[Archangelsk]

Although this is a sob story of a man going through a pity party it got me to thinking. We are facing a crisis of gigantic proportions, the result of a confluence of events that could really endanger the republic: the retirement of the baby-boomers, the draining of the social security fund and the average life expentancy of the average American.

We know that in the next 20 years that 70 million baby boomers will be eligible for retirement and social security. We also know that a lot of IOUs are in the social security fund. Finally, at present, we will be paying out an average of 14 years worth of benefits to each qualified retiree (average life expentency is now 79).

The, probably never-mentioned-in-public solution is to lower the life expentency which would reduce the strain on the fund. Since we can't kill 'em off, a more subtle solution is to lower the quality of life at an early age, which would manifest itself during later years. Afterall, if someone checks out of the net before 65, very little in the way of benefits are paid.

Call me crazy, which I know some will, but I think long life expentency is going to be reserved for those who can afford it in the future.

[Rodsomnia]

With states like California there's no reason for unemployed lawyers.

[Gorzaloon]

The, probably never-mentioned-in-public solution is to lower the life expentency which would reduce the strain on the fund.

It's called Socialized Medicine, that in some countries refuses dialysis to patients over 65.

In other words, euthanasia.

[ccmay]

Huzzah! More, please.

Unemployed lawyers are cause for celebration among all decent people.

-ccm

[Old Professer]

Except for getting a job as a crash-test dummy, what use is there for ex-lawyers?

[ChemistCat]

That is a frightening idea, but my mother's and father's recent experiences with gastroenterologists who can't even find their own butts with both hands makes me think you may be on to something.

But that means that someone somewhere has decided to commit mass murder. I could believe that of Clinton, but....

[July 4th]

Great. Another lawyer-bashing thread. How lovely.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

The economy sucks and all I have to my name is this stupid 1973 Beuys/Christiansen French double LP. <\sarcasm>

[pabianice]

That evil George Bush, destroying another life...

[Capriole]

Sob story? Pity party? You must have missed the last few lines. This story is about a man suffering, being humbled, and as a result of that experience being able to help people far more than he ever could have done as a lawyer. It's almost too good to be true. He is a much finer human being now than he was before he lost his job. God does have a plan for our lives, incomprehensible though it may seem when viewed through a veil of misery.

[dfrussell]

How tragic... an unemployed lawyer.

Are there no ambulances to chase?

No McDonalds to sue?

[ijcr]

Easy, solve the problem by government undertaking to :-

1. Encouraging people to smoke.

2. Demand that everyone participate in unprotected sex.

3. Drive motorcycles and bicycles without helmets.

4. Increase the alcohol limit to .6 in drinking and driving cases.

5. Ban seatbelts and air bags.

6. Insitute free meal programs at McDonalds.

7. Change building codes so that houses contain asbestos and radon.

8. Espouse a Martha Stuart butter on everything diet.

9. Issue free guns to manic depressives.

10. Hire non-english speaking doctors and nurses.

11. Make French the offical language, but don't tell anyone.

12. Lift all speed limits.