I think creating jobs should be the #1 priority. I have no faith though that the government has any idea on how to do that in the private sector. If you create jobs then the gov will see more tax income and with any luck that will take care of the deficit or at least stop it from growing.
Any priority would be better than what he's working from. I think cutting spending (leading to a cut in taxes or at least a hold) would be good. I don't see creating more jobs as a help. Even with income, who can afford all of this out of control spending? Without a cap on the spending, it will be a continual chase.
"Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result" paraphrase of Einstein quoting someone else (forgot who, not important).
Barack Obama thinks that more stimulus spending, more regulations and bigger government will create jobs, because it didn't work before.
Rebuilding roads and schools; incentives for businesses to start hiring; giving people the opportunity to work, reducing income tax to put more money back into the economy. Sure sounds like crap to me.
I've no doubt that our Republican representatives will agree with you, Dave, and make sure none of that happens.
How many others would rather see the GOP stop the President than do anything constructive?
Dave, it is so easy to say, "try something new". Perhaps our President needs you on his advisory panel. If you have the answers, and apparently you do, you can do a great service to our country by sharing them with our President.
Yeah. like there's an iota of a chance he'd ever pay attention to me! That's a good one. He thinks I'm a "bitter clinger" and Janet Napolitano thinks I'm an unstable terrorist.
Bea,
Obama did not say cut income taxes. He did say continue the payroll tax cut, but that comes out of the SS taxes, hurting Social Security. Wish he had proposed cutting income taxes along with a total revision of the tax code, but he didn't.
Obama also said this was all paid for, but we have to wait to learn how. Once he tells us that part, we'll know how good an idea this is.
Yes, all of those big goverment programs were used to build and often stimulate the economy in the past and they worked. Start with the first major big govenment project, the Erie Canal that opened up the Great Lakes to commerce in the early 19th Century and the Trans-Continental Railroads in the mid 19th Century , or the interstate highway system, the Works Project Amdinistration, and NASA. All big goverment projects that built this nation with public money and in the process provided millions of jobs as well a a multi-tude of millionares and billionaires along the way. Social Security has kept generations of seniors as well as, the dis-abled and surviving minor children out of abject and often absolute poverty.
The simplistic notion of smaller is better when it comes to a goverment that works for all of the people rather than for corporations, the super-wealthy and a select few ignorant fools who buy into their claptrap of no taxes, no social safety net, no geovernment regulation is nonsense. Those who want to embrace the get "big goverment" out of our lives might want to actually sit down and rethink their position and embrace the reality that this nation will can not survive united without it.
You want to reduced the deficit, end the BUSH tax cuts, end the subsidies to corporations and the super rich, end the trade agreements that have exported indutry after industry along with decent paying jobs and stop with the parrotting "end big government" nonsense.
Ed; I'm with you against subsidies and tax breaks for corporations and the rich. Also the trade agreements. I didn't mention social security, that's a separate discussion. The Erie Canal was a NY state project, the Fed didn't think it was viable. The Trans-continental Railroad thing was so rife with scandal and pay to play ( See Credit Mobilier) that it almost cost Grant the Presidency. The Interstate Highway program in the 50's called for each state to do its part and meet standards before being connected to the system, granted the US was funding something like 70%. If Obama tries to start another WPA, I'm sure everyone would have to join a union. He has political debt there. Are those the Millionaires you speak of being created? Working people supporting wealth gaining by union officials, haven't we had enough of that BS? Small government is not "claptrap" it is putting decisions closer to the people where they belong. A few months ago during the congressional campaign, you told us how bad Washington, DC is, how the politicians just do what their corporate masters tell them to do. I agreed with you. Why are they now so much better? I still don't trust them. I haven't seen much change, at least not for the better.
