Top 10 Worst Things About the Republicans' Immoral Budget

The Republicans have made a great beginning! Keep it up! Get the Federal Government out of the welfare, education, healthcare, abortion, research, energy, and especially the news business. Stop funding the left. The government is not the solution, it is the problem. Ronaldus Magnumus.

I couldn’t agree more! Why leave to government, that which SHOULD be personal responsibility? Michael Moore is half right, because Wisconsin’s budget battle has awakened many more than just those in unions. I now see clearly, just how much unions have been in bed with Democrats, and in control of state budgets. So glad for this Wisconsin budget battle! Go Governor Walker!nnA few tips for personal responsibility:n1) if you cannot afford to raise your own children, including having a backup economic plan for life, don’t have them. Why must the government (my tax dollars) pay to support your children or your poor planning?n2) If point 1 is taken care of, we can probably do with fewer teachers (and taxes) anyhow. Wouldn’t it be appropriate for families to raise their children on their own dime with good values, polite behavior, and respect for others? Incidentally, this is likely to corellate to better opportunities for job and career growth (and less homelessness). Stop using my tax dollars!n3) I’m fed up with NPR’s entirely liberal bias in their “news” reporting, and in most of thier reporters. This funding needed to go a long time ago, because they are anything but an unbiased reporting outlet. Stop using my tax dollars!n4) Take personal responsibility for your own life, and stop expecting the government (and my tax dollars) to baby sit your life.

I’m hoping you’re being sarcastic; otherwise, you make no sense whatsoever. nnWhat on Earth do you think the GI Bill is? Who do you think put together the GI Bill? Democrats. nnWho’s going to protect and pay your social security? Your Medicaid and Medicare? Democrats. nnTell you what, Navymum, why don’t you go ahead and sign off that you want to take your son’s (or daughter’s) VA benefits away, and that you’d like to work until you die and choose between eating or your prescriptions because you don’t want all of the safety nets that Democrats put together to protect those who aren’t independently wealthy. nn”Ronaldus Maximus” would spit on the idiots in the Tea Party. Learn about who he really was, not the myth that scumbags like Grover Norquist want you to believe.

Brilliant, I don’t know which NPR you’re listening to for news. If you’re talking about entertainment, maybe there’s a lean to the left. If you’re talking about news, there is no better, in-depth news resource in the United States. nnI’m assuming from your ridiculous rant that you’d much rather pay for the implosion of our economy by the wealthy and corporations than pay for better schools and roads. nnI’ll bet you call yourself a Patriot, with a capital “P”. Here’s the thing. Patriots are selfless. You’re just selfish. Don’t confuse the two. The right seems to think wrapping their petty hatreds in the flag makes them patriots; instead, it sullies the memories of those who have fought, both foreign and domestic, the enemies of the people of the United States of America, i.e., those who would destroy what our country stands for. United we stand. Divided we fall.nnJust as there are no Atheists in foxholes, there are no Libertarians when the house is on fire, or someone’s kicking down your door, or the mail doesn’t show up. Just like Navymum, I invite you to keep your taxes, but you don’t get access to clean drinking water, safe roads, doctors (our education system pays for our future doctors), Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, policemen, firemen, the US Mail, public transportation, or any of the protections that our labor laws provide.nnSound like a plan? Opt out, Brilliant. Start a movement. Give up access for you and your kids and their kids to all the benefits that your taxes bring.

I make no personal attack toward you, nor anyone else who offers comment here. I am, however, responsible for my own actions, and my own decisions. I do not leave it to “government” to sort out my life, good or bad.nLet’s be clear, I didn’t say to take away ALL government authority or responsibility for what we ALL need. I just say take away government responsibility (and thus leave my taxes alone) for that which only SOME need.nI’m all for people DONATING their money to charities/organizations, which WOULD/COULD help others. But that is people voting DIRECTLY with their own, hard earned dollars.nMy point is that I do not want MY money taken from ME, to defray the issues/expenses of others who have made poor decisions, or take little or no responsibility for their actions.

