Karsten Torch
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On the article Is Life Getting Harder for Middle-Aged People?
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On the article Is Life Getting Harder for Middle-Aged People?
Karsten Torch
5:32 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44LHBViTZI0
This video addresses some concerns with the video Amy posted, but not all.
Look, inequality is simple. It is what it is, and it's going to be. I mean, let's use some real numbers.
For income, let's use the 5 groups, broken up into 20% segments. The first segment gets $10 an hour, the next group gets $8, and so on, down to the bottom group at $2 an hour. Each hour, there's $30 paid out. Simple math, right? This would put the top group earning 30% of the total, and the bottom group earning 7% of the total. So, in essence, the top 20% earns 30% of the money, and the bottom 20% earns 7% of the money. Not even remotely fair. (I don't agree, and hate the use of the word 'fair,' but stay with me here)
And since the numbers are even more skewed, we're really talking about the bottom 20% earning that same $2, and the top earning closer to, what, $600? But is this unfair, or just life? I would argue life. Do we need the government to step in and close that gap? Or should we maybe encourage the bottom earners to try and become top earners?
News flash - life is not fair. Get over it. If you're in that bottom 20%, figure out how to get out.
And this video talks about wealth, not income. Wealth differentials increase more quickly than income differentials. Easier to save money the more you earn. So...video is misleading, IMO.....
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
Karsten Torch
12:02 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013
Wait, she left a 3 year old and a 5 year old alone in the tub? Long enough for him to get out and grab a rifle and shoot somebody? Seriously?
This kid was going to get taken out sooner or later. Some people shouldn't be allowed to be parents.
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
Karsten Torch
11:29 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
There's a difference between offensive and you being offended. We have no right in this country to not be offended. If I say something you don't agree with or you find rude, tough. Now, to attack or use vulgar language is, in itself, offensive. Time to be stricken.
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
Karsten Torch
11:09 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
And my point that was deleted was that it wasn't a personal attack. She said it was a ________ comment, not that he was one. And using symbols for part of the word made it into a non-vulgar word. So.....I didn't personally think it should have been deleted, but I wasn't asked for my vote....
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
Karsten Torch
10:49 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
I agree. I was raised with alcohol in the home by European parents. They both could drink socially (wine with dinner occasionally and such) from an early age. I could as well. As a teenager, I was told to drink what I wanted at the house, could have people over, as long as I wasn't driving or going out. As it was easy to get at, at this point in my life I don't drink at all. No urge. Same with chocolate and soda. I never had to ask if I could get a Coke from the fridge, for me it was a normal thing. I remember friends having to ask their parents and often being told 'No.' I always thought that strange. At this point in my life I may drink soda once a week or so, and then only a glass or two, never overboard.
I'm not saying I'm perfect, or everybody's like me, I'm just saying that in my personal case, having something available as a kid makes it a non-event for me now.
And the same was true with guns. My father kept his pistol where I could reach it if I wanted to, I always knew where it was. Never occurred to me to mess with it. Because he taught me about it early. Now I appreciate guns, enjoy shooting them, but have never had the urge to pick them up and play with them.
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
Karsten Torch
10:39 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
Why? Why would it be child endangerment? He's already said they were always supervised and never more than a foot away.
Or is there some law about children under the age of three not being allowed to touch a firearm for any reason even under close adult supervision that I'm just not familar with?
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
Karsten Torch
6:11 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Notice on most of these stories - "a gun they FOUND." Which means to me they didn't know they were there. Meaning that A) the gun was not put away properly, and probably B) the parents did not show the gun to the children and tell them "no."
Charge the parents, send them up the river, make the consequences so severe that people will never allow this to happen accidentally again, and maybe people will accept responsibility for themselves and these occurrences will stop happening.
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On the article Should 5-Year-Olds Own Guns?
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On the article Is Life Getting Harder for Middle-Aged People?
Karsten Torch
6:05 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
That and "sell so much stuff your kids worry they might be next."
Karsten Torch
5:35 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
And John, that is the difference between a victim mentality and the successful....