Tom Daschle

Originally posted by Badwater
Daschle has removed his name, the politically expedient thing to do. Plus it allows Obama to save face. Gotta love politicking.

:'(

Now comes the challenging part for Obama. He now has to find a high ranking government official to replace Tom who actually pays their taxes. 😲

My only question is, why are people lilke Geithner, Daschle, and even Carolyne Kennedy allowed to continue without paying taxes until they are appointed to high ranking positions?

Originally posted by FMF
So then you are conceding that, say, Europeans, for example, may well know more about world and have a better understanding of current affairs than Americans who are, after all, reliant on what you describe mockingly as "the best free press [...] money can buy"?

So are we labeling people according to nationality? Perhaps you mean on average? As for that, I have no polls to try and back either position.

Going all the way back to Biblical times it was said that the love of money was the root of all evil. Using such words of wisdom it is not hard to put the pieces of the puzzle together. In addition, these words of wisdom were neither American nor European.

Originally posted by FMF
So then you are conceding that, say, Europeans, for example, may well know more about world and have a better understanding of current affairs than Americans who are, after all, reliant on what you describe mockingly as "the best free press [...] money can buy"?

I have thought a little about this and I have come up with a theory. I find that the American political atmosphere is polarizing to say the least. For example, you usually have people picking sides of the political spectrum to the right or to the left and they then defend them to the death. As a result, I often wonder if the press plays off this right vs. left struggle. For example, in the states you have CNN/MSNBC who are identified as left leaning and Fox as right leaning. As a result, all you have to do is feed into one or the other ideology and you have people supporting you as a result. The ideology then becomes the focus as the truth around stories becomes jaded. You then have freer access to distorting the truth based upon the constituency you are attempting to feed into. What do you think?

Originally posted by whodey
What do you think?

I think it would have been nice if you'd tried to answer my question.

Originally posted by whodey
So are we labeling people according to nationality?

Are you trying to be condescending?

Look. You raised the question.

You said: "What is appalling is the corruption within Washington and Wall Street. What is even more appalling is the indifference of the American tax payer and the voting record of those voting these thieves back into office."

We are either talking about Washington D.C., Wall Street and Americans, or we are not.

There's no call for such utterly off target retorts, even if they are your stock-in-trade.

Either answer my question. Or ignore me. But please don't dress up trying to smear my on-the-same-terms response to your post as genuine dialogue.

Originally posted by whodey
Yes, we have yet another Obama appointee who does not pay his taxes. In fact, it was $120,000 worth of back taxes. However, like Geithner he apologized and like Geithner he will get appointed under Obama.

Edit: No wonder Democrats vote for higher taxes. After all, they don't pay'em!! If I could I would throw my shoes at these people!!!

I'm glad that Daschle has withdrawn. I think that sends the right message.

But the US tax code is impossible. I figure my US tax myself on principle. I object to the idea that taxes should be so convoluted to figure out that I need to pay an "expert" to figure them out for me.

I have little confidence, though, if anyone decided to look closely, that mistakes would not be found. And I would say that is likely true for many American citizens of either party -- and probably more so for self-preparers like me.

Originally posted by whodey

Going all the way back to Biblical times it was said that the love of money was the root of all evil.

That should answer your questions about the media. Murdoch holds Limbaugh in utter contempt but keeps renewing his contract ...

Originally posted by whodey
I have thought a little about this and I have come up with a theory. I find that the American political atmosphere is polarizing to say the least. For example, you usually have people picking sides of the political spectrum to the right or to the left and they then defend them to the death. As a result, I often wonder if the press plays off this right vs. ...[text shortened]... rting the truth based upon the constituency you are attempting to feed into. What do you think?

the hippie generation came of age, including the journalists. that's what happened to "fair and balanced journalism!"

Originally posted by whodey
I have thought a little about this and I have come up with a theory. I find that the American political atmosphere is polarizing to say the least. For example, you usually have people picking sides of the political spectrum to the right or to the left and they then defend them to the death. As a result, I often wonder if the press plays off this right vs. ...[text shortened]... rting the truth based upon the constituency you are attempting to feed into. What do you think?

So you are saying that news reports spend little time digging deep for actual facts? That facts behind stories are glossed over in the rush to use a sound-bite as a springboard into endless ideological debate with "the other side"? Because that sort of thing fuels ratings in a way that in-depth reporting of facts and events does not?

Yes, I suppose that's about right.

I've read that investigative journalists are a bit peeved about the current media mentality because their metier of critical analysis is not valued anymore.

Originally posted by FMF
Are you trying to be condescending?

Look. [b]You raised the question.

You said: "What is appalling is the corruption within Washington and Wall Street. What is even more appalling is the indifference of the American tax payer and the voting record of those voting these thieves back into office."

We are either talking about Washington D.C., Wall Stre rying to smear my on-the-same-terms response to your post as genuine dialogue.[/b]

The only way I would know to answer your question would be to know how the Europeans would vote in American politics. If they voted the same then there is not difference, however, if not, perhaps they would be proved more insightful. So how in the world can I assess that? Most only concern themselves with who's President, just like the American people. In fact, I doubt Europeans on average can name one member of Congress. I think it has been proven that most Amercians are unable to do so judging from some recent polls I reveiewed. In fact, many thought the Republicans had been in control in Congress for the last two years. LOL.

Originally posted by whodey
The only way I would know to answer your question would be to know how the Europeans would vote in American politics.

You could hardly be more parochial, whodey.

This was my question: "So then you are conceding that, say, Europeans, for example, may well know more about world and have a better understanding of current affairs than Americans who are, after all, reliant on what you describe mockingly as "the best free press money can buy"?

Why would the only way you could assess the political literacy of Europeans be if they voted in American elections?

What an odd thing to say.

And your "I doubt Europeans on average can name one member of the U.S. Congress" litmus test for determining what is known about the world and what is understood about current affairs, is extraordinarily America-centric. Don't you feel even the slightest bit coy about being so insular?

If, as you claim, the media in the USA is "the best free press money can buy", does that not imply that the European press is less "bought off" (perhaps more diverse, more vibrant, more able to speak truth to power - all relative only, of course) and that therefore, to some degree, Europeans are more informed and politically literate than Americans. I mean, look: it's you who started this by lamenting the lack of outrage with everything that is going on in Washington and what you described as the appalling indifference of the American tax payer. We seem to agree that this ignorance, numbness and impotence is fostered by your media. So? Do you see the same ignorance, numbness and impotence in Europe or less or more? Do Americans get the politicians they deserve? Do Europeans get the politicians they deserve? Why would you need Europeans to vote in American elections in order to see what politicians they'd get? Europeans have their own elections and their own politicians. There for all the world to see and evaluate. Except for you, it seems.