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90% Of Americans Said 2015 Was Not Better Than 2014

Tyler Durden's picture




 

With 29% of young Americans having lost faith in 'The American Dream' (for good reason as we detailed here), it is hardly surprising that a new poll by The Associated Press finds that just 10% of people believe 2015 was a better year for the world than 2014. That is half the number from 2013 and appears to confirm what we already tongue-in-cheek noted  - that 2015 was perhaps the worst year ever.

 

As we noted previously, if the American Dream depends on skyrocketing debt built on a weakening foundation of stagnant productivity and income, then it is indeed over. 

So, as CBS asks, was 2015 worse for the world than last year?

Americans are also much less likely than they were a year ago to believe that the current year was better for the United States - only 17 percent compared with 30 percent in 2014. Worse still, just 10% saw 2015 as better for the world than 2014... down from a hubristic 20% in 2013.

The new Associated Press-Times Square Alliance poll mass shootings and terror attacks weighed heavily on the minds of Americans in 2015, revealing that most polled believe this year was worse than 2014. But, for the world, while its leaders potter around proclaiming the solution to climate change, it appears that is near the bottom of people's fears...

According to the poll, the most important events to Americans in the past year were the shootings in San Bernardino, California, as well as shootings in South Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee. Close behind came the Paris attacks and atrocities perpetrated by the Islamic State extremist group.

*  *  *

As we commented earlier, we apologize, but 2015 had so many negatives that we’re having trouble seeing the positives. It’s like we’re on the Titanic, and it’s tilting at an 85-degree angle with its propellers way up in the air, and we’re dangling over the cold Atlantic trying to tell ourselves: “At least there’s no waiting for the shuffleboard courts!”

Are we saying that 2015 was the worst year ever? Are we saying it was worse than, for example, 1347, the year when the Bubonic Plague killed a large part of humanity?

Yes, we are saying that. Because at least the remainder of humanity was not exposed to a solid week in which the news media focused intensively on the question of whether a leading candidate for president of the United States had, or had not, made an explicit reference to a prominent female TV journalist’s biological lady cycle.

That actually happened in 2015, and it was not the only bad thing.

 

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Sat, 12/26/2015 - 20:55 | 6966155 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

The SISIS have a role to play in that number?

Who gives a fuck about them?

 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:06 | 6966176 BurningFuld
BurningFuld's picture

2015 was a really really fucking good year for me so tack that in the plus column.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:10 | 6966183 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

The year I finally got laid was a good one for me, too, and probably most here at ZH. ;-)

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:15 | 6966378 zeronetwork
zeronetwork's picture

They are  talking about a whole year, I say every passing day is better than the one coming tomorrow.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:22 | 6966386 847328_3527
847328_3527's picture

Another stat ... 95% of democrats favor your taxes being raised to pay for moar of their free sheisse.

 

That's odd?

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:36 | 6966596 Otrader
Otrader's picture

The Republicans in charge will put a stop to any new taxes.  Thank goodness we have a 2 party system. /sarc

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 12:35 | 6967094 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

All would be better if the Trump had talked about bubonic plague.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:36 | 6966404 Escrava Isaura
Escrava Isaura's picture

 

 

Article: 29% of young Americans having lost faith in 'The American Dream'

 

American Dream in a small scale is manageable.

American Dream within a growing population, and globally, it’s disastrous. Totally unsustainable.

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:24 | 6966475 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture
Oil Jobs Lost: 250,000 And Counting, Texas Likely To See Massive Layoffs Soon

 

 

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Oil-Jobs-Lost-250000-And-Count...

 

2015 will be O'bama's 'Legacy' year.

