You’re exactly right. If you want it bad enough you can generally achieve it. Problem is people today are not willing to make any sacrifices to achieve a long term goal. And in general most young people’s ideas of what is a necessity are really just wants. Look at a Starbucks parking lot, look at the average phone a young person has and look how often the young generation goes out to eat or to a bar. Most of the struggle is self inflicted.Regardless of age, IF people want something, it’s usually possible, but there are those who have convinced themselve’s otherwise…not convinced that there’s just one path…I do enjoy people who dream, who plan, who push themselve’s…they’re usually interesting people…doesn’t have to be about getting rich…I enjoy passionate people…I know plenty of rich people who don’t know how much is enough, or how to slow down…doesn’t interest me…feel sorry for them, actually…life flies by, I’m all about enjoying it…
Gas prices???
- Thread starter benelli-banger
- Start date
Well said. Totally agree
Matt D
Well-known member
Agree. Agree it is tough but also know and see many succeeding because they decide to. My daughter just graduated in December and now finishing her masters. Been working full time since last summer. Has built a nice savings account, Roth IRA and investment account from some inheritance she got when young along with contributing to 401K. Proud of her for 22 years old and confident she will continue these habits and eventually own a house. Lots a variation amongst her friend group so not claiming all are on the right path but some are.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
I agree, I'm not really all in on this Middle East thing.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
If it was imperative that it happen at the very moment that it did, I hope and pray that it was done with all available intelligence that we had access to, that many respected and seasoned military perspectives and opinions were considered, and that other allies who were theoretically vulnerable to the incipient threat were asked for their support—direct military support, financial support, air space support, or even just agreement in principle. “Leading” via social media tweets at 3 am doesn’t cut it with me. Others may see it differently. Oh, interest on our 39 trillion dollar debt exceeds our military budget and education budget combined…and it’s growing exponentially. I hope very soon the average 14 year old not only can recite the danger of global warming, climate change, etc, but the cataclysmic financial crisis we’ll soon find ourselves in because nobody was minding the store for many decades, and nobody held our public servants accountable. When our creditors lose confidence in our ability to repay our debts, they’ll demand higher rates…rates on our bills, notes, and bonds won’t be 3, 4, 5%, add a few points to those #’s…then calculate our annual interest expense…it’s a vicious cycle, and it’s a mathematical challenge of humongous proportions to extricate ourselves from. That’s my thought for the day…we’re an empire in serious decline…I’m pretty apolitical, but I focus on our finances closely. It wasn’t that long ago that we ran budget deficits of 100-200 billion annually…now we’re at 2 trillion! And that’s before this war…it’s adding hundreds of billions more to the deficit…the most troubling thing to me is that nobody seems to care. It took us 234 years to find ourselves 10 trillion in debt…that was 2010, after the great financial crisis…16 years later we’ve piled on 29 trillion more! We’re adding 2 trillion annually! Nobody seems to care….very troubling.
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It’s a tough nut.
For some reason it has become easier and more electorally productive to tear down than to build up. Better to say “we have to stop this” instead of “we have to do this”. “If you don’t send me to Washington these nut jobs are going to blah, blah, blah.”
Stand against something rather than stand for something. Don’t propose solutions because someone is going take a cheap shot at you when you stick your head above the parapet. It’s safer to condemn rather than propose.
Due to some circumstances we have several intergenerational friendships, our families get together socially on occasion. The younger crowd can’t get their head around the idea we had two, maybe three newscasters that each night told us “And that’s the way it is…”. We had our favorites but we trusted them all, maybe too much at times but they were thought to be above the fray. To the point a president said "If I've lost Cronkite , I've lost Middle America."
Everyone today, me included, consumes from the news fountain that spouts the flavor of Kool Aid we want. Newspapers have always had an ideological bent, you subscribed to the one you liked, but never have we been been fed entirely from the same silo as we are today. We need to get back to paying for our news, nothing is free. Our family has three paper subscriptions, three digital paper subscriptions, we support three public broadcasting stations and donate to Wikipedia and the AP, and maybe an another or two I forget. I’m not saying everyone needs to do the same, it’s just something we believe in.
Our young friends think it’s crazy to pay for content that is free. I lay much of the blame on the steps of the fourth branch of government. When CNN had to present content 24/7 that began the slippery slide, IMHO.
That’s enough colloquialism for one post.
I enjoy this forum largely due to the absence of politics, it’s hard to avoid it but hopefully that continues. I also hope I haven’t fouled the nest with these thoughts. I tried not to.
For some reason it has become easier and more electorally productive to tear down than to build up. Better to say “we have to stop this” instead of “we have to do this”. “If you don’t send me to Washington these nut jobs are going to blah, blah, blah.”
Stand against something rather than stand for something. Don’t propose solutions because someone is going take a cheap shot at you when you stick your head above the parapet. It’s safer to condemn rather than propose.
Due to some circumstances we have several intergenerational friendships, our families get together socially on occasion. The younger crowd can’t get their head around the idea we had two, maybe three newscasters that each night told us “And that’s the way it is…”. We had our favorites but we trusted them all, maybe too much at times but they were thought to be above the fray. To the point a president said "If I've lost Cronkite , I've lost Middle America."
