The US Economy Catch-All Thread

Menzo · 2021-02-11T22:56:58.079Z

I dispute that this is something new. A guy I worked with bought a bunch of PS2s in October 2000 to scalp them.

Edit: though the prolific use of automated bots to do the ordering is new, of course.

Houngan · 2021-02-11T23:05:15.540Z

I tried to buy an Alienware PC today with a 3070 in it, literally had it in the cart and was trying to check out within four seconds of release. No joy.

CraigM · 2021-02-11T23:10:39.484Z

Lets just say this isn’t shocking, and @nKoan will understand exactly why I I can’t stand people who use bots. I’m sure he isn’t a fan either.

They also can be very dumb about it. No pair of sneakers is worth potentially losing your job over.

Menzo · 2021-02-17T19:57:11.136Z

I’m glad Biden rejected this. I think there are much better ways to handle the student debt crisis than just giving everyone who borrowed money in the last 10 or so years $50k free dollars. There’s just too much moral hazard, and I don’t really want to pay for someone’s Ancient Greek Literature degree.

A new Americorps would be good. Paying people even more to go work in disadvantaged areas or in specific professions would be good. But I don’t like the idea of just picking a generation of graduates and telling them that they alone get a one-time benefit.

CNN

Biden again rejects $50,000 student loan debt forgiveness plan pushed by...

President Joe Biden made it clear during Tuesday night's CNN town hall that he disagrees with other members of his party who want to cancel $50,000 of student debt per borrower.

Nesrie · 2021-02-17T20:29:59.146Z

Menzo:

A new Americorps would be good.

What’s wrong with the old one?

Menzo · 2021-02-17T20:30:41.009Z

Nesrie:

What’s wrong with the old one?

Oh, maybe nothing. I didn’t even know it still exists. If it does, spend the money on that instead.

Nesrie · 2021-02-17T20:36:09.803Z

Menzo:

Oh, maybe nothing. I didn’t even know it still exists. If it does, spend the money on that instead.

AmeriCorps is absolutely a thing. Heck McCain was known for supporting it.

https://americorps.gov/serve

https://americorps.gov/about/faqs

The entire program was designed to provide participants a living stipend, and the word usage is important because it allows them to supplement that stipend which is not a wage with SNAP benefits. In addition, they often server in challenged areas or at least challenged populations with a variety of programs with specific goals AND if they complete the program they do receive tuition reimbursement. It was 5k for a 1 year (10 month) commitment. It might be more now.

AmeriCorps members are also part of disaster relief/recovery plans.

Strollen · 2021-02-17T20:51:52.204Z

I agree. I really appreciated his honesty in the answer. Joe definitely gives rambling answers, but I like how answers questions with a simple yes, no, July before giving the detail. . He constantly apologized to Cooper for the length. Biden must be part Canadian, after the never apologies asshole, Biden may go a bit too far in the other

Alstein · 2021-02-20T15:17:41.866Z

I’d love to see Americorps grant the GI Bill.
Give folks an alternative to the military for moving out of poverty.

KevinC · 2021-03-04T20:59:16.031Z

AP NEWS – 4 Feb 21

Nevada bill would allow tech companies to create governments

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Planned legislation to establish new business areas in Nevada would allow technology companies to effectively form separate local governments. Democratic Gov. Steve...

The zones would permit companies with large areas of land to form governments carrying the same authority as counties, including the ability to impose taxes, form school districts and courts and provide government services.

The zones would initially operate with the oversight of their location counties, but would eventually take over county duties and become independent governmental bodies.

The zones would have three-member supervisor boards with the same powers as county commissioners. The businesses would maintain significant control over board membership.

RichVR · 2021-03-04T21:00:45.534Z

No way this can go wrong.

KevinC · 2021-03-04T21:02:20.669Z

I understand that there’s some sort of precedent with company/mining towns and the like, but that precedent is pretty bad. Were/are company towns able to have their own courts, taxation, etc?

Creepy Cyberpunk vibes, frankly.

RichVR · 2021-03-04T21:12:21.852Z

Wasn’t this tried in the recent past? I remember something about some libertarians and a small town.

Maybe this one?

NPR.org

Libertarians Move In To Make A Small N.H. Town Even Smaller

Grafton, N. H., is so tiny, it doesn't even have a stop light, but a group of Libertarians have moved there with an eye to slashing spending. It's made some residents angry.

Menzo · 2021-03-04T21:15:58.837Z

I don’t know who I hate more: Libertarians or people who say things like “It’s not the typical way someone who’s a New Englander does things.”

Timex · 2021-03-04T21:20:02.449Z

scottagibson · 2021-03-04T21:22:04.324Z

RichVR:

I remember something about some libertarians and a small town.

Weren’t they all eaten by bears?

Papageno · 2021-03-04T21:35:35.346Z

Shades of that dystopian USA Network series that I never watched. (Incorporated?)

Papageno · 2021-03-04T21:37:37.384Z

Is this the beginning of their long-rumored project to turn NH into a Randian Objectivist Utopia? snort

Thrag · 2021-03-04T21:50:57.165Z

I finished that (audio) book not long ago and it was worth the listen.

scottagibson · 2021-03-04T21:55:54.233Z

Yeah, it’s on my list.