Oh Howard, you make me blush. Truth is he could get better advice than he is, and better than i could hope to. He just doesn't want it because he'd have to back up on things he's already done and repudiate himself. Come on Nov. 2012
Obama could just send everyone a check for three hundred dollars the way George W Bush did a couple of times. However, in a depressed economy and troubled period like we are currently facing, he should make it $450 and we'll all shut up and elect him for another term. It's better than the alternative.
Mark,
Obama's biggest green job project went bankrupt and everyone just lost their jobs. All the money they got from the government is gone. One of his main advisors, the head of GE, is creating jobs in China and GE did not pay what Obama calls their fair share in taxes, but the guy gets to stay on the Obama team.
Yep, hope and change. Can't tell where Bush ends and Obama starts, they are the same.
Dave when the Erie Canal projected started in 1817 New York State when the country was in its infancy and was the biggest government in the U.S. and was completed in 1825 when one year short of the countries 50th. birthday. It was the biggest capital conruction project in this country at the time and less than fifty years after that the Empire State boasted of having the two largest cities in America one at each end of the state with string vibrant industrial cities that spung up like mushrooms after a summer rain along the canal and its feeders that were the envy of the rest of the country.
Yes the Trans-continental Railroad had its flaws and share of graft, a legacy of the Republican Party we see today in the pay to play schemes orchestrated by the who's who of the GOP and its benefactors. However, the Trans-continental Railroad opened up the states and territories, uniting east and west, welding together our United States into the most productive, innovative and most powerful nation on this planet. If it wasn't for the infusion of "Big Government" we would be a far different nation today. I for one take the view that it is that "Big Government" that made us a Union and for better or worse has prevailed in keeping us a United States.
The inter-state highway system which was the brain child of Robert Moses who sold the the idea to Eisenhauer and yes the states had to meet minimum requirements and contribute some funding depending on the abitlity of each state. I don't know many people who think that this was a mistake or a "Big Government" take over.
Your statement regarding putting another WPA program together would be a sop for unions is just more non-sense, Obama has not been much of a friend to organised labor so far and there's no evidence that this administration has or will go in that direction. Unions have been responsible in large measure for raising the wages and standards of living for both union members and non-union households as well.
Put up a list of what government functions you want to eliminate. Those who cry that they want smller government never seen to have a list of what they want to do away with execpt taxes and regulations that are in place that serve to protect taxpayers. I never said government was bad or advocated less government or taxes, in fact I have said the opposite. My complaint is over politicians who have sold the American taxpayer out to the corporations and special interest with tax prefernces, trade policies that give incentives to export industry and jobs at the expense of the American worker. I was an advocate of the bailout of Main Street not Wall Street, money for real infrastucture not tax breaks and golden parachutes for those who created this economic mess. The money should have gone to restore the pension funds looted by the Wall Street bankers and hedge fund managers, and money to prosecute them.
The only thing we here from the Republicans is cut taxes, no regulations, smaller government and the hell with the American worker.
Mr. Gentner, I'd offer the following Executive branch departments eliminated:
African Development Foundation
Corporation for National and Community Service
EEOC
Export-Import Bank of the US
Farm Credit Administration
Federal Election Commission
Federal Housing Finance Board
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Federal Maritime Commission
Federal Mine and Safety Commission
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Inter-American Foundation
Merit Systems Protection Board
National Capital Planning Commission
National Credit Union Board
National Foundation on the Arts
National Labor Relations Board
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
OSHA
Office of Government Ethics (I laughed my ass off at this one!)
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Pension Benefit Guaranty Board
Tennessee Valley Authority
Trade and Development Agency
US Agency for International Development
US Commission on Civil Rights
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Education
Department of Energy
HUD
Department of the Interior
Department of Labor
DOT
That's just a small portion of either duplicated, or expendable government entities. For the most part, none of the programs/authorities/commissions/departments existed 75 years ago. If we didn't need them in my grandparents time, we don't need them in ours!
