Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 63 (9161 total)
4 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,581 Year: 2,838/9,624 Month: 683/1,588 Week: 89/229 Day: 61/28 Hour: 3/4


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   American Budget Cuts
Bolder-dash
Member (Idle past 3620 days)
Posts: 983
From: China
Joined: 11-14-2009


(1)
Message 20 of 350 (605577)
02-21-2011 12:00 AM
Reply to: Message 12 by RAZD
02-20-2011 10:40 PM


Re: no brainer?
Your point describes how most of the Republican rhetoric about spending goes. We want less taxes, less, taxes, and less spending, except where we want more taxes and spending. They rode this whole idea of fiscal responsibility to the November elections, but I think no one should have been fooled that they were talking about responsibility for themselves or their friends.
So who is supposed to be responsible? Of course its the median salary workers. You see, teachers, firefighters, nurses, government employees, they are all too well paid. Their greed is what is killing America. As Rush Limbaugh put it, they are freeloaders. Caps on salary gaps between the highest earners and lowest earners in companies? Limits on banking executive bonuses? Cuts in military spending? Are you kidding, no way. But of course there are some tax cuts these fiscally responsible Republicans are actually for. Such as get rid of the tax exemption for unemployment benefits. Just because you are unemployed doesn't mean you shouldn't be paying more taxes!
Do you think the Wisconsin Governor's salary and his perks will be affected by the great compromises we all need to make to help the state? Can we take away his health insurance, and close down the Governors mansion? How about a public vote annually to determine his salary?
The problem Republicans have with cutting military spending, aside from the obvious fact that Republicans like guns, and military brute, and force as a high priority diplomatic solution, is that when you spend money on bombs, you aren't giving money to someone who they feel doesn't deserve it. Whereas when you spend money on people, it is an entitlement. It doesn't matter if these people work for it, or if they provide services to our country, or if they are needy, or even if its important for the community. As Limbaugh the fat ass said, they are freeloaders. He is not special or unique as a Republican with this mentality.
Unless you are a multi-millioniare that wanted to protect your estate from taxes, or keep your military contracts rolling, if you voted for a Republican, you may well deserve to lose any benefits your work gave you, or unemployment checks you may find yourself in need of, or bargaining power you had with your company. You should have know this is exactly what they wanted to give you.
Have you ever heard of Republicans asking for sacrifice from the elite, from the wealthy, from the heads of companies instead of the working class? Hell no. It is any surprise that it is the Warren Buffets and Bill Gates and George Soroses of the world who offer to give up large portions of their own wealth to help others, and not the Bushes and the Murdochs, and the Cheneys and Charles Kochs of the world?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by RAZD, posted 02-20-2011 10:40 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 30 by RAZD, posted 02-21-2011 10:25 AM Bolder-dash has not replied
 Message 32 by crashfrog, posted 02-21-2011 2:33 PM Bolder-dash has not replied

Bolder-dash
Member (Idle past 3620 days)
Posts: 983
From: China
Joined: 11-14-2009


(1)
Message 24 of 350 (605582)
02-21-2011 12:29 AM


Opt Out Plan
I have an idea for all those who are opposed to taxes and spending. Its called The Opt Out Plan.
Anyone who doesn't want to pay federal and state taxes can simply decide to "Opt Out". No taxes for you. Your problems are solved. Every year on your tax form you just write the words Opt Out, and send it back, no questions asked.
Now of course some services won't be available to you in the same way that it is for those who decide to pay their taxes. For instance, when you use the electricity or the internet you are going to have to pay a higher rate, to make up for all the government spending that goes into installing and upkeeping these services. Likewise for water at home, and natural gas. If you have any children, well, you better plan early for them. They still get to be educated, but you are going to have to pay for it. And if they go on to university, you better make sure they get into a private one. Oh, and maybe set aside a little extra in case they ever get sick. Some hospitals may not be as expensive as others for you, but if they get any support whatsoever from public money, well, I am afraid your bill might be a little steep, so plan ahead.
Do you get mail? I recommend you cancel this. And of course you can still drive your car to most places, but you will bo confined to certain roads and certain lanes. But there again, if you plan ahead it shouldn't be a problem. You are still a citizen of American, so you still get police protection, but that 9-11 call is not free. Keep some money in your wallet.
Since you won't have the same taxpayer card that those who volunteer for the tax program have, there will need to be certain calculations figured into the price you pay for some commodities. Just things like groceries, and medicines, and fuel and the like. There may be some things where you will pay the same price as the tax volunteers, just as long as those goods aren't sent to the stores by way of federal highways and such.
So I figure this should be a very popular program for many Republicans. A lot of them don't watch tv much or use the internet or need cancer treatment medications, so it won't be a big loss for them. Plus how hard it is to make a candle or chop wood, as long as it is on your own property that is (Does any Republican really need to visit Yellowstone anyway?)
So Opt Out today. Your Utopian dream has come true. Hoorah Hoorah!

