The Republicans plan for America is?

[KW4MW]

Positive comments only please.

[wd0ct]

More corporate welfare

More defecit spending

More wars

More government in our lives

More scandels

[w0aew]

...to defeat the Democrats.

[k0ro]

We have very few Republicans in congress...or at least very few conservatives.

Those of us who are conservatives feel (unjustly) shamed by association as this crowd of cut-tax and spend vote-buyers continue their "To the Victors Belong the Spoils" plundering of our future.

I recently got a call from the RNC asking, "How important, on a scale of 1 to 5, is it to you that the Republicans retain control of congress this fall?"

I thought and replied, "2." At least they won't call me again.

I'd rather see control turned over than to re-elect people who believe they can take the (fiscal) conservative vote for granted.

73,
Art

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (wd0ct @ May 10 2006,09:56)]More corporate welfare

More defecit spending

More wars

More government in our lives

More scandels
It's nice to dream, isn't it? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[wd0ct]

Quote[/b] (w5klb @ May 10 2006,10:05)]Quote[/b] (wd0ct @ May 10 2006,09:56)]More corporate welfare

More defecit spending

More wars

More government in our lives

More scandels
It's nice to dream, isn't it? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Unfortunately it isn't a dream. With repubs that is exactly what we get.

[k0ro]

On a serious note...and this is not shared by many in congress:

Find a constitutionally acceptable way to grant the president, be (s)he Republican or Democrat, some form of the line-item veto on spending measures. I know some see this as a seizure of congressional rights, but I also think it is the best way to hold spending in line and give the President the power (s)he must have so that it is appropriate to hold him/her accountable for spending.

Pass the Fair Tax.

Increase military spending, including pay to our soldiers.

Acknowledge in law the criminality of entering our country illegally, and seal our border. Expand legal immigration in ways that do not create such strong particular ethnic concentrations.

Get out of the States' business. This includes assisted suicide but also, frankly, issues such as abortion rights.

While the Fair Tax will take care of many of the funding problems of social security and medicare, reform the programs further. Acknowledge that social security is simply income redistribution, not a retirement program. Modify what can be done with the funds going into social security. Let's face it: Social Security is a PONZI Scheme.

Follow the lead of our enlightened European neighbors and let tax dollars for education follow the student! Exclude religiously-affiliated schools from this program if necessary to pass constitutional muster.

Follow the lead of our enlightened European neighbors who despise Bush and reform our tort system further. Most every European nation has a tort system where the initiating party in a suit MUST pay the costs of defense of the object of its suit if the decision is against the initiating party. I can hear the cry that this would be unfair and keep the poor from suing. Why then do the advanced Europeans have such a system? This would do more to reform tort processes and the costs of liability insurance than almost any other step.

How about these for a start?

[k9kxq]

Honestly, I have no clue! I'm not a republican but from the looks of things whatever their plan was, it's not working for the middle and lower class economics.

kxq

[K0RGR]

Quote[/b] (KC2G @ May 10 2006,10:50)]On a serious note...and this is not shared by many in congress:

Find a constitutionally acceptable way to grant the president, be (s)he Republican or Democrat, some form of the line-item veto on spending measures. I know some see this as a seizure of congressional rights, but I also think it is the best way to hold spending in line and give the President the power (s)he must have so that it is appropriate to hold him/her accountable for spending.

Pass the Fair Tax.

Increase military spending, including pay to our soldiers.

Acknowledge in law the criminality of entering our country illegally, and seal our border. Expand legal immigration in ways that do not create such strong particular ethnic concentrations.

Get out of the States' business. This includes assisted suicide but also, frankly, issues such as abortion rights.

While the Fair Tax will take care of many of the funding problems of social security and medicare, reform the programs further. Acknowledge that social security is simply income redistribution, not a retirement program. Modify what can be done with the funds going into social security. Let's face it: Social Security is a PONZI Scheme.

