Politics

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Yes. My trust is directly proportional to kept promises. No kept promises, no trust.

Romney taking a position and then changing it (and doing it on numerous issues) isn't like breaking a promise? He seems to be for anything you want him to be for. A chameleon on a plaid.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Fox News is now criticizing NBC's efforts to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims. Amazing.

Fox News Criticizes NBC's Benefit Concert Video – 5min.com

Why didn't Fox say anythig about Romney's staged relief event?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...5IGwDQ&usg=AFQjCNHM2gHwzddxSbRpftkldmsT2e9c4g

 

[Corry]

Given that Obama promised to cut the debt last time, didn't do it, and has promised to cut the debt again, how could anyone in their right mind possibly believe him?

It's like "read my lips, no new taxes".

I know it may come across as contrarian, but I could really care less about the debt. Should the government spend our money wisely? Of course, but this whole debt craze is getting out of control. Most industrialized counties have a total debt right round 100% of there GDP.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

I know it may come across as contrarian, but I could really care less about the debt. Should the government spend our money wisely? Of course, but this whole debt craze is getting out of control. Most industrialized counties have a total debt right round 100% of there GDP.

Astounding.

"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by sword. The other is by debt." --- John Adams, 1826

 

[Corry]

Astounding.

"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by sword. The other is by debt." --- John Adams, 1826

"A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
Alexander Hamilton

 

[irishjet34]

"A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
Alexander Hamilton

What would you consider excessive?

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

"A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
Alexander Hamilton

So $16 trillion and being downgraded by Moody's isn't excessive? Relieved you aren't in any position in DC.

 

[PraetorianND]

So $16 trillion and being downgraded by Moody's isn't excessive? Relieved you aren't in any position in DC.

Our GDP is $15 Trillion a year. How much is your mortgage? How much do you make per year?

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I know it may come across as contrarian, but I could really care less about the debt. Should the government spend our money wisely? Of course, but this whole debt craze is getting out of control. Most industrialized counties have a total debt right round 100% of there GDP.

Even the Eurozone pledge was for each member to stay below 60% of GDP, which was ignored at Europe's peril.

Now, the spendthrifts Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain have 20% unemployment and their own sovereign debt crisis.

The US hasn't had 100% of debt/GDP since WWII.

How Much Debt Is Too Much?

Fileublicly Held Federal Debt 1790-2009.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Even Obama has promised to cut the debt -- he's just incapable of doing it.

Why can't we just learn Europe's lesson?

 

[Corry]

Even the Eurozone pledge was for each member to stay below 60% of GDP, which was ignored at Europe's peril.

Now, the spendthrifts Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain have 20% unemployment and their own sovereign debt crisis.

The US hasn't had 100% of debt/GDP since WWII.

How Much Debt Is Too Much?

Fileublicly Held Federal Debt 1790-2009.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Even Obama has promised to cut the debt -- he's just incapable of doing it.

Why can't we just learn Europe's lesson?

I'll admit bruh, from lurking this site for a while and become very appreciative of all the information that everyone has provided. I still don't get the debt craze. What country is doing it right? According to this site we are doing well in my uneducated opinion.

List of countries by external debt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I think the problem is multi-faceted. We're in a very bad situtation now, but can get out of it with proper leadership. The scary part, though, is just how unsustainable our fiscal attitude is. Consider:

1. Congress operates on debt.

2. More debt increases borrowing costs,

3. No president in history has spent less than his predecessor.

4. In 20 years Medicare underfunding will be 99 Trillion.

5. The more debt held, the worst the economic collapse when that debt has to be reckoned with.

6. When interest rates rise eventually, a good portion of national revenue will be wasted solely on borrowing costs.

The only conclusion, in my mind, is to start reducing our debt immediately.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

And don't forget most state gov'ts are deeply in debt as well -- up till now we're only talking federal dollars.