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by Phage0070, posted 02-21-2011 3:01 AM Bolder-dash has not replied
 Message 28 by Theodoric, posted 02-21-2011 9:33 AM Bolder-dash has not replied

Bolder-dash
Member (Idle past 3620 days)
Posts: 983
From: China
Joined: 11-14-2009


Message 247 of 350 (606768)
02-28-2011 10:14 AM
Reply to: Message 244 by Phage0070
02-28-2011 1:09 AM


Re: inequality widens, gets worse for the workers
Relative to the value of the dollar in 2005, in 1970 the average worker's share of the GDP was $20,819.74. In 2009 it was $41,890.45.
What?? How about suggesting that $20,000 in 1970 is not equivalent to HALF of $40,000 in 2009 dollars!
No wonder you can't quite understand how squeezing the middle class leads to a poorer economy.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 244 by Phage0070, posted 02-28-2011 1:09 AM Phage0070 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 250 by Phage0070, posted 02-28-2011 10:49 AM Bolder-dash has replied

Bolder-dash
Member (Idle past 3620 days)
Posts: 983
From: China
Joined: 11-14-2009


Message 249 of 350 (606775)
02-28-2011 10:47 AM


I really have little intellectual respect for anyone who believes that simply letting capitalism run free will insure the best society and the greatest interests for its people, produce the best goods, and create fairness for all. It encourages nothing of the kind.
What free rein capitalism encourages is short term inflation of stock prices by any means necessary, the lowest workers salary possible, and the least amount of employed people possible.
If a company like McDonald's can make the most unhealthy food they are capable of producing, as long as they can produce it cheaply and people will buy it this is what they will do. If the CEO of GE can lay off 50,000 people and cause and increase of 3 % in their stock value over the next 3 years, this is what they will do. If the CEO of a decent company that makes a steady 10% profit of their business year in and year out, and can employ a large workforce in the community, can suddenly find a way to close down one of its factories to cause a sudden bump in their share price, and then retire and get out, this is what he will do, even if it destroys their annual 10% profit.
There is not incentive in the capitalist system to make the best product, there is incentive to make the cheapest or most profitable. That people in a capitalist system make quality products is not the result of capitalism, it is the result of people who want to make a good product. This can occur in any system.
All of those who are so in favor of privatizing any sector possible, and think that private companies can do the best job of keeping things the most secure, of producing the healthiest food, of making the safest medicines, of maintaining the safest transportation systems, or most affordable health care, or or conducting the best medical research are simply lying to themselves and the public. It is in fact anti-thematic for these companies to do so, because in the free market world NONE of these would be their goal. Their goal would be to provide the most profitable security force possible, not the safest. Their goal would be to provide the most profitable food possible, not the healthiest. Their goal would be to produce the most profitable medicine possible, not the most effective.
A system such as this doesn't lead to greatness, it leads to cost cutting crap (sound familiar America? How long did it take you to destroy the made in America label?). A great society REQUIRES a government to insure that instead of the most profitable medicine, they produce the most effective medicine. A great society requires that instead of providing the most cost effective security measures, they provide the most secure ones. A great society requires that it citizens are feed healthy food, not food that makes them fat lazy and stupid.
A great society is what America USED to be when the government still effectively intervened to insure quality, safety, integrity and an affordable life for as many of its citizens as possible. A great society is what America USED to be when government still provided for its people, before the Republicans slowly tore the government to shreds, and turned it into Lehman Brothers, Koch Industries, Bechtel, Haliburton and Kentucky Fucking Fried Chicken.
Congratulations, you have gotten what you wished for free market, anti-regulation, corporate cheerleaders. How do you like it so far? Hope you keep your doors locked at night.

Replies to this message:
 Message 253 by Phage0070, posted 02-28-2011 11:08 AM Bolder-dash has not replied

Bolder-dash
Member (Idle past 3620 days)
Posts: 983
From: China
Joined: 11-14-2009


Message 251 of 350 (606778)
02-28-2011 11:00 AM
Reply to: Message 250 by Phage0070
02-28-2011 10:49 AM


Re: inequality widens, gets worse for the workers
The point you were missing was that those figures have no meaning whatsoever in regards to modern life. They are akin to every other form of meaningless spun numbers that can be found on any daily Fox News broadcast and have absolutely zero value for drawing conclusions about anything. They are adjusted to fit whatever one wants them to fit. Are they from the Heritage Foundation?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 250 by Phage0070, posted 02-28-2011 10:49 AM Phage0070 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 255 by Phage0070, posted 02-28-2011 11:24 AM Bolder-dash has not replied

Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024