...

What should be feared is those who will be in power (Obama included) want to take away the secret ballot from union votes. Que union thugs bullying employees. Companies would be forbidden to communicate about the pros and cons of unionization. It's called the Employee Free Choice Act which is the opposite of what it's proposing. Very common among bills these days to trick the public.

Anonymous said...

WITH A POCKET FULL OF SHELLS

You forgot the caps, donjo. It just isn't right without caps.

Anonymous said...

It's quite sad to see so many people, not only Americans, but worldwide, aglow with the new president and the false securities he has thus provided knowing that it's only humanly possible for him, at best, to fail a little worse than his 43 predecessors or more likely be ENDED before he can do so.


-pv

Raddy said...

I really don't get too invested in politics. America is pretty good. If our stupidity in various things pisses you off, traveling reminds you that there is bullshit and drama everywhere. Best not to take it too seriously.

I generally don't support our policies and love to debate them, but I'm aware that I'm in the very small minority on some of this stuff

Illexiyel said...

Yea not voting is pretty dumb, even for people who hate everything. And if you're one of those Bilderberg 911 Truth RFID Chip ballers, it should be obvious that no asshole in the government can tell the difference between you and some nerd who chose grinding Wildhammer rep and jacking off into his shower curtain over voting...so your protest doesn't mean much. I dunno tho, I wish I could choose to buy a car that had a dinosaur net, two rocket launchers, and invisibility...but apparently they don't make those yet. I'll just have to settle with my Yukon cuz fuck walking.

Alexial said...

People do take voting too seriously though or they aren't serious enough about other decisions. I wonder if it's more important who you vote for or what you choose to buy everyday... cuz pretty sure one of these days I'll be voting for Wendel on a legit ballot.

Raddy said...

@kzn - FINE

@dyslexi-yell - hi2u <3

kzn said...

IM IN FHPVP AND IM NOT WEARING ANY PANTS

Zyz said...

just wanted to post and say i love you

Anonymous said...

It's called the Employee Free Choice Act which is the opposite of what it's proposing. Very common among bills these days to trick the public.

/hi @ USA PATRIOT Act?

Anonymous said...

You sound pretty conservative Raddy. And I'm not talking "liberal lite" conservative (McCain to an extent), I'm talking real conservative.

What conservatism stands for and how Republicans have helped Democrats to destroy it:

- Small Government (pork barrel spending)
- Privacy (Patriot Act)
- Freedom (anti-gay marriage -- abortion on the other hand is a much more complicated issue)

rahvin said...

yo alex where u been son?

ZYZ TRIVIA - WHAT GAME DID ZYZ PLAY BEFORE WOW? WHO KNOWS?????

Zyz said...

i played ym rahv, #1 in that game baby

ps. i deleted my last comment so that i could add that i miss your sweet voice

Anonymous said...

"We obsess about "balancing the budget" and think in terms of monetary multiples, but these are archaic and embarrassing ways of thinking. We're on a fiat currency. These ideas don't even really make much sense. It's more about whether we spend money on the right things than how much we spend. Spending on things that have positive net economic effects...I won't get into a soft currency rant at this particular moment, but think about what the real value of a US dollar is. You're probably checking the mirror about now checking for blonde, but yeah, there isn't any value beyond the fact that the American government requires taxes to be paid in terms of US dollars. That's it. (This becomes somewhat more complicated quickly, hence why it is so poorly understood) There's no "limit" on federal spending -- being in a deficit doesn't mean we might "run out." (Moreover, the fear that China will liquidate our debt is also kind of silly, because their assets are largely intangible reserves held at the fed, by not accepting our treasuries, all they accomplish is arbitrage their reserves already at the fed)"

That's the kind of thinking that created this financial crisis to begin with. Thankfully America has wakened up and now sees through the bullshit financers have been peddling.

kzn said...

No what caused the financial crisis is a ridiculous increase in the money supply.

Dont try to disagree with raddy if you have no clue what you're talking about, he's too baller for that.

Raddy said...

@anon - Do you have an argument or are you just a douche?

I'd love to argue some economics ^^

Saying that so-and-so "caused" the economic crisis is a bit silly -- a lot of things happened and here we are, it doesn't much matter how we got here. It certainly wasn't one "thing" or one "way of thinking."

I will agree that a LOT of people got rich on wall street by basically rolling the dice betting tax payer dollars the past few years and whether or not some people get fired, a lot of people profited at the overall population's expense. (I'm not as huge an elitist asshole as I sometimes seem)

kzn said...

but that makes you less baller :<

Raddy said...

kzn - you gotta pretend to be a pleb sometimes so you can crush peasant girls

Tef said...

"...it doesn't much matter how we got here."

Yes it does. To understand solutions we need to understand the causes behind the problems.

Re:unions, there have been studies showing that unions do not appreciably raise worker's wages, but a union's perquisites go beyond wages.

I am of the belief that no one truly understands how to structure the economy. But I am not very learned, so what do I know.

Raddy, is the commercial paper market going to decentralize into local banks? (Does that make sense?)

Raddy said...

I'm not really sure what you mean by "decentralize" -- maybe that term makes sense, but not to me. ^^

CP is a little tricky as you need a lot of things for the market to be back to functioning. Trust in asset sheet accounting, demand, liquidity, cash flow, etc.

If CDS on exchanges becomes successful, I think CP will inevitably solidity, but I'm not terribly optimistic anyone will trade CDS even on exchanges after how badly everybody was burnt. (not rational, but people are crazy)

I believe unions are severely negative for the country/economy. I understand that capitalism sometimes requires some checks and bounds, but unions seem like a horribly costly way to tackle the wealth/power divide inherent to free markets. I'd rather see national/federal level worker protections.

And I was saying that it didn't matter how we got "here" because now that we are here, the game has been fundamentally changed. It's not like we can look back at old solutions to today's problems.

Anonymous said...

The debt between countries is pretty virtual and close to imaginary at this point. No one ever pays it back, they just use it as capital towards asking for political favors down the line. These is no global anything, its just a matter of what the 1% wants to do with their money and how they can make more. The rest of us sit around and worry about GDP despite that we will never have a piece of the pie. Even the financial bums making half a mil a year. That's just fuck you money, it aint power.

Anonymous said...

not voting is so cool dude

Anonymous said...

"/hi @ USA PATRIOT Act?"

I hear people bash this all the time, but after reading over it countless times in the past, I don't see anything remotely wrong with it. Much of what you hear about abusive power would go beyond what this Act allows.

My point is giving bills a "sugar-coating name" is very common and that people should take the time to actually research before forming an opinion. It doesn't matter what the policy. Packaging/marketing is a part of policy making and people need to realize this is a way they can be mislead.

Anonymous said...

It's crazy how much you can pay for hospitals. 2k WITH insurance for your kid to stay ONE night at a hospital? WTF IS UP WITH THAT SHIT?

Besides that, a lot of people are just fucked up because their credit is bad. Parents fucking their children over by using their SSN's, people fucking their credit over because they can't pay their fucking minimums, people with GOOD credit getting denied for crazy reasons by creditors.

Shits hitting the fan and going everywhere. Seeing someone with something like an 815 credit score get denied for some kind of dinky credit card is a little weird isn't it?

Anyways, I don't know what else is going on. I don't know the US well so take things I say with a grain of salt.

Watching people complain about their 360s crapping out on them that were "poorly" made, then complain about the economy? Fuck you guys. That 5 year old Filipino kid put his HEART and SOUL into that 360 just so you could bitch about it fucking up? Screw that noise and get your fellow americans create you a quality 360. Owait.....

Anonymous said...

This might be relevant:
http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Main_Page