When I mentioned the corrupt Fat Elvis version of what unions once were, I was referring more to the Banana Dictatorship level malfeasance of senior union officials we keep reading about, not union workers themselves.

I think the point is that unions initially raised the bar for treating laborers with dignity and not viewing them just as a commodity to exploit for profit.

The 401K, lilely wouldn’t have happened if pensions were not the precursor to modern retirement benefits. 

Agreed.

Yes, good old benevolent Henry.

Yep. Some of the work rules are insane. Case in point: Back in my old Chrysler zone office days, I once got called out for using corporate letterhead, typing my own letters, and daring to use the shared printer, which was way faster than putting it on the union secretary’s desk and waiting two days for her to screw it…

When I think of ghost cars, the first gen Integra also comes to mind.

Funny - you missed the point completely. 

Good for Biden to leave Tesla uninvited.

White guy here who spent 31 years in various management positions at a Big 3 OEM.

See, Mercedes dealers in New York DO stock fun colors on occasion.

Another significant factor in increased manufacturer profits, besides reduced incentive costs, is a much more profitable mix of vehicles sold. 

I’m not sure I understand what you mean. The 4% rule is just a good general annual withdrawal rate guideline assuming normal inflation and a 30 year retirement window.

$80k is 4% of 2 million, not 8%.

I would strongly suggest you get her to set up an irrevocable trust to protect her assets should she end up in a nursing home.

2 million in an IRA or 401k will reasonably allow you to withdraw about $80K/yr - before taxes. Nice, but nothing extraordinary for a well established upper middle class older couple.

True, unless you are fortunate enough to have a chain like Punch Pizza nearby that understands the technique and the wonderfulness of genuine Naples style pizza.

In Naples, where they invented pizza, any respectable restaurant owner would have you thrown in the nearest dumpster for even suggesting pineapple.

Pineapple on a pizza is an abomination against man and nature. I'm reasonably certain it was forbidden in the Old Testament.

I wasn’t suggesting the CHP officer shouldn’t or wouldn’t be facing consequences for not stopping. The kid’s injury was very much self inflicted, though.