A letter from Rhino Times reader Miller Foster
Speaking of the cost of living, on top of the DSP Tax Extortion Agency, there are many other things where prices are moving into the unaffordable category.
One of the rackets is insurance for cars and homes. The main reason these keep going up is what the trade describes as “claims experience”. Sure, it is probable that many people game the system; but now the cost of maintaining our real estate and taxes on same, and the subsequent cost of repairing damaged houses and cars, are ballistic. Have a CV? Any collision that damages the battery requires battery replacement, or totaling the car. Your hot water heater bursts and floods the floor and the basement? Mucho dinero. Someone falls on your icy driveway? Better have LOTS of insurance for that.
So, all my insurance is due this month. I have good insurance, but they are pushing the envelope again for premiums. I checked Yo Olde consumer rating magazine to find their #1 rated is USAA (only for Vets). So I givum a call. Over 3 days, I spend 2 hours & 30″ talking to four people. Can’t get me signed in to their Machiavellian websites; conflicting information, three different quotes on my auto insurance (they only got it right when I gave them the quote from one phone call; and gave them the name and time; like they had it all the time but tried to get a higher price), and never got a quote on one item. Where I am now, it is one phone call to one person, and email or verbal information PFQ. So they think I am a machine. I told them (politely) what I think.
This is my opinion, based on my personal experience.
Miller Forester
As cost of cars goes up, the cost of repairs goes up, so goes the cost of the insurance to cover the repairs. Same with your home. Both Biden and Trump are falling into the same trap (I was guilty of this as well) that because macro economic numbers aren’t spelling doom that everything is ok. This is of course dead wrong. I advise you don’t believe the guy who told you he lowered drug prices by 1500%. He isn’t just out of touch, he is lying to you in hopes you are ignorant enough to believe him.
Best wishes.
Chris your TDS is so telling. This person’s letter had absolutely nothing to do with Trump. You are a sick little person
Yes Rebel, he’s a bitter, angry man with a nasty case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Awwww……the school yard bullies are grumpy that Trump is brought up in regard to how everything is getting more expensive under his leadership, including insurance? Poor boo boos
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After the Biden Administration, I wouldn’t bring up inflation if I were you, Chrissy.
happy to discuss how global inflation worked out as a result of covid in addition to inflated spending by both Biden and Trump. Let me know.
Also happy to talk about how Biden’s administration lowered inflation rates to level basically were they are today. Again, let me know. Happy to help you out.
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And I’ll be happy to correct you.
Is your thinking is Trump’s stimulus had no impact on inflation, but Biden’s did? Is your thinking that the massive disruption to global supply chains had no impact on prices? Did you not understand that under Biden’s leadership, inflation was brought back under control without tanking the economy into recession? Did you not realize that inflation spiked globally and was not just limited to US and therefore likely caused by a number of factors, many outside direct control of the US?
Which of those statements do you want to correct?
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Is your thinking that exploding the US money supply and Federal Govt. deficit spending will NOT result in inflation???
It certainly did….both Trump and Biden bloated response to Covid was absurd. The only financial aid should have gone to those that were job displaced versus dumping money on those that weren’t financially impacted by Covid.
You ARE aware that Trump had the single largest annual deficit versus Biden term? Trump’s deficit spending was 4.6% of GDP and Biden’s was 5.4%. Both had a major spending problem. Why do conservatives only see spending as a problem of democrats when Republicans have long outspent Democrats since Reagan?
Did you NOT see how I mentioned Trump and Biden’s stimulus? Weird.
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What a contradictory and nonsensical comment.
Your lack of self-awareness is cute.
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Not as cute as your mental health issues. And deep insecurities.
Spot on.
Poor, poor uninformed Chris. I am sorry that you TDS is so profound. You seem to forget that under sleepy ole joe, inflation was up to what…8%? You want to give ole sleepy credit for finally bringing HIS INFLATION rates down to a level that was close to what they were when PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP was in office. ole sleepy joe should not get credit for fixing a problem he created! ole sleepy and his ‘head in the sand’-or somewhere else-liberal cronies did was to put millions of people out of work; raise the price of eggs to about $8; raise the price of gas to about $8 or $9; jack up mortgage rates to their highest level in decades, opened the boarders so 10 to 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS (the legal federal terminology for these criminals) could invade our country and then require YOU to give them cash, free phones, free food, free medical care, free education, free housing and a free trip to the city of their choice which caused crime to rise in EVERY location they were sent and so much more. Hey remember when two busloads of criminal ILLEGAL ALIENS were sent to the sanctuary city of Martha’s Vineyard? Those rich liberal elite democrats deported those Criminal Illegal Aliens off the island in 48 hours. In Chicago, another sanctuary city, ILLEGAL ALIENS were sent to the suburbs because Chicago didn’t want any more. How about the reported $23 Billion the State of California has spent on their ILLEGAL ALIENS! How about the $9Billion that was stolen in the sanctuary state of Minnesota where Somali’s opened fake Lerning Centers for a population of non existent kids. BTW, those same Somali’s couldn’t even spell LEARNING on their signs.
It know it is tough for you to admit your TDS diagnosis. But when you pull your head out of the sand (or wherever it is), you will see that PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP IS EXACTING WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS AND AT THE EXACT TIME HE IS NEEDED! Conservatives and Republicans put up with ole sleep joe and his cabal of woke liberal dems while he was in office. Funny though, I don’t remember Republicans rioting in the streets, burning down buildings, assaulting law enforcement, invading churches and causing havoc. I wonder why ONLY dems do that. I guess they lack self control, a respect for law and order and the Constitution.
Oh well all you people with TDS, enjoy the next 3 years of PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP and the CONSERVATIVE, law abiding person who follows him knowing that person will follow the Constitution and KEEP MAKING AMERICA SAFE AND GREAT AGAIN!
