Yes, that was my point. I'd rather be unemployed in Europe than struggling to make ends meet with two jobs in the US. Don't get me started on healthcare.

I'd rather work in the US, with all the opportunities to be found here.....either director or actual 1099 contract working....where I can make more than a comfortable living.

I have good insurance and have access to the best and most modern health care options in the world here in the US....I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Life if GREAT here.

Every country has its problems and all, but you have NO reason to be looking down your nose at the US.

If it sucks here so badly,, why are SO many trying to come here?

and when a serious illness hits you in the EU or Canada why do you try your best to get to the US for treatments that your socialize medicines won't or can't cover?

In an elite school it doesn't seem there would be a whole lot of "year full of dumb people" happening.

Don't forget the vast number of students admitted on the basis DEI (race, sex, injustice over the years, etc)....

When you admit based on criteria other than merit and measures of intelligence, you're bound to have more dim bulbs than you might think of in an "elite" university.

Dude. Its Kenya, not Somalia

What's the difference....?

Ok thanks for the SPR definition, etc.

Yes, we are more car dependent than the 70's, but thats only because we're a larger country, more populace more cities than the 70s

I grew up in the 70's....and to my eyes, it isn't much different as far as requiring a car to live....never in my lifetime has there been any meaningful public transit anywhere I've lived across the US, but it isn't like anyone I've ever known missed it, etc.

Just normal way of life here.....I started working at restaurants when I was about 16yrs....saved my money and bought my first car (with some parental help) as a senior in High School.....and got that first taste of independence ..

I just thank GOD there was no social media back then and we didn't have cameras everywhere....ugh.

But the US has always in modern times been car centric....to see when it was not you'd likely have to look back about 100 years....

A few years back, I went to a local community college...paid a few dollars to "apply" to take some grad courses.....sent transcripts, etc....I think a total of maybe $50 to apply.

For that I got a student ID with picture...and NO DATEs on it.

I also got an .edu email address. I've not used that in ages, but likely could reactivate it with some phone calls.

But that ID alone has saved me a TON of money over the years getting educational rates and prices.

Check to see what your local colleges put on their IDs and you might find it worth it to do the same.

It's going to get substantially higher than $4. I think it could end up pushing 7 bucks. Historically, the US has tolerated recessions more lightly than it has gas above 5 bucks. So this is a really really big deal, not least because demand destruction through mode shifting is much less tenable than in the 70s due to greater car dependency, and the SPR is already extensively drawn down ahead of winter. A whacking great recession may well be on the way.

Maybe that high in the "weird" states that overtax and have massive regulations on formulation, etc.....but here in the New Orleans...TX area, I don't see it getting that expensive.....

I don't get from you response one thing clearly...are you saying we had greater car dependency in the 70's or we have it now?

Also, what is "SPR" please?

I just don't see an electric bike/motorcycle holding any interest whatsoever to me...I LOVE my regular motorcycle....the sounds, smells, mechanical vibrations and with all the controls, clutches, going through gears, etc....it's all part of a visceral feel that you only get from a real motorcycle.....

Just pulling a throttle on a silent EV "motorcycle"....even though it might launch you into the future....will not have the same appeal...

I wonder how many people on this site can ride a motorcycle. They have lots of opinions about the clutch, though.

I do. Just about a year ago, I bought a 2023 Indian Chief Bobber (dark horse edition)....just shy of 1900 CC of pure fun.

I could not imagine buying an electric motorcycle....even with all the things they may try to emulate.

There's now way they can simulate how a big V-Twin rumbles at idle or roars with gas......no way an electric can simulate that zen as you become one with the road and a mechanical beast.

Why go to all the trouble with fake clutches and sound effects and shaker motors....to simulate what is already simple there with an ICE motorcycle.

Without even going into real range anxiety (bikes cannot carry large batteries)....it's just the experiences.

The sounds and smells and feel of a real bike....every time I jump on mine, it's an adventure.

I had mine a couple months and removed the slip on exhaust parts and replaced with some "shorties"....now it sound just right....I can't imagine changing the mp3 recording on an EV bike would be quite so rewarding.

Around here you have your summer car and your winter beater. Sure you drive the winter beater all year round to pickup landscaping materials and such, but your summer car never hits those pot holes and salt.

Where do you live where you have "winter" and "summer" cars...??

I've never even heard of such a thing......

Hello from New Orleans....

Hell...still better than an Iran with nuke.....

We can wait them out....$4 gas isn't that big a deal....

Thank God I've never had to live with a fucking HOA......

your dryer might be 50A and your AC 40A, but they rarely go at the same time. Same with the stove which has a 40A plug.

I take it you've never lived anywhere in the US south, or even the US west (AZ, parts of TX, etc)....from about April through start of NOV.

Having all of those on at the same time is quite common....especially any combination you want to make with AC.

My AC has clicked on and pretty much will not click off till first part of November....I'm in New Orleans.

Thankfully, my water heater, stove and oven and dryer are gas....but not everyone has the luxury of gas so yes, all those electrics can easily be on at same time, especially with a family of any size...and especially on weekends.

Congress (Article I) has passed many, many laws without veto from the president (Article II) which have withstood challenges in the Supreme Court (Article III) which have established policies of wealth distribution,

Err....exactly which many laws have given us wealth redistribution ?

"/me - Thumbs through my copy of the US constitution looking for anything in the limited, enumerated federal roles and responsibilities alingning with wealth redistribution."

Funny how most people who cite the constitution gloss over Article III like it's non binding.

If I recall.....Article 3 of the US constitution has to do with setting up the judicial branch...Supreme Court, etc.

I fail to see how that has anything to do with wealth redistribution, the subject I was addressing originally where you quoted me....?

"The asset tax is dumb. how is he supposed to pay that tax without diluting his ownership stake? "

That's the goal. The government exists for the benefit of the people, the people suffer when all wealth accumulates at the top. Massive ownership stake is not only NOT a goal of the government, it is the problem to solve.

/me - Thumbs through my copy of the US constitution looking for anything in the limited, enumerated federal roles and responsibilities alingning with wealth redistribution.

Hmm....On a state level, well I guess they can but thankfully precious few even think about doing this.

If nothing else, it ends up pushing wealthy people OUT of your state and overall you stand to have a tax revenue loss over a short period of time.

People are mobile you know.....