OT: Cessna & Bldg. Accident in Austin

I just heard on the news that the man piloting the plane had an ongoing problem with the IRS, and they were housed in that building. I also heard he had stolen the plane.

Sherry Starr

We've been watching the coverage off and on since it happened. It's sort of frustrating with all this "mights" they discuss. I'd prefer they wait to tell us the facts instead of what "might" have led up to this.

I'm keeping good thoughts and prayers for those in the building at the time of the crash and the family of the pilot.

Just heard on the news the pilot is dead. He allegedly set fire to his own house this morning. He posted a very long manifesto on line this morning. It now does not appear that the plane was actually stolen. He was an accomplished pilot. It is sad that someone would feel this was the only way out. He said in the manifesto that this was a long time in coming.

Sherry Starr

Does this make him a terror-ist or a terror-ized?

Sunny

If he wanted to take his own life -- he should have just done it without putting total strangers at risk. A beef with the IRS -- maybe -- but not the young mom answering the phone... or the new dad who is a file clerk barely making minimum wage... or the grandpa who is 6 months away from retirement after 45 years of work.

I'm sorry -- and I may be naive -- but I can't envision anyone being in such horrible trouble with the IRS that they would take such action unless they intentionally tried to work the system. People who try to "play the game" and get caught -- then get angry because they get caught -- I have no patience for. They can either pay up or be treated to 3 squares a day in a bar lined cell. People who make honest mistakes and are trying to work to set things straight almost always get a fair deal. Sometimes tax payers may be honest and right -- but failed to maintain the documentation to substantiate their situation. I empathize - but that's the way the system works.

Me -- I think he is absolutely a terrorist. If more details come out that prove he was abused by "the system" -- I'll take it back. But for now... I'm guessing that he was not being abused by the IRS. I'm guessing he was just being held accountable for the decisions he made and the actions he took.

If he flew the plane into the building deliberately, for whatever reason, he is/was a terrorist, in my opinion. One doesn't have to be a member of Al Qaeda or a foreigner to be a terrorist.

Julia > Me -- I think he is absolutely a terrorist. If more details come out

It's getting crazier and crazier out there. We are certainly noticing it. DH is the Health & Welfare administrator for all the union Pipefitters in the State of Kansas. He takes care of their health benefits and pension plans.

The union started a 401(k) Plan 10 years ago. They set up the rules so that it is difficult to get the money out. They set it up that way so the people would maybe have a decent retirement because not all of them work enough hours in the year to vest in the Pension Plans. Now, these guys get paid a very, VERY good wage, but they don't work all the time. Constructions work is mostly seasonal and you learn to save your money.

I tell you this background because every day Joe gets calls from guys who want "their" 401(k) money. He tells them they can't get at it until they've been out of work for a year. They threaten him in every way imaginable, then they calm down and in a year they get their money or they have gone back to work.

In the beginning, he used to get 3 - 4 really "bad" calls a year. Then it got to be once a month. Now almost every day, he gets people calling up screaming at him, threatening to beat him up and in some cases kill him.

We had to get a restraining order against a member who threatened to come over and blow up our house!

When did it become ok to talk to people like this?? I blame talk radio and the internet for making it acceptable to say anything you want with no repercussions.

Are people losing the ability to control themselves? Are we de-volving?

Cindy

Sherry -- we have "morphed" into a world of people who want what they want when they want it and they always want it now. People buying houses with

I don't know when it happened -- but "saving" and "earning" became dirty words. I get so angry when I hear about people feeling abused when their house is foreclosed (I'm not talking about those people who did things right... and everything just fell apart) or their vehicles are repossessed. I see way too many of my neighbors (young 20 and 30 somethings) -- driving brand new Escalades living in a 4000 square foot home. Then one of them loses a job and everything slips away. They bought homes using a 2nd mortgage as their down payment in order to "afford" it. Then they took ARM mortgages -- and 3 or 5 years down the road the mortgage went up (they were told it would) -- and the world is unfair.

I'm sorry -- I'll get off my soapbox. There are MANY people out there who are making financially responsible decisions but due to circumstances beyond their control -- things go in the ditch. I'm NOT talking about them. I'm talking about those that set themselves up to be living in a house of cards and when the breeze starts blowing can't understand why things are falling apart.

Grow up people. Take responsibility for your decisions. Look up the definition of delayed gratification. Flush the "entitlement" attitude and adopt the "I'll buy it when I can afford it outright!"