First I appreciate your detailed response. You lose a lot of credibility with the sleepy Joe lable while ignoring drowsy Don. But he hypocrisy aside…..
You seem to ignore how the economy moves slowly and that both Trump and Biden’s over spending on covid relief added to the inflation along with global supply chains. Quick reminder for you….inflation was a global problem and the US (under the Biden administration) recovered faster than most other developed countries. Let me know if you require sources for these facts.
Price of eggs is a silly argument for either administration as that was not typical inflation as much as a biological crisis from bird flu which is not new. So let’s stay in the realm of real affordability issues and leave out these types of different issues that required a very different answer.
I share your frustration with Biden letting the border issue go unaddressed as long as he did. He should have known better than counting on conservatives to actually update the laws versus expecting him to ignore them (which he finally did) as Trump prefers. Conservatives should have passed the reform bill but Trump needed his boogeyman so they didn’t.
Hate to break it to you given you have been sucking on the propaganda hose for so long on immigration, but immigration (legal and illegal) actually adds to the economy overall. Sure it has costs up front and should have been better managed by Biden and Harris, but immigrants overall work hard and have a net positive to the economy overall. Let me know if you require a source for this fact. Oh, and they cause less crime than natural born citizens.
The 98 Billion was NOT stolen from sanctuary state by immigrants. Those daycares are owned by Americans who use cheap immigrant labor. But don’t let facts get in the way of your bigotry.
As for TDS, the real TDS is how conservative believe the continuous flow of lies and propaganda from Trump and his team. Tell me, how have your drug prices been since he lowered 1500%? And no, immigrants were never eating cats and dogs. No mass fraud has even been proven because it didn’t happen. Two weeks has been the forecast for a healthcare plan for close to a decade…..we still don’t have a plan. just a ‘concept’ of a plan. LMAO Conservatives are suckers for a cult.
Remember, the first sign you are in a cult is that they tell you everyone else is lying. And THAT is Trumps favorite false claim of all……his critics aren’t lying. He is…..
Best wishes Mr TDS Ken.
Thanks for your response Chris. I mentioned the price of eggs and gas because on his first day back in office in 2025, one STUPID reporter asked PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP when he was going to reduce the price of eggs. Someone else asked about gas. Did they really think that he could change things on his first day back in office?
While it was sad to see the nurse shot in Minneapolis, the media, liberal dems and governor Walz and mayor fry said he was murdered. Here’s a question for you. WHY WOULD ANYBODY BRING A LOADED GUN TO A ‘PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION’? Why didn’t this person comply with ICE or notify them he was carrying a LOADED GUN WITH 2 MAGAZINES OF AMMO, WHICH SOMEONE WITH A VALID GUN PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO DO WHEN ENCOUNTERING LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO WITH THE GUN? IF NOTHING, WHY BRING IT? WHY DID HE RESIST WHILE CARRYING A LOADED GUN? WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE AND SOMEONE YOU ARE DEALING WITH HAS A LOADED GUN AND THEN RESISTS ARREST? I bet you would protect your own life and act in self defense.
I am sorry to say it but the ONLY PERSON who is responsible for his death, is the nurse who brought a gun to a ‘peaceful protest’. WHAT DID HE THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHY DID HE THINK HE MIGHT NEED A GUN? The quick to blame ICE liberal news media was quick to call it murder before even considering these questions. Wait I know the answer. THEY DON’T CARE! THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT ANYTHING AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP! Chris, did YOU ask those questions or did you just believe the liberal media says?
Chris, why are ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIENS being peacefully deported from states like Texas, Florida, Missouri and other states where local and state law enforcement cooperates with ICE and CBP? The answer is part of the question. State and local enforcement cooperate with federal law enforcement enforcing federal laws. State and local law enforcement and governments have ZERO ability to disregard federal laws. This according to the US Supreme Count.
Just another point Chris. When Obama deported MILLIONS of ILLEGAL ALIENS, THERE WAS NO OUTCRY, NO DEMONSTRATIONS, NO ASSAULT OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. The liberal news media was totally silent. Why are sanctuary states and local communities protecting CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS? WHY DO THEY CALL THEM ‘OUR NEIGHBORS’ AND MUST BE PROTECTED. Their actions put the rights of ILLEGAL ALIENS above the rights of law abiding US citizens.
If this is what you and others want, I hope you and your family will always be safe and don’t have to deal with the consequence of the woke liberal democrats and the policies you and they support. Too bad others will suffer because you failed to know the truth and supported liberal democrat policies.
Where was the outrage of the 300,000 children that went missing during ole sleepy joe was in office? Where was the outrage of the constant and repeated rape of women and the human trafficking and forced labor of children when ole sleepy joe and kamala were in office?
Answer: the liberal mass media and the woke liberal democrats lied every single day saying ‘nothing to see here’, the border is secure. WHAT A CROCK OF COW PIES!
Chris, if you think you don’t have TDS, I suggest that you seek professional counseling OR start reading conservative news media and comparing the TRUTH with the news reports in liberal news outlets.
To be fair Trump said, ‘day 1 I will reduce prices’. Just like he said, ‘day 1 I will end the war in Ukraine’. Only fools believed either of those statements but I support a reporter tossing those back in his face.
I agree it is careless to bring a loaded gun to a protest. The challenge here again is hypocrisy. Conservatives put Rittenhouse on a hero’s parade not just for bringing a gun to a protest (which is protected by the 2nd amendment), but he brandished a gun at a protest and killed someone which has a very different implication than just having a gun.
The woman that was killed was also borderline murder as she was not even a part of the protest and was smiling saying she was pulling out….no anger, no violence, no resistance (she was given counter commands by two different officers), just a mom trying to go home or work. No, she clearly wasn’t trying to run over anyone. Happy to debate more but doubt it will do any good given the willingness to be openly hypocritical by conservatives.
