Draining the swamp

[riverman]

None of these guys won a lottery. Most have run very large organizations in an executive, or understand what writing really big checks means

I think Trump won the lottery hands down...personally and as a candidate...he was born with a silver spoon ...we've had that conversation but hey....you like these guys...I'm glad you've found some joy in the choices....I have serious doubts as to their collective excellence...

 

[Denny Crane]

I think Trump won the lottery hands down...personally and as a candidate...he was born with a silver spoon ...we've had that conversation but hey....you like these guys...I'm glad you've found some joy in the choices....I have serious doubts as to their collective excellence...

He turned a few million into $billions. That's no lottery.

I have expectations for his choices, but they haven't done anything yet. Nothing to suggest they're bad at the job, nothing to suggest they're excellent at it. But to drain the swamp, we have to get rid of the book smart (but street moron) academics.

 

[riverman]

He turned a few million into $billions. That's no lottery.

actually his startup 14 mill from daddy was worth a lot more in today's money not to say he didn't profit from bankruptcies and stiffing contractors along the way as well as never paying taxes...funneling charity money into his own law suits...etc.....Trump is not a great example of what you are holding in high esteem or I don't know....maybe he is your standard bearer for success.

 

[MarAzul]

I have serious doubts as to their collective excellence

I suspect the main difference between you and me River, is perspective developed through employment.

I never worked for a poor man, although some were piss poor to work for, but never without means. You on the other hand, I doubt ever worked for a man. I suspect it was always a government agent that had no idea or even the means to evaluate your contribution.

 

[Denny Crane]

actually his startup 14 mill from daddy was worth a lot more in today's money not to say he didn't profit from bankruptcies and stiffing contractors along the way as well as never paying taxes...funneling charity money into his own law suits...etc.....Trump is not a great example of what you are holding in high esteem or I don't know....maybe he is your standard bearer for success.

With inflation, etc., he still turned $14M into ~$5B. Success.

There are losers who win the lottery and piddle it all away in short time.

 

[Denny Crane]

hahahahaha

http://www.bostonherald.com/opinion/editorials/2016/12/editorial_dems_still_in_denial

Editorial: Dems still in denial

The Democratic shoot-out in the lifeboats has begun.

Now usually when one political party loses a presidential election, both branches of Congress and a majority of governorships, a little soul-searching and a perhaps an “autopsy” are in order.

But not so for the Democratic Party these days, whose officials are still searching about for scapegoats.

 

[riverman]

With inflation, etc., he still turned $14M into ~$5B. Success.

There are losers who win the lottery and piddle it all away in short time.

It's how he turned the money that I don't like....sure, there are losers that blow fortunes..for a guy like me, that's really hard to understand...but they are not governing with my tax money either...

 

[Denny Crane]

It's how he turned the money that I don't like....sure, there are losers that blow fortunes..for a guy like me, that's really hard to understand...but they are not governing with my tax money either...

See that's the thing. They're giving up jobs that pay 10s of $millions in salary to serve at jobs paying $150K. You know, the CEO makes many times more than the average worker bullshit.

I don't think it's about power - they had more as CEO.

Got to give them credit for being willing to serve the public at great monetary expense.

I don't think any tax break they get for selling their assets before taking office makes up for the 8 years (potentially) of $150K salaries.

 

[MarAzul]

he still turned $14M into ~$5B. Success.

It is a superior performance to my own, and most likely anyone else reading this thread.

 

[barfo]

It is a superior performance to my own, and most likely anyone else reading this thread.

Not so sure about that. Certainly the total at the end is likely higher.

But the percentage gain? I bet lots of us here have done better. Especially those that started from zero.

And it's actually a lot harder to start from little or nothing than from $14M.

barfo

 

[riverman]

It is a superior performance to my own, and most likely anyone else reading this thread.

I know for a fact I've lost less money and hurt fewer small businesses than Donald, nobody ever needed to bail me out of trouble and I paid all my debts and bills on time....and I served my country while he was deferred 3 times ....privilege...Tycoon Trump might dazzle someone who admires the Rat Pack but success in life goes beyond your ability to use influence to get out of trouble or responsibility

 

[MarAzul]

I served my country

Good on yea mate! So did I, but our countrymen are not asking us to lead them, no doubt due to lack of inspiration.

 

[MarAzul]

This says volumes about Trump in my book.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/st...-who-held-mexico-now-jailed-indiana/82888844/
http://www.zootfeed.com/2016/09/09/donald-trump-quietly-helped-marine-whom-obama-ignored/

 

[Denny Crane]

At the end of 2011, there were 11 millionaires in the US.