I’m not trying to make it a personal attack. I’m providing an option for people who don’t want to pay for public services. I’ve benefited from the GI bill (Army, 3 active & 3 reserve and unemployment (when the economy tanked in 2001).nnOne of the things that makes me most proud of being an American is that we all chip in to make things work. I don’t like multi-billion dollar military-industrial projects that don’t work and wouldn’t benefit the soldiers, sailors, or Marines in any way, but I still pay my taxes. I don’t like teaching to tests, but I still pay. People make mistakes, but sometimes circumstances are beyond their control. Maybe you had a great job, got a house you could afford, and had two kids. Then, because of the monstrous recession, both you and your wife lose your jobs. You’ve saved well, but you can’t find a job, and you go through your unemployment and then your savings and then your retirement. nnNow what? Do you deserve to fail because the greedy corporate fat-cats (that’s my family-friendly term for them) wrecked the economy and then got bailed out?nnI say no. I say that we all pitch in and make an effort together. If more than just the Fortune 5000 are going to climb out of the recession, we need a government that’s willing to spend trillions on new infrastructure, on new technology development, and on keeping people afloat while they train or re-train to meet demand for those new jobs. Right now, we’re counting pennies when we should be spending dollars. We will not survive, and we surely won’t be the wealthiest, smartest, most powerful nation on the planet, until we all pitch in and invest in the future, rather than opt to take an extra $100 per paycheck to make us feel better. nnWe won’t survive if “ME and MY” isn’t replaced by “WE and OURS”.

Obama is a great president. Obamacare, gays in the military and, well, uhu2026 a good teleprompter reader.nnUnemployment, record deficit spending, bumbling and inept foreign affairs, high gas prices, Gitmo is still open, weu2019re still in Afghanistan, Obamacare, extravagant vacations and parties, Van Jones, etc. nnOh, well all that u2013 itu2019s Bushu2019s fault, or Teabaggers, racism because Obama is a negro, Fox News, talk radio, big corporations, Koch Bros, Sarah Palin, etc. Or just use name-calling against conservatives.nnSorry dems, poor excuses for a poor leader do not worku2026nn

I’m also a veteran, and served to military retirement. I did so earning low pay (compared to my contemporaries), and stayed in to SERVE and to one day have some life-long benefits.nNow, in my second career, I work harder than ever, and I have always played by the rules.nI never bought into the housing market frenzy. I waited through it, because I studied what was reasonable, and buying into that bubble seemed unreasonable. Yet, others all around me bought into it, and now my taxes helped out the banks AND the new home buyers in terms of the tax credit.nThe government should ONLY be allowed to handle those things we ALL need, and not be distracted into doing things that special interests tell them that THEY need.

Matt,nnIf you noticed, I did not call for the end to defense spending because that is a legitimate function of the federal government. Democrats and Republicans have spent the money we put away for social security and there is nothing in the “lock box” but IOU’s. Medicare and medicare are fiscal disasters which are contributing more than any other single program to our deficit. You are clueless about Ronald Reagan, so don’t even go there. nnWe just had a greater deficit in February – $223 billion- which was significantly more that the $161 billlion in all of 2007. Face it. This cannot continue. Democrats promise what they cannot pay for to get votes from Ignoramuses who went to public schools so they can’t count, read, write or think.

I need tel #’s to call congress and tell them to stop the republicans. They lie about everything! Please post numbers on site!!!!!

Exactly right Brilliant! What is moral about stealing my money to give to others? Who do they think they are?

Matt,nEvery dollar the government spends comes directly out of the private sector, either in debt or in taxes. Government never invests, it just spends. I agree with you about this criminal bailout. The executives of Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac should be in jail along with Barny Frank and Chris Dodd who wrote the laws that started this scam. This meltdown was caused by immorality and the attempt by Democrats to buy votes for housing subsidies to people who could not afford to own a home. Government will not do the right thing with your money. If you keep your money and invest in yourself, you will produce more than government ever will. I am furious when they waste my money. I work for them until July. This is my life, the fruits of my labor that they are stealing and wasting it. Government should do defense, justice, and borders well and then get out of the way of the American people.

Matt,nIf you think that NPR is not biased, you do not know the meaning of the world. The Constitution called for a free press, not one subsidized by government. I have no problem paying my state or town to give vouchers for education that allow parents to choose the school of their choice. I hope that the government continues to allow tax deductions to encourage people to help to the poor. I do believe that some people will always need help from others, but it is best to leave that job to the local governments because these people are closest to the problem and will understand how to help most effectively. I believe that states should make all these decisions without interference from Washington. The 50 states act as laboratories for ideas. They have come up with amazing solutions for problems and if you don’t like the way your state is going, you are free to move. Washington is one giant trough which feeds businesses, farms, and special interests of all stripes with taxpayer dollars in exchange for campaign contributions. This has to stop! Wise up!

