Pass Labs

"Those who deserve the best find it comes to them."  What does THAT mean?"

Ask the Trump kids, they might be able to explain it. 

Don’t understand your last post Schubert but there is one thing we are certainly in total agreement on, empathy in this country and the world for that matter, towards those suffering through no fault of their own is really wanting. Your thoughts on these matters touch my heart Schubert, I hear you.

To add to your points bpd24  George H W Bush had to renege on his "read my lips" pledge by raising taxes to pay for the savings and loan debacle brought about by eliminating some of the regulatory policies of the Reagan (or is it Regan)  administration. His economic policies truly represented fiscal responsibility and he sure paid the price for it unlike the ones that promise everything that they can't possibly deliver. Not to bash Reagan but the "trickle down" economic policies certainly created growth as it generated more capital but it wasn't offset by spending cuts or raising tax revenues to offset the deficit. The new mantra was deficits don't matter as long as the GDP grows enough to offset the deficits, it's all "relative".

Well actually Reagan DID have to raise taxes as his initial tax cuts were too severe and the deficit exploded. When Jimmy Carter left office, not to use him as a shining beacon of anything, the budget deficit was 69 billion. But there is one thing he did leave, a solar water system on the White House roof that was symbolic of what he saw as America's future, alternative energy development. Reagan in his first act of symbolic contempt towards alternative energy was to remove the collector or why else would he have done it?

So there is no hero in this continuing saga. One thing for certain though, up to the Obama administration there was some degree of civility it not total agreement on issues. In the current atmasphere compromise is a poisonous word to a politician. I certainly hope that the democrats don't get into a quid pro quo with the "just say no" Republican Congress starting in 2010 did or else  we'll  all get what's  coming and most likely deserve. Let's ALL hope that this "tax plan" of the current administration can be refined to meet the needs of our collective nation rather than represent, what I see happening to a greater extent, the gradual phasing in of a plutocracy bought and paid for by rich special interests. As the middle class shrinks more and more this will likely be the outcome. And God forbid if laws only require a majority vote to pass in the Senate! If that happens as it did with the Supreme Court pick it is clear to me that we'll have to sink considerably more before the wake up call sounds off. The scary part of that scenario is how much more damage?

A revamping of our educational system  and retraining is the long term answer and it needs to be funded and paid for by tax payer funds, we all need to pay for it!  But in the current climate of "what have you done for me today" it is a tough sell. After all, when you can't make ends meet from one day to the next, why should it? People just want to see a brighter future and while it seems the current AND may I add last President wants to deliver, lets hope his understanding grows beyond what he has demonstrated some of us to date, time will tell.  Real change will necessarily come from the grass roots of this country. Wake up and be counted people and quit complaining, DO SOMETHING!

PS  " bdp24 not picking on you in any way and I am not dem or rep just a person who understands economic polices and and has studied economics, budgets, etc,. that the government indicates on its website."

.....and Paul Krugman the liberal Nobel prize winning economist doesn't understand? Don't know what your point is bigkidz. Having said that I agree totally with you regarding pricing in a business, things that consumer's often don't take into consideration. So far as 150K amps and 500K speakers, it really has nothing to do with me as I certainly am quite unfamiliar with this industry and the cost of things as you are but one thing I can do is :).  The new business model and more of what's to come maybe?
 

I respect you as well Charles, always well reasoned and respectful, more of what is required. The only thing that has changed over the past 8 years is the total unwillingness to compromise. There is one thing I really am not sure that you recognize or acknowledge Charles is the factor that "money" has come into the equation ("Citizens vs United"). We are truly being brainwashed by both sides. Now who is doing a better job is open to debate and subject to the philosophical perspectives that you assign to each of us.

PS I feel as Bigkidz but he a bit right of center me a bit left. To a far leaning right winger, I’m a "flaming liberal" to a far leaning leftest I’d probably be considered a traitor. See what I mean Charles, the divide I mean, how do we start talking to each other again?

I HEAR you Toddverrone and could not agree MORE! There are much more important issues in the big picture of our future and we better wake up soon!

If I recall correctly Bdp24 you referred to the President as the "Trumpster" a clear sign of disrespect, you should be more careful with your words :^). If your post was removed as somehow being inappropriate for this forum, I hope mine is as well. Political discussion is not and SHOULD not be permitted on this forum, audio subjects only.

I do stand by my comments regarding my respect for Charles as an all around good guy and Bigkidz for pointing out to others that might not consider the excellent points he made about a business pricing it’s products. As far as the price of products and whether it is fair or reasonable, the point of the op’s original question I am totally neutral. If a business can convince a person to exchange his money for a product who should care but the two parties involved in the transaction? My points about social and financial inequity in this country and the seemingly lack of concern from some corners regarding this indisputable fact have nothing to do with the question originally asked but might be by some considered related.

"We all have a stake in what each other does. It's the basis of family, community, nationality and ultimately humanity. No man's an island."

I agree with this statement on a personal level. Unfortunately not everyone sees things as we bleeding hearts do Onhwy61, it is an idealistic view. My point was as a simple transaction, between two parties what is the problem? One could make a similar comment regarding a component or product that is a fraction of the 85K figure above, say 5K, would it then be an issue? It certainly would be just as unreachable or unrealistic a price to pay for the vast majority of  people on this planet.

