Cracks in the Facade?
This is big news coming from a CBS outlet:
- Without question, the Barack Obama infomercial served as a very slick and powerful recitation of the biggest promises he's made as a presidential candidate. But the very bigness of his ideas is the problem: he seems blind to the concept his numbers don't add up.
Obama has already proposed a new stimulus package of $188 billion over two years. His tax cuts will cost $85 billion a year. His "army of new teachers": $18 billion; Renewable energy: $15 billion. CBS News and various independent experts estimate Obama's total first year spending could exceed $280 billion.
[...] The fact is the savings Obama has identified do not cover his spending. According to a CBS News estimate, he's around $90 billion short. The Obama campaign disputes this, saying everything including the stimulus is paid for over 10 years. But other analysts say - even presuming Obama saves money in Iraq and chops the federal budget as promised - he falls short.
Snake oil salesman. He promised several months ago anyone making under $250,000 will not see taxes rise. Last month, he says the number is now $200,000. Last week, Biden says $150,000. Then there's the cold hard fact that 40% of the American electorate doesn't even pay taxes, yet they're in line for a tax "break" - how do you get a break from zero?
But is it too late for the message to get out there?
UPDATE: We'll continue to delete screeds that don't contribute to the debate. If you can't make sense without resorting to personal attacks on us, the blog, our readers, and a woman who's only "crime" is being Republican, continue to expect to see none of your comments see the light of day. If we want this to be an echo chamber of right-wing thought, it will be so.
UPDATE: Post figure corrected.
But is it too late for the message to get out there?
UPDATE: We'll continue to delete screeds that don't contribute to the debate. If you can't make sense without resorting to personal attacks on us, the blog, our readers, and a woman who's only "crime" is being Republican, continue to expect to see none of your comments see the light of day. If we want this to be an echo chamber of right-wing thought, it will be so.
UPDATE: Post figure corrected.
Labels: national politics
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
59 Comments:
Is it possible for a Nation to TAX itself in prosperity?
The problem is no matter how much proof you show Obama supporters they don't care. This makes him very dangerous. We can't ignore the elephant in the room, race. I guess if I were African American I would want major step as well but unfortunately Obama is the wrong person. His lies have been shown time and again and although everyone wants to focus only on the economy you can't ignore his own published words, "I will stand with the Muslims." Condy Rice, Colin Powell, both who are fully African American not half, would be great choices. Unfortunately Obama has been slotted and should he win, this slick Chicago politician might set the cause back decades....
"We'll continue to delete screeds that don't contribute to the debate. If you can't make sense without resorting to personal attacks on us..."
__________________________
SCC, don't you know that when you disagree with a liberal you automatically become a bigot?
It's amazing how intolerant liberals become when you disagree with one.
But Oh SCC you seem to have forgotten....The great and powerful Hussein said "when I'm president I'm going to go through the budget....LINE BY LINE.....and eliminate the pork barrel spending.". Which means- I'm gonna do the same things my Shitcago, Crook County, and Illinois leaders have done. Promise everything, LIE LIE LIE, and in the end raise everyone's taxes like ROD, TOODLER, AND DALEY. What IDIOTS these people are. How can people not realize he comes from the most corrupt City, in the most corrupt County, in the state which is on the verge of having it's SECOND CONSECUTIVE GOVERNOR LOCKED UP!!!!!
obamam and his minoins cannot add! Simple math they have no clue! He wants to just take from us ala robin hood and give to the assholes who will not work simple huh?
Suntimes, 30 October 2008, PAGE 18:
OBAMA AUNT IN PROJECT: PAPER
Barack Obama's half-aunt lives in run down public housing in Boston, according to a newspaper.
The aunt Zeituni Onyango, is described fondly in Obama's autobiography, according to the London Times. a half-uncle also lives in Boston.
She was reluctant to talk. "I just pray for him," she was quoted as saying.
THIS IS NOT SUPRISING, CONSIDER:
With his history of voting for abortion, late term abortions, AND voting"DO NOT RESUSCIATE" for babies born alive from botched abortions...his basic moral value for life IS duly noted.
What kind of decisions can you make for a country WHEN YOU DO NOT VALUE LIFE especially when it comes to the fragile, poor, homeless, unemployed, unwanted, orphans/foster children, how bout just ordinary americans with no power, clout, wealth?
With the future economy we are facing, there will more HAVE-NOTS than HAVES. May God have love & mercy on us all.
Both sides are promising more than they can deliver based on current numbers. There are untapped revenue streams which are currently given away for free - those are overdue for exploitation. For example, licenses. Many are currently given away for free although if you tried to buy them the cost would be very high. Simply putting them up for auction every 5 years would be interesting.
Also, the military is actually selling off equipment as surplus while still purchasing the same items from vendors. Time to put competent management in charge. Military purchasing is a cesspool of waste and fraud.
And then there is drugs. Leave cannabis up to the states and save billions more. Or let them grow it and sell it and balance the state budgets.
