It is crazy to extend the payroll tax cut at this time.
Americans should be used to the high political drama coming out of Washington. Oh, there are the stories of marital infidelities, disappearing Congressional aides, toe-tapping senators and the like. Then there are the great debates where both sides of an issue scrap and claw their way to political pay dirt. Healthcare reform and the recent battles on raising the debt ceiling come to mind. Funny how things always come together at the 11th hour?…
Article comments
76 - Christopher Rose
No, Glenn, that is what you said to Kenn.
Claiming that due to your experience that you have better knowledge is just one of the many logical and reasoning errors you continually make.
I'm not claiming special knowledge about the subject, but being involved in something does NOT mean that you know better OR see things more clearly. In fact, in many cases it means the exact opposite and, outside of your own imagination, you are not known for you clarity of thinking, rather your adherence to your beliefs. All you have done is swap certain beliefs for others, which is your pattern.
I am unaligned with any dogma, system or programme at all; indeed, I tend to agree with Groucho Marx who famously said, if I remember the quote accurately "I don't care to belong to a club that would accept people like me as a member".
Doc, having a baby is a lifestyle choice; why should businesses be involved in paying for that? Whether parents plan ahead or not, it is their choice and it is fundamentally different to holidays or sick leave, and sick leave should not be a long term requirement of any business either.
If you meet the criteria of the programme you have been paying into, you are certainly absolutely entitled to unemployment benefits and it would be outrageous if you were being denied such benefits, so I hope that gets sorted out soon.
77 - Dr Dreadful
Sometimes, Roger, you have to speaka da language. I was, after all, addressing an American issue, so if Chris et al want to disown me that's their problem!
We relocated. My wife got a job in San Diego. My job was secure, but the long-distance thing just ain't an option for long.
78 - Jet Gardner
I have to laugh. Obama is for tax cuts, the GOP are against them. On a string a long time ago I made a joke and it's now come to fruition...
The Republican Party's biggest fear is that President Obama will announce in November of 2012 just before the election that he wants all true Americans to get out and vote for their GOP and Tea Party candidates...
...Republicans will automatically rush out and vote every Democrat in by a landslide, rather than do what he asked...
don't laugh it could happen.
79 - Jet Gardner
January 2009, "It is the sworn duty of every loyal Republican member of both houses of congress to make sure that this president achieves little or nothing during his term in office... by what ever means necessary."
80 - roger nowosielski
Well, I'm certain you'll like San Diego better.
81 - Jet Gardner
...if you're a mexican that doesn't speak English it's ideal
82 - Dr Dreadful
Doc, having a baby is a lifestyle choice; why should businesses be involved in paying for that? Whether parents plan ahead or not, it is their choice and it is fundamentally different to holidays or sick leave, and sick leave should not be a long term requirement of any business either.
Chris, while procreation is a choice, a sufficiently large percentage of people do it as to make it as natural a part of the human life cycle as illness or requiring rest, so I don't find it reasonable for a business to come over all Scrooge-like when their employees occasionally discover buns in their ovens.
If paid maternity leave makes the difference between retaining a good, happy employee and losing her permanently, I'd say it makes sound business sense apart from anything else.
Paid leave here, if offered at all, tends to the parsimonious anyway, and it's not unusual for women to work up to and beyond their due dates, with the obvious possible health implications that holds.
The US isn't like Europe. There are very few benefits that employers are legally compelled to offer their employees, and many don't. Not surprisingly, the ones that don't tend to be those with a high number of low-wage workers, for example in the food and service industries. This, incidentally, is another thing that perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Americans work longer hours with less time off than almost any other industrialized nation. Coincidentally, their general state of health is also one of the worst in the developed world. While correlation does not necessarily equal causation, there are many reasons in this case to think that the two phenomena are not unconnected.
83 - Jet Gardner
Hetrosexuality is a "lifestyle choice???"
I haven't been back to S.D. in years and I miss it a lot. I worked there four times a year as a line-producer and videographer
84 - Dr Dreadful
...if you're a mexican that doesn't speak English it's ideal
Actually, Jet, considering we're so close to the border (it's only 15 miles down the road) there are surprisingly few monoglot Mexicans here, compared to Fresno, where they are everywhere.
This is because they work mainly in agriculture, and go where the work is. So you won't find many of them in big cities like SD.
85 - Dr Dreadful
Hetrosexuality is a "lifestyle choice???"
No, but having a sprog is, whether you're gay or straight.
86 - Costello
Since when do employers pay maternity leave? Thought it was a state benefit.