Your point about a sexual transaction between a 13 year old child and an adult is immoral and illegal and is not equivalent in any way to   a sales transaction of an 85K amp between two adults. So far as drugs being legal, I just wonder how much more effective our resources would be if we spent the money on educationing our children on the perils of drug use, a plan similar but expanded to the "just say no" campaign of the 80's. Where is the leadership? 

To your greater point Bdp24 the unfortunate fact of our Republic and  the democracy at large is that folks often come to the point  that they don't want to pay for the benefits  provided for all, time to drain that swamp!  Often their views are skewed by special interest forces that have a completely unrelated agenda.  Many would rather be an island, it gives them a sense of control in a world that  gradually seems to be losing it's bearings.   Why should a wealthy person that can  afford any health care plan he chooses or afford to send his child to any school he wants be obligated  to pay for the inefficiencies of what is currently available?  It seems history, economics and ethics might be additional required classes for all of us. It is just remarkable the degree of ignorance in our wealthy nation and it seemingly is getting worse. When almost 50% of the adult population can not name at least one Supreme Court Justice how can they possibly understand the importance of the Supreme Court in our system of Government?

PS Onhwy61 to your question about arms an drugs why shouldn't a private citizen, by rights provided by the 2nd amendment, be permitted to purchase any weapon he chooses? Why not an M60, why should we be limited?

Have fun with your life  as well Jetter. Move out of the country? Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind.

P.S. Montreal is INDEED a beautiful city. I love that place! See, there is always common ground among all those that look for it. :)

Well Charles I respect your opinion but I think plenty of good has come from both the Great Society and the New Deal. Seniors have better access to health care and aren’t living in abject poverty with much shorter life spans as they were before. If we eliminate these programs, or dramatically scale them back as many want, I feel in ALL fairness that all Government provided pension and health care plans including Military be eliminated/scaled back accordingly as well, that means you too Congress. Let’s REALLY drain the swamp and quit pussy footing around. The point is that people want what they say they don’t it’s just they either don’t want to pay, they pay too much or someone else should. Another common theme is to find a scapegoat, welfare mothers for example. In other words, plenty of opinions with few facts and understanding.

Bdp24 your story about your brother in law is just so typical. I have a brother in law who does listen but has a very Military perspective, his father is a retired full bird. We’ve had some interesting discussions and I like him but we think very differently. There is one thing however he is bound by, his racism and xenophobia which he was carefully taught from childhood, he really can’t help himself. "You’ve got to be carefully taught" check out the song from the Roger’s and Hammerstein’s "South Pacific". Amazing how relevant it is to this day. After all this is an audio site so he should at least attempt to keep the conversation somewhat relevant!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAZ8yOFFbAc

"It’s just life. For example I was once a N.Y.Times subscriber and an avid listener of NPR, people change (sometimes LOL)."

Boy I'll say Charles! You must have had a profound awakening huh? :).

You may want to know what you're speaking of before posting Jetter. If I RECALL correctly Schubert served as an infantryman during the Vietnam War.  While I certainly don't agree with all his comments I certainly respect HIM more than those that started conflicts that NEVER served. Before this thread unravels and goes down a rabbit hole I might suggest we don't ascribe intentions or LABELS to those who's views don't reflect our own without knowing that person.

Who cares Jetter about your Uncle or draft status during Vietnam, I was lucky too, the lottery in '69 remember? My number was 327 like the short block Chevy engine, one of my favorites, so what? I lost a   uncle one of the first casualties of the Battle of the Bulge, his photo is in the link below, T3 James McGee

http://www.battleofthebulgememories.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=519:the-...

No one questions your loyalty to this country Jetter but your "waive their little pinkie in the air" comment was too much for me to remain quiet. That "badge" of loyalty is just phony baloney to me. I lost 6 close friends in Vietnam, guys I grew up with some going back to grade school. Not to mention the one's that were irreparably damaged from their service and the crap that they faced from the "left" anti-war protesters of that era, many of the SAME folks that are "conservatives" today. It's funny how personal economic conditions can assuage  political positions over time. It ISN'T political, it's real people that are suffering and the politicians are just bought and sold by special interests. Anyone that can't or don't recognize or get caught up in the "false" narrative that many of these folks brought it on themselves OR that each man is an island to himself "what you reap, and so shall you sow" is, well I wish them well and hope they never have to go through what folks that have truly suffered have and do. 

Thanks for your acknowledgement Jetter, me too and for all those that serve.

"as of now looks like the South will win ."

Reading into your perspective that people in the South and those in many other parts of the country are "racist" whether through personal experience or being "carefully taught" Schubert I would only say that I personally believe things go in cycles, American’s "one brief shining moment" of the Camelot era is coming to a close or maybe has a while back. To gain a good political base in these times and perhaps all times, all one needs is to connect the target audience to a narrative to distract them from the real issues. It seems things go in cycles to me. Morality to most folks is based on their personal perspective or views. This is the reason why personal emphathy towards ALL regardless of differences can be the only foundation to change a specific way of thinking. For some it has to get personal first. I don’t believe we’ve arrived at that place YET but it’s coming for sure. Enough of the politics and back to the music!