TheAnvil 0 #1 April 15, 2006 Ahhhh...tequila...it has put me in a most pensive mode tonight. Why is Don Julio Blanco so damned tasty? Anyway, back to my original point. What is important to you in the upcoming elections. I'm talking real points and not anything stupid like 'get rid of GWB and all the republicans' or 'keep the dems in the minority' or anything like that. Issues. National level stuff. Now granted, I lean hard to the right, so please take that into account when reading this. I'm interested in what's important to people. Here's a few of mine: Kelo decision. This is an abomination. I've written my reps/senators/council people/mayor about the issue of property rights/eminent domain. If you support Kelo then I cannot vote for you - plain and simple. Deficit. GWB and the Republican congress have increased discretionary spending dramatically. With the new prescription drug program, they've increased entitlement spending as well. We're in deep kimchee that is only going to get deeper. The structure of our entitlement programs and the age demographics of our population make it mathematically imposible to keep the debt ceiling at the current (and recently raised) limit. It's going to go up and not by any small amount either. This is a turd that needs to be addressed and right now I don't see anyone doing it. Education. I'm still not sure I like the federal/state split here. I consider this a state issue for the most part. I'm thinking that as a society, we need to re-examine the K-12 paradigm of education and come up with something better. If we're going to remain a first world country, we need a first world education system and right now we're not there. Again, I would see the federal role as one of standard keeping and hope the states would take this as their burden, but that's just me. Perhaps a federal bonus of $10K for anyone with a Master's Degree teaching within their field. $20K for engineers/scientists. Bonus exempt from federal taxes. Typing/thinking aloud here. That alone wouldn't do it. Major reform needed in this area at local/state/federal levels. The status quo will not do. Environment Right leaning Anvil care about the environment? Absolutely. Kyoto was flawed beyond repair and we were right to pull out. However, we are NOT right not to take the lead on this in a manner conducive to our own economic needs as a nation. Changes in local/state building regulations for new construction homes need to be made to increase energy efficiency for new homes. CAFE regs need some scrutiny and possibly adjusting. A national energy policy needs to be put into effect and like the policy or not, GWB was the first to address it at the national level. It needs to continue to be addressed and be a national priority. Alternative energy sources, bio fuels, bio lubricants, and increased efficiency need to come to the forefront. A new energy infrastructure and new nuke plants - yes, nuke, which is safe and efficient, get over it - will be part of that and NIMBY concerns will emerge. Iraq Like it or not - we're there. And like it or not, the outcome of our invasion will affect the entire world. I feel we need to be there for as long as it takes for Iraq to form as a nation, develop an infrastructure, and be able to defend itself from internal and external enemies. Tall order. It might take a while. We're going to feel some economic, personal, and diplomatic pain - especially with the Iranian factor. However, withdrawal is simply not an option and no politician advocating it should be taken seriously. A few things I think should be important to anyone voting in the upcoming elections. Thoughts? Comments? Random insults? Hope eveyone has a good, safe weekend! Zhills for me tomorrow! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #2 April 15, 2006 well according to a certain skydiver, it all won't matter because the entire USA is going to get blown up this year & there won't be another President. So everyone just better cash in their retirement plans right now & buy yourselves some lead underpants. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #3 April 15, 2006 QuoteNow granted, I lean hard to the right, Just don't spill your drink. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #4 April 16, 2006 Did I kill this thread? sorry. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
countzero 7 #5 April 16, 2006 that the attack on america's borders, language and culture is stopped.diamonds are a dawgs best friend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #6 April 16, 2006 Quotethat the attack on america's borders, language and culture is stopped. Absolutely! Whichever president promises to stop the invasion and bring back american language and culture has my vote too! First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #7 April 16, 2006 QuackWhen an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
