Let The Debates Begin! Obama v Romney

Well folks, here I am in my home of Denver, Colorado waiting for the first of the televised presidential debates. They say that our state is a battleground state, and I can see why. Here in working class Denver, the vote is largely pro-Obama, and my labor union obviously feels the same way. Out in the suburbs, however, the business class and wealthier electorate largely favors Mitt Romney.What does our friendly peanut gallery at EvC think? Which candidate represents the best ideology and/or have the best plan for America?I respect Obama's intelligence and his ability to best represent the majority of Americans. Many of my "christian" friends seem to prefer Mitt Romney, but most of them are self-employed. I always ask them WWJD? Edited by Phat, : fixed subtitle

The intelligence of the average voter is somewhat limited to the scope of their individual interests. Much of the reason that I am voting democratic is because it makes for a stronger environment for my labor union, which is what I need to have strong to insure a good retirement.The issues in this election are common to many elections throughout history, and I simply want to know a few answers to some questions that I have.

Why do tax breaks for the upper income group benefit everyone?

Is it better to rebuild an economy from the ground up or from the top down?

Are we as a people ready to propose a long range plan for getting out of debt? If so, whom will it hurt the most and whom should be responsible...as a group as well as individuals?

Free Market versus Socialism? Or is that too simple?I think that it has to be both. It can't simply be an either/or question.In my own life, for instance...I need to be able to earn a decent living. I can't compete at minimum wage. I can't even live at minimum wage without abandoning any plan for retirement. And I don't trust the monied class enough to give them tax breaks. Like Obama said in his acceptance speech, "they tried that before and it didn't work."My Republican friend always points me to Milton Friedman and his economic philosophies. IIRC, Reagan also liked Milton, and that was the start of our enormous national debt. Something is very wrong with this picture.By the way, this is an interesting article: History Says Debate Moments MatterEdited by Phat, : added features

But by then they may have laid off a bunch of skilled grocery workers in favor of the cheaper new labor that costs them less but that in general also accomplishes much less.Obamacare has cost my union health insurance more in that they now have to insure a wider pool of people than they did before, but overall our insurance is still a bargain. My poor sister must pay $900.00 a month for the same coverage I get for around $50.00 a month year around.My union provides value for the company, however. We are slowly learning to multitask and to cross-train, something we previously refused to do. I want to go back to school, and I think that at my new store I can find the time to fit it in. Obama seems more pro education than does Romney. I fear that the Republicans want more jobs--- but that they want low wage jobs to help their companies compete. This is not a win for America. Not for the American laborer, at least.

I listened to the debates this morning...had to work last night. Romney did have a good point when he said

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I'm not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high- income people. High-income people are doing just fine in this economy. They'll do fine whether you're president or I am.

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He goes on to specify

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I will not reduce the taxes paid by high-income Americans.

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. What puzzles me is where the money will come from to pay the inevitable bill that must be paid. Romney also says

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I will not, under any circumstances, raise taxes on middle-income families. I will lower taxes on middle-income families.

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Romney does say that his priority is jobs. I suspect, however, that what he means is, by and large, cheap jobs. I'm gonna get on my whine again and tell everybody that if my job, which i earn every penny, by the way, is cut to make way for cheaper labor that it will not help my economy.Going on to the other cost cuts, Obama hit the nail on the head when he said

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When I walked in the Oval Office, I had more than a trillion dollar deficit greeting me, and we know where it came from. Two wars that were paid for on a credit card. Two tax cuts that were not paid for, and a whole bunch of programs that were not paid for. And then a massive economic crisis.

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First off, I think that the concept of an American Empire, a military-industrial complex--is the reason for these two wars. I also believe that Republicans represent the wealthy, many of whom make a lot of money off of the military hardware as well as the wars themselves. Im skeptical of the way that we do business with the world, yet I also believe that Republicans tend to be realists...they are hard, cold and calculating...they know that some folks will get left behind and that reality is a competitive arena. Democrats, OTOH, are idealists. They believe in helping everyone. Just like at my work, its impossible to pay everyone the same wage without lowering mine. In that sense, seniority and wage entitlement-wise, I am a "republican".Overall, reality is as it is. Most say that Romney won this initial debate, but I suspect that whoever gets into office, taxes will go up, prices will still increase, the bill will get paid, (as jar says) and life will cost more. The question is, do we realistically leave half the people behind or do we try and wait for everyone to catch up----at our collective expense?

Depends on the specific situation. I suppose that these are not the only two options...there are many variables and combinations of actions that consensus would allow.At my work, for example, it would make sense to freeze...but not drop top level wages and increase the bottom wages so as to allow less disparity. I would be in favor of a wage freeze but not in favor of a wage cut. Same thing applies on a national scale. Some of us may not get tax cuts, but there is nothing stopping a tax freeze. My question regarding the bill however is how best to pay it while impacting the working class the least. For example, you have often said that gas should cost more, but would ten dollar a gallon gas hurt the working class and would it affect food prices? I think that many of these issues need to be thought out more and that the public should be better informed. Its not easy doing all of the homework, however.

I never said I was against Obamacare. Im just mentioning the impact it is having in the union. Our fund is shrinking quicker than they anticipated, but we just negotiated for the companies to kick in some more loot. A little socialism goes a long way......

Thats what they say, although their idea of Jesus is One who favors a free market economy in which global labor is used to make US Christians wealthier.