Ed; " My complaint is over politicians who have sold the American taxpayer out to the corporations and special interest with tax prefernces, trade policies that give incentives to export industry and jobs at the expense of the American worker. "
No argument there my friend, I have a strong dislike for that as well.
As for a list: well. this is by no means complete and just off the top of my bald head.
I think we can start with the TSA, airlines should provide security for their customers, not slough it off to the taxpayers. Airports can also provide security. There should be a downsizing of the Homeland Security Dept. I used to think it should be disbanded and maybe it should, but I like the idea of organised communication and shared intelligence, if in fact that is actually happening, I don't know I left the Gov. service in 1990 and never looked back. Next Education, state responsibility. Then FEMA, again state responsibility. I would reduce the Defense dept budget greatly and bring all the military people home and close all the bases in foreign lands. Close Guantanamo. I think the EPA could be reduced, but I think it is necessary in an inspection and watchdog role. The justice dept can be cut way back, we don't need the redundancy of federal prosecutors and federal judges if we have fewer federal laws. States and municipalities can handle their own courts and law enforcement. By this point, we should also be able to simplify the income tax code so we don't need the IRS any more. All this would take at least 4 years, so I'll stop here.
Here's another guy's plan who knows more about it than me.
Interesting 'rule of thumb.' "If we didn't need them in my grandparents time, we don't need them in ours!" Perhaps we could slide the cost of government back even further... Why not: if we didn't need it 1 million years ago, we don't need it now? We could do away with virtually all of the expensive medical technology and live very inexpensive (however brief) life-times. We could settle food, female and housing shortages by raiding surrounding communities. We could settle grievances by contests of club and flint knife (relatively inexpensive implements). And most importantly- we could re-establish our intellectual camaraderie with slugs, pond scum and the do-do bird; no point learning about the unnecessary.
Really, Chris? You took a serious point I made and ridiculed it. The context of the conversation was about our nation, which has existed for 235 years. The first 180 of those years, the government wasn't controlling our every breath. People depended on people, not government, to watch their back. Do you seriously believe THIS is what our founding fathers had in mind when the Constitution was drafted?
I'm surprised at you, sir. I expect smart ass responses from some on here, but not from you. I've always admired the way you craft words, but this time, it was rude.
The obvious answer that would satisfy the smaller government crowd is a return to a confedration of states that act independently of one another with a weak federal government that meets for a couple of weeks during the year. The reality is this is a Union of fifty states with a central/federal government. The issue was settled 150 years ago with the Civil War.
The ten or fifteen percent of our fellow citizens who have embraced this nonsense while sitting in a room full of like minded individuals egged on and organized by the likes of Dick Armey, the Koch brothers, Richard Mellon Scaife, Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, etal. have the delusion that the majority of the country supports their reactionary agenda. They need to get it through their heads it is not going to happen. At best they will be able to cause enough trouble and loud noises that moves the likes of the Tea Party hacks that were elected to Congress last cycle in an off year election to really screw things up and piss the voters off. Voters who in turn will vote the TP cranks out and once again attempt to clean up the mess. At worse one of their more strident followers will act out like our former Niagara County neighbor Tim McViegh and his fringe followers to do something really stupid and tragic.
The majority wants this country back working again, the majority want a end to the Bush era tax cuts and preferences for corporations and the super-wealthy, the majority wants our elected leaders to do their job and serve the interests of the majority rather than serving the exclusive interests of the well heeled.
Bud, I assume you are addressing my comment. I am sorry if you have taken offense. I share concern over government excess, but using a two-generational rollback as definitive benchmark for retrenchment seems disproportionate. The complexities of our society, industry and economy demand a more careful measure. Perhaps my hyperbole was excessive and sarcastic; it was my first reaction to your premise. Honestly, I presumed some sarcasm in your initial post- I may have been mistaken.
well, Ed I guess we'll just have to wait and see about what the majority of people in this country want, if a majority actually bothers to vote. In the mean time i hope we can agree to disagree.
