BC FINANCE
Saved by @jacobhtml

I'm getting a lot of questions about the prayer before the #ImpeachmentTrial at the Senate. This #THREAD has your answers.

The prayer is given by Senate Chaplain Barry Black. Yes, the Senate has a chaplain. Yes, your tax dollars pay his salary. And the numbers are shocking:

 I wrote about this back in 2016. https://t.co/vdc8EGhxPW

From 2000-2015, Congress spent more than $10 million on prayers, the vast majority of which are to the Christian god (more than 96% of prayers in the House were Christian).
The Senate Rules give the chaplain ONE job: to pray.
https://t.co/6dEjnnfy0x

Do chaplains do other things? Sure. But they're paid to pray. The claim that they accommodate the religious freedom of Members of Congress may have made sense when DC was an unpopulated swamp...
...but not in an age where houses of worship are on every street corner in DC and when members can zoom with religious counselors of their choice back home or anywhere else. Religious consolation is easy to find.

They chaplains are paid to pray.

And they are paid an awful lot.
The House Chaplain makes $172,500 (2018)
The Senate Chaplain makes $160,787 (2018)

Again, their only job is to say the opening prayer.
https://t.co/a3YrOqPgOZ
Now, my numbers are 4 years old, but we were paying $800K each year for prayers back in 2016 because the chaplains each has staffers. Five staffers plus two chaplains for 7 total. I believe that's changed somewhat.
And even with those fat salaries, the official chaplains let “guest chaplains” deliver many of the prayers—about 40% in the House. The House chaplains gave 1,341 invocations from 2000-2015, or about 84 invocations each year. Guest chaplains gave another 857 over that same span.
Can you imagine making $170,000 a year to work for about 3 minutes a day for 84 days?

I can't. But we are all paying for it. That's our tax dollars at work.

And one more thing before we get to the legal questions: nobody in Congress really listens to the prayer.
A few years back, I asked U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan how many members actually sit through the prayers. He said, "no one's in the room...it's pretty much in an empty room." Watch for yourself.
https://t.co/K9unDBXS1l
So we pay $800K each year for, at most, a couple of hundred prayers that nobody really pays attention to.

Sure, the chaplains do other things, but Members of Congress can get those services for free at any house of worship.
Yeah, you should be pissed.

So, here's the big question. How is this constitutional? How is this allowed?

Well, it's unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court said it was OK. Why? Because we've been doing it for a long time.

Yes, seriously.
I wrote about this in The Founding Myth.
https://t.co/V8Guikoz85

TLDR: Chaplains are an old tradition.
The argument from tradition is awful. If a practice can't stand on its merits, it should fall.

"We've always done it this way" is not a legal argument, it's an admission that you have none. Slavery. Segregation. The subjugation of women. Where would we be if tradition held sway?
The First Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." And yet, Congress has established and funded two national preachers.

In that 1983 case, Justices Brennan and Thurgood Marshall said his stupidly unconstitutional:
"In sum, I have no doubt that, if any group of law students were asked to apply the principles of [the First Amendment legal test] to the question of legislative prayer, they would nearly unanimously find the practice to be unconstitutional."

This. Is. Easy.

One last thing...
What terrible calamities would befall Congress without the chaplains? If the court were to declare the positions unconstitutional, as is clearly required by the First Amendment, what would happen?

Nothing. We'd all be just fine.
Nobody attends the prayers anyway, but even if they did, even if prayer was crucial to some Member's daily routine, they could still pray. Nothing would stop them. But we don't need paid chaplains for a Senator to bow her head in prayer.

Let's abolish the chaplaincies.

~FIN

More from Finance

Route 2 FI \U0001f4c8
Route 2 FI 📈
@Route2FI
I reached financial independence and quit my 9-5 job this week at 33 years old to work with my own projects.

A thread with lessons about:

-freedom
-time
-money

One day in 2018 when I was in my 9-5 cubicle, I thought to myself while I stared out of the window:

How could I continue waking up every morning and be totally unexcited about everything I was going to do day after day?

This led me to Google:

“How to quit my job forever”.

You know the rest of the story.

Early Retirement Extreme and Mr. Money Mustache are the first pages popping up.

I read everything in a couple of days.

There was really no way back.

WTF, could I quit my job in a couple of years by investing?

I have always been pretty good at handling money, but earlier on I'd just pay down my mortgage faster.

Now I was going all-in on investing.

I started saving and earning more money by changing my 9-5 job.

Starting out I had a savings rate of 40%.

Last 5 months SR: over 90%

I got addicted to investing.

It was like a game.

My salary was increasing every month and on top of that, I started earning more online than I did in my 9-5.

I started dreaming about $100M.

But, then I reflected:

"What will I sacrifice if I continue like this for 30+ years?
FINANCE
Kostas \U0001f468\u200d\U0001f4bc \U0001f4c8 \U0001f4b8
Kostas 👨‍💼 📈 💸...
@itsKostasWithK
This year I started writing daily on Twitter about finance and investing and gained more than 500 followers in 2 weeks

Here are the main things I learned on Twitter growth

1. Brand
2. Content
3. Engagement
4. Networking
5. Tools

/THREAD/

1. Brand
You need to find a niche you are interested in and focus on it
E.g. finance, fashion, travel, etc.

Adjust your profile by adding a profile picture and banner that will show someone what your profile is about and why they should follow you.

