Just My Opinion Some Old and New Ideas Read online

How stuff works link.

  Why so long, the technology has been tested already on military atomic submarines, and civilian sealed environments. Simple tweaks and some resupply will solve the remaining problems.

  Some tweaks [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ] are ready for implementation and use. They don't have to be perfect, just functional! Plus the trained professionals in space will work on improving their environment while they live there. General link for those that like to read.

  Asteroids, classification and mining for raw materials to supplement space exploration and colonization needs.

  ~ ~ ~

  Below are the links for chapter 3. I wish to thank all those that contributed to the information available at these sites. I also give credit to them and the websites for allowing public use of their accumulated knowledge and the ability of their sponsors for allowing public use and access.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_habitat

  https://www.quadibloc.com/science/spaint.htm

  https://www.iase.cc/openair.htm

  https://www.spacetourismnow.com/space-habitats.htm

  https://pinktentacle.com/2010/06/futuristic-mega-projects-by-shimizu/

  https://spacetoday.net/

  https://science.howstuffworks.com/inflatable-spacecraft2.htm

  https://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/self-sufficient-space-habitat-designed/

  https://www.wired.com/2010/09/hard-space-polymers/

  https://www.islandone.org/Settlements/MagShield.html

  https://ramblingsonthefutureofhumanity.blogspot.com/2009/10/designing-space-habitat.html

  https://www.boomslanger.com/images/space_settlements.pdf

  https://www.hobbyspace.com/Links/spaceLife.html

  https://www.spacestationinfo.com/

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  Chapter 4 Jobs

  I and everyone else wants a high paying job. But think about it! If everyone has a high paying job those wages and salaries must come from somewhere. Products furnished will have those wages and salaries folded into the overall cost, plus the cost of materials, cost of machinery or farm land to produce the products, cost of transportation, cost of storage in warehouses and stores, transportation, plus others I'll not list here. Sounds like a no win situation, doesn't it.

  Well here is a possible solution to think about. Minimum wage was originally set to allow employers to hire, train, and evaluate employees to see if they were acceptable for the job. Well, lets go back to that premise. A young person out of high school doesn't have any job skills, unless they're exceptional and either started their own business, like a lawn mowing business, or were taught by their parents or school.

  These young people probably still live at home with their parents. They may live together with friends. Where ever they live their expenses are less than average on the whole.

  Now if these young people are hired at minimum wage, trained by the company hiring them, they will earn pay increase. This increase gives them a goal. Without goals in life a person stagnates. True there are certain jobs and locations that require specialized clothing and equipment for a workers health and protection. The cost of that could be included in the cost of hiring that employee on a case by case basis by the company. The company hiring that individual knows what protective equipment their workers need for safety and to do the job efficiently.

  The education system should go back to the old system of educational tracks for college and vocational training. There are thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of jobs out in the job market for manual laborers, and specialty jobs like welding and machinist to mention two.

  What do you think? Young men and women graduating from high school with entry level skills ranging from clerks to welders.

  Like I told my grandson over a decade ago, you don't have to go to college, you like cars with a passion. I suggested to him that he attend a automotive technical school.

  Another grandson jumped from job to job for a few years, so I told him to look for one that he liked, not one that paid a high wage where he wanted to live. He found a job as an assistant to a cabinet maker. He struggled for a couple of years, meaning he and his wife both had to work to make ends meet. Now his wife isn't working and he has a nice house. That I call a success story. He found a niche in the economy, he, his wife, and children have a nice house to live in, and he pays his bills each month with some cash left over to buy some of the luxuries like the big screen TV he bought last year for cash. His biggest problem is that he isn't satisfied with the store bought furniture he originally furnished his home with, and is now building custom furniture and cabinets to replace each piece one at a time in his spare time on the weekends. A real bad problem, Ha Ha.

  I know a couple that struggles to make ends meet. Two years ago I hired their son to mow my yard during the summer. The kid wasn't satisfied with what I paid him so he got another and then a few other customers. Last year after buying a new mower, weed-eater, blower, and the expenses for operating them, he bought himself a laptop computer a bunch of other stuff he wanted, but didn't really need. Because they live in Texas he is irritated that it doesn't snow. He says if it snowed he could make money all year long. He is slowly gathering quality equipment and he wants to start a landscaping business when he graduates from high school. But then again, if he finds another passion, he can use the business he wants to start as a base to build from. He is building his work ethic and a good work reputation. He will be prepared when he enters the work force after high school.

