Are all political views welcome in this forum?

[Pack66Dad]

Just checking..... I'm about 180 degrees off the course of most of these posts.

I don't want to make enemy's, I really love this site so let me know if my liberal viewpoint is unwelcome in the holding tank.

:huh:

 

[Four Suns]

Fire away... always looking for clueless people to pick on.

 

[Mick & Denise]

Voice that opinion. Most people on here actually have to earn their own money to pay for their boats and therefore most of the opinions you see reflect that. Did you have you boat given to you by an uncle that passed away?

 

[Pack66Dad]

Voice that opinion. Most people on here actually have to earn their own money to pay for their boats and therefore most of the opinions you see reflect that. Did you have you boat given to you by an uncle that passed away?

Interesting comment.

Nobody "gave" me anything: I started as a Union Sheet Metal Worker Apprentice 30+ years ago, learned a trade, went to work all day then went to school at night. Worked hard at my job, learned a lot about construction, was promoted to project engineer, became successful in my profession, started my own business and am pretty successful at that. Also, during all this, my wife and I raised two kids and sent them both to college.


So, did I work hard enough to earn my boat? :huh:
(Actually its "boats" I have two at the moment.)

 

[Hornblower]

started my own business and am pretty successful at that.

So, did I work hard enough to earn my boat? :huh:
(Actually its "boats" I have two at the moment.)

Ah ha, so you're rich! I hope you're paying your fair share. I think you need a tax increase. We need to spread the wealth around or haven't you heard. Maybe you can share your fleet with the less "privileged". :grin:

Your opinions are welcome, I just hope you can back them up?:wink:

 

[comsnark]

Ah. . funny.

No, Liberal or even centrist opinions are NOT welcome here. I like poking fun at the narrow mindedness I often read here.

 

[Pack66Dad]

Ah ha, so you're rich! I hope you're paying your fair share. I think you need a tax increase. We need to spread the wealth around or haven't you heard. Maybe you can share your fleet with the less "privileged". :grin:

Your opinions are welcome, I just hope you can back them up?:wink:

Actually I don't think its possible to back up an opinion.... its just that, an opinion. What I can do is present facts that align with my opinion in an effort to educate those with a different opinion.

And as far as taxes go, yes, I think I pay too little while my son and daughter pay too much of their middle class incomes. I feel we have been brainwashed into thinking a tax increase at any level is bad. Actually in tough times who else has the resources to pay a little more, certainly not the middle and lower income groups. So if you look at the problem without prejudice its only common sense to raise taxes on those who have the means to pay more. Its not rocket science.

 

[chuck1]

If it really makes you feel bad and you want to give away more of you hard earned cash just send it to me and it will make you happy.

 

[jason78]

As other have said, I think everything is open for discussion.

With that said, I agree with almost no liberal standpoint and am honestly not sure how anyone who has been self-successful could. I am quite certain I have EARNED everything I have and don't care to be forced to support people who refuse to support themselves. I don't mind helping those who need it but helping someone and supporting them long term is totally different. Unfortunately, liberal politicians seem to have developed a strategy of building legions of support by creating people who depend on a check from them every month.

Why dosen't everyone who seems to think they aren't paying enough taxes quit talking about it and just cut the government an extra check every year for the amount they think they should owe instead of forcing it on the rest of us. Or even to their favorite charity, that way it would be used for some good rather than be wasted on $20,000 toilet seats or some other government "project".

 

[mddickens]

Actually I don't think its possible to back up an opinion.... its just that, an opinion. What I can do is present facts that align with my opinion in an effort to educate those with a different opinion.

And as far as taxes go, yes, I think I pay too little while my son and daughter pay too much of their middle class incomes. I feel we have been brainwashed into thinking a tax increase at any level is bad. Actually in tough times who else has the resources to pay a little more, certainly not the middle and lower income groups. So if you look at the problem without prejudice its only common sense to raise taxes on those who have the means to pay more. Its not rocket science.

Here's another idea...cut spending...just like everyday men and women have had to do. Government spending (at least since the Eisenhower administration) is the least efficient way to invest money. Look at what Obama's wasted...where's the payback? And you think we ought to give him more??:huh:

 

[Pack66Dad]

Here's another idea...cut spending...just like everyday men and women have had to do. Government spending (at least since the Eisenhower administration) is the least efficient way to invest money. Look at what Obama's wasted...where's the payback? And you think we ought to give him more??:huh:

This country is a shambles because of that kind of small thinking. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are some of the worst in the world and our cities are being laid waste by crime and poverty...... but your simplistic answer is to cut more spending? Taxes in this country right now are at a historic low and we are laying off teachers, firemen and police at a fevered pace to show for it.

