Just a note to those who questioned my comment about "higher-ups" that Thom has to deal with: While it is true that he owns his programs, he does not own the broadcasting facilities, the studios, the uplinks, the satellites, the etc., etc. All those form a long chain of "higher-ups" he must please to get his programs on the air; any one of those links could squelch Thom, at least in part, if they take enough offense to Thom's programs. Sorry folks, but Thom does not operate in a vacuum, he does have to answer to "Higher-Ups", any whatever form they maybe.

Palindromedary ~ You aren't making me feel better. That mention of the condition of the street really hits home. Just today we rode slowly across a street that I typically refer to as in worse condition than the surface of the moon. Seriously, if you drive faster than 10 miles an hour on Capp St. between Nicol and School, you might damage your car.

On one happy note, call it what you will... The day after my father received his first notice of abatement from the city there was an accident with a Big Rig on the MacArthur maze. The Big Rig rolled over one morning when there wasn't much traffic and spilled fuel all over three levels of highway. No one was hurt; however, the resulting inferno caused the top level of the freeway to melt and collapse on the bottom levels in a critical maze of traffic between San Francisco and Oakland. It paralyzed traffic in the Bay Area and cost the city a fortune to repair; which, they had to spend quickly in order to save even more money. What do you know, Karma's a Bitch. I'm still gloating over that little coincidence.

Quote Palindromedary:I should probably check my monthly bank statement more carefully next time. I sure wouldn't want my house to be stolen from me...that would just really tick me off...big time!

Palindromedary ~ Join the club, my friend, join the club! Even though California 'Virtually Prohibits..." I can assure you they have done everything in their power to steal our home. I have done everything in my power to prevent that; and, will continue to do so until the day I don't care anymore. I only mention this article because I know first hand that it is a real problem. In the past my father got hit up to clean out a yard of weeds that have grown wildly for over a year.His failure to do so in a timely fashion lead to a $5K lien against the house. He was then hit up to remove vehicles that were parked on his front yard--behind bushes-- that were there for over 3 decades. He was given 2 weeks to remove them. He was then hit up to remove vehicles that were parked in his backyard that were also parked there for 3 decades and also far beyond the view of the street. He was given 2 weeks. Since there was no time to sell these family heirlooms they had to be given away. We lost our family boat, trailer, camper, the classic family car I was brought up in, and my own personal classic truck that was left to me by my best friend when he died just to save our house. To say I myself am a little ticked off about all this is to put it mildly...

Dekester, I respectfully disagree. I think we need to think more in terms of what is reasonable compensation, and just how much wealth any one person or family should be entitled to, and what responsibilities we have to contribute to the infrastructural maintenance of the society in which we have thrived, if indeed we have. - AIW

I don't think that those who live in California or Oregon...and a number of other states...have to worry much about this problem of tax-liens being sold to independent companies.
http://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarp/money/taxes/2014-03/620-tax-liens-m...

Although, I don't think "virtually prohibits it" is as definite as "bans it". California is "virtually prohibits tax lien sales". And Oregon "bans tax lien sales". Funny how this map has mostly all the blues states (politically) with the color red. And all of the red states (politically) with the color blue.

But, I don't know about the other abatements that can also sneak up on you if you are not alert and aware of them.

Quote AARP article:.. in some communities, it's not just property taxes that cause problems. Unpaid water, sewer and municipal fees lead to liens, which in turn can trigger foreclosures. And some municipalities add other fees — from "nuisance abatements" (when a city crew cuts weeds or mows overgrown grass, for example) to annual stormwater assessments — to property tax bills.

Some cities even off-load their tax debts to private firms for cash.

http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-2014/tax-liens-target-homeowners.html

I had a situation where I mailed in my check to the water company and 3 months later, when I got my next bill (they have a 3 months billing cycle), it indicated that they didn't get the last payment. So I had to cancel that check and send in another check for both billing cycles. I had my eyes peeled for whether they cashed the last check. And I now realize that with a 3 month billing cycle, I should probably check my monthly bank statement more carefully next time. I sure wouldn't want my house to be stolen from me...that would just really tick me off...big time!

And if I got some kind of notice in the mail about abatements, I'd have to check it out with the local government to make sure it was not a scam.

Aliceinwonderland ~ "Abatement" generally in this context refers to a warning to correct anything from an unkempt yard--weeds and overgrown plants--to issues about parking unused vehicles on your property in view of the public street, or neighbors. One complaint is all it takes. If the city sends you a warning to abate a certain unsightly condition--and it could be almost anything they consider unsightly--and you fail within a certain period of time--usually stated on the letter of warning--then either they will perform the service themselves and bill you, and/or, they will jump to issuing a lien against your property.

I know this is a real serious threat because it happend to my father 3 times before he passed away. Fortunately, my father had the wherewithal to fight the city and prevailed. However, when he passed I had to do some work to his house and when I went to get the permit I learned that there were open liens against the house still in his name. Had I not moved to repair the home it very well might have been stolen from me by these predators. This criminal nonsense has to be stopped. We are being treated as though even if we own our own homes outright that we are only renting it from the state; and, if we want to keep it we need to follow the states rules or they will take it away. How more anti-freedom and un-Democratic can you get?

Here is a direct link to the article I mentioned:

AARP Bulletin: Tax Lien Predators Are Targeting Older Americans

Chuck, how much detail do you want?! I think Gary's ideas have merit. This is a very different world from the one FDR lived in. The policies of yesteryear might not be as effective today. - AIW

Quote DHBranski:Any economic discussion that ignores US poverty is simply not a legitimate discussion.

DHBranski ~ How true! It really isn't, is it? In a poor country where there simply isn't enough wealth to go around poverty is one thing; however, in a country where people don't have enough to survive living next to grossly opulent wealth it is something quite different. Poverty is the main reason behind all of our preventable social ills. It is the driving factor behind our massive prison system, our domestic violence, our collective drug abuse problems, crime, and mental illness. Yet it is such an important issue in this country because it is so preventable. There is more than enough wealth here to put a roof over every head, to put a meal on every table, to treat every illness, and to educate every child. Are we all islands with no responsibility toward anyone other than ourselves? There is no need for anyone living in this country so suffer any of the painful consequences of poverty--save that of the opulent greed at the top which perfectly matches their opulent wealth.

Amen, Douglas! I hope I live to see a massive workers' revolt in this country. From fulltime jobs with no benefits that won't even pay a halfway livable wage to unpaid "apprenticeships" and free prison labor, we're looking at 21st Century slavery in America. When is enough, enough? - AIW

Quote Aliceinwonderland:I too noticed "higher" written where the word "hire" belongs in Thom's introductory post. I've more than a hunch such type-0s stem more from a harried schedule than any lack of writing skills. I can just see that man's fingers flying over the keyboard in a blur. We're talking about the author of more than twenty books, for chrissakes!!

Aliceinwonderland ~ You are so right; and, I apologize Thom. I'm in no place to correct you. I make more than my fair share of typos too; and, I don't even type fast enough to throw out my shoulder. I think I'm going to keep it that way.

AIW -- I remember back in the 60's there was an article in Look magazine that said why the US would never have a billionaire. I do not think we need a different tax structure than the one that existed before the Kennedy/Johnson tax cuts for the rich.