And I was not conned; there was no way I would have ever voted for McCain/Palin after that campaign. If that is my mistake because I judged them on the things they said to get elected that they wouldn't really have done, I believe at least some of that burden is on them.
A big tax? Or a 3.8% tax on the profit above $500,000 (250,000 single)? And unless it has been changed, it was supposed to be 2013.
I know you have issues with $250,000 being the threshold, and I don't disagree. However, IF I understand this correctly, one hast to be making $250,000 (couple) or $200,000 (single) before it is even an issue, and can exclude up to $500,000 in profits from a sale of a residence, so you would have to have made a fairly large profit to be paying more than, say, a grand. How many people can buy a house and then come back and sell it for much more than 500,000 in profit? I have to truly ask - am I far wrong? I am not in the 3% of people who have to worry about this, and I am not in the business of house-flipping, so I could be majorly missing something.
But we can also suspect that on the national stage (aka: not in a state that is referred to as socially progressive and liberal) there is only so much Romney will/can do to put his foot down if the house or senate tries to pass certain types of legislation. My one confidence with Obama is that if a certain type of bill comes up, I know he is less likely to be peer-pressured into making a decision I won't like (re: civil rights, foreign relations, etc), and maybe even more likely to be peer pressured into something I do support. Before you get all frothed, I am not claiming I always know what is "right." Just pointing out that we all have pet likes and dislikes, and I can't just ignore them, even though I am thinking more about the economy at the moment.
I need to research more than I have, but I haven't seen evidence that the current tax cuts have shown much growth. The exact same comment is true from the other angle - lowering taxes causes a different sort of tail-chase, and it will also never be enough. It seems to me that we need to spend more time focusing on where our taxes go than on raising or lowering them.
I do agree that that was a boneheaded comment, precisely because it ignores that risk. I don't think he was wrong though, regarding the other angle - it isn't fair to ignore the fact that if that girl couldn't get to school, the honor roll would be the least of her worries. *shrug* Yet again, we're back to a truth that's somewhere in the middle.
And I do respect your opinion. At the risk of giving you a larger ego (the horror!), I don't mind saying your comments on Obama definitely make me stop and think. And research. And read stuff I barely understand. And in general make my life hell. Thanks a lot.
For example, he says he wants to help the housing market, but under his Obamacare law, there will be a new, big tax on sales of real estate (starting in 2014). Oh, did Obama fail to mention that? Of course he did.
A big tax? Or a 3.8% tax on the profit above $500,000 (250,000 single)? And unless it has been changed, it was supposed to be 2013.
I know you have issues with $250,000 being the threshold, and I don't disagree. However, IF I understand this correctly, one hast to be making $250,000 (couple) or $200,000 (single) before it is even an issue, and can exclude up to $500,000 in profits from a sale of a residence, so you would have to have made a fairly large profit to be paying more than, say, a grand. How many people can buy a house and then come back and sell it for much more than 500,000 in profit? I have to truly ask - am I far wrong? I am not in the 3% of people who have to worry about this, and I am not in the business of house-flipping, so I could be majorly missing something.
We know that Romney is a moderate who won't do anything to restrict abortion rights, birth control or the like. It's clear from his record.
But we can also suspect that on the national stage (aka: not in a state that is referred to as socially progressive and liberal) there is only so much Romney will/can do to put his foot down if the house or senate tries to pass certain types of legislation. My one confidence with Obama is that if a certain type of bill comes up, I know he is less likely to be peer-pressured into making a decision I won't like (re: civil rights, foreign relations, etc), and maybe even more likely to be peer pressured into something I do support. Before you get all frothed, I am not claiming I always know what is "right." Just pointing out that we all have pet likes and dislikes, and I can't just ignore them, even though I am thinking more about the economy at the moment.
1. Raising taxes to raise revenue in this economy is like a dog chasing its tail - the taxes will slow growth, so the Feds won't get the money they need from the tax increase, leading to another increase, etc., and it will never ever be enough.
I need to research more than I have, but I haven't seen evidence that the current tax cuts have shown much growth. The exact same comment is true from the other angle - lowering taxes causes a different sort of tail-chase, and it will also never be enough. It seems to me that we need to spend more time focusing on where our taxes go than on raising or lowering them.
2. The "you didn't build that" was even worse than the "out of context" line that has become the sound byte. Obama said "you think you succeeded because you're smart or you worked hard, well, lots of people are smart and work hard". This shows a fundamental lack of understanding about business. It is good ideas, hard work and a MASSIVE UNDERTAKING OF RISK that lead to a small business; if someone else works hard, they get a paycheck. If I work hard, I might not get anything if the client refuses to pay, goes bankrupt, disappears, etc. Romney put it very well: a girl on the honor roll might take a school bus to class, but I'm not going to credit the bus driver with her making the honor roll. Yes, we need infrastructure, but trying to make the government an equal partner in our success is perverse. It's statements like the entire "you didn't build that" speech that lead some to think Obama's a socialist. It's not a particular policy, but rather, a sense of contempt or disdain that he has for private enterprise. He really does want to pick the winners and losers.
