$45,000 for every man, woman, and child in this country

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

Salary of the US President. ..$400,000

Salary of retired US Presidents ...$180,000

Salary of House/Senate...$174,000

Salary of Speaker of the House.. .$223,500

Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders... $193,400

......Average Salary of Soldier DEPLOYED IN COMBAT $38,000

I think we found where the cuts should be made!

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Salary of the US President. ..$400,000Salary of retired US Presidents ...$180,000

Salary of House/Senate...$174,000

Salary of Speaker of the House.. .$223,500

Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders... $193,400

......Average Salary of Soldier DEPLOYED IN COMBAT $38,000

I think we found where the cuts should be made!

The ironic part of that is, most government apologists would say those salaries, even added all together, is an extremely small portion of the federal budget. And that's true. But they also say that when you mention pork barrel spending (like building a bridge to nowhere), and when you mention inefficiencies in spending (the US military spending like $1k for a wrench or toilet seat), and when you mention the enormous structure of bureaucracy that oversees govt programs, and when you mention that the US plays global police force for things like international shipping lanes, or the UN. And they say its small potatoes when you mention the money the US govt gives to foreign govts for political reasons. They say it when you mention the pallets of cash they've lost in Iraq. Or when you mention the opulent tendencies like a remodeled airforce 1, oval office, white house decor, with each new president that takes office. They say it a lot.

At some point you have to think to yourself, how much less in debt would our govt be if we didnt excuse away all the incompetence, the unethical actions, and the obvious lack of responsibility on the part of our govt. Demand our govt better regulate itself, and what will happen? It will create a monolithic bureaucracy of paper pushers and administrators, with very few actual inspectors whom have almost no real power to deter the problems they find, overseen by the cousin of some influential congressman, which will actually end up increasing the federal govt's spending costs. It would actually be hilarious, if it wasn't breaking our backs on a very real and personal level.

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

get rid of the lawyers in DC.........problem solved..No such thing as an honest lawyer in practice or in the white house

Last 3 presidents ****** *** and this one is going to come up as the worst since Carter

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Oh, and since Im in a 'screw our crooked govt' mood today... political bickering. The fuck is wrong with this country that we cant find a few hundred people who are competent (god forbid actually... smart), professional, ethical, and dont turn into a bunch of highschool kids getting into a brawl behind the bleachers every time they butt heads on a political issue (which is always)...?

And why do so many of us let them draw us into their intellectual trap? Demonizing the other party so thoroughly that your base begins to think that every problem in this country is due to the 'other side'? Proximity is a good example of this type of person and perspective. Remember when Republicans wanted "death panels"? You know, they wanted to "kill your grandparents". Or how the Democrats want to keep murder legal (abortion). Republicans want to kill the middle class and secretly give all our money to their rich friends, while Democrats want to take all hard working people's money away and hand it out to minorities and street bums. Right? These aren't ideas we only see in the private sector, these are the types of things our "professional" politicians say about their opponents. It give me the sensation that, again, our govt and even our society, is governed by children. Opposing parties were intended to govern through compromise. They were not intended to polarize the citizens.

We let them do this to us. We feed off it like hungry dogs. Both parties like to bring up their opponents 'talking points' in order to suggest a hidden trend or motive. Well lets talk about a 'talking point' BOTH parties use... "partisan". Both sides use this term ad nauseam these days. What hidden motive does this talking point suggest exists? The motive to convince us the 'other side' is dragging us all down, for nothing more than political reasons. If we believed even only half the times they accuse each other of it, its still an epidemic of ineffectuality. And it only serves to polarize the population so that everyone is so busy blaming the 'other side' that they turn a blind eye to the fact that BOTH parties have created these problems.

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

And why do so many of us let them draw us into their intellectual trap? Demonizing the other party so thoroughly that your base begins to think that every problem in this country is due to the 'other side'? Proximity is a good example of this type of person and perspective. Remember when Republicans wanted "death panels"? You know, they wanted to "kill your grandparents". Or how the Democrats want to keep murder legal (abortion). Republicans want to kill the middle class and secretly give all our money to their rich friends, while Democrats want to take all hard working people's money away and hand it out to minorities and street bums. Right? These aren't ideas we only see in the private sector, these are the types of things our "professional" politicians say about their opponents. It give me the sensation that, again, our govt and even our society, is governed by children. Opposing parties were intended to govern through compromise. They were not intended to polarize the citizens.

I give up. I concede every argument we've ever had. Facts, reason and reality be damned, anyone who has ever taken a side or opinion that is conflicting with any other's is simply a partisan hack who is playing into 'the game'. Democrats defend medicare, social security, medicare, unemployment benefits, women's rights, voters rights, immigrant rights, consumer rights, etc while Republicans try to destroy all those things, but that doesn't mean that Democrats care about the people who rely on these things, it just means that uhhhhh, well, I don't know what it means...but uhh....Government sucks! Waste! Wrenches!

and it was Democrat's who the Republicans lied about wanting death panels and the killing of your grandparents. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

We let them do this to us. We feed off it like hungry dogs. Both parties like to bring up their opponents 'talking points' in order to suggest a hidden trend or motive. Well lets talk about a 'talking point' BOTH parties use... "partisan". Both sides use this term ad nauseam these days. What hidden motive does this talking point suggest exists? The motive to convince us the 'other side' is dragging us all down, for nothing more than political reasons. If we believed even only half the times they accuse each other of it, its still an epidemic of ineffectuality. And it only serves to polarize the population so that everyone is so busy blaming the 'other side' that they turn a blind eye to the fact that BOTH parties have created these problems.

