How the uninformed will decide the election

[kallend 2,182]

According to Newsday:


Less than 100 days before the election, President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney are in a dead heat for the White House among key suburban voters, according to a new poll by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

The survey also showed that suburban voters:

Support reducing personal income taxes on all Americans but want to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans -- positions that pollsters said are seemingly at odds.

Want to see the government cut the federal budget but do not support reductions in military spending, Social Security or Medicare.

I would be fascinated to see how THAT will work.

If ALL discretionary spending is cut but defense, Medicare and SocSec are not reduced we STILL are $900 Billion in the hole.

It's a pity that so many voters are completely innumerate.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[matthewcline 0]

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According to Newsday:


Less than 100 days before the election, President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney are in a dead heat for the White House among key suburban voters, according to a new poll by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

The survey also showed that suburban voters:

Support reducing personal income taxes on all Americans but want to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans -- positions that pollsters said are seemingly at odds.

Want to see the government cut the federal budget but do not support reductions in military spending, Social Security or Medicare.

I would be fascinated to see how THAT will work.

Well, we could stop Foreign Aid, Pork Projects, and can any alphabet offices not in one of the three bold items.

Should leave plenty of cash left over for a tax cut and maybe even a hefty refund!

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[kallend 2,182]

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According to Newsday:


Less than 100 days before the election, President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney are in a dead heat for the White House among key suburban voters, according to a new poll by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

The survey also showed that suburban voters:

Support reducing personal income taxes on all Americans but want to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans -- positions that pollsters said are seemingly at odds.

Want to see the government cut the federal budget but do not support reductions in military spending, Social Security or Medicare.

I would be fascinated to see how THAT will work.

Well, we could stop Foreign Aid, Pork Projects, and can any alphabet offices not in one of the three bold items.

Should leave plenty of cash left over for a tax cut and maybe even a hefty refund!

Matt

Ummm - NO.

Cut all of that and you still have a (roughly) $900Billion deficit.

MATH skills ARE important.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[matthewcline 0]

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According to Newsday:


Less than 100 days before the election, President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney are in a dead heat for the White House among key suburban voters, according to a new poll by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

The survey also showed that suburban voters:

Support reducing personal income taxes on all Americans but want to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans -- positions that pollsters said are seemingly at odds.

Want to see the government cut the federal budget but do not support reductions in military spending, Social Security or Medicare.

I would be fascinated to see how THAT will work.

Well, we could stop Foreign Aid, Pork Projects, and can any alphabet offices not in one of the three bold items.

Should leave plenty of cash left over for a tax cut and maybe even a hefty refund!

Matt

Ummm - NO.

Cut all of that and you still have a $900Billion deficit.

MATH skills ARE important.

So, the last four years have put us that deep in debt? WOW!

My math is pretty good, my sarcasm is even better though.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[DanG 1]

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Well, we could stop Foreign Aid, Pork Projects, and can any alphabet offices not in one of the three bold items.

Those items are a drop in the bucket. SS, MC/MC, and Defense are the three big elephants in the room.

And do you really want to get rid of the FBI, CIA, CDC, and FAA (well, maybe, but ATC is nice)?

- Dan G

[jcd11235 0]

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MATH skills ARE important.

Critically so.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[matthewcline 0]

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Well, we could stop Foreign Aid, Pork Projects, and can any alphabet offices not in one of the three bold items.

Those items are a drop in the bucket. SS, MC/MC, and Defense are the three big elephants in the room.

And do you really want to get rid of the FBI, CIA, CDC, and FAA (well, maybe, but ATC is nice)?

Some sure (ATF DEA, good to go, to go away), but mostly, as I stated in the response to the Prof, I am being sarcastic.

We have not been a Nation in Debt since '41, just gets deeper and deeper each year no matter who is the POTUS. No matter who, it is the other guy is to blame, the arguers just change their stance on it each time to fit their politics.

The Country has a Spending Issue, lets get that under control then we can debate taxes.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[DanG 1]

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The Country has a Spending Issue, lets get that under control then we can debate taxes.

The nation has a cashflow problem. Cash flows both ways, in and out. Let's try to fix the cashflow problem.

- Dan G

[jcd11235 0]

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So, the last four years have put us that deep in debt?

What would be the average annual deficit under Obama if the US didn't have to pay interest on all of the debt accrued by Reagan, Bush, and Bush?

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[billvon 3,132]

>Want to see the government cut the federal budget but do not support reductions in
>military spending, Social Security or Medicare.

That's what both sides want. "Cut spending but don't cut my favorite programs." It's why there's not much difference between the two parties nowadays.

[davjohns 1]

How the uninformed will decide the election

Between the uninformed and the misinformed, the remaining percentage of voters has little chance of effecting an election.

I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

[rhaig 0]

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What would be the average annual deficit under Obama if the US didn't have to pay interest on all of the debt accrued by Reagan, Bush, and Bush?

yes yes... the same old song & dance... it's not "my guy's" fault.

fuck that. as was said above, we have a cashflow problem. quit blaming and start solving.

raise taxes, cut spending. do both. pull back on foreign military operations, cut foreign aid, sensible reform for entitlement programs (that won't cost more than they save)

--
Rob

[rushmc 23]

They did nearly 4 years ago

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[matthewcline 0]

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The Country has a Spending Issue, lets get that under control then we can debate taxes.

The nation has a cashflow problem. Cash flows both ways, in and out. Let's try to fix the cashflow problem.

Sure, it flows out more than it takes in. We should only spend what we have come in. But as the Gov has never had to be accountable, that won't happen.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[normiss 906]

Plus take MC/MC off the table.
The POTUS just fixed that.