 

[WaveDomer]

"A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
Alexander Hamilton

You've got to put this into context. At the time Hamilton said that, the US was an upstart. By having debt held by other countries, they would support the US becoming more of a fiscal power. Foreign wealth would invest in America and help build it and make it stronger. It would also help in terms of foreign policy and keeping America out of war or stronger in case of war. Hamilton was a serious genius.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I think the problem is multi-faceted. We're in a very bad situtation now, but can get out of it with proper leadership. The scary part, though, is just how unsustainable our fiscal attitude is. Consider:

1. Congress operates on debt.

2. More debt increases borrowing costs,

3. No president in history has spent less than his predecessor.

4. In 20 years Medicare underfunding will be 99 Trillion.

5. The more debt held, the worst the economic collapse when that debt has to be reckoned with.

6. When interest rates rise eventually, a good portion of national revenue will be wasted solely on borrowing costs.

The only conclusion, in my mind, is to start reducing our debt immediately.

And the best way to do that is by cutting taxes further for millionaires and billionaires?

 

[GoIrish41]

Take a look at the whole of Mitt Romney's life. I've said this before on the thread, he is probably the most overall successful person to ever run for POTUS: family, career, philanthropy, religion, etc. The guy's story is unbelievable. He is not an ideologue. He's a pragmatist. He's a pragmatist who also happens to love this country. Unfortunately, he's a pragmatist stuck in an ideological game. That's why most very right wing people didn't like him. But he's also not all about solving the social issues or the fringe issues. He's about making it work the best it can work. That's what he's done everywhere he's been, from Bain to Boston to Salt Lake City. People on the left are afraid he will be too conservative. This is bogus. He will do whatever he thinks will get the job done and he will have to do it with a Congress that has people on the left in it. He did that in MA. Remember the Olympics were a disaster before he got there. Scandal all over the place. He set it right and it was, I believe, the most successful games in America to date. Just take a look at what he's done in his private life. It is the opposite of slimeball or liar. It just is. And he's done it for his entire life, not just his political life for appearances.

The biggest issue facing this country is debt and what is going to happen with programs like Social Security and Medicare. We have a Senate now who hasn't put forward a budget in something like 3 years even though it's the duty of the Senate. If you read Woodward's book about Obama it is devastating to him in terms of leadership. Like in the debt negotiations he didn't have a Plan B if Plan A didn't work out. Seriously?

Romney is a leader and good man. He's proven it over his lifetime.

We can agree to disagree on whether or not he is a "good man". I won't again go into why I disagree with this notion, but I will say that this was an excellent post. I respect the thoughtful approach you have taken for throwing your support to your candidate. This is what voting is all about, and you've clearly come to your conclusion after careful consideration. Thanks.

 

[GoIrish41]

Well...certainly coaches should be paid via a progressive scale, and that richer programs should be forced to pay for poorer programs...right?

Otherwise it's unfair.

Actually, this already kinda happens within conferences.

 

[WaveDomer]

And the best way to do that is by cutting taxes further for millionaires and billionaires?

You can tax millionaires at 100% and you would pay for the Federal government for something like 3 months.

This is the argument, at what percentage do you start losing out on tax revenue because people will adjust their income to lower their tax burden? This is basically the Laffer Curve. Tax at 0% and tax revenue is $0. Tax at 100% and tax revenue would also be $0. Increase from 0% and tax revenue goes up until it hits a certain percentage and then revenue starts to decline towards $0 again. Certain extreme examples of this are people who just leave California and New York because taxes are too high. Other examples are people who just adjust their work hours. If you are theoretically going to be punished by working harder, why would you work harder? Also, the more money you take from a company or an individual, the less money they have to invest or hire.

