What would you do with it if you could get it...

Your answer will come tomorrow... I've got other things to do right now (will require a long time to write out, I suppose).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ May 21 2006, 09:31 PM) [snapback]259039[/snapback]</div>

Did you, daronspicher, hate President Clinton? You know you did. Admit it. Didn't you hate the Democratically controlled Congress in the early 90's? Why was it OK back in the 90's to hate Clinton, but not hate Bush now? Why? Because we're at war?

Your question makes it seem like a bad thing to question anything or anyone. Since you are a conservative, I'm guessing based upon your question, you would rather just accept everything as it is. Right?

Well, my friend, that is not the way things work. People question. Suppose our Founding Fathers didn't question their relationship with King George and England?

"Sickening liberal". It's people like you that are keeping this country Red State and Blue State instead of Red, White, and Blue States.

Sorry, no on this post....(Damn, I just added the , curses to Danny for making these so damn addictive )

 

OK, there are many, but here are a few (bear in mind, I'm not a politician nor an expert in most of these fields, you asked for MY opinion, so here they are)

1. Universal Health Care - basic insurance for all Americans at a minimum. Those who are un-employed can buy into the same health insurance coverage that is offered to our Government workers. This is not FREE health care, it's universal insurance for everyone. It may not be the best plan, but a start.

2. Increase the CAFE standards to no less than 25 MPG starting in 2007. If you want to own an truck, you must own a business. Put hybrid technology in every vehicle starting in 2008. There is no reason why ICE shouldn't shut down when the vehicle stops. Just plain makes sense.

3. Slowly roll back the past three to four (how many already?) tax 'cuts' that favor the rich. They do. Don't try to convince me or others of this. If you're rich, then you are not going to like this. But most of us make under 100,000 dollars a year, so these cuts don't impact us that much.

4. Immediate troop reduction in Iraq with the forces to go to Kuwait. If the Iraqi security forces are up to the 100,000 mark, as the Administration says, then why do we need 130,000 American military personnel there now?

5. Offer tax incentives for American businesses to keep their companies in the US instead of going overseas.

6. Re-work the 'No Child Left Behind' Act. I'm not an educator, but my wife is, and her and her colleagues say the system is flawed.

7. End the policy of Contractors working in the Department of Defense. I am in the military, and contractors are running and ruining the military. Too many contractors, too much money going in their direction and not enough to us, the active duty forces. I could go on and on about this, but won't. It's just plain wrong.

I'll end there. This post is getting too long and people usually don't read long posts, right? (again with the , too damn addictive)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eyeguy13 @ May 21 2006, 10:58 PM) [snapback]259100[/snapback]</div>

Great list Eyeguy!

I'd like to add to that all methods of voting require a paper trail. You can use Diebolt machines if you want but they MUST produce an auditable paper ballot.

P.S. I was going to mention this to you in another thread, but this old vietnam draft dodger would like to thank you for your service!

 

*bite*


1. Apologize to the Iraqi people, the U.N. and citizens of all countries who cooperated in "the coalition of the willing" for having violated the sovereignty of Iraq under false pretenses. Simultaneously, apologize to U.S. citizens.

2. Maximize anti-terrorist security at U.S. ports and Mexican/Canadian borders.

3. Determine extent of Federal eavesdropping on US citizens and eliminate all that's not necessary to real security. Put remainder on warrant basis.

4. Restore tax structure to 2000 configuration.

5. When economically feasible, phase in nationalized health care, a single-payer system based on Medicare, starting with all children and people 62 or older, then all remaining adults about two years later.

6. Remove from all regulatory agencies (EPA. FDA, FCC, etc.) all political/ideological hacks planted in them by Republicans; replace with professionals who are as non-political as possible.

7. Initiate comprehensive energy program. You can imagine what its components would be.

8. Initiate Medicare/Medicaid adjustments, followed by Social Security, to assure solvency of programs in 20 years (with built-in reassessment then).

9. Start operating petroleum-related commodities the same as other public utilities.

10. Initiate weekly Presidential press conferences, televised on C-Span.

That's for starters. More later.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ May 21 2006, 07:31 PM) [snapback]259039[/snapback]</div>

Gosh. So if I understand correctly, you'd like to hold the liberals (who sicken you) to a higher standard than you hold yourself? Somehow, I'm not quite inspired by the sprit of this thing.

 

You know, seeing these lists is going to make me redouble my efforts to re-elect Republicans!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ May 22 2006, 12:21 AM) [snapback]259114[/snapback]</div>

Likewise :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ghostofjk @ May 21 2006, 09:09 PM) [snapback]259108[/snapback]</div>

But leave all political/ideological hacks planted by Democrats? :huh:
. . . and the vicious cycle continues.

 

Another tin-foil hat topic...

I just want to add to other posters who have raised plethora of important issues, two cardinal gridlocking aspects of political BS.

1. Campaign financing has to be addressed, political representation has to be available to all citizens on the premise of meritocracy, not on an ability to influence oneself in financial terms. Perhaps similarly to UK, where there is a limit on how much one can spent on a political campaign, if I'm not mistaken £100,000.00 max, correct me on the amount if I'm wrong.

