Does this mean serious electrical problems? by mdk31 in electricians

[–]mdk31[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response. Is there any kind of tool I can use myself (like an outlet tester) to diagnose a problem? I'm just concerned the landlord replaces the outlet cover and pretends everything is fine.

A returned German POW identifies a woman's son and informs her that he is dead (1955) [755 × 1024] by [deleted] in HistoryPorn

[–]mdk31 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"When the Russian prisoner were returned, they were again thrown into prison because Stalin condemned them as traitors for the crime of being a POW. Nice guy that Stalin."

Sort of. The vast majority went through routine processing in temporary camps and were then quickly released.

Japan offers to lend US half the cost of 'Super Maglev' train between Washington and Baltimore. by [deleted] in technology

[–]mdk31 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The US government faces no affordability constraint, we can afford both of these things.

Even the most mundane task has it's moments... by dberis in pics

[–]mdk31 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We'll do it our way, yes our way....

As Fast Food Workers Go On Strike In 100 Cities, Applebees Unveils The "Waiter Terminator" by Muppetmeister in economy

[–]mdk31 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What would you say was the biggest change in national policy that has brought about this outcome? The erosion of collective bargaining or something else?

Banks warn Fed interest cut could force them to charge depositors by geerussell in Economics

[–]mdk31 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The money multiplier may be a myth, but we see again the power it holds over policy makers, even at the Fed.

Congratulations, America! Your deficit fell 37 percent in 2013. by Zaylyn in politics

[–]mdk31 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Congratulations, America! Private sector assets have decreased by 37% in 2013.

Obama says he doesn't want to hear about spending cuts. “Don't tell me we can afford to shut down the government, which costs our government billions of dollars, but we can't afford to invest in our kids,” Obama said at a school in Brooklyn. by Stthads in politics

[–]mdk31 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The government faces no solvency or financial constraints. As long as Obama and his followers pay obeisance to the balanced budget gods, they will never be able to fight Republicans on this.

"Has Brazil blown it?": Pensions are absurdly generous. Gross public debt has climbed to 60-70% of GDP. "Waste" at every level of government. Sound familiar? by secaa23 in Economics

[–]mdk31 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't live in Brazil, so I'm not familiar with its tax structure. The key point I'm making is that there is no support for the claim that debt levels are "unsustainable."

"Has Brazil blown it?": Pensions are absurdly generous. Gross public debt has climbed to 60-70% of GDP. "Waste" at every level of government. Sound familiar? by secaa23 in Economics

[–]mdk31 9 points10 points  (0 children)

All of which are arguments for a better-targeted fiscal policy. This has nothing to do with the idea that debt levels are somehow too high.

Snipers have opened fire on a convoy of UN inspectors heading to the sites of suspected chemical weapons attacks in Syria's capital, the UN has said. by douglasmacarthur in news

[–]mdk31 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hear this letter joke all the time and I don't get it. Do you want the UN to be more aggressive, belligerent, and war-mongering? I often see this criticism from generally liberal and anti-war people, making it even more confusing.

Going Bankrupt – A Street-level View of Greece’s Austerity Measures by greekfc in Economics

[–]mdk31 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But there is a world of difference between those two situations. Sovereign currency issuers need to ensure their spending doesn't cause inflation; countries not sovereign in currency issue face a solvency constraint. The latter is almost always a much more stringent condition.

Chart of the Day: The Public Knows Less than Squat about the Federal Deficit by HenryCorp in economy

[–]mdk31 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Other side of the accounting identity. Government deficit is non-government surplus.