And in regard to the shutdown:

[PeoplesElbow]

You know, people say that but they offer no proof. States that have no income tax - Texas and Florida are the two I have personal experience with - have no problem paying the bills and then some.

A consumption tax is really the only fair way to do it. That way EVERYONE kicks in, even those who don't declare income because their job is illegal. Non-residents kick in as well.

I know Florida has a bunch of taxes on things that non-residents pay for. One job i interviewed for there told me something along the lines of any leases under 13 months was considered a vacation property and had significant tax on it, and Florida has a crap ton of tourism to put these taxes onto. Not sure about their property taxes.

I've heard Texas property tax is quite high.

It's not that they aren't collecting the money, they are just going about it in a different manner.

Places like NY, California Massachusetts collect all of those taxes to the max.

 

[RoseRed]

I've heard rumblings that it's going to end today or tomorrow. Any truth?

 

[glhs837]

A lot of the problem is called concurrency, it means to test and design while in production. It sounds great in a Power Point presentation "oh great we can save all this time" but it means going to production before the design is complete and usually having to go back and redo things.

Another big one is the government/military changing requirements as the system is being designed. You simply can't convince people that this is a bad idea because everyone gets a pat on the back for initially reporting faster times and lower costs and by the time comes to pay the piper the decision makers that screwed everything up are gone, having gotten a promotion for their "innovative" way of doing things.

So, you have a system you plan to field in say seven years. You set out the best requirements you can. Sadly the world doesn't snap a chalk line on threats. So some of the things you required it to do are simply no longer on the table. But new things have emerged. If you specify a low risk technology level, you are maybe not going to field a system that's current enough.

And then perhaps your resource sponsor comes along and cuts your budget, so you have to put some capabilities off for a future "spiral".

It's amazing we every actually build anything.

 

[limblips]

So, you have a system you plan to field in say seven years. You set out the best requirements you can. Sadly the world doesn't snap a chalk line on threats. So some of the things you required it to do are simply no longer on the table. But new things have emerged. If you specify a low risk technology level, you are maybe not going to field a system that's current enough.

And then perhaps your resource sponsor comes along and cuts your budget, so you have to put some capabilities off for a future "spiral".

It's amazing we every actually build anything.

In my past life I worked on a program to develop a new XXXXX system. The prime presented a yet to be proven yet promising technological development as a solution. It was then I learned about spiral development. The kicker was that given the technology was on paper the government thought it would be best to work a parallel upgrade to the existing system. End result was the new tech did pan out but the cost of the parallel program was astronomical. Betting on the come can be expensive.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

So, you have a system you plan to field in say seven years. You set out the best requirements you can. Sadly the world doesn't snap a chalk line on threats. So some of the things you required it to do are simply no longer on the table. But new things have emerged. If you specify a low risk technology level, you are maybe not going to field a system that's current enough.

And then perhaps your resource sponsor comes along and cuts your budget, so you have to put some capabilities off for a future "spiral".

It's amazing we every actually build anything.

Remember when the JSF was supposed to be a cheap aircraft? I remember the estimate of $40M/ea.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

A deal has been reached to fund the government through Jan 30th.

 

[Sneakers]

So we get to do this all over again in 2 months...

 

[DaSDGuy]

A deal has been reached to fund the government through Jan 30th.

In the Senate. Now the House has to vote on the new CR.

 

[22AcaciaAve]

I turned on C-span to see how the vote was going. They had Chuck Grassley speaking in the corner. The guy is 92 years old. We seriously need to put age limits on political service. We should make SS retirement age the limit for politicians. Too many freaking old politicians collecting huge paychecks when they should be retired. Nobody over 67 should be eligible for any political office. Let's retire most of this aged political body.

 

[vraiblonde]

I turned on C-span to see how the vote was going. They had Chuck Grassley speaking in the corner. The guy is 92 years old. We seriously need to put age limits on political service. We should make SS retirement age the limit for politicians. Too many freaking old politicians collecting huge paychecks when they should be retired. Nobody over 67 should be eligible for any political office. Let's retire most of this aged political body.

I'd say 70 or 75. Everyone I know who's in their 60s is still on the ball, and honestly people I know in their 70s are still killing it.

You'd think these people would *want* to retire and get a life but most of them, politics and power is all they have. They long ago lost touch with anything remotely human. Imagine being 92 freaking years old and still playing these politic games. *shudder*

 

[PeoplesElbow]

I'd say 70 or 75. Everyone I know who's in their 60s is still on the ball, and honestly people I know in their 70s are still killing it.

You'd think these people would *want* to retire and get a life but most of them, politics and power is all they have. They long ago lost touch with anything remotely human. Imagine being 92 freaking years old and still playing these politic games. *shudder*

I'm 51 and I'm counting the months.

