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| 10:07 October 28 |
David, I wouldn't be arguing about the money Obama got from Freddie/Fannie when McCains top 20 donors include:
"1. Merrill Lynch $359,070
2. Citigroup Inc $296,151
3. Morgan Stanley $262,777
4. Goldman Sachs $228,695
5. JPMorgan Chase & Co $215,042
8. Credit Suisse Group $178,053
11. Wachovia Corp $159,107
13. UBS AG $147,465
14. Bank of America $143,026
19. Lehman Brothers $115,707
20. Bear Stearns $113,050"
All three major commercial banks (Citi, Chase, BOA)? CHECK. All five of the major Wall Street investment firms (Goldman Sachs, Merill Lynch, Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley)? CHECK. The two major non-US banks (Credit Suisse, UBS)? CHECK.
Arguing the source of contributions would just be throwing stones from a glass house. .... |
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| 05:19 October 24 |
I don't understand this whole outrage over Obama wanting to "spread the wealth around"
It was okay to pass the bailout and spread our wealth to cover the asses of investment bankers in Wall Street after their risky investments fell flat on their face? Somehow that's fine but spreading the wealth in the opposite direction so you can pay your rent, put food on your table or send your kids to college is now a crime of sorts?
Give me a break..
PS- ALL taxes are "spreading the wealth", some people tend to overlook this relevant little detail |
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Too much has been read into Obama's comment of 'spreading the wealth around'. Lets forget about that.
I just don't understand how he plans to pay for all these tax rebates without expanding the giant hole in our deficit. Does anybody know? -Josh Gross
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| 22:13 October 23 |
| gI look at these people and can't quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it? To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked." |
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I love david sedaris. And i enjoyed reading his comments about undecided voter. Hilarious, coming straight from the master of self-deprecation. I hope he actually decides to vote from his self-imposed exile in France. -Josh Gross
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| 21:24 October 23 |
For those of you who think it's "Impossible" to be undecided, here's a nice thoughtful post from another undecided voter.
http://megroberts.wordpress.co... |
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Thanks, I couldn't have put it in better words. -Josh Gross
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| 21:38 October 23 |
This site is a complete joke. Here are my thoughts- Whoever this Josh Character is, he should really learn how to do his own research and pick a candidate that stands for his beliefs and his opinions.
Is Josh going to let the masses sway his decision? If more people say Obama or Mcain isn't that based on their own personal ideology and hopefully, hopefully their own extensive amount of research on their own about the candidates and their parties?
Josh to me sounds like an incredibly irresponsible person who should come to his own conclusions, unless of course this site is just for economic or political gain, which more than likely it is. |
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Perhaps you should read the "About" section at the top of the page.
Perhaps you should try to help me decide by explaining who you're going to vote for.
Or I guess you can keep posting unhelpful comments that are wasting valuable space on this site. -Josh Gross
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| 20:01 October 21 |
| dude is pure sexy |
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I won't be surprised if this is how many people will pick the president. -Josh Gross
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| 20:02 October 21 |
Hi Josh,
Thaks for reading through all these.
I'm sure you've heard the news already that the distinguished Colin Powell, a Republican who has served in 3 Republican administrations, has endorsed Barack Obama. He also has a lot of criticisms of McCain, two of which were that he had an erratic response and no real solutions to the economic crisis and his choice of Sarah Palin for VP-- someone he deems clearly not fit to be president.
It's really worth checking out his appearance on Meet the Press. He's eloquent, reasoned and spot on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... |
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| 20:32 October 21 |
| He's a good citizen, and he never lies. He wants to lower taxes, and help people. |
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That's really mature, Daniel, if you are indeed six. -Josh Gross
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| 20:06 October 21 |
Cause what Richard, NY doesn't realize is that all the cost he went over are operating costs - cost of doing business. That is NOT profit. And what Obama tax's is your profits. the quote is "If you make over $250,000/yr".
Say you have a business that makes $10/ day. But you have to pay bills, rent, employees etc is $8. that means you make $2 a day profit - not 10 dollars, even though people may have spent $10 in your business.
So a business that pulls in $250k and a business that makes $250k are very difference.
Plus, I'll get A LOT back in April when my tax returns come in the mail. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks, I'll be sure to look into that. -Josh Gross
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| 20:56 October 21 |
Answering your follow-up question here Josh. You asked:
"What earmarks are you referring to? I'm curious."
(In reference to my post, Sam from NY on 05:22 10/19)
From the San Francisco Gate, the bailout bill included:
-$2 million tax benefit for makers of wooden arrows for children
-$100 million tax break to benefit auto racetrack owners
-$192 million in rebates on excise taxes for the Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands rum industry
-$148 million in tax relief for U.S. wool fabric producer
-A $49 million tax benefit for fishermen and other plaintiffs who sued over the 1989 tanker Exxon Valdez spill.
You know...only the essentials.
When McCain was confronted about his passing of the bill despite him campaigning on this 'absolutely no earmarks' position, he simply stated the bill was important and should be passed. Fact is, given all the country's turmoil, economic and otherwise, there are going to be a lot of important bills in the future. Unfortunately, those too will probably receive the same treatment. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Wow. That is scary stuff.
Thanks for following up. I'll be checking up on this. -Josh Gross
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| 05:39 October 24 |
1) I make less than 250,000/ year, and he'll lower my taxes.
2) I strongly believe in a woman's right to choose.
3) I think his health care plan is better.
4) Joe Biden has great teeth. And has the qualifications and presence to make him a powerful leader if the need should arise.
5) Obama's speeches make me happy and really feel good about living in the United States of America.
6) I think he and Biden are way smarter than me, and I think that's an excellent trait in a leader.
7) I have friends who are set to deploy to Iraq, and I would like them to come home.
8) NCLB needs a gigantic revamp, and Obama says he's going to do it. McCain is planning to extend it as is. Our students are tested too much with no time to truly learn. If it continues like this, graduates will be excellent test takers with no actual knowledge to back it up. This is especially true in poor areas where schools are more dependent on hitting the test scores because their students are less likely to pass them to begin with (higher levels of ELL students, less parental support, greater need to work while in school). Sorry. I'm a teacher.
9) National Security. Living in NYC, I am very confident that not only will Obama make us safe, but that having him as president will improve our overall foreign relations.
10) His family is cute. It will be so nice to have a young family in the White House again. Picture JFK. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL especially, Point #8. Everything else sounded heartfelt. -Josh Gross
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| 11:14 October 21 |
Hey Josh,
Itfs really cool that youfre doing this. Ifll try to present what I think as open-mindedly as possible.
From looking through comments, it looks like a lot of folks from both sides have given you some fact and policy-checking tools so you can make your own decision, which is totally great. One think I think is missing, which I hope I can talk about effectively, is looking at the underlying way that the candidates and their parties think about the issues, so you can see why candidates make certain decisions, and can predict where they might head towards, given the chance.
First off, I recommend reading a slim handbook by George Lakoff called gDonft Think of an Elephant.h Lakoff explores the underlying values and morality of each of the two major parties. Hefs a lifelong and obvious liberal, but itfs easy enough to sort through his advocacy and just decide on which value system he describes fits your gut instincts more. This book really helped me to clarify why I think the things I think.
From looking over some of your responses, you seem to be concerned about economics and spending (which, duh, who isnft these days), so Ifll try my (very simplified) take on the underlying views that McCain and Obama represent and espouse.
McCain first: essentially (and again, VERY simplified), a major tenet in how neo-conservatives think about the world is that itfs easy to tell whofs ggoodh and whofs gbadh by looking at what rewards theyfve reaped in their life. (I remember from high school history/philosophy that this is a Calvinist way of thinking, so itfs not like this is a new or radical school of thought. But anyway--) That is, people who have amassed wealth are clearly the best people, because if they werenft good, moral, and virtuous, then they wouldnft have been able to amass wealth. Likewise, people who live in poverty couldnft possibly be good, moral, or virtuous, since if they were, they wouldnft be poor. So, in this way of thinking, itfs natural to create tax cuts that benefit the wealthy, because they deserve the tax cuts for being the best people. Likewise, itfs natural to cut social programs in order to punish people living in poverty, since itfs their own fault through lack of any virtue that theyfre poor. Itfs natural to create policies to keep the biggest businesses the biggest, since by being the biggest they have also demonstrated that they are the best. Likewise, itfs natural to put in place, or not remove, obstacles to creating new businesses or small businesses, since any small venture needs to prove that they have the correct virtues of guts and perseverance to succeed, and small ventures shouldnft get handouts because they havenft proven themselves to have any correct virtue.
Obama: essentially (and again, VERY simplified), a major tenet in how liberals think about the world is that who is ggoodh and who is gbadh can be determined through the actions and intentions of their life rather than material evidence, and that much of material wealth or poverty has to do with the amount of familial, social, economic, political, etc support that people have access to. In other words, since wefre all amassed in this big entity called gsociety,h there are actually very few actions that we can take in a vacuum. So, two people may be born with equal intelligence, discipline, passion, and drive, but one person may be born into a family with access to good schools and lots of contacts with management-type businesspeople, but another person may be born into a family with access only to the school in the nearest town that doesnft teach advanced courses, and lots of contacts with people in the service industry. So, even though these two individuals may have the same virtues of intellect and drive, one of them already has a leg up on the other insofar as starting a business, for example. Furthermore, a virtue that is considered more important by liberal thought and less important (or even immoral) in neo-conservative thought is that of giving credit and paying your dues. So, in this way of thinking, itfs natural to create a tax system where the people who have amassed wealth due to both their own ingenuity as well as broader social, political, and/or economic advantages they may have enjoyed pay part of their success back into this broader system in order to ensure such advantages to others later on. Likewise, itfs natural to not only want to preserve social programs for those living in poverty, but also to preserve or create programs for the working & middle class to achieve their dreams as well\such as good college grant and loan programs, or tax write-offs on small business expenditures, etc. Itfs natural to create policies to ensure that start-up innovation in new fields, which may be a threat to established big businesses, is rewarded to continually create new opportunity. Likewise, itfs natural to create policies to ensure that big businesses donft take advantage of their size and power.
As you can see, these are very stylized, black-and-white kind of statements about the philosophies of each candidatefs value system. But, I think that if you take the time to think through their policy decisions as well as their rhetoric, youfll see that this isnft too inaccurate of a picture.
Now it comes down to it: Josh, Ifm an Obama supporter and would love it if you also voted Obama. But, if your gut tells you that the McCain/neo-conservative way of thinking fits the way that you think more, then Ifd be wasting my breath. Also, it looks like the things that youfve found most helpful were specific tools and information, and (as youfve probably figured by now) Ifm kind of a big-picture thinker, so I might be wasting my breath, anyway. But here goes:
Economically, I get very nervous about the neo-conservative ideal that big business and the market can do no wrong. That kind of ideal allowed such scandals as Enron, the California energy crisis, Tyco, and WorldCom to happen, and who knows what else is going on out there. I am so very, very against shipping American jobs overseas, which is something that John McCain has never denied he would do, while Obama has specified he would fight against it. The current state of the financial sector represents this kind of neo-conservative free-wheeling irresponsibility: regulations on the housing and banking industry were loosened (while laws for people to personally declare bankruptcy were extremely tightened), and business sought to amass as much money in the books as quickly as possible, which then led to the bubble bursting. Now wefre all in this mess where I, as a taxpayer, am forced to bail out these industries with little or no punishment to these industries for their actions. Itfs really the opposite of a free market: in a free market, if you make a bad business decision, you have to live with it! I understand that the bailouts were necessary to preserve the state of the economy and all, but the structure of the bailout gives zero incentive or regulation for something like it not to happen again. This is something that Obama has spoken on numerous times: that the economy and the market must become more responsible unto itself.
Therefs lots of other things I could talk about, and maybe Ifll post again, if thatfs allowed? But for now Ifll keep it at this because this is already really long.
Good luck with your decision!
Ooh, PS: Minnesota Public Radio has a neat thing where they ask you questions based on what candidates have said, and then they show you how your answers match up to candidates, here: http://minnesota.publicradio.o... .... |
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| 21:11 October 21 |
| Obama is consistent, stable has a plan compatible with the times we are in and is realistic. The economy is in the shitter, the last thing we need is four more years of anything closely related to "Bush". He has also based his campaign on his policies rather than desperate and negative attempts to win, in comparison with McCain. You can view Obama's take on things here -http://www.barackobama.com/iss... and you can view McCain's here -http://www.johnmccain.com/Info... Let's face it Josh, you have to decide which candidate is best for YOU. Good luck and best regards! |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL I'm not convinced that the state of the economy is purely Bush's fault. (What about the House and Senate?)
Thank you for the links. -Josh Gross
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| 13:31 October 20 |
I'm voting for Obama because in him I see a man who knows what it means to work your tail off for everything you have and everything you've achieved. I see in him a man who knows education is everything in this world and that our education system is in dire need of reform. I see a man who actually looks at the information, investigates the issue, and considers the pros and cons before making a decision on where he stands. I see someone who actually listens to his constituents. I see someone who is intelligent, articulate, compassionate, driven, and sincere. I see someone who is trying to present an honest picture of what will be required to achieve the things we are asking him to achieve. I don't agree with him 100% of the time, but I feel like it is unrealistic to expect that I would agree with any candidate 100% of the time.
I have never in my life been excited about a candidate that has run for president (least not in the 12 years since i became a legal voter), but I have been moved to be actively involved, to watch all the debates closely, to read up on the info, and to be a better citizen since Obama came on the scene.