"The obvious answer that would satisfy the smaller government crowd is a return to a confedration of states that act independently of one another with a weak federal government that meets for a couple of weeks during the year."
And the problem with that is?
"organized by the likes of Dick Armey, the Koch brothers, Richard Mellon Scaife, Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, etal."
None of the people in the second statement support the first statement. By comparison, they're all big government Republicans. Which is why I would never vote for any of them.
Priority? Do whats best for the people. Leave the egos at the door and get something done. These problems can be solved. It's not rocket science, hell, alot of it isn't far from common sense.
Seems to be a common problem. Right from the Congress and Senate, through New York State, all the way down to our city council. DO SOMETHING...MOVE AHEAD!!!!!!!
Yet these are the people who have the amplified voice of the Tea Party and have actively supported the idea "of a return to a confedration of states that act independently of one another with a weak federal government that meets for a couple of weeks during the year" raising and spending huge sums of money to amplify that message. Their goal is to consolidate the power held by a few at the top while diluting the power of the majority.
Hey John thanks for that green jobs update...Seems like all we heard in the first obama stimlius plan was green jobs and shovel ready...Seems like the same plan different names..Shovel ready is all we heard about..Where are all those projects..Are they all done.. I like Buds idea of getting rid of all those Executive branch departments before we go on another spending binge.........Obama has no clue.........
I think creating jobs should
I think creating jobs should be the #1 priority. I have no faith though that the government has any idea on how to do that in the private sector. If you create jobs then the gov will see more tax income and with any luck that will take care of the deficit or at least stop it from growing.
Any priority would be better
Any priority would be better than what he's working from. I think cutting spending (leading to a cut in taxes or at least a hold) would be good. I don't see creating more jobs as a help. Even with income, who can afford all of this out of control spending? Without a cap on the spending, it will be a continual chase.
"Definition of insanity:
"Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result" paraphrase of Einstein quoting someone else (forgot who, not important).
Barack Obama thinks that more stimulus spending, more regulations and bigger government will create jobs, because it didn't work before.
Rebuilding roads and schools;
Rebuilding roads and schools; incentives for businesses to start hiring; giving people the opportunity to work, reducing income tax to put more money back into the economy. Sure sounds like crap to me.
I've no doubt that our Republican representatives will agree with you, Dave, and make sure none of that happens.
How many others would rather see the GOP stop the President than do anything constructive?
As the Aerosmith song goes,
As the Aerosmith song goes, "it's the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend".
All of that stuff was tried
All of that stuff was tried once Bea and here we are stuck in the mud. I'd like him to try something new.
Dave, it is so easy to say,
Dave, it is so easy to say, "try something new". Perhaps our President needs you on his advisory panel. If you have the answers, and apparently you do, you can do a great service to our country by sharing them with our President.
Yeah. like there's an iota of
Yeah. like there's an iota of a chance he'd ever pay attention to me! That's a good one. He thinks I'm a "bitter clinger" and Janet Napolitano thinks I'm an unstable terrorist.
Bea, Obama did not say cut
Bea,
Obama did not say cut income taxes. He did say continue the payroll tax cut, but that comes out of the SS taxes, hurting Social Security. Wish he had proposed cutting income taxes along with a total revision of the tax code, but he didn't.
Obama also said this was all paid for, but we have to wait to learn how. Once he tells us that part, we'll know how good an idea this is.
You and I both know Dave is
You and I both know Dave is not connected enough, and I'm guessing not rich enough. It's all about who you know, and how much dough!
'nother opinion.
'nother opinion. http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/obamas-economic-policy-from-tragedy-to-f…
Obama couldn't get better
Obama couldn't get better advise then he'd get from Dave.
When are all the green jobs
When are all the green jobs that was in the last stimlus bill going to happen..
