OlDawg

I usually enjoy listening to Levin. But, this is a stupid argument. If you’re worried about Cuba, go after Cuba. If proof actually exists of this threat, justification is there. If not, it’s just another excuse. Cuba could actually have been handled in 2 weeks, the people would even have helped, and there wouldn’t have been the economic impact.

I rarely agree with you. But, I agree on the bolded. Right now, we have two major Parties: The Socialists and The Idiots. If I was better with AI and/or graphics, I'd create new symbols. One depicting both hands open & out begging, and one with a dunce cap.

I had read about it in the past, and it made me chuckle then. Wife and I joke about it now with code language. A good BM is called an Erik. 😂

He’s not MAGA, and never purported to be to my knowledge. Probably because he’s a conservative libertarian, and he’s being funded by another conservative libertarian—NOT the PAC Jacktron referenced. See the reader comments with the information. Polymarket? WOW. I could swear I just made a recent post about our elections turning into gambling markets. Thanks for proving my point. About the same as my comments on the Iran conflict before it started and you swore Trump wouldn’t have a drawn out affair.

I just wish there were more viable options. But, the Parties have a stranglehold for the most part.

The alternative is voting for a Party that wants to stack SCOTUS, do away with the Electoral College, add DC & Puerto Rico as States, and allow non-citizens to vote where they basically end our democratic republic because they don’t want to lose power again. Can’t seem to get people to wake up and look at more independent candidates that don’t just follow Party lines. Not sure how to make it happen. But, I sure wish it could. To me, Kentucky has done it right with Massie and Paul. Heck, I used to even like Lieberman.

The first article IS an opinion piece tied to the data from the second link. Personally, I think purchasing power tied to inflation is a much better indicator of financial class than trying to find a number that is almost impossible to define due to differences in cost of living in different areas. Obviously, ‘Middle Class’ in NY, NJ, or CA is much different than in SETX or TN, KY, AL, or many other areas. But, if you tie it to purchasing power—like this study does—it’s an area specific number that would seem to be a more accurate measure. These researchers didn’t appear to be partisan based on their credentials. Politicians using an undefined term ‘Middle Class’ is—just as the opinion article states—a way to appeal to the masses from an emotional sense that has no real data to back it up. It’s an easy term to throw around in speeches. The closest number we have to define a limit is from the Census. It defines poverty as ‘households’ that make 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. That level—as of 2024–was a little over $31k/yr for a household of 4. The Census puts that number at about 36 Million people, of which about 15 Million are children. (The Census doesn’t tell us if the respondents are U.S. citizens or not.) So, around 21 Million adults—out of a population of close to 370 Million—are considered at or below the poverty line. Presumably, ‘Middle Class’ starts above that level based on number in the household.

[Hidden Content]

I missed today's game. Better 1/2 had to be taken to the ER. I did see the final score. Y'all's experience in big games really showed to me, and BH deserves the ranking. Good Luck going forward!

BH intentionally walked LP's Arichiega all 4 times she came to bat & LP didn't make them pay. It really looked like the pressure--and LP's lack of experience in many big game situations with all the press coverage--hurt their play. BH obviously has experience in this situation. We'll see what happens today. First game I've actually watched. I think I cursed them. Not watching today just in case. lol

BH 15 - LP 3 Final Game 3 tomorrow @ 1:00 pm in Crosby. Sounds like it will be on Texan Live again.

BH 11 - LP 3, Top 6 LP has now stranded 8 with 5 in scoring position.

BH 11 - LP 1 Top 5 LP has 3 errors that led to a 7 run BH 2nd inning, have left 6 on base with 4 in scoring position. Pressure?

BH 11 - LP 0, Bottom 4

BH 9 - LP 0 Top 2 & still batting I think LP has 3 errors, maybe more.

La Porte 3 Barbers Hill 1 Final 8 Innings

Lady Dawgs Win Game 1 at BH 3-1 in 8 innings. Another heck of a game between these two clubs. Game 2 tomorrow at LP at 6:30 pm.

Mid 8 LP 3 BH 1

Going to extra innings. Still 1-1.

Top 6, still 1-1

BH 1 LP 1 Top 5

If you ever were actually poor (not just ‘fake poor’), you’ll find many ways to save and not go back. I used to be somewhat of a hoarder myself. There wasn’t a single thing I couldn’t find another use for… Sometimes, I’d get around to doing something with it—when I was wasn’t working OT to pay the bills—and sometimes stuff just piled up. I think I just never had much growing up, so I collected and didn’t throw away. That’s how I see it looking back anyway. I stopped, and cleaned most everything out of our house when my Mom passed away. My folks’ house was a fire hazard from all the junk. There was literally so much (not including storage units) that the EMT’s had to take her out in a body bag because a gurney wouldn’t fit in any door. Wake up call.

I wouldn’t want to be poor. Worked too hard to get a little bit ahead. But, some people today think being poor is a little different than I recall when I was growing up literally dirt poor. Not sure ‘poor’ is still having a $1000 cell phone, expensive sneakers, PlayStations and similar, and at least one big screen tv with some type of streaming service.

Agree. Purchasing power is being hurt across all income levels—except the poor. The poor are still faring the same if they are on government assistance. That may change in 2027 with some of the new rules. Inflation is caused by the government in this case—as almost always. The same people who are claiming they want control to help are the same people that created the mess in the first place. But, there are actually less people in the so-called ‘lower middle class & poverty levels’ than ever before, and it has little to do with government policy.

Inflation doesn’t erase an entire group of people as you claimed. But, no one said inflation wasn’t affecting folks either. Who/what causes inflation? What I was stating was that politicians, pundits, and public polling don’t use actual data. Also, there’s no agreed upon definition of middle class. The people using the ‘hollowing out of the middle class’ argument just want more control—either Left, Right, Socialist, or Populist. That should bother you. I believe you’re more of a free market type individual like myself. Read the study. There are many more like it.