Still Hating America.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Do you think raw hatred is an attractive board persona, without something more?

Translation: My name is Hank, and I still can't back up what I say, so I'll accuse everyone else of arguing in a not nice way.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Adder
This may be a bit wonk-like, but doesn't SOX create obligations that might require them to report other than internally?

Not sure -- but if it's to or on behalf of the shareholders, that is who you serve.

And what rules of professional conduct say you can't investigate your boss? It certainly isn't great practice, but I wasn't aware of a specific ethical issue.

You can investigate your boss. Even report him to criminal or civil authorities if his conduct warrants that.

But you can't be retained by someone else to conduct that investigation. Which is what people are proposing here: Congress should delegate its investigation of the DOJ to the DOJ, and hope that the DOJ will report back.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
when we're out, still order stuff with the bacon but on the side, okay? or on my plate---

Like "I'll have the bacon cheeseburger, but with the bacon on Hank's blackened tuna fillet."

I went to a restaurant in Toronto recently where, if you sit at the bar, they serve you one of those big french-fry cones, but filled with strips of bacon.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
But you can't be retained by someone else to conduct that investigation. Which is what people are proposing here: Congress should delegate its investigation of the DOJ to the DOJ, and hope that the DOJ will report back.

Actually, I thought club was saying that Congress shouldn't be investigating and DOJ should.

[SlaveNoMore]

Sidd Finch
I went to a restaurant in Toronto recently where, if you sit at the bar, they serve you one of those big french-fry cones, but filled with strips of bacon.

I take it they don't have a chapter of CAIR in Toronto yet.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
I take it they don't have a chapter of CAIR in Toronto yet.

Or an AHA.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Adder
Actually, I thought club was saying that Congress shouldn't be investigating and DOJ should.

Who at the DOJ would initiate that investigation?

And what's stopping them from doing so now?

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
I went to a restaurant in Toronto recently where, if you sit at the bar, they serve you one of those big french-fry cones, but filled with strips of bacon.

Perfect with a bacon martini.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Who at the DOJ would initiate that investigation?

And what's stopping them from doing so now?

Take it up with Club. Wasn't my idea.

Personally, I don't have a big objection to the fact that much of this is driven by the oppotunity to grandstand. That is politics. And it is a necessary part of informing voters about whether they want to continue the course or make a change at the next election.

This particular opportunity to grandstand, at least, is not as completely baseless as some in the past as Al has at least already lied publicly (something about a woman and sexual relations, I can't remember...).

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
No, it is. Really.

But when the feds use tax money to intervene in the collapse of an overly risky hedge fund, or sell federal land to oil and mining companies for nothing, that's just the natural order of things.

No, that's not. I couldn't agree with you more that the govt should never intervene to bailout businesses. That is appalling. And I've been consistent in stating my dislike of subsidies of all kind from day one.

[Adder]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
No, that's not. I couldn't agree with you more that the govt should never intervene to bailout businesses. That is appalling. And I've been consistent in stating my dislike of subsidies of all kind from day one.

how do you feel about the FDIC?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Not Bob
Jesus Fucking Christ. What do you call it when there is a call for a tax cut for the wealthy combined with a cut in benefits (like more restrictions on the earned income tax credit) to the working poor?

How about a call for a flat tax, or a national sales tax, which would have the effect of shifting the tax burden further down the economic scale?

Or about when, as St. Ronnie of Reagan was wont to do, you give a speech in which you demonize fictional or exaggerated welfare queens? Is that class warfare?

In order...

I call it a bad fucking omen for the middle class, which will get murdered with whatever "fix" the fucking Democrat party applies to re-even the playing field. Your blessed progressive tax system ensures the govt will never be able to soak the rich, and that every attempt it makes to do so will only wind up soaking the poor bastard scrapping to jump from the edge of the middle to rich.

How in the fuck is a flat tax unfair? Really. Don't chuck me some policy wonk horseshit. If everybody pays one, and the truly poor are exempted, how is that unfair? Oh... lemme guess - because then the illusory beneficiaries of our wasteful govt redistribution schemes would get LESS than they did under the progressivge system. That someone's getting less of a benefit they shouldn't have received under a previously flawed system isn't unfair. Not at least how I understand the word.

Did I resurrect Reagan or welfare queens? No. I think welfare's a fine program we should fund. It costs nothing and is necessary. It's the rest of the programs, aimed at social engineering, as opposed to safety nets, that are the problem.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Adder
how do you feel about the FDIC?

Oh, I think it should be abolished.

If you have something useful to say, say it. If you want to try snarky, get a different personality. You're bad at it.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
In order...

I call it a bad fucking omen for the middle class, which will get murdered with whatever "fix" the fucking Democrat party applies to re-even the playing field. Your blessed progressive tax system ensures the govt will never be able to soak the rich, and that every attempt it makes to do so will only wind up soaking the poor bastard scrapping to jump from the edge of the middle to rich.

How in the fuck is a flat tax unfair? Really. Don't chuck me some policy wonk horseshit. If everybody pays one, and the truly poor are exempted, how is that unfair? Oh... lemme guess - because then the illusory beneficiaries of our wasteful govt redistribution schemes would get LESS than they did under the progressivge system. That someone's getting less of a benefit they shouldn't have received under a previously flawed system isn't unfair. Not at least how I understand the word.

Did I resurrect Reagan or welfare queens? No. I think welfare's a fine program we should fund. It costs nothing and is necessary. It's the rest of the programs, aimed at social engineering, as opposed to safety nets, that are the problem.

What is "social engineering"? Public education? Public transportation? The military? Courts? Law enforcement?

You've already taken welfare out of the equation, so it's not clear what's getting your goat today.

I paid a hell of a lot of taxes last year. My kid goes to private school. I drive to work. And yet, I feel I benefit from what the government does a lot more -- in both absolute and proportionate terms -- than someone making $40k. There are countries without much public education, roads, etc. etc. I don't think it's as easy in those countries to break into the higher income ranks as it is here.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Translation: My name is Hank, and I still can't back up what I say, so I'll accuse everyone else of arguing in a not nice g inway.

Are you saying I accuse in a not nice way, or I accuse you of arguing in a not nice way? You said before people pay you for your advocacy, right, does someone more senior review the briefs?