So I’ve been tuning back into my talk radio. Can’t help it, I’m hooked. A lot has happened since my last post. (Powell’s endorsement, Biden’s prophecy,.. ) I don’t even know what to say about it. I originally started this blog because I enjoyed the debate and conversation it stirred. It was a place for me to feel like I was voicing my opinion and getting out there somewhere in the blogosphere and standing for what I believe. But the truth? I’m a mommy-blogger. Who happens to like political talk radio and agrees 99% of the time with Glenn Beck. I don’t like controversy. I thought on the blog I didn’t mind it, but really it started to consume me and I would be thinking about what to say all day! And I got obsessed with statistics.
So I took a break.
But now I just want to talk about a few things that I just don’t really get. Like Obama’s association with the “New Party”, ACORN, Ayers, Rev. Wright, etc. Isn’t obvious this man has really bad judgement?? Or he’ll do absolutely anything to get elected. And his quote that I’ve heard 2,394 about “redistributing the wealth”. Is everyone really willing to see the end of capitolism? Do you really want to see the end of the best healthcare in the world?
There’s all this talk about change. The change I’d like to see is going back to our roots. Let’s READ the constitution. Let’s end career politics. It used to be that people would leave their farms and whatever, go to congress for two years, then go back to their life. They stayed in touch with reality. For the people, by the people. I think we need to go back to the ideals and values America was founded on.
I know this will never happen. But I think McCain might be just a smidge closer than Obama. Not that either is a saint. (Notice I didn’t even post about the last two debates? Just disgusting.) I really don’t think the election is “over”, as much of the media has said. Almost everyone is saying it will certainly be president Obama. I’m not so sure. But even if it is, let’s hope he is who he says he is. Let’s hope all the right-wing talking heads are wrong. Let’s hope his association with Ayers means nothing. Let’s hope our children’s future isn’t mortaged anymore than it is already.
Anyone else ready for the whole thing to just be over?
Always on the Right Side of the Issues 
This Ayres thing is scaremongering. Does sitting down with someone mean you agree with them? No, of course not. How else would peace treaties ever be signed? How would Roosevelt have dealt with Stalin at Yalta? Meeting these people helps you to understand their weaknesses; refusing to talk to enemies only shows your fear of them and makes them stronger.
As I understand it, the “wealth redistribution” is a Republican ploy based on the fact that Obama wants to reduce taxes for lower income earners, and increase them for billionaires and CEOs. OECD figures show the US has 19% of people living below the poverty line, and US Govt. sources point to tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford health care. And what do the billionaires and CEOs do? They are the ones who decided to move American jobs to China just so their corporations could make more profits for them to spend on imported luxury goods and foreign holidays.
Everyone earning less than $200,000 a year will get a tax cut under Obama, and a bigger tax cut than they would get under McCain. That’s 95% of Americans. And you are talking of supporting the 5% minority? What happened to democracy and the rule of the majority?
Comment by fifthdecade — October 23, 2008 @ 12:12 am
The Ayers thing is not just scaremongering. It wasn’t just sitting down with him. He endorsed his book! He announced his campaign in this guy’s living room. That’s not just sitting around the same table at some convention.
I will never understand the tax the rich. I don’t care if it’s only the 5% minority. They worked hard for their money and should be able to keep it for themselves and do whatever they want with it. Many good people who are CEOs and whatnot do great things with their money voluntarily!
Comment by choosetheright — October 23, 2008 @ 1:05 am
FIRST of all, you couldn’t be FARTHER from the truth by saying this country has “the best healthcare in the world.”
We don’t even BEGIN to compare. Trust me, I work in the healthcare industry and I see these numbers and statistics every day. We are too concerned with the capitalist ideals of making money off of the cure, then worrying about preventing the disease in the first place.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0505/p02s01-uspo.html
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
We don’t even BEGIN to compare. And if you DID, for a brief second, want to even entertain the notion of “the end of the best healthcare in the world”, look at Mccain’s measley $5000 insurance proposal. — That doesn’t even cover HALF of what it costs to have health insurance!
