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Yep let us get rid of that "pesky debt-celiing" So we can beat Greece to total defalt
Good idea Thom.
I'm very confused about something that President Obama said, and that has been repeated on MSNBC, etc. He said that under his plan, 98% of American families could expect to see an income tax reduction. How would this work for that huge portion of American workers who are currently paid too little to owe income taxes?
Global - Thanks for the reply. But, you did not answer my questions on the election and personal taxes and you have to admit I am trying to be as laid-back as a beach guy can be when making comments on this subject! If we lifted or changed the laws pertaining to paying into the Social Security and Medicare programs and everyone would continue to pay a percentage of their earnings throughout the year like most middle class wage earners do, instead of only paying on the first $110,000 earned the system would not be in trouble for future retirees. The dollar amount I stated may be wrong but I think you understand what the point is. Everyone should have to pay on all their earnings not just until they hit the benchmark at which the current law states. I am 60 years old and I am concerned about the future of these programs as others are in my generation (missed the baby boomers by a few years of age). But the wealthy seem to skate on all taxes because of the corruption in Washington in both parties and how they have continually passed bills to benefit the financial upper class. I have no problem with calling it redistribution of wealth. As far as listening to the financial guy, Paulava, I have a suspicion he is of the conservative Republican concept and it would be a waste of time because of my somewhat socialistic point of view. I regard politics as a game of war. And in the political arena of today my philosophy is" take no prisoners". I guess that comes from my military experience and the fact that the politicians seem to have the same point of view especially on the right. If it takes going over the so called cliff, it might just be a good idea if it makes the politicians fix our tax codes. Bombs Away!
!
Palindromedary - I thought you were the guy that critrized me for name calling and would not like the idea I had my finger on the button in a silo! You did not have to work in a silo to have to be cleared for a Top Secret Nato clearance in the Air Force, the rest is classified. This is one time I have to agree with you and your comments. Probably the only time it will happen! You must be retired to get this angry! Don't worry they are not going to change the benefits for anyone older than 55 yr.; they just want to screw the Americans that have paid into the system for the last 35 years! So they say, the Republicans that is. Calm down, you might stroke out and that would make the conservatives even happier, to get rid of one of us....
You spoke earlier today about a tax that dissappears after someone makes 110,000 dollars. What tax is that agin?
Two things about the Clinton administration, one he also cut spending, two he had good timing to be president during the computer, Internet, dot com boom as well as cell phones starting to come in. That brought on massive stimulation to the economy. Oh how we could use another technological breakthrough. You have to admit that entitlement spending is unsustainable and cannot be ignored. The benefits will have to be cut back somewhere down the road for those people going in to the programs 10 or so years from now In order to save our financial system which includes the value of yours and my retirement funds. Ken, you should also listen to a very smart financial guy that is right in your back yard (san diego) by the name of Jim Puplava. He does podcast every week and talks reality. His website is financialsense.com
Global- Are you a Republican that feels cheated because Romney lost the election or are your personal taxes going up under the Democrat's or Obama's decision to raise the taxes on those who make more than $250.000 a year? It appears under the Clinton Administration the taxes on the wealthiest Americans did not hamper the economy from growing, so why do you feel it will damage the economy by taxing the richest Americans more at the end of the year on their earnings? It appears the cuts put forward by the Obama Administrartion and the Demorat's will help with the deficit without pushing the poorer Americans into complete poverty, how is that a bad idea? Unless you prescribe to the Ryan or Ayn Rand ideology of screw everyone that did not become wealthy and privatize everything so the wealthy and the corporations can accumulate even greater wealth without any governmental regulations, I simply do not understand the problem. Personally I would like to see the Republic purged of the greed and power grabbing we see the Wealthy Republicans trying to pull off at the expense of everyone else in our nation. When I state purge I mean purge them from our society on a permanent basis by whatever means necessary that we have at our disposal. We cannot allow another Wall St. capper by the Wealthy Banksters and people like the Koch Brothers who would destroy our environment and middle class Americans for their own desire to increase their own wealth at any cost. We need to teach these people they are not untouchable and if necessary they will feel the wrath of the American people if this behavior continues in our society. I would like to hear your honest answer on this subject.
The body language in the photo of Romney and Obama at the White House said a lot. Obama's feet were pointed another way, suggesting, "I am ready to be out the door" and Obama had other hand in his pocket which could mean he feels uncomfortable, anxious, or using caution. Both men stood far apart and leaned in at angles to shake hands, without getting close. Staying as far apart as possible in the shaking-of-hands situation. Romney stood unnaturally with his other hand straight down, very unnatural pose. Romney looked very strained, Obama looked like he was forced to see someone he did not wish to see. Obama's thumb in the handshake was on top, which indicates the superior position.
Excellent Book Recommendation: What Every Body Is Saying, by Joe Nvarro. Ex-FBI AGent's Guit to Speed-Reading people, he tells the things FBI looks for in body language. You can't cover it up, it comes from the limbic system in the body.