He is not perfect, no candidate should be expected to be. He is human. But I do not hear "change" in the policies McCain is espousing. I hear more of the same and spin. He has contradicted his own declarations in the course of a single statement, during each debate, and has chosen a VP who is far from qualified to effectively lead the country. Being a "maverick" is not qualification for the most important office not just in our country but in the entire world. He has made many decisions that are so transparently simply to propel his political career and his aspiration to the presidency. He claims that he always puts his country first but choosing a running mate who is far from qualified to be VP much less be President puts us in danger so that he can pick up the famale vote. I also find it really offensive that he thinks that we women will vote for Palin simply because she is a woman, that we would chose by gender over qualifications. .... |
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| 11:24 October 21 |
McCain's class rank at a naval academy: 894 out of 899
Obama's class rank at Harvad Law: #1
Who would you rather have making complex decisions about economic policy? |
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| 14:00 October 20 |
The world has been changing in dynamic ways. The pursuit of economies as well as arms is at an all time high (according to the media). It is my opinion that a person capable of seeing the problems of our nation in a multi-dimensional form is key, especially when compared to traditional and current political policies especially when they relate to foreign entities. If I had both of these men at my disposal to send as my representative, it would be Obama.
I am convinced that he will introduce a new way of approaching our most pressing problems. Everything else is subordinate: race, religion, political experience. Remember that this country protects many of these subordinate issues and is the basis of our freedom. |
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(I don't trust the media) -Josh Gross
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| 14:06 October 20 |
Josh, I would seriously urge you not to take advice from random people on the internet in order to decide who you're voting for. I've read through a lot of these comments. Some are well-written and helpful, but many are just opinions and distort some of the facts.
I know from your responses that you know that the silly comments about the so-called hottness factor of Palin and the "Obama is a Muslim" stuff doesn't matter. However, many of the comments about the candidates' policies, their tax proposals especially, are distorted and exaggerated.
Instead of reading this opinionated stuff, I would suggest looking into the information yourself. Factcheck.org is a great, non-partisan watch dog. They have fact-checked the three presidential debates, and nearly all of the candidates advertisements. You could also try reading the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine and other publications.
Some commenters may argue that the "Mainstream Media" is biased for one candidate or another. The fact that this claim comes from both sides is, in my opinion, enough to confirm that the reporting is unbiased.
Everything most of these commenters will say is shaded by their own personal beliefs, experiences and biases. To really know who the right candidate is for you, you should go out and get the facts and then decide for yourself. I firmly believe that.
(I put this comment under the Why Obama? section because you do not have a neutral section. I am not trying to sway you toward Obama, just toward information.) :) .... |
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Thanks for the link. And don't worry, I'm doing my own homework, in addition to reading everyone's comments. -Josh Gross
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| 11:35 October 21 |
| Well if we leave aside the usual healthcare issues I think one of the most compelling reasons is everytime there is a democrat in the whitehouse the deficit decreases (or even goes into surplus) and everytime the republicans get in the deficit goes way up. |
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| 11:29 October 21 |
| Because he's about hope, not fear. McCain wants you to be afraid that we'll be attacked or that the whole country is going to come crashing down, etc... Obama doesn't try to scare you into voting for him. |
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| 11:31 October 21 |
| www.factcheck.org |
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| 20:02 October 20 |
| If you haven't made up your mind then you are a dumbass who can't think for yourself. Obama is the new direction, the future and the guy who doesn't have 7 houses, but 1...meaning he can't afford to lose half. So I think the difference is clear. Know the facts and think for yourself. |
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Very eloquent. Do you happen to have any other facts? Maybe some useful ones? Just curious. Thanks. -Josh Gross
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| 20:05 October 20 |
Josh-
My father is an attorney for a small oil business, who could use the ability to drill more offshore and in protected areas... however, it would also result in millions of cases being slammed against every company who does it.
Do you really want to see the court system even more clogged up with more oil men, and their less than urgent cases?
Obama's clean energy policies are music to me and my father, and the men he works with.
More funding for green energy could also result in small companies increasing their revenue due to spending less on heating, gas, etc which grow more and mroe expensive. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Isn't Obama "considering" drilling in Alaska as well? -Josh Gross
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| 20:10 October 20 |
Hi, Mr. Gross,
In the last debate, Sen. McCain reminded the world that he is not Pres. Bush, and asked why Sen. Obama didn't run against Pres. Bush four years ago. I'm wondering why Sen. McCain didn't run against Pres. Bush four years ago. If a third party had more power in 2004, the Republican Party may have been forced to do so.
The two political parties pulling on your ears have often parked their pedagogies so close to the fence that it's difficult to tell them apart anymore. We need to give power to third parties in the U.S., so that all ideologies can be more easily distinguished.
Some people do so by voting Green or Libertarian. I believe that these are meaningless votes4; because our current political system reduces these minorities to obscurity.
The appropriate way to change the balance of power between the two-party system and a multiple-party system is to enact legislative change. Such legislative change will be hindered by Sen. McCain, and perhaps barely supported by Sen. Obama.
This is no longer a country where people can vote for whomever they think is the "best candidate," but instead a country where most vote for the "lesser of two evils." This needs to change.
For these reasons, I'm voting (in pure self-interest) for Sen. Barack Obama. .... |
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| 20:12 October 20 |
Why not?
But no, really, Josh, I pity you.
Having to sift through all of this- most of it unhelpful.
So I'll throw you a bone, or however you want to put it.
I'm voting for Obama for change.
I'm voting for Obama because of his policies, especially on foreign policy, energy issues and of course the economy (which is in such a bad state).
I have nothing against McCain.
I'm thankful that he fought for this country, and that he feels he can help us- but I don't think he can.
And frankly, Palin is woefully inexperienced and naive, trying to come off like she's standing on solid ground while it's crumbling beneath the heels she hikes in.
Obama will put money where we need it, and he will learn from the mistakes of the Bush administration. .... |
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| 23:07 October 20 |
One of the main contentions that McCain supporters use to support their choice is by attacking Obama for wanting to "redistribute" wealth saying McCain wouldn't do that.
Yet McCain helped create and subsequently passed the $700 billion bailout plan that used all our taxpayers money to bail out Wall Street.
So not only did he "distribute" the wealth in a reverse-Robin Hood manner of stealing from the poor and giving to the rich, but the bill was also full of these infamous "pork barrel earmarks" that he time and time again claims he would *never* support.
Basically, he's already "redistributed wealth", just in the past few weeks no less. He also didn't seem to have any problems passing it with all those earmarks that he campaigns ever so heavily against. .... |
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What earmarks are you referring to? I'm curious. -Josh Gross
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| 21:25 October 21 |
1. Obama supports a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body.
McCain (and especially Palin) believe that the government should make that decision for her. (apparently opposition to "big government" only applies when it's convenient to them)
2. McCain supports the death penalty (and yet he is anti-abortion rights). If that's not hypocrisy I don't know what is.
Obama does not support the death penalty (we are the only industrialized country that still has it, btw).
3. If McCain is elected, Palin, let's remember, will be very close to the presidency; McCain is the oldest presidential candidate ever in American history and has one of the most deadly forms of cancer there is. She was clearly chosen simply because she is a woman (and McCain wanted to pander to Hilary Clinton's supporters), because she has nothing else going for her except her XX chromosome. And yet, when she was mayor of Wasila she enacted the policy of making the victims of sexual assault PAY FOR THEIR OWN RAPE EXAMS!! Could we ever need more proof that this woman is not a friend to the female gender??
Joe Biden is an extremely experienced, intelligent person who I would feel very comfortable having as my president if needed.
4. Obama has stated exactly what he will do to increase troops and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan (you know- the region where the 9-11 plot was actually put together?),
whereas McCain has refused to say anything specific about what he plans to do in that area.
5. McCain's stated environmental policies are a bit better than Bush's (though that's not hard to do), but they still are clearly cow-towing to the oil and gas industry. The fact is, oil is going to disappear, a lot sooner than most of us realize. We cannot continue to rely on it as a source of energy, and yet McCain-Palin continue to pretend that drilling off-shore and in protected wildlife areas for oil will solve the energy crisis- ridiculous.
Obama is actually talking about (and planning to fund) what really needs to be focused on- alternate sources of energy: wind, solar, etc. These measures will actually wean us off of foreign (AND domestic) oil, and will markedly help improve the environment.
6. Obama would fund universal pre-school, which is a proven factor in the success of students, all the way through high school. He will also increase teacher wages, and provide a $4000 tax credit to help students pay for college. Obama will pay for his plan by ending corporate tax deductions for CEO pay (I can't believe these even existed in the first place!).
McCain thinks that providing vouchers for a FEW kids to attend private school and pushing "competition" among public schools will improve things- so ridiculous. Schools are not businesses- they are providing our country's future. McCain has said repeatedly that he will put no more money into education.
7. Obama will mandate health insurance for every American child. For adults, health insurance will work the same as it currently does for federal employees.
McCain says he will give a $5000 tax credit to families for health insurance, and his plan will effectively prevent a lot of employees from continuing to get health insurance through their employer. My family health insurance plan (an HMO, by the way) costs $14,500 a year. Where will the other $9,500 come from? Our pockets, of course.
8. The McCain-Palin has been an embarassment, even for a political campaign. They continue to avoid focusing on real policy issues (because they probably know theirs don't hold up to Obama's, especially in the current economic state), and instead are focused on character assasination and playing to the worst in humanity. They lie and mis-lead voters about Obama's record and personal history, saying things like "he doesn't see America like you and I do" (wink, wink) and that he "pals around" with terrorists. Their incendiary tactics have led to things like "terrorist!" and "kill him!" to be repeatedly called out by their supporters at rallies- which they do not speak up against. Most people that I have personally spoken to who support McCain (I'm not saying this applies to all McCain supporters). Think that Obama is a Muslim (he's not) and ignorantly associate that with being somehow un-American or even a "terrorist." It's disgusting and makes me angry for the sake of this country that I love. Racists and ignorant fools should not be the "base" that any politician seeks to garner votes from. .... |
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| 23:12 October 20 |
If you make less than $250,000 a year, your taxes will go down significantly under an Obama administration. He will not continue the failed "trickle-down" economic policies that were put into place at the beginning of the Bush administration that were one of the indirect causes of this economic recession.
His health care plan makes SO MUCH more sense than McCain's.
He is intelligent, charismatic, and eloquent. While I don't doubt that McCain is intelligent, he is woefully ignorant on key issues that matter a lot when you intend to run the country.
On cultural and social issues, Obama's views and priorities are much closer to most Americans' than McCain's.
His election as our president will do SO MUCH to improve our standing and integrity in the world community. Obama is extremely popular world-wide, and a lot of people currently think Americans are weird, stupid or both for electing (twice!) George W. Bush, clearly the worst president we've had in at least the last century.
Obama also end the "cowboy diplomacy" that has characterized the foreign policy of the last 8 years, leading to the loss of the great amount of world-wide support (from allies and "enemies") that the country had after the tragedy of 9-11.
Can we finally have a black president?!! Thank you!
McCain agrees (and has voted) with Bush on almost everything. 'Nuff said. .... |
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These are all very "feel good" reasons to vote for Obama. But do you have any facts? -Josh Gross
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| 23:15 October 20 |
Because after the last 8 years, we could really use an inspiring leader. Someone who will be a voice for the average American citizen as opposed to the upper 10%.
Because every American deserves adequate health care coverage, because education needs to be made more of a priority, because LGBT couples deserve the same rights as all other married couples, because we need to maintain a separation of church and state, because we need to protect the environment before it's too late, because our troops need to come home (especially considering the amount on money being spent on the war in Iraq - a huge factor in the current economic crisis).
Because the US used to be respected on the world stage and I'm tired of being a punch line among other strong nations.
Because I'm sick of the government using social issues that aren't even issues of contention anymore in most other G8 nations to distract us from larger injustices.
Honestly though, I think the best reason for why Obama should be the next president is because he makes me believe in the USA again. He is hopeful and motivating and enables me to take pride in my country. .... |
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| 21:33 October 17 |
Barack Obama is the only candidate who can get the job done on energy policy. Not only does he support the continuation of domestic drilling efforts, he also has a consistent record of voting for incentives to expand renewable energy generation sources, which can add thousands of new well-paid jobs to the United States workforce in these uncertain economic times. He also has a voting record that supports energy efficiency measures, green building standards and entrepreneurs who are working towards clean technology solutions. Joe the Plumber could even incorporate some of the water saving technologies that Barack Obama supports into his business plan.
John McCain, on the other hand, seems to be very confused when it comes to energy issues. He was very outspoken against domestic drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and lifting the ban on offshore drilling until the political tides changed this past year. He also has a record of voting against renewable energy incentives over 21 times but shows wind turbines in his campaign advertisements, which I find extremely disingenuous. He also had no answer for his voting record on energy policy during the debates and his running mate avoided any question posed to her on climate change altogether during her debate.
Although our country will certainly need to "drill, baby, drill" for the foreseeable future, failing to incorporate renewable generation sources, energy efficiency measures and clean technology advances into a comprehensive energy policy will certainly put our country off the path to energy independence.
Why would you vote for someone who can't figure out how to get the job done on one of the most critical issues that our country is currently facing vs. someone who has a comprehensive plan for action, Josh? .... |
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| 21:40 October 17 |
| Have you read the posts you are receiving in the McCain column?! |
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Some good. Some bad. Some helpful. Some not.
I thought this comment from Noita Pitsnoc on Citadel, OH (18:52 October 17) made an important point: -Josh Gross
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| 20:58 October 17 |
| Dude, I could go on forever. I wrote a huge paragraph and then before I posted, I realized you really aren't finding this helpful anyway. You need to trust your own gut, seriously. I know I'm voting because I just don't trust McCain and I certainly don't trust Palin. I think Obama will have a strong political cabinet and I have more hope for our future when I add president to his name. |
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Please, go on forever. See if you can convince me...