It’s O.K., that 83 of the top 100 U.S. Corporations paid zero net taxes in 2009 by laundering their money through foreign countries. It’s O.K. that we still pay subsidies to the Oil Companies because without them they might not have had record earnings. It’s O.K. that virtually no one was ever prosecuted for the Financial collapse because what’s 700 Billion between friends anyway. This government, Democrat and Republican is corrupt to it’s core. The Congress is made up of a bunch of Millionaires and Billionaires who could care less about what used to be the middle class. If you have the money, you aren’t ever getting in trouble. Go ahead, vote Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t really matter because most of them are the same person in different suits with opposing view points until they think they could lose the next election.

Dear Move On,nnMany of your articles and newletters make what I feel is a mistake by being so polarizing in emotional ways that are unnecessary and counterproductive. “Republicans’ Immoral Budget?” I generally agree with all your positions, but I think it would be much more useful to discuss the facts in a way that doesn’t fling insults or call names. nnYou’re calling them “immoral” because they tend to stand on what they like to paint as the moral high ground. Clever irony. You must be proud of yourself. You will really rise above if you stop taking the combative, nasty, let’s get mad and hate the evil “them” tone, and simply discuss the substance of what is happening. nnJust stop interpreting so much. We’re smart, we can do that for ourselves. The action taken is what matters, and we can do it without hate. Take a page out of Jon Stewart’s “Rally to Restore Sanity.” He had such a good point, and we all really need to take it to heart. nnLet’s accept that we are each surrounded by other human beings of numerous backgrounds with widely differing perceptions of what is happening in the world. Many are protecting something, fearful, or confused, and almost all are less than fully informed. Most have their sense of identity strongly tied to their positions, and they will defend them as though their very life is at stake. Keeping this in mind helps me stop demonizing people and just present information and encourage action in a non-emotionally charged way. This is really the only way forward to anything better than what we keep getting more of — the same.nnThanks for reading,nEva M. Knox,nAustin, TX

Amen to your words, Matt. You’re who I call a “Patriot” indeed.

All of this is perfectly fine, but taxing rich people even a little bit is unacceptable.

Those who are bashing government support for public projects: Are you completely unaware that the government is funneling billions into corporations? Did you not hear about Scott Walker’s plan to sell utilities on a no-bid basis to private industry? nnYou glorify private businesses over government projects while ignoring that business has stuck a straw into the treasury and is sucking it dry.nnBig corporations today are not the independent honest entrepreneurs you seem to believe they are. They are government programs themselves, considering how much tax money they get. nnEverything you THINK you oppose, you actually support.nnRich people do not need your help. They’ll be fine.

So you’re saying that corporations are going to rape us no matter what you do, so give them whatever they want.nnI don’t hear much of a call for taxing corporations. What I hear is that taxes on wealthy individuals are too low.

Almost beyond belief. Zero net taxes means that they paid no taxes at all because of laws that allowed them to avoid paying taxes. Those laws were passed by Congress members of both parties who were paying back campaign contributions and/or traded their vote for other favors. The complaint is that U.S. Corporate taxes are too high and that is why manufacturers fled the country for Mexico. Once they got there, they found out that they could pay even less in China and now Mexico is suffering the same fate as we did over the last 20 years. I don’t want to see higher taxes on anyone, but if the biggest corporations aren’t paying ANY taxes, then either the citizens pick up the slack or you run a deficit. You seem like the type who puts a large part of the blame for the deficit on SS, Medicare and Welfare. How is this not Corporate Welfare ?????

Why do Republicans get so much mileage out of phrases like “job-killing bill,” then turn around and kill tens of thousands of jobs?

MusthavednnCorporations never pay taxes. Consumers do when they purchase the products corporations make. If you eliminated all taxes on corporations, prices for goods and services would go down. Competition would bring the prices down. This would be good for everyone.

Jeff,nCorporations are not raping anyone. They are legal entities designed to raise capital and reduce personal liability. They don’t have the parts necessary to commit rape. Many shareholders own pieces of them and benefit from the profit made by this agreement. Did you know that only about 1.5% of Exxon is owned by “corporate insiders.” Most of the stock is owned by institutions that help investors earn their retirement. Are all the people in corporations saints? No. They are just like the people in government. Some good people, some bad people. Stop turning corporations into some sort of boogey man.

