Devotion....nuts.....or just too much money?

[Pappymn]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/09/12/texas-man-pays-record-115000-for-12thman-license-plate/?intcmp=HPBucket

[sliding_billy]

All of the above.

[deestafford]

That sounds like a lot of money to most of us but to that fellow it's probably like one of us finding ribs on sale for $1 a pound and we buy on slab. Afterall, we're talking about Texas here.  Dee

[pmillen]

I don't think I would like him if we met.  There are people in Texas going to bed hungry or going without health care and he feels okay about spending $115,000 for a (censored) license plate.  He may not turn a blind eye to social problems.  He may be a significant philanthropist.  But $115,000 so he can be noticed?

When I was in college I met some students who were communists.  I used to wonder how they could think that way until one morning I was jogging in an affluent Phoenix neighborhood.  In one yard I saw a crew of groundskeepers sweating while they pumped their hedge clippers.  On the patio sat two teenagers enjoying their breakfast.  Those gardeners must have looked at them and thought, "It's only an accident of birth that I'm over here and they're over there sipping ice cold orange juice."

I thought, "Oh, that's how people become communists.  Communists say, 'No one should have a fur coat until everyone has a warm coat.'"

[TentHunteR]

That price tag gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Everything is bigger in Texas!"

[sliding_billy]

I don't think I would like him if we met.  There are people in Texas going to bed hungry or going without health care and he feels okay about spending $115,000 for a (censored) license plate.  He may not turn a blind eye to social problems.  He may be a significant philanthropist.  But $115,000 so he can be noticed?

When I was in college I met some students who were communists.  I used to wonder how they could think that way until one morning I was jogging in an affluent Phoenix neighborhood.  In one yard I saw a crew of groundskeepers sweating while they pumped their hedge clippers.  On the patio sat two teenagers enjoying their breakfast.  Those gardeners must have looked at them and thought, "It's only an accident of birth that I'm over here and they're over there sipping ice cold orange juice."

I thought, "Oh, that's how people become communists.  Communists say, 'No one should have a fur coat until everyone has a warm coat.'"

Not to turn this into a political argument, but communism doesn't solve that.  The ruling elite in a communist political state (communism is not an economic model) are still "haves."  True socialism is another story.  Neither work because human nature makes it impossible for a collective to ever work purely for the good of the group.  In the U.S. for example, most liberals are OK with rich actors, musicians and athletes.  They just aren't OK with rich businessmen (unless they make cool toys that they like - i.e. Apple).  OK, I am getting off my soapbox before Smoke or Tee edits the thread.

[LostArrow]

As Paul Harvey says " the rest of the story"
He's buying it for someone else, & most of the money goes to A&M.

[pmillen]

Not to turn this into a political argument, but communism doesn't solve that.  The ruling elite in a communist political state (communism is not an economic model) are still "haves."  True socialism is another story.  Neither work because human nature makes it impossible for a collective to ever work purely for the good of the group.  In the U.S. for example, most liberals are OK with rich actors, musicians and athletes.  They just aren't OK with rich businessmen (unless they make cool toys that they like - i.e. Apple).  OK, I am getting off my soapbox before Smoke or Tee edits the thread.

I agree.

[teesquare]

Freedom always presents us with moral dilemmas..... If I had the money to do something of that magnitude - I would rether do something that was more...... "ethically worthwhile".

But - I recognize that the same freedom that I enjoy should apply to others, to do with their own resources as they see fit. That is what makes us so fortunate to live in the USA. Not a perfect system - by far - but, still the best for freedom and opportunity to self determine your own destiny, and that of your money ( post tax net of course ).

AND....
Let me just point to something that many of us over-look. This forum has grown in a very organic manner. We usually invite folks that we know. The commonalities of geography or social connections assist us in growing in this manner.
But - there is SO much that we can learn from other people in other countries about cooking outdoors - and their types of BBQ.
The one social commonality possessed by every nationality, and ethnic group of mankind is the tradition of cooking outdoors over a fire in some form or fashion. Think about that.... For some - it is ceremonial and for only special occasions - and for some, it is for daily sustenance. But ALL men and women around the globe enjoy what we love as well
We now are gaining members from other countries, and everyone should have pride in their homeland. We just want to be good representatives of LTBBQ by not isolating ourselves from the rest of the world in our comments.( I am saying this to myself in the mirror as I type this )
So, the less we allow politics to interfere with cooking talk, the more likely we will see new members from other countries posting pictures and recipes that add an entirely new dimension to you cooking fun....I want to be clear in this - I am NOT expecting anyone to feel ashamed of who you are, where you live, and what your political views are. Far from it!
But, I would ask that we try to not alienate others by posting things that clearly can lead to others stereotyping you or LTBBQ as ANY one particular group, political or otherwise. This is not always easy ( Again - I am talking in mirror here  ).

Balance, fairness, consideration for differences of opinion, and open minds. Those are the hallmarks of a true quality driven community - and I am confident that you feel that way as well.
Because our real strength is in the variety of concepts and ideas that we all bring to "the table" ( pun intended ) let's all remember that the "prime directive of LTBBQ is to HAVE FUN.
OR CREDO:
BBQ…neither verb or noun…it is an experience…& best when shared with friends

[TwoPockets]

They were discussing this on sports talk radio today. Turns out the guy who bought the tag is going to give it to an A&M graduate who is a wounded warrior. They will have the rights to the tag for 10 years and first right for renewal. So sounds like it is not nuts or too much money but a way of paying something back to one of our wounded warriors. He hasn't announced who will be receiving the tag yet.

[teesquare]

 ;)And there we have it....."the rest of the story".......

What a nice ending, and a shame that the early reports by the bottom feeders in the media biz  did not include the benevolent part of it.

[Pappymn]

I've always said it is not what the media decides to tell you, it's what they decide NOT to tell you.

[Keymaster]

They showed this on our news tonight...

http://www.kirotv.com/videos/sports/video-seahawks-fans-send-12th-man-flag-into-space/vCCQ9c/

[RickB]

I don't think I would like him if we met.  There are people in Texas going to bed hungry or going without health care and he feels okay about spending $115,000 for a (censored) license plate.  He may not turn a blind eye to social problems.  He may be a significant philanthropist.  But $115,000 so he can be noticed?

When I was in college I met some students who were communists.  I used to wonder how they could think that way until one morning I was jogging in an affluent Phoenix neighborhood.  In one yard I saw a crew of groundskeepers sweating while they pumped their hedge clippers.  On the patio sat two teenagers enjoying their breakfast.  Those gardeners must have looked at them and thought, "It's only an accident of birth that I'm over here and they're over there sipping ice cold orange juice."

I thought, "Oh, that's how people become communists.  Communists say, 'No one should have a fur coat until everyone has a warm coat.'"

The most ridiculous post I have ever read in my life.

[teesquare]

They showed this on our news tonight...

http://www.kirotv.com/videos/sports/video-seahawks-fans-send-12th-man-flag-into-space/vCCQ9c/

Must be Aggie fan's... 'Cause The 12th Man belongs to Texas A&M!!!