 

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:54 | 6966562 Bilderberg Member
Bilderberg Member's picture

I saw 3 long time friends over the holidays...Friend 1 is 51 and has worked a middle class job at the county government level for years. His goal is to retire and take a reduced pension in 5 years. He'd rather downsize than continue perpetually on the hamster wheel...Friend 2 is a woman age 54, lost her husband to a heart attack 2 years ago. Her company was recently bought out and her supervisory position is at high risk of elimination. Said she will take a part time job if she is let go...Friend 3 is age 54, wants to leave his middle class banking job of 30 years next year to take a pension so he and his wife can downsize and move to Florida....Maybe the middle class is shrinking because it no longer offers the quality of life it once did...Maybe the job environment now takes more effort for less production or that technology has finally got to the point that humans can not compete and will no longer try to compete. 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:33 | 6966592 Otrader
Otrader's picture

Without sound money and an ongoing insane foreign policy, why would things be any different in 2016? 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:10 | 6966628 OldPhart
OldPhart's picture

"that 2015 was perhaps the worst year ever."

...that 2015 was perhaps the worst year SO FAR.

Fixed it for you.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 04:44 | 6966162 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

False flags tend to erode public confidence.

162 mass killings of 4 or more people during Obummer's administration while typical presidencies since Carter have about 20+/-... go figure.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:01 | 6966168 Big Corked Boots
Big Corked Boots's picture

Personally, 2015 was the worst year of my life. It can't be gone soon enough.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:06 | 6966286 buzzardsluck
buzzardsluck's picture

Same here, really fucked over by people I thought were friends while losing my best friend (my dog died). 

 

On a positive note, I can say it led me to a new attitude of not being the sucker.  If you watched 'Better call Saul', this scene sums things up well...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrhLMT9tSOI

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:57 | 6966359 Hapte
Hapte's picture

"Mama' Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlIEoKg8ZQg

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:29 | 6966484 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture
Major offshore rig contracts canceled

 

Two major offshore drilling rig contracts went by the wayside in the last week, and more cancellations are on the horizon.

The Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NSYE: RDS.A) nixed its contract with London-based Noble Corp. (NYSE: NE) for the latter's Discoverer rig in Alaska. Shell had entered into a three-year agreement for the Noble Discoverer rig in February 2014.

Last week, Norway-based Statoil ASA (NYSE: STO) cancelled its drillship contract with Switzerland-based Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG).

All four companies have a major presence in Houston.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/drilling-down/2015/12/major-offs...

 

 

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:36 | 6966500 Bazza McKenzie
Bazza McKenzie's picture

You have had a tough year.  As someone who loves dogs, and has lost a few, I sympathize with you.

The main downside of owning dogs is that you're going to outlive most of them.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:32 | 6966493 Bazza McKenzie
Bazza McKenzie's picture

Commiserations and all the best for 2016.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:03 | 6966172 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Obama, Hollande, Merkel, Cameron, Draghi, Yellen, Lagarde etal, stand up and take a bow.

You've earned it ;-)

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:16 | 6966201 Proctologist
Proctologist's picture

Have they earned blindfolds on when they take their bow?

It would appear most of their decisions were made blindfolded.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:25 | 6966215 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Well, I know they haven't earned their salary, perks, pensions or "healthcare" that's for sure.

In the real world, they would have been fired & black balled for life from ever trying to practice "state craft" again ;-)

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:02 | 6966441 Proctologist
Proctologist's picture

Witchcraft>statecraft?

Perhaps they have earned "Obamacare"

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:05 | 6966174 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

No Doubt 2016 will be Atrocious with increased False Flags ramped up for maximum effect of manufactured fear for the masses on a Global Scale now that the illegal alien AL CIA duh patsies are in place in Europe.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:22 | 6966387 astroloungers
astroloungers's picture

A little worse than the year before...same could be said about 2014. I don't think it dies with a bang. I think it just gradualy gets a little darker and a little colder.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:28 | 6966482 Bazza McKenzie
Bazza McKenzie's picture

Problem for those in power is that every such event they stage will boost Trump.

Though I'm sure it wasn't his primary reason when he said stop all muslim entry until the government has figured out how to do it safely, it was a brillient political step.  When Obama, Hillary most of the Repubs and the media predictably said No they took ownership of all future muslim attacks in America.  Any such attack over the next year is going to leave them all looking at best grossly incompetent on national security or outright traitors, and Trump as the only candidate genuinely wanting to protect Americans.

