Ronald Reagan Speaks out against Socialized Medicine

[Davemcc]

As a minority that was going to college in the 90's, Clinton, enacted NUMEROUS financial aid and tax break policies that DIRECTLY affected me and made my life easier.

But I have to ask, was that good for you just as a minority or would those breaks have been good for everybody? I mean, if you got those financial breaks, could not some other poor household also benefited from those breaks but were denied because of their race? Really, are tax breaks an economic issue or a race issue? I hate to break it to you, but there are also poor Jewish families that could use financial aid to get their children a proper education.

All I see from this example is that Clinton exploited the racial divide in the US and bought the black vote for the Democrats. It sounds callous and exploitative but do you think that could work???

On a side note, I grew up and went through university at a time when affirmative action was a controversial public topic. When you bring up your special benefits based on race that got you through college, like it or not, I wonder if your academic admission standards were also racially adjusted in your favor as well. I don't mean to be rude when I say that but affirmative action also has it's equal and opposite reaction. Cultivating and exploiting this racial divide may have helped with your education and may have been crafty politics but it is not the mark of a good president.

While Reagan promoted freedom and equality for all, Clinton was playing divisive politics and pitting those of certain racial and economic status against each other. I guess you know which path I respect.

 

[highfigh]

Gotta disagree with you there. I would call the Clinton administration, the last good thing to happen to the U.S. As a minority that was going to college in the 90's, Clinton, enacted NUMEROUS financial aid and tax break policies that DIRECTLY affected me and made my life easier.

Anyone that doubts the good that Clinton did for this country is being blinded by partisan politics. Sure Bill screwed up with the whole Lewinski thing, but you can't deny he was a great President.

Sure, Reagan did enact some positive policies, but he is in no way in line for sainthood as you would have it.

How about NAFTA? How is that working for us?

I would have liked some financial help when I was in school but being white didn't get me any. Also, my parents' income was over the limit for most aid, not that they made a lot. Clinton helped some people, but far from all. OTOH, he and Hillary never owned a house until they were just about out of the White House, so they knew all about being given what they needed for most of their lives. Pretty sweet deal if someone can get it.

 

[highfigh]

We won't be out of this mess until long after we're gone, I'm afraid. I saw a little bit of a show on TV last night where they talked with high school students trying to get into good and great schools. One of them said that he doesn't see anything wrong with cheating to get in because everyone else is doing it. They showed some of the ways to cheat and with this mentality, we're in for a really sleazy crop of people unless schools crack down on this. The fact that these kids have seen so many people get away with so much is what really caused it, along with being raised by their parents to think that bad actions carry no consequences.

I couldn't watch the rest of it.

 

[markw]

We won't be out of this mess until long after we're gone, I'm afraid. I saw a little bit of a show on TV last night where they talked with high school students trying to get into good and great schools. One of them said that he doesn't see anything wrong with cheating to get in because everyone else is doing it. They showed some of the ways to cheat and with this mentality, we're in for a really sleazy crop of people unless schools crack down on this. The fact that these kids have seen so many people get away with so much is what really caused it, along with being raised by their parents to think that bad actions carry no consequences.

I couldn't watch the rest of it.

It's this philosophy that permeated the finance and housing industry that got us into this mess in the first place. ...and then we bailed 'em out and they still got their bonus'!

Who says crime doesn't pay?

 

[darien87]

But I have to ask, was that good for you just as a minority or would those breaks have been good for everybody? I mean, if you got those financial breaks, could not some other poor household also benefited from those breaks but were denied because of their race? Really, are tax breaks an economic issue or a race issue? I hate to break it to you, but there are also poor Jewish families that could use financial aid to get their children a proper education.

All I see from this example is that Clinton exploited the racial divide in the US and bought the black vote for the Democrats. It sounds callous and exploitative but do you think that could work???

On a side note, I grew up and went through university at a time when affirmative action was a controversial public topic. When you bring up your special benefits based on race that got you through college, like it or not, I wonder if your academic admission standards were also racially adjusted in your favor as well. I don't mean to be rude when I say that but affirmative action also has it's equal and opposite reaction. Cultivating and exploiting this racial divide may have helped with your education and may have been crafty politics but it is not the mark of a good president.

While Reagan promoted freedom and equality for all, Clinton was playing divisive politics and pitting those of certain racial and economic status against each other. I guess you know which path I respect.

I had a 3.5 GPA in high school, so I doubt that I got into college based on race alone. But I'm sure it didn't hurt. I am not a huge fan of Affirmative Action and I understand you point about letting people get by on their own merits. However, the outcome is the same; some teenage American got to go to college. I'm sure as hell glad it was me.

 

[darien87]

How about NAFTA? How is that working for us?

I know filling out the NAFTA paperwork when we ship labels to TJ for Sony is sure a pain in the ***.

 

[lsiberian]

As always the Presidents get too much credit and/or blame.

Now we currently have a health care problem.
1. Young people aren't insured. That's right the cheap folks are the ones not insured. Having a government plan for us is a great idea. Obama is proposing Healthcare trusts to allow small businesses to pool together for insurance which I think is a great idea. Obama is proposing a Medicare like system.

I support socialized medicine to a point, but only as long as it allows competition.

The biggest issue is ridiculous wages. The NFL has a salary cap why can't this country have one. This is implemented with higher progressive taxes for 1 million and above. VAT taxes also should be levied on goods so we can really get our national debt under control.

 

[highfigh]

I had a 3.5 GPA in high school, so I doubt that I got into college based on race alone. But I'm sure it didn't hurt. I am not a huge fan of Affirmative Action and I understand you point about letting people get by on their own merits. However, the outcome is the same; some teenage American got to go to college. I'm sure as hell glad it was me.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who can demonstrate competency should be a candidate for any school or job but what we have had for decades now is people being allowed to graduate high school when they clearly are illiterate and can't add 2 & 2. They then go on to a life that doesn't even qualify as hell because they just didn't care enough to try, for one reason or another. OTOH, someone doesn't need to be particularly ambitious to get a good job, it's more a matter of how long they care to stay (usually because of inertia more than anything else) and finding that job. I know plenty of very intelligent people who just couldn't find what they wanted, so they ended up in jobs that aren't satisfying, may be boring and don't pay well. I also know people who are content to work in factories and make quite a bit of money doing repetitive, boring work.

 

[highfigh]

As always the Presidents get too much credit and/or blame.

Now we currently have a health care problem.
1. Young people aren't insured. That's right the cheap folks are the ones not insured. Having a government plan for us is a great idea. Obama is proposing Healthcare trusts to allow small businesses to pool together for insurance which I think is a great idea. Obama is proposing a Medicare like system.

I support socialized medicine to a point, but only as long as it allows competition.

The biggest issue is ridiculous wages. The NFL has a salary cap why can't this country have one. This is implemented with higher progressive taxes for 1 million and above. VAT taxes also should be levied on goods so we can really get our national debt under control.

Since when does socialized anything allow for competition?

The NFL salary cap was negotiated because it got to the point where they could have priced the league out of existence. A free market doesn't, and shouldn't, limit how much someone can make. Where do you start with the cap, and how do you make sure it's not arbitrarily reduced at some politician's whim? Do you want someone telling you that you make too much, or how much you can make at your job? Pay grades do this but in some places, there's still a chance for advancement but being promoted but if you were ambitious to invent a new widget and the market takes off, do you want someone telling you that you can't make more than a certain amount? I doubt it. People who aren't in that position are usually pretty philosophical about it and say "If I make $XYZ, it'll be enough" but we all know that when the cash starts rolling in at an incredible rate, they suddenly change their mind.

That said, I have thought for a long time that people need to stop being jealous about money and material possessions. They need to be realistic about their abilities and stop thinking that they'll be "The Next Big Thing", unless that's actually a possibility. Keeping up with the Jones's is how we got to the level of greed we have now.

If you want to see whole markets die, go ahead and slap VAT on the items. People complain about prices now- that's why we import so much and if you add VAT, they'll buy less and it'll do anything but take care of the national debt. Why not just slap a "Rich Guy Fee" on people- that's all a VAT is. Low income people wouldn't be able to buy those items as it is but once you put the VAT on, it's just another tax on people who are already paying more than their share of taxes.

The National Debt is caused by wasteful spending and inefficiency in government. All a VAT will do is make them think they have more to spend, regardless of how it's earmarked. Read my tagline- that's how I would like to see things done. If you want to know how far VAT can go, talk to a Canadian or Brit- some of their taxes are absolutely insane.

 

[Davemcc]

If you want to know how far VAT can go, talk to a Canadian or Brit- some of their taxes are absolutely insane.

VAT is not really an issue here. We prefer sin taxes (smokes, booze, gasoline, air conditioning). I think Harald said that some cars in Norway had a 200% tax. Now that's insane.

 

[highfigh]

VAT is not really an issue here. We prefer sin taxes (smokes, booze, gasoline, air conditioning). I think Harald said that some cars in Norway had a 200% tax. Now that's insane.

I was responding to lsiberian's comment about settling the national debt with VAT.

How is air conditioning getting classified with the other sin taxes?

Insane is raising taxes for some, to give free stuff to others, when the number of those getting is approaching half of the country's total population. Insane is keeping those people in that position by not making them see that they could crawl out of their hole if they would just work for it, like their grandparents and great-grandparents did before Welfare. Insane is when politicians don't tell people that they're bad parents for allowing their kids to do whatever they want without thinking of the consequences. Insane is being a parent and being drunk, stoned or wired all the time, beating and neglecting the kids so the "parent" can pay for their habits. Insane is people squeezing off a few rounds in someone's general direction in populated areas because the intended victim "mean-mugged" the shooter. Insane is when giving someone the wrong kind of look actually effin' matters, to anyone.

Sorry, but I'm really sick of this shyte!

 

[lsiberian]

I was responding to lsiberian's comment about settling the national debt with VAT.

How is air conditioning getting classified with the other sin taxes?

Insane is raising taxes for some, to give free stuff to others, when the number of those getting is approaching half of the country's total population. Insane is keeping those people in that position by not making them see that they could crawl out of their hole if they would just work for it, like their grandparents and great-grandparents did before Welfare. Insane is when politicians don't tell people that they're bad parents for allowing their kids to do whatever they want without thinking of the consequences. Insane is being a parent and being drunk, stoned or wired all the time, beating and neglecting the kids so the "parent" can pay for their habits. Insane is people squeezing off a few rounds in someone's general direction in populated areas because the intended victim "mean-mugged" the shooter. Insane is when giving someone the wrong kind of look actually effin' matters, to anyone.

Sorry, but I'm really sick of this shyte!

According to Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, a VAT is the really the least worst option for raising revenue.

And we must raise revenues to cover costs. Here is next year's budget.

Mandatory spending: $2.184 trillion (-17.9%)
$695 billion (+4.9%) - Social Security
$453 billion (+6.6%) - Medicare
$290 billion (+12.0%) - Medicaid
$0 billion (-100%) - Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
$0 billion (-100%) - Financial stabilization efforts
$11 billion (+275%) - Potential disaster costs
$571 billion (-15.2%) - Other mandatory programs
$164 billion (+18.0%) - Interest on National Debt
Discretionary spending: $1.368 trillion (+7.0%)
$663.7 billion (+12.7%) - Department of Defense (including Overseas Contingency Operations)

US receipt and expenditure estimates for fiscal year 2010.
$78.7 billion (-1.7%) - Department of Health and Human Services
US receipt and expenditure estimates for fiscal year 2010.
$72.5 billion (+2.8%) - Department of Transportation
$52.5 billion (+10.3%) - Department of Veterans Affairs
$51.7 billion (+40.9%) - Department of State and Other International Programs
$47.5 billion (+18.5%) - Department of Housing and Urban Development
$46.7 billion (+12.8%) - Department of Education
$42.7 billion (+1.2%) - Department of Homeland Security
$26.3 billion (-0.4%) - Department of Energy
$26.0 billion (+8.8%) - Department of Agriculture
$23.9 billion (-6.3%) - Department of Justice
$18.7 billion (+5.1%) - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
$13.8 billion (+48.4%) - Department of Commerce
$13.3 billion (+4.7%) - Department of Labor
$13.3 billion (+4.7%) - Department of the Treasury
$12.0 billion (+6.2%) - Department of the Interior
$10.5 billion (+34.6%) - Environmental Protection Agency
$9.7 billion (+10.2%) - Social Security Administration
$7.0 billion (+1.4%) - National Science Foundation
$5.1 billion (-3.8%) - Corps of Engineers
$5.0 billion (+100%) - National Infrastructure Bank
$1.1 billion (+22.2%) - Corporation for National and Community Service
$0.7 billion (0.0%) - Small Business Administration
$0.6 billion (-14.3%) - General Services Administration
$19.8 billion (+3.7%) - Other Agencies
$105 billion - Other

Where do you propose we cut?

