It seems the Democrats have lost a lot of their momentum to win the election. The election now seems to be a 50/50 toss up with the Democrats having a better "ground game" as the News anchors like to describe it. If the election turns out to be very close, hopefully there will not be another Florida fiasco over "hanging chad" that cost Al Gore the presidency.
Remember that in the US the Electoral College elects the President while the Popular Vote elects everyone else (Senate, House, Dog Catcher, School Boards etc.) and because of this and Mr Obama's leads in those states he must win I predict (based on the experts I read) Mr Obama will govern again and with a majority in the Senate again. To bastardize Kipling . . . On to the Fiscal Cliff rode the light brigade . . .
quote:Originally posted by bill w:
We have no classes this is America and we dont define ourselves this way. Oppressive taxes and intervention in every aspect of our lives combined with reckless spending has gotten us into this hole.
We don't define ourselves this way??? How would you define the poor, the Middle Class and the very wealthy? As for "oppresive taxes" what would you call the taxes of Denmark, Norway, Sweden etc. - those should be considered oppressive by Americans but those countries are always the "Happiest People on Earth". Do you understand why? They prefer the lifestyle and freedoms their way of life (and tax structure) provided them. You mentioned the '60's - go look at the Corporate and Individual Tax Rates then compared to your "oppressive taxes" of today. Sorry Bill but I strongly disagree.
They have started yelling "Where is Obama?" in the streets of Staten Island, NY and down on the Jersey Shore, just like the Katrina victims began to blame Bush. People with no power, no warmth, and running out of food are asking why Obama has not sent in FEMA and the American Red Cross. Taylor Swift just said on television that President Obama does not like middle-class white people! The people waiting in line for gas are starting to brawl and police intervention has been required in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Bread lines might be next!
quote:Originally posted by Chuck:
As for "oppresive taxes" what would you call the taxes of Denmark, Norway, Sweden etc.
Well said! This is just part of the myth the right is trying to get spread out as truth.
FYI, in 1969, the top tax rate (on $200,000 or more) was 77%. 35% looks pretty reasonable now doesn't it?
Old Glory that is a very ugly and inappropriate comparison you made.
I really hope that if Romney gets elected that he does not cut FEMA. He suggested this earlier in the campaign but flip flopped with Superstorm Sandy.
Hopefully, Sandy will bring back to life real concerns in the US political system over global warming. Both parties, but especially the Republicans, are guilty of side stepping this issue during the election.
I really hope that if Romney gets elected that he does not cut FEMA. He suggested this earlier in the campaign but flip flopped with Superstorm Sandy.
Hopefully, Sandy will bring back to life real concerns in the US political system over global warming. Both parties, but especially the Republicans, are guilty of side stepping this issue during the election.
quote:Originally posted by SalesServiceGuy:
Old Glory that is a very ugly and inappropriate comparison you made.
I really hope that if Romney gets elected that he does not cut FEMA. He suggested this earlier in the campaign but flip flopped with Superstorm Sandy.
Hopefully, Sandy will bring back to life real concerns in the US political system over global warming. Both parties, but especially the Republicans, are guilty of side stepping this issue during the election.
Yea, it was pretty ugly but it was illustrative. Just like the saying that the best of two evils is still evil, the best of two bads is still bad.
As far as FEMA and any other cuts, there is no way we can eliminate the deficit without everyone being adversily affected but think of how much better we could respond to catastrophies such as Hurricane Sandy if we weren't sending billions to the Chinese in interest payments.
Side stepping the issue of Sandy or global warming? Because I don't think global warming was side stepped by the Republicans. I think it was ignored and with good reason.
Old Glory, are you suggesting that the USA should default on it's interest payments to China? Are you suggesting that Global warming is not real?
No, we need to pay our debts and yes, I do not believe global warming is real, not in the way you do anyway. I do not believe that there is such a thing as man made global warming and I seriously question whether any current fluctuations are anything but the normal ebb and flow of cyclical events that have gone on since the beginning of time.
http://www.sunjournal.com/news...ieve-big-lie/1275666
According to a 2009 Pew Research Center Poll, only 36 percent of Americans believe there is “solid evidence” the earth is warming because of human activity, down from 47 percent in 2008 and 41 percent in 2006. Only 57 percent believe there is solid evidence the earth is warming at all, a significant drop from 71 percent the previous year.
Those who have accepted the big lie as truth are fervent, unquestioning and unshakable in their belief. For many others, the campaign has simply taken the bloom off the rose of green energy, creating confusion and apathy about the issue.
The increasing influence of this propaganda campaign helps to explain why the 2012 presidential candidates have barely mentioned global warming as a campaign issue and why few incumbent congressmen or senators will even comment on the issue anymore, let alone sponsor or vote for bills that address it. Politically, global warming has become too hot to touch.
