FARK.com: (7134296) Truman's paperboy finally gets his $7.50 (plus interest)

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		Truman's paperboy finally gets his $7.50 (plus interest) (abcnews.go.com)		43
		More: Amusing, Harry Truman, Chicago Daily Tribune, Kansas City Independent Examiner

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11322 clicks; posted to Main » on 30 May 2012 at 12:05 PM | Favorite | share:

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RexTalionis		2012-05-30 11:30:34 AM

After Truman's presidency, he was so destitute that Congress created a pension for former presidents so that Harry Truman wouldn't have to live in abject poverty. Truman's friend and former president Hoover, who was pretty wealthy, elected to take the pension even though he didn't need it to spare Harry Truman the shame of being the only one to take the pension.

jackiepaper		2012-05-30 11:51:02 AM

The paperboy in question...

ChipNASA		2012-05-30 12:08:27 PM

RedT		2012-05-30 12:10:49 PM

jackiepaper: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 262x192]

The paperboy in question...

Came for this.

/leaving satisfied

buckler		2012-05-30 12:12:12 PM

It was the switchblade comb that reall-

Oh. Never mind.

Tyrone Biggums		2012-05-30 12:12:35 PM

RedT: jackiepaper: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 262x192]

The paperboy in question...

Came for this.

/leaving satisfied

Seconded.

G-Rot		2012-05-30 12:13:23 PM

He was Better off Dead.

/yeah, I know someone already beat me to the reference.

Saborlas		2012-05-30 12:14:17 PM

Tyrone Biggums: RedT: jackiepaper: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 262x192]

The paperboy in question...

Came for this.

/leaving satisfied

Seconded.

It's amazing how iconic such a minor character became.

gregory311		2012-05-30 12:16:50 PM

jackiepaper: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 262x192]

The paperboy in question...

Perfectly excellent.

wambu		2012-05-30 12:18:31 PM

Don't stiff the paperboy.

i.imgur.com

IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T		2012-05-30 12:20:45 PM

$56.63? So the institute completely disregarded inflation? $7.50 in 1947 is worth $78.72 in today's dollars, without accounting for interest.

/Cheap bastards!

Organic Chemistry		2012-05-30 12:22:05 PM

What was the final payment with the interest included?

CygnusDarius		2012-05-30 12:42:47 PM

Saborlas: Tyrone Biggums: RedT: jackiepaper: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 262x192]

The paperboy in question...

Came for this.

/leaving satisfied

Seconded.

It's amazing how iconic such a minor character became.

It's all about the little things in life.

Hoopy Frood		2012-05-30 12:45:56 PM

Harry Truman, shown here in the iconic image with a misprinted Chicago Daily Tribune

That had nothing to do with the printers. Blame the editor who rushed to judgment.

brantgoose		2012-05-30 12:47:51 PM

Astronaut: I claim this planet, Plutarchos, in the name of Earth.

Paperboy: You know what would be a great way of celebrating this giant leap for sentient beings? That three fiddy you owe me for the Mars Pennysaver.

Astronaut: Sorry, kid. I have three fiddy in my pocket but I can't take off my spacesuit because of the ammonia rain. How the Hell are you breathing, by the way?

Paperboy: I can hold my breath for a long time because I practiced for years while going past the Crazy Cat Lady House at full speed, cycling up hill against a strong prevailing wind and Earth gravity.

markb289		2012-05-30 12:48:28 PM

IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T: $56.63? So the institute completely disregarded inflation? $7.50 in 1947 is worth $78.72 in today's dollars, without accounting for interest.

/Cheap bastards!

You don't get inflation adjustment and interest. The interest is compensation for the time factor.

markb289		2012-05-30 12:51:22 PM

highendmighty		2012-05-30 12:52:12 PM

Hmmm. Another example of big government passing on debt to future generations.

Two16		2012-05-30 12:53:55 PM

Unimpressed.

uncleacid		2012-05-30 01:00:15 PM

I hope the money was wet and laying on the lawn.

IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T		2012-05-30 01:01:39 PM

markb289: IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T: $56.63? So the institute completely disregarded inflation? $7.50 in 1947 is worth $78.72 in today's dollars, without accounting for interest.

/Cheap bastards!

You don't get inflation adjustment and interest. The interest is compensation for the time factor.

My point is that they didn't even cover inflation (which ran ~3.68% annually over that entire time period) with that paltry interest rate.

/Let alone any late fees
//Cheap bastards!

hundreddollarman		2012-05-30 01:04:07 PM

Tree fiddy?

ltdanman44		2012-05-30 01:04:15 PM

I thought THIS was interesting. He seemed like an ordinary joe

relcec		2012-05-30 01:08:19 PM

markb289: IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T: $56.63? So the institute completely disregarded inflation? $7.50 in 1947 is worth $78.72 in today's dollars, without accounting for interest.

/Cheap bastards!

You don't get inflation adjustment and interest. The interest is compensation for the time factor.

they didn't account for interest correctly. most prompt payment statutes (there is one in you state) are 10%, but the feds use the federal funds rate and they compound (add the the interest into the principle) monthly.

if we figure this payment is 792 months late, and that interest rate was 6.5%, that cheap bastard owes $543.98

Darkrover2		2012-05-30 01:29:02 PM

Apparently the buck (seven and a half bucks in this case) stopped before the paperboy.

Tom_Slick		2012-05-30 01:35:04 PM

According to my 98 year old grandmother all the ills of this country are a direct result of Truman's and FDR's policies. She also had the Tour guide at the "Little White House" in Warm Springs GA very uncomfortable as she pointed out that the reason the famous "Unfinished Portrait" is unfinished is because the artist was his mistress and she didn't spend much time painting.

das		2012-05-30 01:49:55 PM

Just another dead-beat Democrat.

SurelyShirley		2012-05-30 01:51:46 PM

What the hell happened to Van Zant and our 750?

Bloody Templar		2012-05-30 01:57:12 PM

Supposedly one of my half-brothers used to deliver the Trumans' paper in their later years. Bess invited him in for cookies.

/CSB

teeny		2012-05-30 02:52:07 PM

So do I have to watch the video to get the full story? The article doesn't tell me shiat.

Did he think because the headline was wrong on election day that he shouldn't have to pay the delivery boy? Or because the paper was biased and printed criticisms of him, he was absolved of his debt to have it delivered?

Why did it take so long to get this taken care of? What finally brought the dispute to an end?

Why didn't the author bother to address any of these points? Is the article actually not an "article", but rather excerpts from the video?

Gyrth		2012-05-30 02:53:37 PM

Funny thing about Truman was that when we was VP he stayed in a hotel in Adams Morgan and would walk to his office - no secret service or anything. My, how things have changed.

farkityfarker		2012-05-30 03:25:33 PM

Gyrth: Funny thing about Truman was that when we was VP he stayed in a hotel in Adams Morgan and would walk to his office - no secret service or anything. My, how things have changed.

I think it was a certain event in November of 1963 that was the catalyst for changing how that all worked.

twfeline		2012-05-30 03:40:19 PM

My father was a paperboy with two routes -- one in the blue-collar neighborhood and the other in a much better-off area.

The richer people were always trying to stiff him. Besides not answering the door and telling him that they didn't have any money, they'd go so far as to call the paper and complain that one paper a month was thrown on the roof (unlikely), so they could get a month's delivery free.

The poorer people always paid in full and on time.

Rich people are bastards.

The water was cold		2012-05-30 03:42:09 PM

Truman: Sorry George, I don't have a dime.

