southsider2k5

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 03:16 PM) I think that the fact of the matter is actually quite simple...we had a gigantic budget surplus a few years ago and a known set of needs for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance in this country...we chose tax cuts. There are a huge number of things not getting fixed all around the country because of them. The Levees in New Orleans were just 1 item on the list. We wouldn't have had a budget surplus in the years after 9-11, even if we didn't have the tax cuts. That is even assuming that growth rates came near where they did after the additional stimulation of the tax cuts.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 03:11 PM) And the reason why this post was not wiped out is? :rolly Done. Now quit calling people ignorant who don't agree with your opinion.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 03:02 PM) I'm equally bewilderd. Guys, what's the deal? Personal attacks are not going to be allowed. We have had tons of discussion about this, and calling people and their opinions ignorant falls in that category.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 03:00 PM) When they judge something to be "cost-effective", do you think they judged it to be cost effective relative to how much extra tax dollars would have to be spent on the project, or do you think they judged whether or not it was cost-effective relative to the cost of rebuilding the entire city? Somehow, I doubt that they judged it was cost-effective relative to the value of New Orleans. Who knows what formula they use. If you stop and think about it, right now there are literally thousands of things that people are making studies of, and reporting that if this isn't fixed, some fatal flaw could lead to people dying, and all that it would take it a bunch more funding to fix it. The problem is deciding which projects are truely the most important with whatever cost/risk analysis they are doing right now. I'll tell you one thing, if I am somewhere like LA on the west coast, I am screaming my head off right now for more funding to prevent the samekind of disasterous response after an earthquake. It will be interesting to see if we see a shift into more funding of preventative maintence towards natural disasters, or if we see the same see-no-evil philosophy that has been prevelent in our government for decades.

Space Shuttle flights might be delayed for a year, partially because of logistical problems from Katrina, partly because of exsisting problems. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9241242/

To a damn fine poster on Post #10,000 and his becoming the 10th member of the 10K club

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 02:46 PM) Quick point. $150-200 billion to pay for this disaster. $1-2 billion 5 years ago to start upgrading the levees. Ignore the loss of lives and just think like an American taxpayer...this is where tax cuts can really hurt you...you cut back in spending in places where you really need it. And the bills can get a lot larger down the road. How much it would have saved is debatable. The original intent was to always secure the levees to withhold a category 3 storm, it was decided in either 97 or 98 I believe that it wouldn't be cost effective to try to make the levees secure for a category 5 storm. I wonder what the difference would have been, because the basic underlying problems still would have exisisted, and that is the incompetent response of every layer of government in this disaster.

The situation on the ground seems to still be pretty bad... People trying to fix cellphone towers are being shot at, a report got robbed and shot, and someone else is being charged with shooting a military rescue helicopter. http://www.nbc5.com/news/4943362/detail.ht...317&dppid=65192

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:59 PM) You think him not being able to do much physical activity for all that time might factor into him gaining weight? He admitted that he hasn't been playing at all because he is afraid of hurting himself and harming his free agent value, so he has only been lifting weights. Glad he is thinking of the team there... That excuse might have worked before he got cleared for physical activity, but now he has been cleared and is still more worried about himself than anything else.

QUOTE(ChiSoxyGirl @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:56 PM) Was the foreign aid accepted or no? I'm having a brain lapse. I haven't read anything about that.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:39 PM) There is a reason he hasn't been able to get an offer sheet from anyone. He will be playing for the 1 year qualifying offer this year if he plays at all...that is going to be the end of the story. If he's smart about it...he can really turn that into a huge payday for himself too, because he'll be an unrestricted free agent...if he can stay healthy the whole year and gets himself in the shape to have another good year, he can get a bigger contract after next year than he would have after this year if the heart condition never occurred. This is of course assuming that the rumors about his weight gain are not true, or he loses a bunch of weight, quickly. Then again, why would anyone assume this to be the case when Curry has come to camp in shape once in his whole career. I wish the Bulls could find a sign and trade partner for Eddy, but no one is going to give a big uninsureable contract to a guy with questionable work ethic, a weight problem, and a heart condition.

Bush is set to ask Congress for another $51.8 billion in aid for Katrina. It is estimated that FEMA is spending $1-2 billion A DAY in aid right now. Estimates are also being put at $150-200 billion to pay for this disaster.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:23 PM) I like my Mini. It's the right size. That explains a lot.

And the other thing about Soxtalk, no threads stay on topic, no matter how hard you try...

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:07 PM) Would increased fuel costs and a newer reluctance for people to drive places have anything to do with that? I don't think that is factored in at all honestly. I believe this is all because of people who don't have jobs anymore, and the loss of productivity both because of the lost jobs and the diverting of resources to the afflicted area. From everything I have read, the elasticity of gasoline makes for a smallish reduction in consumption.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:07 PM) Of course, then there's the bloody, oh so bloody, coups. And we would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids

QUOTE(SnB @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:06 PM) i'm not cool enough to be banned [knock, knock] SECURITY!!! It never gets old

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 01:03 PM) We've banned Jason before. We have also staged bloodless coups, but that is a story for a different day.

The August Beige book is predicting that 400,000 or more people could be added to the unemployment rolls after Katrina, and subtract as much as one full point from economic growth figures http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/weather/090705...na_economy.html

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:53 PM) My mistake. Begs the question though, why would Texas trade him? They wouldn't, not even for a bundle of pitching. He is extremely popular down there. They have been trying to trade hitting for pitching for a couple of years now, they just haven't been able to find anyone to dance with them. I think playing in the AL West they know they need some pitching if they ever want to win anything out there, as they haven't gotten anywhere having an incredible offense for years.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:46 PM) Don't f*** with chicks in bee costumes! "Ay-ay-ay, Señor Ding-Dong!"

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:37 PM) Doesn't Texiera play 1B? So if we do that- that means bye bye Pauly? Unless we make it to the World Series, I don't see us getting back Paul Konerko. If we haven't signed him by now, that usually means something with this team. But I also see KW doing something big to replace him and not sticking us with Ross Gload at first base.

Would you ban this poster, hmmm.... QUOTE(Steff @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:34 PM) (watch out for that Southsider guy.. he's an asshole ).

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:31 PM) I am pretty sure Blalock is a Boras client so IMO there is no way the White Sox trade for him. If anyone from Texas is available it is Texiera, as they have Adrian Gonzalez waiting in the wings. They have tried to trade their power hitters for pitching in the past, and I could really see a Marte/Contreras for Texiera deal being something that could happen.

QUOTE(Steff @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:25 PM) I don't have that problem.. I like everyone. QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Sep 7, 2005 -> 12:26 PM) Even me? Well except for Texsox, but no one likes him, so that is OK