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Politics What is happening????

Discussion in 'Tilted Philosophy, Politics, and Economics' started by pan6467, Apr 23, 2012.

  1. omega

    omega Very Tilted

    Also from what I remember reading, if you pay on a portion of old retired debt that whole debt becomes active again. So if a company buys up old debt and harasses you into making a payment, you are on the hook for the whole amount again
    So you really have to not pay a penny.
     
  2. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    The Credit CARD Act changed some of that with provisions to protect consumers.

    And, the Dodd-Frank Consumer Finance Protection Bureau offers protections beyond credit cards to other forms of consumer lending (auto loans, mortgages, etc).

    Earlier this year: CFPB orders Citibank to pay $700 million in consumer relief for illegal credit card practices.

    But I would agree that neither go far enough.
    --- merged: Dec 23, 2015 6:09 AM ---
    More on CFPB enforcement: $10.1 Billion: Approximate amount of relief to consumers from CFPB enforcement activity
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 30, 2015
  3. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    I'm hoping the new CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gains some more momentum and authority...we need it.
    So far they've only been able to go after the big targets...but there's a multitude of small fish that need gutting.
    And laws that need to be put in place.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2015
  4. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North


    Not if the Republicans have their way.
    They've been trying to gut the CFPB ever since it was created.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    Some companies will give credit to just about anyone is the hopes of collecting the interest. Even if that means taking risks on people who probably shouldn't be approved.

    Some people intentionally manipulate the above "easy credit." They buy things that are impossible or very difficult to repossess, with no intention of paying for them. Once they have the desired items, they don't care about their credit rating. Chances are they're used to juggling their finances and paying with cash, MOs, etc, basically avoiding having bank accounts, or switching banks quite often.

    I've known several people who maintained a good credit rating by keeping up the minimum payments. The problems began when they qualified for more credit. One woman I worked with couldn't wrap her brain around the idea that every time she bought something interest-free-for-X-amount-of-time meant that money was NOT going to pay down the credit with the outrageous interest rate(s). "But I'm not paying any interest!" "Yes, you are. The payments you're making on your interest free credit to Company A means the less money you're paying to Company B which is charging you interest."
     
  6. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    They are women, hear them roar!

    U.S. women's soccer players sue over pay gap.

    I can't imagine how the U.S. Soccer Federation has a leg to stand on.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  7. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    What about men's gymnastics and men's volleyball? I bet they pay less than the women. Anyways, all sport salaries are way too much. I just don't see the bigger issue of pay inequality for the same job being changed by this.
     
  8. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    Tennessee is the latest state to enact a bill (sitting on governor's desk) to effectively legalize discrimination against LGBTs.

    Funny or Die has just released a Tennessee Tourism Commercial in response.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  9. tecoyah

    tecoyah Illusionary

    Why do people feel the need to get upset and react to how other people get happy.

    Makes no sense to me unless your just a freakin' asshole.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  10. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Money is where the market is...

    If you want bigger salaries make them more of a commodity
     
  11. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    The Pentagon’s War on Accountability

    Now, don't get me wrong...I'm all for a strong defense...projecting power...even to the point of being a bit hawkish.
    However, I'm also one for doing it right...Libertarian, not to stop spending...but using money and resources efficiently. Progressive in the context of accountability. (when it comes to defense)

    But when even a Republican Ex-WWII General warns the military-industrial complex decades ago
    and we had the biggest build ups after Reagan and GWB...and ongoing wars and/or excursions under Obama where we still haven't tracked where BILLIONS went or what contractors did, etc
    There IS a problem.

    AND the fact that the DOD cannot not just "pass" an audit as the article notes...but it can NOT even finish ANY audit, even after their OWN deadline.

    Now, I work in the federal government as a contractor.
    I'm NOT suggesting making it a skin-flint era, where we have to work without resources or use 1970's furniture (which I've seen even at the top, in various Depts.)
    You need to fairly contemporary digs just to make working sane, not repressed...and you want all the cogs to move smooth...not stop & go traffic.

    But there is an obvious over-spending in certain areas with contracts. Losing where money goes. Distributing it to places that don't need it. (and I don't mind redistributing it IF it's justified and necessary or can be more useful)
    Come on...
    Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.

    We need to get rid of this incessant waste and corruption.
    And the politicians are just as complicit, because they send back money to their constituent areas and to their connections.

    There really needs to be something that says two things.
    Is it REALLY needed.?
    And WHERE did it go?