CBS News and various independent experts estimate Obama's total first year spending could exceed $280 billion.
No worry. All dem rich W___e folk will pay for it.
But is it too late for the message to get out there?
Yes. If it wasn't for the all-or-nothing electoral college system, McCain would have at least a snowballs chance in hell. Case in point: Chicago's demorat majority skews the statewide vote totals in Illinois so much towards Obama that republican votes in eight solid conservative congressional districts with a McCain plurality are made null and void. None of the Illinois, New York, or California votes for McCain matter in this presidential election. While the opposite case can be made in many red states, like Texas, the sense that an individual's presidential vote truly counts for something is lost in all this mess.
A U.S. Constitutional Amendment to rework the electoral college system to tally electoral votes based on results from a state's individual congressional districts, with the two senate electoral votes going to the presidential candidate with the most statewide votes, would make too much sense so it will never happen. If it did, more people would be have a voice in this process.
What, you worried about a few hundred billion after Bush just more than doubled the national debt by more than 5 trillion in 8 years?
Fact is, there is no way to eliminate the national debt without waging a generational war on baby boomers. If you cut all non-military/non-SS/non-Medicaid spending from the U.S. budget you'd be in the ballpark of eliminating the annual deficit. That would mean no state department, no community grants for policing, no FBI/ATF, no border protection, no DEA, no federal prisons, no transit spending, no FAA, etc.
So if you want to eliminate the debt you have a few choices:
1. Raise taxes on somebody. Who wants to be first?
2. Cut social security or medicaid. Turns out the baby boomers haven't really contributed yet what it will cost for their retirement.
3. Cut everything else as outlined above.
4. Some mix of 1-3.
Problem is, if you just do this, you are just cutting the annual deficit, and not even beginning to pay back the 10+ trillion national debt.
None of our political whores has a plan for any of this other than leaving it all for our kids and grandkids to pay off. None of this is really possible without reducing social security or medicaid/medicare.
Sorry for the length of this, but its the truth.
Nobody wants to face the truth about this. Not McCain, not Obama, not Hillary. Nobody.
And for those of you who are worried about Obama turning us into socialists, could you please explain how Bush/Paulson haven't already turned you into communists?
SCC posted: "Snake oil salesman. He promised several months ago anyone making under $250,000 will not see taxes rise. Last month, he says the number is now $200,000. Last week, Biden says $150,000. Then there's the cold hard fact that 40% of the American electorate doesn't even pay taxes, yet they're in line for a tax "break" - how do you get a break from zero?"
---
There is no better snake oil salesman these past 8 years than George W. Bush. Did we really need to spend 2 trillion to "bring Democracy" to a bunch of tribal muslims living quite nicely under the thumb of strongman Saddam Hussein? We had Saddam right where we wanted him, under constant surveillance and doing a job for us, at no cost, that we have had a very hard time doing ourselves since "Mission Accomplished" in 2003.
My deferred comp is down 33% in the past year and I retire in 4 years, that wasn't any Democrat that caused that. It was Republican "deregulation" and the "let the fox guard the chicken coop" mentality of Bush et. al.
When Obama talks of the "failed policies" of the Bush administration I have to admit, he is right. Bush has been a disaster for this country. We paid a very high price for the right for PO's to carry concealed across the country.
We are dangerously close to financial meltdown in this country and Bush's bailout is a joke. When you let Wall Street police themselves, what we have now is the result.
Some of the largest investment banks in the world have failed in the past year and are no longer in existence. Lehman Brothers helped finance the Civil War for the United States. Now they don't exist.
This whole financial debacle can be laid right at the doorstep of George W Bush. He showed us how he was a miserable failure in the oil industry in Texas!
I am not a big Obama supporter but if anyone has sold us snake oil, it is the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The comforting thought is that he will soon be doing the one job he seems to be good at: clearing brush at his ranch in Austin, TX.
Obama will get elected. The economy will be in the tank for the next few years no matter who gets in because we are an empire of debt. Nobody saves money anymore. Obama will take the heat for the economy and he will be the last democratic president for a number of years.
Empire of Debt is a book concerning our current plight and how every nation on top falls to this trap. It is a good read.
old retired guy
Had the media been "doing the math" about Obama-his crimes, his lies, and his pie in the sky promises, instead of focusing on his considerable charm and charisma, he would be 30 points behind now.
I think the biggest thing the "savior" is missing is the Euro affect on working people.
As he implements his socalism working people stop working and go on the dole and the economy goes underground/cash. Money to the Govt is choked off.
I have lots of friends with small businesses and they are already making plans to combat his redistributionist assault.
SO, the numbers not adding up is just starting.
Think of our beloved city here, with King Richard in charge. He raises taxes and the gross reciepts continue to go down. word is 350,000 middle class residents have left the city. Huge numbers of small businesses have left the city, or went underground and off main street...look at all the "for rent" signs on commercial real estate... this trend will go national.
Brace yourselves America.
