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Strategies & Market Trends : Roger's 1998 Short Picks -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/5/1998 10:45:00 PM
From: xcr600	Respond to of 18691

<< Here are some of the points on which I differ with the right wing extremists: ..>> Roger, just wanted to say that you are truly a classy person. Couldn't agree with you more on your views. I really don't consider myself a DFL/GOP because many of my beliefs run contrary to both parties. I would guess now that I'm an Independent since I voted for Jesse Ventura. (Thread: Sorry for the OT post.)

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/5/1998 11:55:00 PM
From: Phil(bullrider)	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 18691

Roger, I consider myself " moderate", but basically a conservative, and wish to discuss your points. >>>>>>>>>> 1.. I believe that every child has the right to an education to the limit of his/her ability and will to work, adequate health care, adequate food, adequate housing, and adequate clothing regardless of the financial status, race, religion, or social status of the parents. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I agree. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>. 2. I believe that every person has the right to vote, hold a job, and other normal liberties without regard to their race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I agree. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3. I believe that taxes should be paid by each of us in proportion to our income, with some limited deductions, without regard to the source of that income. Why should a person earning wages by the sweat of their brow pay a higher tax rate than another person pays on a stock investment? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I agree, except that I believe that one that saves and invests contributes more to the economy than one that spends every penny one makes. Therefore, the one that invests should get somewhat of a break, tax wise, when one wishes to cash in on an investment. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4. I do NOT believe that being a wealthy, white, English speaking, male, Christian makes me somehow superior to those who are not. The Jesus Christ of my Bible teaches that all persons are equal in the sight of God. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I agree. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5. I do not believe that I have a constitutional right to carry an assault weapon and shoot any person or animal that crosses me. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Nor do I. But I do believe that the Constitution of the United States of America affords me the privilege of owning weaponry that I may use to defend myself and my family from assaults, whether the assaults be from friend or foe. Anyone that thinks that assaults might not come from the governing body should remember the Holocaust. Should the regulations include your definition of "assault weapons"? I don't know. What are your definition of assault weapons? I have several semi-automatic weapons that could probably be considered assault weapons, but the police carry the same weapons. Does that mean that I should not be allowed to own the same weapons as the people that are hired to "protect" me? I could go on and on with this issue, but let's continue. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6. I believe that the employees of a company are its major asset and should be treated with fairness and respect. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. I agree. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7. I believe that elections should be about issues, not which candidate can raise the most money for Willie Horton attack ads. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I agree. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8. I believe that tobacco and alcohol are dangerous and addictive substances which should be regulated and kept from children and I believe that the companies producing these products should be held financial liable for the damage to society. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I also believe that alcohol and tobacco are dangerous substances, but I believe that strong willed people can refrain from either one. I smoked cigarettes from around age 16 until around age 24, and decided I wanted to stop, so I did. I have not had a cigarette since. Although I am a social drinker, I am able to refrain when and if I wish. To blame the substance or the manufacturer of the substance is exactly the same as saying that automobiles kill people. Get my point? If one would blame guns, alcohol, and tobacco for deaths, why not target the automobile industry next. And what industry should we target after autos? How about the dairy industry? There are a lot of people that are allergic to milk. You say the substances should be kept from children, and I agree wholeheartedly. But there are already laws in place to do just that. The laws simply need to be enforced. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9. I believe that environmental protection laws are necessary to preserve our world for future generations and that each generation has the responsibility to pass the world on to the next generation in better condition than they received it. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I agree, and since I work as an environmental consultant, I appreciate the support. I also believe that sometimes the do-gooders go overboard. There are hundreds of examples where the environment has been saved, but there are also a lot of cases where the laws have been exaggerated and exploited. I believe in the two party system because I believe checks and balances work. Have fun, Phil

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/6/1998 12:21:00 AM
From: dumbmoney	Respond to of 18691

I do NOT believe that being a wealthy, white, English speaking, male, Christian makes me somehow superior to those who are not. The Jesus Christ of my Bible teaches that all persons are equal in the sight of God. Jesus was very different from the present-day liberals in one respect. He only asked for 10%!!! :)

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/6/1998 8:37:00 AM
From: tonto	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 18691

Roger, SEEK CEO was on powerlunch yesterday and failed to respond to some specific questions, one being, when does he foresee the company becoming profitable. He did not answer that question but instead danced over to their concern regarding market share. It does not appear profitability is coming anytime in the near future. Last quarter loss was larger than expected.

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/6/1998 12:19:00 PM
From: Jacques Chitte	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 18691

>5. I do not believe that I have a constitutional right to carry an assault weapon and shoot any person or animal that crosses me.< The assault weapon fiasco is a very clear demonstration of the way the media are misrepresenting firearm issues. By definition, an assault weapon has selective fire capability. This means - one pull of the trigger, more than one round fired. A semiauto AR15 or AK clone is not an assault weapon. A semiauto Uzi copy is not an assault weapon. An autoloading handgun is not an assault weapon. No military arm in the world would outfit its troops with semiauto-only weapons. They would be near useless against real assault weapons. If I am a law-abiding citizen and have no criminal intent, what is wrong with me 1) owning a few AK copies and 2) carrying a Glock 30 on my person for defense? Gun ownership should not be the rallying point. Gun misuse should be. That is a crime in all fifty states. Let's crack down on violence and leave the Second Amendment in peace. <end rant - thanks for listening> Other than that - I agree with the rest of your points (although I view myself as a conservative). The only other respectful caveat I'd add is concerning alcohol and tobacco. Regulate'm, fine, but write laws guaranteeing their availability to adults. Let's not repeat the Volstead stupidity with tobacco. We're headed in that direction as a society - and I fear that the climate is right for a tobacco-criminalization movement. In a free society we should have the right to our own bodies.