About ~1800 billionaires.

Tens of millions started with millions and didn't make it into billions.

 

[barfo]

At the end of 2011, there were 11 millionaires in the US.

Only 11? SAD.

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

Only 11? SAD.

barfo

11 million millionaires.

Your "he didn't do as well as some of us" argument just went down in flames.

He did better than 99.9% of other millionaires.

 

[riverman]

11 millionaires in the US

you didn't actually believe this right? 11 millionaires in the US....I know more than 11 millionaires personally....and in the US is the kicker...a lot of folks keep their millions in the Caymans, Switzerland or Belgium

 

[riverman]

you didn't actually believe this right? 11 millionaires in the US....I know more than 11 millionaires personally....and in the US is the kicker...a lot of folks keep their millions in the Caymans, Switzerland or Belgium

11 millionaires wouldn't fill a basketball roster

 

[Denny Crane]

you didn't actually believe this right? 11 millionaires in the US....I know more than 11 millionaires personally....and in the US is the kicker...a lot of folks keep their millions in the Caymans, Switzerland or Belgium

There were 4,000 when Carter left office, 64,000 when Reagan left office.

11 million now.

The club used to be exclusive.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

There were 4,000 when Carter left office, 64,000 when Reagan left office.

11 million now.

The club used to be exclusive.

inflation gonna inflate

 

[riverman]

You on the other hand, I doubt ever worked for a man

?? I really don't understand your post Marz unless you assume I've never been a boss which I have or that I've never worked for a woman which I have. I've had a pretty satisfying career all in all....I found teaching to be rewarding in other ways but at the same time have always made pretty smart investments, just not at the expense of someone else. I can honestly say I've never profited at someone else's expense and I could've stiffed a whole crew of employees by doing what Trump did and declaring bankruptcy...instead, I sold the business...paid payroll and taxes and bills and broke even....restaurant business is tough

 

[Denny Crane]

inflation gonna inflate

That's well above the rate of inflation.

 

[Denny Crane]

?? I really don't understand your post Marz unless you assume I've never been a boss which I have or that I've never worked for a woman which I have. I've had a pretty satisfying career all in all....I found teaching to be rewarding in other ways but at the same time have always made pretty smart investments, just not at the expense of someone else. I can honestly say I've never profited at someone else's expense and I could've stiffed a whole crew of employees by doing what Trump did and declaring bankruptcy...instead, I sold the business...paid payroll and taxes and bills and broke even....restaurant business is tough

You profited by not paying your workers $1/hour more.

It's easy to take pot shots.

 

[riverman]

11 million now.

You said 11 millionaires, not 11 million millionaires

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

inflation gonna inflate

A million bucks certainly doesn't go near as far as it did 30 and 40 years ago, that's for sure........

 

[riverman]

You profited by not paying your workers $1/hour more.

It's easy to take pot shots.

First you don't know anything about my biz....my employees were well cared for and it's not a pot shot .....my response was to Marz statement that I've never worked for a man...only been a govt employee all my career..now that's a pot shot.....and sometimes it's not easy to take pot shots....say for a pro democracy student in Beijing for example....could cost your life

 

[3RA1N1AC]

That's well above the rate of inflation.

i assume so. but it certainly plays a large role when using an arbitrary wealth cutoff of 1MM.

if you had $350,000 in 1980 it would be worth 1M in todays dollars.

 

[Denny Crane]

First you don't know anything about my biz....my employees were well cared for and it's not a pot shot .....my response was to Marz statement that I've never worked for a man...only been a govt employee all my career..now that's a pot shot.....and sometimes it's not easy to take pot shots....say for a pro democracy student in Beijing for example....could cost your life

No matter what you paid your people, you paid them $1/hour less than you could have. It's easy to take pot shots when you're not the target of the criticism.

 

[Denny Crane]

i assume so. but it certainly plays a large role when using an arbitrary wealth cutoff of 1MM.

if you had $350,000 in 1980 it would be worth 1M in todays dollars.

OK, but 4,000 -> 64,000 millionaires in 8 years is 8x. The rate of inflation might have doubled money in 8 years back then. 2x is not 8x.

 

[riverman]

You profited by not paying your workers $1/hour more

no...I would've profited a lot more if I filed bankruptcy....I took what profits I had and paid my employees without taking a nickel for myself. All of them are still my friends..one actually gave me a job later when I was moving to Hawaii...karma