Jayford, elementary education is public. It is also very much in the interests of any democracy with lasting aspirations to support this. It is not socialism, but just a natural consequence of having a civilized society that can evolve and adapt into the future - improving itself constantly. Big oil/energy companies of course need incentive to explore and do research, but fluctuating costs that are laid squarely on top of consumers is not the way to do it, so special revenue tax is a way to fund the necessary reforms of society to be able to support further growth, education and well-being into the cycle of improving technology, research, stable environment and responsible politics less prone to conflict - and all this regardless of market conditions/pricing. It needs to be flexible and adapt, since all systems and structures in the universe, markets included, are dynamic. They are all complex systems to some extent, and we can map many (temporary) models/systems on top of them to understand them better - but we do need to let this information evolve and adapt itself - just like the rest of the universe does. I am very much in favour of an empowered individual, but also in favour of responsible progress so that there are structural support/integrity that can handle this type of society. Laws and regulations are one type of such handling, although I absolutely detest government force being applied. I am much more a supporter of consequential actions, although not only after-the-fact but much less punitive, for sure. There needs to be accountability for any and all actions, also politicians and government. That is also why I am such a strong supporter for direct democracy - as a way to rid ourselves of the old flawed trust-models and using technology to leverage better trust-models and stronger individuals better equipped to adapt to the quickly evolving future.
OK....to quote the prophet "Merlin",..... The World(life I mean) Will End on Dec 21, 2012. So................................vote Democratic, and it may just become a reality! I guess you can figure I do want her as VP..............yes she is a hottie, and a MILF........but that is secondary..........If she needs to take over(since you all have JM in the grave already) I believe as someone else posted....women are better at resloving differences diplomatically............but other countries will begin to fear her! We are not the world police(although we act it most of the time)unfortunately we are left no choice! Let these 3 world countries run loose and "Merlin" maybe right....so enjoy your next 4 yrs on Earth!
The US has free elementary education, which is excellent. Many Yanks are uneducated due to cultural reasons (uncool to study, joining gangs, etc). NOT an issue of not having access to public education. Every person, and even illegal immigrants have it. It is not on par with Europe, for example, because culturally there, it is VERY important to excel academically. It is not here. But even the nastiest inter city schools (which often get national funding BTW, whereas better areas do not), provide an education good enough so that a kid can enter, and excel in college. Most kids just won't take the education. Taxing the oil companies more will not help fluctuating prices. Its a bad idea. I thought you were not a fan of taxing. You sound like a pure socialist to me. The rest of your post had little to do with our discussion. I am also in favor of direct democracy. What's your point?
Palin believes in so many things quite on the opposite of Hillary's beliefs that no woman who supported Hillary woudl dear think of voting for McCain because of a woman VP. That comment assumes women are stupid and just vote for a woman. I doubt the liberal pro-choice women who Hillary courted would vote for a super conservative pro-life woman. Let's give women more credit than that. P.S. I am independent so no affiliation with either side, just calling it like I see it.
There are a bunch of normal people out there. They don't live like Hollywood punks. They want a house, a life. They don't desire things not theirs. But they do love their country. Want to bring up their kids in a decent way. Don't like feeling threatened. Turn on the TV. Britney's pussy, Paris Hilton, rap music, hip hop thugs, gangs - all in the comfort of your own home. This was a brilliant pick. She's honest. That puts her ahead of any female democrat I can think of. She's pretty. See previous comment. And they are scared to death of her. Obama has some 400 advisors who are there to tell him what to say about Bill Ayers, Wright, Michelle............ He makes good decisions they tell me. One, not sure if it was right, and he flipped a coin. His choice, we still have Hussein with yellow cake (it was recently shipped to Canada for fuel) and Iran. That's better? After that, downhill. So experience? Being President is looking Presidential, acting Presidential, choosing the right path after seeing 100 solutions to the problem. This isn't even a choice. The Republican Party in Alaska hates Sarah Palin. So will Schumer, Clinton, Mutha and Pelosi when she gets to Washington. That, folks, is where your money is going. This is a breath of fresh air. Ben Stein on Fox this morning questioned the Palin pick, but pointed out Americans won't vote for a black man, and most won't vote for an Angry Black Man. He said it, apologized for saying it, but said it was the truth. It probably is. Decent folks will track to the polls in record numbers for a war hero and gun toting beauty queen w/five kids and a real man for a husband. Barney Frank may even go Republican when he gets a look at Todd. Something for everybody. PS> Michael Moore just said something about God blessing us with a storm during the Republican Convention. The storm is a '4'. They should lash the son of a bitch to a pole on the beach with a microphone so we can hear him die. Because '4's kill people. A lot of people. And he's trying to make a political point. Personally, I don't believe in God, because if Michael Moore is in "His" image, it's just too ugly to contemplate.
Jayford, I didn't say a special revenue tax is helpful for balancing energy prices - I do believe in the role of the market itself. But without the flexible taxation, there will become an uneven burden on consumers to carry the fluctuation of energy pricing. Now that energy pricing in general is very regulated in USA, there is no escaping also having a sufficient taxation system. If US society was structured differently, maybe some of the measures necessary to help USA transition and adapt to the changing real conditions of the world, would not be increased taxation. But it is a reality, and the problem needs fixing. There is nothing socialist in fixing a system that is in no way Laissez-faire or free market at all. The US uses more in subsidies than anyone else I can think of, although this is by virtue of having a large economy.
Don't kid yourself. I bet half the women were for Hillary cause she is a woman. And Palin isn't a raging bitch like Hillary. I am also Independent BTW, but I have a deep hatred of everything liberal, so if no Independents outside the mainstream are in the running, I vote against the liberals.
Some of you guys have no clue. Either that, or you are doing some serious drugs. I continue to be amazed at the amount of people here posting such nonsense about how Democratic women voters will be attracted to Palin's ultra-conservative positions - - - including Palin's PRO-LIFE stance. Go ahead and stand outside of a Democratic Town Hall and tell the Democratic women there that you have a PRO-LIFE candidate speaking inside . . . Then tell me how many women show up. Answer: ZERO.