Mine too.Date: 11/19/2007 8:05:26 PM
Author: IndieJones
What about Bill Richardson? I think he''d make a great president! Isn''t that part of the point. Finding someone who''ll do a good job, not just someone who fits some checklist. Though he does fit my checklist at least.
I would just like to point out, that it's not necessarily a negative thing that the taxes are raised. Sweden and some other Scandinavian countries are a perfect example of a successful outcome of raised taxes. The more money you make themore tax you pay in Sweden, for example, i pay the minimum, because I don't work that many hours, I pay 30%, which is the minimum, my dad on the other hand pays 40%, but i'd say that the average swede pays about 30-32%. But the general idea is that the wealthiier you are the more you pay, some people pay 50-60%.
Lill, thank you for pointing out that taxes are not "evil"! With all due respect to those who are allergic to taxes, perhaps if we weren't so paranoid as a society, and so brainwashed to believe that taxes are bad, we'd have better emergency protection/response. Perhaps the Katrina aftermath would never have happened. Perhaps our roads wouldn't suck so badly (at least where I live). Perhaps we'd have better schools, more comprehensive health care for those who need it, etc. Taxes aren't bad, MIS-using taxes is bad, IMO. If you want basic services, not to mention comprehensive social services, how do you think those come to be? Through taxation. Now just because you, or anyone else reading this, doesn't NEED said services, doesn't mean you/we shouldn't provide them for those who do need them. It's all about balance and doing the right thing for those truly in need. I'm not talking about lifetime welfare folks, I dont agree with that either and I think Clinton did a good job of breaking down that nonsense.Date: 11/27/2007 4:49:19 PM
Author: Lill_The_Thrill
I would just like to point out, that it's not necessarily a negative thing that the taxes are raised. Sweden and some other Scandinavian countries are a perfect example of a successful outcome of raised taxes. The more money you make themore tax you pay in Sweden, for example, i pay the minimum, because I don't work that many hours, I pay 30%, which is the minimum, my dad on the other hand pays 40%, but i'd say that the average swede pays about 30-32%. But the general idea is that the wealthiier you are the more you pay, some people pay 50-60%.
This is the outcome of the high taxes we have in Sweden:
We have free schooling, free school lunch.
We don't have any unversity tuitions, EVERY university student is automatically entitled a financial aid of approx $350 (/month), this money is not supposed to be paid back.
High school students recieve approx a $150 aid (/month)
parents receive 'child support', atleast $150 (/per month /child), if you have 4 or more children you recieve more for every child, until the age of 16.
'Free' healtcare for the entire pop (a pretty good healthcare, You pay a standard fee of approx $20 for every visit to the doctor; blood tests, physicals, any type of surgery, etc is included in these $20.
Dental care is free til the age of 20, after that you pay full price, they're prob going to change that.
If you're registered at the social insurance office, and have worked more than 6 months at the same place (you automatically have a permanent job) IF you're fired after 7 months, you get paid i think 80%-100% of your salary for 6-10 months (unless you find a job).
We have job securities, where you can't just get fired when it's suited (after 6 months). You can't get fired because You are on sick leave to often.
You recieve 80% of your wage the (from the 2nd day till) the end of the first year of your sick leave,, the 2nd year they lower it to 70%.
The public transportation is 'owned' by the government, it runs regularly, the trains/busses are very clean, ALOT of people travel with PT and leave their cars at home.
I didn't intend for this post to be this long, but I just wanted to point out what wonderful things high taxes can do, there basically doesn't exist much poverty or too many homeless people where I live. I'm not trying to offend anyone, and ironically enough i'm not even a socialist, but still I don't understand why socialists are considered being devils, since so much good can come out of a well-run 'socialist' country. It doesn't have to be Soviet, there are middlegrounds. Once again, I hope this doesn't offend anyone.