We got a 1.1 trillion dollar deficit. that is around 30 percent of our budget.

 

[highfigh]

Where do you propose we cut?

We got a 1.1 trillion dollar deficit. that is around 30 percent of our budget.

Mandatory spending: $2.184 trillion (-17.9%)
Discretionary spending: $1.368 trillion (+7.0%)
$571 billion (-15.2%) - Other mandatory programs
$19.8 billion (+3.7%) - Other Agencies
$105 billion - Other

How about if we get to see where this money is going? $4.25 Trillion is a helluva lot of money to spend on unspecified expenses and $1.368T for discretionary spending? You have got to be kidding!

 

[Rickster71]

$47.5 billion (+18.5%) - Department of Housing and Urban Development


Where do you propose we cut?

I really believe people have to experience the incompetence / waste of government (first hand) before they decide on Government Health Care. Our politically Correct educations don't prepare us for how it really is.

I have a very close friend that works at the place mentioned above.
He could write a book about the rampant waste and missing millions. (And it's just one city)

A few examples: A new fifteen floor elevator is 'allegedly' paid for and installed in the projects.
The elevator is never installed or really purchased, and the money goes missing.

A fifteen story building in the projects is 'allegedly' remodeled at the cost of millions. Of course the building not touched, a few months later the building is imploded along with any evidence, and the millions in tax payer money gone.

Many 'phantom worker' timecards 'allegedly' being punch everyday.

A quick search found this:
Agencies may have wasted $3 million a month on rent subsidies
http://www.fcw.com/Articles/2009/07/21/HUD-and-FEMA-data-sharing-finds-waste-and-fraud.aspx

By Alice Lipowicz
Jul 21, 2009

The government discovered it may have wasted up to $3 million a month in improper and duplicative payments to landlords based on the results of a cross-department computer data check, according to a new report from Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner.

 

[lsiberian]

Mandatory spending: $2.184 trillion (-17.9%)
Discretionary spending: $1.368 trillion (+7.0%)
$571 billion (-15.2%) - Other mandatory programs
$19.8 billion (+3.7%) - Other Agencies
$105 billion - Other

How about if we get to see where this money is going? $4.25 Trillion is a helluva lot of money to spend on unspecified expenses and $1.368T for discretionary spending? You have got to be kidding!

3.55 trillion is the proposed budget actually. The categories are the sub categories under each heading.

Mandatory spending is already obligated.

Discretionary is where you have to cut. And there is literally no way to cut that much. You could cut defense spending I suppose, but let's remember that will means direct job losses.

We are in trouble many ways, but I think we'll survive.

 

[Davemcc]

How is air conditioning getting classified with the other sin taxes?

There is a $100 air conditioning tax on every new car sold in Canada that has air conditioning. It was instituted because CFC's were harmful.

 

[highfigh]

3.55 trillion is the proposed budget actually. The categories are the sub categories under each heading.

Mandatory spending is already obligated.

Discretionary is where you have to cut. And there is literally no way to cut that much. You could cut defense spending I suppose, but let's remember that will means direct job losses.

We are in trouble many ways, but I think we'll survive.

Discretionary expenses is like giving Congress a ginormous allowance. I know what mandatory is but I want to see where the money is going. I'd like to know how the EPA gets a 34% increase. I'd like to see how they propose to pay the car dealers back for the $4500 credits (they haven't been paid yet and don't know when they will be), I'd like to see some of the governmental transparency Obama promised and I really want members of Congress to pay income tax. I want them to learn the hard way that they work for us and I want them to know that they have no right to take money from us and spend it on their pet projects. I want them to know that their responsibilities lie with us, not people who want to come here illegally or other countries whose leaders wouldn't give a rat's *** about their own people if you held a gun to their head. Charity is great but we do more for other countries than just about any other nation. Unfortunately, we have also done more to other countries.