The immigrants in FL, TX etc… are being treated just as poorly as in Minneapolis. It’s just that people in FL, TX, etc… don’t care that the rule of law is being ignored given their bigotry against immigrants of color. So no protests, filming of legal immigrants being harassed, etc… Last I checked, the right to protest was one of the things that made America great.
Obama followed rule of law in his handling of immigrants who crossed the border illegally. Most of his deportations were those stopped or captured at the border, not hard-working people who have been working and paying taxes for years. No comparison.
Liberals weren’t happy about the volume of immigrants crossing the border illegally. THAT is why they co-sponsored a bill to close the loopholes in the current system so rule of law didn’t have to be ignored to stop the flow. Trump had conservatives cancel the bill so he could have his boogeyman. If you really want a secure border, change the laws by closing the asylum loophole, streamline the court processes to hear asylum cases faster (over 90% of denied by the way), and make harsher penalties for employers that hire undocumented immigrants. Until conservatives do THAT, I don’t believe you really care about illegal immigration (FYI fixing law is congresses JOB). THAT isn’t being woke…..that is being willing to tackle the source of the problem versus just spewing hate-based lies and propaganda about desperate people doing desperate things to survive and make a better life for their families. (reminder, most undocumented immigrants are hard working people who pay taxes and receive little to no federal benefits – they don’t commit more crimes, they don’t sit around collecting federal benefits, and they are a net positive to the economy….those are facts)
I have never lived in fear of immigrants. All the Hispanic people I have met and worked with over there years on various farms and skilled trades have been solid people. Given where I live (rural community) I fear angry men who have a chip on their shoulder, carry firearms wherever they go looking for a fight especially if they are poor and desperate as they are the ones willing to do anything to get their next drug fix, or just survive. Never met an immigrant that fits that definition….not that they don’t exist Mostly those types of people are Americans suffering from a declining US economy that has been more and more bought up by the very elite few who have all of the politicians in their pockets to do their bidding and protect their taking advantage of the working class.
No idea where you are getting this rhetoric about raping of women in sex trafficing as a result of immigration policy etc…. as that is not unique to Democrats or Republicans and has little to nothing to do with illegal immigration unless you have source to shows that link. If anything, the closing of the US border during COVID greatly increased the targeting of desperate refugees on the other side of the US/Mexico border. Help me understand how Trump’s policies are helping shut down these awful practices? happy to discuss as this is a new one I haven’t heard before and happy to search the topic and bring facts to the table if you go first.
I don’t have TDS. I just believe that facts, honesty and integrity should be keystones of any presidency and Drowsy Don lacks all of these as he destroys all that used to make America great. Heck, he is the sitting president at least. You are the one still bringing up sleepy Joe and Obama. Again, the real TDS are all those believe his lies (1500% reduction in drug prices, immigrants are eating cats and dogs, mass fraud stealing the election of 202 form him, affordability isn’t an issue, etc….). Look in the mirror…you are the one being conned as you clearly have TDS to believe anything Dopey Don has said and don’t see how his actions are hurting America’s standing in the world.
FYI, it was conservative ‘news’ that had to pay 100s of millions in fines for lying to the American people. Maybe you should check out more liberal media sources like the New York Times that has real journalists and stop watching ANY cable news network.
Best wishes. Thanks for the dialog.
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Chris wants more of the Bananas and Rice Brigade (average IQ 68) to defraud us of billions while establishing fraudulent “Leaning Centers” !
Leaning Center?
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Once again, our Village Idiot fails to understand the reference. It’s not tiresome to be an ignoramus, but it IS tiresome to display it publicly ad nauseam.
Never have heard of a ‘leaning center’. If you don’t want to share, which is typical of bullies, I really don’t mind. Can’t say your thoughts are of much value anyway.
Best wishes.
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Insurance is just legalized gambling. Every year I bet $1000 that my house will burn down in the next 12 months. Every year, I lose (thank God).
When my wife became pregnant with our first child, I wagered that I’d die in the next 20 years. I lost that bet too (thank God).
“Insurance professionals” might not care to be compared to bookies – but that’s what they are.
But boy you are happy you bet the 1000 if you house does burn down and you receive several 100 thousand dollars to rebuild. And boy are you really really unhappy if you didn’t make the bet and your house burned down.
Weird you think your housing not burning down is losing. You are a rather negative person so I get it.
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What… ???
You’re a mental case who just wants to argue about everything.
I can type slower if you need help understanding how insurance works and how people hate it until they need. Maybe if i use crayons. Would that help?
– Hey, you already insulted my intelligence just last week, buddy.
How’d that work out for you?
Oh yeah, it turned out that YOU were the stupid one in math, right?
– And now you’re at it again, spewing your childish insults.
You’re pathetic.
Rude, ignorant, arrogant, spiteful, stupid, and nasty. And childish, very childish.
I give as I receive.
Cheers.
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Ha, ha, ha, ha…… !
Moron.
You start throwing [deleted] and then claim childish innocence when you get it back – and get humiliated. You’re a sorry little nobody.
Did you really try the school yard argument of ‘you started it’? Too funny.
Happy New Year
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But you did start the mud slinging, didn’t you?
As you always do.
Nope. Just posted a comment that questioned your rationale about insurance being legalized gambling. You tossed in the childish name calling as usual. If receiving criticism is mudslinging, maybe you should stay off public comments sections of news sites.
Best wishes.
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LIAR ! LIAR!
It’s right here in black & white.
Chris, Jan 12th, 6.20pm : “I can type slower if you need help understanding..” “Maybe if I use crayons”…. If that isn’t a childish personal ad hominem attack, what is?
Basically, you like dishing it out but whine about receiving “childish insults” when the rudeness is returned.