Hillary should be trying on orange jumpsuits now.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:30 | 6966589 Otrader
Otrader's picture

Globalization in full force. 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:11 | 6966188 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Should'A been 99.9901 bitchez.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:11 | 6966189 logicalman
logicalman's picture

There seems to be a definite pattern - the longer the charade continues the worse it gets for anyone not in the upper income percentages.

Inversely so or those guys.

Can't beat having the kind of theft you are doing being enforced by armed goons.

 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:15 | 6966197 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Well, at least the theft is all "legal".

That makes it much more palatable! ;-)

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 14:18 | 6967293 logicalman
logicalman's picture

But it's not LAWFUL.

 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:19 | 6966204 Kamehameha
Kamehameha's picture

Hope and Change

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:24 | 6966389 JD59
JD59's picture

Barry says "Dope and Government Cheese"

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:22 | 6966212 FreeShitter
FreeShitter's picture

Wait till 2016, should be a real fucking doozy.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:40 | 6966344 Firehawk734
Firehawk734's picture

I bought some real estate this year.   So im sure i bought at the top, like i do every stock.  Lol

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:27 | 6966218 db51
db51's picture

We spent the Christmas with kids and grandkids.     There is something eerie in the air, aside from a floodwatch and thunderstorm going on and 65 degrees in Illinois.  There just seems to be a phony "happiness" abounding, especially on Social Media.   You can see it in their empty souless eyes in the photos.   I've been amazed at the shitshow and delay in SHTF since 2009.   I'm feeling there is going to be some real shit going down next year....it's all phony. 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:54 | 6966354 Id fight Gandhi
Id fight Gandhi's picture

Social media has been awful. You essentially have a generation who can't talk to each other or go a few minutes to see whatever update is.

 

People are putting on a show bragging with pics how much fun, family or money the have.

Even older people are doing it. No they haven't any time to talk or catch up but certainly tons of time to produce happy staged videos and photos.

 

 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:47 | 6966427 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

They get that from TV commercials and celebs.

They are superficial and have never spent one minute looking

inside themselves honestly.

I worked on a cruise ship and my friend started to get really depressed

and she asked the Chaplin why. His response: Because all of this is false, it pretends to be

New Years Eve everyday, there is no value in that.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:17 | 6966634 OldPhart
OldPhart's picture

I've seen a lot of on-line bums, begging for money for their kids christmas, or help with the lights or gas or whatever.  The local page for the area is innundated with it.

I knew a few and did help out.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 10:00 | 6966830 NoPension
NoPension's picture

Go Fund Me crap. Online panhandling.

And Facebook, " look at me!"

WTF is going on?

I both relish the fact we can still eat, and the wheels haven't fallen off the cart, writ large......and pine for the collapse. I am loosing my shit mind.

All in all, we ( collective USA) are relatively fortunate.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:35 | 6966403 JD59
JD59's picture

It is called "Obama Utopia" 100% B U L L S H I T!

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:55 | 6966415 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

The phony happiness has been going on all of my life.

It is distraction so that they don't have to face reality.

This is an American thing. I have traveled all over the world, so many people laugh at us saying we are like small children.

Americans are under heavy brainwash by the media, hollywood, music industry.

I have no TV, no radio, no social media, no friends,.

But I do have an awesome house and yard, fabulous big dog, a partner, adult child, grandchild and a business.

I have dropped out of just about everything because it is either stupid or evil.

Sorry, but that's the truth.

I am not really unhappy though, because if you are here it's because you need to be here.

So I am just doing the work so that I won't have to return.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:04 | 6966623 JetsettingWelfareMom
JetsettingWelfareMom's picture

I live with my mom. Work minimally. Do most stuff for free...my husband has been killing himself to get the hot tub working for an uncle who gave us the money to fix it from some casino winnings. I had a yard sale a few weeks ago and actually made $0. Shit. Lots of lookie loues too used to be they'd buy a purse or homemade soap or something for $1 now they pick up everything and inspect it like it's got an asking price of $20 or more. But hey I cleaned up the garage.