Follow the lead of our enlightened European neighbors and let tax dollars for education follow the student! Exclude religiously-affiliated schools from this program if necessary to pass constitutional muster.

Follow the lead of our enlightened European neighbors who despise Bush and reform our tort system further. Most every European nation has a tort system where the initiating party in a suit MUST pay the costs of defense of the object of its suit if the decision is against the initiating party. I can hear the cry that this would be unfair and keep the poor from suing. Why then do the advanced Europeans have such a system? This would do more to reform tort processes and the costs of liability insurance than almost any other step.

How about these for a start?
Heavens! A real conservative! Do you read 'the Economist' too?

Part of the reason I'm so disgusted with talk radio is that many of the radio hosts are not conservatives, they're partisan Republicans, willing to eat the neo-con line of baloney and preach to the country that it is true conservatism.

Not all Democrats are flaming liberals. It's possible to be so conservative that you find yourself allied with the left because the right seeks to constrain or otherwise destroy our civil liberties. When the left does it, I'm on the other side. Right now, the occupants of the White House are neither conservatives, nor protectors of our freedom. Their enablers in congress are often worse.

[k0ro]

A real conservative?

I think I am going more toward the libertarian position. I have a real problem with SOME republicans trying to enact their personal ethics/religious convictions as law, which gets me cross-wise of some in my church (which is considered a rather conservative church).

I think we need to get our fiscal house in order.

By the way, regarding companies fleeing the U.S., either their headquarters or manufacturing facilities or both...the U.S. has the 3rd highest corporate tax rate in the world, making us an unattractive place to HQ a business, and our products less competitive worldwide.

And remember, corporations don't pay taxes; they are a conduit from the individuals who pay them to the government. Disagree? Love to debate this one.

Finally...want more exports? Enact the Fair Tax and the price of finished goods will drop by about 23%. That ought to help on the world market!

Art

[AK7V]

Quote[/b] (KC2G @ May 10 2006,11:33)]...
By the way, regarding companies fleeing the U.S., either their headquarters or manufacturing facilities or both...the U.S. has the 3rd highest corporate tax rate in the world, making us an unattractive place to HQ a business, and our products less competitive worldwide.
...
This is a problem. #If I were starting a large company, I'd base it someplace like Estonia. #Low corporate taxes and a skilled work force -- with a fresh memory of the crippling Soviet yoke.

[G0GQK]

To take control of the world and make everyone eat mom's apple pie. It's the American way.

G0GQK

[AK7V]

No, you give them access to the pie and they eat it of their own volition. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

It's good pie.

[w8cbc]

I believe the Republican (not conservative) plan is to bankrupt the Federal government so that there will be no choice but to cut it back to practically nothing.

I consider myself old-style conservative in these ways:

Fiscal responsibility.
Personal responsibility.
Individual discretion.

I see the first two of those qualities blatantly renounced and the third under attack by those in power today.

[K0RGR]

Quote[/b] (KC2G @ May 10 2006,11:33)]A real conservative?

I think I am going more toward the libertarian position. I have a real problem with SOME republicans trying to enact their personal ethics/religious convictions as law, which gets me cross-wise of some in my church (which is considered a rather conservative church).

I think we need to get our fiscal house in order.

By the way, regarding companies fleeing the U.S., either their headquarters or manufacturing facilities or both...the U.S. has the 3rd highest corporate tax rate in the world, making us an unattractive place to HQ a business, and our products less competitive worldwide.

And remember, corporations don't pay taxes; they are a conduit from the individuals who pay them to the government. Disagree? Love to debate this one.

Finally...want more exports? Enact the Fair Tax and the price of finished goods will drop by about 23%. That ought to help on the world market!

Art
Nope, you'll get no disgreement from me - all business taxes are merely ways of hiding the true tax burden from the taxpayers. Worse yet, plain wage earners have to pay taxes on everything they get, while corporate executives enjoy all manner of perks tax free, while their shareholders and customers pay the taxes.

