Originally posted by KazetNagorraNumber 1 needs further details. How will you sell no deductions for home mortages?
1. Taxation aimed towards redistribution. Aim towards a Gini of 0.20-0.25. Drastic simplification of tax laws, abolishing most deductions and subsidies for both the rich and the poor, e.g. abolishing mortgage deductions. Implement a federal VAT of 20%, abolish state VAT. State budgets funded from the federal government, not from state taxes. Increase ta ...[text shortened]... ast 5 years without getting into trouble with the law. Strict but fair rules for new immigrants.
Simplifying the tax code. They have been rambling about that for ever, flat tax rates, etc.
States with rich supplies of resources, with no state taxes on income, will be a problem,, are you going to be able to convince them they should spread that wealth around? You will probably see a big middle finger on that one?
Show me the money.
Are the rich considered to be those above an income of 250,000K or has that gone higher?
Lets take a look at our need to follow our favorite sport? Big screen HD TV, season tickets. Spoiled people are we?
Phil Knight (Nike ) spends a small fortune on his favorite College team, Alma matter is it?
U of O, drop sporting scholarships in favor of? What are we willing to give up, because we know we can't make more money, we have to be thrifty. That has always worked the best.
It would not be hard to pick on popular issues and win that neither party to date seems to care anything about. All that would then be needed is a charismatic spokesperson to sell the ideas.
1. Immigration. Enforce the laws on the books. Help enforce the border and those caught illegally can be put to work for community service of some kind or be made citizens so they can be taxed. Either way, if they intend on reaping the benefits of the ever increasing welfare state that the US has become, they can at least contribute to it.
2. Energy. End the cap and tax discussion and move towards carbon free nuclear fission/fusion. Also, tap into the ever abundant natural gas reserves in the US that is the cleanest of the burning fossil fuels. THis should last the countyy long enough to get some form of nuclear energy program in place. Also end restrictions in drilling off the US coast. The goal should be energy independence and an end to OPEC dominance and foriegn oil dependence that has led to the "Messopotamia" situation that will not only reduce energy costs and defense costs abroad, thus enhancing the overall economy, but will also bring much needed jobs to the US. This issue is perhaps the most vital to the US at this time.
3. Fiscal responsibility. THis means ending the policies that are quickly erroding international faith in the dollar and sending the debt rising exponentially. THis means tackling the big 3 sources of yearly expenses for the US which are, Health care, Social security, and defense. All three need to be curbed or reformed in a meaningful way. In addition, reform needs to come to Congress. Earmarks and other such pork ridden ways of doing business should no longer be business as usual. Turn to President Obama during the debates and inquire into his promise for reform in this area.
4. Begin a flat tax. No more progressive tax. Those items needed to survive would not undergo a flat tax, thus the poor should not get dinged and it would free up a burdensome tax system which bleeds a tremedous amount of wealth from the US every year via the IRS and tax preperation every year.
That's it, you would then be our next soon to be President of the US.
Originally posted by Hugh GlassHow will you sell no deductions for home mortages?
Number 1 needs further details. How will you sell no deductions for home mortages?
Simplifying the tax code. They have been rambling about that for ever, flat tax rates, etc.
States with rich supplies of resources, with no state taxes on income, will be a problem,, are you going to be able to convince them they should spread that wealth around? You will ...[text shortened]... cause we know we can't make more money, we have to be thrifty. That has always worked the best.
For the moment I wasn't too concerned with convincing the electorate, but rather what's good policy. Likewise for "convincing" the states.
Are the rich considered to be those above an income of 250,000K or has that gone higher?
A possible method would be no tax up to, say, a $20k income, and then a 70% tax for every dollar above it. So someone with a $40k income will pay 35% tax, and it will converge to 70% for the "rich". A very simple flat tax system that would remove a lot of bureaucracy and redistribute at the same time, boosting the economy.
As for sporting scholarships, that is one of the most retarded inventions of mankind anyway and should be abolished yesterday rather than today.
My party is called the GOGOP (grand old grand old party). This is what the GOP was supposed to be before it got hijacked by the far right and got corrupted by power. Our idols are Dwight Eisenhower, Abe Lincoln, Newt Gingrich, Judd Gregg, Nelson Rockefeller, Rudy Giuliani, Arlen Specter, Charlie Crist and, of course, just to annoy KN, Ronald Reagan.
