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Omot
Trad climber
The here and now
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 5, 2008 - 05:02pm PT
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LEB,
The macro trend of wealth redistribution in this country is what is unethical, not capitalism per se. Money = Power. Have a look at Kevin Philip's "Wealth and Democracy". Maybe you have and have drawn a different conclusion? If so, it is worth a separate discussion.
Tomo
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Choking as I write....
Hillary will be a steadier hand at the tiller and make wiser choises that Barack. Romney is a far better choice than McCain, who I believe is capable of rash acts. Also, how can any one in their right mind support McCain without a clue who will be his VP? (Sorry, just being a realist.)
The fact that our choice is at this time limited to these four is indeed depressing. Of course if things work out the way they might, we could have some interesting converntions this time 'round.
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Omot
Trad climber
The here and now
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 5, 2008 - 05:26pm PT
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Ksolem,
Seems like a good way to get people saving. I don't see it as pandering.
What I meant by "ethicist" is Obama's
1. on record against the Iraq war from the start
2. call to end torture (McCain caved to Bush on that one)
3. support of campaign reform (assume McCain is still on that one)
4. call for transparency in lobbying and government (more comprehensive than McCain?)
Tomo
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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"Seems like a good way to get people saving. I don't see it as pandering."
So your position is that the Government should bribe folks into saving money they otherwise would not? He is saying that the taxpayers should pay for 50% interest on the first 1K saved by every American making up to 75K. It is on his site in plain English and it is insane.
I am with Obama on the war,(I never voted for Bush and opposed invading Iraq from the start) and I recognise that one big plus to electing him would be that he alone has the ability to stand before the world as a leader who opposed the war all along. Of course he keeps trying to create the impression that he was actually there when the votes were cast which he was not.
Like I said, I really want to like the guy for Prez., but the more I read of his actual ideas ...
edit: "The only hope for the world is peace and major disarmament. this means a reduction to a sensible force level. We dont have to have ten times the nukes of the rest of the world combined to be secure from threat. Except for those who will never feel safe at any point or cost."
Who was the last American President who actually, publicly and through actions, attempted serious disarmament?
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Omot
Trad climber
The here and now
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 5, 2008 - 05:56pm PT
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Hi Ksolem,
A government incentive to make people save doesn't seem insane, if you believe saving is a good thing (better than going into debt, no?). The government routinely puts incentives on programs it believes is in society's best interest to see move forward. Usually they are tax incentives, not a direct payout. Then there are subsidies...
Tomo
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Wait! Wait! I gotta know. Am I a warmonger because I do not support The Barack's domestic spending policies?
Edit. Oops simulpost. There a some subtle ways for the government to promote savings. But $500/first $1000??
It seems to me we are in a time when folks figure that if they take some risks and make some bad decisions there is a safety net there for them. To a very limited extent, this can be a good thing. When everyone plays that way we are screwed. Where to draw the line is the trick. I suggest that if the safety net were greatly reduced, people would be induced to be more cautious with their money. Giving folks money every time they are in trouble, and then expecting them to behave better in the future is a fool's plan.
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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"1. A VERY strong military - the stronger the better, in fact.
2. TAX CUTS for everyone - across the board
3. Less spending on social programs which (in my view) foster dependency.
Even after the many recent tax cuts, many Republicans think taxes are too high. They are entitled to their opinions, but I think it is a fair question to ask how far taxes need to be fair in order for them to not be "too high."
Is any amount of taxes too much? If we want to have a strong military, or any military at all, taxes are needed to pay for it.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Strong military is fine. But ours is much stronger than we need. Is very unlikely a major conventional war will occur any time remotely soon. There are no countries that can currently hold a candle to our Air Force or Navy, nor will there likely be any for quite some time. Even then, neither China or Russia would be likely to start a war with our current level of nuclear deterrence.
But how is our spending divided? Roughly 1/3 to Army, Navy and Air Force each. Clearly the Army has a much more significant need these days. But defense spending is just pork barrel spending without any good analysis of need. In order for us to have a strong defense, our military budget shouldn't need to equal the combined military budgets of all the other countries in the world (are they all going to attack us at once?).
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rockermike
Mountain climber
Berkeley
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Ha
I say we draft Michelle. Get both the minority vote and the feminists in one shot. Besides Princeton alums are cool in my book (my daughter is going there - ha).
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Like I said Radical, I am really impressed by the guy. Also I am proud to say again I never voted for the Bush thing. I just have a big problem with his domestic agenda the way it is spelled out on his website and I think a lot of his supporters don't want to be "confused by the facts."
And I do not think our choices are all that good in this critical election. Especially on the Rep side, it's grim if you ask me.
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fairweather
Mountain climber
Roseville, CA
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Riley,
I think you've gone ill with "24" syndrome. Sure, he's a well spoken black man, but he's not the 2nd coming.
"he is older than and has more legislative experience than many Presidents in the past"
Are you referring to US presidents? Perhaps a couple - but "many" is pushing it. But you liberals always stretch the truth if it helps your argument. The next thing you will be telling me is that he invented the internet.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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The problem with the hypertrophied military is the Dilemma of the Bully. You're always going to see places where you have to prove yourself. Can you really blame the rest of the world for hating us? I would.
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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BlueThing:
"How do you plan to pay off the national debt?"
By reducing Federal spending on domestic programs and foreign aid.
You mean like all the foreign aid we're giving to Iraq? Wow, I never thought you'd say that.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Nah, Sis, I'm pretty solid on the bully thing, Look at the Soviet Union. The fall of (their version of) communism there had nothing to do with any other country on earth, they just couldn't fund the charade any longer. The same will happen with the US and China (that one will take longer, since they have the numbers); just like it happened with Rome, England, France, germany, Peter the great, Katherine the kinky, Ghengis khan, etc..
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John Moosie
climber
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Lois, you might want to take another look at what a modern empire consist of. Just look at the number of military bases we have around the world. Its kind of staggering.
We have changed the look of empire, but it is still an empire.
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dirtbag
climber
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Neoconservatism is a form of imperialism.
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Chaz
Trad climber
So. Cal.
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Mr Moosie writes:
"We have changed the look of empire, but it is still an empire."
Not quite.
Mr Moosie changes the definition of "empire" to fit his argument.
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John Moosie
climber
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Chaz, I am Just keeping up with the times. No different then recognizing when the method of war has changed.
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John Moosie
climber
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No Lois, it does not just come down to where one places ones value. It is not black and white.
I have never said the we shouldn't have a strong military, I just think we have gone overboard. Try to find the number of bases we have. The number is staggering. There is a limit to how much we can successfully spend on a military.
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