My economics professor worked with John Maynard Keynes as a young student, and his basic belief was that we should not tax savings or investment at all. Instead, we should tax consumption. Those who have more money either spend it on consumption or save and invest it - very good things for the economy. The more they have, the more they spend or invest. If we tax consumption, the wealthy end up paying proportionally more tax.

We wrongly try to level the playing field by making income taxes 'progressive'. But, in fact, the wealthiest tend not to pay income taxes that reflect their wealth. We would do better to base everything on consumption taxes, with lower tax or no tax on basic necessities, and progressively more tax on luxury items.

We would also have to tax services the way we tax goods.

We should not tax industry. But consumption taxes would need to be escape proof. It's too easy to hide income when you're in business. A losing business can still make lots of money - been there, done that, bought the t shirt. It would be more difficult to get people to agree that certain purchases should be exempt from the tax.

[k4kyv]

Quote[/b] ] The Republicans plan for America is?

Get the government off our backs... and into our bedrooms.

[KI4BNC]

To rule the world?
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[w8cbc]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ May 10 2006,16:07)]Quote[/b] ] The Republicans plan for America is?

Get the government off our backs... and into our bedrooms.
Talk about getting screwed.

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ May 10 2006,15:53)]I consider myself old-style conservative in these ways:

Fiscal responsibility.
Personal responsibility.
Individual discretion.

I see the first two of those qualities blatantly renounced and the third under attack by those in power today.
Today's conservatives = yesterday's liberals in a way.

That's why we call 'em neo-cons.

I want to know how they could take the worst of both!!?

73, Rob

[w8cbc]

It is interesting how so many far-left flower children of the 60s became the far-right neocons of today. I wonder if that group were ever sincere about anything? Except self-interest?

[k0ro]

If a consumption tax is used, nothing is to be exempt from it. In fact, there are embedded taxes in services too, so it is likely the price of services (before the consumption tax) would also fall.

It is true that the wealthy are not taxed in proportion to their wealth...fortunately, except for the estate tax and property/personal property taxes, we don't tax wealth. They do consume.

Also...since the wealthy receive far more of their income from passive means, they are not subject to paying the Medicare tax (on which there is no earnings cap) or perhaps even the Social Security tax (with its $94,000 income cap).

I just want the government out of the role of choosing favorites. I'd also love to see some on K Street looking for work! Of course there will always be appropriations bills for them to do their brib...mmm, persuading. But the huge money is in the tax bills.

As far as the liberals to neo-cons transformation: remember Ogden Nash's comment?

If a man is not a liberal at 20 he has no heart; if he is not a conservative at 40 he has no brains.

I change that too...he has no money...OR...he has so much money he can afford the largesse of noblesse oblige, while holding his wealth in convoluted and offshore trusts and blocking windmill farms in his favorite yachting areas.

Or keeping her grape pickers from unionizing!

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ May 10 2006,11:44)]Positive comments only please.
Nothing like an open mind. mind. mind mind. mind. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[k9kxq]

Quote[/b] (n2nh @ May 11 2006,05:30)]Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ May 10 2006,11:44)]Positive comments only please.
Nothing like an open mind. #mind. #mind #mind. #mind. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
How can we post positive on such a negitive plan for America, tax cuts just passed by republicans will save the mid to lower class $20.00 per year, the rich can expect around $45,000.00 per year savings on their tax, another good reason to vote for a democrat.

kxq

[AK7V]

And the rich will invest that $45k into something that will raise the value of the middle-class guy's 401k or pension fund or other stock holdings, or he'll buy a car from a middle-class guy at the dealership who makes a commission, or..?

He might stuff it all under his mattress, but not likely.

OR, we could just give it to the government, like the Democrats would prefer, and have it mostly squandered by inefficient bereauocracy.

[w8cbc]

KC2G: Quote[/b] ]As far as the liberals to neo-cons transformation: remember Ogden Nash's comment?

If a man is not a liberal at 20 he has no heart; if he is not a conservative at 40 he has no brains.