Our manifesto includes:
1) Balanced budget except in case of real national emergency (not "oh gee, the economy might contract 0.5% this quarter" )
2) Clinton-era income and estate taxation
3) Decrease social security spending by raising the retirement age
4) Allowing everyone who'd like to opt into Medicare; but raising the premiums to reflect approximate market value; one a sliding scale based on income AND available assets
5) Cut all other forms of direct federal welfare. Use funded programs to the states to encourage "workfare," i.e., the government will help you get a job; not give you money for free.
6) Legalize most narcotics. Marijuana completely; and stronger drugs can be available with a doctor's prescription for pain or stress management.
6A) Don't get involved with people's personal lives. Don't legislate marriage at all. Leave it up to individuals to define it for themselves. Don't legislate thought (e.g., eliminate"hate crimes" legislation), ban government sponsored affirmative action, etc.
7) Allow the carrying of hand guns with a permit; allow the ownership of guns but ban machine guns and assault weapons unless someone can point to a compelling reason they're needed.
8) Abolish publish schools and replace them with tuition vouchers. The same mechanism that administers college accreditations can accredit (and re-accredit) primary schools to receive voucher money. Sell off all public school buildings to private school entrepreneurs.
9) Seal the borders against illegal immigrants to the extent that they can be sealed, but think of some sort of "Z visa" compromise along the lines of McCain-Kennedy for the illegals who are already hear. Much as I'd like to, you can't unring a bell.
10) Maintain a foreign policy that encourages democracy and freedom, but stop using ground troops unless absolutely necessary. Let other NATO members and (gasp!) China use its wealth and youth to maintain peace for a change.
Originally posted by FMFYes, I understand where you are coming from, I fueled it...:-(
I can live with this. Especially if I want to get elected on a Third Party ticket. But I find hysterical opposition to proper background checks etc. hard to understand. And when people start talking about having guns and stockpiling ammo because Adolf Obama and the Communist Congress are soon coming to get 'em, well, I get nosebleeds.
But somewhere above, we are mentioning cutting our defense spending by 75 %, is that just my ( our ) country,, or where ever you guys are too?
75 % is also an economic disaster waiting to happen, that would have to go at a snails pace. You can't just slam the gate down on millitary bases, and say adios economy?
What about R&D? Ok, I give. Was thinking about how fun it would be to smoke something with a laser.
Ya, REDNECK of me.
Say I have an idea, a test project... A few of you can send some money my way. I'll use it properly, to put both girls through College? One is going to medical school. There, we have our cheaper medical care, as long as nobody gets law suit crazy?? The other will more than likely go in to business school, hopefully not law school. :-(
Originally posted by KazetNagorraWhat is considered poverty level now, in the good old USA?
[b]How will you sell no deductions for home mortages?
For the moment I wasn't too concerned with convincing the electorate, but rather what's good policy. Likewise for "convincing" the states.
Are the rich considered to be those above an income of 250,000K or has that gone higher?
A possible method would be no tax up to, say, a $20k ...[text shortened]... retarded inventions of mankind anyway and should be abolished yesterday rather than today.[/b]
I just unintentionally slid in to S.S. this past year. But I had 38 years on the books. I was depressed because medicare didn't kick in for so dam long. Dec. 2010
So slide these figures into your head.
COBRA insurance first 4 months was 1000.00 per month for the family. No dental, or vision included.
Jan 1st last year, that jumps to 1800.00. Exit 2 children and wife. My share is shy of 700.00 a month. Figures don't count any co-pays or drug costs.
And here's where what has been happening lately that gets my goat:
I knew I was going down. So I had put a bunch of money down on this house. I had to drop back to a 30 year mortgage, to keep my kids in school. I didn't need any bail-out, I had to forcast my expenses.
Do I have faith in the medical plan coming up? Would you?
I want to combat this next bit of time out, and go un insured. ( ya right )
Take a line from Kenny Rogers' song the Gambler.... And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.
But I am a REDNECK and the ball is in play.
Originally posted by FMFI believe that responsible people should be allowed to own guns. A responsible person knows how to handle guns to prevent accidents, and also keeps guns locked in a gun safe which minimizes accidents and discourages theft.