"The need for change" or "he's not another Bush" don't help much. I'm interested in the issues, and why you think Obama's proposed solutions are better than McCain's.
Not only is this site extremely helpful for me, its made a number of people I know stop to think about their own decisions. -Josh Gross
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| 21:51 October 17 |
Let's keep in mind, on election day, it's the undecideds who are going to determine the outcome of the election. So let's be as persuasive as we can. Just because you are firm believers in your candidates doesn't mean others are.
So lets provide Josh our rational arguments for picking a candidate..
And while some of us may think undecideds are stupid, some of the piecemeal comments on both sides make me realize that we as Americans in general don't have a lot going on upstairs either.
Frankly, I'm a little afraid now. |
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Completely agree ... Thanks. -Josh Gross
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| 15:44 October 17 |
What Adam said:
Instead of asking people who you should vote for, maybe you should just get in your car, drive to K-Mart or Wal-Mart or anyplace in your state that sells handguns, buy one, buy some bullets, drive out to a field and blow your brains out.
Only someone with the intelligence of a doormat doesn't know who to vote for at this point. "Oh, please people, tell me who to vote for! I'm a frikkin' moron! I don't watch television save for UFC and I can't read! I have no social skills or abilities of my own! I am a blank slate to which other slightly less stupid people can write their opinions on."
Plese Josh, just do us a favor and don't vote at all. If you're too pathetically incompetant to know the differences between McCain and Obama at this point, your American system of politics has nothing to offer you. Quite frankly you'd only be spoiling the vote and making everyone else who made an informed decision look sad and foolish.
And for God's sake, shave that beard off.
Adam from Canada .... |
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See my comment to Adam's post below. -Josh Gross
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| 15:43 October 17 |
Instead of asking people who you should vote for, maybe you should just get in your car, drive to K-Mart or Wal-Mart or anyplace in your state that sells handguns, buy one, buy some bullets, drive out to a field and blow your brains out.
Only someone with the intelligence of a doormat doesn't know who to vote for at this point. "Oh, please people, tell me who to vote for! I'm a frikkin' moron! I don't watch television save for UFC and I can't read! I have no social skills or abilities of my own! I am a blank slate to which other slightly less stupid people can write their opinions on."
Plese Josh, just do us a favor and don't vote at all. If you're too pathetically incompetant to know the differences between McCain and Obama at this point, your American system of politics has nothing to offer you. Quite frankly you'd only be spoiling the vote and making everyone else who made an informed decision look sad and foolish.
And for God's sake, shave that beard off. .... |
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I don't think how early or late a person makes a voting decision is an indication of his or her intelligence.
I haven't made a decision yet because I think I still have a lot to learn about the candidates and the issues. This site gives people the opportunity to try and help me learn by sharing their opinions.
So far there have been a lot of helpful and insightful comments posted. Obviously, yours is not one of them.
Try clicking the "About" link on the top of the page to get a better idea of who I am and what this site is for. Then try posting a helpful comment.
Cheers. -Josh Gross
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| 21:57 October 17 |
| Because by the look of your haircut and beard, you're not wealthy enough to vote Republican. |
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Hahahahaha. -Josh Gross
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| 22:00 October 17 |
While there are several reasons I'd pick Obama over McCain, 2 are the most prominent to me right now (and quicker to write about!)
1. The rest of the world REALLY really wants Obama. Look at these poll numbers from the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl... The Bush Administration has completely destroyed our rep with the rest of the world and an Obama presidency is the first step in repairing our image on a global scale.
2. Despite McCain having a woman on his ticket, Obama is the most pro-woman candidate. I realize that you are a guy, but chances are that you have some important women in your life whether they be your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister or just a friend. Obama's health plan is highly beneficial to women, who have more health care costs over the course of their lives than men (pregnancy costs are a huge part of this) . Obama also supports the right to reproductive choice which some see as a flaw, but Obama's major strength in this fight is while he is pro-choice he is also pro-education so unplanned pregnancies don't happen and he wants to restore affordable birth control, which is hugely expensive (often more than $50 a month).
On the opposing side, Sarah Palin does not believe that women should have any say about their bodies and thinks that rape and incest survivors should have to carry their attacker's fetus to term. In the last presidential debate, McCain mocked the idea of terminating a pregnancy for the health of the mother.
Have fun making your choice! .... |
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| 22:06 October 16 |
i really liked mccain 8 years ago, back when he was more interesting to listen to than al gore and a true conservative, but i think he's a grumpy shadow of the man he was. he's changed himself so much during this election, it feels like he's really just taking one last desperate stab at being president before he dies.
i don't trust the "maverick" choices he's made during this campaign. palin, voting against his own torture bill, etc.
i don't trust someone that can come across so angry during a basic debate--the future president's going to be dealing with many less easy-going people than obama.
i don't believe in tax cuts for the rich, period. it takes a lot of advantages to be able to make it to $250k a year in income, whether it's the ability to get student loans or the luxury of being able to spend 4+ years not working full time. and even then their tax increase wouldn't start until *after* $250k because of how taxes work. it also bothers me quite a bit that oil companies had such record profits, yet we're currently seeing an economic downturn. that's not very trickle-down.
i do believe in penalizing companies that send jobs overseas. that's true conservatism. we've actually been too hands-off with our companies--we're taxing them a lot, yes, but also helping them a lot and not making sure they're running correctly.
i believe everyone should have an option for healthcare--it's a basic dignity of living to have access to care and medical advice when we're sick. what we forget is that a large part of our healthcare costs go to cover the costs of the uninsured anyways. uninsured people are more likely to go to the emergency room, where they're more likely to undergo expensive medical procedures because they didn't have the option for prevention or early detection. providing healthcare for them would bring them dignity while also improving their health, which would in turn reduce the costs, and so on.
i get tired of people who constantly associate republican with the christian way. palin's constant jabs at obama's character, along with her convenient truth-twistings, should not be overlookable just because she's anti-abortion. religion has never been a sign of a good leader--she was found guilty of an ethic's violation, for christ's sake! mccain frustrates me because he is letting this go on in the name of his campaign, allowing people to "fear an obama presidency" and pandering to all those people that just want someone to hate for their issues. the christian way is to take care of people who need care, and to make sure that everyone is held to the same code of honor. the rich are supposed to give more--read your bible, people!
i also feel like obama is the shiny hopeful movement that could make the US a trustworthy superpower again. look at how many people turned out to see him in Berlin! just the amount of interest and respect he's already gotten from our friends and allies overseas.
the truth is, a lot of what both candidates are promising will never happen, but the obama movement shows that the US can and will organize for what they believe in. we can be motivated to care about things outside of money and fear! it's inspired a lot of (pre-election) turnout from groups that traditionally don't vote. if we want a more positive future, we have to think positive. i'd rather a bunch of optimistic supporters hopefully carrying this optimism on--and holding obama to what he's said he'll do--than a bunch of frightened and hateful supporters continuing to be frightened and hateful. .... |
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| 15:53 October 16 |
| why isn't your name joe, like every other midwestern, undecided voter? |
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Haha.
What ever happened to Joe Six Pack?
I couldn't believe how arrogant McCain sounded last night in the debate every time he mentioned lowly, hard-working Joe Plumber. I don't think he and Joe Plumber have the same problems. -Josh Gross
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| 14:01 October 16 |
Obama, because Sarah Palin is not his running mate. I don't trust someone to be second in command that believes in speaking in tongues, that dinosaurs and humans co-existed, that the end times will happen in there life time. Now, is it just me or does it scare you that the person expecting for the end times in her life time will be in a place of power to make sure it happens.
If your like me and have a hard time believing anything any politician says then I say VOTE Obama because at least he represents the idea and direction this country should go in. One of change, hope, inclusion and the belief that maybe we can fix this mess that Bush and everyone else in Washington DC created. I kind of believe that all of these politicians will give us the same result. Its all lip service. But I tend to be cynical. So at least vote for the idea of Obama. Tell the politicians this is what we want. Maybe 25 years from now it will actually make a difference.
As much as I would like to tell you to not vote if your gonna vote for McCain. I can't and shouldn't. I truly believe that Obama is exactly what this country needs and has needed for years. But i am not the only point of view in this country. Go vote! Just be informed. .... |
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| 13:59 October 16 |
A stable Middle East will have ripple effects and create a more stable world. I truly believe Obama would bring a new approach to finally achieving a real and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
My Israeli cousin sent me this short film of retired Israeli generals discussing their hopes for an Obama presidency.
http://www.vimeo.com/1882159 |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks for the link. -Josh Gross
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| 21:20 October 17 |
It is clear that both candidates have some unreasonable ideas. But it is also clear that one man is looking out for you and me, while the other is looking out for Halliburton and Merrill Lynch. One party, it seems, wants to help other people and one wants to help themselves.
Best of Luck with your decision. Either way, VOTE! It's the most fun you can have without beer! |
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| 13:58 October 16 |
Josh,
Remember that Cuba and Canada are not the sole examples of free healthcare. Our country is lightyears behind the rest of the Western world when it comes to healthcare -- we are the ONLY wealthy, industrialized nation without universal healthcare. With our economic state, more Americans are without insurance than ever before.
With Obama's universal healthcare proposal, you would still have the option to stay with your private provider -- no penalties. But, if you are one of the millions of Americans without healthcare, you would now have the option to be protected.
Also remember that in the US we require that all citizens have access to healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay. What does this mean? A healthcare system that is under increased strain due to debt that isn't being dealt with.
Obama is offering and proactive solution to this strain, while McCain is simply avoiding solving a long-running problem. Sounds simliar to another GOP president's approach, doesn't it?
- Sarah .... |
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| 12:37 October 16 |
It's great that you've decided that you will vote (unless, after all this feedback you've solicited you still decide not to). Now that you've decided to vote, here are two frames of reference that make the case to vote for Obama:
- If you care about yourself / immediate family and friends most: Obama's healthcare plan will be funded initially by deficit-spending, but over the next 20-30 years will provide long-term costs savings. This gives immediate healthcare to your old family/friends, and cheaper healthcare to yourself in the future.
- If you care about the country as a whole: This is a globalized world. Countries cannot afford to remain aloof and overly righteous. Game theory, chaos theory, and social sense indicates that it's better to communicate with people than not to. Obama will communicate with other countries in a more constructive way than McCain. .... |
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| 12:52 October 16 |
| So that you and I can travel the world with some respect. In addition, the chance of Palin becomming president should scare the heck out of anyone in their right mind. |
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I'm sure the McCain campaign was hoping to get some votes by adding Palin to the ticket - seems like it was their answer to Obama's message of change. It's interesting to see how many people, Democrats and Republicans, are actually angry/horrified by their decision. -Josh Gross
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| 12:01 October 16 |
| Are you seriously undecided at this point? If you still can't tell the difference between these two then you're too dumb to vote. Please don't. Move. To the south, preferably. Trust me, you'll be welcome. |
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Very classy.
Unfortunately, you're furthering the liberal stereotypes any conservative has ever tried to instill in me. -Josh Gross
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| 13:00 October 16 |
I respect both candidates, and either will be a step up from GWB. But I am voting for Barack Obama because I think those who make more than $250,000 a year can afford to pay more taxes. Because the war needs to end. Because a spending freeze makes NO sense when so many people in the country are so in need. Visit his website and download his Blueprint for Change. He has his policies outlined very clearly, and you can decide whether you agree.
Also, when John McCain dies in office (which he will--we've seen how much the Presidency ages a normal person, let alone a 72-year-old physically disabled man with a history of cancer), do you really trust Sarah Palin to lead this nation in one of its most vulnerable times? .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL But what about the deficit? I understand that sometimes you have to spend money to get to a better place (I borrowed a lot of money in student loans, and now I've got the job I want) - but there has to be some sort of limit, right?
I'll be sure to check out the Blueprint for Change. Thanks for the tip. -Josh Gross
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| 21:19 October 17 |
| Neither. Vote Third Party. Make a true statement that you don't like either choice. |
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Anyone in particular you'd recommend? -Josh Gross
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| 13:02 October 16 |
I am a small business owner. I own a tax business and do more than 1,000 tax returns every year. The idea that Obama is going raise most people's taxes more than McCain is absolutely absurd and false. It is my opinion that because I prepare taxes for a living I do have some insight here. You need to really pay attention when you look at this. Do not fall for the trap that raising taxes on the rich will hurt you. It is absolutely false.
Oh, and by the way, "Joe Plumber" - there is no way you are buying a business that is going to make $250,000 a year. You may be looking to buy a business that has SALES of $250,000. One small technicality - YOU DON"T PAY INCOME TAXES (WHICH IS WHAT MCCAIN AND OBAMA ARE ALWAYS ARGUING ABOUT) ON GROSS SALES!! There is no way this guy has enough money to buy a business that has a NET PROFIT of $250,000 which is what you pay INCOME taxes on - Profit. If you do own a business and you personally profit $250,000 each year forget about McCain and Obama and hire a good CPA. .... |
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| 11:02 October 16 |
Why can't we all just get along?
I notice that those of us on the left use the word "feel" a lot. Who cares if he has no experience or he associates with terrorists and racists? He looks good and sounds good! And doggone it it feels good to vote for a minority.
Read Rolling Stone or Frontline for un-biased facts!
Just because the other guy spent six years as a POW a long way from home doesn't mean that our guy didn't fight just as hard getting into good schools and travelling around the world afterword.
