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Re: Why blame the UAW [duke23]

by dallasdude1 on Fri Aug 01 15:47:05 PDT 2008

The word liberal is in my vocabulary, go ahead and get it out Duke my friend. Liberal means you are a partisan of liberty in it’s social, political and economic forms. If that is a disease let it spread! Our founding fathers were liberals in the John Locke vein, who prized liberty over tradition, opposed concentrated power, and thought we should fear our government more than revere it. Adam Smith was a liberal, who understood that free trade and freedom were intertwined, and that while supporting steel tariffs might help you win votes in Pennsylvania, it distorts prices and ultimately steals from consumers to “pick winners” rather than letting markets decide. John Stuart Mill was a good liberal, describing the threat of popular opinion as being as much a tyranny as any King on a throne and arguing that people should be free to engage in whatever behavior they wish as long as it does not harm others. Now I get it that you are out to bash folks who’ve taken the liberal tradition and remixed it in ways you don’t approve, but that is no reason to take down a perfectly good word and misuse it. I hate to see you lined up with abusing language. Orwell wrote about how language would be manipulated to reduce the ability to ever speak the truth. That is what is happening to that word. People misuse liberalism as a slander to attack what they actually practice (that’s what you are doing) and others misuse it as a cover for statism or other types of collectivism (I think that is the disease you are after) but that doesn’t change the meaning of liberalism or the tradition it represents. Saying Americans “masses” don’t understand this usage is insulting. First their are no “masses”: just individuals who all have the means to learn what the word means and the tradition values. To give up on the proud tradition of liberalism and start using it as a slander is a mistake. You cut yourself off form the liberal tradition and make it that much harder to describe its values accurately to others. Don’t help build an Orwellian lexicon where “liberal” means something bad instead of something good. This is updownism. It’s a misuse of language that is beneath intelligent discourse. Liberalism is not ancient rhetoric – the issues liberals support are as pressing today in the fight for liberty around the world as it was when liberalism came ashore on the New World. There is certainly nothing conservative about fighting wars to protect human rights and institute democracy. It’s classic liberal radicalism of the Tom Paine variety that believes humans weren’t born with saddles on their backs to be ridden by others (apologies for mixing a paine reference and a jeffersonian image, but it helps the larger point). From what I’ve read, you are a classical liberal. It’s not semantics that is the issue – it’s philosophy, history, and ideas I care about. I don’t like seeing people mangle a political tradition – be it a socialist who believes in “social liberties” but not economic ones, or a modern day “conservative” who too often doesn’t recognize the source of their own liberal beliefs, and too often sleepwalks into mixing social conservatism (morality politics) with a lazy attitude toward protecting individual liberties (like the truly Orwellian named “patriot” act). Milton Friedman makes clear what is wrong with your use of the term “liberal” in the first chapter of Capitalism and Freedom. And Friedman may be ancient himself, but his explanation of classical liberalism is eminently relevant today. This idea that the term is archaic is asinine. It may not work on talk radio, but any educated person ought to know what liberalism actual refers to (though few actually do). As I tried to point out, it is eminently relevant in an age of liberal military adventurism where we are actively pushing back conservative regimes abroad to try and advance liberal values like free markets, free elections, and human rights. I’m with you on what is terrible about the Orwellian use of language, but you are doing it yourself by framing liberalism as a boogie man. You are trying to make white mean black and trying to blame it on the “masses” or mainstream usage is such a cop out. Step out of the matrix. Sure, you and George Will may want to conserve the nation’s liberal tradition, but you are no conservative in the traditional sense of the word. I know of a caliph or two who has a rather conservative outlook on the world, and it is pretty obvious you aren’t supporting his side in this global battle. It is too bad that people talk about politics at a Rush Limbaugh level and abuse language by turning liberal into a bad word. I don’t think it takes us very far toward understanding the world around us. John Kerry and George Bush agree on far more issues than they disagree on – they represent the left and right wing of “American liberalism” – and to my mind, represent a sad chapter in the rather exhausted story of “American liberalism”, where neither is above supporting tariffs or takings when expedient or curbing liberty when political popular. But if you aspire to keep company with folks who read Friedman and understand what he is talking about, you need to come to terms with the fact that liberalism isn’t the sickness you are claiming it is. It’s more like the cure. I would like to move Liberals to a more classical and orthodox Liberal philosophy, something within the spirit of those early Republicans who strove for the abolition of slavery.