Backing Obama gets top cop in hot water
Sun-Times
All politicians lie. Yes, I'm using the absolute - ALL. Barak, Joe, John and Sarah - liars all. What sways voters is - who has the better spin. So don't jump on Obama's figures and don't jump on McCain's.
I've been reading this blog for at least a year. I am not a cop but I would like to know who the police would like private citizens to vote for. I don't recall SCC endorsing anyone but I would like some input before election day on who working police feel would have their backs.
How about a thread for help with the ballot?
Stay safe in the next few days.
Good work from Tom Allen for asking Weis to be reprimanded for his Obama endorsement. Saw it on Fox News this morning.
Does it really matter who's in office? Whoever gets to the White house does the same song and dance. The only change is in who's buddies pockets will get some cash. Those chumps in the ghetto really believe Obama will help them, wrong, wrong, wrong. He's just gonna help himself and his friends, that's all.
What does CBS expect??
Obama is a product of the cesspool of a Chicago and Illinois democrat controlled city and state governmet where they circumvent the peoples right to vote by virtue of these same politicians appointing there kids to elected office without an election by the citizens (Lapinski/Stroger).
A Chicago presidential candidate like Obama, marinated in Crook County democRAT methods don't need no stinkin' factual accounting.
CBS is just comming out with this now 3 days before the election so they can point to the story as evidence they are not in the tank for Obama.
While McCain and the Republicans have run one of the most lifeless campaigns in recent history, save for the Pallin factor, I pray the better judgement of the non Kool-aid drinking electorate and divine intervention intervenes and the great O is defeated much to the surprise to the major media, Chicago politicians and pollsters.
-Buck Naked
not a cop
SCC, you just told the truth. Do not concern yourself with dreamers who want to vote for the dreamcrat. He lives in a fantasy world that won't, can't, and will never exist as long as free money is given out.
The old Smith/Barney commercials had a great saying "we earned it!" That won't happen under a dummycrat. The saying will be "we gave it to you, now get on your knees!"
J Fed facing ethics complaint?
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1252391,CST-NWS-weis31.article
You ask how that 40% can get a break from paying nothing? I have a clue for you, although it doens't encompass all 40%: REPARATIONS. That's right. From the civil war. Just wait - nothing is off the table for this guy.
Look for the burden on the white working folk to increase. Although myself, like others, say there will come a point where we won't take it anymore. No one likes to say the words "armed rebellion" but it'll come to that, and the thing that will set it off is when they come take our guns away, or make each bullet cost $50.
History repeats itself.
We are dangerously close to financial meltdown in this country and Bush's bailout is a joke. When you let Wall Street police themselves, what we have now is the result.
Actually, this whole thing was precipitated by DEMOCRATS insisting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac give out mortgages to people who couldn't afford to pay them back. The government insisted it was the right thing to do, and if anything went bad, they were assured a bailout. This is what you get when you reward poor policies. Look at the majority of people in foreclosure right now. Are they homeowners at heart?
We'd all better start re-reading Animal Farm. It should be the next "One Book Chicago" if Obama gets elected.
Nah, the Obamaites wouldn't appreciate the irony. Obama zombies good, thinking people baaad.
Obama could be caught in bed with a 12 year old boy and they'd still vote for him. Who do you think the terrorists are more scared of...Mav with the Hanoi Hilton footage or Obama dancing on "Ellen"?
--Actually, this whole thing was precipitated by DEMOCRATS insisting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac give out mortgages to people who couldn't afford to pay them back.--
They were part of the problem, but nobody made Countrywide or Indymac give out mortgages that are defaulting massively. Indeed, until the 2006 elections the Democrats were not in charge of anything at Fannie or Freddie. You somehow under the impression that this problem just started in January 2007? You might want to do a bit of research on that.
Nobody made the lame-duck Republican congress allow unregulated insurance markets (CDS) in 2000, decades after they were outlawed.
Nobody forced Sheila Bair to allow insolvent financial institutions to remain in business incurring ever-greater losses (she's doing that right now).
That Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae accusaion shows blind ignorance of how many different players in both parties and across the system are at fault.
And McCain's solution? Buy the mortgages for the people who couldn't afford them, and refinance them at a price they can afford. That sound like a capitalist to any of you?
Check your pensions boys. Anybody think they'll be collecting one from this bankrupt system in 30 years?
SCC, I guess the THREE BILLION a week being spent in Iraq doesn't count. Just by leaving Iraq is a tremendous savings to taxpayers. I don't care how much you hated Saddam, he kept the Iranians in check for us. Now it is entirely left to us. Everyone keeps saying the're against socialism and "socialized medicine." But no one steps up to tell their federal representatives to get rid social security,medicare,and medicaid. All talk. As soon as something happens people start crying for help from the federal government. finally,how come you never hear about wealthy people rejecting government handouts? But the so-called middl class and working class have been conditioned to think government help is wrong. As a very wealthy man once said,"spend someone else's money before you spend your own."
Anonymous said...
Good work from Tom Allen for asking Weis to be reprimanded for his Obama endorsement. Saw it on Fox News this morning.