We on the left (coast) need to stick together! Literally! |
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Rolling Stone unbiased? Not too sure about that. And lets not trivialize McCain's military service - although I don't think his service makes him more qualified than Obama for the presidency. -Josh Gross
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| 21:17 October 17 |
Over the years, America has voted based on the party, without understanding the candidates true feelings on the real issues.
For me, personally, the real issues are the ending of the war in Iraq, the state of our economy, and moving toward a cleaner, safer environment in which our kids will live in the future.
My Father has always lived by the creed 'things in moderation'. I think our country can take heed in this philosophy.
For me, Obama best exemplifies this creed. |
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| 23:22 October 20 |
Because Obama has an agenda. He doesn't waste his time claiming he does, he spends his time explaining his idea. He is a strong speaker, a strong figure, and while everything he plans may not be possible, he believes in the idea behind it. He makes me believe that every word he says, he believes it to be true. He has character, class, and cares about more than himself.
His plans come with a price (may increase taxes), but it is up to us as Americans to decide if they are worth it. One of the issues is education. I am for higher funding for schools and school reform. Obama believes in stronger education at early ages and to make college more affordable to those willing to work for it. I believe it will help solve many other problems such as crime, pollution, and job placement if people know more about our world and opportunities. .... |
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| 21:15 October 17 |
I am independent, and Ifm voting for Barack Obama because of his intelligence, judgment and smart solutions to the problems like healthcare and education. For example, I like that education is so important to him and that he wants to make it easier for students to pay for college so that more young Americans can have a chance at higher schooling.
The last eight years have been frustrating and enough is enough. Itfs time for something new. And to me McCain isnft something new. I think Obama genuinely wants to help American people and isnft out to win the presidency just to win. McCain choosing unqualified Sarah Palin as VP makes me think he would do anything to win, and it scares the hell out of me that he can make such a reckless decision. What is this reckless maverick capable of if he becomes President?
I have never been so excited to vote. I am so happy that I get to choose someone who I will be thrilled to have as my President and that I donft have to pick the lesser of two duds. I think when Barack Obama becomes President he will help restore Americafs standing in the rest of the world. I will feel a little safer. And I will be proud to be American. .... |
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| 21:14 October 17 |
I echo Dionne in CA in urging you to watch Frontline from last night on the candidates. Also very worthwhile is Rollingstone's lengthy piece on McCain. I wasn't really frightened of him till reading that well researched piece.
Also, my husband, another fabulously good looking Josh G. is voting for Obama. |
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I'll check out the Frontline ... Thanks. -Josh Gross
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| 21:13 October 17 |
1) Obama presents himself as thoughtful, calm, cool and collected - not erratic, not bitter, not impatient, not judgemental. In all his speeches, have you ever heard him sound angry, condescending or just plain fed up?
2) Obama focuses on the majority - not minority. For example, his focus on helping the middle class versus the wealthiest 10% of the population.
3) Obama thinks differently because he looks at both sides of an argument. He's pro-choice AND wants to work to reduce the number of abortions in this country. Whatever your beliefs are, we can all agree that reducing the number of abortions is a good thing.
4) Obama's is a uniter, not a divider. If Democrats and Republicans don't start working together for the good of all people, nothing will get accomplished.
5) Obama is believable. What he says resonates with me and I like what I hear. I may not agree with everything he believes, but I believe he wants to change America for the better.
If you're still not convinced, watch the Frontline program covering both candidates on PBS. Look at what they've done during their lifetime and hear what people have to say about them. .... |
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| 18:26 October 15 |
| McCain has abandoned too many of his core principles, and the republican party no longer stands for what they used to. They used to be about small government and personal liberties and privacy. Now that the religious right has gotten them into power, mccain is forced to pander to them. Palin is the obvious example of this. She brings no economic expertise, international expertise or really even domestic expertise. She was chosen solely because she is religious and pro-life. Things that McCain could barely even stomach to say of himself eight years ago. In short, mccain would have been a better president than bush. But that ship sailed 8 years ago. He's now resorted to kissing the butts of those he once despised, and is willingly allowing his running mate to spew lies about her own achievements (bridge to nowhere) and about her opponents (claims of hanging out with terrorists, etc.) It's despicable what he's resorted to. And i would have voted for him had he been the option in either of the last two elections. But not this one. He has openly admitted to not knowing much about economics, and yet he still chose a running mate who managed to know even less than he does. His decision making is not well thought out, it's erratic, and a little scary. Stop campaigning, start campaigning, no debate, then debate, etc. He doesn't seem like the cool collected one in this race. Obama does. .... |
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| 18:28 October 15 |
For me, I just don't think the Republican ticket has anything to offer. What can they point to that has gone well under them?
Also, I come from a town of 12,000 in rural Oregon. My mayor is great, but if she became governor of our state, I'd want her to have more than 22 months in that position before taking on the Veep job. I think if you asked anyone from a town of 10,000 or less, if their mayor could e ready for that job in 22 months, they'd say no way.
I'm a health care voter. I don't think I can afford to grow old in this country under the current system. I'm going to try to emigrate if we don't get a better system. I know too many folks who had "good insurance" that are now destitute. Actually two are dead, no longer broke. .... |
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| 21:11 October 17 |
McCain spends the majority of his time bashing Obama's actions, rather than taking proactive steps to further his own platform. I am voting for a president who runs a campaign based on hope and a belief in the true greatness of America rather than one who relies on the mis-education of America and who propagates fear for his opponent to distract from his own similarities to the current president . Luckily for us, many of his attacks of Obama fall flat and get documented.
http://politicalticker.blogs.c... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL I agree that Obama's campaign seems so much more hopeful and optimistic, and attacks from any side get annoying ... but shouldn't we be basing our decisions on more than campaign strategies? -Josh Gross
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| 17:54 October 15 |
| i am an ex-military, registered republican who works as an artist in san francisco and has worked with Rock The Vote for seven years. therefore i've seen both sides and am familiar with the issues. i'm voting for obama for a few reasons, but i feel they're extremely important. mccain will not end the war in iraq, but push it to other countries while further tarnishing our global reputation - he is not shy about admitting to this. obama understands the importance of diplomacy before use of force and will further veteran's rights whereas mccain has consistently voted against them. although obama is religious, i feel he will separate his faith from his role as president whereas i feel mccain will not. as a devout atheist, i prefer my elected leader to keep his/her religion to him/herself. lastly, i honestly fear the likely possibility of sarah palin running the country the more i hear her speak. while i prefer to keep my money out of social programs and i do not agree with obama's stance on israel (or america's, in general), i feel he is the freshest offering to american politics since JFK. and this country could use a global facelift. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks for the insight. -Josh Gross
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| 17:40 October 15 |
| McCain's voice makes you sleepy whereas Obama has a riveting cadence. Think about who you want to listen to for the next 4 years. |
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Um, I'm worried about a lot more than cadence... -Josh Gross
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| 18:57 October 15 |
Obama represents a more realistic and honest viewpoint. McCain is a great man. And was a great candidate 8 years ago. But the fact of the matter is that McCain has pandered to the right wing. Just look at his choice in Palin. They have NOTHING in common. McCain and Obama, truthfully, have more in common than McCain and Palin.
McCain just has to lean right as he searches for those who won't vote for Obama. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Palin does feel more like a marketing gimmick rather than a running mate -Josh Gross
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| 18:54 October 15 |
Tuesday, McCain is unveiling his new proposals, going back to the well of tax cuts for the rich. McCain will announce plans to gcut the capital gains tax on stock profits in half, from 15 percent now on stocks held a year or longer to 7.5 percent — a $10 billion proposal.h The Wonk Roomfs James Kvaal noted the impact of cutting capital gains:
Households earning less than $50,000 a year collected a mere 2.5 percent of capital gains in 2005, according to the Tax Policy Center. Families earning more than $1 million a year collected 59 percent of capital gains. Moreover, most middle-class families with capital gains hold their investments in retirement accounts shielded against capital gains taxes. />
For a candidate already promising $175 billion tax cut for corporations, including $4 billion for oil companies, handing out a new tax cut for millionaires and calling it a gPension And Family Securityh plan is oddly appropriate. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Interesting... -Josh Gross
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| 18:04 October 15 |
| I am a diabetic and work freelance because there aren't any fulltime jobs in my industry with the economy. To get insurance I would have to pay $1500 a month. I can't do that. So, I have to spend my days hoping that nothing bad happens to me and hope that Barak Obama gets elected. Also, since I make less than $250,000 I will pay less taxes under Obama than McCain by $2,000 a year. I am a lifelong republican and I have seen enough of their rule. |
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| 18:49 October 15 |
| Obama is (and always has been) in favor of regulating the economy. Deregulation (supported and pushed by people like McCain) is what got us into this financial mess in the first place. Obama will make sure we learn something from the crisis, and change the way the economy has been working, instead of covering it up and moving on. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Aren't all of the people who took out loans for houses they couldn't afford a big part of the problem too? -Josh Gross
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| 18:45 October 15 |
| He gets it. |
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More detail please. -Josh Gross
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| 16:53 October 15 |
| The rest of the world will respect us more. |
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I don't know if Josh is still checking this page but if anyone would like to talk about this issue or any other issue regarding the election please feel free to e-mail me at Westguy1003@gmail.com
L. Hernandez-
Palin doesnft bother me because the Vice President doesnft really do much but travel around the world attending state functions and hobnobbing with world leaders whenever a country has a birthday or a head of state dies or something like that. Other than that they cast the deciding vote when the senate has a tie once every 40 years.
The Argument that McCain is going to DIE is such a lame one. As President hefll have access to the greatest, fastest healthcare in the world if he should ever need it. And, if God forbid something did happen then what do you really think Palin is going to do? Shefs not going to accidentally launch our nuclear arsenal at planned parenthood centers around the world, shefs not going to force 7-11 to start selling automatic weapons, and shefs not going to hunt caribou on the White House Lawn. Shefll do what the president does with the checks and balances in place in congress.
I like her because her husband is a Union worker so she has a vested interest in keeping American jobs on American soil. I like her because her son is fighting in Iraq and so bringing the troops home and keeping them safe is a priority for her on a personal level. I like her because she was the Governor of a state that has huge energy interests which is a challenge facing our country, and I like that she has been successful in that respect.
It doesnft bother me that shefs a Christian or believes in the Bible. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. I canft remember the last time a candidate said anything negative about God or the Bible.
I think shefs a smarter woman than people give her credit for and too much has been made about her education, her career in the beauty pagent, and her daughter being pregnant.
When you get down to it I trust that what she says is what she believes 100% more than I believe what Obama says. Palin strikes me as the type t o actually speak her mind whereas I think Obama says what he thinks people want to hear. .... |
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| 10:27 October 28 |
I don't know if Josh is still checking this page but if anyone would like to talk about this issue or any other issue regarding the election please feel free to e-mail me at Westguy1003@gmail.com
L. Hernandez-
Palin doesnft bother me because the Vice President doesnft really do much but travel around the world attending state functions and hobnobbing with world leaders whenever a country has a birthday or a head of state dies or something like that. Other than that they cast the deciding vote when the senate has a tie once every 40 years.
The Argument that McCain is going to DIE is such a lame one. As President hefll have access to the greatest, fastest healthcare in the world if he should ever need it. And, if God forbid something did happen then what do you really think Palin is going to do? Shefs not going to accidentally launch our nuclear arsenal at planned parenthood centers around the world, shefs not going to force 7-11 to start selling automatic weapons, and shefs not going to hunt caribou on the White House Lawn. Shefll do what the president does with the checks and balances in place in congress.
I like her because her husband is a Union worker so she has a vested interest in keeping American jobs on American soil. I like her because her son is fighting in Iraq and so bringing the troops home and keeping them safe is a priority for her on a personal level. I like her because she was the Governor of a state that has huge energy interests which is a challenge facing our country, and I like that she has been successful in that respect.
It doesnft bother me that shefs a Christian or believes in the Bible. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. I canft remember the last time a candidate said anything negative about God or the Bible.
I think shefs a smarter woman than people give her credit for and too much has been made about her education, her career in the beauty pagent, and her daughter being pregnant.
When you get down to it I trust that what she says is what she believes 100% more than I believe what Obama says. Palin strikes me as the type t o actually speak her mind whereas I think Obama says what he thinks people want to hear. .... |
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Thanks Dave, I'm still checking this page. And I still find your comments insightful.
I don't think the VP has any power. So I'm not worried. And personally, I'm not willing to speculate on anybody's death but L. Hernandez does raise a questions that's probably on a lot of people's minds. -Josh Gross -Josh Gross
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" 11:09 October 15
The rest of the world will respect us more.
Toby, AL
JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL "
I would like to know how you found this "helpful." World respect is NOT what this election is about, it's about what's best for OUR OWN country and who is more fit to run it. |
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| 04:32 October 24 |
" 11:09 October 15
The rest of the world will respect us more.
Toby, AL
JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL "
I would like to know how you found this "helpful." World respect is NOT what this election is about, it's about what's best for OUR OWN country and who is more fit to run it. |
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Our country, our country's security, trade and progress is also tied to our relationship with other nations. Earning their respect can't hurt, and they seem to have a clear preference. That's the only reason I found it helpful. -Josh Gross
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| 21:14 October 23 |
| Cause Obama is inexperienced. He's only been a state senator for 18 months!!! McCain is old, so you know he's good. |
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yes but unfortunately, experience can also mean applying the same old solutions to the same old problems. -Josh Gross
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| 04:53 October 24 |
continued....
No wonder Obama is so popular is Europe: The Europeans finally found an American who thinks like they do. (And they won't mind in the least when we start suffering the sky-high unemployment and lack of economic growth that socialism has given them.)
