Political message

[farscaper]

One thing that keeps jumping into my mind is an old episode of 60 Minutes I saw a year or so ago. The subject was the American reputation in the Middle East. Some Kuwaiti men had said... We do not hate Americans, we love them. It’s their American Foreign policy we can't stand.

Some of these foreign problems, like Iraq and Afghanistan (as well as many other parts of the world), come from the fact that they are supplied military equipment by the US government. The reason US Intelligence knows the military strength of a “radical” foreign country is because the US government sold the weapons to them.

I’m curious to know what the “foreign aid” dollars would be if you eliminated or added the weapons and anything related to building their military. That said, most of the weapon exchanges are done under the table. So forget it.

As for Canada & the US relations... There are idiots on both sides with stupid and ignorant comments. I do not know any Canadian families without friends or family in the USA. Our ties are far stronger then any politician or freak can destroy. We have always agreed to disagree on many things. We have gone to war separately and together through-out our History.

(I was going to use the phrase “Red-neck” but I’m from Alberta and many of my friends are from Mississippi, Utah & Missouri.)

 

[algernon]

2. Windmills. Developed centuries ago and adapted for electricity in the 19th century, the windmill could become the killer app of Eco-friendly energy. Built from recycled scrap metal (steel for the base/elevation and aluminum or plastic for the blades) and junk car parts (120 volt car alternators) every property owner with 15 square feet of lawn could potentially become 100% self sufficient on windy days (granted, some areas are better suited for wind harvesting) and at least a significant "grid savings" on moderately windy days. Good for the enviroment and you save tens of thousands of dollars on energy costs over your lifetime.

Windmills apparently are falling off the "green" list: They chop up birds, including protected species.

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30802/story.htm

http://www.greenberkshires.org/wind_power_postings/inherit_the_wind_pt1.html

 

[mulester7]

.....I need look no further than the special tax-cuts for the top 1% of the work-force when the elephants are in.....

 

[algernon]

I think the latest round of tax cuts benefitted all but the single folk. I have a home, a wife, and two kids, and received significant tax relief. (which I spent...That was the whole Idea, wasn't it I am most certainly not in the top 1% of earners in this country.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Windmills apparently are falling off the "green" list: They chop up birds, including protected species.

Huzzah! fewer pidgeons!

 

[Audioholics]

special tax-cuts for the top 1% of the work-force

I benefitted and I'm hardly top 1%. The focus on 1% is simply a "look at the monkey!" scheme to make people jealous that if someone earns more money (and pays more in taxes) that they then, naturally, save more physical money.

More low income PEOPLE benefitted from the tax cut (quantity of people affected) - but for some reason that all doesn't matter (or get reported much) when a rich guy (who probably employs THOUSANDS of people, including the poor) gets to save a couple million or so.

If I make more money - that's more I can a) put into the economy, or b) use to hire more people to work for me. For some reason there is a mindset that all rich people do is sit around and count their money. They likely employ your moms and dads and uncles - and even you. Give them more money and they will likely grow thier business - or at worst they will buy something that will grow someone else's business.

It's more complicated than the "talking heads" on TV will have you think.

Also, before you ask for a tax increase (that's what will happen if they repeal the tax break or not extend it) make sure your respective governments are wisely spending the $2.7 trillion (US) annual budget they already have.

 

[jaxvon]

I think sometimes the point is that it isn't much. My family grossed a little under $100k a couple years ago and our Federal tax rebate was in the neighborhood of $400. Woo...$400...

 

[mulester7]

George W. was out jogging one morning along the parkway when he tripped,
fell over the bridge railing and landed in the creek below.


Before the Secret Service guys could get to him, three kids, who were
fishing, pulled him out of the water. He was so grateful he offered the
kids whatever they wanted.


The first kid said, "I want to go to Disneyland."


George said, "No problem. I'll take you there on Air Force One".


The second kid said, "I want a new pair of Nike Air Jordan's."


George said, "I'll get them for you and even have Michael sign them!"


The third kid said, "I want a motorized wheelchair with a built-in TV and
stereo headset!!"


Bush is a little perplexed by this and says, "But you don't look like you
are handicapped."


The kid says, "I will be after my dad finds out I saved your *** from
drowning!"

 

[furrycute]

The top huncho of any political entity is only in power based on consensus from various power bases.

Therefore the actions a leader takes is a reflection of the consensus of desired objectives of these power bases.

 

[rikmeister]

so republicans are rich and only help the rich. then why are the top ten wealthiest

us seanators all democrats. John kerry billionaire, jay rockefeller, ted kennedy, john corzine and the list goes on and on. Why would you believe people would want to change the system when they feed off of it. Could you really see john kerry if he won increasing the tax on the wealthiest when he would not even release his wifes tax returns. HOw would he top outward job migration when his own spouse moved four plants out of the usa to mexico , austria and other countries. If eveyone gets a 5% tax cut then it is only obvious that the more you earn the more you will save. The poorest 5% infact get money back and do not even pay in. NOw that is a real bargain. It is hard to give someone a tax break that does not pay any taxes only a liberal could find a way to do that. HOw many would like to get the car rebate without having to buy the car. Man i would stand in line at every dealer for that deal. But then you one would be employed building cars.

 

[pikers]

Honestly, part of the reason the war was started was because W felt like he needed to finish daddy's "unfinished" or "failed" business. How much do you want to bet he and his father had a sit down, and promised 'ol dad if he did one thing while in office, it would be to nail Saddam. WOMD was an excuse, as was 9/11, to attack one country as opposed to several. Heck, the Bin-Ladin family has extremely close ties to the Bush family. Saudi-Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan, etc...the list goes on and on, all have cells training to knock off US citizens/military. They'll never allow democracy to flourish in the middle east. You want proof? Check out the West Bank. That will be our Iraq, with a hold on some of the oil production. We'll have to put a value on life, as oil dollars will most definitely cost us American lives. We'll never, ever be able to leave Iraq if we want to manage some of that oil output. What an absolute stinkin' mess.

Just means we'll have to be more proactive on defense. Stopping a truck bomber with explosives from hitting an oil facility can't be difficult, just a little more "hands-on." It's only a mess if we let it be. More money required? Nah. Let's just be a little tougher. We've had troops in on the DMZ for decades but, it's only been about 38-40k in number. Iraq only requires about the same, maybe as little as 20k to stabilize the important parts of the country.

THAT SAID... There will be a never-ending supply of terrorists from other "nations" to swoop in and cause havok. Bullets are cheap, but frankly we need to focus on those countries just as much. Diplomacy in these cases is needed to convince the leaders of these "nations" to tell their people our mission there is to reduce violence. More than likely, however, they'll tell us one thing and wink to their betoweled brothers to continue the bombing runs. So, on the one hand I agree that it's a nasty state of affairs. We just need to decide to get to a certain level of satisfaction in Iraq, and turn our attention to the surrounding areas.

 

[furrycute]

Or until the oil dries up, and we'll pack up and leave this whole mess to the locals. At our current rate of energy consumption, that should only take a couple of decades.