The Politics Thread - please direct all related posts here..

[HarthorneWingo]

Compare the number of jobs created during Clinton's 2 terms to Bush's. Not even close. And that's with the higher tax rate.

And with that, I'm really going to bed. I'll have to continue our lesson tomorrow.

Hey. Great win tonight, huh? Go Knicks.

[mugzi]

So since you can't defend Obama's abysmal performance on the economy, you're trying to default to Slick Willy to save your argument. Riiiight, LMAO. 2 years into this mans presidency and none of you guys can defend any of his moves. Its the one trick playbook, blame Bush, its comical. Here's another gem about liberals.

BTW the game was great, I enjoyed the win.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZrqdZFFb5c&feature=watch_response[/youtube]

[duetta]

You know what they don't want? They don't want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. That is against their interest. Citizens in the States have been bought off by toys, gadgets and gizmos. That is why we will never see Universal Health Care in this country. Sorry, but this is how the game is. They have rigged this country.

But nobody stops anyone from becoming a critical thinker. I spend my spare time devouring Teaching Company courses, and feeding my mind.

http://www.teach12.com/greatcourses.aspx?ai=16281

The problem with America is that too many Americans celebrate our past - as if our ancestors' authentic achievements somehow reflect on us - but remain personally complacent, complacent culturally, spiritually, and intellectually. We celebrate provincialism in this country as if it were a virtue! We accuse everyone who intimidates us intellectually or culturally of being an elitist. Unlike the brilliant intellectuals who invented America, we prefer the mediocrity of the mob to the aristocracy of the spirit and the mind - and that's why we're headed to 2nd world status as a nation in the century to come.

[richardhutnik]

Compare the number of jobs created during Clinton's 2 terms to Bush's. Not even close. And that's with the higher tax rate.

And with that, I'm really going to bed. I'll have to continue our lesson tomorrow.

Hey. Great win tonight, huh? Go Knicks.

So, Mugzi is spouting more stuff that only shows why I am justified in using a killfilter on him?

All stimulus and tax cut talk all come back from a delusional belief that government meddling with fiscal policy is exactly what is needed to make anything wonderful. Tax cuts, without spending cuts, is merely Keynesian economics repackaged. It is a form of stimulus. A knee-jerk reaction of always cutting taxes isn't the answer. If the government wasn't involved in trying to drive the economy, tax rates would stay fixed somewhere, based on what was needed to run things, and balance budgets.

Then you have supposed "stimulus" which is merely spending money for its own sake, that is somehow supposed to get the economy going. Had anyone EVER thought maybe the problems we have now are a result of perpetual stimulus of deficit spending that has been about?

How about this: Houses going from one job to two jobs, globalization, and then people NOT retiring is going to perpetually cause the normal unemployment rate to remain where it is? And no amount of tax cuts, stimulus or any government meddling is going to address this. In this world, what is to be done with the unemployed over 8%? Maybe we should drive them to kill themselves, so that we can lower taxes. Well, that was a piece of advice I saw on a forum somewhere.

But hey, carry on. All that matters here is that you score points for being "correct". Hey people rot, and suffer, but you score one for getting the facts right. So, do you win an award or something for doing this?

In side news, I hope to correspond and actually do something with the guys who did the American Dream film. Maybe I can get some networked local level activities going on that would get people work, and get the economy going. Will see. At least maybe I can organize.

- Rich

[richardhutnik]

You know what they don't want? They don't want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. That is against their interest. Citizens in the States have been bought off by toys, gadgets and gizmos. That is why we will never see Universal Health Care in this country. Sorry, but this is how the game is. They have rigged this country.

But nobody stops anyone from becoming a critical thinker. I spend my spare time devouring Teaching Company courses, and feeding my mind.

http://www.teach12.com/greatcourses.aspx?ai=16281

The problem with America is that too many Americans celebrate our past - as if our ancestors' authentic achievements somehow reflect on us - but remain personally complacent, complacent culturally, spiritually, and intellectually. We celebrate provincialism in this country as if it were a virtue! We accuse everyone who intimidates us intellectually or culturally of being an elitist. Unlike the brilliant intellectuals who invented America, we prefer the mediocrity of the mob to the aristocracy of the spirit and the mind - and that's why we're headed to 2nd world status as a nation in the century to come.

Trick is to do APPLIED critical thinking which can be used to solve real world problems and make a difference. If all you are is a critical thinker, and just sit and absorb and puff yourself up with info, but nothing changes, then you have just found yourself a hobby.

- Rich

[duetta]

Trick is to do APPLIED critical thinking which can be used to solve real world problems and make a difference. If all you are is a critical thinker, and just sit and absorb and puff yourself up with info, but nothing changes, then you have just found yourself a hobby.

- Rich

Critical thinking impacts the way that you analyze information presented in everyday life. It also impacts whether you buy into the misinformation presented by various groups & individuals attempting to sell an agenda - not to mention how you adjust to life's various challenges.