Something big is in the air when the actual cash economy is that depressed...but I digress. When I tell my uncle that I don't want to make money so it can be paid in taxes to bomb the shit out of brown people and create more terrorists and hatred for Americans....it's like I said something unAmerican. But there are so many opportunities! He argues. I don't even gamble and am trustworthy I should be making a FORTUNE in Vegas he says. It's like it's sacrilige to drop out and want to spend time with your family, or to find the rat race, as it's currently constructed, is a soulless machine that offers no happiness. Wasted money spent on leafblowers while you don't even know how to change your own oil or grow your own food.

But actually admitting freely that you've dropped out? That you don't want your life defined by how much fiat currency you can amass, because that's playing by somebody else's rules? Then people want to throw money at me, just so they can feel better. It's like admitting the American Dream is not only dead but that it never existed to begin with. Scares the shit out of people!

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:23 | 6966541 kappal_toba_dhu...
kappal_toba_dhurr_ne_thook's picture

This i s not new.  We felt that even when we lived in USA a few years back.  The gloom started in 2000 and has not stopped.  It is just that the media  keeps  telling  everyone that all is well and people  think that to deny the "obvious truth"  would make them seem less Americano.  

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:54 | 6966611 DipshitMiddleCl...
DipshitMiddleClassWhiteKid's picture

Yepp. +1049 on the empitness. 

 

Everyone is so fake. 

 

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 13:14 | 6967174 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

I watched PBS the other day, nightly business report and was suprized at how much the recovery had progressed.

I had avoided the news and been brainwashed by ZH.

 

Glad I have been fixed again....

/s

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:39 | 6966239 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

And  99.99% think 2015 will be better than 2016. 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:52 | 6966353 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 We currency traders go out 5>6 decimal points.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:21 | 6966540 kappal_toba_dhu...
kappal_toba_dhurr_ne_thook's picture

Scary but true  

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 15:39 | 6967478 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

"And  99.99% think 2015 will be better than 2016."

 

That's likely an accurate number.  I suspect the remaining 0.01 percent know it's going to be better for them.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:42 | 6966244 Ms No
Ms No's picture

I am feeling 08 nervous, I may pick up a second job just to save money. I shouldn't admit this but for a Christmas present to myself I paid the neighbor's Mexican to blow my front and back yard out because I was lazy.  In my own defense I am the only person in my neighborhood who does their own yard and certainly no women are doing it.  Anyway, he charges them 75 bucks per "blow job" he shows up every two weeks and it only takes him an hour!  They are making some serious cash for just blowing around tree garbage!  Prices for "trimming" etc go up from there.

I am half tempted to steal his neighborhood.  If it wasn't for the fact that I would probably drop dead when it's 115 out I probably would.  It would be a bonus to have business cards that listed prices for blow jobs and trim jobs and have the old ladies suspicious. I asked him how many hours he works a day he said 6-12, that is some decent money right there and good deal of which is tax free.     

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:53 | 6966264 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

Hired! :)

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:05 | 6966285 Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer's picture

The most I would ever pay for a blow job is 10 bucks.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 10:07 | 6966837 Berspankme
Berspankme's picture

Well, I am a little strapped for cash. Could you go $12

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:44 | 6966419 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

Im a woman and I do all my own yard work.

Men are really embarssed and mad at me for doing it, makes them look bad I guess.

I have painted my house 4 times in 4 years, finally got it right

and I paint it with a brush!

My old house I painted with brush and 25 yrs later the same paint job is still on there.

I love to work on my house, when I can't stand things I just work on it.

It's not a house, its a hobby...)

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:09 | 6966443 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

The blower is probably the guy who stole my leaf blower out of my garage.

Do it, they make all this money plus get foodstamps or whatever.

I dug up my entire lawn this spring with a fork, planted and put rocks

using a bucket, don't have a wheelbarrow. I lost 35 pounds!

It's good for you.

I had Mexicans trim my trees and they kept increasing the price, they were drinking

did a terrible job and asked me for lunch money!

