Budgets and priorities

[Hogpatrol]

@mdwest AI will reduce headcount everywhere but in government. Here in the Socialist Republic of Delaware, we lost two auto assembly plants, a big three parts depot, a power plant, most of the DuPont company, a couple large credit card companies and Astra Zeneca pharmaceuticals.
We are now a quasi socialist/communist entity with the state being the largest employer overall. The hospital conglomerate, a recipient of medicaid and medicare money, is the largest private employer. For all intents and purposes we are a welfare state with a Democrat controlled governorship and legislature. Most of the local political entities, including school boards and counties, are also blue.
We just were informed of a $400 million shortfall and what is the state doing but starting more programs and hiring more people. It doesn't make sense but what else does these days.

 

[RLD]

I know you jest my friend but please tell me there is no such thing as hip hop studies.

I know a chap who is a professor who studies and teaches "Hip Hop Accounting." He has a ton of great stories and can bust a serious rhyme.

 

[steve white]

I remember when you could buy a hamburger, small fries and a small drink from McDonald’s and get changed back from your dollar.

Beat that!

AND have them make enough profit to stay in business!
(after all, what does a little Coke syrup and fizzy water cost, anyway?)

 

[steve white]

Completely agree.. its only a matter of time before a robot is getting sent to your house to fix your AC or your plumbing... but.. I think those types of jobs are going to be secure for at least a little while longer than many of the "tech" jobs out there right now..

I think the next 20-30 years are going to be very interesting times.. the world is going to have to do some pretty substantial changing.. when its all said and done people have to eat, need to have a roof over their heads, etc.. which means under the current model they all need some sort of income to do that.. most of us get income through work...

As crazy as it sounds.. at some point I think working for other people is going to be done by a minority of people rather than a majority... AI, robots, etc.. will ultimately be able to do pretty much anything a human can do.. in many situations will be able to do it better.. will do it more reliably.. and while short term costs might be higher, the long term costs will be lower..

We already have self driving cars in many markets.. Waymo is taking off FAST.. give it a couple of years and the very few taxi services left will be dead, and the uber/lyft market will be waning quickly.. not to mention it will be a self driving car that is delivering your uber eats / door dash pretty soon.. those jobs are going to go away within the next few years as well..

I ate at a restaurant about a month ago that had a robot that was both taking orders and serving food... it was more of a novelty than anything else.. the restaurant also had several servers working at the same time.. but how much longer is it going to be before we have robots in EVERY restaurant taking orders and serving food? or how much longer is it going to be where you simply put your order in at the table using a dedicated tablet (never talking to a server), and then a robot delivers your dinner? There is a restaurant just a mile or two from me where you sit at the table, scan the QR code, place your order with your phone, etc.. the only time you interact with a server is when they bring your drinks and when they bring your food.. you dont even talk to a server at the end of the meal.. you scan another QR code, and you pay your bill using your phone..

If servers are going away.. how much longer before the cooks in the kitchen go away.. it cant be all that hard to teach a machine how to get a steak to a perfect medium rare..

Im afraid no one is going to be safe in the future.. pretty much any job you can conceive can be done by a machine at this point if someone will put the time, energy, and money into developing the right tools to make that happen.. the only question is how long is it going to be before YOUR job goes away..

While I really hate that idea for my kids and future grandkids.. I am really thankful that I am pretty close to the end of my career and most likely wont have to face that problem myself..

robots will never replace BEGGARS! There will always be a human gauntlet of upturned palms going to and from downtown locations the world over....

 

[steve white]

@Flbt yes the money has changed and you show good comparisons.

But I also think the lifestyle has changed and we need to accept that to save falling further behind.

My first home was pretty ordinary and I still live in a 100 year old home that we renovated ourselves.

A million dollars doesn’t buy you what it used to but I’m sure a lot of people who struggled to get ahead still value a dollar

The comparison on firearms is good. But today we own multiples of. Probably because we paid our bills first.

