Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah university

ChicagoBlue said:
Trump is a passing phase, your slippery slope? Not so much! Been watching it happen for 40 years!

And, while I despise Trump and almost everything he stands for, his policies are only affecting me in relatively positive ways. Sad, but true.
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It’s no passing phase. Western civilisation is falling apart, and the US is far from immune.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
And, while I despise Trump and almost everything he stands for, his policies are only affecting me in relatively positive ways. Sad, but true.
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It depends on where you live, even if you’re not brown. The occupation by federalised troops is to prevent Democratic votes in the midterms.
 
gordondaviesmoustache said:
It’s no passing phase. Western civilisation is falling apart, and the US is far from immune.
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The world has definitely lurched to the right, but Trump himself is a cult leader and I’m not sure anyone else can carry that off. Vance certainly can’t.
FogBlueInSanFran said:
What are those ways? (Genuine question. It’s been mixed for me personally).
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Tax policies, for one big one.
Push for lower interest rates, as I build a house and think about selling another one. Lower interest rates spur buyers to buy and be able to pay more.
I think the lack of a cogent Immigration policy under Biden was bad, even though I’m fully aware that Trump nixed the bi-partisan bill in Congress.

There are myriad other ways I think he is a cancer on America, but when someone tells me to suck up Trump, knowing I have no other choice, it’s always nice to throw it back in their face that he’s actually making me richer! Maybe that a tad petty, but at least it’s not mean-spirited like much of the personal debate.

I have long said that the ONLY way to ensure you can live well in America OR England is to have “fuck you money.”

I have spent my entire working life towards that goal, while making sure I took care of my business along the way. While certainly will not be immune to whomever the political party in power might be, I will hopefully have structured my life and assets accordingly, so that me and mine are going to be OK.

And, before anyone suggests that is a “ladder up” approach, I welcome everyone up the ladder and will never pull it up, but you have to earn your way onto the first rung, and second, and third. This, to me, is real life in America, as observed for the last 43 years.
 
KS55 said:
It depends on where you live, even if you’re not brown. The occupation by federalised troops is to prevent Democratic votes in the midterms.
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I’m not 100% certain of that, but we are certainly getting there. I am looking at moving into the country to get away from the hubbub of Chicago and the things I really don’t like about it. That said, it’s great to have a big, vibrant city on your doorstep, where you can see and do almost anything anytime.

Double-edged sword, to be certain. I’m fortunate enough to have options, which many don’t.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
The world has definitely lurched to the right, but Trump himself is a cult leader and I’m not sure anyone else can carry that off. Vance certainly can’t.

Tax policies, for one big one.
Push for lower interest rates, as I build a house and think about selling another one. Lower interest rates spur buyers to buy and be able to pay more.
I think the lack of a cogent Immigration policy under Biden was bad, even though I’m fully aware that Trump nixed the bi-partisan bill in Congress.

There are myriad other ways I think he is a cancer on America, but when someone tells me to suck up Trump, knowing I have no other choice, it’s always nice to throw it back in their face that he’s actually making me richer! Maybe that a tad petty, but at least it’s not mean-spirited like much of the personal debate.

I have long said that the ONLY way to ensure you can live well in America OR England is to have “fuck you money.”

I have spent my entire working life towards that goal, while making sure I took care of my business along the way. While certainly will not be immune to whomever the political party in power might be, I will hopefully have structured my life and assets accordingly, so that me and mine are going to be OK.

And, before anyone suggests that is a “ladder up” approach, I welcome everyone up the ladder and will never pull it up, but you have to earn your way onto the first rung, and second, and third. This, to me, is real life in America, as observed for the last 43 years.
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As The Replacements sang in “Bastards of Young”:

God, what a mess
On the ladder of success
When you take one step and
Miss the whole first rung

:)
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
As The Replacements sang in “Bastards of Young”:

God, what a mess
On the ladder of success
When you take one step and
Miss the whole first rung

:)
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“Success” is definitely a moving target in 2025, but a financial cushion has always helped make any shortfalls less painful, especially when one defines it as being a loving husband, father and friend.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
Straw man. We both know that’s not the point of freedoms.
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Not a strawman in the slightest. What would you want to be able to say in the UK that would land you in trouble with the authorities?

You can’t answer you’re fully aware the UK (and the rest of the western world) have a far better system than the US.
 
SWP's back said:
Not a strawman in the slightest. What would you want to be able to say in the UK that would land you in trouble with the authorities?

You can’t answer you’re fully aware the UK (and the rest of the western world) have a far better system than the US.
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The answer is ”anything I want,” which is the entire universe of words, in whatever order I want.

That’s the point! If I have to worry about ANY words, which political party will have decided on those words, their meaning, their context? And, what about the next party? And the next?