Of course, Obama knows that the term "socialist" would kill his plan, so he calls it a "refund" instead. But there's no way it's not socialist; he's either:
* Giving a "refund" on taxes people never paid to start with,
* Moving us drastically closer to the day Social Security and Medicare go bankrupt, requiring a massive bailout by other sources of taxation,
* Or outright turning the core federal retirement funds into welfare programs.
So, which is it? Of course, the mainstream media won't force him to answer that question - they're shamelessly in the tank for him.
So it's up to voters to force Obama to answer - to explain how his tax plan is (somehow) neither socialism nor a deadly blow to Social Security and Medicare.
The deficit now runs hundreds of billions of dollars per year. Yet Obama proposes almost $1 trillion of new spending - and promises to also give "rebates" to the 38 percent of us who pay no income tax. Where is that money coming from?
He's put himself in a fiscal box.
J. Kenneth Blackwell is a senior fellow at the Family Research Council and a director at the Club for Growth. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks for pointing out this analyisis...Although I never thought of Europe as socialist. -Josh Gross
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| 10:02 October 22 |
Ok.., let us deconstruct a post from the other side which you
found helpful.
Eleonore's post regarding the economy.
1. ""Economically, I get very nervous about the neo-conservative ideal that big business and the market can do no wrong. That kind of ideal allowed such scandals as Enron, the California energy crisis, Tyco, and WorldCom to happen, and who knows what else is going on out there. ""
**** The free market is a principle, an idealology. It is not responsible for scandals. PEOPLE are
responsible for scandals; those who abuse their position, no matter what variant of economic
scheme is used. ( free market, socialist.., etc..)
2. "" I am so very, very against shipping American jobs overseas, which is something that John McCain has never denied he would do, while Obama has specified he would fight against it.""
******** Unfortunately for Eleonore, MORE jobs will be shipped overseas with an Obama administration.
You see, when you raise taxes and capital gains taxes on corporations, a few things will occur ; 1. the
cost will be passes on to consumers. 2. they will scale back thier workforce ( loss of jobs ) and 3. they will
ship jobs overseas where the labor is cheaper and the taxes can be avoided.
3. "" The current state of the financial sector represents this kind of neo-conservative free-wheeling irresponsibility: regulations on the housing and banking industry were loosened (while laws for people to personally declare bankruptcy were extremely tightened), and business sought to amass as much money in the books as quickly as possible, which then led to the bubble bursting""
*********** Funny how things are just thrown out there with nothing to back them up. Regulations on the
housing and banking industries were loosened by CLINTON. he signed into law the deregulation of
banks ( so that traditional saving banks could now join investment banks in the stock market ).
http://library.findlaw.com/200...
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS...
This is how the banks were able to merge with investment banks/ insurance groups and then
buy up all those bad sub-prime loans.
Here is video of all the Democrats ( recieving campaign donations ) saying how all is well with
fannie and freddie, when the REPUBLICAN were calling for REFORM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
4. "" Now wefre all in this mess where I, as a taxpayer, am forced to bail out these industries with little or no punishment to these industries for their actions. Itfs really the opposite of a free market: in a free market, if you make a bad business decision, you have to live with it! ""
*** Certainly, they should have been allowed to collapse, if they would not destroy the economy.
Unfortunately, because of the deregulation, they do ( and did ) have an impact on the economy.
5. "" I understand that the bailouts were necessary to preserve the state of the economy and all, but the structure of the bailout gives zero incentive or regulation for something like it not to happen again. This is something that Obama has spoken on numerous times: that the economy and the market must become more responsible unto itself. ""
**** there should not be a bailout, rather a 'workout' ( i.e. a loan ). The regulations which were
taken away by Clinton should be put back into place. As for Obama.., it is quite easy to sit back and watch and see when something becomes unpopular, and then to comeout and condemn it. He has 143 days in the senate,
and most of his votes have been 'present' ( or not voting ). That's how you take a stand, yes ? There's change
for you, just wait until things have gone one way or the other, then comeout for the more popular stance.
How ingenuous...
his voting record..:
http://obama.senate.gov/votes/... .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Extremely helpful. And by helpful, I mean that I think you have brought up some very important points that could help me form my decision, pending my own research and consideration. -Josh Gross
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| 20:44 October 21 |
| I hear McCain came to a CJ volleyball game in 2000 and commented about them being a juggernaut....Just saying. |
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Haha, nice try Craig! -Josh Gross
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| 20:09 October 21 |
Josh
There are too many posts that describe how taxation works for small businesses. Regardless of whether the person owns a corporation or is a sole proprietor, they are only taxed on net income by the federal government. Net income is all the money left over after deductions (in other words expenses).
A person that owns a small consulting business that has gross receipts (sales) of $700,000 can deduct his/her house ($1,500/month - has to prove the sq ft. are used for business), car (rental, depreciation, mileage, gas, etc..), travel (so long as they can prove - pretty easy that it was for business), entertainment (only 50% deductible -so pretty much any: nightclub receipts, dinners out, baseball games, etc...), clothing, etc...
And, any office equipment can be depreciated : microwave, flat screen, dvd, laptop, etc...
all employees, health care expenses, etc... all get deducted.
So anything left is treated as Net Income. That is what gets taxed.
That is why going to a flat or fair tax would make so much more sense, deductions/loopholes would be removed.
Anyone who favors a flat or fair tax supports McCain. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks for breaking it down, I'll look into it. -Josh Gross
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| 20:29 October 21 |
"Socking It to Small Business"
The Obama plan is an incentive to hire fewer workers.
Barack Obama declared last week that his economic plan begins with "one word that's on everyone's mind and it's spelled J-O-B-S." This raises the stubborn question that Senator Obama has never satisfactorily answered: How do you create more jobs when you want to levy higher tax rates on the small business owners who are the nation's primary employers?
Loyal Democrats have howled over the claim that small businesses will get soaked by the Obama tax plan, so we thought we would seek an authority they might trust on the issue: Democratic Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus of Montana. Here is what Mr. Baucus wrote in a joint press release with Iowa Republican Charles Grassley on August 20, 2001, when they supported the income tax rate cuts that Mr. Obama wants to repeal:
". . . when the new tax relief law is fully phased in, entrepreneurs and small businesses -- owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and farms -- will receive 80 percent of the tax relief associated with reducing the top income tax rates of 36 percent to 33 percent and 39.6 percent to 35 percent."
Then they continued with a useful economics tutorial:
"Experts agree that lower taxes increase a business' cash flow, which helps with liquidity constraints during an economic slowdown and could increase the demand for investment and labor."
Twelve Senate Democrats voted for those same tax cuts. And just to be clear on one point: An increase in "the demand for investment and labor" translates into an increase in J-O-B-S. So if lowering these tax rates creates jobs, then it stands to reason that raising these taxes will mean fewer jobs. From 2003 to 2007 with the lower tax rates in place, the U.S. economy added eight million jobs, or about 125,000 per month. The Small Business Administration says small business wrote the paychecks for up to 80% of new jobs in 2005, for example.
Mr. Obama's tax increase would hit the bottom line of small businesses in three direct ways. First, because 85% of small business owners are taxed at the personal income tax rate, any moderately successful business with an income above as little as $165,000 a year could face a higher tax liability. That's the income level at which the 33% income tax bracket now phases in for individuals, and Mr. Obama would raise that tax rate for those businesses to 36%.
Second, the Obama plan phases out tax deductions (the so-called PEP and Pease provisions), thus raising tax rates imposed on this group by another 1.5 percentage points. Finally, Mr. Obama would require many small business owners to pay as much as a four-percentage-point payroll tax surcharge on net income above $250,000. All of this would bring the federal marginal small business tax rate up to nearly 45%, while big business would continue to pay the 35% corporate tax rate.
Mr. Obama responds that more than nine of 10 small businesses would not pay these higher taxes. Last Thursday he scoffed in response to the debate over Joe the Plumber, saying that not too many plumbers "make more than $250,000 a year." He's right that most of the 35 million small businesses in America have a net income of less than $250,000, hire only a few workers, and stay in business for less than four years.
However, the point is that it is the most successful small- and medium-sized businesses that create most of the new jobs in our dynamic society. And they are precisely the businesses that will be slammed by Mr. Obama's tax increase. Joe the Plumber would get hit if he expanded his business and hired 10 to 15 other plumbers. An analysis by the Senate Finance Committee found that of the filers in the highest two tax brackets, three out of four are small business owners. A typical firm with a net income of $500,000 would see its tax burden rise to $166,000 a year under the Obama plan from $146,000 today.
According to a Gallup survey conducted for the National Federation of Independent Business last December and January, only 10% of all businesses that hire between one and nine employees would pay the Obama tax. But 19.5% of employers with 10 to 19 employees would be socked by the tax. And 50% of businesses with 20 to 249 workers would pay the tax. The Obama plan is an incentive to hire fewer workers.
For many months Mr. Obama and his band of economists have claimed that taxes don't matter much to growth or job creation. But only last week Mr. Obama effectively admitted that even he doesn't believe this. His latest "stimulus" proposal includes a $3,000 refundable tax credit for businesses that hire new workers in 2009 or 2010.
So what sense does it make to offer targeted and temporary tax relief for some small businesses, while raising taxes by far more and permanently on others? Raising marginal tax rates on farmers, ranchers, sole proprietors and small business owners is no way to stimulate the economy -- and it's certainly no way to create J-O-B-S.
http://online.wsj.com/article/... .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thank you Real Dave, NY -Josh Gross
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| 21:03 October 21 |
From the Wall Street Journal. (Link Provided Below)
Obama's Fault Tax Argument
As the presidential campaign heats up, a key issue is whether to extend the 2001 and 2003 income tax cuts, which expire in 2011. John McCain wants to make the tax cuts permanent. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton want to let the rates rise.
Opponents of the tax cuts point to spending programs that could be financed by the extra revenues. Chief among these is Social Security. Sen. Obama's Web site, for example, argues that "extending the Bush tax cuts will cost three times as much as what is needed to fix Social Security's solvency over the next 75 years."
Such statements imply that if we return to the seemingly modest tax rates of the 1990s, we could fund the $4.3 trillion Social Security deficit, and so much more. As Mr. Obama recently told Fox News, "I would roll back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans back to the level they were under Bill Clinton, when I don't remember rich people feeling oppressed."
This argument seems compelling, but it is misguided. In reality, repealing the tax cuts would raise taxes far above Clinton-era levels. Due to quirks in the tax code, average taxes would be almost 25% higher than during the 1990s.
Mr. Obama's claim that the lost revenue from the income-tax cuts exceeds the Social Security shortfall derives from an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center's conclusions have been widely cited, but rely on dubious assumptions.
The basic methodology is simple: Compare the income-tax revenues if the tax cuts expire to revenues if the tax cuts are extended. The Center measures the difference in revenue 10 years from now – to match the government's 10-year budget measurement period – then extends the difference over 75 years to make it comparable to the 75-year Social Security shortfall.
To account for the effects of inflation and economic growth, analysts compare tax revenues to the size of the economy. The Congressional Budget Office projects that if the tax cuts expire, income-tax receipts in 2018 will be 1.5% higher relative to gross domestic product than if the cuts are made permanent. By comparison, Social Security's 75-year shortfall is just 0.6% of GDP.
So Social Security is a costly problem, but the tax cuts cost much more. Open and shut case, right?
Not exactly. Tax revenues would skyrocket if the tax cuts expire, due to "bracket creep." Average incomes are higher today than in the 1990s, but income-tax brackets aren't adjusted for the growth of earnings. As a result, Americans will shift into higher tax brackets and pay a greater share of their incomes in taxes.
Going back to the tax rates of the 1990s doesn't mean that households will pay 1990s taxes. Because the tax brackets haven't risen along with incomes, average taxes would be significantly higher, and grow each year.
If the tax cuts expire, income-tax revenues by 2018 will rise to 10.8% of the total economy from 8.7% today – an increase of 24%. Compared to the average over the last 50 years, allowing the rates to rise would increase tax revenues by 32%.
Believe it or not, income taxes will rise even if the tax cuts remain in place, because the revenue-increasing effects of bracket creep more than offset the lower rates. With the lower rates, total income-tax revenues will increase to 9.3% of GDP by 2018. This level is 7% higher than today, and 13% above the 1957-2007 average. Thus even with the tax cuts, revenues will increase by more than enough to fix Social Security.
So even if the tax cuts are made permanent, future Americans will pay a greater share of their incomes to the government than in the past. But for some in Washington, that's not enough.
Not surprisingly, neither party highlights these rising tax receipts. They undercut liberal arguments that the government is starved of revenue. And they render conservative claims for the tax cuts unimpressive. ("Vote GOP: A smaller tax increase than the other guys!")
The next president will face difficult choices regarding how much to collect in taxes, and how much to spend on entitlements like Social Security. Future citizens may decide that paying higher taxes is worthwhile. But in any event, the misleading tax cuts vs. Social Security argument should not guide policy makers on this issue.
http://online.wsj.com/article/... .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL This is a particularly important issue to me. Thanks for the link. -Josh Gross
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| 21:08 October 21 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
---------------------------------------------------------------
Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaignfs Abusive Use of Missouri Law Enforcement
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.
gSt. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.
gWhat Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.
gThis abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jeffersonfs thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election.
gBarack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.h
http://governor.mo.gov/cgi-bin... .... |
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Ok, so Matt Blunt is pissed. But what exactly did Obama do? -Josh Gross
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| 11:22 October 21 |
There's a lot of misconception going on regarding the 250K and up tax plan as outlined by Obama and his campaign. There's also a misconception that only a small fraction of small business make that much. The truth is that small businesses include more than just the local thrift store down the block thats rent controlled.
