Alan Michaels

Atheist (but nice!), Retired, Trade stocks and options for fun, Music lover and audiophile, dislike both Democratic and Republican parties- a skeptic by nature.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@clairlemon Yeah, did you write the same article for George Floyd? or is it selective? Morality must be equally viewed and observed regardless of race.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@RivianTrackr Those having problems are dramatically and emotionally louder than those of us driving the best vehicle they have ever owned. We're too busy driving.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

Politicians, especially far left politicians, always find something to tax, with vague proposals of how it gets spent. But it ultimately winds up in some friendly NGO's pockets on its way back to the politician's reelection fund.

If they don't want to cut spending first, I won't vote for them.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@RivianTrackr @Rivian Or you could by 2 R1s & 4 R2s

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@itskyleconner @OhioTurnpike Two words: West Texas.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@SenWhitehouse Thank you for proving your ignorance and capability of only using ad hominem attacks for support rather than addressing the science. Your surging green energy has ZERO to do with the final death of RCP-8.5. Resign and allow intelligent people into congress.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

So, Ro, why then are almost half of the black members in congress voted in from districts that are white majority / white plurality?
Oh, and the 4 black Republican representatives are from white majority districts.
Or is data not as important as ad hominem attacks and name calling?

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@DrRandPaul @RepThomasMassie Time for you to band together as independents & run as a presidential ticket to break the 2 party monopoly & lies. Neither party represents independent Americans or traditional liberal / libertarian ideals.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

The desire to hold on to power becomes the only reason to exist for all political organizations, no matter how righteous their initial cause. They will betray their principles before relinquishing an ounce of power.

Gerrymandering, closed primaries, controlling the debate stage and dark money are all critical to both the R's and D's to maintain power and they will never relinquish it voluntarily.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

Organizations hold on to power and never relinquish it voluntarily. NATO's mission collapsed when the Soviet Union collapsed but rather than change, it hardened, expanded and made a failing Russia the bogeyman of the world.

Political parties and the EU exist for the same reason - maintain power at all costs and find an outgroup to make the eternal enemy.

[Bob Lewis @BobLewis_COLO]

@USWPColby Rethink. NATO.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

Grok had a nice explanation:

Why This Happens

Psychological factors: Cognitive dissonance—holding conflicting beliefs (e.g., "I'm competent" vs. "My plan failed") leads to rationalizations like "It would have worked except for X" or redefining success.

Incentives: Political, career, or reputational pressures reward narrative control over candid admission.

Tactics: Literal "moving the goalposts" (as in soccer scandals where keepers physically shifted posts) mirrors rhetorical versions.

These cases show how flawed foundations (bad data, wrong models, incomplete info) don't always prevent victory laps—spin, denial, or reframing often fills the gap. Real success usually requires updating based on evidence, not doubling down.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@RogerPielkeJr Somebody has to keep the exaggeration front and center now that 8.5 is dead! What would the media do otherwise?

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@RBReich So, Robert, did you earn your estimated $5M net worth or is only billionaires you envy?

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

Well, not really a good comparison.

Medicare Advantage via private insurance providers is actually 56% of Medicare.

26% is original Medicare (pure government).

And 20% is Medicare with Medigap, which is private insurance, added.

As much as people point to Medicare as single payer insurance, it isn't. It is the door to single payer, private or a combination program, with the private being the dominant solution chosen. Government pays part or all of Medicare Advantage but the private insurance covers more than original Medicare which is why most choose it.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

Depending upon what type of account you have these in also influences the thought process.

OVL dividends are taxed as ordinary dividends, subject to your marginal tax rate.

SPYI are not taxed as ordinary dividends and if held for 1 year become 60% long term capital gains/40% short term capital gains assuming you sold shares.

That difference can be an important consideration as well.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@PatrickRuffini Similar to banning big pharma ads on TV. No more cable news networks!

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

So, the VA Supreme Court, whose judges were approved by the legislature whom the voters voted into their positions, ruled based upon the VA constitution, that was created by constitutional convention and voted on by the voters in VA, ruled a referendum violated the said constitution. And that is undemocratic?

Maybe you just want mob rule when it supports your agenda, not actual functional democracy.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@RoeselerA12517 @mmpadellan Well reasoned, sir, well reasoned.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@chucktodd @BarackObama @SpanbergerForVA Political and $64M of actual capital.

But I guess now they don't believe in the separation of powers since a State Supreme Court ruled the referendum illegal based upon the State's constitution passed by the State's legislature.

[Alan Michaels @JorumOf]

@coldxman It's a good thing she didn't say you can't earn a million dollars or she would have insulted her interviewer!