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/6/1998 1:14:00 PM
From: craig crawford	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 18691

>> 1. I believe that every child has the right to an education to the limit of his/her ability and will to work, adequate health care, adequate food, adequate housing, and adequate clothing regardless of the financial status, race, religion, or social status of the parents. << We used to provide those things without govt sponsored welfare. Abolish it. >> 2. I believe that every person has the right to vote, hold a job, and other normal liberties without regard to their race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. << I don't think right wingers believe in keeping anyone from working. They just don't want to be told that they have to hire someone because of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. >> 3. I believe that taxes should be paid by each of us in proportion to our income, with some limited deductions, without regard to the source of that income. Why should a person earning wages by the sweat of their brow pay a higher tax rate than another person pays on a stock investment? << So your in favor of Bill Gates paying the same tax rate as you or I? I think income taxes should be abolished, along with the IRS. >> 5. I do not believe that I have a constitutional right to carry an assault weapon and shoot any person or animal that crosses me. << Do you believe in the right to own any kind of gun at all? Because if you don't believe in assault weapons, it becomes a matter of defining an "assault weapon". Incrementally your constitutional rights will be taken away, as left wing radicals will deem all guns as "assault weapons". >> 6. I believe that the employees of a company are its major asset and should be treated with fairness and respect. << Fair enough. I don't think this has anymore to do with people on the right than it is does people on the left. >> 7. I believe that elections should be about issues, not which candidate can raise the most money for Willie Horton attack ads. << Again, what does this have to do with the right? If Republicans can raise more money than Democrats, it just seems to me that they are more successful at raising money. There are no laws preventing Democrats from raising just as much money as Republicans. Furthermore, there were a few notable cases in these mid-term elections, where candidates who refused PAC money scored impressive victories. >> 8. I believe that tobacco and alcohol are dangerous and addictive substances which should be regulated and kept from children and I believe that the companies producing these products should be held financial liable for the damage to society. << I believe tobacco and alcohol are addictive and dangerous as well. I don't think people on the right want children to smoke anymore than people on the left do. I DO NOT think tobacco companies should be liable for ANYTHING, unless they break the law. If adults are stupid enough to start smoking, that is their own problem, and a tobacco company shouldn't have to pay for their medical expenses. What's next? Should we make alcohol companies pay victims and families of victims for drunk driving accidents? Liver transplants? What comes after that? Potatoe<== $-) chip companies contributing to a nationwide heart-disease fund? >> 9. I believe that environmental protection laws are necessary to preserve our world for future generations and that each generation has the responsibility to pass the world on to the next generation in better condition than they received it. << Nobody will disagree with what you just said. You would make a great politician <g>. Environmentalist wackos start 1/2 of their causes so they can go around and collect money, because they can't get a real job. Take care, CC

To: Roger A. Babb who wrote (15075)	11/6/1998 2:59:00 PM
From: BelowTheCrowd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 18691

Roger, Guess some of us differ: 1. Agreed, but I think there is a lot of room for discussion of what is "adequate." There are a lot of people who believe that "adequate" housing and "good jobs" means "the right to live in pretty much any area I want to, with the standard of living I desire, based on a job suited to my skills available in that specific area." That's why the fight goes on in the inner cities. Too many people insist on staying there and having jobs, housing and other services delivered to them, when in fact they could live a lot better and have decent jobs if they'd just move. Of course, the politicians who depend on those constituencies don't help. 2. Agreed completely. 3. Why should taxes be based on a proportion of income? I get the same services from government as anybody else. Why should I pay significantly more? Now I'll grant you that the situation you propose ("flat tax") would be far better than the current situation, where I pay a significantly HIGHER proportion of my income than most people, and get the same or less than most in services. 4. I'm not Christian, but I agree with the sentiment. 5. Agreed completely. 6. I believe that as we go forward, that will be the case more and more. However, I tend to think that our entire concept of "employment" is likely to founder in the coming years. I doubt the idea of a "long term" job will survive and this will fundamentally impact what we believe is "fair treatment." Self sufficiency and managing one's own employment is likely to become the norm, just as it was not too long ago. 7. Agreed 100%. Though realistically I think this is more of a symptom than a cause. Our political structures are based on conditions which no longer exist, and as such they have degraded into parasitism and cronyism of all sorts. 8. I also believe that tobacco and alcohol are dangerous, and that society has a responsiblity to protect children from them just as we protect them from many other dangers. I don't think it's any of society's business what adults choose to do on their own, beyond making sure that accurate information is available about the risks and the costs. I don't believe that any company (be it cigarettes or stepladders) should be responsible for the costs of an individual's informed choice to use or not to use their product, except to the extent that they intentionally deceive people about the risks and benefits. (IOW, I think the tobacco companies should come out and state unequivocally that they KNOW all the risks, here they are, make your own choice, and live with it. Probably wouldn't hurt their business a bit.) Incidentally, I'm with Jessie "The Body" Ventura in believing that the same should apply to prostitution and other similar crimes. 9. Agreed. This is a clear example of a "public good" which we should do much better to maintain. But we also need to be realistic and straightforward about the costs, and not impose unreasonable costs on individuals who own specific assets which we want to restrict for environmental purposes. For example, if we want to stop logging on privately owned land, we should have the national resolve to buy those lands, and not impose costs on those individuals or corporations who purchased them with reasonable expecatations of commercial use. On the flip side, I see no reason why we should lease out publically owned lands, even at a profit, just because it is convenient for some constituency. mg