Question for spruce112358 and KazetNagorra:
Your policy towards gun ownership etc.?
I think there are people who cannot handle guns safely (just as there are people who cannot drive safely) and those people should not handle or own guns.
Originally posted by badmoonI would just like to add, encourage the use of gambling, prostitution, drug use, and abortion among progressives. Scratch that, the progressives will be mandated to engage in this activity or be fined just like with the new NHC bill. However, for conservatives, this activity will be outlawed. I figure in about 20 years or so all the progressives will be gone. 😀
Legalize internet gambling, reefer, and prostitution. Make gov't support of the art a priority.
Originally posted by sh76I get the corrupted by power, but what about hijacked by the far right? Are you referrlng only to abortion and gay marriage?
[b]My party is called the GOGOP (grand old grand old party). This is what the GOP was supposed to be before it got hijacked by the far right and got corrupted by power.
Originally posted by whodeyI say not say it myself any better than the great Richard Posner. So, at the risk of seeming zeeblebot-esque (not that there's anything wrong with that, Z, ol' buddy):
I get the corrupted by power, but what about hijacked by the far right? Are you referrlng only to abortion and gay marriage?
The end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the surge of prosperity worldwide that marked the global triumph of capitalism, the essentially conservative policies, especially in economics, of the Clinton administration, and finally the election and early years of the Bush Administration, marked the apogee of the conservative movement. But there were signs that it had not only already peaked, but was beginning to decline. Leading conservative intellectual figures grew old and died (Friedman, Hayek, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Buckley, etc.) and others as they aged became silent or less active (such as Robert Bork, Irving Kristol, and Gertrude Himmelfarb), and their successors lacked equivalent public prominence, as conservatism grew strident and populist.
By the end of the Clinton administration, I was content to celebrate the triumph of conservatism as I understood it, and had no desire for other than incremental changes in the economic and social structure of the United States. I saw no need for the estate tax to be abolished, marginal personal-income tax rates further reduced, the government shrunk, pragmatism in constitutional law jettisoned in favor of “originalism,” the rights of gun owners enlarged, our military posture strengthened, the rise of homosexual rights resisted, or the role of religion in the public sphere expanded. All these became causes embraced by the new conservatism that crested with the reelection of Bush in 2004.
My theme is the intellectual decline of conservatism, and it is notable that the policies of the new conservatism are powered largely by emotion and religion and have for the most part weak intellectual groundings. That the policies are weak in conception, have largely failed in execution, and are political flops is therefore unsurprising … By the fall of 2008, the face of the Republican Party had become Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Conservative intellectuals had no party.
http://crookedtimber.org/2009/05/12/richard-posner-on-the-conservative-intellectual-collapse/
If a great third party candidate popped up next year at the latest, and put together one hell of a plan. Stayed away from BS promises that we have doubts about on both sides. No more promises, that we all get sucked up in... ya, iy would shake stuff up.
Not right away though.
If you keep this in mind. A dripping faucet will fill up that sink, if the rubber stopper is shoved in. You just have to keep busy, and wait.
I hate the fact we didn't see this down turn coming. Or did we, and refuse to acknowledge it?
Originally posted by spruce112358How do suggest determining who is and is not responsible?
I believe that responsible people should be allowed to own guns. A responsible person knows how to handle guns to prevent accidents, and also keeps guns locked in a gun safe which minimizes accidents and discourages theft.
I think there are people who cannot handle guns safely (just as there are people who cannot drive safely) and those people should not handle or own guns.
Originally posted by Hugh GlassOf course, what counts as "poor" in the US is influenced by the fact that you have to pay so much for health care and education for your kids. I know that over here you wouldn't have to worry about health care costs or being able to send your children to school/college/university if you lose your job. This is possible and affordable in the U.S. as well, but spooky doomsday fairytales about "socialism" and "marxism" are keeping the populace from demanding what they really want.
What is considered poverty level now, in the good old USA?
I just unintentionally slid in to S.S. this past year. But I had 38 years on the books. I was depressed because medicare didn't kick in for so dam long. Dec. 2010
So slide these figures into your head.
COBRA insurance first 4 months was 1000.00 per month for the family. No dental, or vision i ...[text shortened]... that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.
But I am a REDNECK and the ball is in play.