I do agree that that was a boneheaded comment, precisely because it ignores that risk. I don't think he was wrong though, regarding the other angle - it isn't fair to ignore the fact that if that girl couldn't get to school, the honor roll would be the least of her worries. *shrug* Yet again, we're back to a truth that's somewhere in the middle.
Oh well, that's enough for me. I'm probably not back online for another couple of days. At this point I wouldn't piss on Obama if he were on fire (think of it as disgust for the man combined with respect for the office of the President
). As you know, I'm not a social conservative, but the thought of another four years for Obama makes me want to vomit.

And I do respect your opinion. At the risk of giving you a larger ego (the horror!), I don't mind saying your comments on Obama definitely make me stop and think. And research. And read stuff I barely understand. And in general make my life hell. Thanks a lot.

This message last edited by nossy on 24/08/2012 at 02:16:55 AM
Paul Ryan is selected as Republican VP candidate
11/08/2012 05:01:47 PM
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Personally? No, I'm not voting Republican at all this year.
11/08/2012 05:18:06 PM
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Ya know that narrative of the right getting further right is pretty ridicolous
11/08/2012 06:43:44 PM
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it could possibly be the "all or nothing" budget fights and gay marriage among other things
11/08/2012 08:19:11 PM
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Yeah, I forgot the Dems are very enlightened about gay marriage now for what? 2 Months?
11/08/2012 08:59:17 PM
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yet despite that, dems didn't put referenda and push bills discriminating against gay people
12/08/2012 07:55:38 PM
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They certainly have, they've just done it less and less recently
12/08/2012 09:39:53 PM
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I dunno, but from my perspective (and this is from one who doesn't follow politics closely)
11/08/2012 08:32:43 PM
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I'm sorry, but anyone that votes for Obama after the past 3 and 1/2 years is a moron.....
12/08/2012 03:30:47 AM
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If you are proud of not voting, please shut up: The adults have a country to run.
12/08/2012 04:11:49 AM
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Candidates have to earn my vote - I'm not a slave like you to the 2 party system.
12/08/2012 04:24:02 AM
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Who said anything about the two-party system?
12/08/2012 04:29:36 AM
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No offense intended, but voting third party is as stupid as not voting.
12/08/2012 04:42:28 AM
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I'm with Joel on this. There's a big difference between voting third party and not voting.
12/08/2012 07:31:29 PM
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Nice asshatery.
12/08/2012 07:56:57 AM
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Wouldn't you love to have a "none of the above" option.....
12/08/2012 03:36:54 PM
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Or you could use a PR system and act like responsible adults. *NM*
12/08/2012 05:47:14 PM
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Not voting sends no message but "we will let politicians do as they please."
12/08/2012 05:12:55 PM
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Well there's a difference between not voting at all and not voting in one race
12/08/2012 05:55:47 PM
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Usually only in degree, not kind, though I mostly had the former in mind.
12/08/2012 07:27:54 PM
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I hope that most of the disenchanted Obama 08 suppoerters feel the same way *NM*
13/08/2012 11:27:15 AM
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I'm happy with it, I like Ryan
11/08/2012 06:47:21 PM
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What a shock.
11/08/2012 08:18:35 PM
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Most Republicans are fine with gutting Medicare.
11/08/2012 08:31:03 PM
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Everyone with an ounce of common sense is okay with "gutting" Medicare.....
12/08/2012 03:37:17 AM
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The only thing bankrupting Medicare is unsustainable US healthcare costs eating 20% of US GDP.
12/08/2012 03:56:28 AM
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Silly comment - 30% of Medicare is FRAUD.....and the program is fatally flawed.
12/08/2012 04:09:26 AM
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So private insurance costs are really growing SIXTY percent faster?!
12/08/2012 04:24:49 AM
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Medicare worked for 50 years and SS for 80 because most people were DYING before 65.
12/08/2012 04:29:26 AM
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Eligibility age for both must increase (SSs has, but not enough.) They are not "unsustainable."
12/08/2012 04:31:57 AM
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definitely a bold pick but not going to help him enough in november
11/08/2012 08:27:59 PM
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Since I forgot you asked Americans if it would change our votes: No, still voting Jill Stein (Green)
11/08/2012 11:07:12 PM
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Who cares? He's hot.