I guess I have / had neither. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Though 20 was about when I stopped buying the Reagan hype. I got a good idea of what was trickling down on me. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

At 40, I'm doing somewhat better than just getting by. I was dirt-poor most of my life and only made it out of there by my own efforts. I never expected a handout - even if I wanted one, I was too cynical about getting it: what's the catch? Ya pay now or ya pay later. I prefer to get it over with and not have it hanging over my head.

Socially liberal, fiscally conservative: I think we should take care of one another but we have to be able to afford it. I thought Jean Chretien was a great PM.

[KC2ESD]

The Republican Dream IMHO:
a Flat Fair Tax, Progressive tax is unfair and Communistic
Kick The Terrorists Rears once and for all, Hit them Hard and often
^Same for Criminals.^
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Crime control not Gun Control.
Bust Hurricanes with the MOAB.
Business Friendly but with Laws protecting the Customers more.
Kill BPL for the sake of National Security.
73 de Rick KC2ESD

[W2ILP]

The Republicans plan to bring Democracy, Liberty, Imperialism and Christianity to the entire world. #Did you ever doubt?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

w2ilp (Impeach Liberating Politicians)

[KW4MW]

To date replies to Dem/Rep plans for America – both posts. #

Categories: #subjective to interpretation – your score may differ

Negative - words unfavorable to the party in question
Inane # # #- typical silly responses and the usual bitch fights
Serious # - on topic responses, not necessarily pro-party but at least well thought out
Non-issue – not on topic and not quite in the inane category. # #

# # # # #
# # # # # # # # Negative # # # Inane # # # #Serious # # Non-issue # Total

Rep # # # # # # # 2 # # # # # # # # #8 # # # # # # # #11 # # # # # # # 5 # # # # # # #26
Dem # # # # # # #1 # # # # # # # #11 # # # # # # # # #6 # # # # # # # 6 # # # # # # #24

There were 42% serious responders to the Republican issue and 25% serious responders to the Democrat issue.

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ May 11 2006,11:56)]There were 42% serious responders to the Republican issue and 25% serious responders to the Democrat issue.
Your lead-in post asked for "Positive comments only please."

Well, we'll be having none of that!! Kind of telling, I think.

73, Rob

[al2i]

OMG! Bush was just on the boob tube talking about getting rid of the Alternative Minmum Tax! The man is so consistently an asshat. I say this in the most positive way!

The AMT should be expanded, strengthened and used to force tax cheats to pay a proportionate share of taxes, instead of gloating about their manipulation of the system. Only then will some of the wealthiest in our midst will actually offer real support for lowred taxes, or a fairer taxation system.

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (AK7V @ May 11 2006,07:55)]And the rich will invest that $45k into something that will raise the value of the middle-class guy's 401k or pension fund or other stock holdings,
Just for your edification Jason, I have a work associate who easily clears over $200,000 annually and who always brags about his taxes being less than $5,000 (mine are always 6-10 times as much as his, even though he clearly makes more than me). He hates the AMT with every fiber of his being, and if the subject of taxes comes up, his gloating about being a tax avoidance expert is always followed by hatred of the AMT.

This is a true story -- I am not making it up to make a point or anything. The AMT sweeps this guy into the tax system so that he pays something.

To expand a little, the same guy has been very effective at getting government grants, and got a $49,000 government grant to basically go into business doing some of what my business does. However, I took money out of my IRA and borrowed from my 401K, paying an enormous "early withdrawal" tax penalty for using my money to prepare for my retirement by starting a business.

He sold that business about six months after receiving the grant, and the buyer folded about three months after that. There is no business. There is no $49,000. There was a civil case that fizzled. There was a criminal investigation that came to nothing. Taxpayers: 0 My acquaintance: about 10 vacations that year.

And then, so what did this guy I know do with his last $45,000? Well, some of it went to his Cambodian Wife's new BMW, which he says he spent about $65,000 buying. He knows all about exotic foreign cars.