Add a linktree that will have all the links for your blog, website, newsletter, etc.

2. Content
Don't wait to gain followers before posting. Nobody will follow you if they see an empty feed.

Start posting daily focusing more on single tweets or threads that provide insights on a topic people in your niche might be interested in.

At first, it will feel like talking to a mirror.

Have a pinned tweet, which will be your best one that will catch the attention of someone visiting your profile.
FINANCE
Advertisement
Abayorr Mi
Abayorr Mi
@iamabayorr
10 Biggest Bank Robberies of All Time

Thieves made off with billions in these daring, historic heists.

A THREAD


10. The Dunbar Armored robbery

Stolen: $18.9 million

In 1997,6 men pulled off what remains the biggest cash heist in the history of the United States. The leader was Allen Pace, who turned out to be the worst "safety inspector" the Dunbar Armored trucking company ever employed.


Pace timed the security cameras at the Dunbar facility in Los Angeles so he could avoid them, and recruited five childhood friends to help him rob the vault. They broke in, assaulted two guards on their lunch breaks and loaded $18.9 million dollars into a U-Haul.

They almost got away with it — except one robber got sloppy and lent some of the stolen cash to a friend without removing the original cash straps.


9. The United California bank heist

Stolen: $30 million

In 1972, Amil Dinsio, a professional criminal from Ohio, assembled a gang of six robbers and flew them to California. They rented a town house and planned a heist on a bank where they had (mistakenly) heard President
FINANCE
\u0645\u0627\u0633\u0679\u0631 \u0645\u0627\u0626\u0646\u0688
ماسٹر مائنڈ...
@I_M_Imrann
*GOOD NEWS*                 
1. According to latest World  Bank ranking in Ease of Doing Business, Pakistan’s ranking in this indicator has improved from 130 to 72 and is placed at 2nd position in South Asian countries in terms of Ease of Starting a Business, after 30 years.

2. Karachi circular railway restored, after 20 years.
3. Payment dues to Steel Mills employees paid, after7 years.
4. Re-activation of textile industry in Pakistan, after 13 years.
5. Pakistan has been put on an Export Led Growth  rather the previous import led growth strategy

and has registered an increase in exports, after 8 years.
6. Current account surplus, after 20 years.
7- Pakistan's exports to UK top $1 billion ( $1.2 billion) in first six months of fiscal year, after 74 years.
8. Lifafa journalism exposed ,after 30 years.

9. India exposed on Kashmir internationally, after 30 years.
10. Pakistan saved from paying $1.2bn penalty as Karkey dispute 'amicably solved, after 7 years.
11. Indian Propaganda Network smashed through  EU ( Info - lab ) Indian Chronicles, after 74 years.

12- Pakistan has been named the top holiday destination for travellers for the year 2020 by the United States-based luxury and lifestyle publication Conde Nast Traveler, after 74 years.
The listing follows several positive reviews of the tourist attractions in the country by
FINANCE
Trung Phan \U0001f1e8\U0001f1e6
Trung Phan 🇨🇦...
@TrungTPhan
Our intuitions often leads us astray. A good reminder: study counterintuitive math and economic results.

Here are 9 of them 🧵

The Birthday Paradox

In a room of 23 people, there's a >50% chance that 2 people share the same birthday.

This type of probabilistic thinking does *not* come naturally to many people.


The Coastline Paradox

Fractal geometry is also confounding:

The coastline of a landmass does not have a well-defined measurement. As the unit of measurement gets smaller (eg. from KMs to cm), the length increases without limit.


Winner's Curse

In an auction, the winning bid will usually exceed the intrinsic worth of an item leading to a significant overpay (and negative net profit for the winner).


Braess's Paradox

Removing an extra road can make everyone's commute time faster.

Why? The existence of a "fast" road leads to congestion because everyone uses it. If you remove the shortcut, traffic flows better.
FINANCE , COUNTERINTUITIVE

You May Also Like

Vibhu Vashisth
Vibhu Vashisth
@VIBHU_Tweet
दधीचि ऋषि को मनाही थी कि वह अश्विनी कुमारों को किसी भी अवस्था में ब्रह्मविद्या का उपदेश नहीं दें। ये आदेश देवराज इन्द्र का था।वह नहीं चाहते थे कि उनके सिंहासन को प्रत्यक्ष या परोक्ष रुप से कोई भी खतरा हो।मगर जब अश्विनी कुमारों ने सहृदय प्रार्थना की तो महर्षि सहर्ष मान गए।


और उन्होनें ब्रह्मविद्या का ज्ञान अश्विनि कुमारों को दे दिया। गुप्तचरों के माध्यम से जब खबर इन्द्रदेव तक पहुंची तो वे क्रोध में खड़ग ले कर गए और महर्षि दधीचि का सर धड़ से अलग कर दिया।मगर अश्विनी कुमार भी कहां चुप बैठने वाले थे।उन्होने तुरंत एक अश्व का सिर महर्षि के धड़ पे...