 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:46 | 6966251 Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer's picture

The good old days are now.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 21:52 | 6966262 Dead Canary
Dead Canary's picture

Our president is a weeping boil on the ass of a cancerous rodent. And yes, I'm sugar coating it.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:26 | 6966584 Otrader
Otrader's picture

The only president that tried to free the USA from the money changers that have been sucking the life out every working american since 1913 was JFK.  We know how that story ended.  No other president has the balls to do what he did. 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:28 | 6966328 Himins
Himins's picture

Party like the last 12 months weren't emotionally crippleing.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:38 | 6966340 Firehawk734
Firehawk734's picture

The middle class is a prison anyway.   Its easier to be poor than to be in the middle class. 

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 22:54 | 6966355 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 I love trading the, " Day After Christmas"...

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:59 | 6966616 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

+1 Yen.  I love buying food the day after Christmas and I did so this evening.  I will buy it if they will give it away.  Hams for 89 cents a lb?  I will have to get in on that deal.  Then turkeys for 93 cents a pound.  I am in.  That is a lot of food.  The wife gets pissed because she says we already have a ham and turkey left in the freezer.  I don't care.  We will use those and the ham is out to thaw.  We are talking about twelve or thirteen dollars for that much food.  McDonalds Happy Meals for the whole family costs more than that and we don't eat that shit anyway.  

I was getting pretty skinny there for a while and I packed on a couple of pounds.(not sterling)  My pants are still falling off my ass but I am ready to eat MOAR.  I can stock up on body fat.  I want value and when I see it I know it.

I hope everything has been going well for you Yen.         

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:32 | 6966400 JD59
JD59's picture

My nephew died today at the young age of 54. God bless his soul. He drank to much alcohol recently, and then had liver & kidney failure.

I blame his death on the SOB in the White House who couldn't create a decent enough economy to keep a middle aged white man fulltime employed at a Network Operating Center.

Sat, 12/26/2015 - 23:59 | 6966439 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

I'm sorry.

And yes this guy is trying to cut white men out. This is why Trump is so popular, they all know it.

I own a Mom n Pop and this guy came in and said "What are you doing working, you're white"

White guy in his late 50s.

It's not just him, it is the left. Go read the crap they write online, all about "white men"

they want to isolate the white man, even turn his wife, mother daughters against him.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:06 | 6966447 JD59
JD59's picture

It is just unbelivable to me, I'm still in shock from it. He had a young son, still at home.

 

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:23 | 6966471 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

I know two women 59 and 60 who died of liver cancer, neither were drinkers.

my view is all of this is planned, since I see these events in peoples horoscopes.

It's part of a much bigger plan, and what we asked for to evolve.

Son asked for it too, it will shape him to experience the things he needs to.

I know a guy who lost his father very young, lived in a housing project as a kid

went on to be very sucessful in all areas of his life.

He has the male dream job, sports agent.

the kid will be ok, the Dad is ok.

God Bless you, let go and know there is a bigger plan at work.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:26 | 6966585 delacroix
delacroix's picture

Cheiro  (count louis hamon) and grant lewi have some pretty impressive observations, in their books.  got them from my granny.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:26 | 6966638 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

It shows pretty much everything. It even shows if you can overcome the hand you were dealt.

Death is always a Jupiter/Nodes transit, because it is the biggest trip we take.

It is liberation from this body and realm.

As an astrologer you agree with the Catholics, it is one of the three most important days of your life.

These are the days we use to rectify a chart, when the time is unkown or suspect.

And it works like mathematics for us.

I do many death charts to see where they are going and why they left, those are also very reveleling.

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:49 | 6966651 bunnyswanson
bunnyswanson's picture

Stress kills.  Appetite, sleep, state of muscle tension are impacted.  We are in a state of Fight or Flight 24/7.  Those who have gone through life threatening experiences and live to talk about it, seem to die young and I believe our bodies are not equipped to deal with the constant bombardment of unresolutionable problems.  One of them being, inability to earn an income to fund necessities of living, is a death sentence.  There is no greater stress than sensing our own end before our time.  This is extraordinarily cruel and unusual, and I am ~appalled~ at leadership, usurpers alike, media, academia for daring to stay silent, a stand of no resistance, while we squirm in essentially the same petri dish.  Insanity has been allowed to become reason.  Loss to humanity will be immeasurable.  American Medical Association drugging an entire generation of US citizens should be held responsible for the lost art and the children's future of being nothing more than a victim of Stockholm Syndrome.  Fear is a gift.  That is a book you should read.  No one is going to save the rich kid on the block, so don't stand there and wait for a miracle.  Better people than you have died for less.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 10:18 | 6966845 NoPension
NoPension's picture

Stress kills. I believe that.