2007 Pacifica Is it a Lemon, Transmission, Torque Converter

by bigarmy25id on Thu May 08 10:24:53 PDT 2008

I bought my 2007 Pacifica Touring 6spd 4 Liter in January of this year. It had 9,000 mi. on it and a 36,000 mi Warranty. Power train only comes with 08 models of first time buyers. I started experiencing problems shortly after purchase. I bought it in VA but now live in Ga. I took it to Milton Ruben Motors a five star dealer on JAN 22 at 10844 mi. with complaints of harsh shifting at 15-25MPH and harsh down shift at 30-25MPH. They Reprogrammed PCM with Stars can B. Also they found ck fluid and added ľ qt. no leaks found. Took it back on FEB 15 at 11571 mi. They put a new isolator engine mount. They also put that FRT Center Torque Mount is cracked said they installed new one but I don’t see how that is possible since I am now asking them to put a new one on and they act like it has to come from California. Funny because I had to fight the Manager on the phone for an hour to order this. Took back to Milton Ruben on FEB 21 at 12687 mi. Looked for TSB found TSB 21-016-07 which is now updated to TSB 21-010-08.They keep test driving flashing PCM and saying problem is fixed. I would pick my vehicle up and get down the road realizing that it still wasn’t fixed. Then I drove back to VA took it to Billy Craft Chrysler on MAR 27 with 14352 mi. where I bought this lemon. They did DRB III Scan tool, updated PCM found Loss of Communication with NGC Module tried to rewrite but couldn’t. They said they would have to order a part but my leave was up and I had to go back to Ga. Took to Milton Ruben of Augusta Ga. On APR 1 with 14825 mi. They put a Module Memory Seat Control in it. Problem still there. I was angry and made an appointment with the Service Manager and Transmission Tech the next day. They both rode with me acknowledging the problem verbally while not putting anything on paper. They told me it was a characteristic. I said ok get me a similar car with same engine, miles, year etc. They only had an 08 with low miles but same engine. We both tried but with no prevail to make the 08 act up. Perfect shifting as far as I was considered. The Service Manager then tried to talk me into trading my Pacifica. I thought why I would do that when you can’t even fix this problem with an 07. They will only give me $14,000 trade in and I owe $19,999 on payoff after I had put $3,000 down when purchased. What a laugh. The Service Manager said they would contact Corporate to seek opinion on what to do. They called me the next day said Corporate said it’s just a characteristic of the Pacifica and they couldn’t explain why it doesn’t do it on all Pacificas. I have contacted Chrysler Customer Service three times and they are no help won’t even return phone calls. I then took it Augusta Dodge on APR 15 at 15675 mi. for second opinion. They couldn’t find a fault code therefore no problem right. Maybe if I had just fallen off the turnip truck yesterday I would believe them but they all refuse to acknowledge or fix the problem and even when they do they say well maybe it’s a characteristic. Bull!! I then took it to Triangle Dodge in South Carolina at request of a friend who said they were the best. Drove the vehicle 40 mi. to this dealer dropped off on MAY 2 at 16448 mi. they test drove forty miles and were just like all the others. I was hot and angry talked to the Service Manager who was looking through the paper work and was shocked that most of the paper work wasn’t on the Chrysler world system. He found that Milton Ruben of Augusta had diagnosed the problem as a TC but no TC billed to Chrysler Warranty. Hmm He told me to take it back to them order the part and potentially fix this problem. Called my tech guy at Milton Ruben he said sure bring it in. Then I called back to make sure they had the part and parts said they would have to order from CA. but needed permission from Manager. Thats when me and the Service Manager got in an argument. He wanted me to bring it back in so they could evaluate it again. I told him I have given you guys enough chances to evaluate. I was even in there shop a whole week once. He said he didn’t think it was the TC. We argued I threatened a law-suit and then he said he would order the part and give me a call when it gets in. While studying this website I found that Chrysler had a problem with TC built on or before DEC. 15 2006. What a coincidence mine was built on OCT 06. Hmm It is TSB 21-002-07 REV. B Thanks for your time and I hope I spare some fortunate soul with similar problems.