Yes, all of those big
Yes, all of those big goverment programs were used to build and often stimulate the economy in the past and they worked. Start with the first major big govenment project, the Erie Canal that opened up the Great Lakes to commerce in the early 19th Century and the Trans-Continental Railroads in the mid 19th Century , or the interstate highway system, the Works Project Amdinistration, and NASA. All big goverment projects that built this nation with public money and in the process provided millions of jobs as well a a multi-tude of millionares and billionaires along the way. Social Security has kept generations of seniors as well as, the dis-abled and surviving minor children out of abject and often absolute poverty.
The simplistic notion of smaller is better when it comes to a goverment that works for all of the people rather than for corporations, the super-wealthy and a select few ignorant fools who buy into their claptrap of no taxes, no social safety net, no geovernment regulation is nonsense. Those who want to embrace the get "big goverment" out of our lives might want to actually sit down and rethink their position and embrace the reality that this nation will can not survive united without it.
You want to reduced the deficit, end the BUSH tax cuts, end the subsidies to corporations and the super rich, end the trade agreements that have exported indutry after industry along with decent paying jobs and stop with the parrotting "end big government" nonsense.
Ed; I'm with you against
Ed; I'm with you against subsidies and tax breaks for corporations and the rich. Also the trade agreements. I didn't mention social security, that's a separate discussion. The Erie Canal was a NY state project, the Fed didn't think it was viable. The Trans-continental Railroad thing was so rife with scandal and pay to play ( See Credit Mobilier) that it almost cost Grant the Presidency. The Interstate Highway program in the 50's called for each state to do its part and meet standards before being connected to the system, granted the US was funding something like 70%. If Obama tries to start another WPA, I'm sure everyone would have to join a union. He has political debt there. Are those the Millionaires you speak of being created? Working people supporting wealth gaining by union officials, haven't we had enough of that BS? Small government is not "claptrap" it is putting decisions closer to the people where they belong. A few months ago during the congressional campaign, you told us how bad Washington, DC is, how the politicians just do what their corporate masters tell them to do. I agreed with you. Why are they now so much better? I still don't trust them. I haven't seen much change, at least not for the better.
Oh Howard, you make me blush.
Oh Howard, you make me blush. Truth is he could get better advice than he is, and better than i could hope to. He just doesn't want it because he'd have to back up on things he's already done and repudiate himself. Come on Nov. 2012
Obama could just send
Obama could just send everyone a check for three hundred dollars the way George W Bush did a couple of times. However, in a depressed economy and troubled period like we are currently facing, he should make it $450 and we'll all shut up and elect him for another term. It's better than the alternative.
Mark, Obama's biggest green
Mark,
Obama's biggest green job project went bankrupt and everyone just lost their jobs. All the money they got from the government is gone. One of his main advisors, the head of GE, is creating jobs in China and GE did not pay what Obama calls their fair share in taxes, but the guy gets to stay on the Obama team.
Yep, hope and change. Can't tell where Bush ends and Obama starts, they are the same.
Dave when the Erie Canal
Dave when the Erie Canal projected started in 1817 New York State when the country was in its infancy and was the biggest government in the U.S. and was completed in 1825 when one year short of the countries 50th. birthday. It was the biggest capital conruction project in this country at the time and less than fifty years after that the Empire State boasted of having the two largest cities in America one at each end of the state with string vibrant industrial cities that spung up like mushrooms after a summer rain along the canal and its feeders that were the envy of the rest of the country.
Yes the Trans-continental Railroad had its flaws and share of graft, a legacy of the Republican Party we see today in the pay to play schemes orchestrated by the who's who of the GOP and its benefactors. However, the Trans-continental Railroad opened up the states and territories, uniting east and west, welding together our United States into the most productive, innovative and most powerful nation on this planet. If it wasn't for the infusion of "Big Government" we would be a far different nation today. I for one take the view that it is that "Big Government" that made us a Union and for better or worse has prevailed in keeping us a United States.