Everyone today, me included, consumes from the news fountain that spouts the flavor of Kool Aid we want. Newspapers have always had an ideological bent, you subscribed to the one you liked, but never have we been been fed entirely from the same silo as we are today. We need to get back to paying for our news, nothing is free. Our family has three paper subscriptions, three digital paper subscriptions, we support three public broadcasting stations and donate to Wikipedia and the AP, and maybe an another or two I forget. I’m not saying everyone needs to do the same, it’s just something we believe in.
Our young friends think it’s crazy to pay for content that is free. I lay much of the blame on the steps of the fourth branch of government. When CNN had to present content 24/7 that began the slippery slide, IMHO.
That’s enough colloquialism for one post.
I enjoy this forum largely due to the absence of politics, it’s hard to avoid it but hopefully that continues. I also hope I haven’t fouled the nest with these thoughts. I tried not to.
rangerman
Member
Well said mc farmer from a 66 yr old bird hunter. I to enjoy reading the forum occasionally commenting without the world of politics inserting itself. Seems as if the section lines get longer each year with additional Gray hair and strategically less hair. I still enjoy walking the prairie with my setters each year in south dakota, Nebraska and formally kansas. However, the 12 hour drive appears to be more difficult with the loss of my hunting partner (father).
Alaskan swamp collies
Well-known member
BB and Mcfarmer two great posts and I hate politics. We just can’t avoid it because it affects our daily lives.
Yes, possibly my favorite photo is one of my son, father and myself finishing a hunt. No one knew it would be the last time for the three of us to be out together, but fate was in our favor. No pile of dead birds but the smiles on all three of us indicated it was a good day. My only wish was that the lab we had at the time is in with us. However knowing her she was probably tired of all the chit chat and trying to get back at it.
Drew
Well-known member
My fondest memories are me and my Dad hunting and fishing together. I think about him every time I'm out. I still hunt the same ground that he first took me and fish the same water as well. I miss him dearly, however, I have one daughter who hunts and fishes with me and one son in law. Seeing them progress in the sport and the passion for open spaces and wildlife does my heart good. Now I have two grand kids who want to start hunting and I can't wait. This fall will be their first time in the field.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
I agree, I'm not really all in on this Middle East thing.
I think buying a house anywhere west of Billings, is a very expensive endeavor.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
Yeah I can't believe that the United States got involved out in the Middle East again, it's just not fathomable.
Hopefully this military special operation will come to an end soon. Hopefully we have put the genie back in the bottle for the foreseeable future. We do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons. It’s costly but it has to be done and the us is the only nation that can do it. We need to figure out how to get our so called allies to contribute to the cause. The debt. is the debt, totally out of control. Trouble there is the average American has no idea or care of what the debt means for their future. They just want more handouts. It will be our demise. Now on a more serious note I had my third heart ablation today, spent the day in the hospital. I’ve had 17 cardio versions and 3 ablations now in 12 years. 68 and not getting any younger. We’re going to push through this loose some weight and 2026/27 will be my best bird hunting season ever. Thanks to All that contribute to this site you keep me motivated
4shot
Well-known member
When we loose our ability to print more money because no one will take it will be our demise
BrownDogsCan2
Well-known member
I remember when we bought our first new truck it was a 2004. I think it was that summer and we went to Missouri,,When we got there I put 140 dollars into the tank. I was in shock . We spent a lot on gas that year between my wife driving it and me driving a 99 10 cylinder ford.
I totally agree. the elephant in the room is the SS shortfall. they have been raiding it for years. neither side has the onions to take it on Trump may if he has time but after Iran comes Cuba and who knows what’s next . WE either need to o raise the age, tax the billionaires, tax the little people more, or just keep printing money until it looses its value. The biggest problem I think is most people don’t have a clue. We should have people take a basic test before you can vote. when this country was founded 250 years ago only white men that owned property could vote. That worked pretty good for a long time if you fell into that category. Not my opinion or suggesting anything just trying to recall what I remember from high school history classes
gim
Well-known member
Social Security is on pace to be insolvent within about 8 years now unless major changes are made.
I've stated this before, but no one has the balls to tackle a long term solution, so they just continue to put it off. Any politician that even mentions the words "social security reform" is toast. It's political suicide. And so the problem never gets solved.
I'm probably much younger than most on this forum. My financial advisor doesn't even put SS into my long term goals anymore.
I've stated this before, but no one has the balls to tackle a long term solution, so they just continue to put it off. Any politician that even mentions the words "social security reform" is toast. It's political suicide. And so the problem never gets solved.
I'm probably much younger than most on this forum. My financial advisor doesn't even put SS into my long term goals anymore.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
‘26 fiscal year federal deficit projected between 2 and 2.1 trillion, social security estimated to be 1/8 of that, or 250 billion. There’s an automatic SS benefit reduction that kicks in in 2033, I believe, which currently is estimated at 23%. Too bad the whole federal budget doesn’t operate the same way. Also too bad the federal budget isn’t run like state and local municipalities…they’re not allowed to run deficits.