I say the "I got mine, so f**k you" conservative mentality in this country will be our ruin. You may not care if we have a future but I do, I have children and grandchildren.

Look at history and see what happens when too much wealth is horded at the top of a society. The resulting social upheavals are rarely positive, especially for those on the top.

 

[mddickens]

This country is a shambles because of that kind of small thinking. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are some of the worst in the world and our cities are being laid waste by crime and poverty...... but your simplistic answer is to cut more spending? Taxes in this country right now are at a historic low and we are laying off teachers, firemen and police at a fevered pace to show for it.

I say the "I got mine, so f**k you" conservative mentality in this country will be our ruin. You may not care if we have a future but I do, I have children and grandchildren.

Look at history and see what happens when too much wealth is horded at the top of a society. The resulting social upheavals are rarely positive, especially for those on the top.

That all sounds good, but it's a fallacy...Obama has overseen the single biggest increase in our deficit in history and what is to be shown for it? Remember that all of these bad things you mention are happening on his watch and while he's blowing what's left of our treasure and our credibility. He's spent the money sucking up to the unions (who send it back to the Democrat party in the form of donations), ill-advised bailouts, propping up companies that should have been allowed to die (GM for example), and one social engineering experiment after another. The reason that so many people are out of work? Obamanomics hasn't worked and won't work because it's based on the quicksand idea that the government is where we need to look to meet our needs, and that is exactly 180 degrees away from the truth. BTW, I am no Geo Bush fan either...I consider myself a conservative and not necessarily a Republican. Bush spent money on war, Medicare Part D and other boondoggles we couldn't afford either, but Obama is just Bush on steroids when it comes to wasteful spending.

Hey you have your opinion, and I have mine...lets just disagree.

 

[comsnark]

That all sounds good, but it's a fallacy...Obama has overseen the single biggest increase in our deficit in history

True.

Remember that all of these bad things you mention are happening on his watch

In January 2009, when Obama took office, the economy was already in a shambles. The Republicans are not blameless in this.

I am no Geo Bush fan either...I consider myself a conservative and not necessarily a Republican. Bush spent money on war, Medicare Part D and other boondoggles we couldn't afford either, but Obama is just Bush on steroids when it comes to wasteful spending.

Agree. Don't forget that Bush *signed* the TARP bank bailout legislation

The Republicans have a real opportunity to make gains in this election; but I am really concerned that this party is campaigning on the same popcorn and cotton candy fiscal policies that were going nowhere in the early 2000's.

The *expiration* of the Bush tax cuts was needed for fiscal sanity because of the pending Medicare/Social Security bubble. So instead of addressing that root cause problems, the Republicans started a war and did Medicare Part D.

The answer, unfortunately, is not a simple 1/4 step process. With everyone promising popcorn and cotton candy, it is politically impossible for a real politician to recommend chemotherapy.

 

[Four Suns]

This country is a shambles because of that kind of small thinking. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are some of the worst in the world and our cities are being laid waste by crime and poverty...... but your simplistic answer is to cut more spending? Taxes in this country right now are at a historic low and we are laying off teachers, firemen and police at a fevered pace to show for it.

I say the "I got mine, so f**k you" conservative mentality in this country will be our ruin. You may not care if we have a future but I do, I have children and grandchildren.

Look at history and see what happens when too much wealth is horded at the top of a society. The resulting social upheavals are rarely positive, especially for those on the top.

So what would you do if you were in charge?

 

[chuck1]

This country is a shambles because of that kind of small thinking. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are some of the worst in the world and our cities are being laid waste by crime and poverty...... but your simplistic answer is to cut more spending? Taxes in this country right now are at a historic low and we are laying off teachers, firemen and police at a fevered pace to show for it.

I say the "I got mine, so f**k you" conservative mentality in this country will be our ruin. You may not care if we have a future but I do, I have children and grandchildren.

Look at history and see what happens when too much wealth is horded at the top of a society. The resulting social upheavals are rarely positive, especially for those on the top.