Second, EVERYONE works hard for their money and EVERYONE deserves to keep every cent of it, BUT that’s not the country we live in. Don’t say the rich deserve to keep theirs because they work hard. Do you not work hard? Does your husband not work hard? Do your parents not work hard? Do they deserve to be taxed more because they make less? NO. BUT, trickle-down economics IS NOT working in this country. And to paraphrase Obama, Mccain and Palin who are supposedly looking out for Joe the Plumber and Joe SixPack are really only helping out Joe the Hedgefund Manager with their tax proposals. I agree with the last commenter. This country operates on a majority-basis. If 95% of the country benefit from something…isn’t it cleary the way to go? You can’t please 100% of the people 100% of the time, but I’d sure say 95% is pretty darn close. Do you really think it’s fair that a small percent of Americans will see almost $270,000 in tax cuts, while the majority working class, the people who this country is FOUNDED ON (talk about getting back to roots), will be paying up to $8,000 more per year? Sure taxing the rich will create more jobs, but these jobs still arent paying the rent for the thousands of middle-class Americans that are living paycheck to paycheck. The Americans who can’t send their kids to college because they can’t afford it. How’s that for “mortgaging our children’s futures”?
I just can’t understand why a middle-class woman who comes from a middle-class family is so hell bent on defending the 5% majority who could care less about the money being taken out of your paycheck. Do you think these people are criticizing Mccain’s proposals saying “oh no no no these middle class work hard for their money, don’t tax them anymore”? Do you understand that the alternative to taxing them less is taxing YOURSELF more?
Neither candidate has all the answers. Neither candidate can fix all our problems. But I sure am willing to give an Obama administration’s idea a try. Nothing (Mccain included) can be worse than the last 8 years. The next 11 days can’t come fast enough!
Comment by LG — October 23, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
oh, and THIRDLY, if you want to talk about “doing anything to get elected”, talk about John Mccain selecting Sarah Palin JUST to get the Hilary/female vote and to spite his own party. Palin was in no way shape or form his FIRST choice. He wanted Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge, but the RNC wouldn’t approve. So he screwed them big time with this one.
Barack Obama on the other hand could have easily secured Hilary vote and a large portion of the female vote by vetting Clinton as his VP, but he decided to choose someone else who (in his opinion as the nominated party candidate) could do a better job.
You might also want to talk about the smear campagin Mc-Plain have been running ever since their numbers have been going down. Talk about desparity.
Comment by LG — October 23, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
Okay I am going to respond to just one thing…. maybe… I do have a baby to go take care of and a house to clean and like 50 million other things to worry about, so let me just say this. I think everyone who works hard for their money deserves to keep as much of it as possible. Ideally, I’m all for the flat tax and don’t really understand why that was so widely rejected. I’m not saying tax the middle class to death, but why do taxes need to be any higher than they already are? Cut spending, stop stimulus packages and bailouts. Don’t just keep taxing the rich because “they can afford it”. Trickle down economics does work in this economy. Like the first comment said, CEOs are outsourcing jobs to China. Maybe because the US is already taxing them to death!
Oh and one more thing, it’s funny how the same group of people who say majority rule, and why am I defending the minority are the same people who are defending gay marriage? Aren’t they a minority? But seriously let’s not even go there again :p
And I already said way more than I was going to. I am not going to look at this blog again until tomorrow, because I really need to be productive today!
Comment by choosetheright — October 23, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
Basic human rights and economic policy cannot be compared. Period.
Comment by LG — October 23, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
And, do you understand that corporate tax law is different personal income tax? Or that the CEO isn’t paying his employees out of his own pocket…? Do you understand that when you have that much money, there are many ways to circumvent taxes? That there are loopholes to get out of paying these taxes? It’s not as black and white as you think it is.
Even Warren Buffet, the richest man in America, thinks it’s appalling that he paid 15% taxes of total income from all investments and work while his secretary payed about 35%. A multimillionaire venture capitalist is paying less than his own cleaning lady. Fair? Not in my book. Good for the economy? How so?