10/31/2008 07:51:00 AM
maybe the other 49 cowards could jump on the bandwagon, hey eddie i know you have a large police detail could you speak up? We know it is not a cell phone issue speak out!!
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The problem is no matter how much proof you show Obama supporters they don't care. This makes him very dangerous. We can't ignore the elephant in the room, race. I guess if I were African American I would want major step as well but unfortunately Obama is the wrong person. His lies have been shown time and again and although everyone wants to focus only on the economy you can't ignore his own published words, "I will stand with the Muslims." Condy Rice, Colin Powell, both who are fully African American not half, would be great choices. Unfortunately Obama has been slotted and should he win, this slick Chicago politician might set the cause back decades....
You are absolutely right! And this is why it is soooo scary. its almost biblical! No joke and I know it sounds ridiculous but this guy has the characteristics of the anti-christ! I mean think about it this guy can do no wrong! His rise is so amazing and absurd. Yet despite all his more than obvious flaws. rezko, aires, acorn, getting funded by fannie mae freddie mac execs, being muslim, not providing his original birth certificate, or his medical or college records,missing thesis paper, jeremiah wright.....just to name a few. Yet despite his radicalism. It seems like people flock to him.The media has given him the victory from jump street! They very seldom bring up any of these matters. Yet they will persecute Palin for the sliver that is her eye, while our friend Obama has a plank in his eye. Mcain didn't have a chance. Im not saying Mcain is any better. But I know what I am getting. A true American.There is no dog and pony show with this guy! Yes the bush era was bad but who created the sub-prime mortgage mess? (the true reason why our economy is in shambles)the dems! Hey they wanted everyone to own a house! The american dream that you are supposed to work hard for went out the window!It was like going to the store and buying a candy bar.(forget working hard) as long as you had a social security # regardless of employment, credit, or you history they found a way. driving up the prices for those people who really could afford homes. And it was a out of control greedy situation.
Obama our saviour? I don't get it Lets look at his track record what has he done in Illinois or better yet his home town chicago! Highest taxes both property and sales in the nation. One of the worst schooling systems! The highest murder rate! They take our second amendment rights that civilians cant carry a handgun! He cant fix the problems in his own backyard yet he is going to change and fix the world. Im still waiting for someone to tell me what are if any of this guys accomplishments other than writing 2 books about himself? How many lies upon lies has he said. I lost count! Did he not say he would serve out his term as senator? this guy has reinvented himself so many times on so many issues do we really know where he stands?
Who knows what this guy is going to do or capable of doing! Socialism at its peek! but it is scary the way he talks to the most extreme dictators and befriends them it is scary in the direction we are headed. ONE NATION, ONE GOVERNMENT, ONE CURRENCY! Is the end really upon us? I have thought about this long and hard.
signed
Christian Cop :)
There are so many things that the media is not reporting with Obama's tax plan. A friend of mine is a CPA and did some research off the candidates own websites (not biased third party websites) comparing/contrasting Obama's tax plan to McCain's.
For example, Obama would repeal the corporate tax plan started under George W. Bush that would allow companies to depreciate their purchased equipment (everything from photocopiers in an office to robotic welders in a factory) in the first year of ownership. This big tax break gave companies (large and small) the ability to purchase new equipment every year. This had two results: 1)american companies had incentives to buy the newest, latest technology every year which has helped america keep up with other countries in manufacturing and 2) helped stimulate the economy because all the large corporations would buy new equipment every year which pumped billions into the economy. Obama seeks to repeal this tax law, which would mean the old 5-year depreciation of equipment. If a corporation knows it won't break even until the 5th year on its equipment in taxes, why would it continue to buy new every year? This tax change alone will have a huge effect on the economy. There were several other items of Obama's tax plan my friend spoke about...it only gets worse for us as citizens and the companies who employ us.
Sorry to ramble, but there is so much not being covered by the media that people should know about.
mr. "hope" and "change" said nothing when stroke stroger was running against another democrat claypool. when todd "erkel" stroger was appointed to run against peraica, then he chimes in to endorse erkel. in my eyes, nothing could be a bigger indictment.
as far as taxes, what is barely mentioned is he will raise dividends and capital gains taxes from 15% to 20%. His original plan was to increase it to 40% but he scaled it back when the economy took a dive. I guess he thinks dividends and capital gains are only for the rich. Idiot.
Actually, this whole thing was precipitated by DEMOCRATS insisting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac give out mortgages to people who couldn't afford to pay them back. The government insisted it was the right thing to do, and if anything went bad, they were assured a bailout. This is what you get when you reward poor policies. Look at the majority of people in foreclosure right now. Are they homeowners at heart?
Absolutely, this lays at the feet of democratic congress, not George Bush!
I love how the democrats keep blaming the failed policies of 8 years of George Bush, nothing could be farther from the truth!