Today, at 53, I don't let much bother me. I just finished a crash job, Guy owes me thousands. Not a peep from him in two weeks. Had to get the store open for Christmas. And I did. Against unbelievable odds. 7 weeks, 7 days a week ( except TG day). 10-14 hours a day. 2-5 calls or texts a day.
Now... Nothing. Not even Thanks!

My wife is fit to kill the motherfucker! Me...fuck him. We will get by. He will pay, just in his time. I know this. Meanwhile, I'm walking like a Mexican.
Guess what? It's not that bad. When you get to the " fuck it " point, stress rolls away. Then, build from that. I got a roof, food, two dogs...and a wife. It's all good.

By the way. My savings account is my abilities.

Edit; truth be told, my "pension" is probably better than 90% of the population. We shall see.

We will see what 2016 brings. It should be entertaining for sure.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:34 | 6966464 JD59
JD59's picture

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/11/13/yes-death-rates-for-middl...

Critics take a closer look into a recent study looking at the rising rate of death among white, middle-aged Americans.

 

Me personally I'm on blood pressure meds, a baby asprin, Lipitor, CPAP, completed my 1st colonoscopy, and PSA is slightly elevated. You all better get checked out. Very low sodium diet. I never add salt. No soda either. Coffee, water, and tea, mostly decaffinated.

Exercise daily, my Doc wants me to take at least 10,000 steps a day, which is about 5 miles. Don't ever smoke or stop smoking, and stop drinking except for the occasional beer for me when I mow the lawn.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 08:52 | 6966769 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

Get off the meds, they will kill you

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:20 | 6966800 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Indeed, I weaned myself of prescrbed meds long ago, with no detriment, and

the vast pleasure of outliving my doctors who foretold my imminent demise.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:35 | 6966813 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

About 8 years ago my doc put me on a statin. After a couple of weeks I was out on the course and was coming up short on my irons. That happens from time to time. By the time I got home I felt so weak. I got on the internet and did some reading and found out I was ingesting poison that was shutting down my liver and destroying muscle tissue. Now why would an otherwise healthy man in his 40's want to do that to his body. I threw that shit in the trash and refused my doc's insistence that I try a different brand of poison.

When TPTB were pushing for Obamacare, every once in a while they would put some old coot on the front page of the metro section with her hands outstretched holding a dozen meds with the sob story of how much she was paying per month. How can any medical expert know how all of this shit interacts. Also, we are all paying for this insanity through taxes, increased insurance payments so that some gullible idiot can swallow all of this shit everyday. Why?

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 13:22 | 6967188 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

Crestor is the worst for muscle pain.  I started with Crestor and had him switch to the generic.  Muscle pain went away.

If you stay on the drugs, just realize they are not all the same...

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 15:36 | 6967472 mc225
mc225's picture

yeah man, i don't know about the meds either. seems like a slippery slope.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 10:02 | 6966835 Berspankme
Berspankme's picture

get off the meds. Chew raw garlic cloves and check out some natural meds

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:28 | 6966481 TVP
TVP's picture

<  2016 will be awesome 

<  WW III by decades' end

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:53 | 6966564 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

Some upper level Russian guy said that the USA will attack Russia in 2017

Vote Trump

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:26 | 6966807 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

A little late by then.

For any chance of economic survival of Pax Americana such an attack has to be in 2016,

The dogmatism of the military suggests late Spring/early Summer.

