83 Numbers From 2013 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

Investment Watch Blog ^ | Dec 16, 2013 | Michael Snyder

[BAW]

During 2013, America continued to steadily march down a self-destructive path toward oblivion. As a society, our debt levels are completely and totally out of control. Our financial system has been transformed into the largest casino on the entire planet and our big banks are behaving even more recklessly than they did just before the last financial crisis. We continue to see thousands of businesses and millions of jobs get shipped out of the United States, and the middle class is being absolutely eviscerated. Due to the lack of decent jobs, poverty is absolutely exploding. Government dependence is at an all-time high and crime is rising. Evidence of social and moral decay is seemingly everywhere, and our government appears to be going insane. If we are going to have any hope of solving these problems, the American people need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and finally admit how bad things have actually become.

#1 Most people that hear this statistic do not believe that it is actually true, but right now an all-time record 102 million working age Americans do not have a job.

#2 Because of the lack of jobs, poverty is spreading like wildfire in the United States. According to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, an all-time record 49.2 percent of all Americans are receiving benefits from at least one government program each month.

#3 As society breaks down, the government feels a greater need than ever before to watch, monitor and track the population. For example, every single day the NSA intercepts and permanently stores close to 2 billion emails and phone calls in addition to a whole host of other data.

Read more at http://investmentwatchblog.com/83-numbers-from-2013-that-are-almost-too-crazy-to-believe/#Vl3FRh6F7sJ1sxVV.99

[BAW]

The list has 83 entries. Worth a read.

[sergeantdave]

Well, hell’s bells. Pass out the hemlock, Shylock, we’re all doomed.

Can I have your stuff after you off yourself?

[353FMG]

You wanted change in 2008.

You will have it. Period.

[stanne]

“approximately 75 percent of all American women do not have any interest in dating unemployed men.”

What 25% of women would date an unemployed man?

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

353FMG:" You wanted change in 2008."

Promised Hope and Change
We got instead "Beans and Franks"
And now living on "Hope and Prayer "

[The Antiyuppie]

I am tired of numbers like #25. Many of the taxes I paid were paid in money that was actually worth something, not today’s money, and certainly not in the next decade’s money.

If the government wants out of the deal, I’m OK with that. I would like all of my money back, adjusted for inflation and paid with the proceeds of the investments that I would have made at the time I was taxed, to the present. Thank you.

[TomGuy]

#20 Back in 1999, 64.1 percent of all Americans were covered by employment-based health insurance. Today, only 54.9 percent of all Americans are covered by employment-based health insurance.

Interesting, since Team Obama seems to have the impression that 'most' Americans are covered by employer-based insurance.

[VerySadAmerican]

A man walked into a bar and sat beside a lady. She said “I haven’t seen you around her before.”

The man replied “I just got out of prison.”

“Why were you in prison?” asked the lady.

“I chopped my wife up with an ax.”

The lady excitedly responded “Oh, you’re single then.”

[TomGuy]

I am tired of numbers like #25. Many of the taxes I paid were paid in money that was actually worth something, not today’s money, and certainly not in the next decade’s money.

Agree. And if the former average interest rate (6%) were applied, the amount for each individual would be much more.

I did a calculation years ago using 6% average interest applied to the combined social security paid in by employer and individual during a 40-year work career. The result was well over $1 million if inflation were also calculated in.

[WVKayaker]

We got instead "Beans and Franks"

Only the beans, here (actually more rice, than beans!).

Praying for change! I hope it comes on the end of a rope!

Actually, I moved to the Philippines in February, with a return ticket dated for today (The plane left Cebu 7 hours ago!). I am staying here in the land of friendly people where smiles are always part of the proper uniform of the day!

It is an English-speaking country, mostly Christian (Roman Catholics and Protestants), with a good exchange rate and reasonable cost of living. It is always warm, and shorts are daily wear.

In Davao City, where I now live, there are super-malls and open markets. Seafood is fresh, and ground beef is 249 pesos per kilo (44 Php=1USD, therefore about $2.47/lb.) I bought a whole beef tenderloin last week for 380 per kilo (about $3.93 per pound). Marinated and grilled with bacon wrapping! Mmmmmm... along with some large BBQed shrimp!

Life is great here, and I don't regret leaving Barak's Amerika. It is no longer the America I know!

SM Lanang Premier - Davao City Shopping Mall

[dfwgator]

We got instead "Beans and Franks"

"Franks and Beans! Franks and Beans!"

[stanne]

I teach literature.

We go through Shakespeare, a couple of plays per year.

The sixth graders invariably, indignantly say of Taming of the Shrew or Romeo and Juliet, Why would anyone let their fathers tell them whom to marry?

Girls class is so feminized, so socialized to hate femininity and masculinity we just discuss.

Boys class, one sentence: When you guys have a daughter, do you want to have a say in it, or will you allow the possibility of her marrying some dope and becoming abandoned and poor?

End of discussion. They’re mine from there.

[AlexW]

“Life is great here, and I don’t regret leaving Barak’s Amerika. It is no longer the America I know!”
____________________________________________________
It is great to see your post, but just to warn you, watch out for the “dog in a manger” group here on FR. They have a real problem with those of us who are enjoying life away from Obozoland.
Maybe you can come visit us in Dalaguete some day.
Life on the beach is great, and to think that the three of us live just fine on less then $1000 per month.

[WVKayaker]

...“dog in a manger” group here on FR...

Mark and I have both been exposed to their ignorance. I care less what they have to say, but sometimes respond just to stir the pot.

Mark is now here in Davao, and we are almost neighbors and soon to be in-laws (or outlaws, as the case may be!). I will marry the older sister of his fiancé. I think I got the better one, haha. Both are good Filipina women.

I'm just grateful that I escaped the devastation in Ormoc City. The house I rented there was destroyed, and they just restored the electricity in some parts of the city. Cellphones work there, but landlines are slow in restoration due to all the poles down. I left there one week before the Typhoon Yolanda hit, not aware of what was coming, but to come to be near my fiancé!

God is good. We are starting a pizza business here and after a couple of weeks are getting steady orders, even though we are not cheap. Filipinos love pizza and next week we are buying a deep-fat fryer to add Fried chicken and other things to the menu. I will become a millionaire or just be busy doing something to pay the bills. Either way is OK. My pension isn't big enough to live and accumulate enough to buy property, so that is why we started the biz!

Across the street from my new house is a busy beach which we hope will bring us lots of customers! The house is occupied by some Japanese guy who doesn't keep the yard, but we move there next month and that will change!

[EricT.]

I am always interested in hearing about expats and where they go to live. I’ve never been to the PI, but it sounds like it’s not bad at all. One day, I may join you out that way.

[Excellence]

bfl

[AlexW]

“PI, but it sounds like it’s not bad at all. One day, I may join you out that way.”
_______________________________________________
Happiness here is all in attitude. If you can adjust to third world culture, such as roosters crowing before daybreak, you can love it here.
It is far best for single men who hookup with a Filipina.

[Battle Axe]

More on Social Security because of better health care. The reason they set retirement age at 65 is because most did not live beyond that. Now one of the neighbors is 93.

Men died from heart trouble, now they live with surgery and pacemakers.

[B4Ranch]

I notice that the windows all have cages on them. IS there a burglary problem?

[Mike Darancette]

Mournful numbers.