11/08/2012 11:53:42 PM
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I actually said, "He's not hot enough."
13/08/2012 01:15:58 PM
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On the plus side, you need not fear Ryans failure to mention abortion and contraception.
13/08/2012 03:17:45 PM
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Legolas a question for you, what is your opinion of George W Bush Social Security Plans in 2005?
12/08/2012 01:03:24 AM
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Wonderful choice! Truly wonderful.....check the video.
12/08/2012 03:22:48 AM
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No, it doesn't change my opinion any
12/08/2012 07:50:21 AM
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I hear even the DNC has rejected its TN Senate nominee.
12/08/2012 05:46:37 PM
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Yes, they disavowed him
12/08/2012 08:00:33 PM
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Apparently the TN Democratic Party agrees voters should write in someone elses name.
12/08/2012 08:34:46 PM
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Does not work in the US
13/08/2012 01:17:58 AM
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We do not need most of the populace to cast protest votes, only most voters.
13/08/2012 01:33:41 AM
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I was going to vote Romney anyway, so no, it doesn't change anything.
12/08/2012 10:39:15 PM
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But I'm guessing you're glad with Ryan? Prefer him over the alternatives? Or not?
12/08/2012 10:49:35 PM
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Makes sense for you. You are Romney's target audience.
13/08/2012 01:19:26 PM
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What should Obama have done?
13/08/2012 07:31:23 PM
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Mmm, Objectivism. Another reason for me to vote Obama.
12/08/2012 11:00:34 PM
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But doesn't he say he detests Rand?
12/08/2012 11:53:47 PM
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No he doesn't disavow Ayn Rand, he still believes in her
13/08/2012 01:15:34 AM
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that is pretty mild of you campare it to the radical influence in Obama's life *NM*
13/08/2012 11:35:52 AM
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Ah, the classic "it is OK because their guy rapes puppies, too, even though he does not" defense.
13/08/2012 03:23:29 PM
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Obama doesn't have a history of openly endorsing the views of said radicals. *NM*
14/08/2012 12:32:52 AM
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he has a much closer and more personal realtionship with radicals than Romney or Ryan *NM*
20/08/2012 03:54:17 AM
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Link to audio of Paul Ryans address to The Atlas Society.
13/08/2012 03:37:27 AM
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Or you could have just read my response which posted prior to yours
13/08/2012 01:45:07 PM
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Don't get me wrong
13/08/2012 12:53:10 AM
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Actually I believe he promised to vote for Romney if I did
13/08/2012 03:48:35 AM
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What an amusing retrospective.
13/08/2012 04:20:02 AM
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I tried reading it again, but my eyes glazed over when you started babbling about lesbian covens.
14/08/2012 12:30:03 AM
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It was a hyperbolic reference to the extreme left (one stolen from Matt Groening, btw.)
14/08/2012 10:12:09 AM
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Interesting.
14/08/2012 11:34:30 AM
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They have a pill for that now.
14/08/2012 01:14:39 PM
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I'm pretty sure the solution is you learning elementary composition. *NM*
15/08/2012 11:33:57 PM
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Your willful reading incomprehension is neither my fault nor problem.
16/08/2012 07:40:46 PM
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Disillusioned, sure. But I don't recall ever considering voting Republican.
14/08/2012 12:31:17 AM
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No birth control, no right to choose, no planned parenthood?
13/08/2012 01:58:51 PM
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I saw a theory just after the announcement speculating Ryan was chosen as a scapegoat.
13/08/2012 03:33:56 PM
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I agree with your statements
14/08/2012 12:53:41 AM
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It's mostly nonsense
14/08/2012 04:46:11 AM
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Well
14/08/2012 02:54:06 PM
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'Nonsense' refers to the thing said about the religious right by the media
14/08/2012 04:01:47 PM
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I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word.
14/08/2012 06:30:23 PM
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Re: I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word.
15/08/2012 01:45:59 AM
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I have to keep this short, because I am on the iPad.
15/08/2012 05:38:48 AM
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Triple reply chain is usually a good point for the trim-edit anyway
15/08/2012 05:27:20 PM
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The question, as for Tom, is what you believe Romney would improve for small businesses.
14/08/2012 01:38:29 PM
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I am aware of that, thank you. And I don't distill my choice down to small business, either.
14/08/2012 02:24:24 PM
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I see your point, but...
14/08/2012 02:30:22 PM
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Well
14/08/2012 03:09:18 PM
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Are you really going to let Obama con you into voting for him again?
21/08/2012 02:00:06 PM
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I honestly haven't decided.
21/08/2012 04:13:44 PM
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Expanding our perspective does not improve our options much, sadly.
14/08/2012 04:23:48 PM
- 855 Views