The little things add up. My diet doesn’t work unless I work at it. And I think money is the same.

CBH, you could build yourself a nice home and while you're at it build at least a couple of rent houses out of the perfectly good lumber that is thrown away at the Dallas, TX DUMP! No, I'm not even kidding. When I was roofing my house and took a load or two of old shingles and rubbish a day to the city dump, I came home every day with lumber--usually enough to deck and whatnot all the next day. I was really going to stack some off a truck that had dumped an entire load of practically new plywood from a barrier wall next to a sidewalk at a construction site (they were just writing it off), when a hand laid itself on my shoulder and asked, "you wouldn't be SCAVENGING, would you?" I asked if that would be bad--a man in a uniform shirt replied, "about a 1500 dollar fine bad...." I said, "then I'm definitely not scavenging!" Good! he said--now I'll help you load your truck up THIS time, but after this--NO MORE! I was therefore able to return much of the plywood I bought at Home Depot for a refund.

Well, WHY don't they let people have it? It would mean less going into the landfill! Other countries allow recycling all the time. As I drove away, I saw a bulldozer mash the remainder into the hillside.

 

[Aaron N]

Hip Hop and R&B | Loyola University New Orleans

Master the music industry as an artist and a professional. The first program of its kind in the United States, our Bachelor of Science in Hip Hop and R&B degree is designed to immerse you in the worlds of modern hip-hop, R&B, and EDM from your very first semester. With our state-of-the-art...

www.loyno.edu

The local indoctrination center, aka, the University of Delaware has one on gender studies.

Music is art, and like it or not, hip hop and R&B are music. So are you opposed to the study of all art or just the type of music you hate?

@mdwest AI will reduce headcount everywhere but in government. Here in the Socialist Republic of Delaware, we lost two auto assembly plants, a big three parts depot, a power plant, most of the DuPont company, a couple large credit card companies and Astra Zeneca pharmaceuticals.
We are now a quasi socialist/communist entity with the state being the largest employer overall. The hospital conglomerate, a recipient of medicaid and medicare money, is the largest private employer. For all intents and purposes we are a welfare state with a Democrat controlled governorship and legislature. Most of the local political entities, including school boards and counties, are also blue.
We just were informed of a $400 million shortfall and what is the state doing but starting more programs and hiring more people. It doesn't make sense but what else does these days.

Mad at the government, or at the men who sent the jobs away?

 

[Aaron N]

I like how no one will bring up the fact that the whole system is literally build on consumerism and there are literally behavioural scientists working for corporations creating more effective ways to get people addicted to purchasing their merchandise, Humans have addictive personalities by nature, and the new tobacco is consumerism. The system needs people to continue buying goods/services to meet quarterly estimates and to keep those 401k’s healthy, so it will never change.

So maybe instead of asking why kids now a days say they can’t afford a house, maybe ask why there needs to be advertisements at a bus stop, or on a train, or at a god damned urinal for Christ sakes! Or why google can harvest your browsing habits so that they can tailor make ads and content targeted specially at you.

 

[Andrew62]

I know a RV dealer in Missouri, last year they sold 153 units, this year to date 13 units.

And people think things are good.

My son sells boats, same story, sales are down tremendously this year.

 

[mark-hunter]

Or why google can harvest your browsing habits so that they can tailor make ads and content targeted specially at you.

Google doesnt work that well! Its overrated! My main habit is searching African hunts, and this google thing has never provided me with any safari ad! Not to mention hunting rifle discounts! Nada! This is disappointment!

 

[mdwest]

My son sells boats, same story, sales are down tremendously this year.

I wonder what’s driving that?

Markets are exploding… unemployment is way down.. normally those two things equal people spending more and buying more “luxury” or “optional” items..

I would have figured new cars, boats, campers, etc would be up..

 

[mdwest]

I like how no one will bring up the fact that the whole system is literally build on consumerism and there are literally behavioural scientists working for corporations creating more effective ways to get people addicted to purchasing their merchandise, Humans have addictive personalities by nature, and the new tobacco is consumerism. The system needs people to continue buying goods/services to meet quarterly estimates and to keep those 401k’s healthy, so it will never change.