You are a hypocrite, in addition to being a toxic personality. Oh, and just plain wrong. You don’t even have the class to apologize to someone you called stupid, when it turns out they have the superior intellect.
I looked up “wanker”. You’re a perfect example of one.
And what did you call me before that comment? Your lack of self awareness cracks me up.
Be well
Chris, I’ll say it… you yap and yap and whine and cry like a typical libtard about how people call you names and blah blah blah WHAAAA! Then you say disrespectful things when anyone engages in dialogue with you but disagrees with the nonsense you believe because you do absolutely unequivocally have Trump Derangement Syndrome.. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You are a dumbass!
I would say that stupid thing you say, “but you be you” Ugh! Who the hell else would I be? I hope you will become someone with a functional brain because obviously yours was washed thoroughly at college. Okay… middle school. I mean you are rather juvenile. Nutcase!
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Never mind insurance being a racket, how about Piedmont Natural Gas? My bill for December was $246. A year earlier, my bill for December 2024 was $172. The year before that, my bill for December 2023 was $157. And the year before that, my bill for December 2022 was $139.
So in only three years (Dec/22 to Dec/25) my gas heat bill has been increased BY SEVENTY-SEVEN PER CENT, jumping up every year.
What the Hell is behind this?
At least you can cancel your insurance. You can’t cancel PNG, unless you want to freeze and do without hot water.
Austin you do know that PNG is now owned by Duke Energy. That explains a lot. Nothing like a monopoly
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Yeah, Duke knows they have us over a barrel. They nail us with a/c in the Summer, and gas heat in the Winter.
They get us coming and going.
My A/C bill last Summer was so outrageous I agreed to let them do an “energy audit” on my house. After the guy had been here ten minutes it became clear to me that the purpose of these audits was to blame ME for the extortionate bills. “Oh, you need better insulation! And windows! And do you really need your thermostat so low?” It was just a CYA exercise by Duke Energy whereby they try to present themselves as blameless – and blame the customer for their extortionate charges.
You’re right Rebel. This is a monopolistic shake down of the people of North Carolina.
Austin go back in history and see what “our government” did to
J.D. Rockefeller and ma Bell when they were accused of being a monopoly. There were members in congress in both cases that were jealous of those companies success
Maybe it will happen again
Prices are up due to US exporting more natural gas than ever with the new export terminals that were recently built. By exporting more gas, the US domestic market is now more closely linked to higher international prices….less gas for domestic markets means higher prices for US customers.
Those were built under Biden weren’t they chris
They were approved under Trump’s first term.
This week, we get a teensy insert from nuestros amigos @DUKENATION. A dinky sneaky C-F about a notice of public hearings. If anyone can translate this Tower of Babel, I’d like to know.
Anything about the giant future demand for electricity for AI Farms?
Es verdad.
Did you read the little insert in your gas bill last year? Homeowners getting soaked 13%+.
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No, I missed that Miller. They probably stuffed that notice in with the other bumf they include with the bills, hoping we wouldn’t notice – and I didn’t.
At 13% annually, our bills will DOUBLE every five and a half years.
This is a rip-off.
72 is handy….
One option us to buy Duke stock (DUK), or the preferred version (DUKB).
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OFFS…. it’s getting worse. I opened my Duke Energy bill this afternoon, reckoning it would be less that the gas bill, as it normally is in the winter (we have gas heat, but a heat pump for upstairs).
$289. $289. So my combined cost for heat and light and hot water in December was
$535.
Five Hundred and Thirty-Five Dollars. Is it just me, or is that just way too high for a 2550 square feet house, new in 2004?
USAA has played off many American workers and hired many foreign workers under the H-1B visa program. Many veterans have stopped using USAA because of that policy
Almost all of the US insurance companies have offshored their IT operations. As a guy that works in tech within the insurance industry, I know. It really does come from the cost pressures from increasing claims in the P&C space and the competitive pricing and interest rate challenges in the life insurance space.
So Chris why didn’t Biden stop those terminals in his 4 years. Oh sorry my bad. Someone else had the auto- pen.
Unlike Trump, Biden must not have believed the government should back out on deals already approved with private businesses and cost those private businesses 100s of millions in losses because he ‘personally’ doesn’t like something. You know, like an authoritarian.
Here’s another one for you. When Avian flu hit early last year, the wholesale price of eggs were over $9/dz, (nationally) by March. Not as bad here.
Now that the flocks have been restored, and the Holiday cooking is done; today, the wholesale price of eggs is $.33/dz. That’s right, less than 3c each. How much of that do you see in the stores?
Another huge decline is the price of potatoes. See much of that either? Big Wally wraps up a russet potato in shrink wrap for your microwave, priced each around $1, amounts to well over $2/lb. Is that predatory or what? Who is dumb enough to buy one of these?
For a long time now, WallyWorld is not THE place to shop. When you go there, it’s like going hunting, except we are the ones being hunted. AND, they practice surveillance pricing (don’t take you phone in, avoid cameras as you enter – really). Big Wally is Watching you.
I feel better now.
Much the same happened when supply chains were disrupted and prices spiked. Once supply chains were restored, there was little incentive for businesses to lower prices to pre-covid levels.
I don’t support Trump’s attempt to unilaterally cap prices by executive order, such as his attempt to CAP interest rates on credit cards at 10%. That is just too far authoritarian for my taste. Odd how conservatives are more upset as his authoritarian moves lately.
You are right. Price controls do not work.
But you were okay with Biden leaving the border open and allowing millions of ILLEGALS come into our country
Moron
No, I strongly believed Biden should have done more to stem to flow of immigrants sooner than he did. He made the mistake of wanting to change the actual laws that allow things like the asylum loophole. Bit silly of him to think conservatives would actually fix the system that creates their boogeyman.