According to a 2009 Pew Research Center Poll, only 36 percent of Americans believe there is “solid evidence” the earth is warming because of human activity, down from 47 percent in 2008 and 41 percent in 2006. Only 57 percent believe there is solid evidence the earth is warming at all, a significant drop from 71 percent the previous year.
Those who have accepted the big lie as truth are fervent, unquestioning and unshakable in their belief. For many others, the campaign has simply taken the bloom off the rose of green energy, creating confusion and apathy about the issue.
The increasing influence of this propaganda campaign helps to explain why the 2012 presidential candidates have barely mentioned global warming as a campaign issue and why few incumbent congressmen or senators will even comment on the issue anymore, let alone sponsor or vote for bills that address it. Politically, global warming has become too hot to touch.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04...ather-poll-says.html
A poll released in April 2012 shows that a large majority of Americans believe that this year’s unusually warm winter, last year’s blistering summer and some other weather disasters were probably made worse by global warming. And by a 2-to-1 margin, the public says the weather has been getting worse, rather than better, in recent years.
A large majority of climate scientists say the climate is shifting in ways that could cause serious impacts, and they cite the human release of greenhouse gases as a principal cause. But a tiny, vocal minority of researchers contests that view, and has seemed in the last few years to be winning the battle of public opinion despite slim scientific evidence for their position.
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Global warming is affecting the weather in the United States.
Nat’l Avg Northeast Midwest South West
Strongly agree 26 37 22 22 28
Somewhat agree 43 34 49 44 43
Somewhat disagree 19 22 17 21 17
Strongly disagree 11 7 12 13 12
A poll released in April 2012 shows that a large majority of Americans believe that this year’s unusually warm winter, last year’s blistering summer and some other weather disasters were probably made worse by global warming. And by a 2-to-1 margin, the public says the weather has been getting worse, rather than better, in recent years.
A large majority of climate scientists say the climate is shifting in ways that could cause serious impacts, and they cite the human release of greenhouse gases as a principal cause. But a tiny, vocal minority of researchers contests that view, and has seemed in the last few years to be winning the battle of public opinion despite slim scientific evidence for their position.
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Global warming is affecting the weather in the United States.
Nat’l Avg Northeast Midwest South West
Strongly agree 26 37 22 22 28
Somewhat agree 43 34 49 44 43
Somewhat disagree 19 22 17 21 17
Strongly disagree 11 7 12 13 12
quote:Originally posted by Old Glory:
No, we need to pay our debts and yes, I do not believe global warming is real, not in the way you do anyway. I do not believe that there is such a thing as man made global warming and I seriously question whether any current fluctuations are anything but the normal ebb and flow of cyclical events that have gone on since the beginning of time.
I agree with Old Glory.
First on the US debt and deficit spending has to be dealt with, we cannot continue down the path we are on. While we need to pay our current debts we should look at cutting spending. Everything must be cut – social spending, defense, foreign aid, everything. I don’t understand why we are sending billions to other countries for foreign aid when we cannot pay our bills. It is like someone not being able to pay their mortgage but using their credit card to give money to charity. If we confiscated all the income from everyone earning more than $250,000/year we would not fund the federal government for a year. Spending cuts, not tax increases are what we need.
On global warming. Our planet has gone through many warming and cooling periods over its history. I am not convinced that what we are seeing is because of anything we are doing. How does a hurricane prove man-made global warming? Hurricanes have existed since before man was here. We even have a hurricane season which is June 1 – November 30. I vividly recall when I was in 1st or 2nd grade being taught in school that the earth was cooling and we might be headed for the next ice age. I remember because it scared the hell out of me. 30 years latter all of a sudden the scientific community is now saying we are warming? How is it that scientists cannot tell me with certainty exactly what the weather is going to be tomorrow, but yet they can tell me that the earth is warming and it’s our fault. I am not convinced.
quote:Originally posted by Jrlz:
First on the US debt and deficit spending has to be dealt with, we cannot continue down the path we are on. While we need to pay our current debts we should look at cutting spending. Everything must be cut – social spending, defense, foreign aid, everything.
I totally agree with this. Cutting spending should be a high priority.
However, if you are trying to pay your bills at home, cutting expenses is important, but having money coming in is equally important.
I'm not for "increasing" taxes, but saying you are paying too much when you are paying less than any time in the last 50 years just sounds crazy.
If the Ryan tax plan were adopted, Romney's tax rate would be 0.82%. How can that be presented as a responsible option considering our crushing debt?
Salesserviceguy, I'm confused about what your position is on Global Warmimg. With your last two posts, one seems to have a bias against an one a bias for. Being in Novia Scotia, I would expect that you face a global warming bias in the media although I was surprised to see in the poll numbers that you site that various areas of the country seem to poll pretty similar.
