Friday, July 2, 2010
Pelosi Unemployment
Ahhh-ha. As I saw someone state on facebook today...As stated in the epic "Billy Madison", we are all now dumber for hearing that. You are awarded no points. May God have mercy on your soul Nancy. Yes, I paraphrase.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
An antithetical analysis of common thought
Experts aren't always the answer. I used to watch this show as a time wasting event. Then I listened to a speech Mike Rowe, the host, gave some time ago; he's an extremely intelligent and accomplished person (I have to admit to a strange appreciation for those who majored in philosophy). This particular episode should give pause to anyone ready to hand over decision making to "experts".
I highly encourage everyone to check out this episode.
I highly encourage everyone to check out this episode.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Moving On....Why do I work?
Okay, I guess I have some explaining to do. I’ll be brief. Due to the ever improving ability of search engines and the ever increasing number of Internet users the inevitable happened. Hand out enough business cards and it is inevitable someone will “Google” you. Luckily for me, it gained credibility and helped me. At the same time I wasn’t too comfortable with the whole scenario. After some deliberation, and consideration of the expense of starting a new site, I have decided to stay. It’s uncomfortable but I’m going to “cowboy up” and move on.
Now the … Why do we work? For the last several years I’ve made a comfortable income. Looking at national averages I’ve actually made quite a nice income. A few years ago I married and started a family with a wife who also makes an above average income. My wife and I now have a child who we send to pre-school. Sometime in the future we would like to grow our family. I may be wrong but I think this is a pretty average situation for younger married couples.
Yesterday I was doing the math and I can’t see the motivation to keep working. As a preamble I should state that I bleed pride and hate the idea of government aid. However, at some point the government crushes human nature by incentivizing atrophy. For example, an energized and eager person can work their butt off and work sixty hours a week to make $60k a year. This person will take home about $45k a year. But what if this person is paying for two children to go to a nice pre-school? From experience I can tell you a nice pre-school costs over $1500/month.If we deduct the cost of pre-school from $45k we end up with a net income of $27k/year.
Now what if that same worker who makes $60k/year walks into work and gets himself fired for something that he can still get unemployment for? Well, if that worker applies for unemployment he will get $406+ / week. This works out to over $21k/year. Current laws allow someone to collect this money for two years and current legislation is trying to get this to three years. Now if this fired employee stays home and home schools his kids he will bring home a grand total of about $5k less in a year than if he goes to work, busts his ass, takes craps all day, spends money on gas, auto maintenance, and God knows what else.
In my case it means working every Saturday and Sunday. Working every federal holiday except for Thanksgiving and Christmas (yes, I work on Easter). I also work till 8 every night, which means I don’t see my son except for a goodbye kiss in the morning. If I stay at this profession I will not see my son play Little League or Pop Warner on the weekends. I can’t visit family and friends on the long Memorial and Veteran’s holiday weekends. I can’t attend weddings of loved ones in the summer, and I can't take vacations in the summer months when everyone else does. I’ve given up all these things because of a sense of pride and duty; plus I’m good at what I do. But when I do the math it’s not worth it.
Essentially, I work 3,000 hours a year to bring home $5,000 more dollars than if I took unemployment. That works out to 60 cents an hour. Not only that but I can also do the math on the economy and it’s tanking no matter what the DOW or the POTUS says. I know I’m going to make less this year than last and less next year than this one. In other words, I can continue to bust my ass for less than 60 cents an hour or I can stay home, collect unemployment, watch my son grow up, and spend time with my family.
Our country is truly FUBAR.
Now the … Why do we work? For the last several years I’ve made a comfortable income. Looking at national averages I’ve actually made quite a nice income. A few years ago I married and started a family with a wife who also makes an above average income. My wife and I now have a child who we send to pre-school. Sometime in the future we would like to grow our family. I may be wrong but I think this is a pretty average situation for younger married couples.
Yesterday I was doing the math and I can’t see the motivation to keep working. As a preamble I should state that I bleed pride and hate the idea of government aid. However, at some point the government crushes human nature by incentivizing atrophy. For example, an energized and eager person can work their butt off and work sixty hours a week to make $60k a year. This person will take home about $45k a year. But what if this person is paying for two children to go to a nice pre-school? From experience I can tell you a nice pre-school costs over $1500/month.If we deduct the cost of pre-school from $45k we end up with a net income of $27k/year.