Cuts NOW, tax increase NOW.
Only options.
Tighten your belts folks, this is gonna hurt everyone of us.

Now, STOP SPENDING TODAY!!!!

[jcd11235 0]

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yes yes... the same old song & dance... it's not "my guy's" fault.

It's funny how people like to blame Obama until it is shown that it isn't logical to blame him for the debt or deficit growth in recent years. Then they change their tune to "stop blaming," instead of acknowledging that it was conservative leadership that led us into this fiscal mess.

Until we can acknowledge how the problem came about, there is little hope in solving it.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

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Sure, it flows out more than it takes in. We should only spend what we have come in. But as the Gov has never had to be accountable, that won't happen.

Matt

No kidding. They tried to force themselves to be accountable with the deficit ceiling/Supercommittee/automatic cuts thing last year.

And they still can't do it.

You know, if I don't do my job, I don't get paid. Period.

I'd like to see Congress (all of them) penalized for failing to do their job. If they can't get a budget in on time, no pay. For them or their staff.

Wishful thinking, I know.

But it's a nice fantasy.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[matthewcline 0]

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yes yes... the same old song & dance... it's not "my guy's" fault.

It's funny how people like to blame Obama until it is shown that it isn't logical to blame him for the debt or deficit growth in recent years. Then they change their tune to "stop blaming," instead of acknowledging that it was conservative leadership that led us into this fiscal mess.

Until we can acknowledge how the problem came about, there is little hope in solving it.

Well, he bears equal blame, as it should applied all POTUS, and Congressmen.

This is not a Conservative/Liberal Only effort, they worked together hand in hand at putting us in this predicament.

IMO we stop the spending first, get that under control, then short term tax bumps if needed.

But Politicians, being Politicians that won't happen.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[davjohns 1]

A few simple rules:

Congress, the Senate and the POTUS will receive no pay in any year in which they do not deliver a budget before 1 Oct or any year in which said budget is not balanced.

Congress, the Senate and the POTUS shall receive no pay increases of any sort in any year in which there is a national debt.

Every member of Congress and the Senate shall send their first born child or closest next-of-kin who is fit for military duty to serve in any military expedition authorized or funded by said bodies. The POTUS shall personally lead such military expeditions directed by him. In his absence, the Vice President shall assume duties as the POTUS.

You get the idea. The people who create the problems should feel the pain. Passing laws that don't effect you just leads to all kinds of hooliganism.

I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

[jcd11235 0]

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Well, he bears equal blame …

According to some of the uninformed, anyway.

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IMO we stop the spending first, get that under control, then short term tax bumps if needed.

That won't work. No one can agree on which programs should be cut and which programs should be funded. While they bicker about it, the debt continues to grow.

Much better is to raise taxes first, so that we can pay as we go while debating spending cuts.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[rhaig 0]

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Until we can acknowledge how the problem came about, there is little hope in solving it.

usually the first step to solving a problem is identifying it. -- "negative cashflow"
Then you look to a solution.
if you wish to prevent it from happening again you look to the cause which is, as you say, 20+years of overspending by politicians.

by ignoring the search for a solution and continually focusing on the cause, the problem gets worse and harder to solve. fuck that.

they need to quit finger pointing and start proposing workable solutions. Until we as citizens insist they do that (through our votes and our insistence through communications to our representatives) it's going to end up the same old song and dance that you perpetuate here as well. "it's not my guy's fault" ... "oh yeah, well MY guy didn't do it all"

fuck that.

--
Rob

[rhaig 0]

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Sure, it flows out more than it takes in. We should only spend what we have come in. But as the Gov has never had to be accountable, that won't happen.

what happened to transparency?

--
Rob

[jcd11235 0]

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Congress, the Senate and the POTUS will receive no pay in any year in which they do not deliver a budget before 1 Oct or any year in which said budget is not balanced.

That sounds nice, but it would further decrease the probability of anyone but the rich being elected to Congress. Middle class folks couldn't afford to go two or six years without any income.

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Congress, the Senate and the POTUS shall receive no pay increases of any sort in any year in which there is a national debt.

Having zero national debt is not very wise either. National credit is important.

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Every member of Congress and the Senate shall send their first born child or closest next-of-kin who is fit for military duty to serve in any military expedition authorized or funded by said bodies.

That sounds a bit like slavery to me. Adults should be free to serve in the military or not, not forced to because they have a close relative who chose to serve his/her country in a different manner.

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The POTUS shall personally lead such military expeditions directed by him. In his absence, the Vice President shall assume duties as the POTUS.

There are more important considerations when electing a president than a candidate's military leadership skills. I think it's much better that career military persons are given the military leadership positions, and answer to the
president. Even in times of war, the president has many (even more) important responsibilities that should not be delegated to the VP. Delegating such responsibilities to the VP without the president being incapacitated might very well be unconstitutional.

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The people who create the problems should feel the pain. Passing laws that don't effect you just leads to all kinds of hooliganism.

One of the great things about a democracy or representative republic is that the government cannot fail the people unless the people first fail their country and government.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[jcd11235 0]

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Until we can acknowledge how the problem came about, there is little hope in solving it.

usually the first step to solving a problem is identifying it. -- "negative cashflow"
Then you look to a solution.

If you don't understand why and how there is a problem, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a suitable solution.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Until we can acknowledge how the problem came about, there is little hope in solving it.

That depends on how you quantify the problem.

If your boat is sinking and you find large leak, you plug the leak and bail the water out.

You don't first start worrying about why there is a leak there in the first place, that comes after you have kept yourself floating.

You have now solved the problem of sinking, you have not solved the problem of how the leak got there.

The US is in the same boat. While many are pointing fingers on who is responsible for the leak, the boat is sinking.