I have. Grow up.

Great simple minds think alike.

Nothing better than a concrete/asphalt desert in the middle of the summer with zero shade.

On the plus side when it is 120F there you won’t notice.

Talk to people who actually lived in those countries and the cultural revolution.

This is what happens when you let your entire industry depend on a handful of manufacturers.

Divide and conquer. I think that is the real reason the US has supported independence movements that break up countries so much. It is much easier to control 1 chunk out of 5 than all 5 together.

The internet has allowed people, who would’ve otherwise have lived in isolation with their crackpot thoughts, to find each other.

Upvoters must live in filth. “Just drop your trash on the floor.”

Reddit is terrible for downvoting questions and people who simply don’t know much about a subject. I hope the downvoters are never parents or teachers.

Saying the Soviet Union, Khmer Rogue and Mao were examples of bad leftist authoritarianism will get you banned from stuff there too.

So they used to have pensions for most private workers, then they went to 401Ks which are self managed market based retirement funds.

1. The company has a management agreement with a brokerage (i.e. Fidelity) to manage the accounts and they pick which funds you can invest in.
2. You allocate how much you contribute, up to the IRS max.
3. Many companies give matching funds which means you get a 100% return on that amount right out of the gate.
4. In good years you can do very well, far beyond what pensions would’ve given.
5. The money is pre tax so you lower your income for tax purposes during your peak earning years.
6. You can still save and invest anyway you want in addition to this (i.e. IRA). You can still collect social security.

Downside…

1. You are limited in investments
2. You are not guaranteed returns since you are at the mercy of the bond and equities (stock) market. You can lose money in bad years.
3. You must pay income tax on it when you start taking distributions from it in retirement. The minimum mandatory distribution amount could push you into a higher tax bracket.

The big push away from pensions to 401Ks and IRAs means the market has become the main retirement savings for most Americans. Wall St and financial institutions love them because it pumped trillions of $ into the market and profits in fees into the financial firms. Companies no longer had to manage pensions and guarantee returns. Most gov jobs still have pensions.

401Ks have replaced pensions for most Americans.

Bring back pensions first then

Part of me is glad I’m getting the hell out of this system in the near future. My heart goes out to younger people being royally screwed by it and I don’t see any way out of it within that system.

Well if you don’t have to pay people then yah, revenue will go up for now.

Collect your bonus, get your stock, bail and move to the next job. Sell the stock before the damage you caused rears its head.

“Equity” or “Capital” = the kiss of death

Yes, backing up your photos is the killer.

Just needs to dot his "i"s with hearts.

Commits hundreds of crimes then starts bringing up god. Class act.