Jim

Let's look at it this way. If the total wealth in the country was $100, this is the way it would be distributed: 1 person gets $38.10 4 people get $5.32 each 5 people get $2.30 each 10 people get $1.25 each 20 people get .60 each 20 people get .23 each 40 people get 1/2 cent each Given the current marginal tax rates I'd say the upper incomes are getting a deal.

He doesn't climb.

Oh please, not this again. If the upper incomes are getting so screwed then why has the large gap between the upper end and everyone else been increasing the fastest ever in the last 20 years. Gimme a break. Marginal tax rates are the lowest they've been in 50 years, the inheritance tax is fazing out. Oh poor guys, they have such a heavy burden.

Everyone call in sick tomorrow and go climb!!!

Some good points JayB but so far it's worked for them and the rest is speculation. I do think that the drop in population rate may have some effect that could cause some restructuring. While the EU may have an overall higher unemployment rate the US has a staggering level of poverty compared to the EU. At least the unemployed in the EU have some medical coverage. I guess that's a variation on the approaches.

It may be a matter of perspective. I think they are just learning that work is not the end all, which it is for a lot of folks in the US. As a society maybe they have just agreed that the emphasis should not be so high on working and material gain. My relatives in the EU and Australia work hard - but they have better benefits and more time off. Seems like a great family-friendly policy to me. They're not milking the system. That is the system their society agrees on.

that's misleading due to labor forcer and what the labor's about Huh??

They likely do. They have more time to give to their families, friends, and communities, and to voulenteer at their kid's school or after-school programs. Beats keeping the nose to the grindstone. No one on their deathbed ever said they wished they spent more time at the office (Twain?). And interesting article JayB. What's missing is why our per captia GDP is higher than the EU - we work many more hours per captia. The EU productivity per hour is generally higher than the US.

In that vein then the rest of the world is socialist? I think we should bomb them for taking too much vacation. Interesting that the US lags behind in productivity/hr worked compared to these countries. We just work more.

Except in the US and Japan.

I notice you've neatly side-stepped addressing the question I posed - how would a similar statement of a white guy make sense. I imposed a white quarterback in Rush's statement. It makes no sense. And yes - who is the prominate race makes all the difference. Why would you say that the media is wishing for a white player that it can latch on to? It makes no sense in the context. But were getting a far a field here. You said Rush's statement may not be racist. That's BS and pandering to some base element.

guess we just have different view points. i dont think that being racist against a dominant culture will help racism against a minority culture. quite the opposite i would say. it is just ammo for the militants in idaho. perpetuation of the hate on both sides ensues. mabe we can try to treat everyone equally as per our constitution. There is no difference of opinion - this was a clear racist remark - to say otherwise is capitulation. He said his abilities were not up to snuff and the reason he got media attention was because he was black. Substitue a white player and would this statement make sense - "The media has been very desirous that a white quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in Brett Farve, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve." Of course not. Limbaugh's statement reveals the usual underpinnings of racism when a dominat group feels threatened by the accomplishments of a minority. Try and point out that they don't deserve what they have earned. Sick.

Going to call you on this one 'cause it too slimy too let go by. Yea, ESPN probably did hire him for his audience following and to stir things up. That was likely in bad taste. His comment is nothing short of racist. You made comment about a white player - how noble of you. Yes, I did go search and read his quote and I think I accurately present it above. Limburgh's comment implies that a liberal media is raving about a guy only because he is black, not because of his accomplishments. How would any such comment about a white guy make sense in a white dominated culture? Nevermind what the guy has done in Philly over the past few years. And we need guys like Limbaugh and the other conservative radio, TV, and newspaper columnists, as well as book authors to keep tab on this liberal media. Like the sports world is in cahoots to make up stats for this guy and they'll get some paycheck under the table? This was blatant racism. Too bad his co-hosts didn't have to balls to call him on it immediately. Some comments can be made out of ignorance - this guy knows what he said and why he said it. What a pig.

Gettin' paid for field work along the Bearing Strait. Leaving Sunday. I love my job!!!

I'd agree. Seems that a lot of "edgy" art these days is little more than a witty idea and not much talent. I appreciate art more as social commentary when it takes some talent to produce while pushing social boundaries.

Oh, well that makes the statement ok then. And never mind the past few seasons - you're reference is to the 4 games this year. This is nothing more than a racial slur. Any attempt to rationalize is just as grim.

My wife is a middle school science teacher and her school takes the kids environmental ed camping trips in the fall and spring. So I donate a couple of days helping out. It's parents and friends helping out - I think we had 10 topropes going in Icicle yesterday. One of the parents had climbed K2!!! Dang. You might ask at the gyms in town as they have different groups come in. Could be some help needed with one of those. Good luck.

Now I don't have cable so I didn't hear the remark first hand. I heard it on the news this morning so check me if I have this correct. The esteemed Rush Limbaugh was until recently a commentator for ESPN football (news to me) but was fired the other day. He stated on the air that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was "overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed" Well at least they fired the racist. Funny how all that talk about cutting social programs etc. often boils down to more base, and unseemely issues. The guy is a fat racist.

I had the opportunity to teach kids climbing for the past couple of days on the east side. It was great to get over there during the week. Haven't climbed at Peshastin for a couple of years - what a funny place. Found some time to lead up a couple routes Fakin It (or Making it?) on Sunset, and some two pitch thing on the east end of Martin (5.8?). But it was a blast teach these middle school kids. Their emotions - fear, pure joy, and energy are just all over the place. Fun in the sun. Off to Alaska and the Seward Penninsula for work this weekend - that will be a change.

Oh and like he's going to give up his source. They leaked it to this reporter because they knew what he would do with the information. Its obvious intentiona was to intimidate. The Bushies are the worst administration I've seen. At least Bush I had some worldly experience. Bushie II is a dolt and is not sophisitated enough to handle the neo-cons he takes orders from. And this - leaking an agent's name? And they impeached Clinton for lying about a blow job? The mind reels.

But how would Trask know?

On a similar note would be the consistent criticism of Paul Krugman (former economics prof, first Bust economist, and now editorial writer). He was methodically critisizing the Clinton admin for the shell games they were playing with the budget, and ignoring the basic, modest changes that would be needed to insure Social Security and Medicare. Now - he's spelling out the diaster of the Bush budget and how we've got a very big pit to climb out of. It's not a tax cut, it's a substantial tax increase for our kids. And the right-wingers are all over this guy calling him a communist, etc. Didn't hear a peep from them when he was calling Clinton on the budget. There's nothing conservative about the Bushies budget - it's irresponsible. While JayB makes a good point about getting out a message. The right-wingers are good at it because the have access to more money. Do you think those wealthy doaners that got the big tax cut are giving money to Noam Choamsky's orgization or Rush Limbaugh's? It the usual media play in this country - money and corporate governance talk. Hell - you can't even get a National Do Not Call List in place because it infringes on Corporate free speech. Lame-o.

That's about it. Use the lane if you have to, get outta the way when you can. Doing my usual 20 mi home on the bike today. Great weather, but you know it will not last.

What's his interest? Countries in particular? Is this climbing, treking, hiking and some wine tasting?

How many ways can you spell paranoia?