Job killing bills are those that either tax businesses to the point that they will not bother to grow because it doesn’t make sense to work harder if you can’t keep what you’ve earned or those that regulate people to the point that they cannot enter into a business. The jobs that will be killed by the republican bill, if it is even true, are government jobs that do nothing but cost the economy money.

I completely agree with you that corporations should not be given any money from government. There should be no bailouts, no subsidies, no incentives, nothing but free market with laws to prevent fraud and monopoly. This includes subsidies for “green energy” and ethanol.

Jeff,nThe top seven percent of the wealthiest people pay ninety percent of all taxes. What is enough for you? Should we just confiscate their property and give it to you? Would that make you happy?

To put it in terms we can all understand, think of the United States as a shopping mall. If you have a business in the mall, you are provided with four walls and a roof… plus security guards, ample parking, public restrooms, entertainment and promotional programs that bring in thousands of customers every day, and an environment conducive to commerce. It’s not free, though. It costs a lot to be in the mall, but the stores think it’s worth it, because of the services and location.nnLikewise, major corporations are provided with access to America’s infrastructure. They don’t have to build their own airports, highways, power plants, or railroads. And there’s a security service that’s second to none. They are provided with all this, plus an educated workforce, and built-in customer base. nnBut for some reason, conservatives feel like nobody should have to pay for the use of these services. These are the very things that make the American way of life possible. You can talk all you want about hard work and innovation, but neither of those is of much value in third world countries with no electricity, infrastructure, workforce, or customers.nnIf you achieve your everyone-for-themselves goals, the mall will close down, and your customers will evaporate.

That’s cool. Send jobs overseas, then tell people not to have kids if they can’t afford it.

Are you the same Navymum who just told me not to make the corporations out to be the boogey man?nnPublic employees educate your kids, respond to emergencies, protect your children, and — as Tyler Durden said — protect you while you sleep. nnYour very username implies that there’s a public sector person in your life. Yes, the military are public employees.nnAmerica would come to a stop without public employees. They’re not all saints (to use your phrase), but they earn their pay.nnHow did we go so quickly from everyone agreeing that teachers are under-paid and under-appreciated to teachers “do nothing but cost the economy money”?

And get rid of those deadbeat police and firefighters while you’re at it. nnFire departments should be privatized. No insurance? Too bad. Your house burns!nnPublic employees just sap tax dollars.nn/sarcasm

I replied to this, but because my reply contained a link, it has to be approved by a moderator.

Also, your definition: “Job killing bills are those that either tax businesses to the point that they will not bother to grow because it doesn’t make sense to work harder if you can’t keep what you’ve earned or those that regulate people to the point that they cannot enter into a business.” … is very self serving. nnMy definition of a job-killing bill is (and you may quote me), any bill that kills a lot of jobs.

I’m not looking for arguments, but I feel obligated to voice my opinion on this. I attend Central Michigan University full-time. Before coming to college last year, I attended a school district that was experiencing hundreds of cuts, and as a result, some of my favorite, most inspirational teachers were fired, and I did not get to participate in very valuable literature classes because the school cancelled them due to their inability to purchase books or employ more than just basic English teacher. As I said, that was last year. Now the Republicans want to fire 65,000 more teachers? Really? How can we say weu2019re a country with one of the best education systems when even suburban areas like the location of my high school cannot even afford new textbooks? In addition, our country, and especially states like Michigan, cannot afford any more job cuts- do you realize how hard life has been for so many people- Democrats, Republicans, Christians, Atheists, Caucasians, African Americans, men, and women- in these past few years because of the lack of jobs already? I cannot even begin to imagine what even MORE job cuts will do.nnWhat upsets me the most, however, is the proposed financial aid cut for 9.4 million low- and middle- income college students. I AM a low-income college student. And no, not because of my “choices” to live poorly, but because I live entirely on my own, and I am considered an independent student as determined by the FAFSA. Because I live on my own, and because I have absolutely no family support, I already work full-time at a minimum wage job (one of the only that will hire someone with just a diploma) at McDonald’s, and even though I work 40 hours a week, I cannot attend school without federal financial aid. Iu2019m currently attending CMU with a $3,000 academic scholarship along with several other local scholarships because I made the “choice” to do excellent in school- top of my class- but those scholarships donu2019t even cover HALF of the cost of attendance for me. Without financial aid, millions of students will have to leave school, and where does that put our country? In an even worse position due to the lack of educated professionals such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, construction managers, and many more. In addition, with only well-off students being able to attend college, it will place an even larger gap between the classes of America then what already exists. nnSo do not tell me this has been my choice to be where I am: earning barely $12,000 a year and attending a school where the cost of attendance is over $18,000 a year. Do not tell me it is my own fault that I cannot afford school even though I worked my a** off for years and years throughout school in order to receive scholarships, and yet, those are still insufficient.