Food for thought...if the dustbowl years of the 1930's happened today, it would be blamed on man-made global warming. It obviously wasn't man-made then. Why would it be today?
Food for thought...if the dustbowl years of the 1930's happened today, it would be blamed on man-made global warming. It obviously wasn't man-made then. Why would it be today?
quote:Originally posted by JasonR:
However, if you are trying to pay your bills at home, cutting expenses is important, but having money coming in is equally important.
I'm not for "increasing" taxes, but saying you are paying too much when you are paying less than any time in the last 50 years just sounds crazy.
If the Ryan tax plan were adopted, Romney's tax rate would be 0.82%. How can that be presented as a responsible option considering our crushing debt?
First of all, I question your data but regardless, If you donate enough money to charity, you can reduce your tax burden to nothing. Romney donated 29.4%, over $4 million to charity. Also, his income comes largely from Capital Gains, not income which makes a difference.
I totally agree with..."if you are trying to pay your bills at home, cutting expenses is important, but having money coming in is equally important." However, increasing taxes can be detremental.
“In short, it is a paradoxical truth that … the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now. The experience of a number of European countries and Japan have borne this out. This country’s own experience with tax reduction in 1954 has borne this out. And the reason is that only full employment can balance the budget, and tax reduction can pave the way to that employment. The purpose of cutting taxes now is not to incur a budget deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous, expanding economy which can bring a budget surplus.”
– John F. Kennedy, Nov. 20, 1962, news conference
The theme I was trying to convey was that the polling indicates between 2009 and 2012, Americans attitude towards global warming is that it is not some fuzzy far off threat but real and much closer to home.
Basically, the prevailing research indicates that while 67% of Americans believe that global warming is a growing problem, 98% of politicians avoid the issue.
"Global warming skepticism is still alive and well, thanks to an effective campaign of public disinformation — one heavily financed by oil, gas, electric utility and coal interests, and employing tactics pioneered by the tobacco industry."
"Climate scientists have been warning for more than two decades that global warming is accelerating as a result of human activity, primarily from burning of fossil fuels; and contributing to extreme weather patterns, including longer droughts, more violent storms, rising sea levels and bigger coastal surges. Sandy and the drought that gripped the southern and western United States this summer should be exhibits “A” and “B” to that prediction."
Basically, the prevailing research indicates that while 67% of Americans believe that global warming is a growing problem, 98% of politicians avoid the issue.
"Global warming skepticism is still alive and well, thanks to an effective campaign of public disinformation — one heavily financed by oil, gas, electric utility and coal interests, and employing tactics pioneered by the tobacco industry."
"Climate scientists have been warning for more than two decades that global warming is accelerating as a result of human activity, primarily from burning of fossil fuels; and contributing to extreme weather patterns, including longer droughts, more violent storms, rising sea levels and bigger coastal surges. Sandy and the drought that gripped the southern and western United States this summer should be exhibits “A” and “B” to that prediction."
quote:Originally posted by SalesServiceGuy:
"Climate scientists have been warning for more than two decades that global warming is accelerating as a result of human activity, primarily from burning of fossil fuels; and contributing to extreme weather patterns, including longer droughts, more violent storms, rising sea levels and bigger coastal surges. Sandy and the drought that gripped the southern and western United States this summer should be exhibits “A” and “B” to that prediction."
So huricanes and droughts are both the result of global warming? It appears that all significant weather activity, droughts and floods, heat and even cold spells are blamed on global warming. But only the skeptics are subject to "disinformation"?
No one is saying hurricanes and droughts are the exclusive result of global warming only that the increasing frequency and severity of such weather events appear to be related.
2/3rds of Americans somewhat to strongly believe global warming is effecting the weather in the USA.
Skeptics are always free to voice their opinion and can believe what they wish. Just like the tobacco industry wants people to believe that smoking does not cause cancer.
2/3rds of Americans somewhat to strongly believe global warming is effecting the weather in the USA.
Skeptics are always free to voice their opinion and can believe what they wish. Just like the tobacco industry wants people to believe that smoking does not cause cancer.
If the world could vote:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...tml#slide=more260869
According to a 21-nation poll conducted by GlobeScan/PIPA for the BBC World Service, an average of 50 percent of people surveyed abroad favor Obama. Only 9 percent of those polled prefer Romney, and in 20 out of 21 countries voters would chose Obama, the exception being Pakistan.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...tml#slide=more260869
According to a 21-nation poll conducted by GlobeScan/PIPA for the BBC World Service, an average of 50 percent of people surveyed abroad favor Obama. Only 9 percent of those polled prefer Romney, and in 20 out of 21 countries voters would chose Obama, the exception being Pakistan.