I hope I'm wrong,but doubt it.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 00:30 | 6966489 DaveA
DaveA's picture

2015 was an average year: worse than 2014, but better than 2016.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:06 | 6966523 idontcare
idontcare's picture

After 2016, most Americans will wish that they were back in 2015.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:17 | 6966533 luna_man
luna_man's picture

 

 

Just do whatever you can, not to become homeless! Take a hard look at those people out there, they are miserable!  And not all are alcoholics and drug addicts.  Can be a bad stroke of luck, living pay check to pay check.

 

not so concerned about eating...a person can freeze out there, depending on the part of country you live in

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 10:43 | 6966881 skinwalker
skinwalker's picture

A small minority of them enter into the lifestyle by choice. They like the freedom. I have considerd it on more than one occasion. 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 01:49 | 6966560 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

If 2016 is worse, a lot are probably gonna kill themselves, me included

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:45 | 6966579 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

.

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:54 | 6966610 Bazza McKenzie
Bazza McKenzie's picture

After Winston Churchill had retired from politics, he was asked to give a speech to a particular group.  He was quite old at the time.

He moved to the lectern to give his speech.  He looked at his audience for a minute or two and then said:

"Never give up.  . . .  Never give up. . . .  Never give up." looked at them a little longer and then resumed his seat.

A speech no one ever forgot and a message to all of us.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 14:23 | 6967308 logicalman
logicalman's picture

I'd never look to a self-interested warmongering drunk for advice.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 08:51 | 6966768 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

I hope u are kidding. I won't say the thought has never crossed my mind, but the darkness should pass.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:02 | 6966781 Reverend Galileo
Reverend Galileo's picture

Suicide rates are skyrocketing, especially in EU. Please don't do it. We need you behind your weapon.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:02 | 6966782 Reverend Galileo
Reverend Galileo's picture

Suicide rates are skyrocketing, especially in EU. Please don't do it. We need you behind your weapon.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 02:24 | 6966582 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

Be smart. I got divorced in the late 90s, it was horrific.

I mean much worse than most of you have ever gone through.

I did what I had to do and I came out alive.

Starting in 2003 I wanted to buy a house, but I just kept saying this isn't real.

So instead I invested in starting a business and watched the market go to the sky, and drop.

I am 61 yrs old and nobody can fire me, so I did the right thing. I also bought a house at the bottom

of the market in 2011. Not that I am smart but that I listen to the inner voice that knows the truth.

Being self employed is the best security ever. You have all sorts of knife fights daily but nobody says

to you "you are white and old, I'm not gonna hire you"

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:30 | 6966641 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

I am always looking for something to do.  I don't want to deal with the divorce part.  I make no money from getting involved something like that.  I wanted nothing to do with housing I still don't.  I buy metal and I am good at it.  It could be a car, scrap iron, guns and ammo or it could be PMs.  I am not exactly sure what you are suggesting.  I am 41 and I have a wife and kids.  I have some cash on hand.  If you want to talk about something then I would agree to do so.  tkufalk2@gmail.com is my email.  You can tell me then what it is that you are doing.  

I know a lot of ZHers and they have some money too.  I never share who I know...ever.          

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 06:52 | 6966710 Panic Mode
Panic Mode's picture

I don't think being divorced in general enable you to listen your inner voice. Perhaps you are the unlucky one with a partner that dragged you down.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 03:36 | 6966643 V for ...
V for ...'s picture

Ewww. Looks like the AshkeNAZI state is failing. Big Brother hates you. Remember that.

Socialism, communism, corporatism is all the same thing. Lie and control.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 07:38 | 6966731 MFL8240
MFL8240's picture

Guess geopolitical problems are not theirs?  So dumb!

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 08:10 | 6966744 blown income
blown income's picture

JD59

 

May he be at peace..

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 08:53 | 6966758 quietdude
quietdude's picture

I was considered a " slow kid " in school by my asshole teachers. Could some of you more intelligent posters explain the following?

Most of the population seem to believe things are getting worse.

In 2016, a majority of citizens will drive their Jazzy scooters down to the polling place and select either elephant or jackass. Voting for elephant or jackass means the same scum who completely fucked this country remain in power.

After voting, the citizens will trundle thier obese, lazy asses home, crack open a can of watery bladderwash, and say " there, I did my duty and fixed the problem"

I have two questions:

In what parallel universe will this behavior actually fix the fucking problem?

