California Comment (Freedom, Nice, Darwin: calculated, cost of, assess)
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Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,684,265 times
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Holy mackeral, I am with you Fontucky, short and sweet... This post was 1,953 words A reasonable magazine article. If one bothered to read it. This guy needs a fishing license, or a motor cycle license or a skateboard, or a girlfriend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahthatguy
You're mixing two things.. Like I said I don't want to get into the union debate .. It is its own topic .. Army vs. Universal healthcare.. Hey, I'm with you.. We spent ~3.7 trillion and counting on the war .. I would obviously support putting it to more constructive use...
As for capitalism.. the past when unions had a purpose (no longer do) .. be careful w/ your timelines.. It's 2011. Lazy public workers/unions who are overpaid are as much a parasite on society as the robber barons on wallstreet. GM went bankrupt due to unions .. Unless you forgot about that little tidbit.
And listen stop ignoring the incredible amount of freedom consumers have..
This is seriously not a joke.. Someone gives you $50,000 .. they tell you ... you can do whatever you want w/ it.. The average fool in America is going to go spend it all .. You talk about evil capitalism ... Look at all the moron consumers : BMW Group posts record earnings for 2010 - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com
Go through a 'hood' and see how many fools are rolling around in $50-60k cars. Meanwhile I took $50-70k, and went and tripled it betting on the stupidity of Americans at the height of the housing bubble..
You have the freedom to be an utter dumb failure in America and a success.. I am not going to dam a system that gives you the freedom to choose. I am going to point out that choices have consequences.... Ignorance is no excuse for making the wrong choices as ignorance has its consequences to.
I came from the bottom and made it to the middle. I learned several key things along the way :
> Hard laborious work has great rewards in terms of a feeling of fulfillment
> Money = Freedom/Opportunity .. Not the means to buy junk
> There are many ways to multiply your money
> Sacrifice early on and compound your money and you will have a lot to enjoy
> Leave the earth giving back more than what you took
> Give your child that much more than what your parents gave to you
> IGNORANCE HAS A COST IN LIFE
> TIME = MONEY
Go and look at where people spend their time.. You look at rising companies.. there centered on media/junk/games/bread/circuses for the masses...
People choose this lifestyle en masse .. In America, you have a choice as to how live... I came from a horrid neighborhood.. A poor uneducated household .. I made it to a pretty high level thus far .. How? by sacrificing .. by saying no to short term rewards and holding on for long term.. By not watching TV .. by not trying to feign wealth via materialistic purchases.. by picking up a book .. by not playing games on my cellphone 24/7 .. by doing a lot of things a lot of Americans do which result in their circumstance/position in this country.
We have a basic safety net in this country... One that is far better than a lot of places in the world .. We have a democracy for god's sake.. Look at how many people get involved when trillions are blown on wars instead of their health.. You would expect protests in every street of America.. But what do you see? You see people saying : Oh, i support the president no matter what because he's a democrat.. I support the president no matter what because hes republican... This is a democracy, you get what you deserve.
I repeat .. YOU HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF FREEDOM IN THIS COUNTRY.
Freedom to be a total moron who doesn't get involved in any aspect of the things that shape their country.. Someone who chooses escapism entertainment instead of facing reality head on and trying to change the world...
AMERICA is what it is because people don't care nor are they involved.. Those who are and point out the problems and ways to fix them get beaten down by the general ignorant clowns in the country (which are the majority)... At some point they give up and turn to the darkside and instead exploit the idiot majority .. and do so to protect/offset the impact such morons have on their lives...
I hope that you are on the road to recovery and better health
Sadly it's not scalable .. or affordable. I'd like everyone in the world to be fed and clothed and housed.. It's just not possible/feasible though.. This is reality.. Harsh reality .... The world is harsh .. There are people eating mud pies who wont live to 30 in the world.. what about them.. they are human too.
On healthcare.. In general . you are healthy not because of it but because you lead a healthy life style.. Sure, sh*t happens, and when it does healthcare is needed .. but lets not mix the general fact that if you pursue a healthy lifestyle you will generally be healthy.. As for checkups, etc .. physicals/etc are quite affordable .. there are many startups now opening affordable dental care to people as well .... There's a problem.. There's always a solution. Govt. is not always the answer..
I try to give my personal info whenever I can to give people insight into my bias/viewpoint... I came from nothing .. I was surrounded most my life by people who don't have talents and were not well off. I have that perspective.. I have the perspective of barely getting by.. Eating one meal a day.. I have the perspective of a dad who cared about his family and worked 3-4 jobs to make sure his kids had better. I have a lot of perspective and by no means do I loose sight of it now that I am 'somewhere'. Look around at the majority of the populous and note the clothing they wear .. the cable they have.. the cars they drive.. the smart phones they have.. the junk they buy ... Look around at people's choices and note what consequences can possibly result from them.. Ponder if these people are even aware of them.. and why?
