Comments:

LR - 2005-03-08 11:01:00
Good luck. You'll do great because you have a genuine love (or that's what it sounds like from here!) of exercise. I would think they'd want optimistic-exercise-loving people there : )
-------------------------------
Jackie - 2005-03-08 11:02:56
You just reminded me of something I saw on Comedy Central last week; Bill Maher trying to explain "trickle down economics" (remember that?!). Which boiled down to rich people peeing on poor people by the time he was done. If I, for one, was working for minimum wage (which is what? $6 an hour?), and my wage got hiked up, I would certainly find something to do with that money. Pay the utility bills, buy desperatley needed clothes, maybe buy more food every week...been there, done that, but you know Mr Whatshisface Enzi never has. Ah. Life in the best country in the world. Oh yeah...and Cancun for free??? Lucky you! (after the islands, Cancun would definitely be my next choice--first if it was free!). =)
-------------------------------
Marcy - 2005-03-08 12:51:54
Good luck! I'll keep my fingers, etc. crossed for you!!!! :)
-------------------------------
Lenore - 2005-03-08 18:28:18
Hi, I work in a hospital-based fitness center and really enjoy it. Except for the fanatical self body-image extremes of the staff, the work is great! And, even though the girls I work with all think they are fat, when they aren't, they really love their work and care deeply about the needs of the members and clients. And personal training is great. All our people are ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) certified. But there are great personal training associations out there that can help you become really knowledgable. Good luck, it sounds like a wonderful place from what you say.
-------------------------------
Theodore Craig - 2005-03-08 20:57:46
That's why I think that a truly flat tax would be fair for everyone. Say 12 to 15 percent, with no deductions, and just one simple form to fill out! You could put a cap on it, and say the people who make less than $10,000.00 a year would be exempt. That way people who are making less than $1000 a month would not have to pay any taxes! But, this would require that government do something it hates - cut spending! I don't see it happening any time soon...
-------------------------------
creda - 2005-03-09 12:25:24
I don't know what bugged me more, that Kennedy embedded the raise in otherwise detestable bills, or that it still didn't get through. To address your question, my colleagues interpret economic phenomena through their own political biases (myself included, I'd say). Within the macroeconomic communities, some (followers of Friedman, e.g.) truly believe that businesses spur growth, and that even income tax cuts will lead to growth for small business owners, thereby yielding greater economy-wide health. Labor economists tend to be more progressive, on average. When this camp studies minimum wage increases, most results are inconclusive. Conservatives assume that increases raise the costs of doing business, and stifle growth. The actual studies (using real data, not just mathematical models) come to no clear conclusion. Even theoretically, businesses could pass on wage increases to their consumers (higher prices for fast-food burgers). If folks are willing to pay 5 cents more for their burgers, then there's no clear detriment to employers, no increase in unemployment, etc. I know I'm going on and on, but I assume you were asking me (?) I have signed a couple petitions with other Economists supporting minimum wage increases. It's high time, damnit. COLAs should always be included in legal policy, but the conservatives would never stand for it, because (I believe) they count on inflation to erode whatever benefits the poorer receive. As for Mr. Craig's flat tax mumbo-jumbo, I firmly disagree. We can get rid of the loopholes exploited by the uber-rich and still maintain our progressive tax system. And furthermore, $1000 is NOT living the high-life. In fact, 2 people living on $12000/year would find themselves below the poverty threshold. OK, off the soapbox.
-------------------------------

add your comment:

your name:
your email:
your url:

back to the entry - Diaryland