“If you take social security then you are supporting a Socialist platform…PERIOD.”
Whatever
PERIOD
You had that coming
If the U.S. isn’t a capitalistic society, then what is it? Crony socialism?
I guess the USSR “Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics”. Or NAZIs “National SOCIALISTs” were just confused.
@MikeInNH
"You either talk-the-talk or walk-the-walk…no in between. If you take social security then you are supporting a Socialist platform…PERIOD."
First of all, although I’ve been eligible for Social Security benefits for quite a few years now, I do not take any. Secondly, many people consider that they are receiving their own money they’ve paid in.
Some get fewer dollars than what they contributed while working (My best friend got one check and passed away.), some break even, and some get more than they’ve put into the system.
Secondly, we have bits and pieces of “socialism” (redistribution of wealth), permeating our entire society. It’s not “no in between,” it’s how a society functions. However, I’d hardly describe my 92 year-old mother as a person “supporting a Socialist platform…PERIOD.”
If you’d wish to describe me as person who supports Socialist platforms… PERIOD, be my guest. Do you figure I’m supporting Bernie, too? This conversation is silly.
Mike, You must have me confused with somebody else. I’m a socialist’s worst nightmare! 
Bringing it back to cars, that Grand Prix is rapidly becoming my favorite car to shuttle back and forth to golf. Fore!
CSA
@“common sense answer”
In the words of the late great “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher. “Socialism works until you run out of other peoples money”.
I have a friend who bought one of the first Priuses in my area of the nation back in 2001. In 2006 he was on the Interstate in Pennsylvania and hit a patch of black ice. The Prius rolled over a couple of times and was totaled. He escaped with,a broken wrist and some cuts and bruises. He replaced the 2001 Prius with a 2006 Prius. He has since quit driving and lives in a assisted care facility. I have always been bothered by the fact that no U. S. manufacturer bought into this technology back in 2001. I always thought that in a free enterprise system, competition would be encouraged and GM, Ford or Chrysler would have brought out a hybrid. Perhaps had we had independent auto manufacturers like Studebaker and Nash as we had back before 1960, we would have had more innovations. For example, the heating system that brought in outside air and heated it as opposed to reheating and recirculating the air in the cabin was a Nash innovation by Nash in the 1930s. Air conditioning integrated with the heating system and installed under the hood and behind the dash came from.Nash in 1954. The sleek, modern look came from Studebaker in 1947. I thought our free enterprise system should create healthy competition, but for too long we have had business as usual.
I have always been bothered by the fact that no U. S. manufacturer bought into this technology back in 2001.
Could it be that the Prius is protected by patents?
Apparently it takes somebody like Elon Musk to shake things up
Seems the big auto manufacturers are definitely listening now
Secondly, we have bits and pieces of "socialism" (redistribution of wealth), permeating our entire society. It's not "no in between," it's how a society functions. However, I'd hardly describe my 92 year-old mother as a person "supporting a Socialist platform....PERIOD
I’m using YOUR DEFINITION of socialism CSA…You’re the one who narrowly defined what socialism is. And yes by YOUR DEFINITION…if your 92yo mother collects a SS check…she’s agrees with socialism. Why aren’t you supporting her?
As I pointed out…Socialism is NOT one definition. I’m NOT saying any form of socialism is bad. YOU’RE the one who’s saying socialism is bad…NOT ME.
First of all, although I've been eligible for Social Security benefits for quite a few years now, I do not take any. Secondly, many people consider that they are receiving their own money they've paid in.
And well of 90% of the people in this country can’t do that. So don’t think because you can that other people can also.But keep supporting you corporate socialism policies…and the number of people who can’t afford to save enough to retire gets smaller and smaller and smaller.
Apparently it takes somebody like Elon Musk to shake things upIf Elon Musk can't get the price of his cars down to earth, they will continue to be sold only to a fringe market. A car that let's the rich evade gas taxes.
But his latest car “supposedly” will approach normal prices
I say supposedly because that car is probably a year or so away, if not more
.if your 92yo mother collects a SS check..she's agrees with socialism.
But his latest car "supposedly" will approach normal prices
That’s if, and that’s a big if, there is a cost breakthrough in lithium-ion batteries. Breakthroughs are not inevitable or guaranteed.
I read where there is now an oversupply of new Priuses on the dealer’s lots. Much of this is due to the drop in gasoline prices at the pump. If I didn’t need a minivan, I would probably be a Prius. I like the idea of conserving fuel when possible. I do have an air to air heat pump that cools the house in the summer and heats the house in the winter until the outdoor temperature drops below 40 degrees, at which point the system switches over to a gas furnace. I would really like to have a a geothermal sysrem which would be more efficient. I have a whole house fan that pulls air in through the windows that are open and exhausts the warm air out the attic louvers. Often, ww don’t have to run the heat pump in air conditioning mode at night in the summer months. When we built the house, I insisted on 2x6 framing for the exterior walls which allowed for more insulation in the walls.
db4690: I think we are actually much alike. My parents were married in 1927. My father had a new 1926 Ford model T roadster. He had saved the $304 and paid cash. They worked on a cattle ranch in Colorado. He was a cowboy and she cooked, cleaned, and tended the chickens, turkeys, pigs, and large garden. My Brothers were born in 1929 and 1931. They all made it through the great depression by being fiscally responsible and self sufficient. They bought the things they needed and saved for the things they wanted. I was born in 1952 and was raised with those values which have served me well. I know the difference between Socialism and Communism. My problem is with Communism (Marxism) being “soft sold” as Socialism for decades.
If the technology works it will find it’s way to an affordable compact car. A stack of patents? No problem. The Chinese don’t care. In my state gas tax is per gallon. They have their panties in a bunch do to modern cars with much better MPG while not paying enough tax and those evil EVs using “our” roads while paying no tax. They have many formulas based on miles driven but have no way to determine those miles. Greedy Idiots!!! Money spent on trying to enforce this would exceed tax income. Of course that doesn’t matter as that money would come from the taxpayers anyway!
@B.L.E - I agree with that definition. Re-read my posts. My statement was based on CSA own definition. I was showing how hypocritical his remarks vs actions were.
He basically said that socialism is this and only this and it’s bad for the country. Then he said it’s ok for his 92yo mother to take advantage of it…and that he may someday.
I believe the patent Toyota has regards the transmission used in the Prius where two motor/generators and the engine are coupled together by what amounts to a simple one ratio planetary gear system to function as a continuously variable transmission.
I think Honda actually beat Toyota to the market with their first generation Insight but it used a conventional stepped ratio manual transmission between the engine and the wheels. It simply had the engine’s output boosted by an electric motor that kicked in for passing power so the engine could be sized small enough to be in its efficiency sweet spot during cruise and still have hill climbing and passing power. That same electric motor also served as a generator during braking to recover the car’s kinetic energy.
“My statement was based on CSA own definition. I was showing how hypocritical his remarks vs actions were. He basically said that socialism is this and only this and it’s bad for the country.”
Mike, show me where I said those things. Quote me, please. I said many people pay for what they receive from Social Security. I said S.S. kills incentive for many workers to excel. It does. Many people, some desirable to have in our force, retire as soon as possible to let S.S. start helping to support them. Social Security Disability is going broke. Some disabled people rely on it, but there is practically an industry involving qualifying not-so-disabled people for it so they don’t have to show up for work. :neutral:
Now, back to cars. I’m going out to get in car to go to Monday morning golf league. I’m glad I’ve got a car to make it possible.
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