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You know I am just yanking your chain Rick...

Since the government has been my employer since 1989 I have obviously been costing us more than most...


Gringo - loves the teat. I also know that the teat can dry up, hopefully I have a little job security because of my trade.

I will honestly say I still am doing everything I can to invest for my own furture. I believe the govt will cut into my Marine Corps retirement check. I believe they will cut social security. I believe they will continue to raise taxes. They have to get medicare spending under control.

If I thought the Euro was the currency of the future, I would be putting my money there. I am terrified of the prospects of the dollar. I like Norway as a place to put some cash. If the place wasn't freezing cold, I would put a lot of money into that country.

Hockeydad is making his bets on globalism. I am making mine on the fed govt not going broke.


Irony is a bitch.


Thank you, thank you.

Wal Mart doesn't "cost" the taxpayer this money...government policy takes money from taxpayers to fund these social programs.

That being said...I am not a fan of Wal Mart and I refuse to shop there.

Im going to walmart....anyone need anything?

CNN this weekend... 1/6 Americans on welfare (46 million)! hooray!!!

we had an accountant (left leaning in two ways) claim work stress (he works 8-5) and checked himself into a clinic. He was able to draw 70% of his check for 3 months, maybe six i forgot how long he has been gone, through some federal program. anyway, he kept promising he would be back so the department couldnt hire anyone forcing everyone else to work saturdays, stay later etc. sure enough on the last day when he had to come back to work, he quit or didnt show and is now trying to draw unemployment. but i think turned down b/c he was a no show.

i guess there are always examples, im not sure how many people that program helps who were in car accidents or something like that... i guess its hard to say. i guess we all just hate to see people abusing the benefits we all work so hard for.

ah just print some more right?

Now your talking!

Probably state, not federal. 70% of wages also seems suspicious. But you seem to exaggerate a lot with vague internet facts strewn about.

Your claim that they "couldn't hire anyone" is also doubtful. Most states will alow you to hire someone to do lost work, just not fire or reduce the hours of the "injured" or "sick" employee.

If you are a fairly large company the only federal program I can think of if the FMLA. Since you really don't know what was wrong with this person, then it can't be ruled out although it's doubtful he qualified for FMLA. Still isn't 70% of wages.


BS called again.

I saw that, or heard it in the background and I believe it was food stamp assistance.

The only way I have ever seen an injured/disabled person collect more than 66 2/3% of their gross income is when they have had their own short term disability insurance and/or then collect more for income loss under their no-fault auto insurance. Years ago, one client was getting something in the range of 120+% for a short period of time and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. he had paid both premiums and neither insurer prohibited it. Notwithstanding this, he still couldn't wait to get back to work. ..

I also had a client who had to tenaciously fight his former employer's disability insurer "tooth and nail" on his disability claim- based on anxiety/depression per his psychiatrist. They kept jerking him a round and cutting him off. He lost his $70k/year job, but only got about $2k per month in benefits. His attorney had to constantly fight to keep his benefits from being cut-off. If you had seen him in a restaurant or at a grocery store, you would think he was just fine. About 10 days ago, his mother called me to ask if I had ever prepared a will for him. He committed suicide the day before and they wanted to know whether he wished to be buried or cremated...

You sure come across like a ****** sometimes. Actually, most of the time. So, since you would rather call me a simpleton than DISCUSS, I can play along.


Ease of travel? Longer life spans? Are you f**king serious? That's your 'theory' of why the family unit is not what it used to be?

The last sentence of your post was condescending and you know it. Come on, man.

Fuzz. I agree with your sexist view that women working instead of being home as mothers has greatly contributed to the decline of family. But I think that all those progressive people you worship would not appreciate our views.

Women are the stronger creatures. It is up to the stronger one to keep the family unit on pace and in check.

now thats arguing details. we are talking 3.5% difference. Maybe the HR manager who told me he was collecting 70% rounded up the 3.5%?

We all have problems, I still go to work everyday as do you.

edit-3.33%. my mistake, i want to get that right so you dont jump on the .17% difference.





Yes, it was FMLA. I couldnt remember the name of the program. The only BS is on you.









no, i dont know a whole lot but i know how he would file HR claims when straight people talked about their personal lives then come into work hung over and talk about his sex life. I dont really care either way, the point is, no one is his family died, he has plenty o money, he wasnt injured or hurt. hey, like i said, we all have personal issues/problems but you need to toughen up and get through it. take a vacation, whatever. but hanging your company and fellow worker out to dry is not ethical. if you cant come back to work, get on perm disability and let us hire someone else.

you can put weight on the story or not. He used to work 20ft from my office. that would be a pretty random story to make up i would think but hey, we dont know how far your imagination goes i guess.

TD, the kid is 25. i know for a fact he checked into a depression clinic because he had it on his facebook and was bragging about how he was enjoying kicking back on the government dime.

life is tough, there are ups and downs but my point is you still have to get through it. he doesnt have any real problems. He is 25, had a good job, etc. IF he had a real problem, IE disease, loved one sick that required his full time attention etc, i would be concerned with his wellness. I wouldnt want to see anyone suffer. My grandfather is 85 and lives 1000 miles away. he is the most important influence on my life and i know his time is very limited. However, when the time comes for him to take that journey we all will make, i will take my couple days leave and maybe a few more to help my Yaya get situated and come back to life/work/reality. Thats just how it goes.

i think this is a great example of why the US is slipping so fast. we refuse to accept that life will not be peachy for everyone. there will be trouble and difficulty that will require some to dig in, work harder and things still not go their way. we are being crushed with debt but both dems and repubs put on a show of cutting debt. Even if you combined both dems and repub cuts thats right at $100b. We are going in debt that much every 25 days. To begin to fix this issue, we will have to make REAL, DRASTIC and PAINFUL cuts that will affect many millions of people. It will cause loss of jobs, pensions (or large reductions of said pensions) increased cost of healthcare etc. Healthcare isnt free and it isnt a right (well thats my opinion, some digress) but it does cost money and that has to come from somewhere. and dont even get me started on the 2.5 wars we are fighting for some unknown cause.

gringo ah gringo. we are arguing minut details. whether its wages or leave, he still gets money he does not deserve. it doesnt matter if its federal, company or insurance money, its clearly a situation of someone abusing safeguards put in place to protect people who geniunely need them. yes, i do remember hearing he had to use his vacation/choicetime days first. which he would have been entitled to anyway since he has earned them.

im sorry i have been incorrect on a few trival details but the principle/ideal is still the same.


there is no BS, as that is a fabrication or outright lie, neither of which are present here. so keep "calling" BS as you "see" it because its the same as someone sitting in the top tier at a game calling fouls as they "see" them.

C'mon, it isn't a disease. All you gotta do is just cheer up. The guy had a job and stuff, what does he have to be drepressed about? Just snap out of it!

a little waterboarding and the depression thing will go right away....

ha, im sure it would help keep things in perspective. i think he needs to sit in a session with R. Lee Ermey like in the geico commercial!

98.2% of people just make up their own.

Wash that down with a Key Lime spritzer

A whole lot of lovin' is what they'll be bringing...c'mon get happy...c'mon get hap-pee!

I don't think your saltwater enemas count as waterboarding.....

I am not arguing with you about details or at all. Others are- but not myself. All I wrote about was my observations and experiences. Stop thinking I attacked/argued inconsequential details with you- that was not my intention.