DEMOCRATS: Issues-based questions, can you answer?

[KSig RC]

We get heated up in this piece when it becomes Dems vs. Reps, and for good reason: we're all boneheaded douches who know we're right.

NONE of that in this thread.

Instead - answer a couple simple questions for me:

1.) Kerry talks a lot about how 'poorly off' the economy is today. Now, economic indicators are mixed - there's proof in both directions. How does Kerry plan on reversing the current economic status? So far I've heard of middle-class tax cuts and possible education credits - how do these solve the problem?


2.) Kerry's position is that the war in Iraq is a massive mess. What are his specific steps toward cleaning it up?


These two issues are prime for me, and I really can't see a token 'independent' voting for Kerry until they have concrete steps he wants to take to clear these perceived problems up - provide them for me, earn your man some possible votes, and prove us all wrong that he hasn't addressed these issues.

[hoosier]

"We have a plan for Iraq. ._._. We have a plan for success. ._._. We have to do better. We have a plan. ._._. We have plans on both of those subjects. ._._. John Kerry and I have a plan to do something about it. ._._. We have proposed a plan to keep cases out of the system that don't belong there. ._._. We think we have a plan to keep cases that don't belong in the system out, but we also do what they haven't done. ._._. We have a serious health care plan. ._._. We have a clear plan to improve our public schools."

--John Edwards, vice presidential debate, Oct._5
(Did you know he is a rich trial lawyer?)

[Rudey]

On Iraq he says he has a plan (it looks similar to the current plan of the President). But he also says we should have more countries there. Kerry is planning on having Theresa give hummers (interpret this word how you want) so world leaders will fall in line and just join us in Iraq.

-Rudey

Originally posted by KSig RC
We get heated up in this piece when it becomes Dems vs. Reps, and for good reason: we're all boneheaded douches who know we're right.

NONE of that in this thread.

Instead - answer a couple simple questions for me:

1.) Kerry talks a lot about how 'poorly off' the economy is today. Now, economic indicators are mixed - there's proof in both directions. How does Kerry plan on reversing the current economic status? So far I've heard of middle-class tax cuts and possible education credits - how do these solve the problem?


2.) Kerry's position is that the war in Iraq is a massive mess. What are his specific steps toward cleaning it up?


These two issues are prime for me, and I really can't see a token 'independent' voting for Kerry until they have concrete steps he wants to take to clear these perceived problems up - provide them for me, earn your man some possible votes, and prove us all wrong that he hasn't addressed these issues.

[KSig RC]

Guys, ease up - let's keep it clean, I'm honestly curious.

Seriously, any takers? ISUPhiPsi, you worked on his campaign, right? GP? Anybody? I'm not being a dick, I just honestly have no clue what the specifics are. Or if they exist. Let's discuss.

[AGDee]

From what I have read:

1) Besides tax cuts for the middle class, what I have heard and read is his plan to end tax credits for companies that outsource jobs to other countries (this may include IT jobs, call center jobs, etc. that have gone to India) or provide tax cuts for companies that don't do this. In other words, providing incentives for keeping jobs here. I have to admit, I'm in a state (Michigan) that is being hit hard (still), far harder than most others and it seems that the factories closing, jobs moving, lay offs, are still being announced almost daily. We're hurting here, badly.

Michigan Unemployment Rate
(Seasonally Adjusted)

August 2004 6.7%
Change Over Month -0.1
Change Over Year -0.8


2). Kerry has discussed that he feels we need a global effort to clean up Iraq. That we need to involve more countries to share both the cost and the manpower. To be honest, I think anybody who actually wants to take on the problems in Iraq has to be a little nuts, because I don't see us fixing things there for a very very very very very long time. But, it does seem as though the status quo isn't working very well, although the Bush administration doesn't seem to want to admit that. I would respect them more if they acknowledged that parts of the country are more unstable than they were a year ago, that the terrorists in that country are more organized than they were a year ago, and that we have more soldiers being wounded and dying than we did a year ago. I don't think what we're doing right now is helping get things back together, but, not being a military expert, I don't know what the real answer is. It just doesn't seem wise to continue on a course when things are clearly deteriorating there.

Dee

[Betarulz!]

All your questions will probably be answered here

http://www.johnkerry.com/plan/

Just click and view the specifics from the man himself...

[Rudey]

Originally posted by AGDee
From what I have read:

1) Besides tax cuts for the middle class, what I have heard and read is his plan to end tax credits for companies that outsource jobs to other countries (this may include IT jobs, call center jobs, etc. that have gone to India) or provide tax cuts for companies that don't do this. In other words, providing incentives for keeping jobs here. I have to admit, I'm in a state (Michigan) that is being hit hard (still), far harder than most others and it seems that the factories closing, jobs moving, lay offs, are still being announced almost daily. We're hurting here, badly.

