Politics

[Redbar]

Fair enough. I would be in favor of eliminating the corporate level tax and raising the cap gains rate. I would be in favor lowering rates and eliminating tax expenditures provided that the result would be no worse than revenue neutral, and preferably it would result in more revenue.

I do care about some social issues, and as a result I vote my values more than my wallet, although I do also side with the left on many economic issues (I would gladly pay a higher rate of tax so that the poorest of our brothers and sisters can afford to eat, receive an education and have access to healthcare). I think choices regarding who you can marry and what you do with your body are so fundamental that the government should not be permitted to regulate them to any degree. I believe basic health care is a fundamental right, as is a quality education.

Hit me between the eyes. This is IMO a thoughtful and moral perspective. BULLSEYE!

 

[GoIrish41]

I think you are confusing the goal of raising revenue with the effect of raising rates and losing deductions. Consider for a moment, raising rates reduces private sector growth, lowering rates increases private sector growth. The take it to the extreme, 100% taxes equals no-one works and revenue equals zero, 0% tax rate is maximum work and no revenue. There is an unknown point at which revenue is maximized TODAY and a different point at which revenue is maximized going forward as faster growth compounds to make the smaller piece of the bigger pie larger than the bigger piece from the smaller pie.

Yeah, gets pretty complicated pretty fast with no definitive answers. The only constant is lower tax rate equals more growth in the private sector, not sure how you dispute that variable?

Economic bang for the buck, corporate tax rates pay off way better than individual tax rates. Republicans haven't helped there and don't seem as vehement about it as I would like to see if they were serious about really using tax code to kick start the economy.

I'm not advocating raising rates on anybody but those who have reaped the rewards of "trickle down" economics for that past three decades. It is abundantly clear to anyone who is fair minded that that plan did not work. The richest Americans today already have a lower tax rate than at any time in the past 50 years, yet I see little growth as a result. When Mitt Romney can say "I've paid at least 13% in taxes every year," I scratch my head. I've paid a higher rate than that. How will giving him even more tax breaks help growth? He's had nearly his entire working life to re-invest those savings in something other than growing his own wealth while ruining many families in the process. How does that wealth create jobs or help with the economic problems of this country when it is sitting in foreign bank accounts. The primary problem with the US economy is greed ... any system based on greed is going to produce winners and losers. The problem is that there are too few winners and far too many losers. The idea of people paying their fair share to maintain and strengthen our society should not be such a lightning rod.

 

[enrico514]

Democracy at it's best... no wonder they don't care what the people think...

Chaos During Dems Platform Vote - YouTube!

 

[tadman95]

Democracy at it's best... no wonder they don't care what the people think...

Chaos During Dems Platform Vote - YouTube!

"They" being "politicians" correct?

We need Leadership!

 

[enrico514]

"They" being "politicians" correct?

Yes... "politicians"... this was not a comment against democrats or republicans.

What is even more incredible to me than the fact that they totally ignored the clear NON 2/3 vote in order to pass their agenda was that the people just accepted that they ignored them...

 

[Rizzophil]

Dems are refusing any gift basket's from churches...

DNC Rejects Christian Gift Baskets | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes

 

[Buster Bluth]

Dems are refusing any gift basket's from churches...

DNC Rejects Christian Gift Baskets | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes

That is a shockingly stupid move on their part.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Yeah, I don't get that if it is accurate (not going to take FOXNews' word for it). Also not sure why it matters. Can't say it bothers me at all.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Whoops...there's the rub:

“The Democrats have spit in the face of God they spit in the face of unborn children,” Benham said. “They spit in the face of marriage. They are spitting in God’s face. Americans need to rise up and see to it they have their day and are escorted out of power in this country.”

Keep your gift baskets, zealot.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

That is a shockingly stupid move on their part.

Who cares?

 

[BobD]

I'd prefer a church handing baskets to the poor.

 

[phgreek]

I'd prefer a church handing baskets to the poor.

...so do I, and so would Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams. Irony is almost too much here...all things considered.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Clinton is a stud.

 

[Rhode Irish]

...so do I, and so would Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams. Irony is almost too much here...all things considered.

The idea that Jefferson and Adams - two of the most learned and visionary men in history (and two men who bitterly disagreed with each other about the role of government, by the way) - would have identified with modern conservative doctrine is so absurd it would be funny if there weren't people who actually believe it.

 

[IrishMoore1]

Clinton killed it! He made the Republican party his b*tch tonight dayumm.

 

[connor_in]

The idea that Jefferson and Adams - two of the most learned and visionary men in history (and two men who bitterly disagreed with each other about the role of government, by the way) - would have identified with modern conservative doctrine is so absurd it would be funny if there weren't people who actually believe it.