That is a brilliant definition, Jeff. You went to a public school didn’t you. Jeff when you define something you use simpler words to enlighten the reader. Using the same words does not give the reader any additonal information. If you asked me to define flummmoxed and I said it means flummoxed you still would be, flummoxed that is.

I’m not looking for arguments, but I feel obligated to voice my opinion on this.nn I attend Central Michigan University full-time. Before coming to college last year, I attended a school district that was experiencing hundreds of cuts, and as a result, some of my favorite, most inspirational teachers were fired, and I did not get to participate in very valuable literature classes because the school cancelled them due to their inability to purchase books or employ more than just basic English teacher. As I said, that was last year. Now the Republicans want to fire 65,000 more teachers? Really? How can we say weu2019re a country with one of the best education systems when even suburban areas like the location of my high school cannot even afford new textbooks? In addition, our country, and especially states like Michigan, cannot afford any more job cuts- do you realize how hard life has been for so many people- Democrats, Republicans, Christians, Atheists, Caucasians, African Americans, men, and women- in these past few years because of the lack of jobs already? I cannot even begin to imagine what even MORE job cuts will do.nnWhat upsets me the most, however, is the proposed financial aid cut for 9.4 million low- and middle- income college students. I AM a low-income college student. And no, not because of my “choices” to live poorly, but because I live entirely on my own, and I am considered an independent student as determined by the FAFSA. Because I live on my own, and because I have absolutely no family support, I already work full-time at a minimum wage job (one of the only that will hire someone with just a diploma) at McDonald’s, and even though I work 40 hours a week, I cannot attend school without federal financial aid. Iu2019m currently attending CMU with a $3,000 academic scholarship along with several other local scholarships because I made the “choice” to do excellent in school- top of my class- but those scholarships donu2019t even cover HALF of the cost of attendance for me. Without financial aid, millions of students will have to leave school, and where does that put our country? In an even worse position due to the lack of educated professionals such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, construction managers, and many more. In addition, with only well-off students being able to attend college, it will place an even larger gap between the classes of America then what already exists. nnSo do not tell me this has been my choice to be where I am: earning barely $12,000 a year and attending a school where the cost of attendance is over $18,000 a year. Do not tell me it is my own fault that I cannot afford school even though I worked extremely hard for years and years throughout school in order to receive scholarships, and yet, those are still insufficient.

That was quite a side step. Here’s a four-dollar phrase: ad hominem attack.

Okay, then why attack the public employee, who has to work for every paycheck, rather than the billionaire who gets a bailout?

Jeff, nWhy do you insist on dissing public employees? I understand that we need public employees like the military, police and firemen. I would like to see education privatized by giving vouchers to parents so they could choose the school they wanted for their children. This would encourage competition and innovation. It would also get those poor children stuck in failing public schools a real chance to get an education. I am a retired private school teacher. There is nothing that I appreciate more than the job a teacher has. It is extremely difficult. The problem in our public schools is that many good teachers hands are tied by the union: they can’t help children after school on their own time without being paid, for example. They also cannot control the classroom because disruptive students have a “right” to go to school even if they prevent others from their right to an education. We could do better with our money. I said public workers do nothing but cost the economy money, it is because they are different than private employees who produce a good or service that make a profit which helps the economy grow. This does not mean that public employees are unnecessary or unappreciated, they just have a different effect on the economy as a whole.

That has happened to me, too. What did you google. I bet I can find it.

Jeff, nEveryone pays for roads (toll and gas tax), airports (tax on tickets and use tax on airlines passed on to customers in ticket prices) and property tax for schools. The point is a corporation never pays a tax, people do.

Sorry Jeff,nI forget how sensitive liberals are. It’s just that I am a retired Geometry teacher. Definitions are important. Ad hominem means personal attack. I don’t think I attacked you, just your definition. Of course, the public school comment was probably a little mean.