So accusing the proverbial "other side" of just being partisan = bad and is part of some huge scheme, but accusing everyone who takes an opinion as just being partisan is good? It seems like the much bigger hidden motive is contained in the latter to me. History and facts suggest (in fact, they prove) that Democrats, overall, DO care about the average person while Republicans only care about the rich, but, as a conservative, of course you say both parties must just be partisan and care only about...whatever it is you think they only care about. My proof? You refuse to admit that, in this debt ceiling debate, Republicans are acting like typical idiots who only care about the rich. It's plain to see. And it was the same thing that happened last December. It's impossible to characterize what the Republicans did any other way than they only care about the rich. They say that any tax increase is the worst thing in the world, but they'd rather increase taxes on 100% of people than just 1.5% of people. Again, this just adds to the pile of facts and history that proves the Republicans only care about the rich. Characterize it ANY other way, please.

Some people, absolutely, only vote one way or another because they were raised that way or are easily sawed all while completely neglecting facts. These people you criticize, but the giant irony is YOU ignore facts in the exact same way, only instead of being glued to one side, you try so hard to say both sides **** to hide the fact that only one side *****, and it's the side that you tend to agree with.

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

The republicans, in theory, are arguing to lower spending, removing the tax burden from the average working guy.

That is what they would claim, sure. The rub, however, is that lowering spending INCREASES the burden of the average working guy. It's like saying we want to remove that $2 tax burden, so we have to take away $20 from you. The tax burden is on the rich, as it should be. That is the only burden they worry about removing, and they've been very successful in lessening it in the past 30 years, at the expense of the other 98% of people. And that is why we're having this debate over the debt.

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

I mean, any rational person can conclude that revenue increases have to be made to attack the debt, but Republicans refuse to even consider them. They'd rather see this country go down in flames than increase taxes a single percent on the rich. What does this tell you?

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

:facepalm:

I'm assuming your palm facing is in light of your inability to make an argument. Don't worry, I won't hold it against you bro.

Also, I got something that should undoubtedly excite Mr. holic.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[kingmanbc 10+ year member]

how about nobama

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Facts, reason and reality be damned, anyone who has ever taken a side or opinion that is conflicting with any other's is simply a partisan hack who is playing into 'the game'.

You are not just anyone who has ever taken a side or opinion, you are the type of political 'follower' I was referring to when I discussed people who are brainwashed into believing the 'other side' is the root of all our problems. You blatantly Democratic bias blinds you to your own double standards.

Democrats defend medicare, social security, medicare, unemployment benefits, women's rights, voters rights, immigrant rights, consumer rights, etc while Republicans try to destroy all those things, but that doesn't mean that Democrats care about the people who rely on these things, it just means that uhhhhh, well, I don't know what it means.

Yes, nice intellectual and unbiased opinion you have there. Democrats just want to help women and homeless, while the Republicans' only motive is to "destroy all those things". This is how you view the world, Democrats are fluffy pink carebears and republicans are the spawn of satan. You illustrate my point on demonizing the 'other side' time and time again, and you dont even realize it.

So accusing the proverbial "other side" of just being partisan = bad and is part of some huge scheme, but accusing everyone who takes an opinion as just being partisan is good? It seems like the much bigger hidden motive is contained in the latter to me. History and facts suggest (in fact, they prove) that Democrats, overall, DO care about the average person while Republicans only care about the rich, but, as a conservative, of course you say both parties must just be partisan and care only about...whatever it is you think they only care about. My proof? You refuse to admit that, in this debt ceiling debate, Republicans are acting like typical idiots who only care about the rich. It's plain to see. And it was the same thing that happened last December. It's impossible to characterize what the Republicans did any other way than they only care about the rich. They say that any tax increase is the worst thing in the world, but they'd rather increase taxes on 100% of people than just 1.5% of people. Again, this just adds to the pile of facts and history that proves the Republicans only care about the rich. Characterize it ANY other way, please.

Its funny to watch you try to portray me as a radical, by claiming Im saying 'anyone with an opinion' is playing into the game, and all you do is tell us the Democrats just want to help sick puppies and orphan kittens while Republicans alone have a hidden agenda. All Ive done here was to say BOTH sides are to blame, and that's enough to set you off. God forbid anyone within your earshot suggests anyone other than Republicans are to blame. Its not your huge political bias that loses my respect for you, its your inability to even begin to see that it exists. The 800 pound gorilla in the room.

Let me explain to you what a non partisan attitude is: flexible. Ive said time and again that Im fiscally conservative. But Id be much more fiscally liberal if I could trust my govt to spend my tax dollars effective and efficiently. Id be much more receptive to social programs if I didnt know they would be run by bloated and incompetent bureaucracies.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

That is what they would claim, sure. The rub, however, is that lowering spending INCREASES the burden of the average working guy. It's like saying we want to remove that $2 tax burden, so we have to take away $20 from you. The tax burden is on the rich, as it should be. That is the only burden they worry about removing, and they've been very successful in lessening it in the past 30 years, at the expense of the other 98% of people. And that is why we're having this debate over the debt.

Well, when you put it in terms like they are giving us $2, but taking away $20, only a bonehead would disagree with you. Its not like you completely made up those numbers.

Of course the Republicans only "claim" to want to help the middle class by putting more money in the hands of business owners to drive job creation, they cant possibly believe that, it would mean they might not be soul-less demon spawned creatures from hell.

When the Democrats idealize their platform as just wanting to help the unemployed, or your grandmother, to you there is no "rub", there's only googly eyes and wet dreams.

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]