State of the Union Address

[AGDee]

Here is the reality: If your belief systems are primarily in line with the Republicans, you hate what Obama wants to do. If your belief systems are primarily in line with the Democrats, you like what Obama wants to do. If you're in the middle, then you hate some stuff and like other things.

Welcome to our two party system.

Anybody who thinks that one person can turn around the biggest recession in 70 years in a year is completely unrealistic. Most Dems I know who are frustrated are angry at a lack of progress. Most Reps I know who are angry think it's too much too fast.

Isn't it great that we live in a country where we are allowed to express our opinions without worrying about being arrested? That's what makes this country great.

But I do have some questions:
Why is a socialist education system ok but a socialist health care system is not?

Why would moving to a more competitive health care system be considered socialistic? Personally, I would love to have a choice regarding health care rather than have it be in my employer's hands.

Why is it ok to rack up trillions in national debt to fight a foreign war but not to meet the medical needs of our people?

Those are some of things I don't understand and would really like to hear answers that make sense to me.

I'd also point out that, personally, Ms. Average Middle Class here has already had a larger cut with the stimulus package than I had with the Bush tax cuts.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

The Supreme Court looked very...supreme. And regal.

I agree.....it was cool to see.

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

To expand on this, The military is supposed to publicly support any foreign policy he makes, but have no interest in domestic policy. IIRC that is.

Gotcha.

Originally Posted by AGDee

Here is the reality: If your belief systems are primarily in line with the Republicans, you hate what Obama wants to do. If your belief systems are primarily in line with the Democrats, you like what Obama wants to do. If you're in the middle, then you hate some stuff and like other things.

Welcome to our two party system.

Anybody who thinks that one person can turn around the biggest recession in 70 years in a year is completely unrealistic. Most Dems I know who are frustrated are angry at a lack of progress. Most Reps I know who are angry think it's too much too fast.

Isn't it great that we live in a country where we are allowed to express our opinions without worrying about being arrested? That's what makes this country great.

But I do have some questions:
Why is a socialist education system ok but a socialist health care system is not?

Why would moving to a more competitive health care system be considered socialistic? Personally, I would love to have a choice regarding health care rather than have it be in my employer's hands.

Why is it ok to rack up trillions in national debt to fight a foreign war but not to meet the medical needs of our people?

Those are some of things I don't understand and would really like to hear answers that make sense to me.

I'd also point out that, personally, Ms. Average Middle Class here has already had a larger cut with the stimulus package than I had with the Bush tax cuts.

Amen.

[Ghostwriter]

Here is the 2 word online synopsis of the State of the Union Address.

Bush's Fault!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Here is the 2 word online synopsis of the State of the Union Address.

Bush's Fault!

One of the big reasons I didn't watch - that's getting old. It's time for the current administration (not just the President) to put on their big boy pants and quit whining.

I don't watch 100% of any State of the Union speech, but I'm not into pep rallies in the first place.


As for drinking games, drink every time Obama says "I". The last speech prior to last night, he said it 132 times.

[Ghostwriter]

^^^Ditto! I simply can't watch these regardless of who the President is. A complete waste of time.

BTW - he said "I" over 100 times last night. You would have gotten fairly well plastered if you simply had an ounce of your favorite alcoholic beverage per "I".

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

^^^Ditto! I simply can't watch these regardless of who the President is. A complete waste of time.

BTW - he said I over 100 times last night. You would have gotten fairly well plastered if you simply had an once of your favorite alcoholic beverage per I.

You didn't forget he was black (a la Chris Matthews) last night tho' did you?

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

You didn't forget he was black (a la Chris Matthews) last night tho' did you?

No but I did notice how "clean, articulate, light skinned" he was and also that he "didn't speak with a negro dialect".

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by honeychile

One of the big reasons I didn't watch - that's getting old. It's time for the current administration (not just the President) to put on their big boy pants and quit whining.

I

It only gets old to those who don't want to face the truth.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by honeychile

One of the big reasons I didn't watch - that's getting old. It's time for the current administration (not just the President) to put on their big boy pants and quit whining.

I don't watch 100% of any State of the Union speech, but I'm not into pep rallies in the first place.


As for drinking games, drink every time Obama says "I". The last speech prior to last night, he said it 132 times.

I agree. You can only blame the last guy for so long. Plus, the resesetion was caused by the housing market bust, which was caused by suburban sprawl (which is right of the manifesto).

I didn't watch this, I was the train back from finding a new place in a new state. I'm sleepy.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AGDee

If you're in the middle, then you hate some stuff and like other things.

Amen.

[KSigkid]

As for "blaming" the old administration - every administration does that to some extent. There's also a big difference between these two ideas:

1) The current administration doesn't deserve any blame because of the shortcomings of the Bush administration.

2) The Bush administration should be blamed for certain things, and the Obama administration should be blamed for certain things. Some of those things are mutually exclusive to each administration.

My sense is that the Obama administration rhetoric is closer to #2, while some administration supporters in the public and press are saying something closer to #1.

Originally Posted by AGDee

But I do have some questions:
Why is a socialist education system ok but a socialist health care system is not?

Why would moving to a more competitive health care system be considered socialistic? Personally, I would love to have a choice regarding health care rather than have it be in my employer's hands.