And if Groucho actually spoke in the manner Christopher butchered that quote no one would know who he was
87 - Dr Dreadful
Well, I'm certain you'll like San Diego better.
I do, and if I can figure out a way to make a consistent, significant contribution to our family income without rejoining the rat race and spending most of my time away from our beachfront community I will.
But the wellbeing of our household comes first, which is why I quit my old job without having a new one to go to. We did it for 5 months, but living 360 miles apart is rarely good for a relationship, and certainly isn't good for one's gasoline budget.
At least we were in the same time zone!
88 - Dr Dreadful
Since when do employers pay maternity leave? Thought it was a state benefit.
It's paid for by employee contributions, isn't it? At least it is in California.
89 - roger nowosielski
Jet, you know a good part of San Diego is a very conservative, well-to-do community. Take La Jolla, for instance.
Dreadful will indeed have hard time if he tries to measure up to those standards.
90 - S.T.M
San Diego, eh Doc?? Have spent a little time there. It reminded me of home. La Jolla is a lot like Bilgola Plateau, or Avalon.
The only difference was that everyone spoke with a very strange accent, and drove on the wrong side of the road.
Apart from that, it was all good.
Haven't got a quid to your name at the moment, eh?
Brave move relocating. I haven't been to Fresno (I never saw any point :) but San Diego was a good joint back in the 80s and it'd have to be worth taking the punt and going down there with no job.
You never know what you'll flumm into mate!...
BTW, I leave for Adelaide in one week. I'm driving down ahead of my family, who fly down the week after.
It involves a drive through part of the outback, or kind of, because I think the real outback is probably more interesting ... the Hay Plains, which are just miles of nothing broken up by tiny bits of civilisation just to fool you before they disappear into another vast expanse of black soil and red dust and straight road that seems to go on forever.
Should be fun! The music will get a decent workover. I am stopping in Hay on the way through, as it's almost exactly half way. Everyone does it, so I'm hoping all the beds in town won't be booked out. Best to take a punt and get a cheapie.
91 - Christopher Rose
Doc, requiring rest, if you mean sleep, is unfortunately an inherent part of life for everybody but illness and procreation aren't.
Your remarks presume that the pregnant employee IS a good employee, which may or may not be the case; however, it is certain that if they can be done without for a prolonged period, they aren't essential, so why should the business be held up by compulsory maternity leave?
I completely agree that Americans work too much and there may very well be a causative correlation there.
Jet, nice to see you about the place again but I don't think anyone said heterosexuality was a lifestyle choice.
Costello, I pointed out that I wasn't sure if I was remembering the Groucho quote accurately but thanks for chiming in as graciously as usual...
92 - Jet Gardner
I flew there 4-6 times a year on business. We had a studio on El Cajon and a timeshare overlooking the base and airport near the zoo.
I've turned down many offers to move there (sadly) after my first visit when my locked rental car was stolen while I was in a restaurant.
With all the marines and sailors it was heaven though...
93 - Jet Gardner
...um it was a joke Chris... it was a joke [sigh]
94 - roger nowosielski
Well, Jet, San Francisco and the Castro District are still waiting. Not to mention Polk.
When have you been there last?
95 - Jet Gardner
We sold our studio in 2004. I miss it, I had a friend from upstate New York with a timeshare Lear 45 that'd fly me cross-country when he was going out there about every three months.
I'd pay half the tarmac fees and fuel and it was cheaper than commerical, none of the hassles and he'd give me flying lessons.
We'd stop over at McCarren and play blackjack at the MGM Grand there and back. (by the way NEVER play the slots in the airport-worst odds in the city)
my god I miss it
96 - Glenn Contrarian
Chris -
No, Glenn, that is what you said to Kenn.
Which you still immediately replied to, because it was part of a question I asked Kenn and repeated to you.
Okay, Chris? Ya messed up and made a huge assumption and then attacked me on the grounds of your assumption...
...and your assumption turned out to be wrong...
...and you are simply loath to admit that you made a mistake. Try owning up to your mistakes even to those who dislike the most, and you might find that you'll gain a measure of self-respect that you're not expecting.
97 - Glenn Contrarian
Jet -
#92 gave me a belly-laugh, because I well remember how homophobic the Navy tried to be before and during DADT. On a sadder note, although I never took part in the homophobia, I never actively took a part against it until the last four years of my twenty, when a good subordinate of mine lost her career just because some officer's homophobic wife saw her kissing a girl...