"Morally stupid or just plain brain dead", not to mention extremely selfish and heartless, is to blame those who are struggling for their existence...their very lives...for the nation's economic problems while they themselves, obviously, are living in relative opulence; and then, they completely fail to mention the totally wasteful Pentagon spending on completely immoral and criminal wars. Mass murder of innocent civilians seem to be just fine with these blood-sucking ticks...and they don't even seem to realize that they are killing their "hosts". Poor people spend most of their money on goods and services needed to survive..boosting the economy. Rich people horde their wealth..most of which doesn't go into the economy. History has shown that when taxes on the richest people are high and social programs exist to help non-rich people the economy booms.
Time for payback....the payback being making those greedy parasites who have sucked our economy dry pay back some of the wealth that they have stolen from the rest of us. These parasites have gotten wealthy on relying on a business model that seeks to maximize their incomes on trickery and thievery on a grand scale...all the way from conniving merchants figuring out how to induce people to part from their hard earned money...psychologically luring them through various marketing tricks...advertisements, bait-and-switch, and other tactics, to large-scale Wall Street pyramid, and other schemes that have emptied people's life savings... retirement funds..etc. And in between there have been, for over 30 years now, a corporate scheme to reduce worker's wages and benefits such as health insurance. They have squeezed and squeezed hard and now it is time for us to squeeze back.
The Social Programs are not the problem! Pentagon spending, Wall Street crooks and bankers, Tax breaks for the wealthy and businesses shipping our jobs overseas ARE the problem. It is way past time that the wealthy and well-to-do, who have manipulated the system in their favor, pay back some of the loot that they have stolen from the rest of us.
The Republicans spent their entire time in the last four years being an obstacle to compromise. They had to have 100% their way or they would vote NO! I don't want to see Obama compromise anymore....I am glad he is attempting to stand up to them...but the idea that Obama will give the Republicans anything in the end really ticks me off.
I don't mind the republicans asking questions about the Benghazi attack, it's the hypocrisy of the right and in particularly of McCain and Graham that should be exposed, like this:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-28-2012/legends-of-the-fault
Gee, I didn't know senate seats were available for sale! I thought that was illegal. In fact, I vaguely recall hearing about someone's political career being ruined by pulling such a stunt (can't remember who it was, unfortunately). What gives the Koch brothers and their ilk such an option?
Their petty, moronic attacks on black senators, activists, etc. continue to show us who they are. Republicans in the senate are so worthless, it amazes me that some of our fellow citizens keep voting for them. Every senate seat filled by a Republican is a just a black hole. (No pun intended.)
- Doro Reeves -
It should be absolutely clear to everybody that this president is out to destroy the system when his proposal is strip families and small businesses making over $250,000 per year of More of their hard earned income through taxes, and then want another stimulus spending spree and oh by the way get rid of that pesky ceiling on my credit card. Also, Medicare and social security are not to be touched because it is politically too hard to deal with. Never mind that the medicare spending is the number one driving force to more monumental debt. Not to mention the trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities to these programs. You have to be moronically stupid or just plan brain dead not to see this fraud. Again I say it that the end game for all this reckless spending is the federal reserve printing press and a tidal wave of inflation that only destroys the very people you say you want to protect -- the so called middle class. The plan is either to crash the American economy and bring our living standard down to average world status or inflate and destroy the dollar so as to pay down debt with worthless currency. Wake up people we can not tax our way out of this mess. We need leaders that have the balls to stand up and make the difficult decisions. Obama and Harry "the hack" Reid are a bad joke.
Debarment would threaten the exercise of any options associated with their current contracts, so those contracts would expire no later than next September.
Cayman Islands is perfect! or maybe Bermuda.
Well, we know what happened when Mossadegh tried to kick BP out of Iran. Obama better watch out for the CIA or any of Teddy Roosevelt's relatives and their skullduggery.
Do we need a spurious bureaucracy as an enforcer of our will ? This is probably naive but can we not impose our will as citizens by volutarily rationing odd even number days for purchasing fuel ? Car pool
ride bikes, etc. As a nation of concerned citizens we just can't seem to get together on anything. We simply are soooo weak we could never revolt against anything the way our founding fathers did. We have potentailly so much power and the unbelievable network of advertsing , social media potential it is
astounding we as concerned citizens cannot participate in a noble and just cause. Shall we allow this to endure until it comes to limited violent solutions that are inevitable until we take citizens action ? Our meager acts of self denial cannot have any more of a negative effect on our economy and just perhaps could inspire the more gifted thinkers to create optional forms of economy not based on petrolium. I believe in the possiblity of flipping this economy, the society, and reverse the decay deadening our sensitivity in the less prosperous ranks. Hope, ambition, and prosperity are all a matter of priority and perspective. Bey difinition we can change the way we do business and protect out environment.
To all you egotistical do-gooders...Your days are fastly numbered!
As the late George Carlin once said; "Man's ego to save the planet is a bunch of bullsh*t. Someday the Earth will shake us off like a bad case of fleas...And all that will be left is the Earth ...plus plastic".