Why can an alledged loser and slow kid see this and none of my "betters" have a clue?

Read ENJOY THE DECLINE by Aaron Clarey. It will make you feel better and is cheaper and healthier than drugs or whiskey.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:59 | 6966829 Berspankme
Berspankme's picture

I believe it's the illusion of hope that brings them to pull the lever for their guy or gal. 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 15:24 | 6967448 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

With heavy emphasis on "illusion."

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 08:59 | 6966777 Reverend Galileo
Reverend Galileo's picture

I can see the liberal gun grabbers salivating on this report: that mass shootings rank the highest among peoples' fears. We're screwed.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:05 | 6966786 Reverend Galileo
Reverend Galileo's picture

I bet those gun grabbing liberals are salivating on this report.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:15 | 6966794 Cloud9.5
Cloud9.5's picture

I’m actually in a better place than I have been in years.  I just retired from the school system after 43 years.  I know everybody hates school teachers, but my wife and I have done home coming and prom for decades as well as all the banquets for the diamond club, ROTC and FFA through the years.   She was a culinary arts teacher.  I was American History.  Home coming alone would require an extra forty hours off the clock to make it happen.  The worst year was when we did Paris as a theme and built a forty foot Eiffel  Tower complete with the blinking lights. 

 

The house next door to us went into foreclosure.  I bought it at auction fifteen minutes before it closed with a single bid.  I paid cash. It was built in the 70’s and not upgraded.  My wife and I gutted it.  We have done 70% of the work ourselves.  The plumbing and tile work was beyond us.  It’s taken three months. I lost ten pounds and feel great.  It rented the first week it was on Zillow for a thousand a month.    That is pretty good for the low end neighborhood we live in.  We built one of the first houses here forty years ago.  Then Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac moved in.   Back in the seventies these little houses were going for $40,000.  Then in the boom they went for $100,000.  Now foreclosures are all up and down the street. People everywhere are getting poorer.  We just happened to be at the right place at the right time with a little loose cash.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:27 | 6966809 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

Good for you. A teacher who cared. I am sure your efforts have and will pay dividends through the years in the lives you have touched. There are some bad apples out there only in it for the easy ride and good pension. Not all systems have generous pensions, which may be why you stayed in for 43 years. 

My father in-law retired in his mid 50's to a nice pension. Has a home up north and one down south. Lives pretty well and is on pace to live off the pension for more years than he taught. He did and has continued to live frugally.

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:36 | 6966814 Cloud9.5
Cloud9.5's picture

Thanks.  I miss the kids.  I hope the majority of them remember that it is the second mouse the gets the cheese and the last lemming to the beach that gets to tell the tale .

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 10:26 | 6966861 NoPension
NoPension's picture

I'm 53 years old.
And I never heard " it's the second mouse that gets the cheese"!!!

I love that.

I'm trying to square it with " the early bird gets the worm".

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:32 | 6966811 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

2015 sucked dead donkey dicks for me.

This rigged casino market sucks the life out of you, and as a trader, I lament the long hijacked "markets" that used to be.

When fundamentals mattered. Charts made sense. That was so long ago.

At 61, and a white guy living in the US now, I see all sorts of shit going on daily that is fucking mind boggling.

The media? A fucking joke. People's social skills? Non-existant.

I stopped asking even the most simple questions as to facts of government, simple economics questions - to friends and people I meet.

Their answers are .........sobering in their lack of knowledge - and even more fucked up - their "belief" that we are over in the ME fighting for our "freedom".

2016 I fear will be more of the same. More theft and lying from the gubbermint. Fuckbama adding the finishing touches on his fucked up 8 years occupying at WH - along with his puppeteers and handlers.

Banks will continue to skate on the FED - no matter what any of the slate of criminal assholes running for the Select Puppet In "Chief" say/"threaten"...and this casino will continue the churn upward....

 

 

Sun, 12/27/2015 - 11:24 | 6966942 Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer's picture

When are we going to see the survey that says how many Americans can't even point out what state they live in, when shown a map of the United States?

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