New and experienced climbers over 50 #37

Heading out to go bouldering at one of my favorite spots.  I'll be trying hard not test out my soon to be fucked with medicare at my soon to be defunded by medicaid cuts local central valley hospital.

apogeewrote:

In what should be a surprise to absolutely no-one, the OBBB sausage making has effectively passed the House, and will be signed into law very shortly. Like last fall's general election, the margin in both the Senate and the House was far from anything resembling a strong mandate, and only reinforces the polarization that exists in politics.

It will be interesting to see how this bill plays politically, and whether it becomes an advantage or a liability for the GOP. The impact on the debt is nebulous enough that it won’t hit the kitchen table (and eventually it will become the Democrats problem), but the loss of Medicare to millions certainiy has the potential piss off a lot of the low income voters that are key to the MAGA base. The increase in immigration and border funding could become a political advantage via the tangible border Wall, and continued reduction in immigration levels- the MAGA base will like that, but the general populace may not like some of the negative imagery that will likely come along with it. Of course, the tax implications will be interesting to see how they play out, with the 1% receiving massive breaks, while the 99% see little/no benefit, or an actual negative impact (via loss of social services).

I'm curious to hear how conservatives see this bill- Jim U, can you chime in? Is this bill likely to benefit you, and how? Is the content of this bill really worth the price tag and impact on the debt?

To quote the greatest speaker of the house ever(*)  "you'll have to pass it to find out what's in it....

the one benefit I was actually looking fwd to beside making trump tax breaks permanent.  was stripping suppressors and SBRs out of the NFA.  But some d*ckhead in senate killed that dream...

Loss of Medicaid - to illegal immigrants and/or able bodied citizens: if nothing else now have to contribute to society some how (work or volunteer requirements) - sounds good to me.  but it will get exploited none the less..

CBO projections vs SOT/OMB projections we will see whose right.  but given some of the recent "he was right on tariffs " articles coming out from economists like Tortsen Slok... I'm leaning towards SOT/OMB. 

What's your feeling about how this bill will dramatically increase the national debt? (This is the second largest increase in history.)

Rich Rosswrote:

Romano doing a sneaker lead of Cosmicpolitan 5.10 FA 1978 at the smaller cliffs past Millbrook.

The crux is near the bottom and gets easier towards the top, circa 1986.

Edit... Romano quote "why waste good rubber".

Reason for climbing wearing sneakers instead of climbing shoes.

To save your feet. 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

Emil. those are exactly the folks that I appreciate feeling the brunt of this administrations transgressions yet for them to feel it the rest of us have to suffer as well.  just got a letter from the state informing me that my health insurance will go up due to federal changes... 

Nick I admit I struggle with this. A defining characteristic of the right today is cruelty. I don't want to give in to that but they make it difficult. I also don't think anything can get through the bubble of unreality they've wrapped themselves in. 

Steve’s 5.13 project out at the remote crag.  The young (40) shredder has been sending all the established routes; he did my 13a second try today, and confirmed the grade on my only (so far) post 60 5.13.  He is a really nice guy and is staying off the project for now.  I got sucked in to a new boulder project.  Windy, low humidity, no bugs, sun and clouds and upper 60’s.  Doesn’t get any better for July.

Ward Smithwrote:  The young (40) shredder has been sending all the established routes; he did my 13a second try today, and confirmed the grade on my only (so far) post 60 5.13.  He is a really nice guy…

Epic humblebrag! Thanks for the chuckle in these dire times.

Great to see all the Northeast 'representing' over the past few days!!!!
Rich Ross love those pictures of the 'forbidden Gunks'---the black and white photos just add to the 'mystique'.

As Ward posted, it has been a gorgeous day around here today---a rare summer treat in a season that has so far not featured much in the way of good climbing conditions. I got out to a new little crag a friend has been developing ( creating???) not far from home. In general, the routes have been pretty choosy--even under the strict definition of the term discussed the other day, but the routes today were definitely more solid and offered interesting climbing. Nothing big and didn't do that much, but it was still a wonderful day to be out playing with a couple of friends. Photo isn't good, but at least gives a sense of what we were up to,

Jesus Christ, Jim cares more about his stupid suppressors than poor people in dire straits having to jump through more constant  stressful administrative hoops to get help right when they need a calming helping hand and some relief. The straight up short sighted meanness of the bill coupled with massive tax breaks for the extremely wealthy that blows out the deficit is obscene. It is the kind of shit that makes me think humanity needs to die off and be right quick about it until I remember the 20% or so that are bright beautiful inspiring stars that make living worthwhile and why you want to leave things a little better for them.

Rather than me write it out: https://healthlaw.org/medicaid-work-requirements-in-republicans-so-called-one-big-beautiful-bill-are-a-declaration-of-war-on-working-families/

Did anyone receive an email today from the Social Security Administration that looked like this?:

It immediately struck as odd that a) I received an email at all from the SSA, and b) that it had such a blatantly political tone about it.

Not surprisingly, the claims it makes are highly dubious:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna216990

M Spraguewrote:

Jesus Christ, Jim cares more about his stupid suppressors than poor people in dire straits having to jump through more constant  stressful administrative hoops to get help right when they need a calming helping hand and some relief. The straight up short sighted meanness of the bill coupled with massive tax breaks for the extremely wealthy that blows out the deficit is obscene. It is the kind of shit that makes me think humanity needs to die off and be right quick about it until I remember the 20% or so that are bright beautiful inspiring stars that make living worthwhile and why you want to leave things a little better for them.