Do I like taxes? No. Do I like manipulative people getting out of taxes and making fun of me because I pay more? Also NO!

[nx6d]

al2i, Dave

call me on node 3199

[AK7V]

Quote[/b] (al2i @ May 11 2006,12:26)]....
Do I like taxes? #No. #Do I like manipulative people getting out of taxes and making fun of me because I pay more? #Also NO!
That's very distressing.

Looks like an argument for a flat income tax..??

I don't have a good answer for taxes. But I can spot bad answers fairly well. What we've got now is obviously bad.

[K0RGR]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ May 11 2006,09:59)]The Republican Dream IMHO:
a Flat Fair Tax, Progressive tax is unfair and Communistic
Kick The Terrorists Rears once and for all, Hit them Hard and often
^Same for Criminals.^
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Crime control not Gun Control.
Bust Hurricanes with the MOAB.
Business Friendly but with Laws protecting the Customers more.
Kill BPL for the sake of National Security.
73 de Rick KC2ESD
The Republican philosophy for most of the 20th century has been that the wealthy should be "lightly taxed". This encourages the wealthy to spend more of their wealth on things that encourage economic growth. If the wealthy are taxed at the same rate as everybody else, they will take their money elsewhere, resulting in economic disaster.

If you favor a 'flat tax' or a 'fair tax' or any scheme that would make the billionaires pay at the same rate as anyone else, you are a far left wing radical - not at all a Republican philosophy.

The so-called "DeathTax" on estates over $1 million that was repealed by this Congress, was put in place in Thomas Jefferson's time to prevent wealthy aristocrats from passing their wealth and political power on to future generations. I predict that in less than 40 years, the new aristocrats will have such a stranglehold on the wealth of the country that the middle class will be destroyed. The "little guy" simply won't stand a chance as the heirs of today's billionaires continue to stockpile wealth generation after generation. We'll become like Guatemala, where fewer than 100 people own everything.

So, the real Republican plan is to continue turning the Middle Class into slaves or serfs.

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (K0RGR @ May 11 2006,13:58)]So, the real Republican plan is to continue turning the Middle Class into slaves or serfs.
A golden Alaska star to RGR who "gets it".

[W8EFA]

Quote[/b] (K0RGR @ May 11 2006,16:58)]Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ May 11 2006,09:59)]The Republican Dream IMHO:
a Flat Fair Tax, Progressive tax is unfair and Communistic
Kick The Terrorists Rears once and for all, Hit them Hard and often
^Same for Criminals.^
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Crime control not Gun Control.
Bust Hurricanes with the MOAB.
Business Friendly but with Laws protecting the Customers more.
Kill BPL for the sake of National Security.
73 de Rick KC2ESD
The Republican philosophy for most of the 20th century has been that the wealthy should be "lightly taxed". This encourages the wealthy to spend more of their wealth on things that encourage economic growth. If the wealthy are taxed at the same rate as everybody else, they will take their money elsewhere, resulting in economic disaster.

If you favor a 'flat tax' or a 'fair tax' or any scheme that would make the billionaires pay at the same rate as anyone else, you are a far left wing radical - not at all a Republican philosophy.

The so-called "DeathTax" on estates over $1 million that was repealed by this Congress, was put in place in Thomas Jefferson's time to prevent wealthy aristocrats from passing their wealth and political power on to future generations. I predict that in less than 40 years, the new aristocrats will have such a stranglehold on the wealth of the country that the middle class will be destroyed. The "little guy" simply won't stand a chance as the heirs of today's billionaires continue to stockpile wealth generation after generation. We'll become like Guatemala, where fewer than 100 people own everything. #

So, the real Republican plan is to continue turning the Middle Class into slaves or serfs.
Very good RGR, well said.

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (AK7V @ May 11 2006,13:18)]I don't have a good answer for taxes. But I can spot bad answers fairly well. What we've got now is obviously bad.
There are times that I think the only thing more revolting than taxes, are the things my taxes pay for.