RI...I don't think they would recognizeornidentify with either party. I would add to your absurdity the idea they would back a party that sought to and removed God from their platform...then when catching flak for it "voted" to put it back in...even though the vote was obviouslynot for it. Maybe the DNC needs a.little voter ID

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Clinton knocked that bitch out of the park tonight. I'm actually watching Republicans on tv conceding the election right now based on his message.

Dude has brass balls and his message still brings a charge to a room. Great speech.

 

[Rhode Irish]

RI...I don't think they would recognizeornidentify with either party. I would add to your absurdity the idea they would back a party that sought to and removed God from their platform...then when catching flak for it "voted" to put it back in...even though the vote was obviouslynot for it. Maybe the DNC needs a.little voter ID

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

I never said they would be democrats. I think the entirety of our modern political discourse would mortify them. Politics and government itself has evolved so much from their time that it is impossible to project out where they would come down on any particular issue. Things change.

 

[DSully1995]

Clinton killed it!

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Clinton knocked that bitch out of the park tonight. I'm actually watching Republicans on tv conceding the election right now based on his message.

Dude has brass balls and his message still brings a charge to a room. Great speech.

It's good for the other side that Clinton is not running. Not sure he endorsed Obama so much as told PBO how to do his job. And it was too long.

Do those brass balls hold up his Cuban cigar?

 

[connor_in]

Really? Clinton killed it? I guess that depends on your point of view. I felt it was overly long and you could definitely tell that him and Obama believe in different things. At best he seemed to grudgingly give Obama feint praise. He was visibly not into it...wanted to speak for HRC not BHO.

 

[connor_in]

Oh by the way...thought this was interesting...

PREDETERMINED: Photo proves DNC teleprompter loaded to affirm 2/3rds vote regardless outcome » The Right Scoop -

How exactly were they able to discern this and get it to the teleprompter so quickly?

 

[Rhode Irish]

Really? Clinton killed it? I guess that depends on your point of view. I felt it was overly long and you could definitely tell that him and Obama believe in different things. At best he seemed to grudgingly give Obama feint praise. He was visibly not into it...wanted to speak for HRC not BHO.

The most popular living American political figure just methodically and logically took apart every single attack on the President that has been offered by the Romney campaign. I understand that you may not have liked what you heard, but it was a tour de force. You are entitled to your own opinion, but the proof will be in the pudding. Expect to see the President get the bounce that Romney didn't get coming out of this convention.

More importantly, expect to hear the arguments that Clinton made tonight made over and over again by him and other surrogates throughout the battleground states. The ideas aren't new, but Clinton is masterful in packaging them. They will have an impact. I am confident of that.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Oh by the way...thought this was interesting...

PREDETERMINED: Photo proves DNC teleprompter loaded to affirm 2/3rds vote regardless outcome » The Right Scoop -

How exactly were they able to discern this and get it to the teleprompter so quickly?

How exactly are there people that care about this? I literally could not care any less about this, and neither should anyone else. It is not an issue of national significance; it is not an issue of any significance; it isn't even an issue.

If you honestly thought that this was interesting you really need to find a hobby.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

The most popular living American political figure just methodically and logically took apart every single attack on the President that has been offered by the Romney campaign. I understand that you may not have liked what you heard, but it was a tour de force. You are entitled to your own opinion, but the proof will be in the pudding. Expect to see the President get the bounce that Romney didn't get coming out of this convention.

More importantly, expect to hear the arguments that Clinton made tonight made over and over again by him and other surrogates throughout the battleground states. The ideas aren't new, but Clinton is masterful in packaging them. They will have an impact. I am confident of that.

Yessir... Well said.

 

[IrishMoore1]

The most popular living American political figure just methodically and logically took apart every single attack on the President that has been offered by the Romney campaign. I understand that you may not have liked what you heard, but it was a tour de force. You are entitled to your own opinion, but the proof will be in the pudding. Expect to see the President get the bounce that Romney didn't get coming out of this convention.

More importantly, expect to hear the arguments that Clinton made tonight made over and over again by him and other surrogates throughout the battleground states. The ideas aren't new, but Clinton is masterful in packaging them. They will have an impact. I am confident of that.

Yeah that's what I was gonna say. Well said.

 

[connor_in]

The most popular living American political figure just methodically and logically took apart every single attack on the President that has been offered by the Romney campaign. I understand that you may not have liked what you heard, but it was a tour de force. You are entitled to your own opinion, but the proof will be in the pudding. Expect to see the President get the bounce that Romney didn't get coming out of this convention.