There are a lot of different arguments for and against the Laffer Curve and where you are in the curve and what type of tax etc. For me, to reduce the deficit, you have to obviously have taxation and reduction of spending. However, with the economy in the shape it's in, the priority has to be getting people working. More people working, more money comes in through taxation and more investment and spending in the marketplace. To get people working you can't start penalizing the people who employ other people. That's the priority, IMHO, so the government needs to do what it can do to make it easy to build and grow companies. Then when the economy is growing again and back to where it should be, then we look at what to do with taxation. But for now, open the gates and let the flood waters come in. Get people working.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

And the best way to do that is by cutting taxes further for millionaires and billionaires?

Ohhhhh those treacherous millionaires and billionaires. Damn them for succeeding on their own without a nanny state. Romney has said he isn't giving them any more cuts than they already have. Go check out the big tax increases coming for the MIDDLE CLASS in January, 2013.

Glad you resurfaced. Still awaiting your answer on liberal wealth. Do you despise Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen due to their wealth just as you do the Romney family? Madonna? Barbara Streisand? Matt Damon? Or is it only conservatives and their money that really bothers you?

 

[WaveDomer]

We can agree to disagree on whether or not he is a "good man". I won't again go into why I disagree with this notion, but I will say that this was an excellent post. I respect the thoughtful approach you have taken for throwing your support to your candidate. This is what voting is all about, and you've clearly come to your conclusion after careful consideration. Thanks.

Thanks. Believe me, I'm conservative because I believe it is the best way for everyone to live the best life that they can live. I've come to that conclusion from just living and also from reading a lot from both sides of issues. My point being, we can all disagree, but we should all give each other the benefit of the doubt on what our motives are.

And, no matter what happens on Tuesday, the United States will still be here and we will all be doing what we can do to back what we believe in. And that's tits because you can only get a great soup when you mix a lot in there.

 

[Buster Bluth]

You've got to put this into context. At the time Hamilton said that, the US was an upstart. By having debt held by other countries, they would support the US becoming more of a fiscal power. Foreign wealth would invest in America and help build it and make it stronger. It would also help in terms of foreign policy and keeping America out of war or stronger in case of war. Hamilton was a serious genius.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/notJuFGXQ9w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Ohhhhh those treacherous millionaires and billionaires. Damn them for succeeding on their own without a nanny state. Romney has said he isn't giving them any more cuts than they already have. Go check out the big tax increases coming for the MIDDLE CLASS in January, 2013.

Glad you resurfaced. Still awaiting your answer on liberal wealth. Do you despise Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen due to their wealth just as you do the Romney family? Madonna? Barbara Streisand? Matt Damon? Or is it only conservatives and their money that really bothers you?

Romney has said a lot of things. He just recently added the part about the wealthy not seeing the amount they pay go down.

In my opinion, everyone who makes over $1 million should pay the taxes they paid uunder Pres. Clinton. Rich liberals and rich conservatives should pay the same. I don't begrudge people making lots of money. The wealthy have done very well over the past decade. The same can't be said for everyone else.

 

[WaveDomer]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/notJuFGXQ9w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Not to toot my own horn, but my website did a piece on the Hamilton Burr duel if you want to take a look. To get to the start you have to scroll down all the way to the bottom of page 2 because it's a blog style. It is aimed at kids, by the way. SuperheroHistorians

 

[4irishnation]

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[4irishnation]

Sorry more like ----><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Atr8iFcc0qQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I think Obama and Romney both like the Irish. I know that God does...no other explanation for that win.

 

[jason_h537]

What Republicans think of Romney

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hRJa2OaiwWw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[jason_h537]

Here is an article as to why Romney has changed his position so much, and it is not exactly negative Running the Data on a Romney Presidency - Bloomberg

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

What Fox News thinks of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

Fox News Criticizes NBC's Benefit Concert Video – 5min.com

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Did Romney pull out a cheat sheet at the first debate? Decide for yourselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZ5_qdHLV8&feature=player_embedded

 

[PJWhitfield]

Just saw "Atlas Shrugged 2" before the game. Looks like we've got some Wesley Mouch types on this site. Thanks for the laughs. It's as if we all learned economics from the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. God help us.