    And the review offices need to be just as accountable...actually reporting and addressing any issue.

    If you can hold your taxpayers to the flame for their owed taxes,
    then you can stomp on your spenders on the inside for their excessive and unnecessary expenses.

    The DOD budget would go down I'd say at least another 25%, if not more.
    The Obama administration has scaled it back quite a bit...but it needs to be more. (and STILL be able to do strong defense....although I don't know if we need to still have 2 front conventional war posturing...that's not needed)
     
    • Like Like x 3
  12. Remixer

    Remixer Middle Eastern Doofus

    Location:
    Frankfurt, Germany
    Hah, I love me some funds mismanagement by the military. Do have quite a lot to say on the topic but can't.

    Hopefully next year I'll be free to comment as I wish.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Now, I don't think we're going to get too many riots...and certainly not beheadings. We've moved beyond this in the post-industrial West.
    Anger by the masses...it is coming out in more subtle ways...
    And so on...

    Now, it is not apparent or obvious rhetoric or ideologues that will come out and say, "We're pissed off and we're not going to take it anymore"
    But the rage comes out in ALL different ways...sometimes even opposing what would truly benefit them.

    They just know they aren't getting theirs...yet others are.
    Life is more complicated, a constant burden.
    Even if they're spending more...or have a stable job...
    There's just a sensation that the system isn't working for them...the system is in chaos...and there is great waste and corruption in it.

    Now, I'd say...in relative terms, we're doing better than we've done before in these cycles in the past.
    But the leadership is catering to the powerful...not the common population.

    It's not communism, socialism or other previous paths that are thought of for the answer.
    But it's emerging in things like the Tea Party, Extremism and other "cult of personality" figures that say SOMETHING that represents their anger.
    Even if the given solutions or words are not doable or realistic.

    Basically, "Damn The Man"
    Or "why do I have to work so hard to have less?"

    Frankly, I think it's 2 things.
    One, the leadership is not actually doing anything...just bitchin' at each other. A tin ear to the hollers of the people.
    Two, the way the financial system is setup EVERYWHERE...and it seems that you're constantly worrying on things, negotiating things...getting fee'd to death.

    So the latter is sensation of burden and death by a 1000 cuts.
    And the former can't get their act together to help it, prevent it, cure it...and it seems like they even encourage it or by default support it. All the while just posturing, spinning and attacking their opponents.

    So people are saying "ENOUGH!!"
    And to the leaders, STFU and do something.

    And if they can't, they'll put in ANYONE that promises that they will. (even though this is just BS too)

    It's like I always say...I didn't vote you in to sit on your ass. I voted for you to "do something" and work your ass off.
    I guess everyone else is saying the same.
    Problem is...they're believing in False Prophets.

    Challenge is...who's the false prophet???
    Right now...I think they think they ALL are.
     
  14. Charlatan

    Charlatan sous les pavés, la plage

    Location:
    Temasek
    The biggest issue I see is the stagnation of wages for the majority of people, while the few that are at the top make more and more.

    Solve that issue, and most other issues will sort themselves out.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    The issue is that when wages go up, rents go up, house prices go up, food prices go up, and on and on. A lot of it is because the seller/owner/business knows they can increase their prices, especially if they have to pay more in wages. Some businesses won't survive because older people don't want to pay high prices for an item that 20 years ago cost a lot less. The remember how much things cost in the past.
     
  16. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Very Tilted

    Location:
    Yucatan, Mexico
    I don't think so-

    Men get more prize money than women in 30% of sports - BBC Sport

    30% less pay and I'd be willing to wager men aren't required to wear what amounts to a "Hooters" style uniform while playing.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  17. Charlatan

    Charlatan sous les pavés, la plage

    Location:
    Temasek
    Neoliberalism is truly the gift that keeps on giving.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  18. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North


    American Men's soccer players were getting paid more and getting their asses handed to them, plus they got to play on real grass fields.
    While the woman were having perfect seasons, getting paid considerably less, while having to play on astroturf and getting injured badly by it
    That is literally adding insult to injury.
     
  19. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    The women tennis players had to demand--the star players threatened to "strike" IIRC--equal pay for playing at Wimbleton. They received equal pay......finally......in 2007.

    "You've come a long way, baby."
    Sorry, I can't help myself, I seriously love that insulting (what were they thinking?) advertising slogan. BTW Virginia Slims early sponsorship of women's professional tennis was one of the major reasons why WPT became as huge as it is today.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom