should the ethanol in fuel mandate be waived due to the drought

I'm not making any excuses, I am simply stating a fact of life. The Republican party is the only party you can expect to even attempt to reel spending back in. Democrats certainly aren't going to cut farm subsidies, or any other subsidy, they want to do MORE! But Republicans aren't going to do it if we don't send them to Washington TO do it, and hold them accountable if they don't. You seem to have already given up on the system, the process, how politics work in the real world.


Show me when the GOP was in power (House, Senate and White House) where they attempted to reel spending back in. Show me. Show me one time they tried to cut ANY subsidies. Last I looked, they increased the debt quite a bit. You are confusing terms in my view. There are Republicans and there are Conservatives. I am tired of sending Republicans to Washington who say one thing then do another.

Nope. Not what I am saying. I am asking you what your plan is for when the general public becomes incensed and outraged over the draconian sort of cuts you want to make, and you haven't given me an answer to that. I have asked you if you had solutions for the problems it would create, which was the purpose and reason for us giving the subsidy in the first place? Ya didn't answer... instead you ran to the old familiar box of cynical remembrance, and seemingly bitter vitriol for the only party that can give you anything remotely close to what you want.

The public can be incensed at the spending cuts or they can be incensed at rolling a wheel barrel full of benjamins to the Piggly Wiggly just to buy a loaf of bread which is where we are headed. This isn't about policy or politics. It isn't a game. It is a function of math. And the fact of the matter is that we need draconian cuts to get our fiscal house in order. The current crop in Washington just wants to dicker around the edges. If people are going to be pissed about the cuts, then fuck em. They deserve what they get. And boy are they going to get it.

I am all for doing the right thing, but things need to be done in a precise way, and to a measured degree, and we have to look at benefit vs. cost, and how things may effect other things. Subsidies are sometimes like fingers in the dam, we need to have something figured out first, to address whatever problem it will create by eliminating the subsidy.

Funny you and your ilk don't address how things effect other things when the subsidies were put in place to begin with. I highlighted two areas where subsidies screw the American people but you remain mum. Interesting.

I didn't say ALL subsidies, but generally speaking, aren't MOST subsidies created for some reason, to address some concern? I would think if we just have politicians voting for subsidies that simply existed to line the pockets of their cronies, we could impeach them and throw the bums out of office, so I have to imagine most legislation which passes the House and Senate, probably has some justifiable purpose or reason. Don't you guess?

I don't mean to offend, but this is arguably one of the most naive things I have heard in a long time. Of course the politicians are voting to line the pockets of their cronies. Do you really think they are looking out for our best interests or their own? Impeach them? For fiddling away our money? Are you high? When has that ever happened?


Don't talk down to me on this subject, I have a degree in Business Management. I certainly DO know how free markets work. In principle, you are right! It is far BETTER for us to NOT subsidize anything, and let the chips fall where they may with capitalist enterprise. Even better if we can eliminate governmental regulation entirely, but we can't. And we don't have a time machine..... We can't go back and Unfuckulate it! We are blessed with what we have, and in order to change it radically, we need a plan for how to deal with the many problems and pitfalls it causes. That's a reality you need to face, not me.

OK, you say you know how free markets work, then from what I read in your posts, you don't really trust them. They are more than a principle. The free market is like abstinence, it works every time it is tried. It provides for more prosperity than any other central planning you can devise.


Do you know how much area of land it takes to grow the wheat to make a 5lb bag of flour? Have you ever had to grind wheat into flour? Do you have any idea how much a bag of flour would cost if American wheat farmers weren't subsidized, and decided to grow something more profitable? There is a HUGE market and demand for flour, the problem is SUPPLY! Cutting subsidies means less supply, because wheat is probably the least profitable grain you can produce. Therefore, a typical loaf of sandwich bread will be about $15~20.... you have a plan for that?

There is so much here, it is hard to know where to start. First of all, I don't need to know how much land it takes to grow wheat to make a 5 lb bag of flour. I don't have to know how to grind wheat into flour. My guess is that if four weren't subsidized, it bring what the market could bear. Now first you say it is more profitable to grow something other than wheat, but next you say there is a HUGE demand for flour. Well, if there is a HUGE demand, then supply will adjust to meet that demand in order to create profit. That is how supply and demand works. You say you have a degree in business management, I suggest you ask for a refund (yes, I was being condescending). Just by this mere statement you show a complete lack of knowledge or faith in the free market. Flour is no different than iPhones. If there is demand, there will always be profit. It is only when there isn't demand when a company demands subsidies ala Solyndra. You can't oppose Solyndra subsidies and then support farm subsidies. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. The same economic principles apply. You can't twist economics on its head to suit your own biases.

I don't think that, I think YOU are a cynical wacko extremist, who is more a part of the problem than the solution, to be honest.

We don't have a time machine... If we did, I could go back any change what Republicans did in the past, heck... maybe even get back a few trillion wasted dollars the Democrats tricked us into spending, who knows? But I do not have a time machine, I can't change what people have done before. I can't undo the many years of pandering liberals and conservatives, handing out subsidies to everyone left, right, and center. All I can do is support people who say they are going to cut spending and get our budget in order, and then hold them accountable for action. Right now, it is Tea Party Conservatives who will get my vote, they are the only ones who seem to understand what needs to be done.

You are like most Americans. You are against government spending in the abstract, but when someone comes along and says "OK here is where I would cut", you stand up and scream bloody murder. For you it is the wheat subsidies, for someone else it is the ethanol subsidies, for someone else it is WIC and SCHIP and Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security and on and on and on and on until VOILA, nothing fucking gets cut. So we keep borrowing and spending; borrowing and spending while you call people like me who really want to cut spending "wacko extremists". That is fine. You can call me what you wish. You see while you fiddle around the edges I spend hours a week preparing for the inevitable. And when it all goes tits up, I can sit back and live a very comfortable life while you will sleep warm and snug with your wheat subsidy.
 
You are like most Americans. You are against government spending in the abstract, but when someone comes along and says "OK here is where I would cut", you stand up and scream bloody murder. For you it is the wheat subsidies, for someone else it is the ethanol subsidies, for someone else it is WIC and SCHIP and Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security and on and on and on and on until VOILA, nothing fucking gets cut. So we keep borrowing and spending; borrowing and spending while you call people like me who really want to cut spending "wacko extremists". That is fine. You can call me what you wish. You see while you fiddle around the edges I spend hours a week preparing for the inevitable. And when it all goes tits up, I can sit back and live a very comfortable life while you will sleep warm and snug with your wheat subsidy.

Again, becoming defiantly extremist and demanding we take unreasonable and draconian measures is not a solution. You can pound your fists on the table and demand all you want, while at the same time, lobbing shit grenades at the only party capable of saving your bacon. I can't prevent you from taking this approach, and I completely understand your frustration and anger. The thing is, we already both know that what you want to do, is not going to ever happen. So instead of that, we have to work toward smaller goals and take things in smaller steps. All I've tried to do, is get you to see beyond your rhetoric, it's easy to 'proclaim' we should cut subsidies, but just like Obama found out about trying enemy combatants somewhere other than Gitmo, it's not as easy as it sounds. There are fundamental problems that have to be addressed before you can do that. This is what makes Ron Paul such a non-qualified candidate, he doesn't see beyond his rhetoric, he can't explain how we're supposed to get to where he wants to go. Same with you, it's clear we're not going to get to where you want us to be, unless you find that time machine!

Being sullen and mad at the party of the GOP isn't going to bring you any closer to your objectives. They are the only party who can reasonably be expected to do anything about these problems, in any sort of meaningful way, and you know that. You can't be so stupid as to not realize it. But it's like you can't let go of the past, as if the Republicans did something to really piss you off, and until they come begging your for forgiveness on their hands and knees, you can't forget about it. I don't know what to tell you there, but blaming people currently trying to get into office in order to stop the socialist crap that is currently happening, is not the smartest approach to take. They run as republicans because they damn well can't run as DEMOCRATS!
 
Again, becoming defiantly extremist and demanding we take unreasonable and draconian measures is not a solution. You can pound your fists on the table and demand all you want, while at the same time, lobbing shit grenades at the only party capable of saving your bacon. I can't prevent you from taking this approach, and I completely understand your frustration and anger. The thing is, we already both know that what you want to do, is not going to ever happen. So instead of that, we have to work toward smaller goals and take things in smaller steps. All I've tried to do, is get you to see beyond your rhetoric, it's easy to 'proclaim' we should cut subsidies, but just like Obama found out about trying enemy combatants somewhere other than Gitmo, it's not as easy as it sounds. There are fundamental problems that have to be addressed before you can do that. This is what makes Ron Paul such a non-qualified candidate, he doesn't see beyond his rhetoric, he can't explain how we're supposed to get to where he wants to go. Same with you, it's clear we're not going to get to where you want us to be, unless you find that time machine!

Being sullen and mad at the party of the GOP isn't going to bring you any closer to your objectives. They are the only party who can reasonably be expected to do anything about these problems, in any sort of meaningful way, and you know that. You can't be so stupid as to not realize it. But it's like you can't let go of the past, as if the Republicans did something to really piss you off, and until they come begging your for forgiveness on their hands and knees, you can't forget about it. I don't know what to tell you there, but blaming people currently trying to get into office in order to stop the socialist crap that is currently happening, is not the smartest approach to take. They run as republicans because they damn well can't run as DEMOCRATS!

I am not defiantly extremist. I am merely stating my opinion. Now you keep saying that the GOP is supposedly the party who can "reasonably be expected to do anything about these problems". So I ask you again. Prove it. What facts lead you to this assertion? Give me hard core facts. Not supposition. Not your opinion. Now what folks say they are going to do.

Yes, the GOP did do something to really piss me off. They took my money and support, promised to act like conservatives and promptly got to DC and ran up the size of the federal government. So who is really the fool here? Me, who sees them for what they are and refuses to be duped again until they show me they mean business or you who after being fucked in the ass by them is willing to bend over and take some more?

Lastly, you think I am here to come up with compromises or solutions to these problems. Nothing can be farther from the truth. This is a message board. It is a place for me to vent, laugh and torture liberals. I have no desire to try to find solutions on this site. I have been finding my own solutions and they don't involve the political process.

You can continue to play the "My political party is awesome and yours sucks" game, but I won't. I played that game for a while too until I realized that there really isn't a hairs bit of difference between the two parties when it comes to actions. Now if you can prove me otherwise, please do.
 
I am not defiantly extremist. I am merely stating my opinion. Now you keep saying that the GOP is supposedly the party who can "reasonably be expected to do anything about these problems". So I ask you again. Prove it. What facts lead you to this assertion? Give me hard core facts. Not supposition. Not your opinion. Now what folks say they are going to do.

You mean, aside from the fact the other side is pretty much flaunting their Socialist Marxism now?

We have a two party system, and one of them is fucked.

Yes, the GOP did do something to really piss me off. They took my money and support, promised to act like conservatives and promptly got to DC and ran up the size of the federal government. So who is really the fool here? Me, who sees them for what they are and refuses to be duped again until they show me they mean business or you who after being fucked in the ass by them is willing to bend over and take some more?

So you are going to continue to allow Socialist Marxists to run our country until the GOP does what? Because they can't "act like" anything if they're not in power. They can't very well "show you something" if you don't vote for, and elect them to office first, can they? We have a bit of a dichotomy here, don't we?

Lastly, you think I am here to come up with compromises or solutions to these problems. Nothing can be farther from the truth. This is a message board. It is a place for me to vent, laugh and torture liberals. I have no desire to try to find solutions on this site. I have been finding my own solutions and they don't involve the political process.

No, I didn't ever think you were here to find compromises and solutions, that's why I said you more a part of the problem than the solution. It doesn't matter why you are a jackass, you don't need to explain.

You can continue to play the "My political party is awesome and yours sucks" game, but I won't. I played that game for a while too until I realized that there really isn't a hairs bit of difference between the two parties when it comes to actions. Now if you can prove me otherwise, please do.

I didn't play that game, I simply stated reality, there is only one party that we can reasonably expect to cut spending and get the debt under control, and that is Republicans. If you don't see the difference between Republicans and Socialist Marxists, I can't help you... obviously, you are too ignorant to help.

Is it 'cathartic' in any way for you to be like this? Does it help you feel better to come here and vent? Does emotively tearing into Republicans like a resentful jilted lover, make it easier for you to cope? Or does your anger and resentment feed on itself, causing your rationale to erode away, and turn you into a wacko? I;m just curious, because I think you need to do a serious self-evaluation. Your "plan" is to sit on the sideline like some goofy clown, heckling BOTH sides while your country goes down the shit hole.
 
You mean, aside from the fact the other side is pretty much flaunting their Socialist Marxism now?

We have a two party system, and one of them is fucked.



So you are going to continue to allow Socialist Marxists to run our country until the GOP does what? Because they can't "act like" anything if they're not in power. They can't very well "show you something" if you don't vote for, and elect them to office first, can they? We have a bit of a dichotomy here, don't we?



No, I didn't ever think you were here to find compromises and solutions, that's why I said you more a part of the problem than the solution. It doesn't matter why you are a jackass, you don't need to explain.



I didn't play that game, I simply stated reality, there is only one party that we can reasonably expect to cut spending and get the debt under control, and that is Republicans. If you don't see the difference between Republicans and Socialist Marxists, I can't help you... obviously, you are too ignorant to help.

Is it 'cathartic' in any way for you to be like this? Does it help you feel better to come here and vent? Does emotively tearing into Republicans like a resentful jilted lover, make it easier for you to cope? Or does your anger and resentment feed on itself, causing your rationale to erode away, and turn you into a wacko? I;m just curious, because I think you need to do a serious self-evaluation. Your "plan" is to sit on the sideline like some goofy clown, heckling BOTH sides while your country goes down the shit hole.

Tell ya what, you show me where the GOP has cut spending and maybe, just maybe I will agree with you. And don't give me the "they need a chance" or "they are trying and those dastardly democraps won't go along". You see, because not too long ago the GOP controlled the House, the Senate and the White House. When did they try to cut spending?

You say that the democrats are the socialists. OK, fine. I agree with you. They are. But, which party gave us a prescription drug benefit under Medicare? Was it the democrats? Who did that?

So you call me an extremist whacko for calling out the GOP on their recent behavior acting like democrats. You say I am the problem because I won't go along with democrat lite. Fine. I will be an extremist. But, if you are trying to change my mind then you better bring facts to the party
 
Tell ya what, you show me where the GOP has cut spending and maybe, just maybe I will agree with you. And don't give me the "they need a chance" or "they are trying and those dastardly democraps won't go along". You see, because not too long ago the GOP controlled the House, the Senate and the White House. When did they try to cut spending?

You say that the democrats are the socialists. OK, fine. I agree with you. They are. But, which party gave us a prescription drug benefit under Medicare? Was it the democrats? Who did that?

So you call me an extremist whacko for calling out the GOP on their recent behavior acting like democrats. You say I am the problem because I won't go along with democrat lite. Fine. I will be an extremist. But, if you are trying to change my mind then you better bring facts to the party

If you've paid attention to politics the past 20 years, you must understand, for the GOP to effectively enact this sort of stuff, they need super-majority status, because that's the only way past the democrats. When it's mostly democrats, or even slight majority republican, the votes can't be gained to make the cuts. We end up with a crop of republicans too scared to be too bold, and often caving to the democrats. The problem is, Democrats have been playing this game a long time, and they know how to do it well. They will block EVERY attempt to cut anything, and deny you the right to cut ANYTHING without 2/3 of Congress, and you can just EXPECT that.

Being this is the case in reality, and the fact that the GOP has rarely had such an opportunity, it's difficult for me to completely condemn them for life. Sure, I agree with you, the Pill Bill should serve as a monumental reminder to the stupid moderates, that's what you get for thinking! If I had a time machine, I would go back and thwack George Bush in the head with a ruler! But I don't! All I really have, is the choice between (D) Obama and (R) Romney.

In order for Romney to cut spending, he will need super-majorities in the Congress. If people like you sit at home, or throw your vote away on someone who can't win, then he probably won't get that. He may not anyway, even with your help and pulling some democrats. But this is the only scenario you can expect to see real budget cuts, if that's what you are interested in. It will still take electing Romney a Congress who will send him the legislation, and that's where the real battle lies.
 
I didn't play that game, I simply stated reality, there is only one party that we can reasonably expect to cut spending and get the debt under control, and that is Republicans. If you don't see the difference between Republicans and Socialist Marxists, I can't help you... obviously, you are too ignorant to help.

I see a big difference. One party wants to cut the debt and to hell with the price the average person is going to pay. The other party is trying to ensure the people have their basic needs met. Things like medical care. Extending UI. Etc.

Things have changed. It's not a matter of waiting for jobs to return. They aren't coming back. A paradigm shift, for lack of a better term. A comprehensive approach is required. As my wife, being the financial administrator that she is, always says, "You have to have a plan".

Technology has done what it was supposed to do, relieve some of man's burden. There was a time when everyone had to work just to survive and everyone was capable of doing some type of "job" as many jobs didn't require special skills so everyone had something to trade for necessary goods. Such is not the case today. It is neither necessary nor possible for everyone to work unless another invention/need comes along. Today, many people are employed simply to make money. Gadgets hit the market and are purchased not out of need but simply out of desire. That shows there is money available. The point being some people can buy what they don't need while others can not acquire basic needs and that has to be addressed, whether you call it Socialism or Marxism or Communism or any other "ism". Society has to move along together. Everyone has to benefit from the advances in technology at least to the degree they have the basic requirements such as food and shelter and medical care.

Government programs like SS and welfare couldn't have been implemented 200 years ago as the technology wasn't available. As society prospered machines involved in producing food and shelter allowed society to look after the less fortunate. Considering the advancements since the start of SS and unemployment and welfare, say roughly since the 30s/40s, what great changes have been made to those programs compared to the advances in technology?

So, there is a big difference between the parties. One is looking ahead and making the necessary adjustments and the other.....well, they come to the table with the same tired, worn out ideas which have no place in the 21st century.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

You mean, aside from the fact the other side is pretty much flaunting their Socialist Marxism now?

We have a two party system, and one of them is fucked.



So you are going to continue to allow Socialist Marxists to run our country until the GOP does what? Because they can't "act like" anything if they're not in power. They can't very well "show you something" if you don't vote for, and elect them to office first, can they? We have a bit of a dichotomy here, don't we?



No, I didn't ever think you were here to find compromises and solutions, that's why I said you more a part of the problem than the solution. It doesn't matter why you are a jackass, you don't need to explain.



I didn't play that game, I simply stated reality, there is only one party that we can reasonably expect to cut spending and get the debt under control, and that is Republicans. If you don't see the difference between Republicans and Socialist Marxists, I can't help you... obviously, you are too ignorant to help.

Is it 'cathartic' in any way for you to be like this? Does it help you feel better to come here and vent? Does emotively tearing into Republicans like a resentful jilted lover, make it easier for you to cope? Or does your anger and resentment feed on itself, causing your rationale to erode away, and turn you into a wacko? I;m just curious, because I think you need to do a serious self-evaluation. Your "plan" is to sit on the sideline like some goofy clown, heckling BOTH sides while your country goes down the shit hole.
 
I see a big difference. One party wants to cut the debt and to hell with the price the average person is going to pay. The other party is trying to ensure the people have their basic needs met. Things like medical care. Extending UI. Etc.

If you've read any of my posts here, mostly I've been arguing with a radical conservative who wants to eliminate ALL subsides and do away with entire sections of our government in one felled swoop. On the other hand, we have nitwits like you, who obviously have no concept of money or where it comes from. You apparently think we have some huge endless pile of money and can fund whatever we dream up, without worrying about how we'll pay for it.

Things have changed. It's not a matter of waiting for jobs to return. They aren't coming back. A paradigm shift, for lack of a better term. A comprehensive approach is required. As my wife, being the financial administrator that she is, always says, "You have to have a plan".

Well if jobs aren't coming back, we're FUCKED! Each month, hundreds of thousands of new workers enter the workforce seeking jobs that aren't there, and according to you, aren't coming back. Without jobs, no one pays taxes, and without taxes, you can't fund all the stupid shit you want to do! We can't afford it! We don't have a big endless pile of money stashed away!

Technology has done what it was supposed to do, relieve some of man's burden.

Really? There is no more technology can ever do? It's finished? Do you REALLY believe this?

There was a time when everyone had to work just to survive and everyone was capable of doing some type of "job" as many jobs didn't require special skills so everyone had something to trade for necessary goods. Such is not the case today.

Oh no, of course it's not that way today, not if you believe in the big endless pile of money which pays for everything! Why do any of us even bother working? Isn't it MUCH better to not have to work, and just know that the endless pile of money will take care of everything?

It is neither necessary nor possible for everyone to work unless another invention/need comes along.

Things are invented every day! New needs arise every day! It IS necessary for people to work, in order to pay taxes, which pay for all the things we want to do. Without people working, there is no money being generated in tax revenues.

Today, many people are employed simply to make money.

I got news for ya, genius, that is the only reason anyone has EVER worked!

Gadgets hit the market and are purchased not out of need but simply out of desire. That shows there is money available. The point being some people can buy what they don't need while others can not acquire basic needs and that has to be addressed, whether you call it Socialism or Marxism or Communism or any other "ism". Society has to move along together. Everyone has to benefit from the advances in technology at least to the degree they have the basic requirements such as food and shelter and medical care.

Again, if no one is working and no gadgets are being purchased, where the hell is the money coming from? The government doesn't generate an income, they don't produce anything or sell anything for profit. The government relies solely on people earning incomes and businesses engaged in capitalism. Without someone to buy the gadgets, without a job making and selling the gadgets, without companies profiting from the gadgets, we have no source of revenue. There is no mythical endless pile of money.

Government programs like SS and welfare couldn't have been implemented 200 years ago as the technology wasn't available. As society prospered machines involved in producing food and shelter allowed society to look after the less fortunate. Considering the advancements since the start of SS and unemployment and welfare, say roughly since the 30s/40s, what great changes have been made to those programs compared to the advances in technology?

So, there is a big difference between the parties. One is looking ahead and making the necessary adjustments and the other.....well, they come to the table with the same tired, worn out ideas which have no place in the 21st century.

You're right... One party is looking ahead to when America becomes bankrupt, and are trying to make necessary adjustments to spending and debt, so this doesn't happen. One party is devoted to finding a way to fix the insolvency problem with Social Security so it will be there in the future. One party is promoting capitalism and free markets, eliminating government regulation and mandates, to make it easier to do business and have tax revenue and jobs, and the OTHER party is proposing the same tired worn out ideas which have no place in the 21st century!
 
If you've paid attention to politics the past 20 years, you must understand, for the GOP to effectively enact this sort of stuff, they need super-majority status, because that's the only way past the democrats. When it's mostly democrats, or even slight majority republican, the votes can't be gained to make the cuts. We end up with a crop of republicans too scared to be too bold, and often caving to the democrats. The problem is, Democrats have been playing this game a long time, and they know how to do it well. They will block EVERY attempt to cut anything, and deny you the right to cut ANYTHING without 2/3 of Congress, and you can just EXPECT that.

Being this is the case in reality, and the fact that the GOP has rarely had such an opportunity, it's difficult for me to completely condemn them for life. Sure, I agree with you, the Pill Bill should serve as a monumental reminder to the stupid moderates, that's what you get for thinking! If I had a time machine, I would go back and thwack George Bush in the head with a ruler! But I don't! All I really have, is the choice between (D) Obama and (R) Romney.

In order for Romney to cut spending, he will need super-majorities in the Congress. If people like you sit at home, or throw your vote away on someone who can't win, then he probably won't get that. He may not anyway, even with your help and pulling some democrats. But this is the only scenario you can expect to see real budget cuts, if that's what you are interested in. It will still take electing Romney a Congress who will send him the legislation, and that's where the real battle lies.

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Reagan didn't have super majorities in Congress to pass his tax cuts did he? Rarely has any party had a super majority, yet the democrats have always managed to grow government? Why? Because the GOP has always gone along with it. Oh, they might put up some token resistance here and there, but they never stop it in its tracks.

Will I vote for Romney? Don't know yet. Right now leaning toward writing in a candidate like Calvin Coolidge. As for wasting my vote, that isn't for your to decide. Are you saying that unless I vote for the RINO establishment approved candidate that I have wasted my vote? Seriously? You can't be that gullible. Look I completely understand where you are coming from. Truly I do. I once drank the GOP Kool Aid and fought the "my side is better than your side" battle. But, then I woke up one day and realized that one side is actually not much better than the other.

Now, you think I have given up. I have not. I look to support true constitutional conservatives at the grass roots level. I have abandoned the republican party because it has abandoned me. I keep saying, being a republican and being a conservative are two different things.
 
Sorry, but I don't buy it. Reagan didn't have super majorities in Congress to pass his tax cuts did he?

No, but Reagan also didn't have a Democrat congress that was as Marxist-Socialist as this one, and this insane level of polarization did not exist. He worked with Tip O'Neil and made significant tax cuts, but talk to the liberals, they can show you how Reagan actually "raised taxes" on people, so even Reagan wasn't able to be as draconian and extreme as he wanted to be. You can't be extreme in politics, and be very successful.

Rarely has any party had a super majority, yet the democrats have always managed to grow government? Why? Because the GOP has always gone along with it. Oh, they might put up some token resistance here and there, but they never stop it in its tracks.

The GOP seldom has much choice. They can vote against things, but when the Democrats have super-majorities, it hasn't mattered, and when they haven't, they knew how to manipulate the rules and fudge here and there, maybe bribe a senator to jump parties, or whatever they have to do, to get what they want. The GOP manages to hold the Democrats feet to the fire on the budget, and John McCain runs off being a maverick with his gang of 14, and that's that!

Again... don't have a time machine! If I did, I would go back and FLAIL John McCain and his Gang! Newt Gingrich... here's another man who managed to get real reforms and cuts in government, monumental achievements for those favoring conservative government, and look what happened to Newt? His own party turned against him, and the "elites" dispatched him in short order. So even the rare exceptional cases where a Conservative has gotten results, they are crucified.

If strong fiscal conservative "tea party" type Republicans can gain control of super majority in the House and Senate, with a Republican president, there will BE reform. That is about the ONLY way any real reform is going to take place, because the Democrats will continue to stonewall every attempt to cut anything, unless you have the supermajority to override them.

Will I vote for Romney? Don't know yet. Right now leaning toward writing in a candidate like Calvin Coolidge. As for wasting my vote, that isn't for your to decide. Are you saying that unless I vote for the RINO establishment approved candidate that I have wasted my vote? Seriously? You can't be that gullible. Look I completely understand where you are coming from. Truly I do. I once drank the GOP Kool Aid and fought the "my side is better than your side" battle. But, then I woke up one day and realized that one side is actually not much better than the other.

You're absolutely right, you can vote for whomever, or not vote at all. I'm not trying to tell you how to vote, just stating reality to someone who apparently can't visualize it at the moment, because he is too mired in the past. Two choices... (D)OBAMA and (R)ROMNEY! That's all you have, it's entirely up to you!

A protest vote is a vote for Obama, plain and simple. Because, again, the Democrat special interests are going to vote in unison. They could find the decapitated corpses of Michelle and the girls, and Obama sitting in the Oval Office with a bloody knife, muttering "REDRUM REDRUM" and 45% of this country would STILL go to the polls and vote for this man! ....Well, he was under a lot of pressure, with all those racist repugs trying to derail him... and that Michelle was annoying anyway.... THAT is the mentality we are dealing with here, they think this man is a Messiah! FOR REAL!

Now, you think I have given up. I have not. I look to support true constitutional conservatives at the grass roots level. I have abandoned the republican party because it has abandoned me. I keep saying, being a republican and being a conservative are two different things.

LOL... what you are doing is abandoning the lifeboat to swim back to the Titanic, in hopes they can get the ship fixed in time for cocktail hour!
 
(Apple0154) I see a big difference. One party wants to cut the debt and to hell with the price the average person is going to pay. The other party is trying to ensure the people have their basic needs met. Things like medical care. Extending UI. Etc.

(Dixie) If you've read any of my posts here, mostly I've been arguing with a radical conservative who wants to eliminate ALL subsides and do away with entire sections of our government in one felled swoop. On the other hand, we have nitwits like you, who obviously have no concept of money or where it comes from. You apparently think we have some huge endless pile of money and can fund whatever we dream up, without worrying about how we'll pay for it.

It’s not a matter of funding whatever one dreams up. It’s a matter of priorities. Hearing absurd, idiotic statements just a few short years ago like, “War was an option we could afford” when there were some US citizens who couldn’t afford basic medical care shows just how screwed up things were and are.

(Apple) Things have changed. It's not a matter of waiting for jobs to return. They aren't coming back. A paradigm shift, for lack of a better term. A comprehensive approach is required. As my wife, being the financial administrator that she is, always says, "You have to have a plan".

(Dixie) Well if jobs aren't coming back, we're FUCKED! Each month, hundreds of thousands of new workers enter the workforce seeking jobs that aren't there, and according to you, aren't coming back. Without jobs, no one pays taxes, and without taxes, you can't fund all the stupid shit you want to do! We can't afford it! We don't have a big endless pile of money stashed away!

Either new jobs have to be created or new technology developed that will drastically reduce the cost/way of doing the old jobs.

(Apple) Technology has done what it was supposed to do, relieve some of man's burden.

(Dixie) Really? There is no more technology can ever do? It's finished? Do you REALLY believe this?

Huh? Technology has reduced man’s burden and will continue to do so and, yes, there will be new technology discovered so we have to get used to the idea everyone does not have to work; work, in the sense of doing something simply in order to make money.

(Apple) There was a time when everyone had to work just to survive and everyone was capable of doing some type of "job" as many jobs didn't require special skills so everyone had something to trade for necessary goods. Such is not the case today.

Oh no, of course it's not that way today, not if you believe in the big endless pile of money which pays for everything! Why do any of us even bother working? Isn't it MUCH better to not have to work, and just know that the endless pile of money will take care of everything?

You have a distorted view of money. More on this later.

(Apple) It is neither necessary nor possible for everyone to work unless another invention/need comes along.

(Dixie) Things are invented every day! New needs arise every day! It IS necessary for people to work, in order to pay taxes, which pay for all the things we want to do. Without people working, there is no money being generated in tax revenues.

That has nothing to do with the feeding and sheltering of human beings.

(Apple) Today, many people are employed simply to make money.

(Dixie) I got news for ya, genius, that is the only reason anyone has EVER worked!

That’s where you’re wrong. How much money do you think the average farmer had 200 years ago or 150 years ago? Or the average settler had? People worked at hunting and gardening and making furniture so they would have food and tables and beds, not to obtain money.

(Apple) Gadgets hit the market and are purchased not out of need but simply out of desire. That shows there is money available. The point being some people can buy what they don't need while others can not acquire basic needs and that has to be addressed, whether you call it Socialism or Marxism or Communism or any other "ism". Society has to move along together. Everyone has to benefit from the advances in technology at least to the degree they have the basic requirements such as food and shelter and medical care.

(Dixie) Again, if no one is working and no gadgets are being purchased, where the hell is the money coming from? The government doesn't generate an income, they don't produce anything or sell anything for profit. The government relies solely on people earning incomes and businesses engaged in capitalism. Without someone to buy the gadgets, without a job making and selling the gadgets, without companies profiting from the gadgets, we have no source of revenue. There is no mythical endless pile of money.

Question: “Again, if no one is working and no gadgets are being purchased, where the hell is the money coming from?”
Answer: Where the hell is the money to buy the gadgets in the first place? Obviously the money is there, somewhere. That is the money that should be taxed.


(Apple) Government programs like SS and welfare couldn't have been implemented 200 years ago as the technology wasn't available. As society prospered machines involved in producing food and shelter allowed society to look after the less fortunate. Considering the advancements since the start of SS and unemployment and welfare, say roughly since the 30s/40s, what great changes have been made to those programs compared to the advances in technology?

So, there is a big difference between the parties. One is looking ahead and making the necessary adjustments and the other.....well, they come to the table with the same tired, worn out ideas which have no place in the 21st century.

(Dixie) You're right... One party is looking ahead to when America becomes bankrupt, and are trying to make necessary adjustments to spending and debt, so this doesn't happen. One party is devoted to finding a way to fix the insolvency problem with Social Security so it will be there in the future. One party is promoting capitalism and free markets, eliminating government regulation and mandates, to make it easier to do business and have tax revenue and jobs, and the OTHER party is proposing the same tired worn out ideas which have no place in the 21st century!

It’s absurd to suggest the US can’t look after the retirees. The money is there.

Try to understand that when there is a depression, unless it’s due to crop failure or other natural disaster, there is no shortage. Regarding food, the fields are still there. The farm machinery is still there. Food production during a depression shouldn’t change at all. In fact, nothing should change as far as production is concerned. The only reason production slows is because people don’t have the money to buy things. The things are still available or can be made available so that should tell us we need to take a different approach to things.

Western society has based its economy on building products designed to be thrown away. Great idea until we realize natural resources are limited. Just look at computers. A big metal case to hold a few parts. When people throw away their desk top computer they throw away the metal case, a case that required miners to get the metal, people to process it, people to shape it and more people to paint it all so it can be thrown away a few years later.

Just think of the wasted energy to run the machines involved not to mention the waste of human labor just so someone can have a job to make money. Where was that money before the computers were made? It had to be somewhere. People had to have had that money before computers were for sale. Where did they get it?

It’s not just computers. It’s everything from TVs to toasters to cars. Do we have a better society because we can throw away things? That’s what we’re told. It’s the consumer society that made this life so great, people continually making metal cases for desk top computers so they can be thrown away. And those who don’t make throw-away products have to go hungry and lose their home. That’s the society we’ve created.

Do we keep going until there are no more natural resources? People usually consider oil as the stuff that’s only good for making fuel. They don’t consider oil is used for plastics and myriad other products but who cares as long as they’re making money.

Things will not change overnight but Obama is on the right track. Having money, in and of itself, should not be a reason for people to do without life’s necessities. However, until that changes the government has to operate through money in order to help the less fortunate and that means taxing those who do have money.

Look at the amount of wheat grown. A loaf of bread should be 5 cents! (While that’s a bit of an exaggeration I’m sure some right wing nut will place that statement in their signature line.)

A financial system based on what the market will bear will always favor the wealthy at the expense of the poor and as society continues to stratify it will only increase. There needs to be a fundamental change and ObamaCare is a step in that direction. There is plenty for every US citizen to have sufficient food and shelter and clothing and medical care. The cut taxes, remove regulation, dribble down theory was a noble experiment. Unfortunately, it has left many homeless, hungry and jobless along with almost crashing the world’s economy and Romney’s solution is ‘let’s do it again’.
 
It’s not a matter of funding whatever one dreams up. It’s a matter of priorities.

No, it's a matter of funding, because you can't meet priorities without that.

Question: “Again, if no one is working and no gadgets are being purchased, where the hell is the money coming from?”
Answer: Where the hell is the money to buy the gadgets in the first place? Obviously the money is there, somewhere. That is the money that should be taxed.

Capital wealth was already taxed years before, when it was earned. You can't tax it again. Or maybe that's how you believe taxes should work? We should tax based on what's in the savings and checking account! Doesn't matter if you've already been taxed on it, if you kept it and didn't spend it, you get taxed again on it the next year! We can call it the "Use it or Lose it" tax plan!

It’s absurd to suggest the US can’t look after the retirees. The money is there.

No, the money WAS there at one time, we allowed politicians to spend it trying to "fix" problems they couldn't fix. Now, we still have the same problems, and we're $15 trillion in debt, and your party wants to ring up another $15 trillion, because it's just never enough! Then we have little simple-minded morons like you, parading around with Cheney's quote, “War was an option we could afford”. You've taken it completely out of context as some sort of revelation that the magical money pile DOES exist! What Cheney was saying has nothing to do with how much money we have. It literally meant, "as opposed to an option of not going to war, which we can't afford the consequences of."

Look at the amount of wheat grown. A loaf of bread should be 5 cents!

