Oh Brother, They Shut The Web Down Too....

[1969Larson]

This would all be easier to settle if we were sitting out in the boat or around a campfire.

[SpoonDog]

Spoon, I could agree with you but its hard for me to based off being in construction all my life. I learned early on to put aside a minimum of 3 months worth of bills and then 10% above that number monthly for still enjoying life. So when people tell me they still have all those things I look at wonder if they understand the basic old saying of rainy day savings.

It just something I do not have much sympathy for. I was a single father that worked went to school and still had bills to pay and all the other things and still managed to find time to work enough to save those 3 months and pay all my bills and still spend time with the rug rat. I am not saying it is easy but I also see no reason it cannot be done if someone has the will to. Its not fathomable to me to understand why people would rather spend money on toys and playing before they had a cushion in case of unforeseen emergency.

I'd be willing to bet you don't use your rainy day fund to pay for a trip to Gulf Shores. I agree with you about fiscal responsibility, I just think comparing a rainy day to a free vacation is a bad analogy. Public sector or private, my experience is that indefinite furlough isn't a pleasant, even if you have money stashed away- that's all I'm saying.

[bfishn]

"International" is just the name. It has nothing to do with jurisdiction. There is also a Uniform Mechanical Code and a National Standard Plumbing Code, The names do not mean anything. The point is that the States CHOOSE to adopt these codes. They are not Federally required to. There are actually quite a few differences in Building Codes from State to State.... most notably in the Building Energy Codes. Try building the same building in California as you do in Oklahoma. Even among different municipalities in California, you could be REQUIRED to install solar panels or electric car chargers, among others. Does the Federal Government know what's best for rural Oklahoma or Osage County? Of course not.

No argument there, except that the nearly unilateral adoption by the States of the IBC indicates that it must have something going for it, and it certainly saves each state a ton of $ having to write their own.

Not that it's perfect by any means. The '06 IBC incorporated many of Cali's seismic statutes, placing a buildings' "importance factor" way above the longstanding USGS "seismic risk map". Our local architects and engineers don't even have a good handle on that yet. The VA addition we did was deemed a "critical and essential facility", which cost us over $100K just to have the seismic restraints for our piping and ducts designed (by a Canadian firm ironically). Now, that building should survive a tornado, earthquake, or even a car bomb in the driveway, but it's the only one of many on that campus that will. If the existing physical plant goes down, it's all moot anyway.

I get your federal/state preferences, really I do. I just know too many people that stand to have their lives enriched or even saved by having access to medical services that were previously out of their reach to wait for Arkansas to do anything about it. In my vision, future iterations could easily fall to the states to implement as they see fit, much like the building codes. Let's accept it and improve it. It's taken 40 years to get the building codes to their still-imperfect state, but the GP is better off for it. You have to start somewhere.

[Guest Brian B.]

I just get tired of spineless wimps trying to ruin a great forum

Isn't this the name calling most of you guys are normally banding together and threatening Phil to leave the forum over?

Spineless? That's why I use my name friend, Brian Boyer, Fredericktown Missouri

The world lacks compassion.

Reread this post.... Just reread this post.... Please....

This comment, and this mindset, these people... This is why we are, WHERE WE ARE...

"It's not fair"

(So let's bring everybody down to the same level, for fairness' sake)

[1969Larson]

Basic Fundamental Question:

If you can afford the absolute best healthcare available and are willing to pay for it (best technology, best hospital, best doctor, etc), great. Are those who can't afford it entitled to the same? Yes or no?

[1969Larson]

Spineless? That's why I use my name friend, Brian Boyer, Fredericktown Missouri

That is neither brave nor impressive.

[Guest Brian B.]

I don't think anyone is "bashing" federally-paid workers. Just making observations... Most of which have been pretty accurate. I hate to ask the tough questions, but in case you haven't noticed, WE ARE BROKE!!! Worse than broke. Regardless of how hard you work or what time you get up or whatever, the money spent on these programs, essential or not, is borrowed. I have compassion. I feel for you, but emotions aside, this is a real big problem and we can't go on the same way.

The worst part is this isn't new. Who didn't see this coming? But let's just stay focused on the important issues like marijuana and gay marriage.

You start taking lifetime Federal Employee's teet's away and you will get a backlash, don't let them get to you, most Amaricans (if they are honest) know for one, there will likely be back pay for work never performed, and two- through the whole economic downturn and after things turn around, through BOTH times the majority of Federal Employees will come out MUCH BETTER OFF than the mainstream avg American who's grandkids will pay TODAY'S Federal Employye salary, kid gloves... Most of these guys have had the kid glove treatment for their entire careers, that is why there is such a backlash from your comments. A missed check? Heck they have never heard of such a thing.

Ahh yes, the dope legalization and gay marriage, -distractions, all part of the plan to bombard Americans on multiple fronts, all the while pushing the main Socialist agenda forward... ObamaCare.

Congress is doing their job, and our system of government WITH this shutdown is performing the way our founders intended. Congress is trying to allow the American citizens a voice, people are saying no, hell the Unions are saying "it's going to do what?... Hell no!"...

Obama and Reid and their kind... They are trying to make things as hard on the American citizen as they can THROUGH the shutdown, it is a left wing Democrat strategy, and like ObamaCare and every other socialist scheme, it will, and is failing miserably.

HOPE AND CHANGE! (Blah ha ha!!)

[bfishn]

...Obama and Reid and their kind... They are trying to make things as hard on the American citizen as they can THROUGH the shutdown, it is a left wing Democrat strategy...

Actually...

...they're just following the 1884 (amended) law that prescribes action in this very event, the Antideficiency Act. One of the few laws specifically for feds that carries personal liability risk, 2 years & $5,000 fine. In consideration of that, one can see how any park manager might initially err on the side of caution to cover his own butt. The DOD will be recalling nearly half their furloughs (~350,000) because their lawyers subsequently decided it was safe to do so.

[Guest Brian B.]

Google "park official ordered to make life difficult"

[Wayne SW/MO]

As an electrician I had to follow code that was law and could be complicated at times. The big difference that immediately comes to mind between it and the way the ACA is written is the fact the code is complete. There are no, "To be decided later's", in it. There are no committees to fill in the blanks.

The facts that are decided don't seem too friendly, nor is the cost apparently what was expected.

It will be interesting hear how those who were touting their rebate checks compare them to their cost under the ACA.