...and I hope that wherever she is, she takes some measure of comfort when she saw this photograph.
98 - El Bicho
Good to see you around, Jet.
I think Doc is right. Employees pay into it like our State Disability Insurance.
99 - Igor
#76-Chris asks:
"Doc, having a baby is a lifestyle choice; why should businesses be involved in paying for that?"
I'm glad you asked, since an old girlfriend, Constance (people called her "Connie the Commie" for her leftist views), equipped me to answer this many years ago. I'm sure Connies answer would be something like:
"Business SHOULD help pay, since so much of the benefit that comes to business from the Excess Value of wages that business harvests will come because of that child! Just the baby goods alone that will immediately contribute to commerce will enrich the economy. Later, the child will grow and become a consumer and further feed the needs of business with teenagers commerce. And later yet the baby will become a worker, contributing not only to production but also through his/her work to the Excess Value of labor that is harvested as profits by business!"
Your move.
100 - Jet Gardner
Doc, here's a link to answer your California Family Leave questions here
1. Is my job protected while I’m taking PFL?
2. Can my employer require to me to use vacation or sick leave before getting PFL benefits?
3. Will I need a doctor’s note to qualify for PFL?
4. Can multiple workers take PFL to care for the same seriously ill family member?
5. Can I take PFL to care for a seriously ill family member outside of California?
6. How is my PFL benefit calculated?
7. Can I take PFL on an hourly basis?
8. Does an employee have to work a minimum number of hours or days before becoming eligible for PFL benefits?
9. I am on leave recovering from pregnancy and receiving State Disability Insurance payments â€" can I also receive PFL benefits?
10. How is the 7-day waiting period served?
11. I am not a U.S. citizen - can I still apply for PFL?
12. Can my spouse and I both take PFL to bond with our new child?
13. How long do I have to take PFL to bond with a new child?
14. Who do I contact about my PFL application?
101 - Jet Gardner
Glenn, you have no idea how many burly straight marines and sailors were willing to pose naked (except for their tattoos and dogtags) in front of my cameras, or even have sex with a fellow soldier in order to earn enough instant cash to buy their girlfriend an engagement ring.
Word soon spread around the bases that doing straight porn was fun, but gay porn paid four times or more and paid cash instantly. The things a twenty-year-old will do for $2,000 are astonishing.
It's how I made a living for almost 20 years enticing those underpaid men with quick cash for an hour's work (if you want to call it that.)
102 - roger nowosielski
You were corrupting the youth, my friend.
Socrates was banished from Athens for the same kind of offense, but decided to drink hemlock instead rather than live out the rest of his life in infamy.
103 - Jet Gardner
...and I loved every minute of it {:^pbpb~~~~~
104 - Jet Gardner
...damn, I keep forgetting Roger says I only post on my own articles... sigh
105 - Glenn Contrarian
Jet -
At first glance I was surprised to see that, because I never heard of it...but that's probably because I was one of those who was always having to worry about making weight standards. But I must admit I'm not too surprised, because yes, there's not much they wouldn't do for a bit of extra cash - and they probably surprised themselves with their own, um, reactions. And you've probably got a few stories you could tell on the subject, too. Hey - there's a serious market for LGBT publishing - write something about your experiences! Not a seedy novel, but a book about what you saw on a psychological level. I remember when I went to a writers conference a few years back, some editors were specifically asking for LGBT writers. Might be some money there, y'know?
Just think, Jet - you probably had a hand (or more) in changing a lot of minds about DADT!
106 - Glenn Contrarian
And for Chris -
There's a significant (and very politically-active) segment of the population who feel that having a child is NOT a "lifestyle choice", but who are against birth control in all its forms.
Funny thing is, these same people would generally agree with you that businesses shouldn't have to give any allowances whatsoever for childbearing.
OTOH, it's either Sweden or Norway (or is it Finland?) that gives a full YEAR of maternity leave for new mothers...and their economy's doing just fine, thank you very much, even during the current European economic crisis.
But I forget - that's EEEEEvil socialism, and not at all the Holy Capitalism of Red-Blooded America!
107 - Christopher Rose
Igor, I don't find your answer, amusing though it is, has any relevance to the issue. Principally, it confuses the specificity of a particular business with the generality of businesses collectively.
Glenn, I fail to see how your most recent comments either help along the conversation or even make much sense but I guess I just don't have the facility for magic thinking that you do.
All I know is that trying to talk to you is exactly the same experience as trying to talk to those Jehovah's Witnesses that come to the door from time to time; a pointless exercise because they have already decided what the answers are, as have you.
