Enough of this crap...

[widebody911]

We've gone on and on for weeks about medals this, AWOL that; unflattering pix of candidates wives, which candidate has the best-looking/drunkest daughters.

Sweet jesus on toast - enough of this farking ***** already!

How about arguing about something that matters, like the crushing deficit, our decaying infrastructure, fleeing jobs, porous borders, failing education system, or how in the **** we're going to get back out of Iraq.

I'll start: I read one article that estimated that in order to pay off the deficit ($40T <=> $70T) today, we would need an immediate - and permanent - 78% income tax hike. (Laurence Kotlikoff, economics chairman at Boston University).

Neither candidate has addressed this. It's much easier to talk smack about each other's war records and not have to do any real work. Both candidates are running on the platform that they're not the other guy. GWB's main message is "vote for me or be killed by the ragheads" and Kerry's is "vote for me 'cause, well, I'm not GWB and I went to Vietnam"

Can you imagine what a billion a week would have done for our schools or transportation infrastructure? Or (perish the though!) a solvent Social Security system.

If you can't think that far ahead, how about some of the issues surrounding electronic voting?

[mikester]

I have an even better topic to argue about.

Should I polish out my wheels like they look in this photoshopped picture or should I just repaint them black like they were originally?



Have I mentioned that I love the heck out of my car?

[widebody911]

Originally posted by mikester
Should I polish out my wheels like they look in this photoshopped picture or should I just repaint them black like they were originally?

IMHO, polished only looks good on 'primary color' cars.

Have I mentioned that I love the heck out of my car? [/B]

As long as you don't knock her up, I guess that's OK...

I got in an argument with the g/f over the car/shop - she equates the amount of time I spend in the garage with cheating. No, really - she actually said that. I can just imagine one day she catches me in bed with one of her friends: "But honey, at least I wasn't working on the car!"

[badcar]

Polish.

[mikester]

So basically what you're saying is that "Pimp daddy gold" isn't a primary color?

P diddly would have something to say about that I'm sure...

OH, and my car is not a "her" it's an "it" though my wife is a "her" and I knocked her all the heck up.

[s_wilwerding]

I like how all the solutions to paying down the debt involve raising taxes. I haven't heard one yet that says the government should cut programs.

As for Social Security, I'm in favor of it ending for everyone below a certain age (like 30). for the people over 30, it will work just like it does - I realize the government will have to pay some extra, but eventually the pyramind scheme way that it works now will be over. For the people under 30, they will essentially have a government run retirement account. The difference is that you put money into your account - it's yours. Your money doesn't go for someone else's benefits.

Offshoring of jobs - I think corporations that do this either out to be taxed for each worker that isn't in the US or given some penalty tax. This is only for companies that directly hire foreigners, not companies that buy from foreign companies.

That's enough for now.

[on-ramp]

how about out-sourcing? this is a big problem... the last time i called about my Verizon bill, i got someone in India who could barely speak english.
that's one less job for the US.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by s_wilwerding
I like how all the solutions to paying down the debt involve raising taxes. I haven't heard one yet that says the government should cut programs.

Actually, the article I referenced did suggest cutting programs. I only cut-and-pasted the tax increase bit.

Cut Social Security and Medicare benefits by 45 percent, immediately and forever;

Eliminate forever all discretionary spending, which includes the military, homeland security, highways, courts, national parks and most of what the federal government does outside of the transfer of payments to the elderly.

[juanbenae]

actually your are right wide (not wide right, s. norwood)... i dont even enter threads started by the rabble-rousers any longer. the strombergs, lynndaddys, and tech weenie have soured me. i just am waiting to cast my vote, keeping my pie-hole shut.

on another note, survivor starts tonite!! thats good tv!! looks like possibly 7 of the chicks have the ability to look good in a bikini. let the T&A parade begin.

[gaijinda]

Many good points, many good observations. Just too many for one thread.. Education, deficit & etc need to be brought up one by one..

[kach22i]

Originally posted by widebody911
We've gone on and on for weeks about medals this, AWOL that; unflattering pix of candidates wives, which candidate has the best-looking/drunkest daughters.

Sweet jesus on toast - enough of this farking ***** already!

How about arguing about something that matters, like the crushing deficit, our decaying infrastructure, fleeing jobs, porous borders, failing education system, or how in the **** we're going to get back out of Iraq.

I'll start: I read one article that estimated that in order to pay off the deficit ($40T <=> $70T) today, we would need an immediate - and permanent - 78% income tax hike. (Laurence Kotlikoff, economics chairman at Boston University).