I'm happy you agree with me! I personally don't think of it as "helping others in need" when it comes to paying taxes in my country, I see it as an investment, when I have children I'll be entitled to stay at home with every newborn for atleast 1-1,5 yrs, and be paid atleast 80% of my salary. I have a minimum of 5 weeks of paid vacation every year, the list can go on. For example my parents (eventhough they are well-to-do) don't ever have to worry about paying for my sisters knee-problems and surgeries, they never have to worry about paying college/uni tuition for me or my sister. Instead they can put that money towards savings or traveling.Date: 12/1/2007 2:38:09 PM
Author: surfgirl
Lill, thank you for pointing out that taxes are not 'evil'! With all due respect to those who are allergic to taxes, perhaps if we weren't so paranoid as a society, and so brainwashed to believe that taxes are bad, we'd have better emergency protection/response. Perhaps the Katrina aftermath would never have happened. Perhaps our roads wouldn't suck so badly (at least where I live). Perhaps we'd have better schools, more comprehensive health care for those who need it, etc. Taxes aren't bad, MIS-using taxes is bad, IMO. If you want basic services, not to mention comprehensive social services, how do you think those come to be? Through taxation. Now just because you, or anyone else reading this, doesn't NEED said services, doesn't mean you/we shouldn't provide them for those who do need them. It's all about balance and doing the right thing for those truly in need. I'm not talking about lifetime welfare folks, I dont agree with that either and I think Clinton did a good job of breaking down that nonsense.Date: 11/27/2007 4:49:19 PM
Author: Lill_The_Thrill
I would just like to point out, that it's not necessarily a negative thing that the taxes are raised. Sweden and some other Scandinavian countries are a perfect example of a successful outcome of raised taxes. The more money you make themore tax you pay in Sweden, for example, i pay the minimum, because I don't work that many hours, I pay 30%, which is the minimum, my dad on the other hand pays 40%, but i'd say that the average swede pays about 30-32%. But the general idea is that the wealthiier you are the more you pay, some people pay 50-60%.
This is the outcome of the high taxes we have in Sweden:
We have free schooling, free school lunch.
We don't have any unversity tuitions, EVERY university student is automatically entitled a financial aid of approx $350 (/month), this money is not supposed to be paid back.
High school students recieve approx a $150 aid (/month)
parents receive 'child support', atleast $150 (/per month /child), if you have 4 or more children you recieve more for every child, until the age of 16.
'Free' healtcare for the entire pop (a pretty good healthcare, You pay a standard fee of approx $20 for every visit to the doctor; blood tests, physicals, any type of surgery, etc is included in these $20.
Dental care is free til the age of 20, after that you pay full price, they're prob going to change that.
If you're registered at the social insurance office, and have worked more than 6 months at the same place (you automatically have a permanent job) IF you're fired after 7 months, you get paid i think 80%-100% of your salary for 6-10 months (unless you find a job).
We have job securities, where you can't just get fired when it's suited (after 6 months). You can't get fired because You are on sick leave to often.
You recieve 80% of your wage the (from the 2nd day till) the end of the first year of your sick leave,, the 2nd year they lower it to 70%.
The public transportation is 'owned' by the government, it runs regularly, the trains/busses are very clean, ALOT of people travel with PT and leave their cars at home.
I didn't intend for this post to be this long, but I just wanted to point out what wonderful things high taxes can do, there basically doesn't exist much poverty or too many homeless people where I live. I'm not trying to offend anyone, and ironically enough i'm not even a socialist, but still I don't understand why socialists are considered being devils, since so much good can come out of a well-run 'socialist' country. It doesn't have to be Soviet, there are middlegrounds. Once again, I hope this doesn't offend anyone.
As for who I'd vote for? I'll vote for whomever I think will win a national general election. Period. That said, I would never vote for anyone who is anti-choice or anti-environment because those are my hot button issues.
