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nhgoodman's comments:
on Unemployed for Ages
The reason we work is because we have to be useful or we get physically and mentally sick. Think about it, when was the last time you felt good about not working, even if you had the dirtiest, worstest job in the history of the world? QED!
In modern terms, we do something, we get something called money and then spend it or save it, pay taxes (oops), and WE the people get to complete the circuit, so we can get to do what we do. Do, repeat, do let the experts fill in the blanks (you know they will) and on on and on and the world will go forward.
Here's the hitch, boys and girls: some of our experts are greedy, so they want to redistribute OUR wealth by eliminating their contribution to the circuit: that is called reducing taxes. If we, the squirrels stop scampering on the exercise wheels of wealth, then some of us get to work harder (yech) and some of us get to work less (weee).
My advice: if you want to be rich (I wish you well) work hard and keep working because eventually, some one may look around and find out you are taking a vacation in a tropical paradise shirking your duty to the commonwealth: oops!
Let's be good to each other.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Public Transit
I live at 4400 NE Broadway St, PDX.
Why have you taken away the trash cans and the schedules? We are a building of over 200 people across the street from the Adult and Family Services offices where people who are poor and sick go to apply for State services?
Why don't you have kneeling busses on the 77 rt?
I have been a supporter for years, and a complainer. Now, you stand and deliver!
Respectfully,
Neil H. Goodman
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Philosophy of Taxes & Spending
Collecting taxes is the only way to improve the economy. The failed policies of the fundamentalist, evangelical, NeoCon, Republicans (Republicans) that falsely claim cutting taxes IMPROVES the economy are either fools or liars.
No one wants to spend more in taxes than his neighbor, but issues are far less complicated.
We want fairness in taxation and the buy for the money! The Republicans use partial truths for no onther reason than to increase the wealth of the rich, not to help the commonwealth. Shame on them!
Republicans try to confuse harsh collection practices (and fool headed collectors' practices) with just getting people to pay, thus enraging the public and forcing a mob-like mentality to demand the end of taxation.
Face it, what we collect in taxes eventually finds its way back into your pocket in terms of services, salaries, purchases. We are no longer forking over huge sums to keep some squandering monarch on a golden throne.
Respectfully,
Neil H. Goodman
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on The Garbage Business
Years ago, when I lived in NYC, we sent our garbage into the Atlantic off the Long Island coast and proudly built an under sea mountain of garbage.
When I moved to New Mexico, and to this day, we dither with nuclear garbage keeping, and no resolution is at hand.
Today, we have become aware of a vast "puddle" of plastic in the middle of the Pacific ocean which is generating new and monstrous creatures.
A friend of mine recently did battle with Portland city hall because she did not want to use private garbage cartage, saying she never elected or cause to be chosen, the garbage system used currently. Of course now she has to take her stuff to the dump herself! Some trade-off!
Now -- Hawaii wants to send its refuse to this neighborhood - namely the east Washington/Oregon area. (I just want the tropical breezes, the big waves, and beautiful bodies).
Why can't we just have a sane public policy to deal with our refuse like we deal with so many other public issues? It is a problem that is not going away and is actually quite important to everyone's quality of life.
Or is this program the way toward good public policy?
Respectfully (at 0615 hrs - yawn),
Neil Goodman
posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
The Bible commands that a willful child be taken to the public square and stoned to death.
CHRISTIANS: You are missing a commandment
JEWS: The Rabbis outlawed this practice thousands of years ago.
MODERN SECULARISTS: HELP HELP HELP!
CHILDREN: You should behave outside your age range, get a lawyer, and a doctor and leave your abusive parents!
Simply because a child or an elderly person is not capable of deciding for him/herself that they need medical care, society MUST step in where extremists abuse the weak.
Act in the best interests of the child, not the adult. NOT THE ADULT. CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS! DAMN IT!
posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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on Spotty Recovery
There is nothing wrong with New Yorkers, and certainly nothing wrong with New York Jews which is the point of the code words "East Coast transplants, and New Yorkers."
Even if the guest is a member of one of these groups, and especially so, he should know better!
Signed,
Neil H. Goodman.
(A New York Jew - AND PROUD OF IT)
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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on Columbia Congestion
What about a tunnel for mass transit and trucks with a bridge for all the non-commercial traffic?
I like the idea of a toll for people with a variable fee based on time sector.
Warmly,
N.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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on Brokering a Better Loan
1) The mortgage broker is in a position of confidence, a fiduciary position, with respect to the borrower because she is always a layman and has no one else to trust but the broker to give her advice. The broker is like an insurance salesman or a laywer, the borker has to get informed consent from the buyer before engaging in complicated money lending deals -- and that means that a trusted financier who the buyer selects without the knowledge of the broker gets to give advice;
2) Because NOBODY can predict the future, nobody should be able to get, or give, today's money based on tomorrow's conditions. Stock brokers will tell you that kind of investing (called futures) is not for the layman. The variable rate mortgage (ARM) is clearly usury (abusive and preditory practice) and should be re-declared as such, and forbidden by law -- when you sign the contract, you should be able to rely on it. Lending the basis of Character assessment will always be forbidden because it is a rascist scheme. Character is not at stake, one's ability to pay over time is.
3) There should be no pre-payment penalty, again that is clearly usury - if the lender can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
4) The maker of the loan (the bank or other entity) should only be allowed to offer loans at one rate, or to lower the rate after negotiating with the borower!
5) Holder in due course practice must be forbidden unless the new holder guarentees the original contract will be abided by.
6) Special loan auditors should be employed by the government to make sure the laws are obeyed. Just like any ordinary, and non-complex law is policed. It is only common sense. You want safety, you have to employ the cops.
7) Bankruptcy should exclude the homestead from the estate -- that means that if you have to declare bankruptcy, you don't lose your home. If can keep the cat, dog, a cow and two guns, you ought to be able to keep your home and means of livelihood.
8)One more thing, if the lender does not let you take the contract home to study it and to ask your financial specialist about it, giving you a cooling off period, DO NOT SIGN IT!
posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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