Rather than me write it out: https://healthlaw.org/medicaid-work-requirements-in-republicans-so-called-one-big-beautiful-bill-are-a-declaration-of-war-on-working-families/

Don't forget. The nearest hospital or clinic is now 100 miles or so away. Possibly. 

 

Alan Rubinwrote:

Great to see all the Northeast 'representing' over the past few days!!!!
Rich Ross love those pictures of the 'forbidden Gunks'---the black and white photos just add to the 'mystique'.

As Ward posted, it has been a gorgeous day around here today---a rare summer treat in a season that has so far not featured much in the way of good climbing conditions. I got out to a new little crag a friend has been developing ( creating???) not far from home. In general, the routes have been pretty choosy--even under the strict definition of the term discussed the other day, but the routes today were definitely more solid and offered interesting climbing. Nothing big and didn't do that much, but it was still a wonderful day to be out playing with a couple of friends. Photo isn't good, but at least gives a sense of what we were up to,

Is that trap rock? 

Yeah, I got one of those. The Administration seems to love putting those kind of things out. Usually some overtly political BS and badly written to boot like some 4th rate minded interns with no proper experience in their field got together maybe with the help of bad AI.. 

On the face of it, that particular one doesn't sound bad, with some tax relief for poor seniors mentioned, but the reality is that it will help upper middle class or higher people much more. Poor people already wouldn't have been paying that much and any savings are more than made up by losses elsewhere.

Thanks, Alan for the kind words about my "forbidden Gunks" photos.

Rich chilling before the scary traverse crux of Flashpoint, 5.11 from 1982.

WF WF51wrote:

Is that trap rock? 

Yes, the western MA version, though 'trap rock' , as far as I am aware, is not a geological term. The rock type is a form mm of basalt.

Alan Rubinwrote:

Yes, the western MA version, though 'trap rock' , as far as I am aware, is not a geological term. The rock type is a form mm of basalt.

Plus the word is often associated with the name K** , I prefer basalt or maybe even crackrock.

Vermont granite is something else! 

WF WF51wrote:

Don't forget. The nearest hospital or clinic is now 100 miles or so away. Possibly. 

 

Rural hospitals and health care infrastructure were already in trouble. In an effort to insulate themselves from electoral backlash Republicans structured the bill so big cuts won't kick in until after the 2026 midterms. But hospitals and clinics have to plan well in advance. No one will be adding capacity or opening new clinics when revenues will be disappearing in 15 months. 

Personnel issues are likely to get worse before then as well. There was already a shortage of doctors in rural areas and knowing what's coming will make it even harder to recruit people.

M Spraguewrote:

Jesus Christ, Jim cares more about his stupid suppressors than poor people in dire straits having to jump through more constant  stressful administrative hoops to get help right when they need a calming helping hand and some relief. The straight up short sighted meanness of the bill coupled with massive tax breaks for the extremely wealthy that blows out the deficit is obscene. It is the kind of shit that makes me think humanity needs to die off and be right quick about it until I remember the 20% or so that are bright beautiful inspiring stars that make living worthwhile and why you want to leave things a little better for them.

Rather than me write it out: https://healthlaw.org/medicaid-work-requirements-in-republicans-so-called-one-big-beautiful-bill-are-a-declaration-of-war-on-working-families/

cry louder dude.... 

your our article references DEM senators letter that refence back to the CBO projections that I already said is one side of the argument vs SOT/OMB....  16 million (number from YOUR article) people on Medicare.  what is the % of that number that are illegal immigrants and able bodied individuals drawing benefits and overwhelming the system.  if it ain't happened cool then grandma isn't going to die and end up on the street eating dog food.....    I got it everything Obama/Biden admins did was perfect.  anything Trump admin did or does is a threat to democracy, will crash the economy, and create a fascist dictatorship.... pay no attention to the twitter-files, 51 intel professional letters, suppression of information or attempted creation of the "DHS disinformation board" during Biden.

DEM party...  strongest advocates for non-citizens... no wonder you parties poll numbers hover just above whale poo.  (see previous CNN poll)

I mentioned the HPA and Short Act beyond that I'm not going to get into a OBBB sustained firefight with 6 progressive/leftist on here at the same time.  I'm more that willing to respond but nothing I say or even site will change you mind.  You all have your purity tests that can not me denied.

apogeewrote:

What's your feeling about how this bill will dramatically increase the national debt? (This is the second largest increase in history.)

the last sentence of my first response..... CBO vs SOT/OMB.

I absolutely don't want to see the national debt to sky rocket higher.  I also think we should be going full out slash and burn and on major portions of the bloat that is the federal gov (e.g. dept of ed amongst others gone - send the funds and authorities back to the states).  But at one point the uniparty is self perpetuating  is this a step in the right direction?  I hope so.

I really want to see weekly/monthly recession packets send from POTUS to congress.  pull all the bloat back...  maybe that will happen more now that SCOTUS has put the smack down on the random district judges trying to wade into things, with TROs, that they have zero jurisdiction.