Here’s the good news: future costs of Social Security and Medicare won’t require higher taxes. Now here’s the bad news: the reason these programs won’t require higher taxes is that they’ll be so expensive that there’s no possible way to pay for them through taxes. Everything in the US (not counting people) is worth about $50 trillion and those two programs will cost $80 trillion, unless they are reformed.
And the article even comes with the best possible graphic:
Here’s a suggestion: get a damned job, Grandma.
Some of this sounds a little familiar…
Since every war imposes on the people fearful sacrifices in blood and treasure, all personal profit arising from the war must be regarded as treason to the people We therefore demand the total confiscation of all war profits.We demand the nationalization of all trusts.
We demand profit-sharing in large industries.
We demand a generous increase in old-age pensions.
We demand the creation and maintenance of a sound middle-class, the immediate communalization of large stores which will be rented cheaply to small tradespeople, and the strongest consideration must be given to ensure that small traders shall deliver the supplies needed by the State, the provinces and municipalities.
We demand an agrarian reform in accordance with our national requirements, and the enactment of a law to expropriate the owners without compensation of any land needed for the common purpose. The abolition of ground rents, and the prohibition of all speculation in land.
We demand that ruthless war be waged against those who work to the injury of the common welfare. Traitors, usurers, profiteers, etc., are to be punished with death, regardless of creed or race.
In order to make it possible for every capable and industrious [citizen] to obtain higher education, and thus the opportunity to reach into positions of leadership, the State must assume the responsibility of organizing thoroughly the entire cultural system of the people The curricula of all educational establishments shall be adapted to practical life. The conception of the State Idea (science of citizenship) must be taught in the schools from the very beginning. We demand that specially talented children of poor parents, whatever their station or occupation, be educated at the expense of the State.
The State has the duty to help raise the standard of national health by providing maternity welfare centers, by prohibiting juvenile labor, by increasing physical fitness through the introduction of compulsory games and gymnastics, and by the greatest possible encouragement of associations concerned with the physical education of the young.
We demand the abolition of the regular army and the creation of a national [civilian] army.
Newspapers transgressing against the common welfare shall be suppressed. We demand legal action against those tendencies in art and literature that have a disruptive influence upon the life of our [citizens], and that any organizations that offend against the foregoing demands shall be dissolved.
We demand freedom for all religious faiths in the state, insofar as they do not endanger its existence or offend the moral and ethical sense….
COMMON GOOD BEFORE INDIVIDUAL GOOD
In order to carry out this program we demand: the creation of a strong central authority in the State, the unconditional authority by the political central parliament of the whole State and all its organizations.
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Related (via email)
I was born in one country, raised in another. My father was born in another country. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with numerous women.
I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me.
My mother died at an early age from cancer.
Later in life, questions arose over my real name.
My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.
I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn’t follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.
<>I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them. That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.
<>I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.
I became active in local politics in my 30’s then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything. That reinforced my conceit.
I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.
I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances. This bolstered my ego.
At first, my political campaign focused on my country’s foreign policy…… I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my country…
But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country’s economy. I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.
I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations. I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.
I called mine “A People’s Campaign” and that sounded good to all people.
I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.
I knew that, if I merely offered the people ‘hope’ , together we could change our country and the world.
So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include “persecuted minorities” like the Jews. My true views were not widely known & I needed to keep them unknown, until after I became my nation’s leader.
I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with. I’m glad they didn’t. Then I became the most powerful man in the world.
As sort of a followup to this, this here’s a post for vegetarian LOLcats. If I miss one, post a link in the comments section, and I’ll post it here.
The Pirahã of the Brazilian Amazon. No religion, no use for outside cultures or tools, minimal art, a language that seems to defy otherwise universal linguistic conventions.
The Pirahã are the “Show me!” tribe of the Brazilian Amazon. They don’t bother with fiction or tall tales or even oral history. They have little art. They don’t have a creation myth and don’t want one. If they can’t see it, hear it, touch it or taste it, they don’t believe in it.
Missionaries have been preaching to the Pirahãs for 200 years and have converted not one. Everett did not know this when he first visited them in 1977 at age 26. A missionary and a linguist, he was sent to learn their language, translate the Bible for them, and ultimately bring them to Christ.
Instead, they brought him to atheism. “The Pirahãs have shown me that there is dignity and deep satisfaction in facing life and death without the comfort of heaven or the fear of hell and in sailing toward the great abyss with a smile.”
In the words of “Britain’s Got Talent” judge Simon Cowell: “Oh My God.”
Without giving it away, this is another one of those “Huh, didn’t see that coming” performances. Not the same as Susan Boyle, but still, worthy of a watch…
UPDATE: Looks like there is at least of smidgeon of justice in the world. Simon Cowell his own self is apparently going to get a recording contract for Susan Boyle.
From the Swedish newspaper “The Local:”
More than 4,000 teenagers in Stockholm are exposed on a daily basis to cultures of honour that run counter to Swedish law, according to an estimate based on a new official study.
Violence are repression are regular occurrences for a large section of 16-year-old school goers in the city centre and suburbs, according to a study commissioned by local politicians.
Ulf Kristersson (Mod), Commissioner of Social Services, is one of a number of politicinas surprised and outraged by the findings.
“It’s not permitted for adults, not even parents, to prevent children from living full, independent lives,” he told Sverige Televsion.
The results come from a survey of a cross section of more than 2,000 pupils.
Almost a quarter of female respondents, 23 percent, said they were expected to retain their virginity until marriage and were not allowed to have a boyfriend. Sixteen percent of girls were not allowed to have male friends or decide who they would marry.
Seven percent of girls and three percent of boys said they were exposed to serious violations in the form of threats and violence.
And ten percent of girls and four percent of boys said their lives were limited to the extent that they could not live in the same way as other people their own age.
The majority of teenagers who matched the honour culture profile have parents born outside Sweden.
So. What little snippet of information was left out of this article? What minor descriptor could they have used with complete factual accuracy… but were apparently afraid to use? In short, what is this “culture of honour” they yap on about?
(Generally I only post a small snippet of a news article, and suggest that you visit the source for the whole thing. In this case, I’ve reposted the whole article. For two reasons:
1) So you can easily read the whole thing
2) These are modern Swedes. Apparently, they’re easily mastered by non-Swedes. So, Mr. “The Local” editor, come over here and try something. I’ll simply bitchslap you, and you’ll go home and cry. )
The current collection of B-2-related designs for “US Bomber Projects,” now with updated Senior Peg fuselage contours. Same planform, less tubby.
See here for how I got the Senior Peg planform.
UPDATE: rescaled the Northrop ATA per information provided by Abraham G.