agentsquirrel's recent activity
-
Comment on Dell CEO pledges $6.25 billion to ‘Trump accounts’ for American children in ~society
-
Comment on Dell CEO pledges $6.25 billion to ‘Trump accounts’ for American children in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentYou’re right that 529s and Trump/530A accounts each have their own kinds of restrictions, but the question isn’t just which restriction is better, it’s whether the structure meaningfully serves...You’re right that 529s and Trump/530A accounts each have their own kinds of restrictions, but the question isn’t just which restriction is better, it’s whether the structure meaningfully serves the kids who need it most. With 529s, at least parents can use the money for K-12 tuition, trade programs, apprenticeships, and even a small amount toward student loans. With 530As, the money is locked until age 18 regardless of circumstance, which doesn’t help families facing financial strain during childhood, which is when most financial strain actually happens.
On the “what if you don’t go to college” point: I completely agree that support shouldn’t be limited to college-bound kids. The problem is that a single $1,000 seed plus whatever only some families can afford to add won’t meaningfully change outcomes unless you’re already in a position to contribute. That’s why this structure ends up functioning more like a tax-advantaged investment wrapper for families with surplus income, rather than a broad-based wealth transfer.
The index-fund restriction is fine in isolation; low-cost diversification is good, but it’s also the only investment option, which means no way to adjust risk as a child approaches adulthood (the exact opposite of how target-date funds normally work). A market downturn at 17 could wipe out a lot of accumulated value with no ability to move into something safer.
As for the Dell donation, I agree philanthropy aimed at kids is welcome. But private wealth transfers are doing the heavy lifting here; the policy architecture itself is fairly weak. If the goal is genuinely universal child wealth, robust “baby bond” designs with meaningful, progressive annual public contributions outperform one-time deposits paired with voluntary parental savings.
So I’m not opposed to the idea of wealth-building for children. The critique is that 530A accounts don’t actually deliver that outcome very well, and they may unintentionally amplify the disparities we already have.
-
Comment on Dell CEO pledges $6.25 billion to ‘Trump accounts’ for American children in ~society
agentsquirrel LinkTrump Accounts are supposed to give kids a long-term financial boost, but they’re poorly designed for real family needs. They don’t help with the high costs of childhood, they may widen wealth...Trump Accounts are supposed to give kids a long-term financial boost, but they’re poorly designed for real family needs. They don’t help with the high costs of childhood, they may widen wealth inequality because only well-off families can meaningfully contribute, and the tax treatment is actually worse than alternatives like 529 plans or custodial brokerage accounts. Investment choices are restricted to a narrow set of index funds, withdrawals are locked until age 18, and the program doesn’t address immediate issues such as childcare, healthcare, or poverty. For most parents, 529s, UTMAs, or even simply shoring up their own retirement accounts, offer better flexibility, tax advantages, and real-world results. Trump Accounts are more a political branding exercise than a policy that's going to result in anything for those who really need it.
-
Comment on An AI-generated country song is topping a Billboard chart, and that should infuriate us all in ~music
agentsquirrel LinkWhat should be more infuriating is that country music for the past several decades has been largely cookie-cutter songs, long before autotune came on the scene. It's no coincidence that the...What should be more infuriating is that country music for the past several decades has been largely cookie-cutter songs, long before autotune came on the scene. It's no coincidence that the country genre is the first to see an AI work on a chart, albeit digital sales and not one of the main charts. I think it's just a matter of time until we see AI songs on main country charts, and then other genres. Record companies exist for one reason: to make money. Eliminate the artist and you've eliminated a cost. Of course this won't work for music from an artist like Taylor Swift where there is a persona behind it, touring, etc., but for probably 90% of popular music, it will work, well.
-
Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
agentsquirrel LinkI'd buy the largest empty warehouse near a metropolitan area I could; we're talking 1/2/3+ million square foot of space. I'd renovate it to look pretty, but keep it empty, and open it to the...I'd buy the largest empty warehouse near a metropolitan area I could; we're talking 1/2/3+ million square foot of space. I'd renovate it to look pretty, but keep it empty, and open it to the public as "Trump's Museum of Lifetime Accomplishments".
-
Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
agentsquirrel Link ParentSure, but I can't say I've ever heard anyone talk about cassette degradation being charming. When someone drops a needle on a record and you hear the little pops from dust and stuff, you know it's...Sure, but I can't say I've ever heard anyone talk about cassette degradation being charming. When someone drops a needle on a record and you hear the little pops from dust and stuff, you know it's a record and there's a sort of nostalgia that comes with it. When someone hits play on a cassette and I hear hiss, I think "lousy audio system".
-
Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
agentsquirrel Link ParentDolby C was pretty darn good. I never had Dolby S, but I read that it approached CD quality. I did have some of my old decks stored in the garage but the rubber belts inside went bad rendering...Dolby C was pretty darn good. I never had Dolby S, but I read that it approached CD quality. I did have some of my old decks stored in the garage but the rubber belts inside went bad rendering them useless. I couldn't possibly see getting back into cassettes today, even as a retro hobby sort of thing. Vinyl is another story.
-
Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
agentsquirrel Link ParentA revival of any legacy digital format is unlikely considering one can put a lossless digital file on a USB stick.A revival of any legacy digital format is unlikely considering one can put a lossless digital file on a USB stick.