108 - roger nowosielski
I was never aware until you just reminded me that Christopher Rose was an avid proponent of Holy Capitalism, or Red-Blooded America, for that matter.
Live and learn, I guess. You are a chock full o' wisdom, Glenn, got to give you that! There's no way I could possibly compete.
And you're saying now you're not a sanctimonious, pompous ass? How on earth can you possibly have a decent discussion with anyone while you're assuming such airs?
You really ought to hear yourself speak or write. It should put you to shame. I'm certain you're not doing that consciously, no sane person possibly could. I must trace it therefore to your basic ineptness in person-to-person relationships. Perhaps the twenty-year hitch in the Navy is just too much for any person to go through and remain unscathed. I have no idea, I'm only guessing. But surely, you've been affected, and in a serious way.
A belated Merry-Xmas, by the way. I hope for your sake the next year will make sufficient impact to make you come down and join the rest of humanity because as things stand right now, you're in a class all your own.
109 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger -
I've said several times that it was Jordan who rightly pointed out that I had a problem with sanctimony, and I immediately agreed and have thanked Jordan directly for saying so. And I'd have to agree with you that my tone is growing more pompous as well.
And yes, this is a matter of concern for me and it's something I really do need to work on - for it's hurting my effectiveness as a writer. Not only that, but I'm not this way face-to-face, but I certainly wouldn't want my tone of writing to affect my actual personality.
There's a scene in Patton where Patton admits to Bradley that yes, he is a prima donna, but what bothered him about Montgomery was that he was just as much a prima donna but simply wouldn't admit it. I admit that my writing has become more sanctimonious and pompous...but unlike Patton in the movie, that's something I really do want to change. Hopefully - with your help (seriously) - I can bring down my tone to a sensible, saner level. Please do so by reminding me when I'm getting too close to the edge of the map.
And as before, I do appreciate the constructive criticism. Thank you, Roger.
110 - roger nowosielski
I haven't meant to be disrespectful, Glenn. It just does come across too many times that you're so entangled in your own train of thought that you're simply running roughshod, at total disregard of what other people are saying.
There's just no sense in that if communication is the object, unless all you're intent on is to hear yourself speak.
111 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger -
You've been disrespectful in the past...and so have I. I'd be a hypocrite if I were to disregard what you're saying when you're shifting gears and giving me constructive criticism which I need and appreciate.
Again, I am grateful.
112 - roger nowosielski
Of course I have, but it wasn't intentional. I was but a frustration on my part, no excuse though.
113 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger -
No, I won't buy the 'unintentional' excuse - we are all accountable for our actions. I was disrespectful and I am solely responsible for that. It is only by holding oneself accountable and not allowing oneself to have excuses that one can hold oneself to a better standard.
Please note that while I am not allowing you that excuse, neither am I blaming you - because I am every bit as much at fault.
114 - roger nowosielski
Cool.
115 - Igor
In re 107-Chris: Yes, of course, isn't that the point of rationalizing our own personal interests as identified with noble group goals? To recruit the goals of the group to our own purposes?
Of course it is!
But I didn't quite finish Connies discourse, as she would finish like this: "so you see, by all of us contributing to the health and welfare of this child the entire society benefits, though each of us does it for his own pleasure and rewards, as if guided by an Invisible Hand."
116 - Christopher Rose
Igor, do people rationalize their "own personal interests as identified with noble group goals"? I would have thought that was intellectually dishonest.
I'd counter the end of your friend's possibly naive discourse by quoting Philip Larkin's cheery little poem This Be The Verse.
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself
I don't subscribe routinely to cheery optimism or bleak pessimism myself.
117 - roger nowosielski
@116
"Igor, do people rationalize their "own personal interests as identified with noble group goals"? I would have thought that was intellectually dishonest."
Of course it is, but intellectual honesty takes courage to keep on challenging your own positions.
I like your poem, though.
118 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger -
intellectual honesty takes courage to keep on challenging your own positions.
QUOTED FOR TRUTH!!!!
Questioning my own beliefs, btw, is precisely why I'm a strong liberal now instead of having remained a strong conservative.
119 - Igor
Chris:
Igor, do people rationalize their "own personal interests as identified with noble group goals"? I would have thought that was intellectually dishonest.
Of course it's intellectually dishonest. That's what 'rationalize' is about. Trickery and sleight-of-hand.
120 - Christopher Rose
I try to aim for honesty, even when it isn't in my immediate best interest.