More importantly, expect to hear the arguments that Clinton made tonight made over and over again by him and other surrogates throughout the battleground states. The ideas aren't new, but Clinton is masterful in packaging them. They will have an impact. I am confident of that.

The ideathat he methodically and logically took apart every single Romney attack on Obama is only just your opinion as well and while I believe it to be a fallacy you are certainly entitled to it. The great thing about this nation is that we are allallowedour own opinions and they are all equal.

BTW on the loaded teleprompter thing I find it to be interesting especially when taken in conjunction wiyh DNC chair DWS saying the removals were simply oversights it was passed.with no resistence and it was obviously a two thirds vote and yeah no one had any problem with it. If this had happened even off camera at the RNC there would be endlessstories of it and it would be proof of the Na zi tendencies of the extreme GOP. (Ya know to go with the other three Rs are na zi references that have popped up the last few days)

 

[Rhode Irish]

The idea that he methodically and logically took apart every single Romney attack on Obama is only just your opinion as well and while I believe it to be a fallacy you are certainly entitled to it. The great thing about this nation is that we are allallowedour own opinions and they are all equal.

BTW on the loaded teleprompter thing I find it to be interesting especially when taken in conjunction wiyh DNC chair DWS saying the removals were simply oversights it was passed.with no resistence and it was obviously a two thirds vote and yeah no one had any problem with it. If this had happened even off camera at the RNC there would be endlessstories of it and it would be proof of the Na zi tendencies of the extreme GOP. (Ya know to go with the other three Rs are na zi references that have popped up the last few days)

I don't agree that it is just my opinion. On some arguments you can have a philosophical difference with what was said tonight, I guess. But certain things aren't opinion: namely that the dog whistle swing state ads about welfare reform are out and out untrue; and the assertion that the Romney/Ryan line about cutting $716B from medicare is not only an intentional distortion of the facts, but laughably hypocritical coming from Paul Ryan.

In addition, I think you will see the narrative about the economy that has been sharpened by the Obama campaign since the weekend and amplified by Clinton tonight will be incredibly effective. You may say that is more opinion than fact, but I'm not totally convinced of that. I think that common sense dictates that you cannot expect this or any President to totally fix an economy that was as broken as the one Obama inherited in under four years. Clinton explained that masterfully. I predict that it will reach enough people to move the election a point or two, and that could easily be the difference.

 

[phgreek]

I never said they would be democrats. I think the entirety of our modern political discourse would mortify them. Politics and government itself has evolved so much from their time that it is impossible to project out where they would come down on any particular issue. Things change.

you can predict a couple things...

I think they'd raise a militia against this government. I think they'd be libertarians, quite honestly, but if Adams were around, the Libertarian foreign policy might be a little better

It is pretty clear that BOTH these men thought God/religeon was pretty important, although Adams can be portrayed as a bit of a dichotomy on the subject, it is beyond refute that he liked the "governed" to be god fearing...

"We have no government armed in power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." -Adams

I don't think there is debate on Jefferson's view of God/religeon, and its role.

The fact that the left seems bent on removing faith and religion from everything...thats totally inconsistant with the views and INTENT of Adams and Jefferson...ya know those guys you described as "Visionary" earlier...Irony, when one adds to a tower calling it progress, themselves then progressive, by pulling from its foundation.

Also, both pattriots were generally hard over on the sanctity of property...wealth included. Many make the mistake of assuming Adams was ok with "public" philanthropy. Adams marveling at "public" charities WAS NOT an endorsement for government involvement in charitable endeavors...so before we even go there...ERRRR....GONG! He marveled at PRIVATE donations for the public good...specifically at Franklin's ability to make that happen. Adams and Jefferson had their moments, but they agreed on some fundamental things. Jefferson was certainly more of the visionary when it came to predicting progressives of today. Both voiced concern that the "Democracy" would eventually eat itself...Jefferson just told ya why he thought it could happen...

"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.”
-Jefferson

“A wise and frugal government … shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”
-Jefferson

Much can be predicted if you do not torture what people say to fit your view...

This politics stuff...I have beliefs, for sure. But most of the time I come on here to mess around with people, and trade some barbs...I don't get this political missionary thing you are doing...defend your position...great...interject when you disagree...cool. But it seems like every discussion you are in you ratchet up to people getting angry...political stuff can be fun if you actually have a sense of humor...you may...and maybe there is a blindness on my part to italicized text when you type it...but lately your posts...lookin for a fight all the time...why?

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I'd prefer a church handing baskets to the poor.

Well said.