We are seeing it in the U.S. right now as an attempted clampdown on anything negative against a reportedly racist podcaster! What next? Who next?
 
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ChicagoBlue said:
“Success” is definitely a moving target in 2025, but a financial cushion has always helped make any shortfalls less painful, especially when one defines it as being a loving husband, father and friend.
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I’m very lucky too — as noted previously, my concern is for my college-age kids, especially my LGTBQ one. Since I am actively trying to sell a home, the rate move down might be helpful but it’s not in a vacuum because job growth and economic activity also appear to be slowing. Higher prices and lower labor supply nearly across the board for products I buy or might buy doesn’t help one on a fixed income. The equity markets have been puzzling and volatile, with a needle’s eye of optimism and some short memories seemingly driving them, though also giving me an opportunity to rebalance away from equities at fat valuations albeit with a variety of other asset classes expensive on a relative basis too. On balance, even if I’m richer which I only really am via paper equity gains, in other ways I’m poorer and so is the country :(. But I’ve tried to control what I can control — How can I help people? How can I strengthen and enjoy relationships with family, friends and others? What new things can I learn?
 
ChicagoBlue said:
I’m not 100% certain of that, but we are certainly getting there. I am looking at moving into the country to get away from the hubbub of Chicago and the things I really don’t like about it. That said, it’s great to have a big, vibrant city on your doorstep, where you can see and do almost anything anytime.

Double-edged sword, to be certain. I’m fortunate enough to have options, which many don’t.
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Nearly 40 years ago my wife and I abandoned the city and the lifestyle we were brought up in. We moved to a semi rural location near a small town. For our children’s education and for our happiness, it was the best thing we ever did. Of course in Britain you are never that far from a city and all the benefits it offers.
 
KS55 said:
Nearly 40 years ago my wife and I abandoned the city and the lifestyle we were brought up in. We moved to a semi rural location near a small town. For our children’s education and for our happiness, it was the best thing we ever did. Of course in Britain you are never that far from a city and all the benefits it offers.
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For the purposes of proximity to work and infirm parents, we have been anchored in the Chicago Burbs for decades.

2025 has not been kind to my wife, with both her parents unexpectedly dying in quick succession, albeit at 85 yrs of age and my career is in its twilight. Accordingly, we purchased a lake house approximately 120 miles west of Chicago, close to the Mississippi River, and are currently remodeling it. That should be complete by 2026, and so we are contemplating selling our primary home in Feb ‘26, when the home selling season begins.

As part of her parents’ asset disposal, the realtor being used to sell their house placed a rather large valuation on our own home a few blocks away. We are in a prime location…on a 24 acre park within a few minutes walk of award winning Elementary and Middle Schools and a tier one hospital, and the express train to Chicago, and 10 minutes from a world class airport! With that, we have recently seen newer, slightly larger, homes selling over seven figures, which has brought ours close to that level. That is new.

Since my kids are now grown and out of the house (Chicago and Phoenix), we have no use of a 4 BR/3 BA home on an oversized lot, but are looking forward to finishing our 3/2 at the lake. It seems both more of a right-sized home and a more peaceful place to settle for retirement, but will definitely be a seismic shift in terms of way of life. That’s one of the things we are looking for and we hope it will be as rewarding as you have found it.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
For the purposes of proximity to work and infirm parents, we have been anchored in the Chicago Burbs for decades.

2025 has not been kind to my wife, with both her parents unexpectedly dying in quick succession, albeit at 85 yrs of age and my career is in its twilight. Accordingly, we purchased a lake house approximately 120 miles west of Chicago, close to the Mississippi River, and are currently remodeling it. That should be complete by 2026, and so we are contemplating selling our primary home in Feb ‘26, when the home selling season begins.

As part of her parents’ asset disposal, the realtor being used to sell their house placed a rather large valuation on our own home a few blocks away. We are in a prime location…on a 24 acre park within a few minutes walk of award winning Elementary and Middle Schools and a tier one hospital, and the express train to Chicago, and 10 minutes from a world class airport! With that, we have recently seen newer, slightly larger, homes selling over seven figures, which has brought ours close to that level. That is new.

Since my kids are now grown and out of the house (Chicago and Phoenix), we have no use of a 4 BR/3 BA home on an oversized lot, but are looking forward to finishing our 3/2 at the lake. It seems both more of a right-sized home and a more peaceful place to settle for retirement, but will definitely be a seismic shift in terms of way of life. That’s one of the things we are looking for and we hope it will be as rewarding as you have found it.
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I wish you well with all of that, sounds great. (Obviously the retirement on the lake part).

Please tell me you're going to get a seaplane, if only to keep your hand in. :-)
 
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