So maybe instead of asking why kids now a days say they can’t afford a house, maybe ask why there needs to be advertisements at a bus stop, or on a train, or at a god damned urinal for Christ sakes! Or why google can harvest your browsing habits so that they can tailor make ads and content targeted specially at you.

I don’t know about Alberta.. but ads in urinals, bus stops, and pretty much any available surface known to man is nothing at all new in the US..

They quite literally have been putting ads on NASCAR vehicles since the 1940’s..

What is new is people staring at a 6” screen for hours at a time while sitting on the couch, in the privacy of their own home, getting hit with ads every time they click a link or browse another website..

Rabid consumerism started in the US in the 1920’s with the Industrial Revolution.. there is significant documentation also dating back to the 1920’s where humans began to be considered “consumers” and businesses began developing intricate marketing strategies purposefully appealing to consumerism concepts..

I’m not sure why you think no one will bring this up.. Harvard, MIT, and several other highly regarded universities have been producing studies in consumerism for literally over a hundred years at this point and have been teaching classes on the concept for just as long in their business colleges..

 

[Aaron N]

I don’t know about Alberta.. but ads in urinals, bus stops, and pretty much any available surface known to man is nothing at all new in the US..

They quite literally have been putting ads on NASCAR vehicles since the 1940’s..

What is new is people staring at a 6” screen for hours at a time while sitting on the couch, in the privacy of their own home, getting hit with ads every time they click a link or browse another website..

Rabid consumerism started in the US in the 1920’s with the Industrial Revolution.. there is significant documentation also dating back to the 1920’s where humans began to be considered “consumers” and businesses began developing intricate marketing strategies purposefully appealing to consumerism concepts..

I’m not sure why you think no one will bring this up.. Harvard, MIT, and several other highly regarded universities have been producing studies in consumerism for literally over a hundred years at this point and have been teaching classes on the concept for just as long in their business colleges..

Of course consumerism has been around for a while now, look at your wife’s ring finger and thank De Beers for making diamonds the new standard for engagement rings in 1938. But like all research, over time things evolve and refine and become more effective.

All I’m saying is that is seems like all the blame is getting heaped on the lab rats and none on those conducting the experiments.

 

[mdwest]

Of course consumerism has been around for a while now, look at your wife’s ring finger and thank De Beers for making diamonds the new standard for engagement rings in 1938. But like all research, over time things evolve and refine and become more effective.

All I’m saying is that is seems like all the blame is getting heaped on the lab rats and none on those conducting the experiments.

I concur…

I think the core of the problem is that while the lab rats claim they hate the drug they’re being fed, they’ve become addicts… as soon as you take it away, they’ll go nuts..

Both the addict and the dope dealer have much responsibility…

 

[Aaron N]

I concur…

I think the core of the problem is that while the lab rats claim they hate the drug they’re being fed, they’ve become addicts… as soon as you take it away, they’ll go nuts..

Both the addict and the dope dealer have much responsibility…

You’re bang on with that assessment

 

[Dirtdart]

Hip Hop and R&B | Loyola University New Orleans

Master the music industry as an artist and a professional. The first program of its kind in the United States, our Bachelor of Science in Hip Hop and R&B degree is designed to immerse you in the worlds of modern hip-hop, R&B, and EDM from your very first semester. With our state-of-the-art...

www.loyno.edu

The local indoctrination center, aka, the University of Delaware has one on gender studies.

In this day and age I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Hogpatrol]

No cash shortage in this business.