Exactly! nWhen some fool says the rich are the ones that create jobs.. It will cost jobs if we make them spend the money on taxes… It really makes you realize how great a job Reagan did dumbing down the country. nFirst, if a guy has billions in banks and isn’t creating jobs with it, why would anyone believe he suddenly would start if you gave him a few more bucks?nSecond, any businessman will choose investing in his business rather than paying the money to the government. So give them incentives to invest more by making them pay more in taxes if they don’t.n These silly tea bag sociopaths make taxes for schools, roads and fire departments, safe water and such sound un-American and unnecessary. As if they could pay for all those things themselves out of their own personal checkbook if they just didn’t have to pay so much in taxes. nApparently they missed the part of our history where Americans were proud to pay taxes. Even before the American revolution it was not the taxes they hated, it was not getting anything or any representation for what they paid. nn

Sorry, I am having trouble loading this properly, and did not mean for it to post twice.

Johns37s,nIt is terrible that your education is so expensive. I put myself through school as an independent, too. It took me 10 years, but I did it. Don’t quit. The reason that college is so expensive is because the government gives all this aid. The colleges simply raise their tuition to capture the money from the government. It never really helps you. The other reason is that professors are required to do so little work. It is a scam.nJust keep working and in time you will make it.

Navymum,nnYou’re right, it is terrible, and what’s even more terrible is that my university costs nothing compared to many. I respect you for putting yourself through school and finishing it just as I plan to do. However, I don’t think in a country where everyone is given an “equal chance” should force me to struggle through school much longer than others for financial reasons rather than academic ones. nnI agree that the increasing amount of federal aid correlates with the rising cost of college, however I disagree that the is one of the main reasons colleges are raising tuition rates. For example, in the 70s, the Pell Grant covered 40% of tuition, and now it covers roughly 15%. I wouldn’t say that the increase in tuition has “kept up” but rather dramatically exceeded. Perhaps we could cut financial aid on select college students, but certainly with caution. I know many students at my school that cheat the system because their parents are separated. Instead of using the parent with the most income, they make it a point to use the income of the poorer parent. As a result, many middle class students are attending school with federal money intended for those who are actually low-income and living in poverty.nnAs I have mentioned, I make about $12,000 a year- $2,000 above the poverty line- yet I do not receive a full Pell Grant while peers whose parents earn over $40,000 do.nnnn

In 2006, the top 20 percent of earners paid 70 percent of all federal taxes. On average, they paid 26 percent of their income to the government. The very richest — the top 1 percent of taxpayers, with household incomes of over $332,000 — paid 28 percent of all taxes, with an effective tax rate of 31 percent. nnFrom the Washington Post.

A retired teacher? Enjoying that pension?nnI’m a state employee. I’ve been eating shit for 23 years for low pay, and I don’t think a pension is too much to ask (no, I’m not retiring at 23 years. I’ll be here for years to come).nnBTW: I’m a registered Republican who only broke ranks a few years ago, halfway through GWB’s second term. It turned out that the liberals were right, and I joined them.

Jeff,nI am a retired PRIVATE school teacher. I don’t get a pension. My salary was $41,000 a year when public school teachers made $89,000 for the same experience and education. Every cent in my retirement is except for $300 was contributed by me. I ate dirt because I love to teach and I got to teach the fullness of the truth. My kids, all six of them got to school for half tuition. It was worth it. What did you do for the state? I bet you helped some people and it wasn’t as bad as you say. I bet you have a nice family and are proud of your kids. You are just like me, you love your spouse, you love your kids and you love God.

after reading comments here, I am reinforced in my belief that there is a strong ideological divide in this nation, ….by design, in order to keep the electorate distracted while nothing meaningful ever gets done in Washington, The status quo benefits who?? Even intelligent arguments fall back to dancing around left and right talking points. We have all been bred to believe in this false liberal or conservative mentality. May I suggest 3 things to turn things around….1.-100% turnaround for the next 3 election cycles everyone goes(you don’t have to vote against your ideology, just go to the primaries and change candidates) 2. Next, demand lobby reform. ( all lobbying should be done in open public forums with full disclosure, also If we have one man = one vote, we should also have one special interest =one lobbyist. 3. Campaign finance reform, public financing is the only solution to benefit the public.(Money does not equal free speech….it only benefits wealthy interests….The ‘golden rule’ he who has the gold makes the rules.) Also corperations are not = to a person, they do not possess values, except profits