IMHO - They are laying off teachers, firemen, etc because revenue is down, and they are spending the money in other areas, not because of low taxes. It is common sense you have to cut expenses when you don't have it. You want to raise revenue let the private sector create working wage jobs so people can spend and pay taxes and get off the welfare hand outs.

 

[Four Suns]

What's wrong with laying off firemen, police, and teachers? Our population here where I live has doubled in 10 years and the police force is up 5X. Ridiculous... My wife is a teacher... and if you saw what has happened to our education system, you would can half of them starting at the top. Someone needs to explain to me why we have high-school classes with subjects such as "Spanish Theater 1, 2, 3, 4" and "Advanced Placement Human Geography (the study of cultures)" and all kinds of other political crap dominating the curriculum... The public bureaucracies, including firemen, police and teachers, have grown out of control IMO.

 

[C-SIDE]

What's wrong with laying off firemen, police, and teachers?

I'm aghast at the thinking, the whole world will implode if that happens - crime will skyrocket, people's homes will burn down and for the love of the children we can't layoff any more teachers or else we will not be competitive. Oh wait, that's already happened

Actually what will really happen is the unions will become weaker and thus not be able to fund the democrats, who inturn give the unions everything they want - its a vicious circle

Taxes - study Arthur Laffer

Spending - you can cut all descretionary government spending and it still wouldn't matter. The entitlement programs are making us go broke.

How to fix - honest debate on taxes and spending. Not one politician on both sides of the aisle is actually providing any honest talk

My 2-cents on how to fix: abolish all income taxes and go to a VAT or national sales tax. In 2009, almost 50% of people didn't pay taxes. A VAT or national sales tax is the most progressive tax on the planet and everyone pays something

Government/teacher/union employees - give an across the board 5-10% raise and end pension plans and free medical benefits. Go to a 401(k) and for heavens sake at least make them pay a co-pay

For all you union guys, ask your leadership how funded their pension plan is vs. the rank and file. The answer may suprise you. Yes, the leaders have different plans than the rank and file

Entitlements - social security. Provide the option for people to take their contributions and investment it they way they want to, i.e. privatize, oh, the horror of that using that word

Medicare/Medicaid - I don't know enough to comment

ObamaCare: totally repeal and do over and focus on costs and not 100% coverage. Once we figure out the cost factor, then address 100% coverage

The US is at a crossroads right now. Some believe government is the answer to solving our problems while others think free markets are. Despite the problems with free markets, and there are many, governments are worse.

Capital is like electricity - it seeks the path of least resistance with the greatest return. Government cannot efficiently allocate capital. When government starts to allocate capital, its called crony capitalism and we see it all the time, just not on a massive scale.

History is very telling. Every society that has a major portion of their economy controlled by the government has either failed or has been less competitive than a free market society.

My parting thoughts:

Compare the fiscal condition of states that are controlled by democratics to the states that are controlled by republicans - what a great case study on economic philosphy

Ruled by Democrats
· Illinois – broke
· California – broke
· New York – broke
· New Jersey – broke
· Connecticut – broker
· Oregon - broke

Ruled by Republicans and not broke
· Texas – no state income tax either
· Utah – despite Reid, it’s a red state
· Nebraska
· Colorado
· Florida– no state income tax either

 

[Four Suns]

Virginia is ruled by republicans now... and this year we have a budget surplus... You should have seen all the crap that was flying around about how the world was going to end because of the cuts in education and such... Kids are still going to school... But 2 of the 4 admins for the 4 assistant principals at one of the schools here got laid off... how awful.

 

[chuck1]

IMHO - One of the ways you start to fix the system would be that if you get any kind of funds from the government you lose the right to vote. With that said maybe the Congress and Senate will start to do what is right for the county, not what they need to buy votes.

 

[Woody]

Virginia is ruled by republicans now... and this year we have a budget surplus... You should have seen all the crap that was flying around about how the world was going to end because of the cuts in education and such... Kids are still going to school... But 2 of the 4 admins for the 4 assistant principals at one of the schools here got laid off... how awful.

Our local school system was once pretty effective but has become one of the worst graduation rates in the state. Admin came up with the idea to change the grading system so that more failing students could pass. Yes, they lowered the bar to solve the problem...some of the dumbest people I've met are school teachers.