Small businesses include, but are not limited to: independant stores, independant restaurants/bars/coffee shops, etc, franchise locations not in any way subsidised by the parent company (which includes most fast-food rests, snack and coffee locations, some gas stations, etc).
I'll focus on the restaurant and bar industry as that is what I know best out of all of these. Let me by perfectly clear: It is IMPOSIBLE to run my bar and NOT make more than 250K, the average cost of operating a restaurant/bar (in westchester county) is 500K a year, and often that's just to break close to even.
Break it down:
$250,000 / yr = $20,833 / month (12 months)
$20,833 / month = $5208 / week
5K a week SOUNDS like a lot, but don't think for a second that that's what the boss takes home. If my bar only took in 5K a week I'd be out of business in a matter of months.
Break it down further. I have 16 employees making an average of 7 dollars an hour. This accounts for the below min. wage hourly rate that waiters, bussers, and servers recieve because the government counts gratuity (i.e. tips) as taxable income and thusly a waiter does not need to be paid minimum wage and they rarely ever are. But accounting for non-gratuity positions, including a few front of house hosts and the kitchen staff my average payroll includes:
13 Full Time Time employees + 3 Part Time employees working an average of 30 hours/week at $7/hour = $3920 / week in payroll
NOW Let's see what we have in some basic costs. Food/beverage costs (on avg: 1500/week = 6,000/month), utlities including gas and electric (varies by season but call it between 600-900/month), various insurance, permits, and other neccesary costs just to stay open (500/month), garbage disposal (300/month), and rent (7,000/month), and of course let's not forget our payroll of 3920/week which monthly comes to 13160... and we have: $27,560 / month in operating costs based SOLELY on keeping the door open, the food and beverages ready to serve, and the employees,..well, employed.
$27,560
I also didn't factor in the day to day costs of running what is absolutely a small business. Costs like pest control, dry and non-reuseable goods such as soap, paper towles, napkins, checks, credit card machine paper, pens, pencils, assorted office supplies that need to be constantly replenished, etc), not to mention (speaking about credit card machine) the fee you pay for credit card processing. That's ANOTHER $1200
$28,760
And let's not forget light bulbs, carpet cleaning (unless you do it yourself but then you have to purchase and maintain the materials to do so), payroll processing (which fewer businesses do themselves these days), if you have a commercial kitchen you need to have your grill hoods cleaned quarterly, you need someone to dispose of the spent grease from your deep fryer, etc.. And that's another (on avg) $900/ quarter = $3600 / year / $300 month
$29,006
You also need to print up and maintain your menus, constantly reprinting take-out menus (if that applies to your place), worry about marketing and advertising costs because any decent business does SOME form of advertising and promotion,etc, etc, etc.. On avg (for me) an additional $800/month
$29,806
But there's also social security, NYS Disability, Workers compensation, and of course the EXISTING Taxes paid both to the State and Federal Government which all combined equals roughly an additional $1000/month.
$30,806 / month In operating / running expenses just to keep the place open, stocked, ready for business, and compliant with local, state, and federal law.
$30,806 a month X 12 months = $369,672 / yr JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
This also doesn't account for sudden, unexpected expenses such as replacing furniture, cooking equipment, broken appliances, etc.
So remember what you consider to be a small business is actually quite large and in depth. We have to take in just UNDER 370K to break even before we even THINK about turning a profit.
Couple that with a few hard, industry truths: Weeknights will never be as lucrative as weekend nights (Mon-Weds night will often equial ONE weekend night). Daytime will never be as lucrative as nighttime (Mon-Weds Day MIGHT equal one thursday night), and from November - April business WILL slow down. When you're a bar you tend to have to make the bulk of your money during the summer weekend nights and hope you do well enough the rest of the year to help carry you over.
Just to put it in perspective:
250K / Year Will = $20,833 a month
Our Monthly Costs = $30,806 a month
For a Difference Of = -$9973 a month
And after all that, there's those unexpected expenses and the above "nature of the industry" factors whose impact we haven't even explored in detail.
Oh, and by the way, Small Businesses are the number one source of jobs in the United States. So realize that after all is said and done.. that tiny little bar at the end of the street is INDEED a small business, and they account for a hell of a lot more of the economy then you might think.
And just so if you wonder... a sole proprietorship such as myself is taxed on EARNINGS, not profits. Every dollar that comes into my bar counts as earnings. Regardless of what I take home at the end of the day, regardless of IF if I take home anything at the end of the day. There's no differentiation between the money that comes into the business and the money that comes out. So even though I need 300K+ a year to operate EVEN of that only means breaking even.. I get taxed on everything the bar takes in. It counts as personal income. HENCE. TAXES UP!
If I'm lucky maybe I can stay open long enough to pay my increased taxes. YAY! .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 20:12 October 20 |
With regard to the tax issue I'd like to clarify that you are taxed on what you earn, NOT what you clear. I.E. A person that is salaried for say... 50K a year is taxed on that 50K. The fact that you wind up with 43K does not factor into the equation.
A lot has been made of The whole 250K thing but I'd like to point out that Obama's plan would increase taxes for the top TWO income tax brackets, which includes individuals and families earning 100K or more. It is THIS tax bracket that people need to pay more attention to as a lot more American's fall into the 100K plus range than the 250K plus range. Check out his own website:
http://www.barackobama.com/tax...
Under his Impact section you'll notice they'res no mention of the impact of the tax cuts going to married couples earning in excess of 90K/yr. The reason for this is the increase in taxes. 100K divided by two people is, obviously, 50K each which is essentially middle class these days.
Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com... .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks for the links -Josh Gross
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| 20:13 October 20 |
First, I'd like to clear up a misconception that another poster wrote. The definition of a "small business" varies, but generally refers to one that employs less than 100 workers & most "small businesses" have incomes well in excess of $250K. The poster who said "98.8% of what is considered a small business, is a company that is earning less that $250K" is confusing the term with a "microbusiness", which is a "mom & pop" operation that employs very few, often part-time, helpers.
I own a company that is unincorporated, has 4 employees with an approximate annual gross revenues of $750K, from which I can only draw a small salary as operating expenses (overhead) are high. If my gross income tax is increased, it directly affects me since it's not differentiated from my salary, as it would be if my business was a corporation & I was considered an officer or employee of the company. Therefore, my personal taxes would increase dramatically under Obama's proposals & I do not support him for this & other reasons. Depending on the size of a tax increase, I might have to terminate 1 employee (who has no dependents).
I know many others in similar situations, as I have friends who are self-employed as electricians, truckers, landscapers & medical personnel (no plumbers) whose gross income is above $250K but whose expenses diminish their REAL earnings. NONE of these people will be voting for Obama (most are probably Republicans anyway).
I recently read a post that suggested that in this election, the voters are split between the "haves" & the "have-nots". I agree with this observation & it appears that the latter group is hoping to benefit from the labors of the former, people like myself who work & contribute to society. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 14:08 October 20 |
Frankly I'm disturbed by most of the responses to this question.
There are a lot of "facts" traveling the airwaves and for every slam on one candidate there is another issue brought up about the other.
Sifting through the crap and finding real meaning in what people do, say and think is going to be difficult for anyone.
Look at the voting records in the Senate, see if the candidate supports the things you care about. It's fairly simple, go here:
Senator Obama
http://www.votesmart.org/votin...
Senator McCain
http://www.votesmart.org/votin...
Look at the record, compare it with policy outlines that are available and see if they match up with what you value.
Listening to the drivel here by people watching ads on TV or making their mind up based on how articulate someone looks in a debate is ridiculous.
Above all else, choose for yourself, don't let people choose for you. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Very helpful ... thanks. -Josh Gross
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| 12:55 October 21 |
| I really like Obama, but he is kind of like a pipe bomb. You think you know what will happen after you light that fuse, but you could be very wrong. |
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Nice analogy, not potent enough. -Josh Gross
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| 20:14 October 20 |
Assume youfre an owner of a company, for whatever reason you cannot run it, you need to hire somebody to do it for you. You have to options:
Option one: A man with experience, somebody you know well, he has helped your company in the past, made great sacrifices for your company even though he didnft have to. His loyalty to your company is unquestionable. He has challenged his friends when he thought they were not acting in the best interest of your company.
Option two: A man with no experience whatsoever, somebody untested, who hasnft accomplished one thing in his life, somebody who associates with people who want to destroy your company, who say that your company is evil.
Make your pick (needless to say that company is your country). .... |
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| 14:15 October 20 |
Josh-You, and/ or the site author should offer recognition or some kind of prize to the person that presents the most helpful, compelling reasoning. If you do, Lance (below) from New York would win hands down so far.
Everyone didn't take the challenge as serious as Lance and some were downright gross and/or ignorant.
I for one am not proud of under-appreiciating the challenge as evidenced by my cavalier response and weak attempt at sollicitating conversion to my side by stereotyping west coast liberals.
Even if you don't agree with Lance's conclusions, you must admit that his logical reasoning is compelling.,
By the way, it is interesting to note that you find about 10% of McCains supporters helpful vs. 6% of Obamas? Does this mean you are leaning to the right more than 40% at this point? .... |
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At this point I'm not really leaning in either direction. I'm still trying to weigh the pros/cons of either candidate -Josh Gross
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| 12:50 October 21 |
| HAHA! The line is going stright into the elephant's and donkey's asses!! HEHHE HOOO HEEHEE HOO HOO! |
| Josh |
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I hope you're not old enough to vote. -Josh Gross
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| 20:20 October 20 |
I ask you to think with your brain, and not your heart. Your heart can be used whenever you like. Send money to Africa, send money to some childrens home around your home town. Put your tax dollars that McCain will save you twords what moves you in your heart, and don't trust the government to do it for you. Trusting the government to spend your money is the LAZY mans way of charity.
I understand it is hard to decide when you have a bleeding heart for others, but your common sense tells you better. That 's how I feel about Barack and McCain. Barrack appeals to my bleeding heart and the desire to help all fellow citizens by digging in my pocket and willingly give. Yet I know McCain is the most logical choice because he and his policies encourage people to stand up for themselves and to let government be more localized. I have known people personally that would have and have genuinly benefited from socialized health care and other gov. funded programs,who would have used them wisely, to further themselves and become independent. However, I also know people personally who would abuse and suckle off the teats of government every chance they get with no guilt or feeling of regret, and with no intention of bettering themselves. These are the people I choose not to support . Unfortunatly it may be to the detriment of others, but that's the way it goes.
In addition, think about their plans to protect our country and how each of them plans to succeed. McCain has the track record of incredible loyalty, and has been through the worst of war. Think...do you really think this man "wants" war? No. But he does realize the importance of "winning". If we do not tie off this war in Iraq we will regret it and have to "finish" it sometime. The last thing we want is another dictator there.
Remember, voting McCain doesn't make you less of a caring person for people less fortunate than yourself, it empowers you to go out and make a difference personally! .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Very thoughtful post ... probably not the most popular way to look at things, but I think you make some good points. -Josh Gross
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| 21:20 October 21 |
Josh,
Before you decide, read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Declaration, while it doesn't have the force of law, lays important groundwork for American democracy. Some salient points: we're all created equal; our rights come from the Creator, not from our government; the purpose of government is to secure our rights; and, government derives just powers from the consent of the governed. These were revolutionary concepts, indeed -- and they're still noble ideas. Throughout our history, men and women have pledged and paid their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to defend them. They're worth keeping in mind as you vote. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It's the rule book, if you will. It enumerates the powers of the government and defines further rights that belong to the governed. Those who framed it made provision for its amendment; they intended that it always remain relevant, but it is not a "living document." Read it thoughtfully, and you'll be alarmed at the direction our democracy is taking.
I'm afraid that our choice in this election must be for the lesser of the evils. Both major candidates see government as a provider of solutions for all that ails us, and because of that mindset (which is, unfortunately, shared by the majority of our elected officials, and, even more unfortunately, by vast numbers of voting Americans), neither is likely to point us back toward the kind of limited government envisioned by our Founders, the kind of government that encourages individual responsibility and initiative.
I believe that McCain is the lesser evil primarily because of his understanding of the pernicious effect of taxes on the economy. Every dollar that goes to the government is a dollar that can no longer be productive.
The private sector creates wealth by producing goods and services that people value. The government, on the other hand, can only consume. Every job it "creates" depends on the production of the private sector. The higher the rate of taxation, the more deleterious the effect on the economy. The lower the rate of taxation, the more the production and consumption of goods and services can grow -- and, oddly enough, the greater the revenue to the government. Reagan's tax cuts increased Federal revenues. So did Bush's. Spending (which is controlled by Congress), however, grew faster than revenues, so deficits increased.
A second point in McCain's favor is that he is more conservative than Obama. He's not a conservative, to be sure, but Obama's record is far to the left of McCain's. The next President will probably appoint one or two justices to the Supreme Court. It is likely that, as a liberal, Obama would appoint judges who are more "activist," more willing to freely interpret the Constitution. It's not certain, but likely. McCain is more likely to appoint justices who will interpret the Constitution in a stricter fashion. It's not certain, but more likely. The risks posed by an activist Court are, in my opinion, so great, that I would not give Obama the chance to move it in that direction.
Thirdly (good heavens, I'm beginning to sound like Joe Biden), I give the edge to McCain on understanding the world scene. We're faced with numerous threats to our security -- Islamic terrorism, Russian nationalism, dependence on foreign sources of energy, and China's emerging economy (this one's an opportunity, too). Obama has very little experience in this area, and what he says reveals what seems to me to be a dangerous naivite.
