Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I do believe that Putin's Russia is a threat to Eastern Europe, and the Eastern Europeans do, too.  I'm not sure why you'd care one way or the other about that, since you've made obvious your position as a pretty strict isolationist.  And in this instance, I'm right there with you.

I wouldn't say I'm a strict isolationist. I just think war should always be a last resort. US too often engages in wars of offense and wars of aggression. Wars of aggression should only be fought in very limited instances. I am actually FOR a war of aggression against China. I think you've seen me here many times saying the US should wipe out China right now while it still can. The longer we wait, the more powerful we let them become. China very openly says their aim is to supplant the US as the worlds power. China openly states and has implemented policies to attempt to overtake the US. Their belt and road initiative is right out in the open- they wish to completely re-route world trade. Their Made in China 2025 initiative - they openly want to supplant the US in high-tech manufacturing. They are building up their armed forces at record rates. They are continually threatening Taiwan (an actual place of vital strategic importance to the US, unlike Ukraine) - they are building artificial islands all over the South China Sea to try and claim territory and natural resources - and they openly threaten US aircraft that fly near these islands. This one is just a simple calculation- take their asses out right now while you still might be able to. In 20-30 years- might not be able to. 

I think we should only fight wars when they are of vital strategic importance or when we need to defend ourselves and our allies. If Putin was invading Germany, France, and UK - then it's a different story. He hasn't invaded Ukraine yet- nor do I think he will. He basically just wants assurances that NATO won't keep expanding and be right on his ass- and he wants to have dominance his little sphere of the world near Russia. I say let him. Who cares? Not our fight or our problem. Ukraine is of zero importance to the US. Why are we even involved there? I say make amends with Putin and put it in writing that Ukraine has no place in NATO- not now or ever. 

We need to get the government out of health care, and education.

They suck at both.

This is interesting because it would create such a radical restructuring of our society, and the externalities would be something most folks would take issue with.

We’ll start in medicine. I agree, the government should pull out of that world in a lot of ways. Requirements and tax incentives are the only reason employers provide health insurance, and that’s frankly something we need done away with. But if you provide some low-end backstop, make a lot of folks fend for themselves, you’ll see a massive market correction. Tons of short-term contraction on the medical side and in terms of HR as that industry moves toward a new market model. The long term would be better than our halfway system, but the short term issues, both in unemployment and customer problems are something I doubt the country would stomach by and large. 

Education is trickier because on balance it’s probably not profitable. And it serves the important role of daycare so millions and millions can go do jobs. In addition to that, it socializes kids, more often than not for good, and preps them with some skills, though not enough. Perhaps the private sector wants to take on that sort of challenge, but more likely than not, it’s a collective good that’s going to be extremely hard to fit into that private market mold.

This is interesting because it would create such a radical restructuring of our society, and the externalities would be something most folks would take issue with.

We’ll start in medicine. I agree, the government should pull out of that world in a lot of ways. Requirements and tax incentives are the only reason employers provide health insurance, and that’s frankly something we need done away with. But if you provide some low-end backstop, make a lot of folks fend for themselves, you’ll see a massive market correction. Tons of short-term contraction on the medical side and in terms of HR as that industry moves toward a new market model. The long term would be better than our halfway system, but the short term issues, both in unemployment and customer problems are something I doubt the country would stomach by and large. 

Education is trickier because on balance it’s probably not profitable. And it serves the important role of daycare so millions and millions can go do jobs. In addition to that, it socializes kids, more often than not for good, and preps them with some skills, though not enough. Perhaps the private sector wants to take on that sort of challenge, but more likely than not, it’s a collective good that’s going to be extremely hard to fit into that private market mold.

All of this belongs at the state and local level. There is no need to have the Feds involved.

We had lunch at a new place near us called Rumi's Kitchen, it's Persian cuisine, and it was the best meal I've had in Atlanta.  I write a weekly review for our condo newsletter and gave them credit accordingly.  We loved it, it isn't cheap, but really interesting and very tasty (and hard to get into at night).  We have a lot of good places here in easy walking distance, this one is exceptional.

CS-Master-Menu-File-Jan-11th-2022-3.pdf (rumiskitchen.com)

Ready to go back.

Nearly half of all US medical bills today are paid by government.

Nearly half of all US medical bills today are paid by government.

That’s not so surprising, is it?

The government covers most of the bills for most old folks, some really poor folks and the 15 percent of the workforce that works for it. So the only way to put a dent in that is cut off one of those groups. (It also looks like that number might have bloated with a bunch of the pandemic relief getting categorized there)

We have this composite window made of 9 windows, each 3' by 3'.  It's a nice look, but five of them are being replaced today.  The window guy pulled a screw out of one of them and a cascade of water came out, not a good thing obviously.  The screw was in the frame around the window.  They are still having at it.