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I dont talk about this too much online, but it said I could "speak my mind", so I thought what the hell! One of the problems with America today is that we have a multi-billionare for a president. Also a HUGE player in the oil business. Thats why he became president and thats why we are in Iraq, to get control of the oil they have. We are all paying to support this war by losing loved ones, paying ungodly taxes, and finally at the gas pumps. All so the President and all his already filthy rich buddies, can get even richer. I have not lost a loved one yet in the war. My taxes,(just out of my paycheck and just federal tax), is more than my house payment per month. My payment, by the way, is about $875.00 per month. I pay more than that in federal taxes alone per month. And we all have paid dearly at the gas pumps....somehow always on a holiday....when the big oil guys know people will want to travel alot!
I am only writing all this as a suggestion that maybe the Presidential cantidate that has 100 million dollars into thier campaign, to get a job that pays about $400 grand a year, might be doing it for other reasons; And not all of them good reasons. Would you spend 1 million dollars to have your resume prepared, for a job that payed 30 grand a year? Thanks alot for reading. Im sure there are people out there that dont agree with me but I bet there are more that agree than disagree.
Posts: 217 | Registered: May 2007
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I agree, this country is in serious trouble if can't elect a competant person the next time around, then again..it'll still be years before everything is back on track again economically like it was in the 90's.At least big brother hasn't outlawed great foot sites yet like Wu's so we can still share our love for female feet!Thank God for that.
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I'm not saying that our current president is great, but I just wanted to point out that the current tax rates are less than they were 7 years ago. So when you complain about high taxes they were worse. Now prices at the pump.....that's obviously a different issue.
Posts: 475 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Tax Rates are low now, but what happens when we have to pay for this "war" after W is gone? The Dems will have to do something and then they will get blamed for raising taxes but we have to pay for the debt and deficit somehow..sigh..circle of BS is right.
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As much as it sucks for the average person who cares enough to do anything, societies tend to get the government they deserve...especially in a democracy.
I can't begin to estimate the number of people I've talked to that feel that we should "let politicians do their job" or that "they know better than us". This attitude is the epitome of irresponsibility and about as anti American as it gets. We live in a self ruling country where we are to direct our politicians actively in making decisions that reflect our desires. Politician's jobs are indeed important, they are communication channels and secretaries responsible for doing the dirty work on coming up with the implementation scheme for what we the people want done. Hence the term civil servant...not very glorious but very crucial. Politician's aren't supposed to have power, they are supposed to have responsibility. The saying is with great power comes great responsibility, but the reverse statement is not true. With great responsibility comes either doing your job as is expected of you, or a powerful failure to do so. With how most of the country ignores politics after an election it's like we're stuck in a car aimed down some road, the steering wheel's there, but nobody's driving.
People believe you should elect a politician based on their ideals and once that's done hope for the best. That's absolute crap. Elect your politicians based on how well they do what you tell them to!
Posts: 639 | Registered: Mar 2006
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by ozkar: We live in a self ruling country where we are to direct our politicians actively in making decisions that reflect our desires.
I agree with this statement, except the last part. Needs should come before desires. The only people that politicians listen to, and act for, are the filthy rich. Because the filthy rich got them into office to benefit themselves, and screw everyone else. The rich finance almost all politicians campaigns. The reason the rich do this is, when thier politician makes it into office, their politician will do exactly what they want them to. These politicians are only concerned with the desires of the rich, not the needs of the country. Just look at the job situation in this country. Everyday another factory is closing down and moving to China or Mexico. Is that helping America? Or is it helping the owner of a big corporation with less labor costs. NAFTA is a prime example of big business owners buying politicians to allow them to make more money. The funny part of that will be, once all the manufacturing is being done out of the country, who are they going to sell thier stuff to? Most of the people here wont have a job to buy anything! By that time, it will be too late for all of us. I could go on about this forever, but until I have 50 billion dollars to give to a politician or presidential candidate, things are not going to change. Just remember though, Gluttony and Greed are two deadly sins that the leaders of this country simply thrive on!
Posts: 217 | Registered: May 2007
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That's not quite what I was insinuating with "desires", rather the non-material kind, like the desire to lift restrictions on stem cell research, and to put a deadline on the war. Both instances the majority was in favor of these actions and our servants didn't reflect that.
When the suffering continues it will not the fault of a bad civil servant who decided to violate his contract with us and make a stand based on personal bias. It will be our responsibility, our failure for hiring someone who wouldn't do the one and only thing that they are supposed to do, what we tell them.
That's just the way it is, and yeah I know, I didn't vote for him either...but when you're the boss, it's always your fault when a subordinate fails, and in the US everyone except politicians are supposed to be the boss. If it's not that way, that's our fault too, and our responsibility to fix.
Posts: 639 | Registered: Mar 2006
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And yet life goes on in for us here in America. We have giant SUVs with DVD players to pacify our children, big, flat screen HD televisions, boats, homes, multiple wireless devices that allow us to access the internet from anywhere anytime, and I'm not just talking about the rich. I'm talking about the average middle class neighborhood that I live in. People, our system is far from perfect, but we still have it much better than most of the world.