Up until the housing market burst(which was predicted due to the insistance of mortgages for all) the economy was doing great, especially during a time of war, the stock market had record highs, unemployment was low and gas was reasonable, so much for the blood for oil nonsense. The housing market burst and the oil speculators driving the price of oil up, the lack of regulation on Wall Street, along with our own spending frenzies and loose discipline with our credit are the real reasons for this crisis.
What, you worried about a few hundred billion after Bush just more than doubled the national debt by more than 5 trillion in 8 years?
Fact is, there is no way to eliminate the national debt without waging a generational war on baby boomers. If you cut all non-military/non-SS/non-Medicaid spending from the U.S. budget you'd be in the ballpark of eliminating the annual deficit. That would mean no state department, no community grants for policing, no FBI/ATF, no border protection, no DEA, no federal prisons, no transit spending, no FAA, etc.
So if you want to eliminate the debt you have a few choices:
1. Raise taxes on somebody. Who wants to be first?
2. Cut social security or medicaid. Turns out the baby boomers haven't really contributed yet what it will cost for their retirement.
3. Cut everything else as outlined above.
4. Some mix of 1-3.
Problem is, if you just do this, you are just cutting the annual deficit, and not even beginning to pay back the 10+ trillion national debt.
None of our political whores has a plan for any of this other than leaving it all for our kids and grandkids to pay off. None of this is really possible without reducing social security or medicaid/medicare.
Sorry for the length of this, but its the truth.
Nobody wants to face the truth about this. Not McCain, not Obama, not Hillary. Nobody.
And for those of you who are worried about Obama turning us into socialists, could you please explain how Bush/Paulson haven't already turned you into communists?
10/31/2008 06:21:00 AM
SHUT THE HELL UP, IDIOT!!!!
Here is an idea. Quit giving away my SS benefits to people who don't work, "Oh my 3 year old has asthma, he needs SSI" or people who aren't legal here.
Listen mister, YOU are what is wrong with this country.
Look at what shortshanks, urkel, and blagobitch have done for Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois. Now just imagine what barack hussein and a dumbocrat congress can do for the United States.
Secondly, I love the way the Black community embraces the dumbocrat party when the party of Lincoln fought the Civil War to set them free. The Republican Party also passed the civil rights legislation of the 60s. It wasn't the dixiecrats of Albert Gore Sr. that did it.
I now see that SCC, is run by and for republicans, Isnt it funny that those here blasting senator obama will be in grant park protecting him on nov 4th.
History DOES repeat itself. My grandfather was sent to Europe over 60 years ago to fight Socialism. The American people would never knowingly adopt a socialist system,however when promised the utopia, the gullible and blind will beg for it, the same people who demand government funds for everything will demand it, the same people who DO NOT contribute anything to the economy demand it. Feel good liberals want to try to relive Camelot even though it never actually existed. There is a Huge difference between Kennedy and Obama. The biggest difference is that Kennedy was a WAR HERO, while Obama NEVER put on a uniform of any kind, never risked his life for anything, wont even tell you what he truly believes in. I think he will win the election but I also think that if he does he will destroy our American way of life. What works in Europe won't work here, it barely works in Europe. Take a long hard look at France, workers riots, being overrun by terrorist foreigners, dead economy, and a hiding place for criminals from around the world who seek asylum. Now take a long hard look at former enemies, post war Germany and Japan. They are doing quite well when they have adopted our way of life and economies.The best stuff comes from Germany and Japan, that wasn't always the case but it sure is now.I can't believe that business in this country would put up with socialism, in fact it won't because it just doesn't work. Even the poorest of the poor here are much better off than anywhere else in the world. I have been to third world countries and the poor there are living in dirt, literally. So Obama will be elected, after he implements his changes you will see how bad it will be for the working men and women of this country. He will get four years but I predict he won't do two terms, there's no way this country can stand socialism for that long. I believe people will wake up and see the light, we only have to put up with it for four years.By the way, how are you guys liking Todd Stoeger these days,still happy about that?
Obama has clearly shown that he offers the better chance of restoring America’s self-confidence. I acknowledge it is a gamble. Given Mr Obama’s inexperience, the lack of clarity about some of his beliefs and the prospect of a stridently Democratic Congress, voting for him is a risk. Yet it is one America should take, given the steep road ahead.
... At the beginning of this election year, there were strong arguments against putting another Republican in the White House. A spell in opposition seemed apt punishment for the incompetence, cronyism and extremism of the Bush presidency. Conservative America also needs to recover its vim. Somehow Ronald Reagan’s party of western individualism and limited government has ended up not just increasing the size of the state but turning it into a tool of southern-fried moralism.
... Ironically, given that he first won over so many independents by speaking his mind, the case for Mr McCain comes down to a piece of artifice: vote for him on the assumption that he does not believe a word of what he has been saying. Once he reaches the White House, runs this argument, he will put Mrs Palin back in her box, throw away his unrealistic tax plan and begin negotiations with the Democratic Congress. That is plausible; but it is a long way from the convincing case that Mr McCain could have made. Had he become president in 2000 instead of Mr Bush, the world might have had fewer problems. But this time it is beset by problems, and Mr McCain has not proved that he knows how to deal with them.