Really? You know a lot about farming, do you? So... running those big tractors and combines all day, to plow, plant, and harvest the wheat, they don't cost money to run? The employees who run them...they don't get paid a decent wage? How about the person who transports the wheat to the silo, or the cost of maintaining the silo? Is that free? Farmer sells the wheat to someone who grinds wheat into flour... doesn't it take some energy source to grind the flour? Is that free? What about the labor to grind the flour, keep the machines working, and ensure they are properly cleaned and meet FDA regulations? Doesn't cost a thing to do that, I am sure! Now, the flour has to go in something to contain it... bags or whatever, but these have to be produced by someone in a factory that makes the bags... do they get paid? Does the company provide their insurance and benefits? They had to buy the paper and glue to make the bags, so I doubt they can provide them for free, especially since they have employees to pay and such. But we're only part of the way there! Then the bags of flour are sold to someone who bakes bread. They have to be transported somehow, is that done for free? Does the truck driver have company-paid insurance and benefits? And speaking of the truck, does it cost money to maintain and operate? Who bought the truck? Did the truck have to meet certain federal health guidelines because it was handling a consumable good? Who paid the cost of compliance? Who pays for the fuel, maintenance, insurance? So now we're at the bakery, and the flour is added to other ingredients... did those cost money? Are the employees who mix the ingredients compensated? Does their employer provide health insurance and benefits? Does the facility where ingredients are mixed, have to pass health inspections? Who pays for compliance? So the loaf is baked using some form of energy... where does it come from, and is it free? You can't just sell a naked loaf of bread, it has to go in something, usually a bag... that has to also be produced by people, who work at a factory, which has costs of running and maintaining, with employees who get paid with benefits and insurance. The bags, since they will contain food, have to meet all kinds of government regulations, who pays for compliance? Then we have to pay someone to put the bread in the bags, then someone to transport the bread to distribution centers, which also have to be maintained and meet health regulations, who pays all this cost, Apple? We're not even to the store with the bread yet, there are still several more steps in the process. But the point is made, you can't do it for 5 cents a loaf! It's not possible!
 
No, the money WAS there at one time, we allowed politicians to spend it trying to "fix" problems they couldn't fix. Now, we still have the same problems, and we're $15 trillion in debt, and your party wants to ring up another $15 trillion, because it's just never enough! Then we have little simple-minded morons like you, parading around with Cheney's quote, “War was an option we could afford”. You've taken it completely out of context as some sort of revelation that the magical money pile DOES exist! What Cheney was saying has nothing to do with how much money we have. It literally meant, "as opposed to an option of not going to war, which we can't afford the consequences of."

It had a lot to do with the money that was available and the money that could be available. If there were no weapons there wouldn't have been a war. If there was no "shock and awe" there might not have been a war. If more money is put into social programs and less into the military there will be fewer wars. This is not rocket science. If there are a limited number of weapons they will be kept in case there is a real need for war. Understand? When ObamaCare and other social programs become a necessary responsibility to fund there will be cut backs elsewhere and the military is one of those places.

Look at the budget surpluses in the 90s. Why the hell wasn't a medical care program instituted then? Well, we know why and it had nothing to do with money. One party wants to spend on the military and one party wants to spend on social programs. Which plan is going to help the average US citizen?

What I'm looking forward to is the '16 election. I wonder how many Repubs are going to be discussing getting rid of ObamaCare after it's in full swing? One can bet not many. HA! Of course we know that by looking at every other country that implemented or got government involved in medical care. If Obama gets a decent majority this election I look forward to other changes, major ones, like fewer wars and comprehensive social policies.

I can understand the Repubs scrambling this time. They know that when Obama wins this November the people will realize the Repub platform/philosophy/the way the Repub world works was flawed (to paraphrase Greenspan). :)

The insanity is slowly coming to an end.
 
Good grief. Two Righties jumping on the loaf of bread. I just knew it!

Really? You know a lot about farming, do you? So... running those big tractors and combines all day, to plow, plant, and harvest the wheat, they don't cost money to run? The employees who run them...they don't get paid a decent wage? How about the person who transports the wheat to the silo, or the cost of maintaining the silo? Is that free? Farmer sells the wheat to someone who grinds wheat into flour... doesn't it take some energy source to grind the flour? Is that free? What about the labor to grind the flour, keep the machines working, and ensure they are properly cleaned and meet FDA regulations? Doesn't cost a thing to do that, I am sure! Now, the flour has to go in something to contain it... bags or whatever, but these have to be produced by someone in a factory that makes the bags... do they get paid? Does the company provide their insurance and benefits? They had to buy the paper and glue to make the bags, so I doubt they can provide them for free, especially since they have employees to pay and such. But we're only part of the way there! Then the bags of flour are sold to someone who bakes bread. They have to be transported somehow, is that done for free? Does the truck driver have company-paid insurance and benefits? And speaking of the truck, does it cost money to maintain and operate? Who bought the truck? Did the truck have to meet certain federal health guidelines because it was handling a consumable good? Who paid the cost of compliance? Who pays for the fuel, maintenance, insurance? So now we're at the bakery, and the flour is added to other ingredients... did those cost money? Are the employees who mix the ingredients compensated? Does their employer provide health insurance and benefits? Does the facility where ingredients are mixed, have to pass health inspections? Who pays for compliance? So the loaf is baked using some form of energy... where does it come from, and is it free? You can't just sell a naked loaf of bread, it has to go in something, usually a bag... that has to also be produced by people, who work at a factory, which has costs of running and maintaining, with employees who get paid with benefits and insurance. The bags, since they will contain food, have to meet all kinds of government regulations, who pays for compliance? Then we have to pay someone to put the bread in the bags, then someone to transport the bread to distribution centers, which also have to be maintained and meet health regulations, who pays all this cost, Apple? We're not even to the store with the bread yet, there are still several more steps in the process. But the point is made, you can't do it for 5 cents a loaf! It's not possible!

HOW ABOUT ANSWERING SOME OF THESE GODDAMN QUESTIONS, MORON?
 
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