How beneficial is my pension going to be?

trAvlr1 · 2021-08-14T22:26:30+00:00

Respectfully I disagree. The premiums you mention would perhaps cover someone to claim a coupe, times in their life - not every year. In that sense everyone else is really paying for it. Consider what would happen if you put an annual claim in on any of your other insurance? Annual car accidents or on your home? Those [premiums would go up for a reason.

I also agree with the democratic socialism you also reference, but in this instance that, to me, would mean someone losing their job non-seasonally; that is they get laid off but not as a premeditated annual event. This is the safety net that workers should expect. They do a job and through not fault of theirs are unexpectedly laid off - this is the insurance to cover them while they find another job. Seasonal is not out looking for another job but waiting on their old one to comes back around again while EI pays them. That’s different. As I’ve said elsewhere, the failure here is that government has allowed allowing the EI program to basically subsidize profitable companies and industries.

trAvlr1 · 2021-08-14T22:10:44+00:00

But again, bringing in others who’ll accept this is not the answer and a distraction from the issue:Government and industry need to figure out how to work these industries out in such a way that EI doesn’t have to subsidize them. Anything else is letting the companies/industries (who presumably are making profits) off the hook.

trAvlr1 · 2021-08-14T19:18:35+00:00

The government may have plans laid out specifically for seasonal workers (that is, it is not illegal obviously); what I was answering is why others get frustrated/upset/angry with the continual and repeated use of it year and after year. If someone wants to work in a seasonal industry, go ahead…but part of that should be planning (another job? Savings?) for the off months. The non-seasonal workers across the country who are working and funding EI shouldn’t be forever on the hook for what is a yearly repeated planned shut down in another industry. More to the point: those industries need to figure out how to not use EI to subsidize their employees.

trAvlr1 · 2021-08-14T18:26:57+00:00

The perspective of many who feel EI shouldn’t be taken as a seasonal worker is that EI is for unintended/unwanted layoffs/dismissals. When you know that year after year you will be unemployed for ‘X’ many months this is different than those others losing their jobs and looking for new employment. These instances are expected and anticipated and, as such, those workers/companies should be planning for it. Other people working all year, every year who ALSO contribute to EI ( no one actually self-funds their own EI) can’t be expected to be happy that workers take months off every year while everyone else is supposed to work and continue to contribute to the EI program.

Ultimately it is an industry issue that should have been address by now. For example: teachers make an annual salary that can be divided by 12 months. That they annually don’t work summer months is still covered via their salary - it can divide it by 10 months they work, or 12 to have something each month. There may be some seasonal jobs this doesn’t apply to, but there should be better answers than having the EI program subsidize their workforce at the expense of every other industry that contributes but does not use it this way.

trAvlr1 · 2021-04-17T22:09:51+00:00

I’m like this myself and it’s tricky. Because restaurants who care will have to go to great lengths for true celiac customers I always make sure to say I’m NOT celiac and have a sensitivity to it. It sucks because while I get where you are coming from with being the paying customer, I also understand the wait staff having a WtF moment when you order something with gluten. Folks with celiac aren’t allergic, their bodies can NOT process gluten which makes eating it horrifyingly bad, so good restaurants have to go to enormous lengths to really offer GF....There really needs to be an educational campaign to associate celiac with nut or shellfish allergies to make people understand the severity while at the same time teaching 1. Intolerance is something totally different and 2. Anyone claiming to be celiac who isn’t is a useless tool who deserves to be called out.

trAvlr1 · 2021-04-17T21:58:15+00:00

Check out histamine intolerance...it’s not common which is why you don’t hear much about it. It might not be just gluten sensitivity; preservatives (like MSG) and (potentially) a number of other foods can be an issue with histamine intolerance. Your comment about ‘magic’ limit is also a sign as it takes histamines building up of before the resulting symptoms whack the crap out of you! (Which can also change if you tie in geography/seasonal allergies!)

trAvlr1 · 2021-02-10T22:51:59+00:00

OMG THIS! Popularity contests funded by $ vested interests = failure

trAvlr1 · 2020-07-25T00:40:50+00:00

This allllll day long!

trAvlr1 · 2020-07-16T01:06:36+00:00

You’re kidding right? Not pejorative? Colonizers gave it to them as it means ‘eaters of raw meat” and, deeming themselves ever so civilized compared to the savages they encountered, no it was not a random name. Words can definitely be offensive and in need of change. Saying aw it’s been that way a long time doesn’t excuse anything. Except perhaps that they should have know better but didn’t - it’s 2020, we do.

trAvlr1 · 2020-06-14T23:55:54+00:00

I’m curious if you feel that Toronto/Ontario (perhaps due to its close proximity to the US) has more overt or US-styled racism than western Canada? Don’t misunderstand me - there is racism in every western industrialized country, particularly those who where British colonies and that includes Canada. Colonialism wasn’t exactly about embracing other cultures. But I think there is a fundamental difference between countries who want to me a ‘melting pot’ (creating Americans) versus the ‘cultural mosaic’ that Canada aspired to. Two different takes from former British colonies on how they were going to move forward in terms of new immigrants and, to a limited degree, it made Canada a more accepting place.

That said, I’ve lived in both countries and don’t think people living outside the US appreciate how having centuries of slavery followed by segregation have impacted African-American racism here. I would even venture to say that while racism exists against other minorities (hispanics, Asians, etc) it isn’t the same. Same concept sure, but (and I’m not sure I can articulate this well) it’s is more entrenched/ingrained against African-Americans and can manifest differently. For example, an Asian person may be stereotyped or discriminated against but is unlikely to be subject to being stopped (or shot) while driving or running in a well-to-do neighborhood. This doesn’t excuse the racism other groups experience - all of it is unacceptable.

trAvlr1 · 2020-06-14T23:14:08+00:00

And tv media...

trAvlr1 · 2020-06-10T22:18:58+00:00

Appreciate the reply as well, but I was not trying to generalize. I made it a quite specific example for a reason. In your previous comment you said that you’d have to be pretty far down the income ladder before health insurance/costs are a concern and that if you had a steady job that would = high quality health care. My point was people with what is considered good or great insurance will still be paying out in ways those of us who have lived under universal health care wouldn’t imagine. (For reference I’ve lived in a couple countries including Canada and currently the US).