Camping World Reports ‘Record Breaking’ Q3 2025 Results - RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. — Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH), the "World’s Largest Recreational Vehicle Dealer," reported results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025. “Our company delivered over 40% Adjusted EBITDA(1) growth this quarter, driven by record breaking new and used vehicle...

rvbusiness.com

 

[steve white]

Don't remember what book I was reading about early African development, but one of the "John Bulls" peddling wares in Africa was lamenting the fact that the African native was so self sufficient they didn't need all the baubles he had to sell. He proclaimed, "We've got to make them want wants" I'd say we've been pretty successful making everyone "want wants." I know I do.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Personally I think the entire premise of 20-something’s owning a house is flawed. Understanding that we all have different backgrounds here but in my family I can think of exactly two people who have achieved that.

The first was my maternal grandmother who married an older widower. At the tender age of 21 she was helping to dig out the basement— while pregnant! The other was my father. After returning from WWII he and mom moved in with my grandmother but not until Dad built an apartment in the back of the house. Then he saved enough to purchase a lot and built our house himself, working nights and weekends. Concrete work was hired out but everything else (framing, plumbing, electrical, masonry, etc) was done by him with occasional help from friends and relatives. When our family moved in he was just short of 30 years old. It was a good sized house, about 900 sq ft.

We did our own automobile maintenance and repairs, etc. I still do except for the bigger jobs like replacing a clutch. Need daycare? Her name was either “Mom” or “Grandma” or sometimes “Aunt.” Big dinner celebration? No fancy restaurants or carry out, you set up the sawhorses or folding tables and everyone came over to the house where the ladies cooked up a storm (it made for good bonding as well). The main lesson was that you never paid somebody else to do what you can do yourself.

I also well remember my sister and her husband using empty cable spools for a table until they could afford proper furniture. Or second hand from family and friends. They made-do while saving until they could afford better.

Of course that meant you (or your family/friend network) possessed those skills. Contrast that to current day. A young relative who is getting married asked me to talk to her fiancé about adding some tools to the wedding registry. As we got into the conversation I realized the extent of the problem when he asked me, “so when you talk about 3/8” and 1/2” drive socket sets what does drive mean?” I was flabbergasted that a man approaching 30 didn’t know this. Needless to say he doesn’t currently own a decent set of tools. At least he seems willing to learn, so we can fix that.

Granted there are some jobs too physically demanding or require specialized skills but… Self sufficiency to the extent possible. You’ll never save for a house (or anything else) by paying someone else to do what you should be able to do for yourself. Allocation of available resources.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Being in my 30’s this thread made me feel like I’m doomed.

Guess it’s time to start planning my next dangerous game hunt. Maybe I won’t come home and have to worry about the other stuff

 

[Flbt]

Personally I think the entire premise of 20-something’s owning a house is flawed. Understanding that we all have different backgrounds here but in my family I can think of exactly two people who have achieved that.

The first was my maternal grandmother who married an older widower. At the tender age of 21 she was helping to dig out the basement— while pregnant! The other was my father. After returning from WWII he and mom moved in with my grandmother but not until Dad built an apartment in the back of the house. Then he saved enough to purchase a lot and built our house himself, working nights and weekends. Concrete work was hired out but everything else (framing, plumbing, electrical, masonry, etc) was done by him with occasional help from friends and relatives. When our family moved in he was just short of 30 years old. It was a good sized house, about 900 sq ft.

We did our own automobile maintenance and repairs, etc. I still do except for the bigger jobs like replacing a clutch. Need daycare? Her name was either “Mom” or “Grandma” or sometimes “Aunt.” Big dinner celebration? No fancy restaurants or carry out, you set up the sawhorses or folding tables and everyone came over to the house where the ladies cooked up a storm (it made for good bonding as well). The main lesson was that you never paid somebody else to do what you can do yourself.

I also well remember my sister and her husband using empty cable spools for a table until they could afford proper furniture. Or second hand from family and friends. They made-do while saving until they could afford better.

Of course that meant you (or your family/friend network) possessed those skills. Contrast that to current day. A young relative who is getting married asked me to talk to her fiancé about adding some tools

I don’t think there much I could fix on a 2025 truck
Even if I was able to do the work.

But that’s probably why mine are pre 2000