Your Biden Derangement Syndrome is showing again Rebel. Unlike the MAGA crowd, I don’t blindly support everything done by the guy I voted for….heck, I have been very open that I was not a fan of Biden. He was just a better alternative that Trump.
Best wishes
Chris, the really sad or rather pitiful thing is you believe Joe was pulling the strings on anything when anyone with half a functioning brain knows Joe just wandered around aimlessly with an earpiece in his ear thinking God was telling him what to do eating oatmeal and ice cream while the Kenyan dreamer was burning down the country.
As if Drosey Don litterly nodded off on live television. LMAO. Cute you think he is the one really in charge. LMAO.
Oh so Chris it’s like the millions that Joe and hunter took from the overseas interest. Is that what you’re talking about. Just take what you’re holding someone hostage for and don’t step on toes
I never saw any actual evidence of Biden taking bribes (just conspiracy theories given the investigations never found any actual evidence) unlike Trump who is openly taking in billions (see his ‘library’s Jet, crypto scams, and business deals his firm ‘won’ in the middle East). I was never a fan of the kinda of things Hunter was doing but they pale in comparison to Trumps kids raking in billions. Funny THAT doesn’t upset MAGA crowd that go so upset over Hunter selling low quality paintings for 20k each. But hypocrisy is kinda a conservative norm.
Best wishes.
Chris I never really thought much about Hunter’s paintings or who bought them but as
P. T. Barnum once said. “A fool and his money are soon parted”.
True that! Same with the fools that bought into Trump’s crypto scam. But THAT scam earned Drowsy Don $10s of millions.
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Hunter’s sudden interest in painting (which has disappeared since his Dad’s no longer in the White House) was obvious corruption. They’re so shameless in their venality that they don’t even try to hide that they’re selling access and influence peddling.
Democrats are bent.
Strongly agree. Same with the crypto by Trump. One earned the President’s family member a few thousand dollars and the other earned billions. Funny conservatives don’t care about conservative corruption but get so bent out of shape if someone on the left abuses the system.
Just to let you know Auto Insurance rates are based on claims paid in designated territories within North Carolina. Due to our local law enforcement agencies failure to enforce traffic laws, the many crashes, physical damages, injuries, and fatalities insurance in Guilford County will continue to escalate. You can thank the lack of leadership in Greensboro and Guilford County for this! Your local Greensboro Police Department quit effectively enforcing traffic law in Greensboro over 8 years ago. Now you must pay the penalty for their dereliction of duty. If these crashes and claims get much worse admitted insurance companies will pull out of NC and then you will see a enormous increase in rates. This is what has happened in Florida as you must now buy your home and auto insurance via excess carriers.
Fact Check:
reports from early 2025 suggest a roughly 29.8% reduction in total collisions in NC compared to previous years. (sourced http://www.carriermanagement.com)
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Parkdale Mills in the small community of Walnut Cove has announced that it is closing down, with the loss of 72 local jobs.
It cited “the ever increasing cost of energy” for its inability to continue in business (as reported by WFMY).
The surge in the cost of energy will bankrupt many thousands of businesses, in addition to hurting millions of consumers.
But hey, somebody’s got to pay for those ridiculous fields full of solar panels, don’t they? C’mon Mr President, bring back cheap clean coal power stations and Drill, Baby Drill!
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Sorry for hijacking your letter about insurance Miller, but I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about the cost of energy. The UK has almost the highest cost for energy in the World and it has wiped out the country’s industrial base. Nothing’s manufactured in Britain any more. In the coming years Americans will be shocked at how far down Britain has gone.
Energy is used by everyone, every business, and every factory, so it has a huge multiplier effect – for good or bad. Low energy costs are very beneficial economically, and high energy costs very bad.
This Administration needs to undo the damage of the Democrats, permit oil & gas drilling, build new nuclear and clean coal power stations, and reduce the red tape burden.
Solar is cheaper than natural gas right now.
https://www.arka360.com/ros/why-solar-is-cheapest-electricity-source-for-utilities?hl=en-US#:~:text=To%20understand%20solar%20power%20economics,solar%20power%20economics%20extremely%20attractive.
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FACT CHECK : 72 much needed local jobs lost as textile mill cites “ever increasing cost of energy” for closure.
Try to dispute that, Chris.
Austin you are correct about energy costs. Continuing to go up every year. Doesn’t help when all the fees and taxes are piled on. All the new data centers are also helping drive up costs. Just watched a Duke spokesman explain the new fee we about to start paying for storm repairs it’s between $4-5 per month for all customers. Since Duke is the only local option not much to do but bitch about it.
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First off Rebel, let’s remember that today is the birthday of General Lee. The more I read about him, the more humble and incomparable I feel. He was a gentleman and a hero. And a patriot to his country – Virginia.
Secondly, I acknowledge that we feel impotent individually, but if we unite we can effect change. Those who would drag down this republic for their own selfishness vote en bloc.
If we are to save this great nation from the fate that has befallen Europe, we too must coalesce and vote as one, in unity, to save America.
Or we are lost.
Natural gas cost are up as Trump destroys lower cost and cleaner options such as solar and wind. Reap what you sow.
Austin the honorable General Robert E. Lee I smiling upon us for your kind words. At the bar I spoke of earlier, we gather for a celebration on this day for General Lee. We’ve been doing this well over 20 years. We celebrate another day in April. Always a great time. For my friends and I there is no reason for the South to rise again. It never went down just in pause mode. Thank for all your insight and inspiration Austin
Only a conservative would call someone who fought for the right to brutalize other humans for profit and greed honorable. Not to mention Lee’s role in trying to break up one the greatest countries in world history so he could personally profit from the suffering of human beings. He was a great war time leader who fought for the wrong side for dishonorable reasons. Nothing more, nothing less.