Finally, McCain is right on issues of life. I give him credit here for being a positive good, not the lesser evil. Life is the basic right. It's the first right mentioned in the Declaration. Without the right to life, all other rights are meaningless. When asked when life begins, McCain answered without hesitation, "At conception." Obama, asked the same question in the same forum, replied that answering that particular question was "above my pay grade." If he had answered unequivocally that life begins at natural birth, his answer would at least have been consistent with his record as a staunch supporter of the right to abortion at any stage of pregnancy. But if you don't know when life begins, you have to admit the possibility that it begins at conception. And then you have to admit that abortion might just be the taking of an innocent human life. Waffling gets you in trouble sometimes. Abortion is a great evil. Obama's position is wrong.
There's my two cents' worth. I'm sure none of it surprises you. Thanks for listening. You've always been good at that.
Poop .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Incredibly insightful and well-written. A big help.
Thank you. -Josh Gross
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| 21:22 October 21 |
listen, i dislike sarah palin as much as the next person, but i'm still voting for mccain. obama is an incredible speaker, but there's little substance behind the hype; his policies are going to mire the government further and further in our floundering economy. the truth is that we're facing the potential for massive inflation due to the involvement of the government in the economy already, and further involvement will only compound the issue. we need to get the economy standing back on its own two feet, and that won't be accomplished through increased taxation and an expanded welfare state. it just won't.
in terms of foreign policy, we all know that bush and screwed us nine times over, but mccain is a known moderate with a lot of experience. if he can just keep palin as out of the spotlight as possible, we're going to be just fine.
it's important to look at the candidates themselves, not just the party labels. reacting to mccain or to obama just because they are a democrat or republican isn't how this country is supposed to work. i don't care for republicans, frankly, but i trust mccain. obama, hasn't followed through. he hasn't had the opportunity to follow through. give him four more years in the senate, and then we'll see what he can do. in the meantime, vote mccain. .... |
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Thanks. -Josh Gross
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| 21:32 October 17 |
Unfortunately, I think politicians of any race and any party will say (and have been doing so for quite some time now) ANYTHING to get elected... -Josh Gross
I don't disagree, however, Obama and his campaign have taken this to the hilt ( just check his changes on issue after issue..)
Also, his campaign tries to silence critics...
http://michellemalkin.com/2008...
http://michellemalkin.com/2008... |
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Thanks for the links -Josh Gross
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| 21:03 October 17 |
It boils down to this : People want change.., so much so, that they aren't even bothering to properly look at Obama and what he's about. They want change, just for the sake of change - the country be damned.
Obama is a SOCIALIST. Our country is a Democratic Republic. Socialism has a long history of.... - FAILURE.
Answer me this.., Who am I...::
Universal healthcare
Wealth distribution
Civic/ volunteer youth initiatives
Free education
Government programs for any and all problems
answer : The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Note the second S - SOCIALIST - and we all know what happened there.
Another question to be asked regarding Obama's tax plan..:
The Bush tax cuts ( our present tax rates ) will expire soon. Now, will Obama cut taxes BEFORE our current tax rates expire..., or AFTER ( which is not cutting taxes at all, but leaving them where they are now..- i.e. What McCain proposes..)
It's a slick way of saying you wil cut taxes, when in truth, he will not.
Also, paint it what you will, but, minorities are for Obama because of his
ethnicity, plain and simple.
Obama also understand that he can garner a footnote in history, thus
his blind ambition and willingness to say and promise ANYTHING to get
elected.
( however if it happens, there will be an asterix * as he is mulatto, not 100% ) .... |
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Unfortunately, I think politicians of any race and any party will say (and have been doing so for quite some time now) ANYTHING to get elected... -Josh Gross
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| 21:37 October 17 |
McCain at least tells it like it is on things like health care, Social Security etc. It is somewhat amusing to read so many posts on the Obama side stating what Obama will do with no mention of where the money will come from. Do some research to check out the financials of our country.
National health care will further break the bank. The Medicaid drug benefit is unsustainable. Just look up the costs. Also note that in Great Britain people are leaving the National Health System and buying private insurance since the NHS does not work. In Canada you do not have the option of buying your way into the sysytem, no matter how dire your circumstances may be. You cannot buy a CAT scan for yourself but you can buy one for your dog. In the US everyone can get treatment with or without insurance.
The market trumps socialism every time. Obama supporters: tell us one instance of a socialist nation that is successful and prosperous. It would also be a good idea to read our Constitution. You will find that most of what Obama wants to do is unconstitutional and McCain leans that way to a lesser degree. .... |
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| 21:43 October 17 |
Hey,
My dad owns a small business and if taxes were to increase for him and if he were to be required to offer healthcare, he would not be able to grow as a business because he couldn't hire any more people... It's his American Dream to run a business, but he can only do it if he's not subjected to ridiculous taxation from the federal government.
Thanks |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 21:45 October 17 |
| Obama wants to tax anyone who makes $250,000 or more a year. These people should not be taxed any more than they already are because they are the people who will turn the economy around. The economy is in the crapper right now and the people who have the money to invest and actually turn things around are the people in this $250,000 income bracket. In addition to this discouraging people from investing who's to say a couple years later that Obama decides that people who make over $200,000 a year should be taxed? Or $150,000? If the bar gets lowered the people who will be hurt the most are small business owners and that will reduce the number of jobs. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 21:48 October 17 |
CHANGE??????
>
>
> TO ALL MY FRIENDS....LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE...FYI only.
>
> George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six
> the economy was fine.
>
>
> A little over one year ago:
>
> 1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
>
> 2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
>
> 3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
>
> 4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
>
> 5) American's were buying new cars,taking cruises,
> vacations overseas, living large!...
>
> But American's wanted 'CHANGE'! So, in 2006 they voted in a
> Democratic Congress and yes--we got 'CHANGE' all right. In the
> PAST YEAR:
>
> 1) consumer confidence has plummeted ;
>
> 2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
>
> 3)Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
>
> 4)Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12
> TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;
>
> 5)1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
>
> 6)as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~
>
>
> $2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS &
> MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
>
>
> YES, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT! .....
>
> REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES,
> ONLY CONGRESS. [ REMEMBER THIS LINE]
>
> AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS? ABSOLUTELY
> NOTHING! NADA, ZERO, ZILCH.....
>
> NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO
> REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!!
>
>
> JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
>
> PLEASE PRINT THIS LETTER FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
>
> PUT IT ON YOUR FRIG AND
>
> THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE ON
>
> NOV. 4th!!!!!!!!!!!
I think there is only one way we can vote!! McCain .... |
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| 21:53 October 17 |
No one should decide how to vote based on 150 words. If your personal philosophy draws you to that of Obama, you should vote for him. Likewise for McCain.
These are both great candidates and America is fortunate to be in this position. The country will be in good shape regardless of which candidate wins, despite the hyperbole.
I personally am voting for McCain, both because I find myself more drawn to his philosophy and because I would like to ensure balance to the otherwise Democrat-dominated government. |
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It's nice to hear some bipartisan optimism. -Josh Gross
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| 13:26 October 17 |
It is actually a "no brainer". McCain is a long way from the ideal candidate. However, he is much more in line with the founding principles (Declaration of Independence, Constitution etc.) of our country. For example: Senator Obama believes in greatly expanding the Federal Government's role in health care (and about everything else). Sounds good but it doesn't work.
All one has to do is to take a look at Medicare and Medicaid. Throw in Social Security and those three programs have unfunded (money from future tax revenues) liabilities in the trillions. Yes, they are going and absolutely will go broke. When they do the cost will be devastating, especially to the poor. Obama also does not believe in any "privatization" of Social Security. Your Social Security taxes do not get set aside for your retirment. The law, as written in the '30's, sends that money to the general revenue fund. The poor who pay no federal income taxes do "contribute" 12.4% (their employer matches their contribution of 6.2%). By law and by two Supreme Court decisions no citizen has any right to any money "contributed" to Social Security. In other words, you do not own your retirement.That is especially devastating to the poor and to black males. Statistically, black males die before being able to collect one dime of what they paid into the system. Their contribution goes up in smoke; can't leave the money to their wife or kids or even their favorite charity. We could write page after page about how the expansion of our Federal Government has ripped off the poor but that's for another time and venue. Remember, there is no "free lunch".
However, the absolute topper is the right to life. Obama is a radical supporter of all forms of abortion while McCain is very pro-life. My position is based on faith and reason. However, just a look at a few statistics will startle most Americans: 34% of abortions in the US are performed on 11% of the population: African Americans. Margaret Sanger, the "founder" of the modern abortion and "reproductive rights" movement was a believer in eugenics. Her idea was to eliminate the poor (and especially black people) as they consumed too many resources. Since1973 over 50 million unborn have been killed in the womb. About 25 million have been aborted since 1991. Those 25 million people would be taxpayers, consumers, moms, dads etc. Yep, most moral truths have very practical benefits.
McCain has many faults but he is an easy choice. Josh, if you want to see the US go in the direction of Continental Europe (it's crashing and burning, by the way) vote for Obama who is a socialist. If you want to give our country a fighting chance to become that beacon on a hill, vote for McCain. He is not the best one to turn it around but he will start to turn the rudder in the right direction. Obama will head us toward or maybe even over the cliff.
You know me: I am the 62 year old who can still throw a football! .... |
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| 22:01 October 17 |
Dear Josh,
My younger, not nearly as good looking, impressionable cousin, please do not vote for McCain. Please do not vote for Obama. Please write in Ron Paul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Thank you. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Thanks for the link. -Josh Gross
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| 22:03 October 17 |
Democrats as a whole largely champion government sponsored programs for lower-income families. I.e. Wellfare, food stamps, unemployment, etc... Note that I did not say solely, or exclusively, but social programs are a mainstay of Democratic policy.
While I'm not opposed to these programs, persay they are largely ineffective , financial black holes. Systems like welfare are designed to help people who have fallen on hard times sustain themselves while they get back on their feet. Instead we have people sitting on welfare without working (or working off the books and still collecting from the federal government) for YEARS on end. That is not what the system is designed to do and that is not what it is SUPPOSED to do.
Obama wants MORE social programs, MORE spending. In short, he just wants to throw MORE money at ineffective systems and programs that only wind up costing US, the taxpayers, more money at a time when , on Obama's own words, we are suffering "the greatest financial crisis since the great depression."
More money is not the answer for anything at this period in time. I don't know if John McCain will succeed in fixing these broken systems and programs but I DO know that Obama won't even try. .... |
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| 22:11 October 16 |
On the subject of the economy as a whole, Obama has stated that he wants to cut taxes on 95% of households which SOUNDS great but that 95% is impossible since one-third of those who file with the IRS are "non-payers," people who end up paying no tax or get money back which exceeds their payments. Obama plans to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and create other credits. For those for whom the credits surpass their tax obligation, those are not tax cuts, but spending
hikes or federal giveaways akin to welfare or other government assisted living programs. But even if it WERE realistic to do as such maybe you should ask how does He plan to finance the war for a further
2 years if he wants to cut taxes on 95% of households? I remember his speech where he says he wants to bring the troops home "yesterday," This sounds great to opponents of the war but is unrealistic. Even if that's how he feels make no mistake, it WILL take time to bring the troops home. It WILL take years. Obama himself has stated he thinks 2010 would be a good time to start bringing the troops home. Pres. Bush has suggested 2011... really not too much of a difference there.
Also, that statement (bring the troops home yesterday) was made in the winter of 07. The day after this
years DNC Obama told a group of reporters in Boston.
"The failure of the Iraqi state would be a disaster. It would dishonor the 900-plus men and women who have already died. It would be a betrayal of the promise that we made to the Iraqi people, and it would be hugely destabilizing from a national security perspective."
So how does he feelt? Bring the troops home yesterday? Or stay there and finish the job?
When you couple that with his plan of wealth redistribution, or to quote him directly "Spread the wealth around" it sounds very very socialist to me, in fact it's actually one of the major aspects of socialism. I'm all for helping those less fortunate than myself (btw I
make less than 30K a year) but I don't want to be told that I have to.
And I'm not sure exactly how Obama meant that to sound, but a phrase like "I want to spread the wealth around" smacks of Marx, whom he openly admits having studied in college when he "palled around with
Marxist professors." A lot of his views are very socialist in nature, but I don't want to digress from the economy.
Jim Johnson, the former VP of Fannie Mae and former Managing Director of Lehman brothers was as recently as June, part of Obama's council to vet potential VP candidates for him. Between 1989 and 2008 Obama
recieved the second highest sum of money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Chris Dodd which also makes me question his economic integrity seeing as Obama's only been a state senator for three years to Dodds twenty-seven. Though Johnson is no longer an "active" member of Obama's campaign he has still donated money to him and continues to support him.
IF Obama wants to lower taxes on businesses making less than 250,000 /yr AND cut taxes for 95% of households how does he plan on paying for the war, not to mention his 10-year, $150 billion increased spending plan?
More taxes. Make no mistake, our taxes will likely go up regardless of who gets into office. At some point they will have to go up. But McCain is proposing a spending freeze and careful examination of government spending to see where we could trim a little off here and there. Ultimately our taxes MAY increase on the back end but hopefully we'll be in a better economic position at that point. Obama has a ten year (I.e. right after he gets into office and extending 2 years beyond an assumed 2nd term), TEN YEAR plan of increased spending worth OVER 150 billion dollars at a time right now when American's are hurting at the pump, at the bank, and just about every other way one can hurt financially.
There's other reasons I don't particularly care for Obama such as his associations with questionable folks: Ayers, Wright, Reiko, ACORN, etc. Sure he can downplay and diminish all these associations, not to mention a LOOOONG list of other questionable associations but at some point common sense has to step in and say "How many times can he deny, downplay, or just refuse to talk about his association with question individual after questionable individual before it starts getting ridiculous?" How long before we start using common sense and ask "Hey, what's going on with this guy?"