Re: EX-L initial quotes coming in (all OTD) with huge variation [gavanmom]

by cillakat on Wed Sep 19 17:57:57 PDT 2007

I did talk to Honda Carland/Roswell. He came in higher than my target, then wanted to price match.....which is nice, but I didn't want to price match. i just drove home from Milton Martin Honda (Gainesville, GA) in my new EX-L white/tan that had 22 miles on it. $27,792 OTD as promised with security etching, cargo liner, muds, paint protection yadda yadda all included. He would have offered up the wheel locks I'm sure...but I had realized about a day ago that they would NEVER be used by me and would just clutter. I loved the sales guy (not supposed to use names here so we'll just say his first name started with a G:))....he was just 'good people' as they say in the south. I'd drive the drive in a heartbeat to buy every car that my family will ever own. It was that good. Not a hint of, 'well....this little fee is standard'....or 'oh yeah, that's got to be added on'. never. It was all fun, happy, community, *honesty*. You could tell people were happy being there. He bought my girls ice cream from the vending machine....walked me through all of the features of the car.....let my 8 and 6 yo tell him stories, make him nametags and more. It was delightful. Seems like a silly word to describe a car purchase, but it was. There wasn't any other place I'd rather have been. Not only was it a great place to be buying a gorgeous solid new ody but it would have been a great place to just *be*. Even without a purchase. He was telling me that they have a big cookout (ribs/ turkey fry) every year the tuesday before thanksgiving and about 250 people show up. I can see why. Honestly, we will not shop around should we need another Honda. We'll just make the drive to Gainesville. Fwiw, he was the best price out of the gate. I named my number (27.8 otd) and he came in lower. Everyone else came in higher, even just a little bit.......then when i told them I had a deal in writing, 5 dealers (of 20 or so) geographically closer offered to price match to 'save me the drive'. Quite frankly, if you could have gone lower, why didn't you in the first place? I told them 'no thanks', i'll drive further for the guy who was willing to go further for me. He did the right thing, I'll respond in kind by doing the right thing. I am so glad I drove the next 20 minutes for what I think is probably the best car buying experience one could have. Anywhere. All the best, K in atlanta

Re: Audi to launch "cleanest diesel in the world" [gagrice]

by ruking1 on Fri Jul 20 14:16:38 PDT 2007

I did forget to mention, was a citizen in state 5 while living in state 6. :) Also it is wise to not be in the state which calls you for jury duty. :) Or if it is tell em its too far. :) And the so called "greenies" want us all to live in places like this: "NYC blast could cost businesses millions" By PAT MILTON, Associated Press Writer http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070720/ap_on_re_us/manhattan_explosion

Re: CTS vs Lexus IS350 [mediapusher]

by readerreader on Sun Jan 14 11:03:49 PST 2007

Without a doubt it seems that CTS wins when it comes to the looks of interior compared to the Lexus IS350, however the CTS's interior looks much more garish than the IS350 and some buyers may be turned off by this. Oh, and perhaps it's just me, but doesn't the rear of the new CTS look a bit Eldoradoish? This isn't bad, I just happened to notice it. ------------------------------------------------------------- gar·ish (gâr'ĭsh, găr'-) pronunciation adj. 1. 1. Marked by strident color or excessive ornamentation; gaudy. 2. Loud and flashy: garish makeup. See synonyms at gaudy1. 2. Glaring; dazzling: “Hide me from Day's garish eye” (John Milton). ------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not quite following you here. They both look fine to me: But to each their own. I do agree with you about the ElDorado though.

Re: Very cute little opinion/review piece [gagrice]