George: Didn't ask for a dime. $7.50

Truman: My little brother got his arm stuck in the microwave. So my mom had to take him to the hospital. My grandma dropped acid this morning, and she freaked out. She hijacked a busload of penguins. So it's sort of a family crisis. Bye!

groppet		2012-05-30 04:07:10 PM

farkityfarker: Gyrth: Funny thing about Truman was that when we was VP he stayed in a hotel in Adams Morgan and would walk to his office - no secret service or anything. My, how things have changed.

I think it was a certain event in November of 1963 that was the catalyst for changing how that all worked.

The White House used to not even have a fence around it. People could hang out on the lawn and if it was raining pul their convertibles under the awning and put up the roof. I dont thing it was 63 that started the crackdown. Before that their was the assasination attept on I think Truman by the Puerto Rican sepratists.

GoodyearPimp		2012-05-30 04:08:30 PM

relcec: if we figure this payment is 792 months late, and that interest rate was 6.5%, that cheap bastard owes $543.98

That's not really how APRs work.

JasonOfOrillia		2012-05-30 04:30:00 PM

jackiepaper: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 262x192]

The paperboy in question...

Oh how I wished the original amount was $2.

/subby.

one of Ripley's Bad Guys		2012-05-30 05:32:10 PM

Gyrth: Funny thing about Truman was that when we was VP he stayed in a hotel in Adams Morgan and would walk to his office - no secret service or anything. My, how things have changed.

He did that for a couple days after becoming President too.

Rmoney is not fit to hold HST's hat.

FizixJunkee		2012-05-30 05:50:20 PM

twfeline: My father was a paperboy with two routes -- one in the blue-collar neighborhood and the other in a much better-off area.

The richer people were always trying to stiff him. Besides not answering the door and telling him that they didn't have any money, they'd go so far as to call the paper and complain that one paper a month was thrown on the roof (unlikely), so they could get a month's delivery free.

The poorer people always paid in full and on time.

Rich people are bastards.

I dated a guy whose mom was a millionaire several times over (all inherited). She was a big fan of "dine and dash." If she did pay for a meal, she was cheap with the tip.

Oh, and she often complained about the food, even after most of it was eaten, so items could be removed from the check.

Mentat		2012-05-30 08:24:20 PM

teeny: So do I have to watch the video to get the full story? The article doesn't tell me shiat.

Did he think because the headline was wrong on election day that he shouldn't have to pay the delivery boy? Or because the paper was biased and printed criticisms of him, he was absolved of his debt to have it delivered?

Why did it take so long to get this taken care of? What finally brought the dispute to an end?

Why didn't the author bother to address any of these points? Is the article actually not an "article", but rather excerpts from the video?

Truman's wife wanted the paper placed on their porch, but because of the Secret Service, the kid often had to hand the paper off. Somewhere along the line, a payment was lost and the President probably never even knew about it.

The.anti-Larry		2012-05-30 10:50:00 PM

Plus, it's the Independence Examiner, not the Independent Examiner. Truman's hometown was Independence, Missouri. Geeze, can't reporters even get the basic facts right?

(I used to see Truman out for his morning walk from the band room of Palmer Junior High a block east of his (mother-in-law's) house)

relcec		2012-05-31 02:50:23 AM

GoodyearPimp: relcec: if we figure this payment is 792 months late, and that interest rate was 6.5%, that cheap bastard owes $543.98

That's not really how APRs work.

it also isn't how you change a tire.
it's exactly how the federal prompt payment law works, which is what matters dumbass.

redhook		2012-05-31 04:36:29 AM

brantgoose: Astronaut: I claim this planet, Plutarchos, in the name of Earth.

Paperboy: You know what would be a great way of celebrating this giant leap for sentient beings? That three fiddy you owe me for the Mars Pennysaver.

Astronaut: Sorry, kid. I have three fiddy in my pocket but I can't take off my spacesuit because of the ammonia rain. How the Hell are you breathing, by the way?

Paperboy: I can hold my breath for a long time because I practiced for years while going past the Crazy Cat Lady House at full speed, cycling up hill against a strong prevailing wind and Earth gravity.

i3.kym-cdn.com