-
Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
agentsquirrel Link ParentVinyl and cassettes degrade differently. Records may get dusty, but you can clean them. But even with some dust, scratches, pops, and whatever, the degradation is kind of seen as acceptable and...Vinyl and cassettes degrade differently. Records may get dusty, but you can clean them. But even with some dust, scratches, pops, and whatever, the degradation is kind of seen as acceptable and somewhat charming. Cassettes on the other hand tend to get noisy and hissy, and get drop outs and flutter. Cassettes, back when I used them, seemed to be going bad the day you recorded on them, although commercially recorded tapes less so. Records can wear out, but I don't recall ever doing it. I certainly warped a few in a hot car.
-
Comment on Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury, an extraordinary escalation in US President Donald Trump’s effort to prosecute his political enemies in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentAgreed. I'm betting now that Trump has declared "antifa" a terrorist organization (a declaration with no legal framework against an organization that doesn't really exist), he's going to start up...Agreed. I'm betting now that Trump has declared "antifa" a terrorist organization (a declaration with no legal framework against an organization that doesn't really exist), he's going to start up investigations attempting to link Democratic politicians and organizations to antifa.
-
Comment on Jimmy Kimmel pulled “indefinitely” by ABC after Charlie Kirk comments in ~tv
agentsquirrel Link ParentFurthermore, HBO is not transmitted over FCC-licensed TV stations.Furthermore, HBO is not transmitted over FCC-licensed TV stations.
-
Comment on Jimmy Kimmel pulled “indefinitely” by ABC after Charlie Kirk comments in ~tv
agentsquirrel Link ParentThe crazy thing is the network doesn't actually have a broadcasting license, all the individual stations on that network that transmit radio waves are the ones who hold individual FCC licenses....I'm seeing now that the Trump regime was threatening to take their FCC broadcasting license if they didn't fire Kimmel. This is definitely terrifying.
The crazy thing is the network doesn't actually have a broadcasting license, all the individual stations on that network that transmit radio waves are the ones who hold individual FCC licenses. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is downright evil. He was a contributor to Project 2025 and he's been perfectly happy to leverage the FCC's regulatory power to shakedown companies; ABC, CBS/Paramount, NBC/Comcast, NPR/PBS/CPB, Verizon, and Dish have all gotten screwed over for DEI, programming content, or in the case of Dish, being a competitor to Musk. Like other federal agencies like the DoJ, FBI, and ICE, the FCC has been weaponized as Trump's personal retribution and revenge tool.
-
Comment on Is OpenWRT worthwhile at home? in ~comp
agentsquirrel Link ParentI will second the recommendation for going with MikroTik. They are so reasonably priced and are packed with tons of features, are easy to script, etc. Unless one really wants to nerd-out,...I will second the recommendation for going with MikroTik. They are so reasonably priced and are packed with tons of features, are easy to script, etc. Unless one really wants to nerd-out, repurpose some old hardware, or has a very specific use case, I don't think the effort required to deploy OpenWRT makes sense anymore.
-
Comment on Apparently impatient US President Donald Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentRegarding financial markets, I think you're right; its priced in and they've adapted. I'm thinking more of businesses that have to deal with supply chain uncertainty. They're going through hell.Regarding financial markets, I think you're right; its priced in and they've adapted. I'm thinking more of businesses that have to deal with supply chain uncertainty. They're going through hell.
-
Comment on Apparently impatient US President Donald Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea in ~society
agentsquirrel LinkI'm surprised business leaders aren't saying "enough is enough". If there's one thing businesses hate, it's uncertainty, and Trump is injecting uncertainty into supply chains and the economy on a...I'm surprised business leaders aren't saying "enough is enough". If there's one thing businesses hate, it's uncertainty, and Trump is injecting uncertainty into supply chains and the economy on a daily basis.
-
Comment on US Senate passes Donald Trump’s megabill after pulling all-nighter in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentBecause people need it drilled into their heads until they remember it and can bring it up in conversation without even thinking about it. This is what the conservative ecosystem has been doing...Because people need it drilled into their heads until they remember it and can bring it up in conversation without even thinking about it. This is what the conservative ecosystem has been doing for decades, quite successfully and it's paid off for them, in spades.
-
Comment on US Senate passes Donald Trump’s megabill after pulling all-nighter in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentYou're not wrong, though I think there's some portion of this that is due to ineptness. I'm not sure what the ratio of ineptness to complicity is, though it probably varies by person. For example,...You're not wrong, though I think there's some portion of this that is due to ineptness. I'm not sure what the ratio of ineptness to complicity is, though it probably varies by person. For example, Chuck "strongly worded statement" Schumer is really high up there on the complicity side.
-
Comment on US Senate passes Donald Trump’s megabill after pulling all-nighter in ~society
agentsquirrel LinkIf Democrats were smart they'd be running commercials 7/24 about the $3.3T hit to the deficit this bill carries.If Democrats were smart they'd be running commercials 7/24 about the $3.3T hit to the deficit this bill carries.
-
Comment on US Senate passes Donald Trump’s megabill after pulling all-nighter in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentMe, too. I ended my WaPo subscription.Me, too. I ended my WaPo subscription.
-
Comment on Managers say they are having trouble finding candidates for nearly 400,000 US manufacturing and technical jobs in ~finance
agentsquirrel Link ParentJust curious, how are you getting by, financially and health wise? I get the sense you haven't gone "full homeless" (if that makes sense) as you have a car, and you have some resources.Just curious, how are you getting by, financially and health wise? I get the sense you haven't gone "full homeless" (if that makes sense) as you have a car, and you have some resources.
I agree; getting billionaires to donate, anything, is a good thing. Unfortunately I think this is yet another "pay tribute to Trump" move.