Now what if that same worker who makes $60k/year walks into work and gets himself fired for something that he can still get unemployment for? Well, if that worker applies for unemployment he will get $406+ / week. This works out to over $21k/year. Current laws allow someone to collect this money for two years and current legislation is trying to get this to three years. Now if this fired employee stays home and home schools his kids he will bring home a grand total of about $5k less in a year than if he goes to work, busts his ass, takes craps all day, spends money on gas, auto maintenance, and God knows what else.
In my case it means working every Saturday and Sunday. Working every federal holiday except for Thanksgiving and Christmas (yes, I work on Easter). I also work till 8 every night, which means I don’t see my son except for a goodbye kiss in the morning. If I stay at this profession I will not see my son play Little League or Pop Warner on the weekends. I can’t visit family and friends on the long Memorial and Veteran’s holiday weekends. I can’t attend weddings of loved ones in the summer, and I can't take vacations in the summer months when everyone else does. I’ve given up all these things because of a sense of pride and duty; plus I’m good at what I do. But when I do the math it’s not worth it.
Essentially, I work 3,000 hours a year to bring home $5,000 more dollars than if I took unemployment. That works out to 60 cents an hour. Not only that but I can also do the math on the economy and it’s tanking no matter what the DOW or the POTUS says. I know I’m going to make less this year than last and less next year than this one. In other words, I can continue to bust my ass for less than 60 cents an hour or I can stay home, collect unemployment, watch my son grow up, and spend time with my family.
Our country is truly FUBAR.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Change of Address!
For reasons I will not divulge I must move this blog. Despite what may be perceived as inactivity, I have not been inactive. I apologize for this inconvenience. If you wish for an email update for the new address please email me at: sean.arago@gmail.com. I will also post the new address here but I plan on disbanding this site in the next week.
This is somewhat painful for me but is needed. Thank you all for your understanding.
Sean Michael
This is somewhat painful for me but is needed. Thank you all for your understanding.
Sean Michael
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Healthcare’s John Galt
Healthcare’s John Galt
An excellent analysis supporting my position on HSA's versus nationalized, or for that matter the status quo PPO. If you want a good argument against Obamacare without being a person of "no", here it is.
An excellent analysis supporting my position on HSA's versus nationalized, or for that matter the status quo PPO. If you want a good argument against Obamacare without being a person of "no", here it is.
Are they still out there?
I've been trying to find a quote from Pelosi, Clinton, or even an Olbermann or Couric; you know, the people who were so concerned about violence from those crazy and angry Tea Party people. Well Nancy, I was watching the news this morning and couldn't help but to see violence that was very similar to the violence you saw in California in the 60's and 70's. However, it wasn't from the Tea Party. Instead it was from a bunch of left wing organizations upset about a law. These left wing organizers weren't just protesting but throwing glass at police, beating supporters of the law and causing complete chaos. Where are the tears and condemning speeches now?
Another ironic issue here is that I've been watching commentators suddenly preaching Federalism against Arizona's new immigration law. These are the same commentators that have no problem with a national health insurance program, Roe v. Wade, or using federal tax money to bail out a state government. So if I get this right the logic is the Federal Government can throw aside federalism if it believes the state is not doing enough for its citizens but the state cannot trespass the rules of federalism if it believes the federal government is not doing enough.
It is more than a little interesting to watch those who promote the idea that the Constitution is a living document that "does not state what the government cannot do for you", suddenly want to interpret the Constitution from a constructionist point of view to speak against Arizona law makers.
Another ironic issue here is that I've been watching commentators suddenly preaching Federalism against Arizona's new immigration law. These are the same commentators that have no problem with a national health insurance program, Roe v. Wade, or using federal tax money to bail out a state government. So if I get this right the logic is the Federal Government can throw aside federalism if it believes the state is not doing enough for its citizens but the state cannot trespass the rules of federalism if it believes the federal government is not doing enough.
It is more than a little interesting to watch those who promote the idea that the Constitution is a living document that "does not state what the government cannot do for you", suddenly want to interpret the Constitution from a constructionist point of view to speak against Arizona law makers.
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