To those who say Roe v. Wade will never be touched, I say, please, be careful with your words. NEVER assume that that is the case. There are people in this country who would overturn that in a minute if they could get away with it. If you are pro-choice, I dont think you should ever become complacent about that 'never happening.'
As for illegal immigration, I find it interesting that in nearly all the many countries I've worked/been to, nearly all of them shoot to kill if someone runs across their borders, but we let people run across, climb across, whatever, whenever. At this point though, it's like the barn door's not only open, it's blown off its hinges so going backwards will be very difficult. As for illegal immigration that is not 'border' based, if you've spent any time in developing countries and countries of conflict, you would be very able to understand why people come here any way they can. America is still viewed as the promised land by millions and millions and the life they're leaving is so abysmal, that they'll do anything to scrape together enough money to come here and try to make a life here. I know many people who ask me regularly to help them come here and of course I cannot, but I wouldn't want their lives for anything in the world. But this country needs to create fair and just immigration laws and stick to them. Plenty of countries are able to monitor the flow of immigration, but America, like a bad parent, is known to have so many loop holes that people are willing to take a chance.
As for the example that SDL cited asking why teenagers aren't washing cars like they used to...I absolutely agree. But I think that has nothing to do with immigration and foreigners taking jobs away from Americans. I think that has everything to do with BAD PARENTING. Period. We're a country now of entitled children. Everyone thinks they're owed something. That they're entitled to it all without working. And our youth are some of the worst in this respect. Any kid who wants to work can find work. If they want to. I find most teens today have a really bad attitude towards putting in an honest day's work where an illegal immigrant who's desperate to put food on his table will happily work with a great attitude and a sold work ethic. Guess who I'd hire if I had to choose?
And with regards to 'the Clintons', geez, I wish we could get beyond Bill Clinton's personal sexual behavior. That's between him and his wife, as far as I can see. And for the record, I was traveling all over the world during those years and I can tell you firsthand, Clinton was a first class statesman. He was loved the world over. I never met anyone who disliked him overseas (much to the contrary mumbo jumbo of the neo-cons) and he had a global vision that made America a country people everywhere looked up to. To me, that's the America I was proud of. In fact, everywhere I went, people felt that the American Congress was childish and stupid to scream and yell about Clinton's sexual encounters. Many people told me that if they obsessed about their presidents sexual behavior, they'd never get any governing done. Touche.
GWB has made many decisions and stuck by them even when they, and he, were unpopular. I might call it leadership, you might call it stubbornness. One can''t deny the decisive action this administration has taken.Date: 12/3/2007 10:21:32 AM
Author: zoebartlett
Yup.
Heh...you might *even* call it Strategery, eh? When someone makes a bad decision and sticks by it, regardless of public opinion, and given that the population - where "popular" comes from, and whom he is employed by - overwhelmingly disapproves? Well, that''s just idiocy. As for decisive action? Sure, if you count invading countries and forcing "democracy" down their throats whilst killing innocent women and children. If you count helping corporate America to further feather their own nests at the expense of the environment. If you count imposing Christian extremist "values" (um, what happened to love one another, and due unto others?) on countries with other beliefs. Then, yes, you have supported a very "decisive" little regime. Congrats. And thanks.Date: 12/3/2007 10:47:42 PM
Author: Rank Amateur
Date: 12/3/2007 10:21:32 AM
Author: zoebartlett
Yup.
GWB has made many decisions and stuck by them even when they, and he, were unpopular. I might call it leadership, you might call it stubbornness. One can''t deny the decisive action this administration has taken.
Clinton couldn''t make a decision without holding a finger to the wind. John Kerry was even worse.
Date: 12/5/2007 4:50:03 PM
Author: zoebartlett
Yeah, Gypsy, the Clinton and Obama bickering is getting to me also. I hate all the fighting that candidates do, and I hate it even more when one of them loses the primary and then has to back up the other person in his party. Suddenly, the candidates are getting along just great, as if all the name calling, etc. never happened.
300x240.png)