Not surprised people like Austin and Rebel are fans. THAT adds up.
You don’t know what you’re talking about, buddy.
As usual.
$525 monthly utility bills for 2500sqf is what it is. I wash my own cars, and have plants to water. But I save on car washes. You can probably reduce your expense by cutting back on a lot of things, like long showers, running the water constantly while using the sink, checking for energy leaks, etc. I had some insulation hanging around, so I stuffed all the electrical plug cavities, and in little openings in the enclosed basement. Now, I have a well, but it requires electricity to pump, and maintenance.
The underside of my house needs more insulation.
I’ve thot about solar panels on the roof, but I’ll never recoup my cost in our remaining years.
For the few who have (had) enough for retirement, they no longer have. Imagine a home you struggled to pay for, and have something for another 10-15 years; now you don’t. Growing utilities, taxes, inflation destroys it PfQ. The only solution is just to die. All of this due to our Federal, State, and local Governments.
I grew up in our greatest period of prosperity, ever. Anyone with a HS education and something on the ball could make it, and make it well. I was lucky to be here.
Al as usual you are correct Chris is nothing more than a self centered wankered. Enough said. Have a peaceful day sir.
Maybe, just maybe….Rebel and Al are both anti-patriotist’s who believe a divided America is a better idea than a United States all while claiming it is Democrats who are destroying America when Liberals are actually trying to keep it a country that values us as a collective group of diverse individuals.
Yup. Got it. Conservative true colors showing today….and they aren’t Red White and Blue.
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I’m not surprised that you invoke collectivism. You are a faint hearted communist who’s afraid to admit his deep desires.
All liberals are closet Marxists; that’s where their creed came from.
More hollow trolling by a conservative. Yawn.
And no, liberals do NOT believe in state owned industry. Trump seems to be more interesting in government owning share of private businesses. Just more projection from a person who would rather have a divided United States than a unified country that values the diversity that made it one of the greatest nations in the world before Trump made us the embarrassment of the world.
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This guy Chris uses a M.O. that involves deliberately mis-stating what other people said, and then attacking that misrepresented position. It’s a fallacy that’s called a Straw Man Argument – because no actual man or person ever made that argument.
So he says I wish for “a divided United States” because I believe in the right of secession.
I can visualize a peaceful, united North America consisting of three countries just as easily as two. He can’t, partly because he is a prisoner of liberal Group Think, and partly because his pedestrian intellect is incapable of escaping its limitations.
To get right down to it, this guy gets his rocks off by putting down other people, and making himself feel superior. That’s why he engages here, ad nauseam.
He’s desperately trying to tamp down his insecurities and fears, like a child who can’t stop sucking his thumb.
This is Al’s exact quote “Why shouldn’t we be two separate countries?”
Typical conservative won’t stand by his own words when tossed back at him….. Not shocked.
I DID stand by my comments. “North America consisting of three countries” means the two current one plus the CSA, dumb ass.
In the comment you reference I was clearly referring only to the USA.
How long have you had a reading comprehension problem? Or is it part of the mental health issues you’ve admitted to?
LMAO, Al thinks breaking up the United States into two separate countries is ok…..IE, he is ok with destroying America. And he wants you to think he is a patriot. What a loser. I prefer my patriots believe in the United States of America versus some fantasy about the Confederate States of America being it’s own country because they don’t deliver in diversity.
I stand by my statement that you AL are the one that wants to destroy America (by breaking it up into separate countries). Your lack of ability to understand that by breaking the country into two separate countries is destroying the country cracks me up. not shocked, however. LOL
Just remember that any time a conservative accuses liberals of something, it is really just projection. People like Al run around telling you that liberals want to destroy America but never give any specifics then turn around and tell you they think we would be better off as two separate countries as if that wouldn’t destroy America and all that makes it Great.
But you be you.
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But seceding from a political entity is not the same as destruction of that entity, is it?
Were the 13 American Colonies “destroyed” when they seceded from the British Empire? Was Bangladesh destroyed when it seceded from Pakistan?
Or were these countries in fact set free, as the Southern States would have been ?
Yes, if 13 states were allowed to leave the United States, we would be nothing compared to what we are today. So yes, it would have destroyed all that makes America great. Only a conservative would be so blind in their hate and bigotry to not see that splitting up the United States is the destruction of the United States.
But you be you. Just don’t call yourself a patriot.
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What bullsh*t.
And I don’t need your permission to call myself a patriot, you mincing little prick.
Just a note. Any time you claim democrats want to destroy America or that you are some kind of America loving patriot, I will remind all that you believe that the United States should be destroyed and replaced by two separate countries.
Best Wishes.
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That’s because you don’t have a life, and you’re a pitiful anal retentive little loser.
Oh, and you won’t be irritating me, you’ll be entertaining me, and everyone else!
Says the guy who literal wants to destroy American by making two separate countries and thinking he is a patriot…..NOW that kind of silliness is entertainment. Like a clown at the circus. LMAO
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No, I have never said that I want to destroy America (and I never would).
But you like to mis-represent what your opponents say, so you can make them look evil.
In truth, YOU are the deceptive and deceitful debater. You deliberately put heinous words in other people’s mouths, so you can convince yourself that you have “won” the debate.
Pathetic.
To clear since you are daft on this topic……If you split the United States into two countries, you HAVE destroyed the United States. It no longer exists. Two new countries exist….not just one dummy. So yes, you are promoting the idea of destroying America. Just because you are too daft to understand that given your blindness from hate and bigotry doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
That is as stupid as Austin claiming he isn’t racist because he believes his racist ideas to be true…..
Best Wishes
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WRONG !
If the Confederate States had succeeded in seceding, the United States of America would still exist – along with the Confederate States of America.
Neither would be “destroyed”.
