Recent content by Steel Rain

Wow, from Havre. Chinook here :) One time I had to google "Block Heater" to prove to one of the engineers here that it indeed can get cold enought to turn motor oil into toothpaste :) Steel

Well, given the history of the state, major tax increases are inevitable. I figure I am stuck here for at least 5 more years till i can ER and bail. I'm really hoping the improving economy masks the issues long enough for me to avoid any more harm to my plan from taxes :coolsmiley: Steel

Well, as far as Illinois goes, I'm hoping they delay as long as possible since I'm doing everything I can to leave this forsaken state. I don't want my taxes raised to pay for this BS before I have a change to leave. Steel

Love this Thread. I am 47 so hopfuly i will be 52 as will DW. I hope to still be with Mega Corp but closing in rapidly on ER. I expect to have about 1.4M in liquid assets with a target total of 1.8M by 55. I am basically in a race with my employer, I have to get to FI before I zig when i...

Not really, I can 'buy' my own pension if/when the time comes. Now, if someone said they were going to provide a pension, and it was not paid for by lowering my income, i would be all for it, but i would not trust it. If you have one, outstanding, but my generation almost never works at the...

Well, I would not try to fix it, i would ditch it altogher. Figure out some cut off age or a phase out approach so that current folks on SS are not hurt. Im 46, I would gladly forgo all SS if I was able to get my contributions suspeded going forward. My fear is not for myself so much, its...

We have done very well doing the same thing. When I first started doing this, viewing distressed homes that still had occupants was the hardest thing for me. I remember we toured one home back in 2009 that had a little old couple in it that had lovingly maintained the home and worked to...

What is interesting about the article is the belief that pensions are inherently better. I do not think this is true. Considering how many pensions get clobbered when the firm in question goes belly up. I dont have a pension at all, and Im very glad that I dont. I do not trust corporations...

I 100% agree. I think we are saying the same thing ;D Steel

Unfortunately, there is no fount of truth. I would posit that there is no such thing as objective analysis and one persons read of data may be different than another's. I personally feel that forums such as this are an ideal place to discuss the different takes. A lot of folks will never change...

Unfortunately, most do not have the time or capacity to grind out independent results for issues like this. Objective assessment is never going to be happen anyway. Personally, I use a preponderance of the evidence approach and the numbers and conclusions seem consistent with what I have read...

Um, no. Certainly part of the problem to be sure, but overall out of control spending is the real issue. Corruption and shameless vote pandering has a high cost as well. Steel

Just read this; lllinois moves toward state of insolvency - BostonHerald.com It reads as a pretty complete summary of the train wreck that is Illinois. Steel Rain

Completey agree. The amount of sheer corruption in this state is mind boggling. Its fully bipartisan as well, as can be seen by two former governers in the slammer together as we speak. I just hope it holds together long enough for me to escape to someplace warm :) Steel

Fair enough. I dont want to be misunderstood, I am not looking to short soemeone. There are many facets to this question but among them is that the system was corrupt from day one. I am hoping you get value for what you paid in, im just hoping that I dont get to pay in for that value. That...