...प्रत्यारोपित कर उन्हें जीवित रख लिया।उस दिन के पश्चात महर्षि दधीचि अश्वशिरा भी कहलाए जाने लगे।अब आगे सुनिये की किस प्रकार महर्षि दधीचि का सर काटने वाले इन्द्र कैसे अपनी रक्षा हेतु उनके आगे गिड़गिड़ाए ।

एक बार देवराज इन्द्र अपनी सभा में बैठे थे, तो उन्हे खुद पर अभिमान हो आया।


वे सोचने लगे कि हम तीनों लोकों के स्वामी हैं। ब्राह्मण हमें यज्ञ में आहुति देते हैं और हमारी उपासना करते हैं। फिर हम सामान्य ब्राह्मण बृहस्पति से क्यों डरते हैं ?उनके आने पर क्यों खड़े हो जाते हैं?वे तो हमारी जीविका से पलते हैं। देवर्षि बृहस्पति देवताओं के गुरु थे।

अभिमान के कारण ऋषि बृहस्पति के पधारने पर न तो इन्द्र ही खड़े हुए और न ही अन्य देवों को खड़े होने दिया।देवगुरु बृहस्पति इन्द्र का ये कठोर दुर्व्यवहार देख कर चुप चाप वहां से लौट गए।कुछ देर पश्चात जब देवराज का मद उतरा तो उन्हे अपनी गलती का एहसास हुआ।
ALL
\uc2e0\ub150\uc758\uc0ac\ub098\uc774
신념의사나이...
@Belposto_korea
The RV and the Redemption Funds.

ALL Exchanged Currencies as well as all Zim Redemption funds will be placed in the accounts they set up in the Quantum Financial System./1

Absolutely none of these funds will be placed in a Bank at the redemption appointment. Bank computers cannot be programmed to transfer Digital Gold Certificates./2

The QFS can and will transplant funds into a bank account as has been explained earlier,/3

so a person can transfer funds to their own bank account but the desirability will become less and less as the banks go into receivership and their customer’s deposits are confiscated to avoid the Bank’s demise./4

Which bank can compete with the QFS when the QFS is free, secure, private, and stable? One of the major problems in the transition will be the use of Debit Cards for merchant purchases. Will VISA or Mastercard be available?/5
FINANCE
Advertisement
Professor
Professor
@DillikiBiili
So friends here is the thread on the recommended pathway for new entrants in the stock market.

Here I will share what I believe are essentials for anybody who is interested in stock markets and the resources to learn them, its from my experience and by no means exhaustive..

First the very basic : The Dow theory, Everybody must have basic understanding of it and must learn to observe High Highs, Higher Lows, Lower Highs and Lowers lows on charts and their

Even those who are more inclined towards fundamental side can also benefit from Dow theory, as it can hint start & end of Bull/Bear runs thereby indication entry and exits.


Next basic is Wyckoff's Theory. It tells how accumulation and distribution happens with regularity and how the market actually

Dow theory is old but
SCREENERS , ALL , MARKETESSENTIALS
Brian Cates
Brian Cates
@drawandstrike
A lot of people don't understand that Trump & his incoming team didn't face a normal transition period, like it was over a in a matter of a few weeks or months.

The DOJ transition period JUST ENDED when Sessions left. Almost 2 exact years to get it there.

Pompeo at the CIA took over a year before he was done and ready to shift over to the State Department.

All kinds of stuff has been going on behind the scenes nobody leaks or talks about.

We only had the barest mention of the fact the Clinton Email investigation restarted

Nobody leaked in a year that Huber was deep diving into the Clinton Foundation.
Keep that in mind as all the usual suspects continue to INSIST nothing is happening/going to happen.
POLITICS
KENYAN\U0001f1f0\U0001f1ea HISTORY\U0001f1f0\U0001f1ea
KENYAN🇰🇪 HISTORY🇰🇪...
@historykenya101
Have you ever wondered why the sons and daughters of the colonial chiefs and guards who were collaborators live a good life while those of the MAU MAU fighters live in abject poverty?

***THREAD***


It should be known that the colonialists reached a point that they knew they had 2 leave Kenya since they couldn't handle the Mau Mau war & the world was moving toward accepting independent Africa.However,the colonialists devised an evil scheme that still eats Kenya upto this day

Under this scheme, the colonial state came up with a plan that saw the first crop of chiefly “big men” being empowered financially to take their children to schools and eventually have those children go to England for further studies...

...and eventually providing a ready-made socio-economic & political class whom state power could be entrusted in the post-colonial era.This explains why their children & grandchildren still hold majority of important positions in govt or in the private sector supported by state.

This also explains why children and grandchildren of these homeguards are always given preferential treatment when it comes to government appointments. Wewe na masomo yako you are always asking why you can never get a job in government...yet you're qualified..now you know.
HISTORY