lost highway

I think either way there is a chance for a Clinton presidency in '12. Not a strong or certain one, but within the realm of possibility. I think McCain's Presidential ambitions have about 19 days left of steam in them. Will see where he lands. Either way he's not my pick for fixing our deficit when his campaign now has a deficit. Maybe he should ask China for a loan to run more ad's about Ayers.

One thing I noticed during the debate is how the two responded to negative information in different ways. When McCain would present info that was supposed to discredit O's character Obama would use response time to explain, point by point how McCain's attack was false. On the other hand, when Obama brought something negative to the table about McCain's policies or voting record he would make a funny face and change the subject to something else negative about Obama. When the moderator asked them about their VP candidates I almost lost it. Comparing Biden to Palin is a pretty funny conver

There was a good potential avatar animation for the technically inclined. Towards the end when they started a snippy and somewhat unclear exchange about vouchers and the D.C. school district McCain lost it a little and rolled his head back and started laughing with Skeletor Teeth. Very scary, spooky, Halloweeny.

Let me lay out what McCain has shown us he wishes to do. I can very much see the fiscally conservative having a wise stance on government, but this is not it: Continue Bush Tax cuts and aggressive military presence abroad (i.e. the origin of our historic deficit). Bail out Wall Street. Extend individual bailouts for mortgages that will cost another fortune. Pursue a military campaign in Iran. Retain tax breaks for mega-corps. Hand out vouchers for health care. Tax your employer provided benefits. If that is fiscally conservative or effective than I'm utterly confused.

You don't remember McCain's new hit single "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" (sung to the tune of a beach boys hit). McCain is a hawk. Most that praise him acknowledge that.

I am trying to find the line in your argument. Do you suggest that a tax hike for the top 5% is too high, or that it is too little to do anything? Because if the top 5% of the public would really each be contributing an additional $40K to the state I can imagine that would create quite a total. Do you oppose the tax cuts which you might receive? Do you believe that McCain's continuation of cuts across the board will be able to get us out of a defecit, especially considering his military ambitions? Do you oppose closing tax loops for fortune 500 mega-corps? A lot of questions, but

It's like watching a comedy film. Only it's not a film. And then it's funny mixed with sad. An ashamed of a significant percentage of my country's judgement kind of sad. That's how Mrs. Palin makes me feel.

I find statements regarding McCain's predictability to be erroneous. I was somewhat taken with him as a mediocre/decent republican candidate (I was pro Obama before he started running). Seemed novel to have a moderate republican who is fiscally conservative, but not a nut-job wacko on social issues. (I thought that's what republicans were supposed to be anyways) Since he took the national stage as a runner McCain has changed his face many times. He used to steer clear of abortion issues, now he's nominated an extreme pro-Lifer. He was anti-regulation, now it's his favorite song. I don'

Funny but you bring up the crux of socioeconomic class. Skills are not universally and equally attainable, hence the need for social programs.

But I didn't say that it will be determined by luck. I said the connection doesn't hold up. Most people work pretty hard. If you think you work way harder than people making a lot less than you, you're being unrealistic. Try pouring concrete, teaching in an inner city school, running a small (and not necessarily successful) business, try picking oranges. Some people can't go to medical school, it's not an option for them. That said, to be in medical school you're obviously working your ass off.

I am always amused (maybe pretentiously so) that as someone who wouldn't claim to be a Christian, I can shut down a fundamentalist with simple bible study. If your going to use the bible to make big desicions and judgments you should study the book a little bit more.

So much has happened on this thread geez.... 1. The Book of Revelations is taken as slightly looney by many Christian scholars. It refers most clearly to a certain Roman emperor. Was written more than a millenium before Colombus touched new world soil. 2. I think the pool of undecided voters is getting smaller by the day and the polls are becoming a more accurate picture of national opinion. 3. Anyone who thinks Palin is ready to serve this country in the second highest position of office is the kind of voter I'm worried about. 4. There is no clear connection between income and m

Yeah that's the other thing about this argument, it has set up many straw men on both sides. The Red Teams Straw Man: Increased taxation for the rich is to punish them for their success and make them pay for everyone else. The Blue Teams Straw Man: Rich people are spoiled bastards who don't work hard, and haven't really worked hard to attain their position. The real issue is closing loop holes on taxes for upper income individuals, and much more importantly fortune 500 companies could fund a number of essential reforms in this country. This has nothing to do with your grandma's pens

I'm willing to admit that some big earners are workaholics. But are you willing to admit that many people who earn six figures a year have been pampered, have had every privilege thrown at them and work a desk job that only requires a small fraction of a normal work day to achieve expected productivity?

If this is all you think the government does, you have been badly hurt by the Bush administration. P.S. I would also like to address that none of the conservative, anti-tax folks on here have use a single word to address the realities of socioeconomic class.

Again you present the fallacy that those with more money necessarily work harder. Not always true. In fact a number of my friends have commented as they have moved up a bit in the world that often times the higher paying jobs are much easier. One summer between semesters of teaching I was a line cook. I couldn't figure out how anyone continues to work that hard for eight dollars an hour. Hardest days I've worked since I was a landscaper. Plugging in figures to make a power point presentation for the meeting on Wednesday? Easier than prepping three eight quarts of tomatoes, or creating

I feel confident Mr. Million will continue to live much more comfortably than the people who stand to benefit the most from his patriotic tax dollars.

Uh, sub-prime mortgage bubble, balloon payment in fine print, lower income family declaring bankruptcy, stock market crash, bailout plan.....

This happens/happened. It has made a lot of trouble in our country.

This thread has reached a new level of amazing; thanks to those I agree and disagree with.

Then who will pay for their insulin shots?

Sorry, when I kick into satire mode my quantitative thinking gets pushed aside. I'm not advocating 1% tax rates for the rich, nor golden gooses.

How horrible. You mean if I make a billion the government gets a million? That means I can only buy two islands. But I want a golden goose now daddy.

viatroy- I completely agree. The bad news is responsibility. When you use big government to foster the growth of your nation it becomes the government, and an informed citizenry's responsibility that it is used wisely. The benefit to this model is in a country with a high standard of living you have people who are very well educated. They can make more informed decisions and there are a higher number of talented and educated people that can server/vote/take up office/debate/canvas etc.

Again, the argument is to give everyone the same opportunity. Socio Economic Class. If you graduate from high-school and Daddy (an alum) gives you a fast track to Yale which lands you right in a leather office chair behind a desk w/ a six figure salary..... you have to work. You had to work at school, but no more than anyone else who braved the academic world. Yet you are somehow more entitled to your extreme wealth? I would say you had a different set of cards going into the game. I am an existentialist in every walk of life except in regards to class. This is not choice. People are