The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly • Hacker News Board

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#51

Post by godelmachine » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 3:59 PM UTC

madengr wrote: post #49

gumby wrote: post #43

Like Cincinnatus, returning home after the war and taking up his plow. Two things have always struck me about Jimmy Carter: 1 - He was willing to nominate Volker to Fed chair even though he knew Volker's plan of raising interest rates massively would cost him (Carter) re-election. I believe he would have survived even the Iran crisis but for that, but it was the right thing to do. Reagan got all the credit for it sin…

The Iranian hostages were released the day of Reagan’s inauguration. Reagan would have bombed Iran. Carter’s diplomacy were just about effective as Obama’s lines in the sand. Sometimes diplomacy through a gun barrel is needed.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, speak soft but make sure you carry a big stick.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#52

Post by bdcravens » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 3:59 PM UTC

maxxxxx wrote: post #7

siberianbear wrote: post #2

I decided to submit this because I have always been fascinated with Jimmy Carter. What a genuine, decent person. But history has judged him as one of the worst presidents. I was in third grade when Carter was running for re-election against Ronald Reagan. Our teacher gave us an assignment to create a campaign poster for your favorite candidate. I chose Jimmy Carter, and added the campaign slogan, "I will gladly trade…

"But history has judged him as one of the worst presidents." I think he had a bit of bad luck with the economy of his time and also with the Iranian hostage situation. If freeing them had worked he would have been a superhero. Or he could have done it like Reagan with Iran-Contra: talk tough in public but secretly pay off the Iranians.

> I think he had a bit of bad luck with the economy

That's pretty much the way it goes with every president, good or bad luck, even though very little is the result of a small four-year window - it started well before that.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#53

Post by pmiller2 » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:04 PM UTC

How has no one pointed out after 8 hours that this man who “shuns riches” receives a pension that puts him in the 97.7th percentile of income[0], a fully funded office, medical benefits, and no housing costs other than property tax? For a majority of America, that would be riches beyond belief. Let’s not forget he plays golf with billionaires.

I’m sure Mr. Carter donates a substantial portion of his income and lives rather modestly by choice, but most people don’t have that choice.

Edit: slight numerical correction, source.

[0]: https://dqydj.com/income-percentile-calculator/

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#54

Post by detaro » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:06 PM UTC

madengr wrote: post #49

gumby wrote: post #43

Like Cincinnatus, returning home after the war and taking up his plow. Two things have always struck me about Jimmy Carter: 1 - He was willing to nominate Volker to Fed chair even though he knew Volker's plan of raising interest rates massively would cost him (Carter) re-election. I believe he would have survived even the Iran crisis but for that, but it was the right thing to do. Reagan got all the credit for it sin…

The Iranian hostages were released the day of Reagan’s inauguration. Reagan would have bombed Iran. Carter’s diplomacy were just about effective as Obama’s lines in the sand. Sometimes diplomacy through a gun barrel is needed.

Reagan, whose government later sold weapons to Iran while talking up an embargo to keep Iran away from the Soviets and to potentially help release hostages from Lebanon? Got a source on that claim?

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#55

Post by rectang » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:09 PM UTC

WillPostForFood wrote: post #47

rectang wrote: post #13

Modest living sets individuals and their ideas free.

The tennis court at former President Jimmy Carter’s private home is swept twice a day, his pool is cleaned daily and his grass cut, his flower beds weeded and his windows washed on a regular basis — all at taxpayers’ expense Relatively modest.

I'm fine with "relatively" as an assessment of Carter's lifestyle, but I think that's not germane to my point. The principle that living (relatively) within your means allows you to take bigger risks is way bigger than Carter.

Carter doesn't need to stay in good graces with organizations that might pay him to speak. That gives him greater freedom to follow his thoughts regardless of who they might offend.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#56

Post by abakker » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:10 PM UTC

gumby wrote: post #43

Like Cincinnatus, returning home after the war and taking up his plow. Two things have always struck me about Jimmy Carter: 1 - He was willing to nominate Volker to Fed chair even though he knew Volker's plan of raising interest rates massively would cost him (Carter) re-election. I believe he would have survived even the Iran crisis but for that, but it was the right thing to do. Reagan got all the credit for it sin…

It is really worth reading the Hunter S Thompson essay on Carter's "Law Day Speech". I think it was in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '76. It is extremely insightful.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#57

Post by musgrove » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

He's not the exception. Our presidents who leave office and amass enormous wealth (as well as celebrities and wealthy people Americans want to vote into office) are the global exceptions. Most "civil servants" in other countries serve their terms and go back to their regular jobs. The real story would be why America is the cultural anomaly.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#58

Post by musgrove » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

ornel wrote: post #50

We remember him in Panama for signing the treaty that gave us back the Canal and the surrounding military bases. He's the only US president I would shake hands with

You should check out "Panama's Rusty Lock."

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#59

Post by tptacek » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:18 PM UTC

pmiller2 wrote: post #53

How has no one pointed out after 8 hours that this man who “shuns riches” receives a pension that puts him in the 97.7th percentile of income[0], a fully funded office, medical benefits, and no housing costs other than property tax? For a majority of America, that would be riches beyond belief. Let’s not forget he plays golf with billionaires. I’m sure Mr. Carter donates a substantial portion of his income and lives…

The article discusses his pension and, if you reread it, points out that he does not in fact get medical benefits from his tenure in government.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#60

Post by mattkrause » Sun, Aug 19, 2018, 4:22 PM UTC

pmiller2 wrote: post #53

How has no one pointed out after 8 hours that this man who “shuns riches” receives a pension that puts him in the 97.7th percentile of income[0], a fully funded office, medical benefits, and no housing costs other than property tax? For a majority of America, that would be riches beyond belief. Let’s not forget he plays golf with billionaires. I’m sure Mr. Carter donates a substantial portion of his income and lives…

I’m not really sure where you’re going with this.

The point of the article, it seems to me, is that he has consciously chosen a modest, communitarian life, even though he could certainly arrange for more lavish surroundings.

Is your argument that he’s paid too much? If so, what do you think is reasonable compensation for one of the most stressful jobs on earth?