I say this in the most strongly positive way! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[wa4brl]

The Republican plan for America is to continue to empower the wealthy and connected to bleed the poor, middle class, and un-connected rich of any money and power they still might be desperately clinging to, ravage our land's resources for their own and their overseas partners' profit, sell the burned-out cinders of whatever is left of our once-proud nation to whatever schmuck they can get to pay for it, and then those privileged few wealthy and powerful will move to Saudi Arabia or China -- whichever by then owes them the most.

Oh yeah -- those of us poor and starving masses still living amongst the cinders will be stuck with the hundreds of trillions in debt our beloved leaders ran up for their own amusement.

The apparent Republican party motto: #"SELL OUT. #Sell out your mother. #Sell out your wife. #Sell out your your kids. #Sell out your grandkids. #Sell out your (once) beloved country. #If there's a buck to be made, for God's sake, sell 'em all out."

P.S.: The Democrats haven't been much better than the Republicans of late.

God Bless the United States of America.

And God help us all.

[KC2ESD]

Quote[/b] ]The Republican plan for America is to continue to empower the wealthy and connected to bleed the poor, middle class, and un-connected rich of any money and power they still might be desperately clinging to, ravage our land's resources for their own and their overseas partners' profit, sell the burned-out cinders of whatever is left of our once-proud nation to whatever schmuck they can get to pay for it, and then those privileged few wealthy and powerful will move to Saudi Arabia or China -- whichever by then owes them the most.

OMG who is telling you this? The news Media, your friends, or are they your own conclusions?

[wa4brl]

I listen to the TV and radio news (the left, right, AND sometimes even the "fair & balanced". #I read news-magazines and books. #I see the politically well-positioned gleefully lying to the public for their bosses. #I see those who have had far too much power for far too long so deeply corrupted that they have become brazen and up-front about it. #I see ethics rules in our federal institutions changed to prevent investigations from being launched. #I see the huge levels of graft and pork-barrel spending under the guise of Homeland Security. #[Check it out yourself -- what have these boondoggel bucks been spent on in YOUR community?] #Our ports are no safer. #Our borders are no less porous. #I see our emergency management agencies so bloated by cronyism and bureaucracy that their OWN best interests take precedence over individuals in dire need. #I see huge corporations raiding their employees' pension funds to further enrich their chief executives, and the federal government allowing them to do it with impunity. #I see an energy policy written exclusively by oil executives resulting in record energy prices and record oil company profits -- the people and the country be damned. #I see our good men sent off to war to raise the profits of Halliburton and it's subsidiaries. #The only real change occurring is the increase in wealth of those who were already very wealthy. #In fact, this is not the half of what I see. #

When I sift all of this through my own BS filters, the conclusion in my previous post is the result.

My God, man, what in the hell do YOU see?


Perhaps I should remove my rose-colored glasses?

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (al2i @ May 11 2006,17:05)]Quote[/b] (K0RGR @ May 11 2006,13:58)]So, the real Republican plan is to continue turning the Middle Class into slaves or serfs.
A golden Alaska star to RGR who "gets it".
A great big "DITTO" here.

[KC2ESD]

Is Profit a dirty word? It seems that way to the left. I see no problem with Profit. If you dont like how the Oil Companies Profit right now sell your SUV or Truck and by a Focus, Cobalt, or a Civic.

[k9kxq]

Knock Knock! who's there? Hillary!!!

kxq

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ May 14 2006,03:05)]Is Profit a dirty word? It seems that way to the left. I see no problem with Profit. If you dont like how the Oil Companies Profit right now sell your SUV or Truck and by a Focus, Cobalt, or a Civic.
If gas is $3/gallon and if you drive 15,000 miles a year (a high average), switching from 15 MPG to 35 MPG will save you $142.75 a month, or $1,713 a year.

