New work place rules....

[ryan34]

Wouldn't you be better off for the top 5% to take that money invest it in a business and give you a job making whatever?

Except most of the jobs being created aren't american jobs, they are being shipped overseas at an alarming rate. I can't tell you how many times i called a customer service line only to get a man named Steve with a heavy Indian accent.

Also, i've been a big supporter of the national sales tax as apposed to the income tax. I mean i would have so much more money if that was the case. Money i could use to buy food (which wouldn't be taxed) and to save for schooling, or a car, or a trip or anything else that i would want. That in turn would stimulate the econmy. So if i read correctly, we are on the same page about that issue jeff.

Oh and the reason i didn't "quote" the second quote is because i don't know how to do to quotes in one post.

[Roger in Kensington]

Ditto............i'll say my peace and be done with it.

I heard McCain is turning PA into a major deal. I came home and I had messages from both candidates on my answering machine. There are so many commercials here from both that it drives me insane. I can't wait for this mess to be over.

- During the time it took me to write this post John & Cindy called AGAIN.

I am voting for Barack for one reason alone. The No Child Left Behind Act has ruined education.... it truly has. I work in an urban school so I know this thing like the back of my hand. They want us to do so much with these kids like after school tutoring yet we can't afford a bus to send them home for these programs. The same even goes for wealthy schools because there simply is NO FUNDING. Programs like health and phys ed, music, art, shop, languages etc are cut to focus solely on reading and math. 13 days of our school year this year is going towards practicing the PSSA's (standardized test in PA). That's 13 days wasted teaching to a test. All we do is teach what is on the test, and nothing more. If the kids bomb the test we get less money. They bomb the test because we get no support from the parents for their kids to come to school.

An actual phone call I had yesterday:

"Ma'am ***** has not turned in an assignment in two weeks."
"So what?"

........and the schools (particularly urban) are blamed for it and suffer.

The NCLB does not need just more funding, but eliminated entirely and a new way of measuring a student's learning must be set in stone.

No one here was subjected to a test like the kids are now to test for learning. And we all turned out fine.

EDIT: Forgot to mention those with autism, down syndrome, mental retardation etc...are expected to test as well as normally functioning students.


I am not lazy and I work hard for my money. I go into a job that I love every day where my life is in danger. Despite complete metal detector checks they still find a way to bring in weapons. I was socked by a student two weeks ago. There is a teacher in the hospital right now with brain damage from an assault on Monday. You call that lazy?

One year and, then, two years into his administration, I would like to hear your report as to how things have changed under Obama.

[Roger in Kensington]

Also, i've been a big supporter of the national sales tax as apposed to the income tax. I mean i would have so much more money if that was the case. Money i could use to buy food (which wouldn't be taxed) and to save for schooling, or a car, or a trip or anything else that i would want. That in turn would stimulate the econmy. So if i read correctly, we are on the same page about that issue jeff.

You're likely to get both a national sales tax and an income tax. Most states already have both. Not to mention that in addition to your federal income taxes, you have federal excise taxes on gasoline, tires, telephones, electricity, natural gas, coal, ammunition, and so forth.

[ryan34]

You're likely to get both a national sales tax and an income tax. Most states already have both. Not to mention that in addition to your federal income taxes, you have federal excise taxes on gasoline, tires, telephones, electricity, natural gas, coal, ammunition, and so forth.

well that would really suck big time. Since you live in maryland you probably already know that Delaware doesn't have a sales tax. But if it was to be one or the other, i'd take sales tax over income tax. I just don't think people should be punished for working.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Except most of the jobs being created aren't american jobs, they are being shipped overseas at an alarming rate. I can't tell you how many times i called a customer service line only to get a man named Steve with a heavy Indian accent.

Also, i've been a big supporter of the national sales tax as apposed to the income tax. I mean i would have so much more money if that was the case. Money i could use to buy food (which wouldn't be taxed) and to save for schooling, or a car, or a trip or anything else that i would want. That in turn would stimulate the econmy. So if i read correctly, we are on the same page about that issue jeff.