[HarthorneWingo]

Conservative economic policies have now been PROVEN to be a failure. Shocking, I know.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/opini ... ml?_r=1&hp

Op-Ed Columnist
The Texas Omen
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: January 6, 2011

These are tough times for state governments. Huge deficits loom almost everywhere, from California to New York, from New Jersey to Texas.

Wait — Texas? Wasn’t Texas supposed to be thriving even as the rest of America suffered? Didn’t its governor declare, during his re-election campaign, that “we have billions in surplus”? Yes, it was, and yes, he did. But reality has now intruded, in the form of a deficit expected to run as high as $25 billion over the next two years.

And that reality has implications for the nation as a whole. For Texas is where the modern conservative theory of budgeting — the belief that you should never raise taxes under any circumstances, that you can always balance the budget by cutting wasteful spending — has been implemented most completely. If the theory can’t make it there, it can’t make it anywhere.

-more-

[richardhutnik]

Nevada has an unemployment rate higher than the national average, and also currently running budget deficits. They are noted for low tax rates, I believe no corporate or state income taxes. Here is some info on this:
http://www.foxreno.com/11at11/26390430/detail.html

Nevada's tax structure is an obstacle to economic recovery and shortfalls in the budget cannot be addressed with spending cuts alone, according to a new study released Wednesday.

The report entitled “Structurally Unbalanced,” looks at budget problems in Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado. It was released by Brookings Mountain West at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Morrison Institute of Public Policy at Arizona State University.

“Nevada relies heavily on sales tax and gaming revenue and has no personal and corporate income tax, so you have one of the most narrow state revenue systems found in the country,” wrote Matthew Murray, a professor of economics at the University of Tennessee and a lead researcher on the study.

“With property and sales tax revenue suffering, it is not at all clear where Nevada will find the revenue to fund services, including those that support economic development moving forward.”


When times are good, Vegas, read Nevada, works. However, when you shift to a sales tax model (see FAIR tax or VAT tax), and things are on a downturn, you have insufficient revenues to keep things going.

- Rich

[duetta]

A true American hero dies:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/us/11winters.html

[HarthorneWingo]

^^^ @ newguy. I'll read that and "I'll get back to ya" on that. lol. Seriously, I will read it and get back to you.

[HarthorneWingo]

On the issue of education, I thought this was funny ... and poignant (in that order). From "Colbert Nation" (click the link and then scroll down to the video):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/1 ... 11048.html

[mugzi]

Colbert another useful idiot. Here's a little truth for ya Wingo. Sound familiar?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF3hbPtCttc[/youtube]

[HarthorneWingo]

Colbert another useful idiot. Here's a little truth for ya Wingo. Sound familiar?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF3hbPtCttc[/youtube]

I saw this junk already mugzi. Are your really comparing that piece of crap to the genius of Stephen Colbert?



p.s. Your gal, Sarah "Annie Oakley" Palin, keeps on putting her foot in her mouth. Nothing shocking there. Obama's approval ratings looking good again. Polls show people don't want rethuglicans taking away their "Obamacare." You stand no chance in 2012.

[CHARLYMURPHY]

Im just wondering if anyone here actually likes Obama?

Obama wouldn't have to worry the next election if china was voting because they have all of the our jobs.The usa is going broke and the people in the usa have no jobs to support and feed their families.Things are going to get worse here in the usa before they get better.Until the usa government makes it so it is not profitable for big business to send jobs over seas things will not change.

1) buys from China

2) invests in China

3) borrows from China


this guy is giving away 400 Billion to the world. This guy is out of control and so is this government, pushing the Vatican's Social Reform/Justice.

Obama has well-documented connections, which help explain why he sponsored a "Global Poverty Act" designed to send like 400 hundred billion of dollars of U.S. foreign aid to the rest of the world, in order to meet U.N. demands. The bill has passed the House and a Senate committee, and awaits full Senate action. (Again thanks to the Democrat Majority)

Look at it this way, China doesn't have unions,the EPA,political correctness,everybody suing everybody, welfare,government pensions(the down fall of Greece and soon to follow America), and tree huggers(who stop the drilling so we stay dependant of forgien oil. If America could get rid off these things plus stop sending billions to other countries(build up America first), get ALL us lazy want paid for no work people off the couch, bring the jobs back to America(stop the out sourcing), and remove ALL illegal immigrants. This has to happen before America can become great again.

I hope you suckers that voted for Obama are happy, this guy is the biggest loser ever, I thought Carter was bad but Obama is 10 times worse no doubt about it! Buy American end of story! I dont even care about politcal parties anymore. The USA Needs a true leader in this next election we cant have another 4 years of Obama policies or we are going down the gutter

And this is coming from a 20 year old who cares about his country more then himself.

