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Ask Politely #37

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Applied for a loan lately?

Had the courage to look at your 401K?

Do you think you’ll soon need to choose between gas in your car or food in your belly?

The financial meltdown and its effects on the economy are making some people jittery and some people hysterical. But has it affected you personally yet? Do you expect it to? Smile Politely wants to know.


6 comments

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Sam

#1

My 401k has seen better days.  I got a raise, but it’s less than cost of living.  At least I have a job.

—sam

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JoeFun

#2

My 401k is at -42% for year to date return. Eff the Dow Jones. Hes a dick anyway….

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ad

#3

Having lived cheap,raised poor, paid off the house, saved for a car and bought it with cash, and countless other methods it has not affected me much, yet beyond…
how do you spell it ...Shadenfreuden?

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elle

#4

I still don’t have a credit card! Yayy!

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jjj

#5

what is a 401k?

Seriously, now.

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ad

#6

If McCain gets into power, I believe he will be setting a new target on employees in the educational sector. He mentioned using the two year schools in his program. The two year school have long been abandoned by unions and the University community.  Part time, no health insurance may become the norm across the country unless some effort is taken to be involved in the two year school system. 
Imagine high school losing 1/2 of their students overnight to trade school programs, or four year school losing 3/4 of their freshman, their big money makers.
I believe in trade schools and the two year system, college is not for everyone, but not just as a tactic to break unions.
Besides even if Obama gets in, the same thing has to happen, but its how it happens.

Most Recent Opinion Comments

isaac arms avatar

hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.

{username}

Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.

{username}

Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.

isaac arms avatar

funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.

{username}

And that, my friend, is love. Bob, I think I still owe you for my wedding cake, served in 1998. But nevermind.

{username}

I believe the kiss between Rob and I was documented on low-quality videotape in the mid-ninties porn classic, Dirty Harry…and Sticky.

Tracy Nectoux avatar

“Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered ‘in.’” You’re in!

{username}

Got damn, Coulter. You are the greatest.

Rob McColley avatar

I have no specific memory of it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d kissed Mike, too—once we’d both drunk ourselves gay. And earlier this week I gave Clarence Shelley a back rub. Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered “in.”

{username}

FWIW, I got a copy of the letter in question.  It was written in a way that would be plausible to a casual reader who didn’t scrutinize it too carefully.  It announced the formation of an organization called G.L.A.B.A. (which actually exists), and had discussion about typical…

Most Recent Comments

Mike Ingram avatar

Oh nice!  I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!

Rob McColley avatar

“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”

{username}

I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.

Michael Feltes avatar

The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!

{username}

Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.

isaac arms avatar

represent, Matt.

{username}

Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.

{username}

Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…

{username}

Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…

Rob McColley avatar

I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.

Annie Weisner avatar

This makes me so sad.  (Happy to live in Urbana, though!)  Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away.  This town should be supporting small businesses.  I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…

{username}

*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…

isaac arms avatar

Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet.  John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…

isaac arms avatar

What?  Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?

Mike Ingram avatar

This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market.  Check it:  http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles

{username}

And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?

isaac arms avatar

hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.

{username}

Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.

isaac arms avatar

Excellent.  I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.

{username}

Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.

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