The inter-state highway system which was the brain child of Robert Moses who sold the the idea to Eisenhauer and yes the states had to meet minimum requirements and contribute some funding depending on the abitlity of each state. I don't know many people who think that this was a mistake or a "Big Government" take over.
Your statement regarding putting another WPA program together would be a sop for unions is just more non-sense, Obama has not been much of a friend to organised labor so far and there's no evidence that this administration has or will go in that direction. Unions have been responsible in large measure for raising the wages and standards of living for both union members and non-union households as well.
Put up a list of what government functions you want to eliminate. Those who cry that they want smller government never seen to have a list of what they want to do away with execpt taxes and regulations that are in place that serve to protect taxpayers. I never said government was bad or advocated less government or taxes, in fact I have said the opposite. My complaint is over politicians who have sold the American taxpayer out to the corporations and special interest with tax prefernces, trade policies that give incentives to export industry and jobs at the expense of the American worker. I was an advocate of the bailout of Main Street not Wall Street, money for real infrastucture not tax breaks and golden parachutes for those who created this economic mess. The money should have gone to restore the pension funds looted by the Wall Street bankers and hedge fund managers, and money to prosecute them.
The only thing we here from the Republicans is cut taxes, no regulations, smaller government and the hell with the American worker.
Mr. Gentner, I'd offer the
Mr. Gentner, I'd offer the following Executive branch departments eliminated:
African Development Foundation
Corporation for National and Community Service
EEOC
Export-Import Bank of the US
Farm Credit Administration
Federal Election Commission
Federal Housing Finance Board
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Federal Maritime Commission
Federal Mine and Safety Commission
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Inter-American Foundation
Merit Systems Protection Board
National Capital Planning Commission
National Credit Union Board
National Foundation on the Arts
National Labor Relations Board
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
OSHA
Office of Government Ethics (I laughed my ass off at this one!)
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Pension Benefit Guaranty Board
Tennessee Valley Authority
Trade and Development Agency
US Agency for International Development
US Commission on Civil Rights
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Education
Department of Energy
HUD
Department of the Interior
Department of Labor
DOT
That's just a small portion of either duplicated, or expendable government entities. For the most part, none of the programs/authorities/commissions/departments existed 75 years ago. If we didn't need them in my grandparents time, we don't need them in ours!
Ed; " My complaint is over
Ed; " My complaint is over politicians who have sold the American taxpayer out to the corporations and special interest with tax prefernces, trade policies that give incentives to export industry and jobs at the expense of the American worker. "
No argument there my friend, I have a strong dislike for that as well.
As for a list: well. this is by no means complete and just off the top of my bald head.
I think we can start with the TSA, airlines should provide security for their customers, not slough it off to the taxpayers. Airports can also provide security. There should be a downsizing of the Homeland Security Dept. I used to think it should be disbanded and maybe it should, but I like the idea of organised communication and shared intelligence, if in fact that is actually happening, I don't know I left the Gov. service in 1990 and never looked back. Next Education, state responsibility. Then FEMA, again state responsibility. I would reduce the Defense dept budget greatly and bring all the military people home and close all the bases in foreign lands. Close Guantanamo. I think the EPA could be reduced, but I think it is necessary in an inspection and watchdog role. The justice dept can be cut way back, we don't need the redundancy of federal prosecutors and federal judges if we have fewer federal laws. States and municipalities can handle their own courts and law enforcement. By this point, we should also be able to simplify the income tax code so we don't need the IRS any more. All this would take at least 4 years, so I'll stop here.
Here's another guy's plan who knows more about it than me.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul647.html
Interesting 'rule of thumb.'
Interesting 'rule of thumb.' "If we didn't need them in my grandparents time, we don't need them in ours!" Perhaps we could slide the cost of government back even further... Why not: if we didn't need it 1 million years ago, we don't need it now? We could do away with virtually all of the expensive medical technology and live very inexpensive (however brief) life-times. We could settle food, female and housing shortages by raiding surrounding communities. We could settle grievances by contests of club and flint knife (relatively inexpensive implements). And most importantly- we could re-establish our intellectual camaraderie with slugs, pond scum and the do-do bird; no point learning about the unnecessary.
