Planning for 2024

I'm sorry you ail to the point of needing this. But I'm glad socialism ensured it was there for you.

 

Yeah, it truly sucks to be sick like this. I'm over 50 years old and I tried my best to do everything I was told was the "right" way. I finished school, went in the military, finished college, didn't have children out of wedlock, was active in church, etc. I had some good jobs and tried my level best, but lupus is an evil beast. And, what's worse is that I think I overachieved myself into it. Anyway, I tried and tried and tried, and now I'm all arthritic and "broke down", with an out of control immune system, and I don't have a choice but to file for gov't disability benefits.

I could only concentrate on one major thing at a time, so I filed my SSA claim first. What I forgot to mention in my post is that when everything is settled with my SSA claim I'm going to concentrate on my service-connected disability claim with the VA. Socialism might have ensured SSA is there for me, but I contributed to it as well, as did my parents, etc. And, you, being a former military member, know what we signed up for and were willing to do when we took our oaths. I don't feel bad about having to rely on services from the government that I put my body and life on the line to defend, and still would if it came down to it even though it's making me sick right now, LOL.

 

Certainly you did. And it's there for you, now that you need it. That's exactly how it's supposed to work. You paid in, you get to collect if / when it's needed. And I wish you well.

I'm 80+ and that's how my two Canadian Government pensions work:

(1) Old Age pension. Everybody pays in via their taxes - it's available to all at 65 -- oops, 67 now, I think. You have to be a Canadian permanent resident (not necessarily a citizen) for at least 10 years, prior to 67 to collect. That's it.

(2) Canada Pension. All working people pay for this directly - mandatory payroll deduction. There's a strict limit on the max. to be paid annually. Generally, about 30 years full contribution will get you the max. monthly pension. What you collect depends on what you paid in. Standard age is 65. You can collect up to five years sooner and get somewhat less. Or delay up to five years and get more.

Somebody on here once said those pensions of mine are a "privilege." Hell, no. Like you - I paid into these. One directly, the other indirectly. They're a RIGHT. I think that person was trying to make me feel like a One-Percenter. I almost retired to my Counting House to sip Romanée-Conti and take inventory of all my "privileges".

 

Right. That's socialism. Everyone contributes, some receive based on their needs.

My kids went to public schools. Socialism. I paid property taxes that funded those schools. Socialism. Some kids came from families that didn't pay property taxes, but they still got to attend school on an equal basis. Socialism. My kids have been grown from public schooling for a decade or two, yet I still pay property taxes. Socialism.

Social Security disability, like all insurance programs, spreads the risk by having (almost) everyone contribute, even though few will actually collect. In fact, people who've contributed nothing might still receive benefits, depending on the program and circumstances.

Nor should you. That's why they're there. Socialism.

 

Tell that to all the people who spit the word "socialism" (even in this forum) when someone refers to a decent universal health care system, like all other developed countries EXCEPT the US have.

 

A lot of people in the US have funny ideas of what socialism is and isn't - and funny ideas about health care, too.

If Americans I'm talking to (e.g. here) say something is"socialism," I won't disagree. I'll play along and say, the way I see it, socialism isn't all bad, if it helps you stay alive, well, sheltered, free of hunger etc.

A real Socialist, Tommy Douglas, brought Canadians their health care system. We spend about 2/3 per capita yearly of what America spends on healthcare and our life expectancy is several years ahead of US and rising. Yours is falling. Maybe the US needs a little "socialism" here. Oh, wait a minute - - maybe the life expectancy difference is partly because we have gun control...

An American you and I both know, Steve, told me that he was impressed by his local hospital's handling of his (relatively) minor emergency - prompt, efficient and only a $40 deductible. He forgot about the hundreds of dollars a month in insurance premiums. Here - no premiums and no deductible. And you still get well. EVEN IF YOU ARE POOR.

 

There are multiple reasonable definitions of socialism.

 

Who is John Galt ?

 

Not everyone. I don't think our social safety net is socialist, but my goal wasn't to start a discussion about it. That happened anyway, but my name's Bennett and I'm not in it.