Oh and the reason i didn't "quote" the second quote is because i don't know how to do to quotes in one post.

The reason the jobs are going oversees is because the atmosphere for companies to do business is better oversees. If you are hired to run a business your job is to make a profit for the company. If you see that you can do business oversees cheaper than in the US it is your responsibility to the company to move the jobs overseas. The atmosphere for companies can be controlled a lot by the policies of the government. Our government has made a climate that is so expensive for companies to do business here they are leaving the country. The US has the second highest tax rate of any country on the planet. So do the math, Obama wants to raise taxes on businesses. What do you think is going to be the results of that? Higher taxes will export more jobs. McCain wants to lower taxes on businesses. What will the results of that be? If companies see that they can do business in the US cheaper than they can overseas the jobs will come back.

The fair tax would eliminate the requirement for business to pay taxes. (A flat tax would not.) All they would do is collect taxes and send them to the government. So then businesses would say that the US is by far better than operating in any other country and flood jobs to the US. We would have a labor shortage. The US economy would explode. Wages would go up because people would be able to shop their skills around. The only bad thing is it would bring in inflation but if your wages keep up who cares. Yea I know you care but you know what I mean.

A flat unchangeable tax would take the money out of politics but the fair tax would do that AND be a major stimulus to our economy.

[markd79ta]

Taxes paid in Colorado

Federal Income

Federal Medicare

Federal So So Security

Federal Use: Phone, Gas, Etc.

Mark Up we pay on Federal Business and Occupation

State Income

State Sales

Regional & county Sales

Property w/ mil levy on the school district

State use on Gas etc.

County and local use on Gas etc.

Mark Up we pay on State Business and Occupation

+ all the other garbage I don't remember!

We pay way more then 50% of our income if we look at all the local, county, regional, state, and federal taxes.

(This gets a whole lot worse for a business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

It is not so much what kind of tax system we use, the problem is layers of tax obligation from local to federal government that just feeds waste and corruption through a bloated bureaucracy at all levels of government. The Federal government used the commerce clause to expand its power way way beyond its design. We either need to go back to our Federal model of government or scrap the state and local govs. More importantly, people need to understand the role of the Federal, State, County, and Local governments. ....people should not look to the president to solve local issues. However, every campaign at the Federal level discusses local issues. It is a real mess that will just get worse.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

It is not so much what kind of tax system we use, the problem is layers of tax obligation from local to federal government that just feeds waste and corruption through a bloated bureaucracy at all levels of government. The Federal government used the commerce clause to expand its power way way beyond its design. We either need to go back to our Federal model of government or scrap the state and local govs. More importantly, people need to understand the role of the Federal, State, County, and Local governments. ....people should not look to the president to solve local issues. However, every campaign at the Federal level discusses local issues. It is a real mess that will just get worse.

I couldn't agree more. The United States was set up to be just what it's name applies. A group of states united together with a federal government meant to do just basic things like the security of the country with an Army and Navy. The rest of the decisions were to be made at the state level. When they passed the 17th amendment the United States ceased to exist as designed. At that point the states no longer had representative rights at the federal level. They say they did it to stop the back room deals people got to be a senator but I don’t think the states saw that they were losing their representation at the federal government level. I still can’t believe the states ratified this amendment.

[Joe 1320]

normally I stay out of topics like this, but if i were to offer my two centavos....


The problem that we are faced with is that somewhere along the line, politics had become a professional career. Let's see how long they would perform their "Job" if it were strictly volunteer and non profit.

[markd79ta]

normally I stay out of topics like this, but if i were to offer my two centavos....


The problem that we are faced with is that somewhere along the line, politics had become a professional career. Let's see how long they would perform their "Job" if it were strictly volunteer and non profit.