  I have another friend that gave his children everything that they wanted. He and his wife are disappointed with their children because they both got into trouble after high school. Neither could hold a job. The children's lives have been one catastrophe after another because they never learned the word no. They never had to work for anything and had no goals. They thought the world owed them a living and anything they wanted.

  My opining is that if you really love your children, occasionally tell them no. Give them a hug and explain that life isn't a free ride and discuss what they want to do when they grow up. Make them work, odd jobs or chores to earn the extra money to buy the little luxuries that they want. Encourage them and point out the fact that they need to prepare themselves with not just with an education but a work ethic. Help them build their own dreams and goals for their lives.

  ~ ~ ~

  Chapter 5

  New Improved Super Tax Plan and Federal Budget

  The below is overly simplistic, but I vaguely remember throwing it together in an hour or two during tax season a few years ago. I remember that I was irritated that I owed additional taxes that year and when I figured my taxes by my simple plan I there was only a hundred or two difference. I'm still irritated at the amount of taxes I pay each year because of the way I see the money going down the drain for highways to nowhere, the study of sex habits of worms, and watching shrimp running on a treadmill. Somebody up there has to have some common sense, or was it educated out of them?

  New Improved Super Tax Plan and Federal Budget (NOTE 2)

  What I'd like to see in the new improved super tax plan (Personal):

  1.list income from all sources (this includes salaries, bonuses and reimbursements from all sources)

  2.list all local taxes paid (city, county, & state)

  3.list all charitable donations

  4.Count and list deductions (Yourself and persons you support by 75% or more. You will subtract $10500 for each deduction.)

  Subtract items 2, 3, & 4 from item 1. (Note 3) Write your check for 15% (NOTE 1) to Internal Revenue Service (US income tax).

  Business and Corporations:

  1. Income from all sources domestic and foreign.

  2. List all expenses:

  1.Purchases to manufacture products

  2.Purchases of property and equipment

  3.Local taxes paid (city, county, & stat
e)

  4.List foreign taxes paid (50% deductible)

  5.list all charitable donations

  6.list all taxes paid on domestic employees.

  7.Foreign employee taxes are only 50% deductible.

  3.List item 1, subtract item 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, & 2.6.

  4.Calculate item 4 & 7. Subtract that line 3.

  5.* WARNING * If your tax lawyers find unethical loop holes and use them the IRS will find them. This also includes what's commonly referred to as creative bookkeeping. When you are caught your business and corporation tax rate will be increased by an additional 10% for the years in question. A decent profit margin is 5% to 10%.

  6.Write your check for 15% to Internal Revenue Service (US income tax).

  7.Remaining profits may be distributed to share and stock holders or used to improve your business. These distributions and improvements will be listed on your next years taxes.

  NOTE 1: Tax rate of 15% (NOTE 1) will remain in effect until national debt is below 10 trillion dollars. When national debt is between 5 and 10 trillion dollars the tax rate will drop to 13%. When national debt is between 1 and 5 trillion dollars the tax rate will drop to 11%. When tax rate is below 1 trillion dollars the tax rate will drop to 10%.

  NOTE 2: Congress will pass a national budget that does not exceed 20% of the gross national product. The base of the budget will be only the duties of the federal government outlined in the original Constitution of the United States before any amendments. Additional budget lines are at the discretion of the administration provided they don't total more than 20% of the gross national product.

  If the congress fails to pass and the President sign a national budget within the prescribed amount the House of Representatives, US Senate, and President will forfeit all pay and allowances until until a federal budget is passed and signed.

  Note 3: If you did not pay federal taxes you get nothing back. If your taxes due are zero or below, you get nothing back.

  About the Author

  I've loved westerns and science fiction since I picked up my first book at the public library.

  I've been writing on my computer for years. I never planned on any of my stories being published, just to be read by myself, family, and friends. The base journal is on forty spreadsheets with links to about a thousand files of short one day paragraphs plus other stories.

  Other books by this author

  Grandpa's Hot Sauce

  Scout Expedition

  Az

  Pacific 41

  The Plan and other short stories

  The Impossible Ambition

  From Texas to New York

  Connect with Stephen Brandon

  My other website: Saturn Stories

  Write me a note: ideas spreadsheet or comments

  ~(ToC)~