... There is no getting around the fact that Mr Obama’s résumé is thin for the world’s biggest job. But the exceptionally assured way in which he has run his campaign is a considerable comfort. It is not just that he has more than held his own against Mr McCain in the debates. A man who started with no money and few supporters has out-thought, out-organised and outfought the two mightiest machines in American politics—the Clintons and the conservative right.
Political fire, far from rattling Mr Obama, seems to bring out the best in him: the furore about his (admittedly ghastly) preacher prompted one of the most thoughtful speeches of the campaign. On the financial crisis his performance has been as assured as Mr McCain’s has been febrile. He seems a quick learner and has built up an impressive team of advisers, drawing in seasoned hands like Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin and Larry Summers. Of course, Mr Obama will make mistakes; but this is a man who listens, learns and manages well. ...
So Mr Obama ... is a gamble. But the same goes for Mr McCain on at least as many counts, not least the possibility of President Palin. And this cannot be another election where the choice is based merely on fear. In terms of painting a brighter future for America and the world, Mr Obama has produced the more compelling and detailed portrait. He has campaigned with more style, intelligence and discipline than his opponent. Whether he can fulfil his immense potential remains to be seen. But Mr Obama deserves the presidency.
GOT THIS IN AN EMAIL, AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, EVEN FOR DEMOCRATS.
Our Tax System Explained in Beer
By: David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. 'Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our
taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount,
and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing(100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3(33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28 %savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first
four continued to drink for free.
But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20,' declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!
''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that
he got ten times more than I!!
''That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!!!
'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it
came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important.
They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!!!!!
And that, boys and girls,
journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat
friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph..D. Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Obama has clearly shown that he offers the better chance of restoring America’s self-confidence. I acknowledge it is a gamble. Given Mr Obama’s inexperience, the lack of clarity about some of his beliefs and the prospect of a stridently Democratic Congress, voting for him is a risk. Yet it is one America should take, given the steep road ahead.
... At the beginning of this election year, there were strong arguments against putting another Republican in the White House. A spell in opposition seemed apt punishment for the incompetence, cronyism and extremism of the Bush presidency. Conservative America also needs to recover its vim. Somehow Ronald Reagan’s party of western individualism and limited government has ended up not just increasing the size of the state but turning it into a tool of southern-fried moralism.
... Ironically, given that he first won over so many independents by speaking his mind, the case for Mr McCain comes down to a piece of artifice: vote for him on the assumption that he does not believe a word of what he has been saying. Once he reaches the White House, runs this argument, he will put Mrs Palin back in her box, throw away his unrealistic tax plan and begin negotiations with the Democratic Congress. That is plausible; but it is a long way from the convincing case that Mr McCain could have made. Had he become president in 2000 instead of Mr Bush, the world might have had fewer problems. But this time it is beset by problems, and Mr McCain has not proved that he knows how to deal with them.
... There is no getting around the fact that Mr Obama’s résumé is thin for the world’s biggest job. But the exceptionally assured way in which he has run his campaign is a considerable comfort. It is not just that he has more than held his own against Mr McCain in the debates. A man who started with no money and few supporters has out-thought, out-organised and outfought the two mightiest machines in American politics—the Clintons and the conservative right.
Political fire, far from rattling Mr Obama, seems to bring out the best in him: the furore about his (admittedly ghastly) preacher prompted one of the most thoughtful speeches of the campaign. On the financial crisis his performance has been as assured as Mr McCain’s has been febrile. He seems a quick learner and has built up an impressive team of advisers, drawing in seasoned hands like Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin and Larry Summers. Of course, Mr Obama will make mistakes; but this is a man who listens, learns and manages well. ...
So Mr Obama ... is a gamble. But the same goes for Mr McCain on at least as many counts, not least the possibility of President Palin. And this cannot be another election where the choice is based merely on fear. In terms of painting a brighter future for America and the world, Mr Obama has produced the more compelling and detailed portrait. He has campaigned with more style, intelligence and discipline than his opponent. Whether he can fulfil his immense potential remains to be seen. But Mr Obama deserves the presidency.
10/31/2008 11:46:00 AM
Hitler was a silver tongued devil as well, didn't turn out too good for Germany did it? And might I add Obama doesn't deserve anything. That's what you socialists keep telling us.You have to EARN your living comrade.
My deferred comp is down 33% in the past year and I retire in 4 years, that wasn't any Democrat that caused that. It was Republican "deregulation" and the "let the fox guard the chicken coop" mentality of Bush et. al.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry to say but Clinton started the whole mess with an act enabling just about everyone to get a mortgage. The mortgage meltdown started with Clinton. Period.
anonymous said...
I love how the democrats keep blaming the failed policies of 8 years of George Bush, nothing could be farther from the truth!