after reading comments here, I am reinforced in my belief that there is a strong ideological divide in this nation, ….by design, in order to keep the electorate distracted while nothing meaningful ever gets done in Washington, The status quo benefits who?? Even intelligent arguments fall back to dancing around left and right talking points. We have all been bred to believe in this false liberal or conservative mentality. May I suggest 3 things to turn things around….1.-100% turnaround for the next 3 election cycles everyone goes(you don’t have to vote against your ideology, just go to the primaries and change candidates) 2. Next, demand lobby reform. ( all lobbying should be done in open public forums with full disclosure, also If we have one man = one vote, we should also have one special interest =one lobbyist. 3. Campaign finance reform, public financing is the only solution to benefit the public.(Money does not equal free speech….it only benefits wealthy interests….The ‘golden rule’ he who has the gold makes the rules.) Also corperations are not = to a person, they do not possess values, except profits

Hi Jeff,rnThe sight has blocked me and I have no idea if this will work, but I didrnenjoy our banter. God bless you.rnKathryn

You’re an idiot and obviously closed minded. How aboutfirst stopping the tax cuts for the filthy rich who even with increase taxes will go to their graves before they could ever spend all their money. I assume it’s alright with you also for the feds to give thousands of dollars to immigrants to this country without ever having to pay the money back. Have you ever thought about the hard working folks in this country who have worked hard all their life and perhaps before retirement have lost their jobs due to the sagging economy and need help from the government. Don’t you think those people deserve some help. What about teachers. Their jobs iare one of the most important in this county and world for that matter.

i agree with you.i’m not trying to start an argument or anything i’m just here to voice me opinion.i’m a wife,mother,and i have a full time job.i’m not on welfare,i don’t get any medicare or medicade.between me and my husband we make about forty thousand a year. welfare told us we make to much money that we could not get any assistance.n nsometimes we don’t even get that with cut backs at his job and mine and not getting a raise in the last two years its been tough.

One point I would like to mention about the education vouchers. I live in a small city where there are a limited number of private schools. The only ones here are religious schools which is fine but not what I want for my children. Also there is separation of church and state so vouchers could not be used for religious schools. How would education vouchers help me and others like me?

Maybe if the government would budget the money into the public schools we would all be better educated. On the one hand, the government says that our children need better education to make the United States more competitive but when it comes time for budget cuts education is at the top of the list. I apologize if my writing is not up to your standards but I too went to a public school. My father worked in a union job and could not afford private schools for us.

Jealousy is gross. Some think if they take away someone else’s good job it will make theirs better? nThat is what the corporatiou00adu00adns hope you will think.n How about fighting to make your own job better. How about fighting to get a union in your work place instead of of just lying down and letting the super rich walk over you and trying to pull others down beside you.n nIf you are looking for what’s been lost since Reagan, don’t look down to the teacher making 48,000.00 plus benefits, look up to the billionaire flying past in his private jet. nIt is he, who pays crap wages, makes cheap junk, follows no regulationu00adu00ads and pays no taxes as he hides his money in Swiss banks instead of creating jobs with it, that has taken from you. He has your money! And he is not done with you yet!

I am being blocked by the website, but perhaps you will receive this at yourrnemail. When vouchers become a reality, people not affiliated with arnreligion, will start schools. The other effect is that public schools willrnhave to improve to keep their enrollment up. Catholics have been startingrnschools on a shoestring for years. It can happen. Look into the voucherrnprogram as it operated in Washington DC and Cleveland, Ohio. By the way,rnvouchers go to the parent not directly to the school. This means thatrnparents can use the voucher in the religious schools of their choice.

The smartest thing you could ever do. I knew the Repubs were bad from when I was a tike. I was insulted by their rhetoric when I only 4 years old.

Let’s not forget, either, that the rich are taxed on their massive surplus (and can get better rates for loans and other such perks) while the average american is taxed on their need. They forego many things like health care, food, education, new clothes, etc. to get by. There seems to be a gross misperception that all people that need assistance haven’t worked hard enough. I disagree.

I agree lets not cut the deficit and let the dollar collapse so everybody will poor and equal

Patricia I ubderstand what you mean, I am disabled from Law enforcement. I worked for a small local goverment so no pension I receive Social Security,Medicare,and medicaid. My wife still works for law enforcement and only makes about 20K a year but we too make too much for any other help. But what I can tell these people argueing over this si that if my medicaid and medicare were cut I would not last long I would die I guess that si what they want to see, if I am dead I don’t cost them any money.

Obama followed a totall disaster