It is time to connect the dots and except the truth. Man may have a large brain but he certainly is dumb as a rock and his ego will be his demise.
Don't get me wrong I too was really pissed off when the BP catastrophy happened. I live in S.W. Florida 5 min. from the Gulf of Mexico, and even though the beaches in my town - to which there are 8 of - did not have any sludge wash ashore or even come within 100 miles, I was concerned of the long term effects.
Then I took a look around at all the spoiled beach front property that is refered to as "paradise"; high rise condos. hotels, B & B's, resturants, malls, plazas, dozens of asphalt parking lots, etc, etc. And it isn't just my town. From Tampa south to Naples (about 200 miles) there is very little land left "untouched" - except for a few Mangrove Islands - along the Gulf of Mexico.
So what am I trying to say???
BP isn't solely the problem...It is all of us. ALL of us must change our way of thinking...ALL of us must change the way we live our lives if we TRUELY are concerned about a sustainable future. The ONLY things vital to our survival - aside from procreation - is: Clean air to breath, Clean water to drink, and Clean food to eat. Everything else is secondary and not a true necessity.
Now that being said I admit I am just as much a broken spoke in the wheel as BP. I drive a gas gusseling V8 work truck. I live in a 40 year old house with original windows and insulation. I patron those local beach front businesses, and I occasionally leave a light or two on all day.
BUT I do have a rain barrel! And all of my landscaping is Florida Native. Whoopy do!!!
Now I am not saying BP shouldn't be held accountable for what happened; more importantly though, WE ALL need to change the concept of our ethos as a whole.
How you ask???Well this is the United States of America...We run under a Democracy...A government of the People, for the People,and by the People. Yea, yea...Corporations...Blah blah blah. If WE really want to change things...Start by being the change. Corporations count on us to buy into their schemes...And they have been quite successfull.
So what are you going to do???
I know where I am going to start...With me.
I no longer patron fast food joints, I bank at a local community bank, I no longer patron any business that does not reinvest in the community. I only drive my vehicle for work purposes, I have installed new insulation, and am replacing my old insufficiant windows as i can afford them, I grow what food I can and shop for locally grown food, I am installing PV solar pannels as I can afford them.
It isn't cheap nor is it easy, but I don't feel right always pointing my finger at others when I am just as much a part of the problem.
You've got to be kidding!! Romney is history and should remain so.
Forgetabout pretending to be conciliatory w/Romney...he doesn't deserve Obama's time nor will he add anything substantive to the administration. I realize this is a gesture of 'goodwill', but for what? The majority of Republicans cannot stand Romney, although he was all they had as a candidate for President, but behind the scenes, he is considered toxic to the GOP who are striving to re-identify themselves.
Does anyone really believe this will change how B.P. does business around the world and in the U.S.? I heard the same thing from the E.P.A. when the Valdez ran aground with a drunken skipper at the helm! They will just write this off as another expense for doing business their way and as long as the PROFITS exceed the costs, nothing will change with the upper management of B.P. So personally I am not hopeful their constant pollution of the planet for profit will change on a permanent basis...If you pulled their charter for doing business in the U.S., maybe that would change how all the polluters for profit do business. It is too bad we can't just purge these guys out of existence.
From my reading, I understand that the opposition to Rice is because the repubs want Kerry so they can fill his senate seat. Enlighten me, please. Duvall Patrick (D) is a Democrat, so he'd appoint another Dem, wouldn't he?
NO WAY -- Mitt was invited to the White House for a nice lunchon, that is enough!
This is why the Public has to haunt their local environmental protection agencies and see what goes on there and demand that enforcements are FAIR to all. There is no doubt the good ole boys put their people in high places once Federal Wetlands Protection was passed. Forestry has always been a problem- Fish and Wildlife Service has little power.
I supported a Moratorium on Gulf Drilling until every BP Permit was verified. No one wanted that. There will never be a BACK-investigation into the files once the Consent Agreement is signed. Administrators will say, "No, we're not going to look back because now we have a Consent Agreement.
Anyone who wants to know what the real BP/EPA story is will have to go to the public filing cabinets and figure it out for themselves.
No, Romney needs to concentrate on being a grandfather to his multitude of grandkids. I wish President Obama would offer Bill Clinton the job as Secretary of State. It would just fry the Republicans who have actively campaigned to keep Susan Rice out so that they could buy John Kerry's senate seat for Scott Brown. It would be pretty hard to manufacture some conspiracy about Bill Clinton other then to bring up his past indiscretions with Monica Lewinski, which really has nothing to do with politics.
Of course not! Romney constantly switched back and forth re: his positions on almost everything. We don't need more of that type of politics, we need LESS! Aside from that, he's not intellectual. He is simply a profit-oriented man who believes his money makes him right and powerful. And, for a so-called religious man, he's very hypocritical.
UNIMPRESSED. BP has essentially escaped punishment while the Earth and those who dwell here have paid, and will continue to pay, the true cost of this environmental disastrophy. Fines are nice, but avoiding patronizing BP is better. For a trifecta, join me and ride your bike to work.