Up until the housing market burst(which was predicted due to the insistance of mortgages for all) the economy was doing great, especially during a time of war, the stock market had record highs, unemployment was low and gas was reasonable, so much for the blood for oil nonsense. The housing market burst and the oil speculators driving the price of oil up, the lack of regulation on Wall Street, along with our own spending frenzies and loose discipline with our credit are the real reasons for this crisis.
10/31/2008 10:06:00 AM
Jeez, look up the Republican platform of 2004, mortgages for all was what Bush ran on in 2004, Bush declared that everyone should own a home, yet you insist on blaming Democrats. They may share blame but Bush pushed for the easy mortgage loans, this kept what was a sick economy going on easy credit until almost the end of his term.
You listen to too much Rush Limbaugh. Any of the partisan pundits, be they democrat or republican are all full of shit. I really hope a viable third party springs up. Both of the large parties just point fingers, it is simply a decision of whose lies do you want to believe.
There is no better snake oil salesman these past 8 years than George W. Bush. Did we really need to spend 2 trillion to "bring Democracy" to a bunch of tribal muslims living quite nicely under the thumb of strongman Saddam Hussein? We had Saddam right where we wanted him, under constant surveillance and doing a job for us, at no cost, that we have had a very hard time doing ourselves since "Mission Accomplished" in 2003.
My deferred comp is down 33% in the past year and I retire in 4 years, that wasn't any Democrat that caused that. It was Republican "deregulation" and the "let the fox guard the chicken coop" mentality of Bush et. al.
When Obama talks of the "failed policies" of the Bush administration I have to admit, he is right. Bush has been a disaster for this country. We paid a very high price for the right for PO's to carry concealed across the country.
We are dangerously close to financial meltdown in this country and Bush's bailout is a joke. When you let Wall Street police themselves, what we have now is the result.
Some of the largest investment banks in the world have failed in the past year and are no longer in existence. Lehman Brothers helped finance the Civil War for the United States. Now they don't exist.
This whole financial debacle can be laid right at the doorstep of George W Bush. He showed us how he was a miserable failure in the oil industry in Texas!
I am not a big Obama supporter but if anyone has sold us snake oil, it is the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The comforting thought is that he will soon be doing the one job he seems to be good at: clearing brush at his ranch in Austin, TX.
10/31/2008 07:03:00 AM
You, my friend, are a misinformed moron. With 4 years to retirement, a 33% loss means that you don't understand squat. Fixed. This crisis was started by dems in the 70's further pushed in the mid 90's and warnings were sent by the Republicans in the 2000's. It was blocked by your beloved Dems so unqualified buyers could live a dream they can't inform. Lehman Brothers, and especially Bear Stearns were threatened with huge fines if these loans were not issued. So shut the f(*k up and plan on working into your 60's-70's like most do. Your pension will be gone in 6 years anyway. How can a state support a city pension when both are bankrupt.
"He promised several months ago anyone making under $250,000 will not see taxes rise. Last month, he says the number is now $200,000. Last week, Biden says $150,000"
Now today Governor Bill Richardson stated the amount would be $120,000???
It gets better each minute:
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Obama.raffle.email.2.853681.html
In 1787, Alexander Tyler, a scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh wrote:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature":
"It simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government".
"A democracy will exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury".
"From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, resulting in the democracy collapsing due to loose fiscal policy".
HOW PROPHETIC...BUY AMMO
I am so perplexed!
I did not see "1" McCain/Palin sign on any lawns as I drove southbound on Austin from Grand Avenue to Lake Street.
Can somebody clue me in?
--SHUT THE HELL UP, IDIOT!!!!
Here is an idea. Quit giving away my SS benefits to people who don't work, "Oh my 3 year old has asthma, he needs SSI" or people who aren't legal here.
Listen mister, YOU are what is wrong with this country.
10/31/2008 10:32:00 AM--
You shut the fuck up dumbfuck. You have any idea what 10 trillion of almost entirely Republican debt might look like? Put it this way, if it was all in million dollar bills it would still weigh dozens of times more than your fat head.
I agree with not giving away social security to people who don't work.
You mind if we start stripping that and pensions from all those on here bragging about how they don't work?
Because if we do that, about 10% of the department would be earning their pensions.
The other 90%, including idiots like you I'm sure, would be on the corner selling your services for twinkies.
See, I agree with cutting social security. You just be careful what you wish for. Because if you ain't real careful, the idea of retiring at 50 (cough cough) might be long gone in a few years. And when it does, all of you counting on your severely-underfunded pension might be trying to figure out plan B, and then plan C, and then plan D.
People like you with nothing to offer, and no comprehension of the magniture of this problem, are the greatest problem in this country. Unfortunately, you are 90% of the population in this country. Republicans or Democrats, none of you bitches would recognize an actual conservative if you were surrounded by 10 American revolutionaries.
And when the revolution against these communists starts, I'm sure you'll be perfectly happy defending the system to protect the Daleys and Bushes and Obamas and McCains.