Education is a fundamental building block to everything. Without it, you're doomed. We give everyone access to education in this country.. Go through various schools in America and observe a great wealth of people throwing this opportunity away. You have countries that are way less prosperous than us yet are more educated .. healthy and probably have more fulfilling lives..
It comes down to valuation .. If you dont value x,y,z and value a,b,c.. x,y,z will become deficient and neglected. I'm not wealthy .. nor are many people here.. I know friends that make 1/3 or 1/4th what I make and live better than me in other places... Which is why I am leaving in a year .. but hey, money is relative .. What is the most valuable thing to me : intelligence .. $$$ comes and goes.. its value rises and falls .. It is a means to an end.. My intelligence accumulated over the years remains... My dignity/morals/values even if all my wealth was confiscated remains.. my culture remains... these are the things that define me.. Put me over in a mud hut and strip away all my possessions and I will still find happiness/humanity.
Declaring that your country should give people x,y,z as a right .. and every increasing those rights is a recipe for disaster.. Look at the current state of the Eurozone....
You're in trouble because, like America.. you tucked all your problems under a carpet.. you haven't been doing good .. you've been pretending you were w/ ever increasing debt/obligations.. Same w/ Europe which is on a precipice .. You don't all of a sudden have epic problems.. you slowly build problems YoY and hide problems until they become epic.
California is great. I will never deny that.. The geography is great and the people are too .. None of which came about due to taxes/govt.. I don't forget that ever ! The more you travel america the more you discover other great places. Many other states care for the environment/poor/disabled.. It's a big world .. The question is how much does it cost and is it worth it.. Regardless of whether I have the money, which I have a lot of .. I live my life on principal. The reason I have money (freedom) and thus can make lots of choices is because I ask that critical question in general when I spend my money on something .. Is it worth it ? Do I need it? Can I get it some place cheaper? What is happiness ? Did I have the same amount of it elsewhere? Is this fair? Is this right?
Many people don't live on principal or along this mindset/awareness.. They do what they do .. spend what they spend .. live how someone dictates they live... don't ask questions.. don't challenge status quo .. when someone presses on them they dont press back.. they put their head down and work harder..
I'm not of this breed .. never have been .. maybe its my life experiences that shaped me in this way... After-all, Given my upbringing, I had to constantly identify those who were trying to take advantage and leech.. I had to identify environments and circumstances that weren't best for my well being and change them... I had to open my eyes and keep my eyes wide open to what was happening around me in order to carefully navigate to success/well-being...
So, at this juncture, when I asses the freedom of choice I have .. When I asses the leeching someone is doing.. When I personally asses the value of life here .. It is not adding up .. and as I move to start a family .. and become responsible for the long term livelihood, education, and prosperity of my family/kids. .I have to take it all in and value/weigh things carefully .. see long term risk.. assess trends and the direction of things and pick a place that is suitable for my long terms needs.. and sadly that just isn't here..
I am a vocal person who stands up to things I don't think are right.. This personal trait of mine wont change ... I have done a good amount during my stay in CA and left here giving more than I took .. I got involved in my local community and state govt... I sought changes in things that I thought were a problem and for that I feel o.k .. The changes weren't enough and the direction of this state aren't inline w/ my direction... and thus I must part ways.. the problems will still be problems no matter if I point them out ... other do .. or when I leave.
It's important thus that people understand the freedoms they have .. the power they have to stand up .. change things, shape their lives, and the lives of others.. It's important for people to understand how this freedom comes about and what threatens it... For there wont always be someone to point out problems for you.. point out leechers for you.. point out the right direction. You must be aware/involved and do so for yourself...
So I wish CA the best but have to see reality for what it is .. I haven't gotten to where I am dreaming and hoping .. I got to where I am being realistic and acting. So cheers
The state w/ the 'historically largest economy' isn't the state that is attracting the most business or jobs and that's a fact from economic data that you can go google and that has been posted 10-20 times in various threads.
California is undergoing a deep recession due to the housing bubble the same can be said of some other states with dramatically different policies.
What reason is there to believe that something more fundamental has changed in the state?
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahthatguy
Further, inland empire CA is most definitely not the fast growing area in the country. That is just a flat out lie .. and you can go google that yourself too
Please read more carefully, I never suggested it was the fastest growing, I said its one of the fastest growing areas and that is indeed the case. The Inland Empire added almost 1 million residents the last decade, a 27% increase.