Why is it ok to rack up trillions in national debt to fight a foreign war but not to meet the medical needs of our people?

Those are some of things I don't understand and would really like to hear answers that make sense to me.

I'd also point out that, personally, Ms. Average Middle Class here has already had a larger cut with the stimulus package than I had with the Bush tax cuts.

It cracks me up when people talk about the above points as if they are the standard Republican platform. These are issues talked up by a vocal minority of the Republican party in a (apparently successful) effort to get attention. Note to everyone: Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh don't speak for the party.

One thing in particular on the bolded portion: The true Conservatives out there weren't happy about the spending when Bush was President. There is a significant portion of the Republican party that wasn't happy with Bush as a President and thought he wasn't a true conservative because of how much money he spent on the war and other measures.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

One thing in particular on the bolded portion: The true Conservatives out there weren't happy about the spending when Bush was President. There is a significant portion of the Republican party that wasn't happy with Bush as a President and thought he wasn't a true conservative because of how much money he spent on the war and other measures.

As I am what I consider a "true" conservative (social and fiscal), I can attest to the above. I was appalled with the spending that occurred under Bush. With the full employment we enjoyed and low taxes we could have easily maintained a balanced budget and should have been able to start paying off some of our massive debt. Look at the fiasco of "No Child Left Behind" and the prescription drugs program for seniors.

As a swerve;

If I were in charge or had the power I would propose:

1. exempting the first $35K of wages from income taxes
2. moving to a flat rate of 14% for everything over $35K for everyone
3. remove all deductions except for charitable
4. a 10% reduction in spending across the board for all departments in the Federal govt.
5. do away with all czar's
6. shut down the Surgeon General's Office
7. return the Dept. of Educations duties to the states
8. cut capital gains to 15%
9. reduce the tax burden on small businesses (20 employees or less) by 1/2
10. privatize Social Security for those under 55 years of age
11. totally revamp Medicaid and Medicare
12. do away with all earmarks
13. do away with the inheritance tax
14. require that everyone pay their taxes directly to the IRS themselves and not have them paid via their employer
15. not allow congress to increase their own pay. approval by the voting public, only.
16. term limits of 2 six year terms for the senate and 6 two year terms for the house
17. require that for every law written by congress one must be rescinded. the less laws they write the better.
18. require the budget to be balanced by law

When you get right down to it the root of most evil in Washington is via manipulation of the tax codes for self interest. The above would most certainly shut down a large portion of the IRS and yield further savings.

Off my "true conservative" soap box, now.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

As I am what I consider a "true" conservative (social and fiscal), I can attest to the above. I was appalled with the spending that occurred under Bush. With the full employment we enjoyed and low taxes we could have easily maintained a balanced budget and should have been able to start paying off some of our massive debt. Look at the fiasco of "No Child Left Behind" and the prescription drugs program for seniors.

As a swerve;

If I were in charge or had the power I would propose:

1. exempting the first $35K of wages from income taxes
2. moving to a flat rate of 14% for everything over $35K for everyone
3. remove all deductions except for charitable
4. a 10% reduction in spending across the board for all departments in the Federal govt.
5. do away with all czar's
6. shut down the Surgeon General's Office
7. return the Dept. of Educations duties to the states
8. cut capital gains to 15%
9. reduce the tax burden on small businesses (20 employees or less) by 1/2
10. privatize Social Security for those under 55 years of age
11. totally revamp Medicaid and Medicare
12. do away with all earmarks
13. do away with the inheritance tax
14. require that everyone pay their taxes directly to the IRS themselves and not have them paid via their employer
15. not allow congress to increase their own pay. approval by the voting public, only.
16. term limits of 2 six year terms for the senate and 6 two year terms for the house
17. require that for every law written by congress one must be rescinded. the less laws they write the better.
18. require the budget to be balanced by law

When you get right down to it the root of most evil in Washington is via manipulation of the tax codes for self interest. The above would most certainly shut down a large portion of the IRS and yield further savings.

Off my "true conservative" soap box, now.

I can't fault any of your ideas, but no one would ever pass them...lobbyists would have no power and that's just not the American way!

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I can't fault any of your ideas, but no one would ever pass them...lobbyists would have no power and that's just not the American way!

And you my dear are absolutely correct. We don't have the will to do what is right. However, I can guarantee you that if we do not do something rather quickly we are heading for an economic catastrophe.

Just read that there are 2.15 MM people on the Federal Govt. payroll. Totally unsustainable.

Also the debt ceiling was raised today to 2 trillion. This is the 4th time it was raised in less than a year.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

If I were in charge or had the power I would propose:
[LIST=1][*]exempting the first $35K of wages from income taxes

I'm not a fan of that idea because we would have even more of the population having ZERO tax liability. I think we need an across the board tax percentage that every income earner pays regardless of income. When you have only one segment paying taxes it turns into a " the haves vs the have nots" thing. With everyone paying into the system more people will be mindful of Federal and local spending and where their money is going. I like the original American way of only land owners ( tax payers) being able to vote. I admit it's an extreme way of thinking, but since tax payers are the ones providing the funding, we should have a more weighted voice.