 

Depends on who is doing the defining.

 

I wish I could keep enrolling in courses for the rest of my life...after attaining a doctorate, I might not be able to talk my wife into any more. Although I have always had some computer nerd in me...I might look at the U of the People's Computer Science bachelors program.

Plans for 2024

• Enroll in graduate certificate at Liberty University to re-earn military tuition discount. Fortunately, it's only three courses.
• Apply to DNP program at Liberty University to become an FNP.
• Lose 30-40 lbs.
• Get back into running shape (two years ago, running minimum of 7 miles 4-5x/weekly)
• Speak more

One thing I have to ask: are any of you seeing a real uptick in fake accounts engaging your LinkedIn profile?

 

LinkedIn, no, but Facebook, yes. I'm getting a new obviously fake friend request almost every day now.

 

I'll go for that.

I think that's communism, not socialism. It seems people who are really hard-line against socialism think the two are synonymous, so they are anti-both. Difference explained here:

What is difference between Communism and Socialism?
The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state (rather than individual citizens); under socialism, all citizens share equally in economic resources as allocated by a democratically-elected government. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/difference-between-communism-capitalism-and-socialism/#:~

 

You're right - the Canadian didn't forget about paying through taxes for an instant. Because it works - for everyone. It's an amazingly good thing to get for your taxes. It's a big worry, being sick. Quite enough, without having to worry about large medical bills -- or large insurance payments, deductibles, pre-existing conditions etc. Do you US taxpayers get something better for your taxes?

 

Yes you are correct. For example that is the number one definition on Wiktionary. However definition 3 and 4 are definitions that is the way being used by Rich.

1. Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

3. Any of a group of later political philosophies such democratic socialism and social democracy which do not envisage the need for full state ownership of the means of production nor transition to full communism, and which are typically based on principles of community decision making, social equality and the avoidance of economic and social exclusion, with economic policy giving first preference to community goals over individual ones.

4. Any left-wing ideology, government regulations, or policies promoting a welfare state, nationalisation, etc

n.wiktionary.org/wiki/socialism

Now I hasten to add here that I always thought that Bernie Sanders using "socialism" all the time while meaning usually definition 4 was politically a bad idea because definition number 1 is really bad.

 

Family 1st, always. You can always go back to school but you cannot get more time with loved ones.

For me, 2024 will be a year in which I further sharpen my skills at work and further develop the courses I teach. Outside of that, I’ll be coaching my boys t-ball team and flag football team, enjoying my daughter’s dance recital, finalizing the adoption of our new daughter, and enjoying evenings with my wife. So ultimately, 2024 is going to be a year of reconnecting and making memories.

 

I'm surprised. The New Year is only two days old, and I'm already making progress on my list for 2024.

(1) Blues - I got into the "B.B. King Boxes" - i.e. guitar patterns, of which there are several varieties, simple to complex, taught on YouTube by B.B. himself - and other talented players. I was gratified to find that the simplest one, using one pentatonic scale only, on the top 3 strings, is something I've been playing for nearly 60 years. An encouraging start. Lots of miles to go..

(2) Gypsy Guitar. - I was at my son's today. He has fully recovered from Covid (i.e. he's at least testing negative) and we exchanged presents. He gave me the Hal Leonard "Gypsy Jazz Method." It comes with online video access and other goodies - and is much more thorough than any other books I have on playing this music. It'll keep me happy and busy for quite a long while... I also received another interesting book - "The Jazz of Physics" - The Secret Link Between Music and the Structure of the Universe. My sons really have the old man's number! They ALWAYS know exactly what to get me.

The coming week?

(1) Guitar.
(2) Start a fashion project. More info later.
(3) Work on another present, from my last birthday - a 2,000 piece puzzle. 30 different guitars. Hopefully done in 3 weeks.
(4) Get all my notes together and locate more videos - Nigerian Pidgin and Navajo. Order a couple of books.

This all looks like it's gonna work...