patrick.net

I am stupid, therefore I can not get a job that pays well.
Since I can't get a high paying job, I'm gonna complain about not having enough
Since I don't have enough, I will blame others for my unhappiness
Since I am unhappy, I am entitled
Now give me my top sirloin and BMW!

Unfortunately, a lot of people in the USA t think those thoughts without any sarcasm.

And how do I get to be one of the 44 million who don't pay any tax? I've paid taxes since I got my first job and I was barely making $20k a year when I got out of college.

Just saw Kathleen Hayes interview DL on Bloombergs and he was more demonstrative than I've EVER seen him. He discussed an "affordability crisis" in CA and acknowledged that people are "voting with their feet" by moving to NV, AZ and NM. He became quite animated when asked about interest rates basically IMPLORING the Fed not to raise rates any further and concluded by saying that if we go into a reccession (created by oil prices, the Fed and closing the ATM spigot of course) that ALL BETS ARE OFF!

"Believe me, I take way more away from this blog than I contribute!"

I think a lot of us feel the same way, DinOR. It's what makes this blog so great!

Dang it, I put my previous post with "" tags and they got swallowed up.

--- start sarcasm ---
I am stupid, therefore I can not get a job that pays well.
Since I can’t get a high paying job, I’m gonna complain about not having enough
Since I don’t have enough, I will blame others for my unhappiness
Since I am unhappy, I am entitled
Now give me my top sirloin and BMW!
--- end sarcasm ---

When asked to identify the 3 most overpriced markets and also the 3 best value markets he basically said CA!, CA! and CA! and then added that TX had really not participated in the boom so there are some good values in San Antonio etc. There is a decided change in his tone and it's clear that he fully intends to deflect blame to the admin. and the Fed.

but I have never seen anyone advocate for dishonestly fleecing someone.

I do advocate the legalization of gambling, online or otherwise. Some may choose to see that as "dishonestly fleecing someone". :)

Scott J,

Well at least there's "some" comfort in knowing that I'm not the only person that feels he/she learns more than they teach!

What we've basically done in this economy is say "Look if you want a bimmer but can't afford it on the same terms as people that really can afford the terms, well then we'll just have to adjust the terms so that you CAN afford it"! We've now moved from the 72 month car loan to a 40 year mortgage.

Most of us are in the middle, not real smart, but not that dumb either (unless it suits our immediate needs). What I usually find (and I don't speak for anyone else here) is that it's not so much that people are THAT stupid, on the contrary, they're too smart to want to accrue wealth through traditional channels and anything resembling CONFORMITY! They know if that "put the tie on" they could afford everything you enjoy. But they're not "kiss asses" so they go about inventing ways to get everything in life huslters have (but without the hustle or hassle). I fear this is where altogether too many Americans fall into.

We just don’t think people who buy and flip houses and then complain about the turning market ought to be given some loophole after the fact. What exactly is wrong with that?

Fraud is never okay. However, coveat emptor is an important concept.

I thought that the last thing wimpy, insecure people, and men who had lost their manhood, want is for others to know about it!

They may be too stupid to link that with insecurity.

I am very insecure, I want big cars, and I do not care how other people see me.

I have to agree with SQT and SFWoman on their stance regarding "fleecing a sucker". I really don't think people on this blog advocate taking people for a ride just to make a buck. But there are some who definitely talk about "embracing the dark side" or schadenfreud. It's just harmless venting since there are a lot of folks out there who enjoy smearing things in your face no matter what the topic of conversation is.

I've got a car ~ "oh yeah, well I've got a Benz"
I've got a house ~ "so what, mine is bigger"
I went to ---blank--- school ~ "And? I went to Harvard"
I rent ~ "Man, what kind of cretin are you? You're not worthy"

What happened to the pursuit of happiness?

I know I've said this before but it might appropriate to bring it out one last time:

This is what's bugged me sooooo much about the bubble. Short cuts!

Never mind that I can't afford to live here.

Never mind that I don't deserve to live here.

Never mind that I contribute ZILCH to my ret. acct.

Never mind that I can't afford the gas or the H2 payments.

I'M HERE! Whatcha gonna do bout it?

Anybody remember Anna Ayala? The gal with her like 14th lawsuit against a fast food chain and the finger in the Wendy's Chili? When the media went out to her house (I think it was in LV) the place was freakin HUGE! Her boyfriend (or whatever) came out and started shoving camera men around (which I always love in my neighborhood) so you didn't get a long look but the place was HUGE! And brand spanking new. How does someone as unemployable as her (with a boyfriend that works on a loading dock) afford a place like that? Oh, btw that's where the finger in question came from. One of BF's co-workers had it cut off and b/c co-worker "owed" Anna's BF his first impulse was to stick it in some fast food.