Hugo Chavez (Yes, THAT Hugo Chavez) has also come out in favor of Obama, not to mention Fidel Castro, Louis Farrakhan, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, The Socialist Party, USA, The Communist Party USA, and the list goes on and on and on. Granted a candidate can not help if someone chooses to endorse him but the fact that these individuals who are in such stark contrast with American interests and ideology would openly SUPPORT Obama should raise questions about just what it is these terrorists, socialists, and fringe fanatics see in him that support their beliefes/causes. It's no surprise to me that everyone would have an opinion on the outcome of the US Elections including these individuals that I have listed, but these folks don't just "prefer" or "would rather see" Obama, they openly endorse, support, and sing his praises. Scary to me that he's got the likes of Castro, Chavez, and the Communist Party cheering him on. .... |
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| 22:36 October 16 |
| McCain Plain with my support will go all the way. we need a white to rule not some trashy black who can only talk. |
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It scares me that you have the right to vote. -Josh Gross
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| 13:57 October 16 |
Josh,
If you're looking at health care as a main issue to help swing your vote. You should know that SarahN from MN is right, Cuba and Canada are not the only countries with free health care. The UK has it too.
I'm friends with both someone from the UK and Canada and both have had horrible issues with their health care systems. My friends cousin died from cancer in the UK because their health care system took too long to diagnose the problem. Her cousin waited almost a year for approval of a test that would tell them he had cancer. If he was privy to this information sooner, the cancer wouldn't have spread to the point of no return before starting treatment.
My other friend from Canada had to come to the US for treatment that he couldn't receive in a timely manner in Canada.
People come here for better medical treatment. Why take that away?
Check out the blogs below if you'd like more information and point of view on UK healthcare.
http://astuteblogger.blogspot.... .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Sorry to hear about your friends. I've heard similar stories of unacceptable waiting periods in Canada. Thanks for the link, I'll be sure to check it out. -Josh Gross
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| 14:00 October 16 |
In response to Karl Marx - I find it disturbing that you choose Obama because he will take from the rich and give to the poor & that he can spin issues. How can you praise that you think he will "follow the great economic force of Cuba"? Last I checked, we were still in a better position than Cuba.
My husband and I have worked so, so hard to get where we are at today. And we're planning for where we want to be tomorrow. We've made many sacrifices to build a good financial foundation. And we live responsibly without the overhang of serious debt. Why dismiss all of those efforts and give away our money to others that haven't planned well? We donate to a variety of programs & pay our taxes, and we already work our butts off to do so. I don't feel that spreading the wealth to everyone is fair when not every one works as hard as we do. Rework our school programs, educate people to so that they can build better lives for themselves, but don't promote handouts.
I'm voting for McCain because he understands hard work, financial & physical, he is for less government, more individual choice (which is what this country is built on), and he wants competitive tax rates, which in turn will help small businesses and prompt corporations to keep jobs in the U.S.
People shouldn't assume that he's an extension of George W. He's proven that he is his own man, with good determination, and that he has our country's future at heart. VOTE MCCAIN. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Great insights. Thank you. -Josh Gross
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| 12:37 October 16 |
The last thing this economy needs right now is more government spending. As much as Palin in power scares the shit out of me, Obama's economic policies scare me more.
The aforementioned health care issue is just one way to rack up the national debt more. And tax cuts for the majority of the nation is not the right thing to do right now. We need to cut spending, and balance the budget. You can bet Obama will not be vetoing Pelosi's pork. |
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| 11:50 October 16 |
| You DO NOT want the Government to be in-charge of our Health Care. Look at Canada and Cuba. If Obama gets control, where is he going to get all this money to throw at the Health Care plan he's talking about. From us the tax payer. Isn't that what the Liberals are complaining about, taxing our $5000.00 health care credit. |
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Government-controlled health care scares the crap out of me ... They do have a habit of screwing things up. -Josh Gross
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| 12:39 October 16 |
| You DO NOT want the Government to be in-charge of our Health Care. Look at Canada and Cuba. If Obama gets control, where is he going to get all this money to throw at the Health Care plan he's talking about. From us the tax payer. Isn't that what the Liberals are complaining about, taxing our $5000.00 health care credit. |
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| 11:48 October 16 |
To LLan from Ca & the middle east:
We don't need advice on how to vote from someone who never could. Please go home and pack sand. |
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And we don't need you to be an asshole ... try putting a helpful comment up - it'll do a lot more good. -Josh Gross
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| 12:53 October 16 |
| Vote for a true American Hero who puts this country first. Ok, that sounds like talking points....but he really does have a history of cutting through spending and keeping other politician accountable. It may be a time for change, but not the wrong kind. Let's not make government even bigger and give them more power and money. Plus McCain's administration would be reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt's, and there was none cooler than Teddy and the Rough Riders. Protect the people. Protect our precious land. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Do you have a link for more information on McCain's record of cutting spending? I'll be sure to do some looking on my end. -Josh Gross
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| 12:55 October 16 |
Josh-If you were to look at historic facts, you would learn that most of the current economic problems stem from recent and past democrat politicial action.
Going back through history you will find that major influence from Chris Dodd, Barney Franks, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter were at of the root of the Fannie/Freddie problems that led to the present banking meltdown.
Many of these actions were taken with what they "felt" were good intentions. And Josh, you know what the road to hell is paved with.
When will liberals learn that "give-away programs" don't help anyone in the long term?
One could not have conceived of a more diabolical way to hold down minorities than Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" . The message was: "Why go to school or work? The government will take care of you."
Give-away promises that attempt to replace hard work and risk vs. reward competition have always failed and always will.
It's not that Obama is a bad guy; he isn't. It's just that he has no knowlege of or experience with the real world. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL Very helpful insight. Thank you. -Josh Gross
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| 11:46 October 16 |
| you sexist guys talking about the candidates' women's looks aren't doing mccain any favors. you sound like idiots...josh? |
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I'm a bit behind in my responses ... see my comment on the post below. -Josh Gross
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| 11:28 October 16 |
Its not my responsibility to pay for the poor choices others have made. if you dont have health care at your place of employment. if you cant get a new job go back to school. if you cant go back to school maybe you should have taken advantage of the thirteen years of school you got for free. john mccains healthcare plan is far from perfect but Obamas is much closer to socialized healthcare(like Cuba).
Competition and greed are 2 of the largest driving forces in the world. by having competitive tax rates for businesses in the US we can create jobs. if you tax them until they want to leave and go where they can make more money.
Cindy McCain is hot but I'd rather look at Sarah Palin. any guy that can get one of the better looking women in politics on his side has my vote. .... |
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I agree with you to an extent. A lot of Americans refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and expect the government to fix/provide everything for them.
And yes, I am a guy, so I do understand that McCain has a disproportionally hot wife, and Palin does have that hot librarian thing kind of going on ... BUT THIS ISN'T WHY YOU VOTE FOR A PRESIDENT.
Please stop commenting on who's more attractive, who'd you'd rather look at for the next four years, etc. It makes us look like a nation of idiots (which probably isn't too far from the truth). -Josh Gross
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| 12:02 October 16 |
Its not my responsibility to pay for the poor choices others have made. if you dont have health care at your place of employment. if you cant get a new job go back to school. if you cant go back to school maybe you should have taken advantage of the thirteen years of school you got for free. john mccains healthcare plan is far from perfect but Obamas is much closer to socialized healthcare(like Cuba).
Competition and greed are 2 of the largest driving forces in the world. by having competitive tax rates for businesses in the US we can create jobs. if you tax them until they want to leave and go where they can make more money.
Cindy McCain is hot but I'd rather look at Sarah Palin. any guy that can get one of the better looking women in politics on his side has my vote. .... |
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I agree with you to an extent. A lot of Americans refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and expect the government to fix/provide everything for them.
And yes, I am a guy, so I do understand that McCain has a disproportionally hot wife, and Palin does have that hot librarian thing kind of going on ... BUT THIS ISN'T WHY YOU VOTE FOR A PRESIDENT.
Please stop commenting on who's more attractive, who'd you'd rather look at for the next four years, etc. It makes us look like a nation of idiots (which probably isn't too far from the truth). -Josh Gross
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| 10:55 October 16 |
1. Lower taxes. I don't want to pay higher taxes just because Obama wants to give money (tax credits) to people that don't pay any tax. Lower taxes mean more jobs for everyone. When companies pay high taxes (we are already the second highest in the free world) they cannot afford to hire people. They make our products non-competitive.
2. Experience. Obama has nver run anything. Palin has infinitiely more experience than Obama.
3. Trust. Obama has too many questionable associations. McCain had one involved with Howard Keating but he openly admitted his error in judgement.
4. Summation: If you want government to take care of you vs. taking care of yourself, you are liberal and vice reversa. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 13:05 October 16 |
Whenever you are voting for a President it is important to prioritize the issues important to you. Then, you assign a weight to that issue, you end up with a Political Pie Here is my recipe:
1) Taxes (weight 50%) - McCain will cut taxes for everyone, including businesses which will provide jobs and encourage competition for jobs. This in turn will raise wages for everyone. This has a dual effect of getting more income to people that want to work.
Obama wants to spread the wealth. This means higher taxes on many people. What is worse, is that he wants to give a check to people that do not pay any taxes whatsoever. That is not a tax reduction, that is welfare.
2) Strong Defense (weight 25%) - McCain served his country, knows about military strategy and has been a POW. He will be a great Commander In Chief. His vision for the surge was remarkable - even when others in his party had given up on the war.
Obama has no vision, no experience and has voted against the surge, railed against the surge and will not admit that it was effective.
3) McCain's Wife is hot (15%) - I am not sure how old she is, but she is still easy on the eyes. She has fake knockers; And, she owns a multi-million dollar beer distribution company.
Obama's wife has alot of future behind her. But, she would be hard pressed to get a blue ribbon at a 4h fair.
This shows excellent judgment on the part of McCain
4) Seperation of Church and State (10%) - I do not want any candidate adding more censorship or taking away state rights. Though most of my views are conservative, I distance myself from the Christian Right at almost every turn (aside from promotion of the family).
McCain and Obama are both equal in their stance here. Neither wants to intrude on individuals' rights. McCain is a Federalist who wants power in the States' hands.
Your Political Pie may be much different depending on how many issues (slices) that divide your Pie. The important point is to really weigh those issues so you can know who best serves your interests. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 21:29 October 17 |
I will be voting for McCain because he his policies actually make sense and are actually based on sound reasoning, he has show a willingness and ability to effectively serve his country both in the military and as a senator, and he has shown a willingness to lead - even when his own party isn't too excited about following.
I recognize that Obama is an intelligent and persuasive man. Unfortunately, like every other Democrat I have heard speak his domestic policy amounts to "let me help you out (by taking your money)" and "let me fix our problems (by telling you what you can and can not think.)"
We don't need more government, we need less. We don't need more centralization of power4; we need less. We don't need the government fixing our problems, we need them to stop being our problems. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, sub-prime mortgages, and the current banking crisis; all of that was caused by government mandates and housing policy. etc. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 21:28 October 17 |
I'm disappointed that this poll only offers two selections. So I'm putting my advice in this column because I feel McCain needs some support. I don't think he deserves it, just needs it.
On behalf of our failing political system, I'd like to remind you that there are more than 2 parties, and over 100 candidates still pushing to the end. You may be delighted to know that there is a man named Santa Claus in the running, and horrified to know that the Nazis have a candidate. And there is always the option to write in a candidate you think would be truly qualified.
The last reason I can give for voting Republican is simply to gum up the progressive works on Capital Hill. Same party legislative and executive branches at such a pivotal point in our history could lead to some really ill thought legislation going through. So vote for checks and balances. Keep the bipartisan hatred burning strong. It is the last PC form of bigotry proffered us. Us and them baby us and them. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 21:27 October 17 |
| Because health care and great schools are not god given rights. Because people should choose to be charitable, and stand up for others around them in need, and not be forced to. Because raising taxes for some people and not others is not "fair", its an unfair way of punishing people who have either gotten super lucky, or have broken their back for what they have. Fair would be a flat tax. Because I don't agree that babies that could live outside the womb at the time of an abortion should be left to die for any reason the woman chooses...thats plain ole murder. Because I don't think a woman or anyone has the right to determine when a "fetus" has a soul. McCain has his flaws, so does Barack. Both parties have flaws. There are things that I agree with Obama about, but the things that affect me and my family the most side with McCain. .... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 21:26 October 17 |
• Experience
• Devoted to people who work hard (Unlike Obama, who plans on taxing the rich and giving to the poor. God helps them who help themselves.)
• Doesn't plan on spending us even further out of control
• Won't bring home defeated troops
C'mon people, we all know that these are just puppets. Always have been, always will be. Just because Obama is articulate does not mean he will be any better at running this country than McCain. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 17:58 October 15 |
| John McCain will end the war in Iraq with victory and bring our troops home with honor. John McCain hates war. And he knows very personally how terrible its costs are. But he knows, too, that the course of immediate withdrawal in Iraq could draw us into a wider war with even greater sacrifices. I want a president who has been there and knows how to make the tough decisions. McCain will serve as president with honor and is a great American. |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 16:53 October 15 |
| John McCain has a strong record of working across the aisle to reform how business is done in Washington. He also has experience. Ummm...how long has Obama been a senator???? Come on. Plus if you want to be taxed, vote for the other guy... |
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JOSH FOUND THIS HELPFUL
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| 16:55 October 15 |
| NOBAMA!!!!!! |
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Clever, but doesn't help much -Josh Gross
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