Really, Chris? You took a
Really, Chris? You took a serious point I made and ridiculed it. The context of the conversation was about our nation, which has existed for 235 years. The first 180 of those years, the government wasn't controlling our every breath. People depended on people, not government, to watch their back. Do you seriously believe THIS is what our founding fathers had in mind when the Constitution was drafted?
I'm surprised at you, sir. I expect smart ass responses from some on here, but not from you. I've always admired the way you craft words, but this time, it was rude.
The obvious answer that would
The obvious answer that would satisfy the smaller government crowd is a return to a confedration of states that act independently of one another with a weak federal government that meets for a couple of weeks during the year. The reality is this is a Union of fifty states with a central/federal government. The issue was settled 150 years ago with the Civil War.
The ten or fifteen percent of our fellow citizens who have embraced this nonsense while sitting in a room full of like minded individuals egged on and organized by the likes of Dick Armey, the Koch brothers, Richard Mellon Scaife, Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, etal. have the delusion that the majority of the country supports their reactionary agenda. They need to get it through their heads it is not going to happen. At best they will be able to cause enough trouble and loud noises that moves the likes of the Tea Party hacks that were elected to Congress last cycle in an off year election to really screw things up and piss the voters off. Voters who in turn will vote the TP cranks out and once again attempt to clean up the mess. At worse one of their more strident followers will act out like our former Niagara County neighbor Tim McViegh and his fringe followers to do something really stupid and tragic.
The majority wants this country back working again, the majority want a end to the Bush era tax cuts and preferences for corporations and the super-wealthy, the majority wants our elected leaders to do their job and serve the interests of the majority rather than serving the exclusive interests of the well heeled.
Bud, I assume you are
Bud, I assume you are addressing my comment. I am sorry if you have taken offense. I share concern over government excess, but using a two-generational rollback as definitive benchmark for retrenchment seems disproportionate. The complexities of our society, industry and economy demand a more careful measure. Perhaps my hyperbole was excessive and sarcastic; it was my first reaction to your premise. Honestly, I presumed some sarcasm in your initial post- I may have been mistaken.
well, Ed I guess we'll just
well, Ed I guess we'll just have to wait and see about what the majority of people in this country want, if a majority actually bothers to vote. In the mean time i hope we can agree to disagree.
"The obvious answer that
"The obvious answer that would satisfy the smaller government crowd is a return to a confedration of states that act independently of one another with a weak federal government that meets for a couple of weeks during the year."
And the problem with that is?
"organized by the likes of Dick Armey, the Koch brothers, Richard Mellon Scaife, Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, etal."
None of the people in the second statement support the first statement. By comparison, they're all big government Republicans. Which is why I would never vote for any of them.
Priority? Do whats best for
Priority? Do whats best for the people. Leave the egos at the door and get something done. These problems can be solved. It's not rocket science, hell, alot of it isn't far from common sense.
Seems to be a common problem. Right from the Congress and Senate, through New York State, all the way down to our city council. DO SOMETHING...MOVE AHEAD!!!!!!!
Yet these are the people who
Yet these are the people who have the amplified voice of the Tea Party and have actively supported the idea "of a return to a confedration of states that act independently of one another with a weak federal government that meets for a couple of weeks during the year" raising and spending huge sums of money to amplify that message. Their goal is to consolidate the power held by a few at the top while diluting the power of the majority.
Hey John thanks for that
Hey John thanks for that green jobs update...Seems like all we heard in the first obama stimlius plan was green jobs and shovel ready...Seems like the same plan different names..Shovel ready is all we heard about..Where are all those projects..Are they all done.. I like Buds idea of getting rid of all those Executive branch departments before we go on another spending binge.........Obama has no clue.........