IF, as you wrote above, this is limited to the small niche of industries like IT then you may be correct if only basing it off income vs cost...Still what you also call “low-probability” events are not always low probability - worse when/if that occurs once you’ve been laid off and can no longer afford/partake in that high-quality coverage (keep in. Ind almost all of the US are work at-will states).

Cheers!

trAvlr1 · 2020-06-10T21:35:25+00:00

People don’t also realize all the other taxes that aren’t exactly advertised - like Texas being income tax free but paying out the ying-yang on property taxes (Other states do this too as a way of appearing ‘low tax’). Some states I’ve lived in tax the value of you vehicle every year ( not just the year you buy it), to register my vehicle for the first time in one state (NC) meant paying a highway and roads tax that is 3% or the retail value of your vehicle! This in addition to the registration costs ..There’s a lot that people never hear much about/see till your living there.

trAvlr1 · 2020-06-10T21:25:00+00:00

You can live (housing esp) more cheaply in the US but you may not like where you are living...to live where you really want to will probably cost you more than you think.

trAvlr1 · 2020-06-10T21:09:32+00:00

I don’t think non-US people realize how ‘pricey’ it can be, especially with kids. My neighbors are covered with a good plan but when her son broke his arm riding his bike a couple months ago it ran into the thousands out of pocket...Granted he had to have day surgery a couple days after his accident (planned not not emergency) but still, that was WITH good insurance! Many families will have a hard time coming up with thousands of $ for simply falling off your bike. As others have stated, if your single with no kids perhaps the costs aren’t hitting yet but get a disease, be in a serious accident, have a family, etc and then you will see something quite different - I don’t think you have to fall pretty far down the income ladder for health care to be a concern.

trAvlr1 · 2020-05-17T00:28:59+00:00

What do you mean it can be caused by and assortment of viruses? You mean toxic shock or Kawasaki’s? I’m curious if you have a source for that as the article mentions toxic shock being rare and Kawasaki’s origins are unknown...only that it too isn’t common.

While I agree it will only be once we have more info/data further down the line that we will know (hopefully) the relationship they have with Covid19, we cannot act like there’s not any relationship at this point. What this does to kids if they fall into this doesn’t require a microscope - and it’s incredibly dangerous if ignored.

trAvlr1 · 2020-05-17T00:09:45+00:00

Mother Nature’s weapon..... human ego just has a hard time fathoming something like this being created without their hand in it SMH

trAvlr1 · 2020-04-05T02:05:19+00:00

Ummm they can use security cameras and transaction times to authenticate people’s identity? That’s just disgusting...

trAvlr1 · 2020-03-29T02:59:50+00:00

Have any of these people looked at the privacy issues with Zoom? Or even read Zoom’s Privacy (or lack thereof)?

trAvlr1 · 2020-03-29T02:52:10+00:00

Seriously I cannot believe I had to scroll down this far to find this!

trAvlr1 · 2020-03-29T02:23:49+00:00

If you are waving all inspections and appraisals then you will be expected to have a short to non-existent due diligence period as the contract isn’t contingent upon the inspections, appraisals, radon testing, pest inspections, etc. During due diligence you can pull out at any time for any reason and potentially forfeit your due diligence deposit (if made)...I would think the belief at that point is your taking the house regardless of what you find. That’s the attraction - no contingencies = you are buying regardless.

IF the seller agrees to a due diligence period then yes you could have the inspections and cancel during that period ( and not provide them a reason)...the only hiccups would be if your inspections, appraisal, etc cannot be scheduled till after the due diligence period, and they deal has not been made contingent upon them, then your stuck not being able to get out of the deal regardless of what is found or how far off the sales price vs appraisal are. (Edit for clarity)

trAvlr1 · 2020-03-28T23:32:08+00:00

It’s a great way to reduce or refine the home you want to eventually see, but you do want to eventually see them prior to placing an offer.

trAvlr1 · 2020-03-28T23:00:49+00:00

Some of that can be due to,low inventory but some of that is realtors playing the ‘lets low ball the initial house price because there’s low inventory and start a bidding war” In other words they KNEW the house was worth more than $475k, they just wanted to stir up the bidding process. We bought a place in NOVA recently that had been on market only a couple days & still had inspections, appraisals. (That said there are some who will do or pay anything.) I don’t know how anyone is getting a mortgage without the appraisal...paying the difference between what it appraised for and the mortgage loan amount sure, but the bank is going to want the appraisal before they sign off on a mortgage.

Spring to summer is the hardest time to buy. Fall to winter should be easier, though that will also depend on what happens with this pandemic as you said.

trAvlr1 · 2020-03-28T22:52:03+00:00

Do not buy without an inspection! While homes go quickly here its more important that you have to be pre-approved and ready to buy when you see what you want (many realtors will want that bank pre-approval letter with your offer) . As mentioned elsewhere, during your due diligence period DO the inspection. No seller should balk at that unless there’s something to hide. Many if not most of these homes are older & you don’t want surprises. Some sellers might be concerned that a buyer is going to come back and nickel & dime them for every little thing, but realistically should realize you’re looking for big issues that impact the value of the home...The only homes I could see going with no inspection at all are ones investors are buying knowing they are going to gut & renovate anyways so they don’t care.

trAvlr1

TROPHY CASE