If you can’t understand this, you must be very simple minded.
And don’t accuse me of “being blinded by hate and bigotry”. It doesn’t even make sense. Your smears and insults are so fake and false that no-one takes them seriously.
It’s just Chris attacking commenters with gratuitous ad hominem personal attacks again….
Only Al could dream up the idea that the UNITED States still exist if it is no longer UNITED with the southern states. What a goof.
Best wishes
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Except that it would be true if the Confederacy had won.
Yes and it would have destroyed what is today the United States of America.
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No, the United States would have been the Northern states, and the Confederate states would have been the Southern states.
Everyone can see this except you, because you always refuse to accept that you are wrong.
It’s an unattractive personality defect that derives from your admitted mental health problems.
Seek help.
A Southern secession would profoundly dismantle the United States, causing catastrophic economic, geopolitical, and social destruction rather than a simple separation. The removal of key states would shatter national supply chains, remove major military assets, and trigger an immediate global crisis, effectively ending the U.S. as any kind of Global influence.
Economic Ruin: The South acts as a major hub for energy production, logistics, agriculture, and manufacturing. Losing this region would sever essential supply lines, particularly via the Mississippi River, which is vital for transporting goods.
Geopolitical Chaos: A new, independent nation bordering the U.S. could ally with foreign rivals, creating a massive security crisis similar to, but far larger than, the historical “Cuba” issue. The U.S. would lose significant maritime access and military infrastructure.
Democratic Breakdown: Historically and constitutionally, secession is viewed as a destruction of the “democratic experiment,” proving that a government of the people could not hold itself together.
Internal Upheaval: Severe long-term stability issues for both sides with high likelihood of ongoing waring over borders draining each sides’ economy and further weakening of the two country’s global influence.
So yup. Destruction. Clear and simple. Al wants to destroy the United States by un-uniting the United States. Not shocked. Conservative ignorance is kinda the norm these days sadly.
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Here you have the deranged imaginings of a man who’s mentally ill (and who has previously admitted to it).
Bless your heart, Chris.
I never admitted to mental illness. I made a passing joke that only a schoolyard bully like you would harp on as something to make fun of someone for in your little angry world where bullies are the good guys.
Only a POS such as yourself would actually make fun of someone for ADHD as if they were mentally disabled. Takes a real POS to make fun someone of something that over 22 million Americans suffer from daily.
But you be you.
Careful Chrissy – your anger and “hate” are showing.
Maybe it’s part of your mental health issues.
And ADHD IS a mental health issue. And you admitted to suffering from it.
BOTH those statements are factually correct – as you know.
Right, buddy?
So in short, you’re nuts.
I have never been diagnosed with ADHD. THAT is a fact. Besides that point, your doubling down on making fun of people who do have ADHD just shows what a juvenile pig of human being you really are…..
But then again you support a man as President who made fun of a disabled American journalist on a national stage so you are just another pig jumping in the mud that this administration has made of America.
But you be you.
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I didn’t say you had been diagnosed with it; I said you had admitted to suffering from it, you sly slippery bastard.
And that’s true – isn’t it?
My God, you are a twister of words.
You really think biden was a better choice than Trump. Man you got a lot to learn.
Drowsy Donny is an embarrassment that has done more the alienate the US from its allies while strengthening both China and Russia (our enemies). Not to mention his destruction of advanced education, scientific research, and public health because he would rather believe in conspiracy theories than science. Toss in his awful handling of the economy where he has no solution for addressing affordability issues that continue to grow every day. Oh, let’s not forget bankrupting small farmers and rural hospitals. All this in his first year. And that isn’t even half of the stupid policies he has implemented to destroy all that used to make America Great.
So yeah, a rotting board with a face drawn on it would be a better president that Trump.
Hope that helps.
Boys, oh boys, regarding the topic of insurance coverage being a scam. It isn’t. Major insurance companies are businesses that offer a service. You could self-insure if you had the time to do so, by putting away $1200-1500 a year in an account for your house, another for your auto, another for your healthcare, and another for an umbrella policy, then didn’t touch those accounts, ever, unless you needed to make a claim. Then you could hope that you didn’t need to claim until you had enough saved to cover whatever loss you suffered.
Or you could get a policy from a company that gives immediate coverage, use it wisely (have the highest deductible you can afford, which is more than you think; don’t make frivolous claims; re-evaluate coverage frequently; bundle coverage), and have an umbrella policy that covers up to a million dollars in case someone sues you (it’s not expensive and people today are nuts).
Insurance costs rise as the cost of materials increases, as replacement costs increase, as the cost of items being covered increases, as medical costs increase, and as the number of claims increases.
My mom was injured in an accident at my sister’s house, resulting in her being a quadriplegic. Family members who are hurt or killed in your home are not covered by homeowner’s insurance. Mom’s Kaiser Plan paid medical expenses, but everything else had to be covered privately.
An umbrella policy would have helped pay for those expenses, so we now have one in case someone slips and gets hurt at our home or is injured beyond the limits of our auto insurance. We know the added worry of medical expenses while dealing with a catastrophic injury or illness. We’ve had friends and family who have lost their homes to fire and hurricanes, so we understand the need for flood, fire, and storm damage by a company that handles claims promptly and honestly. We know the government assistance doesn’t offer much help.
Insurance is something you pay for and hope you don’t need. But when you do need it, it is worth what you paid for it. It often allows you to keep your home while paying for costs you normally wouldn’t be able to afford. Mom’s accident cost us financially, making things tough for our whole family. But her medical insurance paid for more than we expected, making the other expenses something we could figure out as a family. My parents also had a longterm care insurance policy that allowed them to have in-home care for mom for 14 years, which was an added benefit most people don’t have, and helped keep her healthy longer than expected.