Do you think the poor in India or China have cell phones and televisions? No. I work in a job that deals with many people on welfare and medicaid and yet they have cellphones, the latest bluetooth accessory, and nice clothes. We don't have it that bad.
And if it is so bad, then why the hell is illegal immigration an issue? You don't see Americans running across borders to find better jobs in Mexico and Canada. America is the land of opportunity. My father came here (legally) with nothing but a scholarship and a few bucks and eventually opened a small to medium sized construction company and made a very comfortable life for our family. Not rich, but comfortable. All of the people in this country that whine and cry about how horrible it is and how the rich are getting richer, nobody cares about the middle class, etc, need to look around the world and realize that we live with more comforts, toys, and technology than just about any country.
Oh, and talk about gas prices, they've been paying more than we have in Canada and Britain for years before we were at $3 a gallon. I used to live on the border with Canada and would go over there when their gas was 90 some cents a liter. Well, guess what there's 3.79 liters per gallon or over $3 a gallon. And our dollar is not much more than a Canadian dollar. And speaking of Canada, you want to bitch about your taxes, try saying goodbye to about 40% of your income yearly no matter how much you make (not just the highest bracket as is here in the U.S.) So look around the world, travel a bit....hell, be adventurous and visit a third world country. You'll soon realize that we do have it pretty good despite all the "BS" we put with from our politicians.
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Dude..understand, that the so called "Middle Class" that has all those toys and you say "aren't doing so bad"..well..99% are living in a HUGE puddle of debt and most of those things they have are bought on credit cards.Trust me, common sense will prevail here..when it all catches up it'll be poor and rich no in between.If you think there's no problem,you aren't paying attention..period.
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So are you going to blame the debt compiled by these people on the government too? No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions anymore, its always someone else's fault. That's the problem I have with many of the people in this country. Someone drives drunk and kills themselves then it must be the bar's fault, people buy things they can't afford then its the credit card company's and big businesse's fault, someone says they can't afford a $4 co-pay on medications its the drug company's fault (not that same person who drops $8 a day on 2 packs of cigarrettes).....
The middle class people I know in my neighborhood are doing fine. They have good jobs, retirement accounts they contribute to on a monthly basis, etc. And if they aren't doing well then they are doing a hell of a job to hide it. And while there is some truth to your rebuttle I think that 99% is way overestimating that particular problem. You're saying that 99 out of 100 middle class people are living way beyond their means....please.
I'm not defending Bush, the Rebublicans, or any particular politian, I just have a problem with everyone thinking that we have such a horrible government and way of life. If that's the case, why the hell does everyone and their frickin' mothers want to move here? Too many people in this country have become whiney, pessimistic, lazy, and completely unappreciative of what we have. Like I said travel a little and you'll find out that things in the States isn't so bad.
Posts: 475 | Registered: Jan 2004
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WHoa Anti-spin Zone..please..just for a minute..you are putting words in my mouth, or rather keys under my finger tips lol.Besides the national debt and deficit being OBVIOUSLY caused by the gov't, It's no-one's fault these middle class people are in debt but themselves because :Credit Cards were available to them and B:They can't afford what they have with their salaries or they wouldn't be "middle class". And YES they hide debt VERY well my friend,I have 3 male friends over 30 years of age who have new trucks,a house,boat,motorcycle and a ton of nice furniture and electronics in the house and they are all average of $15/hour guys that have a champagne taste on a beer budget with close to $100k in debt and you would NEVER know it by their lifestyles.As far as the Gov't, they are out for themselves,the wealthy,and large corporations weather or not you agree or not, it's the truth..and yes this still is {for the moment} a pretty good place to live
quote:Originally posted by lambskin: Oh, and talk about gas prices, they've been paying more than we have in Canada and Britain for years before we were at $3 a gallon.
Too right mate. Many of you know I'm English and proud of it, but petrol (gas) prices are really starting to take the piss. I was driving down the M42 Sunday on the way back from Donington Monsters of Rock festival. I had to fill up and the M-way services were charging 101.9p per litre. That's £4.50ish a gallon (nearly $9 ). The minimum wage, for argument's sake, is £6. 75% of that £4.50 is tax, which goes straight to the government, who then waste it.
Posts: 343 | Registered: Nov 2005
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At least you folks across the "pond" have universal health care like Canada.I'd rather pay $4-6 gallon and get ANYTHING medically I need for free.
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This is the section called "off topic" is it not?
I agree with higharchlover. I can tell you that many people I know are very upset with the current administration. We all know what game they are playing... But, like sheep... we listen to the not-so-free press and spin doctors... everything from Rush to Hannity... What's the point? All negative.
We don't deserve what the current policy is. And our children and vets will pay a huge price for years to come. Anyone with a smidgen of brain matter can see right through the current president s agenda.
Let's get a a voice of reason in office. Say Ron Paul from Texas? At least he understands "why" we are hated in certain parts of the globe.
Whatever happend to checks and balances? I feel sorry for the next president. So much to clean up... and all the blame.
Have any of you seen the movie "V"? We really aren't that far from that. Perhaps when we have a social and economic wave- then things might turn for the better. Does anyone here realize the economic stranglehold China has on us?
There's just so much more to this debate... I'd rather talk "feet"...
Posts: 771 | Registered: May 2007
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