Comment by LG — October 23, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
First of all, I rarely ever talk politics, let alone blog about politics. But I just had to make a few comments. First of all, I work in the healthcare industry, and the absolutely worst health care plans are the ones that are government ran. Medicare and the other government plans are the lowest paying, hardest to contact, most loopholes everyone has to jump through, etc. The best analogy I can come up with is this: who likes to go to the DMV? Nobody, I doubt even the employees. Do you really want healthcare like that? When its your life on the line, not just some car trouble? Like this guy in Canada who had to fly to Yugoslavia because he would have probably died waiting for cancer surgery? http://www.atv.ca/london/news_40168.aspx but I digress…
LG, you said that basic human rights and economic policy can not be compared. Period. I wonder how the Framers of our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence would feel, when they boldly stated that the inalienable rights of man are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” Many historians agree they meant economic security in that happiness, so really, it is a basic right. And the fact that it would not affect me has no bearing on whether it is right or not. If we based our morals on what would be good for us, the world would be in total chaos. We HAVE to think of everyone our choices will affect. Just had to point that out. If it was your money, that you put your life into to earn, and everyone else seemed to think you didnt deserve it, I bet you would be of a different opinion. Considering the top half of the country already pays 97% of our taxeshttp://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?PageID=6, how much more do they really need to pay? I dont think people who did things illegally or immorally should be off the hook, which is why I oppose all these bailouts. If my business sinks, I am stuck holding the debt, the government isn’t going to come save me, and I think that this move is terrible for the country. But to say that all businessmen are
fat, lazy unmotivated people who only care about themselves is a gross overgeneralization. People could say the same thing (incorrectly) about people who are on government welfare. I’m digressing again…
And to the first comment “They are the ones who decided to move American jobs to China just so their corporations could make more profits for them to spend on imported luxury goods and foreign holidays”. Do you think that maybe, if the United States didnt have one of the highest corporate tax rates among industrialized countries http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/23561.html that businesses wouldnt go elsewhere? China (25%), Mexico (25%), Heck, even Ireland (12.5%) has significantly lower taxes. And you wonder why businesses are flocking there? And you think that increasing taxes isnt going to make more businesses leave America?
Honestly, I am not that political, I can name several things I like more. I really like the joke about political parties:
“Democrats are the ones who tell you the government will give you a new car, free healthcare and get rid of your weeds. Republicans are the ones who tell you government doesn’t work, get elected, and prove themselves right”
I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I know people will rebut my rebuttal until the cows come home, and thats cool. I majored in philosophy, I know all about arguing forever and never changing one person’s opinion. 🙂
Comment by Aaron — October 23, 2008 @ 9:45 pm
Aaron — Basic human rights have nothing to do with a constitution. Basic human rights are something that every human deserves, regardless of nationality, regardless of what any given nation’s doctrine say. Human rights does not equate to American citizen rights. Human rights go way above the governing of this or any country. Ever hear of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set forth by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948?
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 16
1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
You also said, “If we based our morals on what would be good for us, the world would be in total chaos.” Agreed. So what should we base our morals on? Religion? I am not religious. So what does that mean for me? No morals? Not everyone believes in a religion or the same religion so the doctrine of our nation must not call on the Bible or the word of the Lord or any other religious decree.
I agree that we can’t run around doing what we think is good for us without any ruling, but…should we run around doing what YOU think is good for us? Or what a church of any denomination thinks is good for us? Let the states decide what to do. You said “We HAVE to think of everyone our choices will affect” in regards to taxes. Then you turn around in regards to gay marriage and say “the fact that it would not affect me has no bearing on whether it is right or not.” …So if it will not affect you (because it won’t), shouldn’t that be taken into consideration of whether its legal or not? Who are you to say it’s wrong? Who gave you that power? I am 100% for it. Am I wrong? You are entitled to say what is wrong for you but that’s where it ends. THAT, I think, is where we disagree. I could very well say I don’t agree with your religion and I think it’s wrong (Just for arguements sake. I don’t think it’s wrong for you at all.) …Do I have the right to outlaw it? Put yourself in the shoes of the people whos rights you are trying to take away.
