Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Politics Edition

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:53:42 +0000

Dumpster diving in most places isn’t illegal in and of itself, but a lot of cities have trespassing ordinances that make accessing the dumpsters or trash bins illegal if they’re considered to be on private property. So, if our trash & recycling bins are on our property, it’s illegal for people to forage through them, but if we’ve put them out at the curb for pick-up, technically it isn’t illegal unless there’s an ordinance that the bins & contents are municipal property or the private garbage vendor’s property & protected that way.

By: jim

jim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:43:26 +0000

Kai, Yes I agree that our elections and campaign season goes on for far too long. Part of it is that the news channels need something to talk about 24 hours a day. I think its also longer since the politicans have to spend more time fund raising.
We also have 50 states which do things all differently and theres no real coordination between them all and nobody wants to change the system after the fact. This drags out the primary process. Its a mess. Most of us learn to tune it out as much as possible.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:48:44 +0000

Dumpster diving for food is particularly unappetizing. This isn’t frugal, it’s desperate.

By: Kai

Kai — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:30:21 +0000

It seems reasonable to me to assume that they are cold-calling Iowa-ans prior to Iowa primaries, and would then take a break until the actual election.

I think the US has a great setup for the government, but man, do you people have a messy election! They seem to go on for two years! Last time we had an election, we’d been hearing about yours for a year when ours was declared, and when our new Prime Minister went to work, you still hadn’t voted! Craziness!
Does this system not seem crazy to people on the inside?

By: BirdDog

BirdDog — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:09:03 +0000

50 Ways to Save on Food: Advising people to dumpster dive crosses the line from frugal to cheapskate. I don’t see how one could stomach the thought of eating food out of a dumpster unless truly starving and destitute.

By: getagrip

getagrip — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:31:59 +0000

I liked the bank switch checklist. It also provides another good reason to maintain a decent sized emergency fund because you can use part of your fund as the starter money in the new account while transitioning.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:21:00 +0000

Heh, I find it weird that you seem surprised that the election cycle ends at the actual election, not the end of the Iowa caucus.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:18:14 +0000

Callers use the registered voters lists, and if you’ve shown some interest in the political process by attending caucuses, voting, or declaring a party affilitation, they’re going to go after you more assiduously.

By: jim

jim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:55:21 +0000

I’m assuming the calls are from Republicans and that joining their party triggered the calls. I don’t think parties cold call random people and they had to get your # somewhere. So you either gave someone money or signing up as a Republican got you on the lists. Keep this in mind the next time you join a party just for entertainment sake.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:36:03 +0000

Trent claimed to have switched politcal parties in order to participate in the Iowa caucuses. The PAC sharks smell fresh blood in that household.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:17:59 +0000

My wife has a cell # with an Iowa area code, and received numerous calls prior to the caucus. The calls are not specific to landlines.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:28:20 +0000

It’s ironic you are bugged by such calls given your website is full of ads by politicians.

HTH.

By: kc

kc — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:11:58 +0000

I’m surprised you have a landline. They’re not calling your cell phone, are they???