There are some problems with that as well. The "volunteer" approach in state government restricts the people that can participate to wealthy, retirees, empty nest moms, etc. Additionally, term limits reduces the knowledge base of the body as well as it brings out the wackos in the electoral process who normally don't have a shot. Reducing the knowledge of the elected officials puts more power in the hands of lobbyists. Anyhow, this was my experience working at the legislature.

The best thing we can do but will never do, is reverse course and redefine the responsibilities of each level of government back to its historical level. With a true separation of powers and responsibilities, our elected officials would be confined by their role in government. The president should focus on global financial and physical security issues, protecting individual freedoms, and protecting this nation's status in this world through proper administration not primary/secondary education. Education is the responsibility of my fellow parents and our local school boards. Given the importance of state and local government, I find it astonishing if not repulsive that most people have no clue with regard to the officials in these positions. This country is far too large and diverse to force one type of thinking on all its citizens...the reason for a federation of states. If we continue to centralize into a single authority, there will be a meltdown.

[Joe 1320]

The point I was making was not to offer an alternative, but mere point out that the job of "politician"........is now a lucrative endeavor. What they stand for is dictated by whomever controls the source of their funding.

Remove the money to starve the greed.

[Steel2686]

The point I was making was not to offer an alternative, but mere point out that the job of "politician"........is now a lucrative endeavor. What they stand for is dictated by whomever controls the source of their funding.

Remove the money to starve the greed.

Amen.

I'm a registered Independant. I tend to vote Republican, but mostly because of my conservative values. I've voted Democrat in the past. Right here in CT, I always voted for Joe Lieberman. He's an "old school Dem".

However... I don't fully trust any politician. It's a necessary evil, but I mostly find myself voting against one candidate instead of for another. In this election, I'm voting against Obama. I don't like who he has aligned himself with throughout the years. I am in no way a McCain fanatic. I'm not crazy about the candidtes we've been given, but this is what we are left with.

I'm sure, somewhere out there, is an honest politician. Unfortunately, by the time they make it to the ranks of presidential candidate, they've been corrupted beyond repair.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Amen.

I'm a registered Independant. I tend to vote Republican, but mostly because of my conservative values. I've voted Democrat in the past. Right here in CT, I always voted for Joe Lieberman. He's an "old school Dem".

However... I don't fully trust any politician. It's a necessary evil, but I mostly find myself voting against one candidate instead of for another. In this election, I'm voting against Obama. I don't like who he has aligned himself with throughout the years. I am in no way a McCain fanatic. I'm not crazy about the candidtes we've been given, but this is what we are left with.

I'm sure, somewhere out there, is an honest politician. Unfortunately, by the time they make it to the ranks of presidential candidate, they've been corrupted beyond repair.

Do you feel that McCain has been corrupted? We know Obama has been.

[Steel2686]

Do you feel that McCain has been corrupted? We know Obama has been.

To a point, yes. Not nearly to the level of Obama in my opinion.

I never agreed with McCain's immigration policies. Of course, Bush faultered on that end as well. I mostly like the job Bush has done. He's taken some very unwarranted heat, but that's kind of what I respected him for. Making tough decisions knowing the media would light him up for it. However, he has made several mistakes in my eyes and his loose policies on immigration is one of them.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Have you noticed how the immigration policy has dropped off the radar now because of the economy? People in the US have such short memories.

[Steel2686]

Have you noticed how the immigration policy has dropped off the radar now because of the economy? People in the US have such short memories.

Agreed, Jeff.

It's sad because it's such an important issue. If you want to truly become an American, then do it legally. Obama's immigration policies are worse than McCain's, but that doesn't resolve my problem with his views on it.

I'll always say that Ronald Reagan was the best president in my lifetime. Probably always will be. Funny thing is, I thought Bob Dole would have been the next Reagan. Unfortunately, he was viewed as "unhip" and "out of touch" with the younger voters.