[Note: I never said all business men are “fat, lazy unmotivated people who only care about themselves.” …I never even alluded to that. My aunt is a business woman who makes well over 250,000 a year and she works damn hard for her money. But so does my father who doesn’t make what she makes. But ya know what? Taking a little more from her won’t change her lifestyle in ANY way. Taking it from my family can mean the difference of paying bills or sending my sister to college. I guess it just hits me a little harder than it hits you guys so I clearly feel differently.]
And Lauren — yes the gays are a minority. But so are blacks. So are Jews. So let’s strip them all of their human rights because they’re minority. You are not seeing the distinction btw the economy and human rights. They cannot be compared. In our capitalist economy, taxes have to come from somewhere, and yes, someone will get the short end of that stick, whether its the middle class under Mccain or the wealthy under Obama. But NO ONE deserves the short end of the human rights stick, and there is no logical reason defending otherwise.
Lastly, gov’t healthcare isn’t great, but healthcare in this country in general isn’t either. Medical tourism is big not only bc of wait times for precedures and quality of care, but also because of expenses that “real Americans” cannot afford to pay. When your life is on the line and you can’t afford healthcare, like over 40 MILLION Americans today…will you be satisfied with that?
Comment by LG — October 24, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
With all the discussion of taxes and trickle down economics, I decided to insert some thoughts here for everyone.
First, in regards to the proposed tax plans and economical implications, you can see how McCain’s tax cuts will only hurt the country and economy in the long run. If you compare the proposed tax plans with the proposed spending plans, Obama’s plan will increase taxes and also will lead to an increase in spending but it will also help stimulate clean technology (call it what you want, i forget the exact name for it and don’t feel like looking it up now lol).
The spend/tax ratio or call it cash flows of McCain’s plan will cause a larger deficit than the one we already have. A larger deficit will only lead to larger govt debt. Which will lead to increased production of money which will lead to long-term inflation It can also possibly lead to a further deflation of the dollar (pending the monetary policies of the other central banks. I.E. If other countries flood their markets with their currency it can offset or balance the FX rates, if they flood the market more then we do it can strengthen the dollar thats what we have been seeing with the current moves in the USD/EURO FX rates).
Moving onto McCain’s proposed energy policy of drilling. More drilling will not lead to anything substantial economically. Current estimates show that we only have about 2% of the world’s oil on our land. Drilling more oil domestically can not substantially impact the price oil for a sustained amount of time.
Moreover, having a junky produce his own drugs instead of going out on the street to score does nothing to help the junky.
Now, in regards to trickle down economics given the current economic situation. If you look at where money is flowing. You are seeing a flight of capital out of the capital markets and into the mattress and other safe securities like treasuries. In times like this trickle down economics ceases to work. There is talk all over the news about the on coming or already present consumer recession. Which means people aren’t spending money. Trickle down economics does have its place in the economy but it can not work if money isn’t moving nothing is trickling.
Now in regards to the tax getting taxed higher. LG pointed out that Warren Buffet, the richest man in the country, pays a substantially lower percentage on his assets and income then does his secretary. Even though he is in the highest bracket, his wealth places him in a position to deploy various legal methods to reduce tax exposure.
I work within the heart of this financial mess in the hedgefund world. From what I have scene all hedgefunds have onshore and offshore funds, the offshore is of course to reduce tax exposure. These tactics aren’t available to the lower and middle class because they do not have the sufficient capital to deploy such tactics. (note I am not just implying using offshore hedgefunds, but there are other various methods to move money around legally and reduce tax exposure that are not available to the middle class.)
Comment by Bill — October 24, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
Hey LG,
I don’t recall mentioning religion at all in my argument, I hold near and dear to my heart the right to practice my religion without government interference, and I do not intend to impose my religion on anyone. I am definitely not the standard for what a perfect moral system would be, never claimed to be, and nothing will give a perfect system, but I think this mish mash hodge podge thing we call democracy will do for now.