Neither candidate has addressed this. It's much easier to talk smack about each other's war records and not have to do any real work. Both candidates are running on the platform that they're not the other guy. GWB's main message is "vote for me or be killed by the ragheads" and Kerry's is "vote for me 'cause, well, I'm not GWB and I went to Vietnam"

Can you imagine what a billion a week would have done for our schools or transportation infrastructure? Or (perish the though!) a solvent Social Security system.

If you can't think that far ahead, how about some of the issues surrounding electronic voting?

Good rant......and about time.

[dd74]

Originally posted by widebody911
We've gone on and on for weeks about medals this, AWOL that; unflattering pix of candidates wives, which candidate has the best-looking/drunkest daughters.

Sweet jesus on toast - enough of this farking ***** already!

How about arguing about something that matters, like the crushing deficit, our decaying infrastructure, fleeing jobs, porous borders, failing education system, or how in the **** we're going to get back out of Iraq.

I'll start: I read one article that estimated that in order to pay off the deficit ($40T <=> $70T) today, we would need an immediate - and permanent - 78% income tax hike. (Laurence Kotlikoff, economics chairman at Boston University).

Neither candidate has addressed this. It's much easier to talk smack about each other's war records and not have to do any real work. Both candidates are running on the platform that they're not the other guy. GWB's main message is "vote for me or be killed by the ragheads" and Kerry's is "vote for me 'cause, well, I'm not GWB and I went to Vietnam"

Can you imagine what a billion a week would have done for our schools or transportation infrastructure? Or (perish the though!) a solvent Social Security system.

If you can't think that far ahead, how about some of the issues surrounding electronic voting?

LOL! You're actually under the impression that either one of these candidates cares about America?

[turbo6bar]

mikester, have you considered 20" spinners for your 911?

When will you BOYZ understand? It doesn't matter who is Prez, becuz the system is set to implode. Oh, wait, that's what tabs would write.

Neither candidate can make big changes. The changes that need to occur will piss off Americans. Are you suggesting politicians make unpalatable changes in the system? Also, with so many wealthy special interest groups in charge, it's hard to make meaningful change without taking two steps back in another area.

[tabs]

I too am tired of the he said she said BS...

Both canidates have been approved by their party's apparatus...meaning that they are made men in the system...these guys are not out to change the world, they are representatives of the status quo.. Go along get along, keep the wheels of geovernment and business turning...

They represent differnt philisophys of how to achieve the goal thats all. you can expect no surprises from them.

All systems fail sooner or later..usually after they become successfull and have more money and power than they know what to do with..so they start to squander it, forget the very virtues that made them great in the first place, begin to think they are entitiled to reap the benfits just because of who they are. The leadership also starts to squabble among themselves trying to divide the wealth up, while bieng so distracted that they forget that there are outside forces that are out to do them in...

I think the USA could fail...with another or series of big events from the Jihadys...our financial system is a house of cards..all based upon the full faith of the US government honoring the dollar....

I am more pessimistic about the long term viability of American Democracy...from looking at the history of other Democracys/ repblics we are about due for a change to amicable despot..hail Caesar...He will restore order so business can carry on as usual..."we get to keep or SUV's hurray...so what if we lose the abilty to vote..it all is a sham anyway..".

[pbs911]

Originally posted by mikester

Great color! What is that? Personally, I like the anodized.

[hardflex]

didn't former Fed Chief Paul Volker just recently predict a financial catastrophe within 5 years if nothing is done about the current trade gap and budget deficit. So tabs, your predictions could come true. It wouldn't be Al Queda that brought us down, but our over the top spending to fight them that would be the culprit.



"In his 2004 book, "Running on Empty," former Commerce Secretary Pete Peterson (a Republican) states that former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker believes that there is 75 percent chance that the U.S. will experience a financial crisis within the next 5 years. Mr. Peterson also notes that, for the first time in his life, Warren Buffet has begun buying foreign currencies."

"
Besides the subjects you mentioned Widebody, I'd include our current 2 party system as a prime problem.

[cegerer]

Some of these posts lately from our liberal members are beginning to sound like early concession speeches.

[tabs]

Someone whispered in my ear that what we experienced after 911 wasn't a recession but a Depression...that it was the reduction in interest rates and tax cuts along with GM offering 0% financing that kept the USA afloat... Those moves kept things rolling...

People don't realize just how bad the situation really was...

[Burnin' oil]

Who cares. Let the whole thing implode. Shake things up a bit. Get rid of (most) government. Let people fend for themselves, etc. Clear the cobwebs, let's get a little clarity. . .

[mikester]

I'll have to check the color code again - I don't recall it off the top of my head.

It's gold though...