Michigan Unemployment Rate
(Seasonally Adjusted)

August 2004 6.7%
Change Over Month -0.1
Change Over Year -0.8


2). Kerry has discussed that he feels we need a global effort to clean up Iraq. That we need to involve more countries to share both the cost and the manpower. To be honest, I think anybody who actually wants to take on the problems in Iraq has to be a little nuts, because I don't see us fixing things there for a very very very very very long time. But, it does seem as though the status quo isn't working very well, although the Bush administration doesn't seem to want to admit that. I would respect them more if they acknowledged that parts of the country are more unstable than they were a year ago, that the terrorists in that country are more organized than they were a year ago, and that we have more soldiers being wounded and dying than we did a year ago. I don't think what we're doing right now is helping get things back together, but, not being a military expert, I don't know what the real answer is. It just doesn't seem wise to continue on a course when things are clearly deteriorating there.

Dee

Please tell me how other countries will join the effort.

Please tell me how outsourcing is affecting the economy.

Outsourcing benefiting US economy: study

Outsourcing creates jobs, study says
Industry report says offshore outsourcing will boost economic growth, lower inflation, create jobs.

The Economics of Outsourcing

Even in the most obscure economic studies, nobody attributes outsourcing to anything major in the economy.

-Rudey

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Betarulz!
All your questions will probably be answered here

http://www.johnkerry.com/plan/

Just click and view the specifics from the man himself...

Why don't you try and post them for us? John Kerry isn't here to do his spin so I'd like to see a Democrat try and explain.

-Rudey

[Shortfuse]

Originally posted by Rudey
Please tell me how other countries will join the effort.

Please tell me how outsourcing is affecting the economy.

-Rudey

1. Simple let other countries benefit off of rebuilding Iraq. Alot of American owned companies are benefitting BIG TIME off of the work in Iraq.


2. Outsourcing jobs is affecting the economy because that was once a job that a American held. Most Americans aren't MOVED with that job. It's usually given to a person who will work for less. That is why most companies do it.


Now my problem with Kerry (WOW I HAVE ONE) is this. How does his plan actually HELP the economy. It seems to me that he's saying that "I won't do it like Bush" and that clearly doesn't work. I need to find that breakdown myself

Hmmm, maybe I'll look that up.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Rudey
Please tell me how other countries will join the effort.

Please tell me how outsourcing is affecting the economy.

-Rudey

I actually would like to know as well, Rudey.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by Betarulz!
All your questions will probably be answered here

http://www.johnkerry.com/plan/

Just click and view the specifics from the man himself...

See, this is exactly the problem - the website and the plan are 99.99% rhetoric, and some of the rhetoric seems to contradict other parts of the rhetoric . . . plus there seems to be considerable 'splash damage' that is unresolved.

"Modernize our military against the modern threat of terrorism" is a central tenant, for example, but then the 'how' portion of this is simply 'maximize resources' - that's circular at best. He's saying "make it better by making it better" - strictly inferior to an actual plan.

Tomorrow I'll scour the .pdf a little more closely, but honestly I'm not gleaning a ton at first glance.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by hoosier
"We have a plan for Iraq. ._._. We have a plan for success. ._._. We have to do better. We have a plan. ._._. We have plans on both of those subjects. ._._. John Kerry and I have a plan to do something about it. ._._. We have proposed a plan to keep cases out of the system that don't belong there. ._._. We think we have a plan to keep cases that don't belong in the system out, but we also do what they haven't done. ._._. We have a serious health care plan. ._._. We have a clear plan to improve our public schools."

--John Edwards, vice presidential debate, Oct._5
(Did you know he is a rich trial lawyer?)

Wow, did you lay off the moonshine and become a Democrat?

Rob and Rudith, I will be back later. While I would rather answer your questions than cram for my exam, you fools can't get me into law school.

[jwright25]

I might regret getting into this discussion, but here goes. I truly love a respectful debate of the issues, and I consider it extremely important to closely examine all sides of an issue. That said.... Here's my question:

As stated above:

1. Simple let other countries benefit off of rebuilding Iraq. Alot of American owned companies are benefitting BIG TIME off of the work in Iraq.

2. Outsourcing jobs is affecting the economy because that was once a job that a American held.

So if American owned companies are benefitting big time, won't that mean more jobs for Americans? Seriously. Not being a smartass.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by jwright25
I might regret getting into this discussion, but here goes. I truly love a respectful debate of the issues, and I consider it extremely important to closely examine all sides of an issue. That said.... Here's my question:

As stated above:

1. Simple let other countries benefit off of rebuilding Iraq. Alot of American owned companies are benefitting BIG TIME off of the work in Iraq.

2. Outsourcing jobs is affecting the economy because that was once a job that a American held.

So if American owned companies are benefitting big time, won't that mean more jobs for Americans? Seriously. Not being a smartass.

You're walking both sides of the fence. On the one hand, you're arguing that we should take a laize-faire to Iraqi contracts (which I agree with as long as French, German and Russian firms don't get any.) On the other hand you're denying the benfits of liberla markets. You can't have it both ways. Especially when you don't consider the benefits of job outsourcing.