Also, I know you didn’t say anything about businessmen being “Fat, lazy, etc”, and I apologize for not making a new paragraph for addressing the general perception of the business class, which was my intent.
As far as your quote “Basic human rights have nothing to do with a constitution. Basic human rights are something that every human deserves, regardless of nationality, regardless of what any given nation’s doctrine say” I’d say thats a fair definition of the term “inalienable”, which I used. I pointed out the founding fathers because I wanted to point out that our country, the reason we have a United States of America, is because there were people willing to die to preserve what they felt were their rights, regardless of what the government said. And one of those rights was the ability to pursue their financial goals without needless interference.
You state “Taxes have to come from somewhere” and it is true, but where you and I disagree is what taxes should be used for. I do not believe that college is a “right”. You show me where in any constitution or any document defining rights that college should be paid for partially or in full by the government. Want to talk about working hard? I worked hard to put myself and Lauren through college, and we were below “poverty line” for almost 2 years of our marriage. (Sorry, digressing) But to the point, I think that college is not a right. Healthcare is not a right. I oppose the supersizing of government. No matter what people say, I would take the generosity and goodness of the people over forced giving to the government. And I practice what I preach. I would rather continue to give on my own then be forced, and I believe that is the right way. Just look at the government. Look at the national debt, are there numbers big enough to describe it? Look at how bad they got social security, which you and I pay for but will most likely never see. I don’t trust the government to “save” us from anything. Government has its place, but I don’t believe its in healthcare and education. Look at the decline of our schools since government has started funneling money and control into them. I ask, do you want to become a socialist country? Because these Ideas, these Obama plans, are that. Having read Marx’ Manifesto several times, I can say these are Marxist ideas, which if you want, that is fine. I, however, do not. And it does affect my family, and I know what it is like to have budget tight. But look deeper into what McCain’s tax plans would do, a lot of the third party research shows that either candidate would mean less taxes for most americans http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1031268,CST-NWS-tax30.article
Your question “So what should we base our morals on?” is one that several prominent thinkers have spent their lives on, and in order to not clog up the internet:), I will refrain from my thoughts on the matter. However, I am of the opinion that there is a “right” and a “wrong”, which most people are. I still stand by my statement “the fact that it would not affect me has no bearing on whether it is right or not.” My opinion on gay marriage, which you seem to know even though I’ve never shared it, is based on that statement. If you want my opinion, I’ll send it through email, just let me know. But I will not back down from that statement.
Have a great day everyone!
Comment by Aaron — October 24, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
I know you didn’t mention religion in your comment, but my point is that anyone who is against gay marriage is 99% of the time against it because of their religious beliefs (refer to other comments in other posts of this blog as well). You are not imposing your religion on people directly, but by opposing gay marriage because you think it is wrong (based on what your religious beliefs are), you are indirectly imposing your beliefs on others. I am not singling you or your religion out by any means. You are not alone in your beliefs. I am Catholic and the Catholic church is against gay marriage as well. And in the same vein, by Catholics protesting gay marriage, they are imposing Catholic values on everyone else who is or is not Catholic. Where is the justice in that?
An education doesn’t have to be given to us by the gov’t, but every citizen SHOULD be given a fair shot at affording it for themselves, which, we are NOT. Tuitions are going up up up and the average American’s salary are not reflecting this increase. Especially in this day in age, to get a job that provides you with the type of healthcare you do not think we deserve, you need higher education.
Education is a privilege, definitely. But healthcare? Do you think if little Olivia gets sick it is not her right to have medicine to feel better? It is not her right to have be cured or healed? What do you say of other “little Olivia’s” whos parents work hard and can’t afford healthcare? Those kids — by no doing of their own — do not DESERVE health? That’s ludicrous.
But…perhaps some of the best things about this country…is that you are entitled to all of the opinions you expressed in your comments as am I, and we are entitled to discuss them in forums such as your wonderful wife’s blog! And even better yet, even though we disagree on a lot of these issues, we can still be friends! Love & miss you guys!
Comment by LG — October 24, 2008 @ 6:45 pm