You, my friend, are a misinformed moron. With 4 years to retirement, a 33% loss means that you don't understand squat. Fixed. This crisis was started by dems in the 70's further pushed in the mid 90's and warnings were sent by the Republicans in the 2000's. It was blocked by your beloved Dems so unqualified buyers could live a dream they can't inform. Lehman Brothers, and especially Bear Stearns were threatened with huge fines if these loans were not issued. So shut the f(*k up and plan on working into your 60's-70's like most do. Your pension will be gone in 6 years anyway. How can a state support a city pension when both are bankrupt.
10/31/2008 05:34:00 PM
dude your awesome! lets go get a beer!
signed
rusty nail
Good work from Tom Allen for asking Weis to be reprimanded for his Obama endorsement. Saw it on Fox News this morning.
10/31/2008 07:51:00 AM
give him a day. that is like 1200.00 bucks.
Barack Obama Bin-Laden says---
When British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned to London after attending the European conference that gave the Sudetenland to Hitler in 1938, he was asked if Hitler's plan was to control all of Europe.
Chamberlain replied that there was no proof that Hitler had any such intentions.
There is also no proof that I am going to make America an Islamic state after my coronation (though I
have slipped numerous times in my speeches--thank you media for covering up for me).
Come Tuesday, infidels....a new America will be born. It is the will of Allah.
Change you will be forced to believe in.
The woman who's only "crime" is being republican? No Sir, I must respectfully disagree. I agree that being a republican is not and cannot be considered a crime, and neither can Ms. Palin's campaign performance to date. She has done an excellent job considering the constraints placed on her. Since being selected as the republican VP candidate, the only crime Ms. Palin can be accused of is trusting the instincts of her handlers over her own. As a result, McCain's campaign has foundered unnecessarily and the real Ms. Palin has been left hiding inside the vacuum chamber of her mind. I still believe the republicans will win the White House, but it need not have been this difficult.
I am so perplexed!
I did not see any lawns as I drove southbound on Austin from Grand Avenue to Lake Street.
Can somebody clue me in?
You, my friend, are a misinformed moron. With 4 years to retirement, a 33% loss means that you don't understand squat. Fixed. This crisis was started by dems in the 70's further pushed in the mid 90's and warnings were sent by the Republicans in the 2000's. It was blocked by your beloved Dems so unqualified buyers could live a dream they can't inform. Lehman Brothers, and especially Bear Stearns were threatened with huge fines if these loans were not issued. So shut the f(*k up and plan on working into your 60's-70's like most do. Your pension will be gone in 6 years anyway. How can a state support a city pension when both are bankrupt.
10/31/2008 05:34:00 PM
You, my friend, see the world though shit-colored glasses, hence the world you see is a direct reflection of what you are.
You rightfully blame the demorats for opening the door to this financial market shitstorm during Carter's abortion of a presidency, but conveniently forget to mention the hand Reagan and Bush the 1st had in deregulating the living poop out of the banking sector on the '80s and early '90s. And who was Federal Reserve ringmaster in the middle of this fiscal circus? Greenspan. And who appointed him Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board? Ronnie did in 1987. Warnings sent by the republicans in the 2000's? Only after the horse left the barn and was served up at White Castle.
The financial deregulation policies of Bush the 2nd were just a continuation of the '90s greed brought forth by Bubba et al. Until the wheels began to fall off, Our Current President wanted nothing more than to continue the greedy policies of the past and to state otherwise is kinda like you looking at the world though your shit-colored glasses.
P.S. dude your awesome! lets go get a beer enima!
signed
punctured rubber
No cracks in the facade. Lets get out of Iraq,that's 144,000,000,000.00 saved in just one year. That money could be used to rebuild infrastructure in this nation. To the person talking about American companies buying new equipment,yeah,equipment that says Made in Japan. We don't have a manufacturing base anymore. From Maytag moving to Mexico to even the classic Red Radio Flyer Wagon is not even produced in the USA. McCain says that the U S has the highest business taxes at 35% whereas Ireland's are 11%. But jobs are not leaving America and going to Ireland they are going to Mexico,Singapore,Guatemala,Nicaragua and any other country that allows their workers to be exploited. Finally, tell "Joe the Plumber" to pay his taxes.
That would mean no state department, no community grants for policing, no FBI/ATF, no border protection, no DEA, no federal prisons, no transit spending, no FAA, etc.
-----------------------------
you say that as if somehow that would be bad.
RIGHT ! ! ! And everything you are hearing coming from the McCain campaign is the God's honest truth! GIVE ME A BREAK PEOPLE! No President can screw things up worse than they are now. Quit whining and try to be part of the solution instead of the problem.
Let's look at the real spreaders of wealth: Chrysler received 1.3billion dollars for a bailout;Silverado Savings & Loan(Keating 5)received 3.5billion bailout;airline industry received 191 billion dollar bailout; Wall street received 840 billion dollar bailout. Moreover,the CEOs got busted for using some of the money for trips and bonuses during each bailout. And you're worried about Pookie's baby momma getting a link card.
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