Stop with the Republican v Democrat, Trump v Biden arguing all the time. The economy sucks. The financial situation for everyone is really hard. Caring for family with chronic illness or injury is catrastrophic and no one is addressing the issue and how to solve it reasonably. No one is discussing the cost of medical insurance, the problems of overwhelmed medical systems, not enough doctors, uneducated medical students, how AI is going to hurt our medical care, the lack of specialists, how universal health care will hurt the quality of medical care in our country, why private health care is better, why insurance companies used to be better than they are now, or why keeping the government out of our health care and insurance is important. No one discusses the important issues when all you do is fight with each other about Biden and Trump, Trump and Biden. Get over them and discuss the policy of where we should be in 20 or 30 years. This is about our grandkids. We’re leaving them a mess is we don’t figure things out soon.
I agree with you on P&C and Life insurance (also commercial risk insurance) but health insurance has a much deeper issue that makes feel like a scam (or at least highly misdirected). Health insurance is not about protecting your health as much as it is about funding procedures by doctors. The distinction is subtle but the implications are significant as it allows the insurer to get involved in determining if the procedure is required (ie justified financially) and the doctor to sees procedures as income versus both looking at patient health outcomes as the measure of success.
My 2 cents
Great essay! Problem is still the cost of it all. If we all had the insurance we need, many of us would have little left to live on. Personally, even with reduced property taxes in Randolph, there are still utilities, insurance, medical, maintenance, FOOD, transportation, etc. etc. Two SS checks don’t fly, you need more than that. AND, even more every year. It would be a real problem to buy a new car.
For insurance on home and auto I’ve been very happy with the prices from State Farm. Contact John Klopp’s Greensboro office for a fair quote. I’ve actually had premiums drop for auto this past year. He has an honest reasonable approach to quotes.
With P&C it pays to switch every three years as most carriers offer a discount for new clients.
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I’ve been with State Farm since the had the cheapest premiums for a young guy buying a new “Five – Oh” Foxbody Mustang in 1990. They’ve done well out of me because they didn’t want to screw a young guy who wanted a muscle car.
I’ve been with them ever since, never made a claim, and I trust their professionalism and customer service.
I reckon loyalty counts for more than saving a few bucks by switching carriers every few years. And their last Homeowners bill was less than all the other offers that arrived in the mail.
It’s a personal choice for sure. I prefer lower premiums as I don’t require much if any service on my policies and the claims are contractual so not really about loyality….they will only ever pay what they are required by the contract to pay.
Best wishes.
(notice I didn’t make fun of your little typo……just sayin)
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The omission of the “Y” was a genuine typo, not an excuse for functional illiteracy.
I disagree about loyalty. I have no loyalty to any insurance company. The reason is that what you pay for this year, is for this year only (not previous years). If you have some claim(s) this year, your rates will go up until they recoup what they paid out – at a minimum. That’s they way it works.
My experience is that if you can afford the loss, you don’t need to buy insurance for the risk. For a simple example, in over 60 years of driving, I have never needed to replace my windshield. Imagine buying windshield insurance for 60 years. Sure, I might need a windshield tomorrow, but at FAR less cost than what I paid for insurance for 60 years.
Ladies Ladies, y’all are both {deleted].
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O. U. R. MAD.
PS
Have y’all noticed that the Communist NYC Mayor’s name (Mamdani) is an anagram of “I madman” …?
Classic conservative fear mongering to call a democrat a communist. Tell us again which policy he has proposed that fits the definition of communism. Which private businesses (forms of production) does he want to take over?
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Take a deep breath, buddy. I’m just playing with letters and names. I often notice patterns and curious situations in languages. For example, did you know that the Latin word for left is sinister?
Ha, ha, ha…. That should get your panties in a wad.
Oh, and the famous liberal commenter Bill Maher said that Mamdani is a “straight up communist” just this week.
Why don’t you get over yourself, have a beer, shut up, and give us all a break for a week?
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Noticed you were not able to answer the question. Not shocked.
No different than you calling President Donald Trump and Republicans the names you do, calling Austin a racist or calling Rebel a pickup driving beer swilling redneck That’s just to name a few that come to mind
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Thanks, Will. This guy also likes calling us haters, bigots, ignorant, anti-science, and just plain stupid (“Shall I type slower for you?”).
He’s charming, isn’t he?
What names do I call Conservatives without basis? Hypocrites is one of my favorites. How many examples do you want?
Esra Knits, he isn’t taken over grocery stores. You clearly read the new blinded by political bias. He is suggesting opening stores in lower income communities where private businesses have not been willing to make the capital investment for fear of lower returns. I am not sure of your Bus reference as many urban centers have public transportation in the form of buses. While there are some private bus services in NYC, the mayor is NOT proposing taking them over, but IS proposing making the existing public bus services free.
Have any examples you have bothered to actually understand the proposals?
I am happy to defend calling Austin a racist and conservatives hypocrites. Notice how he was unable to defend calling the mayor a communist. It was a simple question. Name a single policy that justifies calling the mayor of NYC a communist. Let me know if you have questions regarding the justification of names (I prefer to call them labels) I use for anyone. Happy to discuss in great detail if interested.
Best Wishes
Buses & grocery stores just for a start.
Elaine, this thing is getting old. Take this down and post some more letters.
Miller
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Poor Scott has to wait to receive some letters before he can put them up. But don’t worry Miller, I have a feeling that a brilliantly insightful missive about COVID could appear any day now… !
The anti-science nutter is back at work! Don’t worry, I have my pencil sharpened to point out the flaws in your misinformation and biased take on Covid. It is my public service! LOL
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Oh thank you O Great One ! What would we all do without your “insight”.
We are so grateful for your… “Public Service”.
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You really think you’re doing us all a favour, don’t you? Is that why you are are celebrated and popular here?
Chrissy is a wanker, big time.