[duetta]

I hope you suckers that voted for Obama are happy, this guy is the biggest loser ever, I thought Carter was bad but Obama is 10 times worse no doubt about it! Buy American end of story! I dont even care about politcal parties anymore. The USA Needs a true leader in this next election we cant have another 4 years of Obama policies or we are going down the gutter

And this is coming from a 20 year old who cares about his country more then himself.

Show me where the Republican Party supports Buy American policies. Show me. The Republican Party celebrates the freedom to ship American jobs to emerging markets, so that its elite can stuff their obese faces even more, and thus drive the cost of health care in America further through the roof - thus forcing even more white and blue collar jobs overseas.

[Z[dt]]

Duetta - absolutely right about blue and white collar workers.. They have been systematically hurt by the elite (owners)..

[HarthorneWingo]

Read 'em and weep rethugs ....

Half-way through term, Obama cranks up 2012 bid
by Stephen Collinson Stephen Collinson – Thu Jan 20, 4:21 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama marked the halfway point of his turbulent term Thursday by unveiling aggressive moves to crank up his reelection effort, boosted by a sudden surge in popularity.

*******

A string of polls have shown that voters are increasingly appreciative of Obama's job performance.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey showed Obama's approval rating surging to 53 percent, eight points higher than in December.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll pegged Obama's approval rating at 54 percent, up five points from the previous month and at his highest rating in the survey in over a year.

[HarthorneWingo]

I hope you suckers that voted for Obama are happy, this guy is the biggest loser ever, I thought Carter was bad but Obama is 10 times worse no doubt about it! Buy American end of story! I dont even care about politcal parties anymore. The USA Needs a true leader in this next election we cant have another 4 years of Obama policies or we are going down the gutter

And this is coming from a 20 year old who cares about his country more then himself.

Show me where the Republican Party supports Buy American policies. Show me. The Republican Party celebrates the freedom to ship American jobs to emerging markets, so that its elite can stuff their obese faces even more, and thus drive the cost of health care in America further through the roof - thus forcing even more white and blue collar jobs overseas.

... and now the blue collar workers at home are about to get screwed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/busin ... cy.html?hp

Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens
By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
Published: January 20, 2011

Policy makers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers.

Unlike cities, the states are barred from seeking protection in federal bankruptcy court. Any effort to change that status would have to clear high constitutional hurdles because the states are considered sovereign.

But proponents say some states are so burdened that the only feasible way out may be bankruptcy, giving Illinois, for example, the opportunity to do what General Motors did with the federal government’s aid.

-more-

[richardhutnik]

... and now the blue collar workers at home are about to get screwed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/busin ... cy.html?hp

Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens
By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
Published: January 20, 2011

Policy makers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers.

I am finding this interesting. There was an era where about everyone got pensions and it was part of the norm to reward lifetime employment. Now, with the changes in how employment works and people without pensions, there is increased resentment shown those that do. Rather than get upset at what was lost, there is a desire to take away pensions from those that do have them.

And, it is interesting I saw a post that someone advocated the US become more like China. No unions, no environmental, no social safety net, or anything else, and people stop being lazy, it would be GLORIOUS (see this said):
Look at it this way, China doesn't have unions,the EPA,political correctness,everybody suing everybody, welfare,government pensions(the down fall of Greece and soon to follow America), and tree huggers(who stop the drilling so we stay dependant of forgien oil. If America could get rid off these things plus stop sending billions to other countries(build up America first), get ALL us lazy want paid for no work people off the couch, bring the jobs back to America(stop the out sourcing), and remove ALL illegal immigrants. This has to happen before America can become great again.


It is interesting that normally, when someone who says what is written above, is asked whether or not people should be guaranteed employment, the answer comes back, "no". As for no welfare, does myself with leg and back issues and trying to find employment, but not seeming to be able to be hired, and mooching off my parent's social security count as receiving welfare, or is it just food stamps and medicaid I am getting?

By the way, I do believe everyone should work, if possible. The right kind of work for people, that fits who they are, is of benefit to them, and helps them get back on their feet, and be productive. Sitting around and not having work, is destructive.

- Rich

[kane2021]

Im watching my local news. They are talking about putting a rule forward that will allow collages to reject applicants that seem to be disturbed. It will go off of looks and behavior. A doctor will do a evaluation and if the applicant looks or acts like someone who is disturbed, they will not allow them into the school. This is in reference to the AZ shootings.

And here already, people are making a big fuss about this. Talking about suing for discrimination if this is allowed.

There is no winning with these political crazies. No winning with citizens in our society today. Its such a joke. All the outrage over the situation. People want something to be done. When they start doing something about it, it gets shot down. (bad choice of words but I could not think of another)

It makes me sick honestly. These political and religious crazies just like to argue man. Thats all they do is argue and debate and nothing gets done. Preventative measures are almost impossible in these times.