2. Lobbyism (legalized corruption) leads to plutocratic corporatism, highjacking the entire political discourse, where the government does no longer represents THE people, instead it represents all those who are influencing financially.

Lastly, I didn't know we have a self-imposed mandate to intervene globally, dictating other nations in their internal affairs, perhaps we have been chosen by some higher entity to fulfill that obligation. Does one still wonder where the external disdain or hate comes from?

 

If I had my way, the next big project in the government would be brining back fiscal responsibility. We could pay down the debt, fund necessary services properly, and maybe even cut taxes if we'd stop being so damned wasteful. The government should have a responsibility to use the money we give them in ways that better the country. Seriously, I'd like to see us gut the budgets, all the way down. I'd like to see services run by professionals, not friends. I'd like to see people admit that our youths are our most precious resource, and start preparing them for life, not standardized tests. I'd like to see really harsh punishments for public officials who take bribes.

Lord, there's a thousand things I'd like to change in our government, but I'm not naive enough to think that it'll come from electing one party or another. While I refuse to go another round with Dubya (or Jeb) I'm not convinced our system is capable of pulling itself back together just by electing democrats. We need to get our priorities in line.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ May 21 2006, 11:21 PM) [snapback]259114[/snapback]</div>

Why?

Don't you think ALL Americans should have basic health insurance? That would mean ALL Americans must buy basic health insurance. It would reduce OUR collective health insurance rates if all Americans were insured. You know who pays for the un-insured??? You and I do.

Don't you want to see a reduction in the dependency on oil? Our National Security depends upon it. It's my opinion and the EPA's. It's on their website. Check it out. Conservation and raising the CAFE standards would do that. During the last energy crisis in the 70's, Americans drove smaller cars and we reduced oil imports. Look it up. It's true.

Don't you want to see our American men and women come home from Iraq? Aren't you tired of them dying everyday? I am. My active duty friends are over there. My best friend from college is there now. I would like to see him come home to his family. Alive.

Rolling back the tax cuts to put more money BACK into our Treasury. That will keep America strong.

Let me ask you...why are the above things, and the ones that others have posted, a bad thing?????



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ May 22 2006, 04:51 AM) [snapback]259142[/snapback]</div>

Thanks. I respect your opinion on this. Very thoughtful and well put. I too was disappointed in what happened with Monica Lewinsky as were most Americans. It really tarnished his Presidency. His leadership style was vastly different from Bush's. And he did listen to poll numbers and to others outside his administration. He made decisions deliberately and cautiously. Some fault him for that. He didn't make decisions in a vacuum and would consider all options and all outcomes. He made wrong decisions at times, like all Presidents. But overall, I felt he did a good job (the polls show that, I know you hate the polls ) and America was well respected in the world.

Gotta go to work......

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ May 21 2006, 10:31 PM) [snapback]259039[/snapback]</div>

Well, on this subject I could spend the rest of my life. But it would be a waste of good time. So I will only list one.

There is no separation of Church and State; therefore it should be abolished. Our fore founders had good intentions, but in the long run it didn’t work. Everyone should pay taxes, I mean “EVERYONE†and they should be eager to do so. That being said; lets get the dammed Republicans out and fix this system. :angry:

 

If my prefered candidate won, I would not be able to make any changes at all, because I am not my prefered candidate, and I would not be in office to make any changes.

If my prefered candidate won, she or he would push for the changes she or he thought proper. Remember that the president alone cannot do an awful lot. Many of the changes that any of us (liberal or conservative) would like to make, require the approval of Congress.

One of the reasons I am disgusted with BOTH parties, is that the Democrats gave Bush the votes he needed for every vile and disgusting thing he has wanted to do.

I support the Green Party. Google their web site to see the kinds of changes they'd like to make. Basically, move toward a sustainable and environmentally-sound economy that places human needs above corporate greed. I probably will not support all their decisions, but the good will outweigh the bad and I'll be able to support them overall.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eyeguy13 @ May 21 2006, 08:58 PM) [snapback]259100[/snapback]</div>

I agree with most of the original post, and even agree with some of the tax cut rollbacks, but here's the problem I have:

The Democrats think I make to much - they want to tax the hell out of me
The Republicans think I make too little - the tax breaks (for the most part) don't help me.

The $100K number you quoted is very dependant on area. In Kansas, I suspect 100K/year will buy you just about anything you want. In San Diego, it will barely qualify you for an average house.

What's a (quickly shrinking) middle class person supposed to do?

 

I don't know if it Republican or Democrat but I suggest:

1. Four day work week (This must be Republican considering Bush's vacation time).

2. Make a law preventing deficit federal budgets (This must be Democrat considering how much the R's spend under Bush I, II and Reagan).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San Diego Steve @ May 22 2006, 07:57 AM) [snapback]259202[/snapback]</div>

Move to KS! Cheap housing and great summer thunderstorms!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San Diego Steve @ May 22 2006, 10:57 AM) [snapback]259202[/snapback]</div>

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