by terry92270 on Wed Oct 25 11:35:35 PDT 2006

Perhaps he's a frustrated Socialist? :P Here are the facts..... "As the U.S. population crossed the 300 million mark sometime around 7:46 a.m. Tuesday, October 17th, (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), the typical family is doing a whole lot better than their grandparents were in 1967, the year the population first surpassed 200 million. Mr. and Mrs. Median's $46,326 in annual income is 32% more than their mid-'60s counterparts, even when adjusted for inflation, and 13% more than those at the median in the economic boom year of 1985. And thanks to ballooning real estate values, average household net worth has increased even faster. The typical American household has a net worth of $465,970, up 83% from 1965, 60% from 1985 and 35% from 1995. Throw in the low inflation of the past 20 years, a deregulated airline industry that's made travel much cheaper, plus technological progress that's provided the middle class with not only better cars and televisions, but every gadget from DVD players to iPods, all at lower and lower prices, and it's obvious that Mr. and Mrs. Median are living the life of Riley compared to their parents and grandparents. So why are they so unhappy? Yes, despite their material prosperity, the Medians are a grumpy lot. A Parade Magazine survey (a good source for all things median) performed by Mark Clements Research in April 2006, showed that 48% of Americans believe they're worse off than their parents were. A June 2006 study by GFK-Roper group showed that 66% of Americans said that their personal situations in the "Good Old Days"--defined by the bulk of respondents as anywhere between the 1950s and the 1980s--were better than they are today. And in May, a Pew Research Center poll showed that half of U.S. adults believe the current trends point toward their children's future being worse than their own present. Attribute some of the dissatisfaction to what economist Milton Friedman dubbed "Permanent Income Theory," which assumes that people measure where they are relative to where they expected to be a few years ago. They don't care a bit what the average income was four decades ago. :P "If you expect a 3% rise in income and you get 2.5%, you're disappointed," says Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board, a private research group in New York. And because people generally judge their fortunes not in absolute terms, but by comparing themselves to others, the super-success of the top 1% can make Mr. and Mrs. Median feel relatively poorer. Take CEOs--the $19 million that Wal-Mart Chief Lee Scott raked in last year was 410 times what Mr. and Mrs. Median made, as opposed to the $469,000 a year earned by Exxon's Ken Jamieson in 1975, which was a mere 40 times more. It's the same with celebrity athletes. Those who worshipped Joe Namath in the 1960s could at least identify with the $142,000 a year he made ($848,000 in today's dollars). But how many can identify with the $87 million Tiger Woods took in last year? And not only are the elite making much more today, relatively, than the Medians, the rise of cable television and the Internet assures that they know all about it. "It's now easy for us to see how other people around the world live, not just how our neighbors live," says Barry Schwartz, a professor of psychology at Swarthmore College. Schwartz also argues that the plethora of consumer choices today, while generally a good thing, can be a catalyst for bringing people down. Not everyone can have a new flat screen television with both a 60 inch screen and premium sound. "The more options you look at, the more you have to give up," he says. It's true that the wealthy have grabbed up a larger share of the growing economic pie over the past 40 years. Census Bureau stats show that the percentage of pay collected by the middle 60% of wage earners dipped to 46% in 2005 from 52% in both 1965 and 1975. That figure doesn't include income from investments, which would make the gap even larger. But the overall pie is much larger too. A near quadrupling of the Gross Domestic Product since 1967 means that today's Americans share $12.5 trillion in wealth, or $41,579 per capita, compared to the $3.8 trillion, or $18,951 per capita, enjoyed by 200 million people back then. Of course, the super-rich have done even better. When the first edition of the Forbes 400 hit newsstands in 1982, the top-ranked person was shipping magnate Daniel Ludwig, with an estimated net worth of $2 billion. That was about 20,000 times the net worth of Mr. and Mrs. Median at the time. There were only 12 billionaires on the list that year. The top person on the 2006 edition of the Forbes 400, Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) Co-Founder Bill Gates, had a net worth of $53 billion, or 133,741 times the Medians. That means that while Mr. and Mrs. Median have seen their net worth rise 130% percent since the first Forbes 400, the richest man in the country is worth 1,225% more. Oh, and every member of the list is now a billionaire. But what does the pay of celebrities and CEOs have to do with the average American, other than provide fodder for jealousy? It would be one thing if growing incomes at the top stretched prices of goods and services so much as to dramatically push inflation ahead for everyone else. But inflation has been tame for over two decades. The fact is that in real terms, the Medians are doing great. Mr. Median makes 25% more than his father did 30 years ago, even after holding for inflation. Mrs. Median is a lot more likely to work in the professional ranks than her mom was, and to be paid about three times as much doing so. And though she still makes only 77% of what her male counterparts earn, this is up from 33% in 1965. They dote on the same number of children (two), but waited longer to have them, until both careers are well under way. They also pay less tax to the federal government and have 8% more purchasing power than they did 20 years ago, including 5.7% more than they had just ten years ago. But, if despite their prosperity, the Medians need some cheering up, there is one powerful person whose wage growth they have outpaced nicely over the last two generations. When Lyndon Johnson occupied the White House in 1965, he earned $100,000 a year, or 14 times what the Medians earned. This year, George W. Bush will earn $400,000, or just eight times the Medians." ARTICLE, CLICK HERE