An area that has grown by 27% over the last 10 years isn't attractive to business?! Just crazy....
Holy mackeral, I am with you Fontucky, short and sweet... This post was 1,953 words A reasonable magazine article. If one bothered to read it. This guy needs a fishing license, or a motor cycle license or a skateboard, or a girlfriend.
I type at approximately 102-112 wpm .. I don't spell check or care for grammar at these speeds, it's a skill I acquired from occupation.
I put thought into my posts .. Sorry...
Have a girlfriend, have a life, job, fishing license (I don't do licenses =P I just fish), own a motorcycle and a motor cycle license, .. don't skateboard but mountain bike. If you don't care to read the post, don't read it .. It wasn't intended for you. Move along and stop trolling
California is undergoing a deep recession due to the housing bubble the same can be said of some other states with dramatically different policies.
What reason is there to believe that something more fundamental has changed in the state?
What's the reason to believe the past is the predictor of the future when it often times is not.. Whats the reason to believe something can grow forever when there is nothing in nature or reality that can? What's the reason to believe just because you used to be #1 that you will always be when reality shows you different ? What's the reason to believe California is undergoing a deep recession just due to the housing bubble because you said it w/o supporting facts.. for which your commentary always lacks supporting facts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by user_id
Please read more carefully, I never suggested it was the fastest growing, I said its one of the fastest growing areas and that is indeed the case. The Inland Empire added almost 1 million residents the last decade, a 27% increase.
I read carefully .. I know how you try to word things 'carefully' though so thanks for quantifying your statement ... Now lets qualify it and see just what lies in IE and its growth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by user_id
An area that has grown by 27% over the last 10 years isn't attractive to business?! Just crazy....
Change in Inland landscape | The Business Press | Business News for Inland Southern California (http://www.inlandsocal.com/business/content/economic_development/stories/PE_Biz_D_censusbiz13.1aba34b.html - broken link)
HISPANIC POPULATION GROWTH
Riverside County: 2010 Hispanic population: 995,000
Increase from 2000: 78% Share of total population, 2010: 45.5%
Share of total population 2000: 36.2%
San Bernardino County: 2010 Hispanic population: 1 million
Increase from 2000: 50%
Share of total population, 2010: 49.2%
Share of total population, 2000: 39.2%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, University of Georgia Selig Center for Economic Growth
The recent growth in the state has been largely fueled by Hispanics, who continued to increase in numbers, though at a slower rate than in the 1990s. The number of whites continued to decline. They now make up just 40 percent of the state, compared with 47 percent in 2000.
In Riverside County, for instance, Hispanics accounted for two-thirds of the population’s increase, and in San Bernardino nearly 50 percent of the county is now Hispanic. Throughout the central inland part of the state, Hispanics now make up more than 40 percent of the population.
The area is also projected to remain one of the least educated areas of the state with the lowest average in annual wages in the country.[33] A 2006 study of salaries in 51 metropolitan areas of the country ranked the Inland Empire second to last, with an average annual wage of $36,924.
Awww, so w/ this qualification.. I see exactly what's going on.. Thanks for allowing me to qualify data again
Who would want to move there .. this question has been answered...
In 2008, unemployment in the area increased to 9.5%, "3 percentage points higher than the national rate and 1.3 points higher than the state's rate of 8.2%."[73] Unemployment reached an all-time high of 15% percent in 2010, second in the nation only to Detroit among metropolitan areas with populations over 1 million.[74]
I again reflect that such regions are not what people boast about when they describe California .. the beautiful desirable .. The educational makeup of the region and other factors highlight just who is moving there.
Last edited by yeahthatguy; 07-06-2011 at 03:18 PM..
What's the reason to believe the past is the predictor of the future when it often times is not.. Whats the reason to believe something can grow forever when there is nothing in nature or reality that can?
The point of my comment has nothing to do with the past predicting hte future, instead people as yourself are claiming that California is horrible for business, etc, yet not much has changed policy wise in California over the last few decades. If California was indeed bad for business, why does its economy continue to grow so well? Why does it continue to innovate? and so on. Have businesses just now after decades decided California isn't good for them?
In terms of growth, nobody believes the state is going to rapidly grow forever. Growth is starting to slow and will continue to slow in the future. That is perfectly normal, California is turning into an established state.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahthatguy
The recent growth in the state has been largely fueled by Hispanics, who continued to increase in numbers, though at a slower rate than in the 1990s. The number of whites continued to decline. They now make up just 40 percent of the state, compared with 47 percent in 2000.