I guess one COULD give that to the car companies instead and come out at break-even, but your trade-in would have to be worth something. I don't think anyone is buying a new Civic for that amount.

73, Rob

[w8cbc]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ May 14 2006,02:05)]Is Profit a dirty word? It seems that way to the left. I see no problem with Profit. If you dont like how the Oil Companies Profit right now sell your SUV or Truck and by a Focus, Cobalt, or a Civic.
It's dirty when a nation is sent to war and thousands die in order to maximise the profit of certain politically favoured corporations.

There's no "free market" there. You of the Right should be equally outraged. Much of your tax money is used to subsidise these companies after all.

[N9XR]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ May 11 2006,15:01)]Quote[/b] ]The Republican plan for America is to continue to empower the wealthy and connected to bleed the poor, middle class, and un-connected rich of any money and power they still might be desperately clinging to, ravage our land's resources for their own and their overseas partners' profit, sell the burned-out cinders of whatever is left of our once-proud nation to whatever schmuck they can get to pay for it, and then those privileged few wealthy and powerful will move to Saudi Arabia or China -- whichever by then owes them the most.

OMG who is telling you this? The news Media, your friends, or are they your own conclusions?
Bush says it.

Quote[/b] ]Bush gazed around the diamond-studded $800-a-plate crowd and commented on the wealth on display.

"This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores," quipped the GOP standard-bearer. "Some people call you the elites; I call you my base."

He states himself that he is looking out for the elites. I am here to tell you that I am not one (in case you haven't guessed). The candidate will look out for their base first.

You ask if profit is a dirty word. You ask if we could have a "Fair" tax, and you don't care if corporations maintain a "Fair" profit? If you go into your grocery store, and a gallon of milk is $20, do you just pay the $20 and say, "They are justified for this profit!"? Do you go to buy clothes and noticing that they are on sale, do you say, I want to pay full price!"? Why should we allow corporation who our govenment have sworn to control for the masses, be allowed to overcharge and draw an unfair profit?

If you have too much money, let me know, I can help.

[k0ews]

I'm not sure I want a flat tax. Here is the 2006 tax rates for married, filing jointly:
$0 $15,100 10% of the amount over $0
$15,100 $61,300 $1,510.00 plus 15% of the amount over 15,100
$61,300 $123,700 $8,440.00 plus 25% of the amount over 61,300
$123,700 $188,450 $24,040.00 plus 28% of the amount over 123,700
$188,450 $336,550 $42,170.00 plus 33% of the amount over 188,450
$336,550 no limit $91,043.00 plus 35% of the amount over 336,550

As you can see, the more you make, the more you pay. To have a flat tax, would you
A. have the poor pay 35 percent of their income?
B. have the richest pay 10 percent of their income?

I'm just curious about the flat tax that has been mentioned here.

If the Republlicans are to win, they will need to unify the party. Right now, that's not happening. It's not happening with the Democrats, either. The one thing that unites all Democrats is that they all hate Bush. If he were up for another term, that would be easy, but he's not. The Democrats are wasting their time bitching about Bush, when they SHOULD be formulating a platrorm for 2008; one that resonates to the middle class and the majority of the American people. My guess is that they won't. The
The Republicans need to decide whether they will listen to the most conservative voices in the party, or whether they will change their message to win back the moderates they have lost, as evidenced in the latest polling numbers for Bush. Since the most conservative among them also hold the checkbook, my guess is they won't either. My prediction? More partisan hackery, more distortion, more noise, and virtually the same outcome as the past 2 elections. I see no new mandate or no new message on the horizon. America is in a bad mood again; much llke the late 70s; only this time, there's no FDR, no Ronald Reagan or any other popular candidate to make us all work together.
We are a nation that split the atom, invented virtually every mode of modern transportation, advanced communications, cured diseases, and have helped more of mankind than any nation in history, and I'm disturbed by the candidates put forth in the last 2 elections, and by what I've seen of prospects for 08. I keep asking myself, is this the best we can do? Wow.
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