DinOR,

This is SO TRUE "they’re too smart to want to accrue wealth through traditional channels and anything resembling CONFORMITY!... so they go about inventing ways to get everything in life huslters have (but without the hustle or hassle). I fear this is where altogether too many Americans fall into."

Some of my smartest friends are constantly trying to figure out low maintenance ways of getting rich as fast as possible. They say "I need to find a scam so that I won't have to work and make a lot of money"

I am the first to admit, I love it when I get a momment to be lazy! But I won't try to get something for nothing.

SQT,

That is hysterical! I've never been able to link to their on going "saga" before so that was a real treat! What exactly is it that they want again? In all the descriptions of their "plight" (vomiting blood, aw c'mon) and dead pets I kind of lost track of what it is they are seeking. Unless it's an entry for "the best of C/L"?

Wow.

I'm guessing from the subject that they want a real estate agent to help them "buy" a new place. (As opposed to selling the current, given that they posted incomes and scores.)

*sigh*

but I have never seen anyone advocate for dishonestly fleecing someone.

I do advocate the legalization of gambling, online or otherwise. Some may choose to see that as “dishonestly fleecing someone”. :)

I advocate and heartily encourage the exploitation of those who ignore, deny or dispute game theory and basic human nature. Some may choose to see that as "dishonestly fleecing someone" also. Then again, I contend that most people don't realize just how much they actually dislike capitalism and free market competition. Meritocracies are a bitch; especially if you're stupid, a pollyanna, or a stupid pollyanna.

SQT,

That Wikipedia is something ain't it? Man they got everything! I especially liked they way they described her as "an American Criminal". Right off the bat! I took a little risk in sharing that as an "extreme example" of the sense of entitlement that many among us practice on a regular basis but hey! With her "credentials" is there a better case study?

SQT,

I'm guessing they are actively seeking a low life realtor that will over look not only their modest incomes and "ID theft" driven FICO's but also the fact that they fully intend to walk away from their obligation.

P.S

To also find them financing before the the inevitable late payments and foreclosure show up on their already shaky credit scores.

Just a guess.

Bubba,

Now that interest rates are rising these are the suckers that we on the blog lose little sleep over.

From George ~ "We put it on our credit cards, paid it off with our HELOC, and then rolled it over when we did our re-fi."

But we do feel bad for people who are conned, because all of us at one point or another have been conned. As you said "A con is when a risk is presented as no-risk, or less risk - i.e some information about possible outcomes is suppressed or the probability of some outcomes is distorted. One party is taking advantage of the other."

I don't think the snearing mass of "blue pill" popping H2 drivers were being conned when they re-fied for the 3rd time to keep their monthly payments low and to "be in debt" for another vacation.

I advocate and heartily encourage the exploitation of those who ignore, deny or dispute game theory and basic human nature.

Same.

Then again, I contend that most people don’t realize just how much they actually dislike capitalism and free market competition.

I totally agree.

I remember going to a group discussion about corporate responsibilities and most people described social-ism as the ideal mode of operation without knowing it. Basically, they want freedom to empower themselves and themselves only.

Perhaps people are just too naive and idealistic.

I’m guessing they are actively seeking a low life realtor that will over look not only their modest incomes and “ID theft” driven FICO’s but also the fact that they fully intend to walk away from their obligation.

Too bad, I doubt it is possible for any potential greatest fool to get a mortgage on a repartment with widely-publicized toxic mold problems.

Ryno73,

Right on! A state should be able to set even higher standards but at least this way we wouldn't have people getting out of prison on Friday and starting a mortgage company on Monday (as is the case in CO) and several other states.

You're right, in many cases it can be years before we'll know if our inv. decisions have panned out. When we look at the "flippers in trouble" web site we see a tremendous amount of activity. Bought/Sold, Bought/Sold, reduced, reduced etc. etc. There were warning signs and much debate. Perhaps many of these people suspected things were coming to an end but "easy money" is hard to say no to.

Is that sacramento C/L thing for real? OMG, why would these folks post what looks to be lower end FICO scores on the internet in the hopes of getting a realtor?

I really shouldn't be surprised. This is kali-FOR-niah.

Peter P,

But if Michael and Heidi are already down the road (without making a genuine effort to sell their condo conversion) and are comfortably in their "new digs" sans the blood spewing what do they care if another buyer comes along? It seems to me the whole plea is designed to distance themselves from their obligation and do it post haste.

Were people spewing blood in them when the just apartments? Hmm.

Is it bad that I put this up to mock them?

No, we should mock them more. :twisted:

Last time the lotto grew to some huge payoff, I read that you had a greater chance of dying in a car accident on the way to buying a ticket than in winning.

Mike, driving is actually very dangerous.

