Al Smithson
@alsmithson.bsky.social
So you’re blaming me for something my grandparents might have done? That sounds pretty racist to me. And who is saying you deserve to be treated poorly today?
November 15, 2025 at 10:15 PM
So you’re blaming me for something my grandparents might have done? That sounds pretty racist to me. And who is saying you deserve to be treated poorly today?
Can you please give me some specific examples? What happened to Japanese-Americans during WW II is history. Saying so isn’t an attempt to excuse it.
November 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Can you please give me some specific examples? What happened to Japanese-Americans during WW II is history. Saying so isn’t an attempt to excuse it.
Absolutely true. None of them care even a little bit about creating jobs. If it happens, it’s only a side effect.
November 15, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Absolutely true. None of them care even a little bit about creating jobs. If it happens, it’s only a side effect.
Probably true, but nothing these two have done has gone according to plan.
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Probably true, but nothing these two have done has gone according to plan.
Their job is to maximize the value of the company, not to employ the most people. That system (capitalism) has the side effect of producing the best economies, and the most jobs.
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Their job is to maximize the value of the company, not to employ the most people. That system (capitalism) has the side effect of producing the best economies, and the most jobs.
And, since Trump has increased the risk and uncertainty of doing business, prices will not return to their pre-tariff levels.
November 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
And, since Trump has increased the risk and uncertainty of doing business, prices will not return to their pre-tariff levels.
Always the risk with a gerrymander.
November 15, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Always the risk with a gerrymander.
Of course he knows. Since he’s not telling, we know it’s not his knee.
November 15, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Of course he knows. Since he’s not telling, we know it’s not his knee.
No matter how high you make tariffs, there is only one small place in the US that can grow coffee. Tariffs on coffee make no sense to anybody other than Trump and his toadies.
November 15, 2025 at 2:42 AM
No matter how high you make tariffs, there is only one small place in the US that can grow coffee. Tariffs on coffee make no sense to anybody other than Trump and his toadies.
I guess we’re not in agreement about lose-lose. I think that both borrowers and lenders can be winners, and generally are, as long as neither overextends themselves.
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 AM
I guess we’re not in agreement about lose-lose. I think that both borrowers and lenders can be winners, and generally are, as long as neither overextends themselves.
Most mortgages are paid off long before their term. A typical 30-year mortgage is paid off in 7-12 years, generally when the house is sold. The same would be true of 50-year mortgages.
November 13, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Most mortgages are paid off long before their term. A typical 30-year mortgage is paid off in 7-12 years, generally when the house is sold. The same would be true of 50-year mortgages.
The lenders are providing a useful service: enabling people to buy homes even if they can’t pay cash for the house. They’re not trying to harm people.
November 13, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The lenders are providing a useful service: enabling people to buy homes even if they can’t pay cash for the house. They’re not trying to harm people.
If they get out and vote, they will.
November 13, 2025 at 1:09 AM
If they get out and vote, they will.
The result of all this is going to be Medicare for all. People aren’t going to settle for an ACA-type band aid a second time.
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The result of all this is going to be Medicare for all. People aren’t going to settle for an ACA-type band aid a second time.
But they’re basically saying the 50-year loans are bad for the lenders, not the borrowers.
November 12, 2025 at 7:13 PM
But they’re basically saying the 50-year loans are bad for the lenders, not the borrowers.
They want more kids, but $1,000 isn’t enough to encourage anybody to become a parent.
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
They want more kids, but $1,000 isn’t enough to encourage anybody to become a parent.
With regard to mortgages, please learn the concept of “present value”. It is a very important concept if you want to give financial advice.
November 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
With regard to mortgages, please learn the concept of “present value”. It is a very important concept if you want to give financial advice.
It’s simpler than that. People who are pretending to be religious don’t like to see that there is an alternative honest path.
November 12, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It’s simpler than that. People who are pretending to be religious don’t like to see that there is an alternative honest path.
You sound like a Republican or Russian troll. Getting Republicans out of power is Job 1 to any sensible person.
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 AM
You sound like a Republican or Russian troll. Getting Republicans out of power is Job 1 to any sensible person.
There are 53 Republicans Senators who don’t care if people suffer because of a shutdown. I don’t want my party to try to get leverage by forcing people to suffer.
November 11, 2025 at 6:52 PM
There are 53 Republicans Senators who don’t care if people suffer because of a shutdown. I don’t want my party to try to get leverage by forcing people to suffer.
The GOP is only interested in tax breaks for the wealthy, and eliminating pesky regulations. As a result, every one of their candidates has to be a world class liar.
November 11, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The GOP is only interested in tax breaks for the wealthy, and eliminating pesky regulations. As a result, every one of their candidates has to be a world class liar.
I don’t think you’re correct about autism. I remember unusual, lonely kids in almost every class I had, ostracized by the “normal” kids. They weren’t called autistic, though.
November 11, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I don’t think you’re correct about autism. I remember unusual, lonely kids in almost every class I had, ostracized by the “normal” kids. They weren’t called autistic, though.
Russell Baker once addressed this in the NY Times. He said that people think things were better 30 years ago, but what was really better is that they were 30 years younger.
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Russell Baker once addressed this in the NY Times. He said that people think things were better 30 years ago, but what was really better is that they were 30 years younger.
Please stop. This is a difficult situation, and Republicans clearly don’t care if the government functions at all.
November 10, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Please stop. This is a difficult situation, and Republicans clearly don’t care if the government functions at all.
My job, my healthcare, my food doesn’t depend on the government being open. It’s very easy for me to insist on continuing the shutdown, but I won’t. People are suffering, and I think they know who’s at fault.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
My job, my healthcare, my food doesn’t depend on the government being open. It’s very easy for me to insist on continuing the shutdown, but I won’t. People are suffering, and I think they know who’s at fault.