What is your point? What does this have to do with how attractive the area is for business?
The point of my comment has nothing to do with the past predicting hte future, instead people as yourself are claiming that California is horrible for business, etc, yet not much has changed policy wise in California over the last few decades. If California was indeed bad for business, why does its economy continue to grow so well? Why does it continue to innovate? and so on. Have businesses just now after decades decided California isn't good for them?
California is not growing so well compared to more tax friendly states... Instead of just saying this .. People of this position posted facts about California's business friendliness and growth compared to other states. The facts/data/analysis supported the argument unlike yours. At this juncture where every penny counts .. You see things like costs mattering more to companies and people. Why do innovative people continue to come here? Let me ask myself that question.. job and girlfriend.. If jobs go elsewhere, people go elsewhere.. Jobs are elsewhere and this trend is growing... I am heading elsewhere as a result to live more comfortably.. California is not innovative .....the people in it are and the people who come here are. Yes, business have just now decided after decades that its maybe time for a move... I decided after 4-5 years. Is this weird? no.
Quote:
Originally Posted by user_id
In terms of growth, nobody believes the state is going to rapidly grow forever. Growth is starting to slow and will continue to slow in the future. That is perfectly normal, California is turning into an established state.
What is your point? What does this have to do with how attractive the area is for business?
My point is, since growth is still present beyond California and the world for that matter that growth will pick up pace elsewhere as you can only cram so many people into a region before things get uncomfortable. It is getting uncomfortable in the technology hub in silicon valley.. and people are branching out for more room and more comfortable living.. these innovative companies/people.. bring with them these traits to other regions and other hubs spring ... As places get more packed and more expensive they become less attractive to businesses .. thus, by your own logic/admission ... there is a slowing and a halting point.. and potentially a reversal (yes.. reversal of trends happen too)...
> Nothing goes up/down in a straight line..
> Nothing grows forever
By this understanding, a great deal of things can occur. By analyzing the data/facts/trends you come to understand potential short term trends and long term ones.. I make a good living outside my salaried job doing just that... I use the same skills to do life/lifestyle planning. What happens when, in trying to address the federal deficit, washington increases taxes on the bread and butter salaries of California? Again, there is no COL adjustment to federal taxation .. Some people living above their pay (which isn't much in CA) will be S.O.L.
The data/facts are what they are. We've been over this 100 times. No one is claiming California is going to fall into an abyss.. What is being claimed is the reality that stares everyone in the face. It has its good/bad .. it has its ups/downs.. it has its short term trends/long term trends...
If i have 10 eggheads in California and 10,000 manuf. jobs in China... and consumers of my junk in the U.S... I can easily offset the costs of employing 10 eggheads at the insane costs it takes to be in the valley.. As you start to scale that headcount is where it gets expensive.. and thus start branching your eggheads out...Further, w/ such lofty pricing and concentrations, you start to price a particular interesting element of society out of the region .. this inflates generally everything and your dollars go less further... Diversity suffers ... culture suffers.. a lot of things suffer that aren't one of these 10 choice eggheads. Things maybe start getting boring... and stale.
As much as the Hamptons is a beautiful place, not everyone can live there comfortably and not everyone honestly cares to .. So, in a sense ... Life goes on for the majority and the rest of the world ... Rich people don't only live in the hamptons.. middle class people dont only live in A,B,C ... people spread out .. Businesses spread out. As costs go up, other regions become more compelling ... This is a truth that is present on a global scale... Why deny it doesn't occur/wont occur in the u.s?
It's a great thing to be a part of something as it begins to build up .. Not only from an 'investment' standpoint but from making your mark on the progression.
If you see the long term trends of something, you can spot these opportunities out when others are oblivious to it...
I don't like to be invested in company whose growth is slowing ... whose momentum is slowing and the potential for trend changes are high .. neither would I like to be located in a community/town/city/state that is.
You end up getting in high and watching things helplessly decline a bit lower .. vs.. getting in low and watching/helping things progress a bit higher .. there's a valuation difference between the two and its not the same for all people.
Last edited by yeahthatguy; 07-06-2011 at 04:36 PM..
Feel free to tune out .. Seems like you put on quite a show yourself w/ over 7x my number of posts.. Regardless, I dont care for non-contributors and snide remarks... So move along and take the usual crew of detractors w/ you.
And, yes, it's also applicable to other places around the country as well. But it certainly typifies some of our Sacramento experiences before we left and that's my frame of reference and personal experience.
A dirtbag once broke my car window to steal a disposable camera. I guess that was my dirtbag wake up call.
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