I think gambling is a form of quite openly and honestly, literally honestly fleecing people.

I think gambling is an excellent source of tax revenue.

SQT,

Hehe, wikipedia is so useful for following this stuff.

That woman was a stupid criminal. She should have cooked the finger first and maybe get the finger from a non-blood relative. Also, try not suing so many people all at once, she would do a lot better if she just settled on one big score.

There is a donation button on their website! Why are they deserving of a donation?

SFWoman, I think they are suffering from a case of very bad luck. I now do sympathize with them a bit.

If they try to sell the condo without proper disclosure, it may further harm their karma and cause more bad luck.

Speaking of donation, do you know anyone with a donor-advised account? It is a rather slick concept.

I don't like the existence of gambling...

Actually, I don't like the natural selection of the modern world. For the most part, if you're a citizen of a developed nation, the richer you are - the slower your rate of reproduction, often below replacement levels. On the other hand, our social welfare system supports kids born out from so called social failures.

I think the whole incentive system is out of whack and must! Radically! Rebalance! Soon!

(I feel the divine inspiration of Messianic Libertarianism...Peter P, how do feel about being the grand poobha of a Libertarian cult, reinterpreting the words of Ayn Rand?)

They are suffering from some bad luck. However, they also made some bad choices, like buying a condo on a really stretched budget and buying a new car when they already had a ton of expenses.

They're also seeking legal redress on the condo problem. If the developer goes belly up and doesn't pay, that's one thing. However, right now, they should focus on getting a jury's sympathy and not mine.

I think the whole incentive system is out of whack and must! Radically! Rebalance! Soon!

Very true. What are we going to do about it?

Am I a libertarian? I thought I am just a cold-hearted utilitarian.

As the life of a certain founder of a certain religion heralded by a certain famous short actor demonstrates, grand poobahs of a religion have to believe everything they preach.

Just a thought.

In the aftermath of Katrina many of us were focused on energy costs going into that winter. Thankfully it was fairly mild and heating oil costs (while high) were well managed.

Now it turns out that peak? energy demand has come in the summer with power outages and record useage in CA and across the country. Many in St. Louis are still without power. Either extreme would be bad but as King Cobra points out the "super size me" American home continues to grow. It doesn't seem to matter if you're trying to heat it or cool it but more and more McMansions make less and less sense. Weird huh? Plenty of summer yet to go.

The solution to power problems:

1. Have prices go up when energy is in high demand. Let the free market regulate energy usage.

2. Relax all environmental restrictions of new power plants

3. Encourage private grid-interactive solar/geothermal systems

SQT,

Thanks.

:oops

I had that one coming. My cheapshot comment against NYT life style section wasn't much better than spam.

Perhaps power above a reasonable base level per housing unit should be markedly more expensive.

It is hard to enforce. I would say just let the price of energy float freely. We can have the rate published every morning based on the projected usage for the day. Or we can just charge people more after the fact if the usage turns out to be high. People learn fast.

Peter P,

I'm not so sure about deregulating environmental/safety regulations on power plants. Firstly, any mistakes could be very devastating. Second, how do you account for externalities like greenhouse emissions. Thirdly, many power plants are built by quasi-governmental bodies.

Also, while I'm not happy about some of the effects of government implemented price protection (cough Prop 13 cough), going totally free market would be devastating for a lot of vulnerable people. Cutting off poor people's utility lines just because wealthier people want their second homes cooled is not a good solution. I like SFWoman's idea much more. Establish a graduated price structure based on per capita use. That might give the rich an incentive to really check out solar panels.

Second, how do you account for externalities like greenhouse emissions.

Nuclear power. Almost no greenhouse gas emission. :)

I like SFWoman’s idea much more. Establish a graduated price structure based on per capita use. That might give the rich an incentive to really check out solar panels.

It sounds good, but how can it be implemented using existing infrastructures?

SFWoman,

So basically what we're saying here is the first X amount of kilowatt hours (keeping the lights on for security and a fan) you are charged a B/E from your power provider.

The next increment (normal folks, normal useage) you're charged X + a dime per k/h

The next increment (outdoor heated pool types) you're charged X + a quarter per k/h?

Seems reasonable to me! How difficult would that be to enforce?

Cutting off poor people’s utility lines just because wealthier people want their second homes cooled is not a good solution.

It is a good solution:

1. people will be more inclined to vote for building new power plants
2. people will alter their lives to optimize cost effectiveness

Both will minimize the chance of future power problems, lowering costs for everyone in the long run.

I'd love to check out solar panels!
Its one of the 'improvements' that I personally think actually improves a house. It seems insane that in CA you wouldn't have solar panels as standard by now.

SFWoman:
What do McMansion owners have against solar panels anyway? Not being disingenuous, just curious.