I think most of us can agree that America has large problems and that a deeper than normal recession might be coming if not already happening. Do you liberals really think that raising tax rates in an evironment like this will help the economy? I mean even a sixth grader knows the answer to this question. Barack and Hillary can talk all the bs they want but when they become president their econ advisors will tell them they simply can not raise taxes. The outcome of raising taxes will simply be tons of US companies moving their base of operations to lower tax countries and a further weaking of the economy. Now don't tell me the government can supply all those lost jobs.
My points exactly, see laffer curve above too - raising taxes will not only do damage but effectively generate lower taxes collected if not timed correctly/done in moderation.
Bush never "threatened" anyone. He essentially said that if you harbor terrorists you will be considered an enemy of the U.S. What kind of ally will allow terrorists to stay in their country and plan attacks against us? Anyway, I won't get into a further discussion about it because it's pointless - been done a million times. I will say this, though, we are in Iraq - and for whatever reason why we went there - we are there. Al Qaida has said that they are making a stand in Iraq - for us to cut and run would be tragic. Then what happens? We go back to pre-9/11 where we put our heads in the sand and said "it'll never happen". Unfortunately, if we get Hillary or Obama in there - that 's where we're headed - especially Obama (he wants to sit down and have tea with them) Did we learn anything from Chamberlain?
American is drawing lots of overseas money. The're buying real estate,Bonds, Debt, anything they can get there money on. If we had an "international problem" our interest rates would have to be much higher to attact overseas money. Look at the international growth. all that is possible due to the US military sitting on the persion Gulf making sure that oil flows.
There are two major points that have to be made clear...and has been made evident even to this simple series of posting.... In capitalism...the key is valuation In socialism...the key is distribution Both have to be combined...and knowing that there are very few actuals...if any....true blue cases of either pure capitalism or pure socialism.... Thus every country has both present in their governments...even Cuba....even the US.... Firstly....one has to understand where the very same assets will yield the highest valuations.... This is very simple...this is attainable in stocks which are nonobligatory loans which trade on an electronic stock exchange... Here is a simple example.... Look at the value of Orinco field under Chavez versus being managed by Exxon.... The presence of Exxon....and management abilities of Exxon will make the very same fields worth many times a Chavez management...and the value is held in shares ...which can be electronically exchanged for $1 per 1000 shares.... The problem with Venezuela was the sharing of the shares... Anyone who is responsible for building a company is entitled to shares...and has the job because he is good at what he does...not because of who he knows....or what school he went to.....or what their daddy does... Also...what can develop in the US is what I call zone stock...right now....one calls this a bank....which trades as shares.... Since 90% of the jobs are created by small business....and the ever changing mass keeps moving and changing....a movement away from debt...and to shared nonobligatory debt...which enhance the values to be held by the builders...is the positive direction.... Every other form of valuation...cannot be distributed handily....and the compared valuation even though the assets are the exact same....is far less.... .................................................................................................... Also one should note what valuation applies to.....and here is a simple way for one to form a currency's valuation... Consider this.....What would the country have or do if there were no imports ? What is debt...money dilution...etc.... How does the workforce get educated...costs...etc... What is the day to day well being of the individuals..etc... ..................................................................................................... Note that excessive legal costs and taxes are add ons to the product...and have to be minimized.... Legal costs and taxes kill asset valuations...... ............................................................................................ Also one knows what other countries are up to...and of course would want to have the best of the best....domicile at home.... .................................................................................. To date...I know of no country whose people are united on valuation and productivity.... But I can assure you this....what I have just mentioned is the way it is.... Every country needs to move to what I have just mentioned...so that for the assets that they have....they will be at the best valuations possible....and thus there will be more to share...from the very same assets..... Why would one want less ?
Yes, Good point This is the truth. It will piss-off the left. Does Obama relly feel he can walk on the middle east?
Just as the democratic controlled congress/house hasn't done sh*t that they promised either, but people don't learn. (Ok besides the stimulus package and wasting time with roger clemens)
Don't worry about "Did we learn anything from Chamberlain?" Study Viet Nam instead. We could have pulled out in 1968 and they would still be making our athletic shoes for $1.15 per hour. The British tried to run Iraq in the 1920's and got their butt kicked out. They tried to run Afghanistan in the 1800âs and when they finally tried to flee Kabul, of the 25,000 Brits who left town 24,999 were killed by the Afghans. Only 1 guy made it back to India. The religious factions in Iraq have been killing each other whenever possible for 1100 years...unless we want to make them all Christians that won't stop until they are done with it and we won't stop that, only they will. Now we can waste another 100 years and a few hundred trillion dollars learning from history or not. Russian found the same lesson in Afghanistan. People with a 12th mentality would rather kill just about everyone than accept "enlightened" governance from the barrel of a foreign gun or a puppet government installed by an occupier..
Agree, its pointless to discuss it... :eek: The USA will either leave Iraq by withdrawal agreement or it will be forced out as it was in Vietnam... By the study of history one can easily see that Insurgencies win... If you cannot get the population of the country you are occupying to agree that you should be there.. your long term plans there are doomed... period here is one book on the subject... there are many... we lost the moment we illegally invaded.. http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061236198/Violent_Politics/index.aspx The majority of those opposing our presence in Iraq ARE insurgents... Nationals who want us out... not the 5-8% who are Al-Qaeda... Al-Qaeda are there are only co-incidentally in Iraq because we are there... The majority popular opinion in Iraq and also in USA wants us out of Iraq... and as an independent right leaning centrist libertarian - - i would prefer that as the next decade in US politics unfolds I would prefer the USA to move more toward being a democratic republic than a elitist controlled plutocracy... Our choice... We leave rationally or are forced out irrationally and are internationally embarrassed one more time for the Gipper... <img src="http://www.enflow.com/p.gif">
That is just bullshit. If anyone knew Hitler and his methods it was Goering. This quote was during his imprisonment during Nuremburg. The following example--an interview with Nazi leader Hermann Goering by Gustave Gilbert and documented in his 1947 book Nuremberg Diary--though perhaps familiar, is particularly compelling: We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction. "Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war..? Naturally, the common people don't want war, neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship." "There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars." "Oh, that is all well and good," Goering replied, "but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." Goering says it doesn't matter what we the people think or say, because we are easily brought to the bidding of the leaders through fear. Using fear is the secret to their power. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0903-24.htm