 

[22AcaciaAve]

I'd say 70 or 75. Everyone I know who's in their 60s is still on the ball, and honestly people I know in their 70s are still killing it.

You'd think these people would *want* to retire and get a life but most of them, politics and power is all they have. They long ago lost touch with anything remotely human. Imagine being 92 freaking years old and still playing these politic games. *shudder*

Nailed it. That's the only reason they continue. They just can't give up the power. That's the whole thrill of politics. They thirst for that power. It's as much of a drug to them as it is to an addict. All of the BS about helping people is just that.....BS. It's all about power.

 

[22AcaciaAve]

So what did the democrats get out of this? They wanted extension of health care subsidies. NO. The only thing they got was an agreement that the firings that happened during the shutdown would be reversed. Something that would not have happened if the government was not shut down. They got an agreement for a vote on the health care subsidies, something that was already agreed by republicans. No guarantee that those subsidies will be extended. Longest shutdown on record and they literally got nothing. Schumer looks like a total idiot now.

 

[vraiblonde]

So what did the democrats get out of this? They wanted extension of health care subsidies. NO. The only thing they got was an agreement that the firings that happened during the shutdown would be reversed. Something that would not have happened if the government was not shut down. They got an agreement for a vote on the health care subsidies, something that was already agreed by republicans. No guarantee that those subsidies will be extended. Longest shutdown on record and they literally got nothing. Schumer looks like a total idiot now.

So...no change?

I have to believe that if the Democrat Party and their media mouthpieces were at least fair and reasonable, they wouldn't be taking such a shellacking. They keep crowing about their victories last Tuesday, but really Democrats winning in heavily Democrat cities/states isn't such a coup. Literally nothing changed except VA now has a Democrat Governor, which is the Party Virginians usually elect. Youngkin was the upset, not Spanberger.

The vocal minority of batshits crazies has taken over that Party. If Republican politicians were smarter and more courageous they could wipe them off the map but after Trump I don't know who will lead the GOP, which means they'll go back to their craven ways.

I'm down with Ron DeSantis. He's been a stellar Governor and has shown he has the guts to lead and tell the whiners to STFU. I know everyone is in love with JD Vance, and I like him too, but he isn't a proven leader yet.

 

[stgislander]

Maybe Spanberger is the new leader of the Dems now. Didn't she come out either Sat or yesterday saying the Dems needed to open the govt back up? She speaks and Chuck folds?

 

[Gilligan]

It seems to me... that feeding our children, offering them safe schools, offering them affordable homes and healthcare are not frivolous spending.

Watch the videos of the SNAP recipients complaining about being forced to "spend their own money" on food, causing them to miss hair, nail and eyelash appointments. Watch the (many) videos of the baby production machines bragging about how much they'll get every month after they pump out a couple more.

SNAP is just another classic example of how you get a lot more of something as soon as you start paying for it. Undeserving recipients, in this case.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

So what did the democrats get out of this? They wanted extension of health care subsidies. NO. The only thing they got was an agreement that the firings that happened during the shutdown would be reversed. Something that would not have happened if the government was not shut down. They got an agreement for a vote on the health care subsidies, something that was already agreed by republicans. No guarantee that those subsidies will be extended. Longest shutdown on record and they literally got nothing. Schumer looks like a total idiot now.

Now?

 

[Gilligan]

But I’m always concerned about abuse and about GENERATIONS depending on government assistance. The safety net is there to HELP. It shouldn’t be a place to live. We have had whole sections of population where generation after generation lives off of government. That simply must not be.

That ^ !! There are now entire generations who cannot even fathom the idea of working for a living instead of living entirely off of government programs, paid for by productive, responsible people that work and pay taxes.

 

[Hijinx]

About age limits. Steny Hoyer is 86 , he has had a stroke, but yet he is still our Representative.
Why does he stay. He got so used to people kissing his ass he won't know what to do without it.
He certainly isn't doing Maryland or his district any good, and his best girl (Pelosi) is leaving.
He has a beautiful home on the Patuxent and should be living there and enjoying it, but I really do not think he has a friend anywhere near that home. Me ? I don't have a lot that Steny has, but I have acquaintances who are friendly with me and a few REAL friends. How many real friends has Steny got.?

 

[OccamsRazor]

Watch the videos of the SNAP recipients complaining about being forced to "spend their own money" on food, causing them to miss hair, nail and eyelash appointments. Watch the (many) videos of the baby production machines bragging about how much they'll get every month after they pump out a couple more.

I am honestly not denying that this is happening BUT, I would venture to guess that at least half or more of those videos are just rage baiting posts to get clicks, views, and be monetized.